Purple Bricks - does it every work out well?

[Lookingtomakechanges]

I'm very interested in a house newly on the market and want to view it, but it is on with Purple Bricks.

I've heard nothing but horror stories about the way they work, including huge inefficiency about arranging even viewings, never mind the rest of the buying process. Apparently they take a non-returnable £1500 fee off the seller at the beginning of the process which they keep whether or not there's a sale, so there's not much incentive to make things work. And the contract lasts for 10 months.
Has anyone ever successfully bought or sold a property through Purple Bricks? I can't think of any way round this except for sending the buyers a note saying that I'll be interested if they ever decide to list with an ordinary EA, or when their PB contract finishes and they are free to sell privately.

My sister sold her house very quickly with them. Said it was a straightforward process with transparent fees.

Worst estate agent I have ever dealt with. Would not touch with a barge pole if I was selling again and would almost certainly not go near a house they were selling.

I had no issues with them at all. This was 6 years ago, but it was quick, easy and transparent. Much cheaper than an EA.

Thanks for the responses. Transparent fees in what way? Are EA fees not always transparent? You normally pay nothing until the property has sold, and then it is a fixed percentage. Whereas PB take this £1500 fee up front...

I sold using a purple bricks type model and viewers liked it as they could come evenings / weekends etc so it was nice and easy.

I sold within two months tge viewers just offered me a price via text I accepted and tgen the solicitors did their thing

Interesting. That sounds more like a private sale, if you showed people round yourself and then accepted the offer yourself. One problem with PB apparently is that viewings and other appointments are arranged via the PB bricks office, and offers go through them - but they have terrible comms and don't get back to you. One buyer said it took them six days to pass on their offer.

We used them 3 years ago. You choose which part of the service we wanted to use and pay accordingly
we just used their listing on right move, photos and website to Organise viewings.
We did the viewings and negotiation ourselves and saved a lot of money.

Thanks. If the house I'm interested in has signed up for that service, it should work better.

We bought our last house from someone using purple bricks. It was a nightmare - wouldn’t even view a house listed with them again. It took months more than it should have done and there wasn’t even a chain!

I’m a house buyer and I found it a difficult process to arrange a viewing (not able to call and negotiate a mutually convenient time) I moved onto another house.

Stop overthinking it. If you’re interested in the house, then get it touch to arrange a viewing. What’s the worst that can happen?

Yes the problem with purple bricks is that they get paid up front, so not much incentive to compete the sale. However if the buyer and seller are motivated and keep on top of things themselves then no reason it won’t work out.

I guess the worst that can happen is that PB will sell my data and bombard me with phone calls. I've heard that too. Unfortunately I can't ask to see the house without giving my phone number and email address and I really don't want to unless there's a reasonable chance that it will work out.
But the buyer and seller being motivated won't get round the fact that PB arrange viewings and negotiations but often don't respond to messages from either buyer or seller, according to the reviews I've read and also the experience of solicitors I've worked with.