Cowell & Norford Reviews 

I want to share my honest experience with Cowbell Norford because I found their service both unprofessional and unethical.

On 12th January, I viewed a 3-bedroom detached property and made an offer immediately at asking price. The following Monday, my offer was accepted. I was a first-time buyer and used my own broker and solicitor recommended by the broker. I understood that the seller had a previous sale fall through, which the agent said was why the property was not immediately updated to “Sold STC” or even “Under Offer.” However, this left the property open to other buyers while I was progressing in good faith.

It took about six weeks to finalise my financial documents because I am both self-employed and employed, which I communicated clearly to the agent. My broker submitted the mortgage application on 19th February, and the valuation was carried out on 6th March, with the report returned on 9th March. During this time, the agent Maisie sent an email around 16th February saying the seller wanted to continue viewings if there was no mortgage offer by the end of that week — despite my mortgage already being in progress.

When the valuation came back at £245,000, below the agreed price, I contacted the agent to discuss reducing the price. Two days later, I was told the seller would not accept a lower price and that there was now a “cash buyer” — information I had never been informed of previously. I found this very upsetting and concerning. I made a revised offer, even increasing my deposit and covering some of the shortfall myself, showing my commitment to the purchase.

From mid-March onwards, communication became extremely poor. I chased for updates multiple times via email and phone, sometimes waiting days with no response. Eventually, I was informed that the seller was still deciding, but the final communication came via email only, stating the seller had chosen to proceed with the cash buyer. No one called me to explain or discuss the decision, which I found highly unprofessional.

Throughout this process, I felt ignored and undervalued as a buyer. The handling of my accepted offer, lack of transparency about the cash buyer, and extremely slow, minimal communication were unprofessional and, in my opinion, unethical. After investing so much time, effort, and money, I feel let down and strongly caution others to be careful and protect themselves if dealing with this agency!

To be honest, I feel this reflects poorly on the company as a whole. It’s disappointing, as you would expect a business to ensure its staff maintain a high level of professionalism and communication at all times.

Just got a house on rent from this company. Amazing service, wide network, beautiful houses. Keira was the lady who helped me a the way long through the process. She was cool, calm and ready to help till I moved in. Hats off to her and the company. I hope cowell & Norford will give her a promotion.

We are truly very disappointed with Cowell-Norford. Initially it sounded very positive. The valuation was carried out quickly. The photographs taken. Then things started to deteriorate.

I was informed that we had 5 viewings the Saturday after the house went on the market the previous Wednesday.

Two potential buyers were sat outside waiting for a member of the C-N team to show them round. I had to ring the office to find out what was going on. Thirty minutes later a team member arrived. No-one thought to ring the potential buyers or me to advise of the delay.

As we have dogs we went out expecting to be out a couple of hours. Twenty minutes later we were rung to say the viewings were complete. Apparently there were only 2 viewings in the diary not 5 as we were advised. If this had changed, why weren't we told?

We accepted an offer at the asking price the following Monday.

Unfortunately, this sale fell through. As we were emigrating, my daughter in law was then contact with C-N to see the sale through.

My daughter in law contacted me to say that C-N had informed her that we had a cash buyer and we were urged to accept for a quick sale, albeit at £10k under the asking price.

Imagine our horror to find later down the line it wasn't a cash buyer, the cash was coming from the sale of their house.

After a phone call from Australia to C-N several emails one including the definition of a cash sale, we got an apology. Frankly this isn't enough. The dishonesty is totally unacceptable.

Overall I’ve been left very disappointed with the service provided by Cowell Norford when selling my house.
From promising a premium service at the valuation and given the high fees they charge I felt assured I would receive a premium service to accompany this, Sadly this wasn’t to be.

From agents turning up 15 mins late to viewings to problems with booking viewings and an expectancy from them that I could accommodate viewings at any given time and at the drop of a hat something I felt to be unrealistic and unachievable.

Further problems ensued over the 26 week contract period regarding house keys not being posted when requested and them seemingly having no real plan or strategy on how to market my property when things went stale other than remove words off the asking price.

I will however heap praise on Dominique she was brilliant throughout and after admitting they had not provided me a service I deserved she did go a long way to salvaging something of a professional relationship between myself and CN.

Overall sadly, I wouldn’t recommend them from my experience.

