purple brick

danthemoneysavingman

Hi all,
seems that maybe specifying an "area" & the local agent (perhaps by initials rather than full name if necessary) and rating the service received there would help others intending to use purplebricks.


I've no knowledge of the agent turnover rate however but that may also yield useful info over time.

Tristanita

As an update to my previous post. I’ve now had 30 viewings and 8 offers. The feedback from viewers is positive and many preferred being shown round by me, who can answer their questions about age of boiler, who the neighbours are, the parking etc etc...

The online booking system has worked. The only downside is that on the open days it allows people to turn up at the same time, so at peak times often 2 viewers in the flat at any one time - but it wasn't an issue.

The agent is on standby ready to negotiate, I have asked him to hold off as 4 more people have requested 2nd viewings and I don't wish them to feel rushed.

I have had no problems, I prepared my own details for the flat and handed them out as people entered, the info/photos/floorplan from the web advert plus other info such as Council Tax Band, length of lease, maintenance charge, my solicitor details, gas/elec/broadband provider etc etc which I recommend doing as it was appreciated by viewers.

I do appreciate that for the technophobes out there this could be complicated, and I guess the quality of the agent varies. However I do think that if you are prepared to take interest in the process and responsibility for the viewings this can be a very straightforward and economical way to sell. Purchasers have not reported any negatives either.

An extract from my online progress report:

How is my advert performing generally?
•Days on market 20
•Number of people tracking 10
•Number of viewings arranged (total) - only includes attended viewings and viewings that have yet to take place 38
•Number of viewings cancelled 9
•Number of offers (total) 8
•Number of feedback (total) 11

Feedback given by gaya (viewing on 05/03/2016 at 12:00):
Lovely flat. Seller was very helpful in managing the viewing and answering questions

Feedback given by Ali (viewing on 05/03/2016 at 15:00):
Just brilliant. Absolutely lovely place and Tristan was the best 'estate agent' we've ever dealt with.

Feedback given by Tara (viewing on 09/03/2016 at 18:30):
Great property and seller did excellent job of showing us around. Thanks

Feedback given by Angus (viewing on 05/03/2016 at 14:30):
Tristan was very welcoming. She provided all relevant information and answered our questions fully and honestly. The printed pack was particularly useful.


As a footnote (and as suggested by the post above) my area is Mile End, East London - E3 and my agent is Simon Taylor who has been very good and always responds promptly to any message I send.

rr2

Can someone please explain what is going on with purplebrick. I have just put my house on the market with them and have two viewings today at 1130 and 1200.

rr2

please ignore the above- sunday morning meltdown!

martinnoz

I have bought and sold 3 properties in the last 2 years none of which were completed in under 6 months.

altec_09

I thought I'd share my experience that I have put on trust pilot:

Beware! Terrible service and tie you into useless conveyancers/solicitors

Purple Bricks are only interested in getting a property listed and not in selling it. You'd be better off advertising it yourself. They make you use PLS solicitors who are useless and extremely expensive for both selling and purchasing. If you want to use a different solicitor/conveyancer you have to pay an additional fee of £360 to purple bricks.

I would advise anyone outside of an expensive area where it might save you a bit of money to go elsewhere.

I wouldn't believe all of the positive feedback on here, I can't for a second trust that it's genuine.

abcos123

Good to read this. I had a valuation with PB and NEARLY instructed them. Was put off by the pay up front business.. and ultimately didnt go there... but have considered it since.

The sales guy that came round is local and seemed like a nice guy. Span it to me that their USP is 24/7 support through their portal where you can manage viewings yourself, any day of the week. Sounds promising, but in the current dreadful time im having in selling my house, the value of agents actually phoning people and chasing them to do a viewing, is probably worth the extra couple hundred quid (property value dependent, of course)

sheff6107

Sold my last property using Urban Sales and Lettings: https://www.urban.co.uk

No complaints at all. Frequent contact to check how things are going and whether they can be of any more help.

oligopoly

altec_09 wrote: »

You'd be better off advertising it yourself.

You're essentially paying the money to get onto RightMove and Zoopla - you can't do this yourself.

altec_09 wrote: »

If you want to use a different solicitor/conveyancer you have to pay an additional fee of £360 to purple bricks.

This was not at all true in my case. Their in-house conveyancing is not particularly cheap and doesn't have great reviews but it's optional.

altec_09 wrote: »

I wouldn't believe all of the positive feedback on here, I can't for a second trust that it's genuine.

We used them to sell our 3 bed semi and were very pleased from start to finish. You do get a more 'bare bones' service than others but it's a fraction of the price of others. Depends what you want I suppose and how much direct input you wish to have (or not as the case may be).

Seanymph

I looked at them - and booked a valuation. Then spent 10 days trying to contact the guy via a mobile phone number to talk about it.

Phoned head office - got hung up on.

Phoned head office - they said he 'wasn't on holiday' and they would 'phone him and leave a message on his answerphone' - clearly they didn't think I'd already done that!

I figured if that was the level of service before you had even listed with them I wasn't about to give them the opportunity to not sell me house.