Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Purplebricks reviews

30 replies

EB100 · 24/04/2019 23:41

Hi can anyone recommend purplebricks for selling? I have seen bad reviews that says they over or under value which is why some houses don't sell, but surely you go with the price on the home report (in Scotland) which is separate from the EA view?

OP posts:
Villanellesproudmum · 25/04/2019 10:24

They are known for overpricing and then dropping the price a couple of weeks later.

UCOforAC12 · 25/04/2019 10:35

Terrible customer (non) service as a buyer. Also forced friend into using their conveyancing who were terrible and nearly lost her a very straightforward sale.

howmanyleftfeet · 25/04/2019 10:46

I sold online and I would recommend the service, only I can't remember the name now and they don't seem to exist any more!

It was a simple name that had the word property in it but every time I try to remember it my brain thinks of "UK property shop" instead which used to be a property website!

They were the big one and used to be recommended a lot here (how I found out about them). I wonder if they've folded or rebranded.

Generally, I really liked selling online as I liked doing the viewings myself. I researched tips on how to do them, and got quite good at it I think!

I liked that we had direct contact with the buyers (as well as through our solicitors). We could have just talked through solicitors/conveyancers, but as they were nice we spoke to each other informally about stuff like "would you like us to leave the fridge for you" etc. And we could communicate with each other when there was a delay in paperwork so we could easily find out which solicitor was causing the delay (mine as it happens!).

I also liked that we were able to have input into the advert. And, our pics and floor plan were great.

I'd definitely recommend online in general.

Not on line for conveyancing though - they were terrible. I'd go with a local solicitor.

I'm not keen on Purple Bricks however, I've not used them but I'm aware of their bad reviews here - also their name and branding annoys me! It doesn't sound at all professional. I'm not playing lego, I'm selling a house!

howmanyleftfeet · 25/04/2019 10:47

Here's a list of online sellers:

hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-selling/compare-online-estate-agents/

howmanyleftfeet · 25/04/2019 10:48

Let me know if it'd be useful if I share what I learnt about doing your own viewings?

Russell19 · 25/04/2019 10:51

We used purple bricks and were impressed. We had house valued by different agents so knew what we wanted for it. Photos were good and we sold straight away.

letsdolunch321 · 25/04/2019 10:53

Used them, all I can say happily took the selling fee with no viewings at all.

Another high street agent sold the property for us eventually.

howmanyleftfeet · 25/04/2019 11:36

Oh, I remember, it was House Network we used. They appear to have folded. A few years ago they were the most well known online seller, I wonder what happened.

Mildura · 25/04/2019 12:38

I wonder what happened

The business model is not sustainable/profitable with the fees charged by 'online' only agents.

House Network is the latest one to go bust. Very recently an investment website predicted PB is unlikely to ever make a profit.

EB100 · 25/04/2019 12:45

Thank you for all the replies. I am not seling just now, but hopefully early next year. But starting to budget. My house is still in negative equity after the 2008 recession (we bought at a massive high 2 months before recession) and after 11 years we are at breakeven with bank, and can hopefully make a tiny bit more. So I need every penny and do not want to pay / can't pay £1000's in commission. I would still do my own viewings as even in the past with a high street agent we were expected to do our own. I am in an area good for families and near popular schools so don't think I'll be sitting unsold for 10 months. But wondering would it be stupid to go for someone with obvious bad reviews.

OP posts:
RedBerryTea · 25/04/2019 12:58

We sold 14 months ago with Purple Bricks and were extremely happy with the service they offered. I think it has a lot to do with the individual agent you deal with - our agent was fantastic, really on the ball, proactive and offered lots of useful advice. We wanted £400k for our place, he said you could put it on at 420k and attract people who will offer 400, but that could mean those who have their search limit set at 400 won't see it. So we put it on at 400k, had 12 viewings in a week and sold for the asking price to a buyer with no chain. We've moved house 6 times over 30 years and to be honest we've dealt with some diabolical high street estate agents. Also I preferred the online interface with potential buyers - being able to book people in for viewings rather than several phone calls between potential buyer, estate agent and vendor to set up a viewing.

