Selling through House Network

smallholdingsister

I don't think so.

Kittenonthekeys

Hmm - I found that thread on Premier Conveyancing - very mixed reviews indeed and it seems to be complete pot luck as to whether you get allocated someone efficient, communicative and proactive or not. Their charges seem quite high too. I imagine when it does work it's great, especially as you can check progress online, but if you're one of the unlucky ones, it sounds like it would be a right 'mare to get things sorted.
Still not sure, but I'm veering towards using a local firm.....

movingon

ThePants999 wrote: »

I just remembered that Purplebricks have that sneaky small print whereby if you don't pay upfront, you've agreed to use their (awful) conveyancers. Any chance there's the same condition attached in this case?

I'm with them and have used the option 3, (pay only after you sell). There is no obligation to use their conveyancers whatsoever, though they do ask you if you would like a quote from them, when you accept an offer from a buyer. I got a quote, followed by a phone call from Premier, but declined their services and am using a local solicitor instead.

lewishardwick

My vendor is using House Network, the agent dealing with the sale is professional and efficient and Is happy to deal with any third parties needed. Their conveyancing and mortgage broker team did need a few firm "no thanks" before they got the hint I had already got other services in place.

That is much more than can be said for Purple Bricks. Turned up 25mins late for a open house viewing, leaving 20 viewers stranded in the street. Would need an amazing property for me to consider them again.

googler

lewishardwick wrote: »

That is much more than can be said for Purple Bricks. Turned up 25mins late for a open house viewing, leaving 20 viewers stranded in the street.

Could that be because their viewers turned up late at the previous viewing, do you think ... ?

jaydeeuk1

I looked at purple bricks and others and I'm sure they'll all really good.

Went with Visum in the end simply 'cos they were cheapest (£99 to list on rightmove & zoopla etc) and there wasn't much feedback about them (I became the guinea pig )

https://www.visum.co.uk/

For £200 as we bought a 'featured RM listing' I thought they were worth a punt and they are still a 'bricks and mortar' agent, house sold day after we started doing viewings, I have a thread about them on here. You do all the work, photos, descriptions, arrange EPC, viewings, but you speak to the potential buyers directly. I don't think any estate agent could sell your house as well as you can.

Kittenonthekeys

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

I looked at purple bricks and others and I'm sure they'll all really good.

Went with Visum in the end simply 'cos they were cheapest (£99 to list on rightmove & zoopla etc) and there wasn't much feedback about them (I became the guinea pig )

https://www.visum.co.uk/

For £200 as we bought a 'featured RM listing' I thought they were worth a punt and they are still a 'bricks and mortar' agent, house sold day after we started doing viewings, I have a thread about them on here. You do all the work, photos, descriptions, arrange EPC, viewings, but you speak to the potential buyers directly. I don't think any estate agent could sell your house as well as you can.

Thank you for that info. Just went and had a look at Visum - as I understand it, they charge a one-off fee of £58.50, plus whichever level of service you choose - Gold, Silver or Bronze - and that then covers you for 28 days, after which you have the option to renew for a further 28 days?
If I got that right, then renewing, say, the Gold option (at £46.80 a time) for 14 or so months would be more or less the cost equivalent of the £699 House Network fee. Unless of course you sold quickly!
I guess it's horses for courses, some people are fine with no hand-holding and it also would depend on how fast-moving property is in your area. If it sells itself, eg in London, you would save a massive amount with Visum.
For a more experienced seller who doesn't mind doing it all themselves (with no 'middleman') you do get that vital Rightmove exposure.
I think though that on balance, even as a many-times seller, I would still choose House Network.
Main reason is that imo it just seems to put the whole thing on a more professional footing (and could even put off chancers and tiimewasters) to have a buyer contact an agency, rather than the seller direct.

lewishardwick

Normally, yes, but when they don't even get anyone to contact the vendor or any of the viewers, it's a bit off.

On the flip side, I've had agents phone me advising of delays. Common courtesy costs nothing.

fed_up_and_stressed

lewishardwick wrote: »

Normally, yes, but when they don't even get anyone to contact the vendor or any of the viewers, it's a bit off.

On the flip side, I've had agents phone me advising of delays. Common courtesy costs nothing.

With House Network they text / email a reminder on the day of the viewing confirming the time of the appointment to both viewer and vendor.

They also called to advise viewers were delayed or had cancelled.

jaydeeuk1

Kittenonthekeys wrote: »

Thank you for that info. Just went and had a look at Visum - as I understand it, they charge a one-off fee of £58.50, plus whichever level of service you choose - Gold, Silver or Bronze - and that then covers you for 28 days, after which you have the option to renew for a further 28 days?
If I got that right, then renewing, say, the Gold option (at £46.80 a time) for 14 or so months would be more or less the cost equivalent of the £699 House Network fee. Unless of course you sold quickly!
I guess it's horses for courses, some people are fine with no hand-holding and it also would depend on how fast-moving property is in your area. If it sells itself, eg in London, you would save a massive amount with Visum.
For a more experienced seller who doesn't mind doing it all themselves (with no 'middleman') you do get that vital Rightmove exposure.
I think though that on balance, even as a many-times seller, I would still choose House Network.
Main reason is that imo it just seems to put the whole thing on a more professional footing (and could even put off chancers and tiimewasters) to have a buyer contact an agency, rather than the seller direct.

The buyer does contact the agency first, they then give the buyer your details and the seller gets the buyers details.
If you're in a 'slow' area then house network or even a local agent might be better, in Belper houses can go in as little as a few hours so the smaller fee made more sense.