Estate agent recommendations and fees

[fedupandnogin]

Anyone who has/is selling their house, can I ask what estate agent you are using (if not an independent local) and what you are paying in terms of fees/commission. There seems to be so much choice now with online agents, etc. I have used Housenetwork in the past. Anyone used Purple Bricks (and how much?) or anyone else they could recommend?

A lot depends on what part of the country you are in. And the extent to which having an agent to conduct viewings is useful.

I think I would always prefer to conduct my own viewings so would be happy with an online agent who doesn't offer this service. I'm in the south east by the way.

I am in the south east too. Im using PurpleBricks after a previous bad experience with a high street agent. I am also conducting my own viewings. I can't rate PB highly enough. Where else can you get an offer at 1045pm & be on the phone to your agent soon afterwards to discuss it? No high street agent I know. Estate Agents all like to rubbish PurpleBricks because they are scared of them & quite rightly they see them as the future. We paid £1199, because we come under London & surrounding areas. If we lived 3 miles down the road it would be £850. Thats what most people pay! If you decide to let them do viewings its an extra £300, plus there are other extras & incentives you can add to to intice buyers. I'd not use a high street EA again now!

I used a local estate agent but know three people in three different towns/areas of the country who used purple bricks and didn't have as good an estate agent experience as I had.

I tried to book a viewing of a house with PB and it was such an ordeal that I gave up, it wasn't worth the bother. The call centre I got through to wanted the full postcode of the property, that info wasn't on Rightmove so I didn't know it. She eventually found the property and gave me a mobile number to call to arrange a viewing. I called a few times but nobody answered so I gave up.

We decided not to use Purple Bricks as the person that covers our area was rude and unprofessional and didn't have a clue about rural areas. I am interested in their approach but the experience we had was not positive. I am sure like everything though that it will vary in quality and if you are in a town or city it might work better. Our local person clearly had no idea where were!
A local agent offered 0.75% + VAT or flat fee of £2k fee which is what we have gone with.

We paid 1.25%. Approx 500k house so a lot of money.

But we gave them a tough deadline, had no tie in to them if they didn’t deliver, and generally used every bit of their service! I’d use them again.

The easiest & usual way to book an appointment on PB is via the website or app slowsloth. I think you were just unlucky tbh, as our experience has been nothing but positive. I suppose it could be more challenging for older people not used to going online. Thats the only drawback I suppose!

I’ve recently found an online based agent hard work to deal with from a buyer’s point of view. Not as easy to get hold of, not as good local knowledge and harder to get to do viewings. But you’re happy to do your own viewings so maybe that will be less of an issue. Found local recommendations very helpful from both buying and selling POV.

I didn't like the online agency we had contact with as a possible buyer. As a seller we used local agents, first agents were pretty hopeless the second was a personal agent who was part of a bigger group who only sold in our village and surrounding area. He was great and I realized the difference a good agent made. On a personal note I never much like being shown round the house by owner on first viewing.

Outside of London Purplebricks will cost you £849 including VAT and £300including VAT if you also go for unlimited viewings, if you do your own it's just £849 which is payable upfront if using your own solicitor or on legal completion or after 10 months (which ever comes sooner) if you opt to defer payment and agree to use Advanced Conveyancing (they also charge a fixed fee of £599 plus VAT for a freehold property) you then pay for disbursement's on top which is pretty standard.

Round here our high street agents charge 1.25% Excluding VAT.

Actually, that’s a good point about not liking being shown around by the owner. I ask all sorts of questions that I may not feel comfortable asking a seller themselves.

Pixiedust1973 Your message made me laugh, I'm in my early 30's

Do people really have the Purple bricks app? We sold and bought last year and only bothered with Rightmove. The options at the bottom of the listing on Rightmove are Phone or email agent. I remember my Purple bricks experience was whilst I was on my lunch hour and I wanted to book it in there and then so rather than email I phoned. I can't imagine clogging my phone up with apps for each estate agent.

We did view one house with an online agent, not Purple bricks. That wasn't too bad to arrange. I phoned up, they took my number and within a few minutes I had a call from the person who eventually showed us around.

Thanks for all the comments. Lots to save using someone like Purple Bricks in terms of costs. I have previously (about 5 or 6 years ago) used Housenetwork based on Mumsnet reviews at the time but things have moved on and there seems to be more competition regarding online agents. I agree a local agent would have more knowledge of the area etc and may offer more in terms of following up to completion but I need to compare whether the extra costs are worth this.....

Where abouts are you in the country OP?

I'm in West Kent

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/business-42915433

Read this before using purple bricks. BBC article.

I may have misunderstood but you pay p bricks whether you sell or not.

Thanks for that article @Cacofonix I do realise that you pay most of the 'alternative' agents whether you sell or not. I guess that's the risk you take.

Ive just used Emoov. Very easy to get hold of with phone, email and live chat and around £700 to sell. I found doing my own viewings was less hassle than having to go out for each viewing and who knows your house and area better than you do.

Budget was my priority to buy and sell, hence using a online agent and i priced my house keenly. I had lots of viewings prob 20 and sold in 11 days for asking. I got two offers over asking but turned them down despite 5k more as wanted a chain free buyer as im chain free myself so should be a quick easy sell. Its one week since sale and buyer has already had survey done.

Anyone used Emoov in Sheffield ?

I'm using Howard Cundey live, they only charge £600 👍 been great so far and although it's online they also have high street shops.

We used a local agent. 1% which is a lot of money!

@pirie not used them to sell with but viewed a house with them in Sheffield, booking in a viewing via the website was straightforward. Didn’t offer on the house but it sold quickly. (If you’re looking to buy in Sheffield let me know)

Doesn’t seem they have a real presence in Sheffield. A bit ramshackle in my resent experience of selling, so pulled the plug within the cooling off period. Will go into further detail if anyone’s interested.