CaptainHooker · 25/04/2019 13:17

I worked for them for a few years and honestly wouldn't recommend them to my worst enemy.

I've name changed.

howmanyleftfeet · 25/04/2019 13:27

CaptainHooker interesting! Can you elaborate?

howmanyleftfeet · 25/04/2019 13:28

Does anyone think it's worth contacting local agents to see if they'd do a reduced rate if you do your own viewings?

CaptainHooker · 25/04/2019 14:08

@howmanyleftfeet I could write a book.

I've worked for a number of huge corporates too and they're no angels, but PB..

Currently seeking legal advice with a group of ex colleagues because of how appallingly people have been treated, customers and agents.
It was great at the start and I still believe it was started with great intentions for everyone, but it's really turned sour over the last 12 months or so. I genuinely don't think they'll still be around in the near years to come and I hope for the customers if they are that there are some drastic changes.

As a seller I would much rather pay more just to not deal with them. The post sales side of things is a known joke - except it's not funny - it is peoples lives and money and their biggest asset both financially and emotionally that they're dealing with and should be treated as such. It's not.

The solicitors are appalling, locally in some areas it's actually cheaper to go direct to some of their panel solicitors than it is to pay the 'low fixed fee' through PB and be panelled out to them.
I know not everyone can afford the luxury of going with their best local agent but it's definitely worth negotiating with your traditional agents on their fee and seeing what can be done.
Lots will be willing to match other fees and I'm sure if you spoke to local agents with good reputations and asked them about experiences local to you with PB that they've had in chains..etc they could give you a better idea locally. Ofcourse they'll be biased and possibly exaggerate things because they want your business, but it's worth asking and getting a feel for how people react to them.

It's very true what people say that it really depends on which of their agents you get as to how your experience will go. The agents are 'self employed', which is a great way for them to be over worked and under paid by PB for their time. In truth, they're very much employed just without any of the benefits. There's a lot of pressure now on their agents to meet high targets.

It's a gamble OP. You could get lucky and get one of the good agents (and there are some brilliant ones with PB) and have a lucky experience with a straightforward transaction, or you could get very very unlucky. Ofcourse complications can come up when buying or selling a home with any agent, but I'd take comfort in knowing if things did go pear shaped that I had a professional team there to support me with every aspect of the transaction, not just the agent who comes in the door, sorts the marketing and finds a buyer. You need an agent who's going to be there through the whole transaction.

CaptainHooker · 25/04/2019 14:12

@howmanyleftfeet always negotiate on fee.
It's the one aspect of PB that is so much more fair that everyone pays the same and when they launched it was a real game changer for seasoned agents.

I've worked in the high street for 15+ years and have sold 2 adjoining semis, both similar chains, very straight forward and similar amount of work put into both but one neighbour has paid thousands more than the other because one negotiated the fee and the other was bullied into a high fee by the lister. It's very unfair and that's where fixed fees are more fair and a better idea.

Always always always negotiate.

EB100 · 25/04/2019 18:34

Thanks. I'll do some more research and see if my local high street agencies will reduce commission. Then make a decision. I already have a solicitor in mind and he is probably £400 cheaper that PB. Small family firm and a really nice guy. Thanks for taking time to reply.

OP posts:
CoraCoo · 25/04/2019 18:38

Where in Scotland are you selling EB100, near Glasgow? I might want to buy your house and save you any fees at all Ha!

I got a few valuations, 1 from purple bricks. They did suggest the highest price and they weren't all that much cheaper than the percentage commission EA's but thats maybe just because the price bracket we are selling in. Obvs if you have an expensive house the others will cost you more.

EB100 · 25/04/2019 19:17

Village 15 min from Glasgow. Family friendly. Probably 160k, I'll try to find out % commissions around here. There's quite a lot of estate agents, so hopefully the competition will prompt them to drop fees. Last time I sold was about 3% not really affordable if you are not making profit. If I was I would not really bother about commission. Only selling next year though but need to budget.