And to top it all off I left this review on their Facebook page they deleted it!!!
I then asked why on another post of theirs and guess what…they deleted that comment too. SEEMS COWELL NORFORD DONT ACCEPT NEGATIVE CRITICISM ERY WELL WHICH PROBABLY EXPLAINS WHY THEYRE TRULY AWFUL AT WHAT THEY DO RATHER THAN IMPROVE ON THEIR MISTAKES!

Avoid them at all costs!

cowell-norford.co.uk sick of this company contacting me . I have never asked them to contact me . I have never requested sales information or anything else for that matter . Tried to unsubscribe from them . I NEVER SUBSCRIBED TO THEM IN THE FIRST CASE . SICK OF THEM CONTACTING ME . They are a nuisance

Buying a property with them, lied about survey results when I asked them before I made a offer on the house as other buyer let it go few months ago but by luck they turned out to be friends and told us the whole land was contaminated. Upon confrontation they presented the previous surveys. They applied pressure to use only their solicitors, were very rude.
Passed information on to third party surveyors, other professionals without our consent, we had calls coming in none stop.
Please avoid using them at all costs!

Used these in the past. We accepted a low offer (under their advice) with the caveat that it was kept on the market to see if there would be a better offer in the meantime. Then all went quiet from perspective buyers. So we rang them posing as cash buyers to enquire about our own home and they told us the sellers aren’t accepting any more viewings and it’s a done deal.
They just wanted the fee so lied about the situation. We confronted them and they offered 10% off the fees. AVOID AVOID AVOID, we lost god knows how much because of their dishonesty.

If you are thinking about renting through this agency, DON’T! This company is an absolute nightmare to deal with. Since moving into one of their properties in March 2022, we have been dealing with nothing but problems, and their response has been delays, ignorance, and empty promises.

Ongoing Issues Ignored for Over Two Years
Every request for help is either delayed for months or completely ignored. Even the simplest repairs are dragged out indefinitely. For example, it took SEVEN MONTHS to replace a faulty gutter that was flooding our kitchen with rainwater, causing severe mold infestation.

RAT INFESTATION DUE TO NEGLIGENCE
For months, rats had full access to our kitchen because the agency never sealed an old, open sewage drain under the kitchen cabinets. We had to deal with rat droppings, hygiene hazards, and the agency’s complete lack of urgency.

FREEZING COLD HOUSE WITH NO REAL HELP
The property is extremely cold, and despite reporting insulation issues countless times, they refuse to take action. Do they expect my family to wear thermal gear just to make breakfast in winter?

Heating System Falling Apart
The boiler pressure keeps dropping constantly, and the agency still hasn’t fixed the issue properly. Instead, I am forced to manually refill the system with water every week just to keep it running.

False Promises & Deceptive Descriptions
Before moving in, we were assured the house was fully renovated and in excellent condition. That was a complete LIE. Instead, we found hidden defects, cheap cover-ups, and a house falling apart.

Rude & Unprofessional Staff
When I raised these issues, one of the agency staff members had the audacity to tell us to just find a new house instead of fixing the problems they are responsible for. This level of arrogance and incompetence is beyond belief.

My dad rented an apartment using Cowell and Norford Milnrow office . They were excellent especially Karly Borg , she was brilliant nothing was too much trouble . She sorted out any issues and was extremely efficient and helpful .The service Karla and the team delivered went over and above thank you .

Property came on market , board didnt even go on , emailed enquiry , no response rang week later and its sold not taking any offers , thats how back handers go on in this field now , hope buyer knows he lost out on more money

Dealt with Cowell & Norford Milnrow Rochdale to say they are professional is an understatement we requested a valuation of our property member of staff turned up conducted rushed valuation and under valued the property for a quick sale and commission.
On a follow up call I discuss my concerns with Cowell & Norford on there level of unprofessional and out of the blue the sales negotiator contacted myself asking whether I was there at the vauluation I told him rind doorbell does not lie but I was absolutely horrified that I had made an honest critique and he had the nerve to challenge me about this as a customer am I not allowed to voice my own opinion without feeling intimidated please avoid use
a reputable estate agent and not Cowell & Norford

Worst estate agents we have ever had to deal with. No communication at all and try and black mail you in to speaking with their Mortage advisor otherwise your offer you submit won’t be accepted.