OP posts:
headvsheart · 25/04/2019 20:03

Sorry to jump on this thread but @howmanyleftfeet I'd love your tips please! I'm selling with emoov and will be doing the viewings myself. I have a tendency for verbal diarrhoea when nervous and have no idea what to say/not to say. If it helps it's only a one bed flat so not many places for me to hide!

notangelinajolie · 25/04/2019 20:17

As a buyer I tried to arrange a viewing on a property with PB recently and I gave up in the end. Email requests were ignored and nobody answered the phone. When we finally got through the agent said he'd contact the vendor and get back to us with a time. He never did. We gave up in the end and just went to view properties that were marketed through high street agents.

It was a shame because we were really interested in it - it's still for sale and has just been reduced. I wonder if the vendor even knows people want to view it.

I would say as long as the PB agent is a good one you will fine but be aware that some of them are better than others.

EB100 · 25/04/2019 20:32

@notangelinajolie I liked the agent. But then you can't really tell, can you? I would hate for people not to view because of bad communication, as that is why you'd end up with more than 10 months on market. Seems like you could rather then stick up your own sign

OP posts:
EB100 · 25/04/2019 20:46

@howmanyleftfeet I have a no filter mouth (says my DD) so I suspect my husband will ship me away when doing viewings.

OP posts:
BookishKitten · 26/04/2019 15:46

We bought our house with PB and I can't tell you how incompetent they were... honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that we really wanted that house we wouldn't have bothered going through the interactions with their absolutely appalling customer service. I've know two other acquaintances who had similarly bad experiences at selling with them and decided to go with a traditional high street estate agent. Might be worth going to a couple and try and negotiate their fee as other posters suggested. Good luck!

howmanyleftfeet · 26/04/2019 18:29

@headvsheart OK, viewing tips - what I can remember anyway!

Don't try to be an estate agent. You're not. You are the owner, and assuming you're friendly and easy to deal with, that's an advantage. Be friendly and tell them what you've enjoyed about living there.

Think about where to start and your route through the house. First impressions count. Start with the best bit, and try to end up there too!

Always let the viewers go into the rooms first. If you go in first, it makes the room feel smaller. Instead, hover by the door and invite them to go in.

Think of something positive and useful to say about each room. Don't just say "this is the bedroom"! It's so easy to do, and not useful! Instead, say things that will give them some information about the place, highlight a feature, or give them an idea of how you use it.

eg - "we really enjoy being in here as it's a really bright room in the evenings, this window gets loads of light" or, in the kitchen "we've loved this kitchen because xyz. We replaced the boiler just last year. I love the way the kitchen opens out onto the garden and we tend to have the doors open most of the summer"

Also, most estate agents will give viewers a print out of the particulars of the house. If you're doing your own viewings you may not have this. But, this is really important! Once a viewer has seen loads of properties they tend to merge into one! Having the particulars helps remember which was which! Make your own - use the estate agent's pictures, and make sure you print them in colour. Copy what they've written for the website and add anything you think is a selling point eg nearby schools, transport links etc. Put your phone number and email address on it if you like, and let them know it's fine to get in contact and ask you questions. Remember to actually give them to your viewers (I kept forgetting!)

I read that viewers sometimes feel a bit uncomfortable viewing properties with the owner as they feel they can't have a proper look around eg opening doors to fitted cupboards etc.

So, we said to our viewers up front - we're going to show you the house twice - we'll do a whizz round to show you where everything is, then we'll make a cup of tea and let you have another look on your own while we do that.

This isn't compulsory! You need to be pretty confident that you're happy for them to actually poke about and also not worried about stuff going missing! But it worked for us.

Once we'd done the first go round, we'd ask them if they wanted a cup of tea or coffee and made one if they did while they looked around on their own. (I boiled the kettle before they came so it wouldn't take long to reheat). Not everyone wanted to stay for a drink and that's fine. But the ones who did stop for a drink seemed to be the ones most interested in the place, and it gave them a chance to ask us of questions. It also was nice to demonstrate - we're not an estate agent, we're friendly and will be easy to deal with.