Selling by Purplebricks/ Traditional Estate agent

VinnyC

What are peoples thoughts on the right estate agent to use for selling your property?

I was considering PurpleBricks, due to the cheap selling fees. However, I was slightly disappointed with the valuation/ selling method for the property. Basically they suggested that we should price our property at the lower end of the valuation and ask for offers over that value.

As such, I then thought that a traditional estate agent might generate us more money for our house. If their fees are based on a % of the property, they are surely incentivised to advertise the property slightly higher value to get a higher fee... although then any higher sales value could be offset by their higher fees :S

Does anyone else have experience with PurpleBricks, and did you get a offer above the asking price?

kinger101

You decide what price to market the property at. The agent, whether internet or high street, simply advise. If you prefer the sound of one agent's marketing strategy, you're free to use this with the internet-based agent.

Conversely, I've just had valuations done and it was the high-street agent who suggested offers-over.

Mutton_Geoff

Until recently I didn't hold estate agents with much regard but a firm recently sold my house for 25% more than I and three other agents thought it was worth. Their skill was knowing the local market and being good enough to close the sale. Selling houses is not as simple as advertising it like a car or item on Gumtree. Converting an enquiry into a sale takes a special talent that I was willing to pay for.

GoldenShadow

I offered on a house for sale with Purple Bricks and now it puts me off going to see a house, hard to explain why but that experience was the worst I've had trying to buy a house. Our local agents are all doing fees of 0.75% currently I would far rather pay a smidge more for them and they are pricing at the top end of valuation.

3mph

Purple bricks and other cut price ones are a real pain for buyers. When you phone they haven't a clue and the owner has to show you round. Very off putting. I reckon a good agent should sell it quicker and at a better price. Depends on property. If mid or higher value then the cut price agents make you think the property is cut price.
That's my view as a buyer.

kinger101

3mph wrote: »

Purple bricks and other cut price ones are a real pain for buyers. When you phone they haven't a clue and the owner has to show you round. Very off putting. I reckon a good agent should sell it quicker and at a better price. Depends on property. If mid or higher value then the cut price agents make you think the property is cut price.
That's my view as a buyer.

Many potential buyers prefer to be shown round by the owner.

tim123456789

kinger101 wrote: »

Many potential buyers prefer to be shown round by the owner.

So they can ask stupid question like "what do you really want for this house?"

He was my first viewing (ever, as well as for that house), the genuine answer was "as much as I can get", and I had no idea if the EA had priced it correctly or not, so I said nothing.

I'd put a rude name for him here if I didn't suspect that MSE would blank it out

tim123456789

Anyhow

Downstairs has just sold with PB, sold within the first week (these props are easy to sell)

I note that that was OIEO, but the price that the quoted was at the top end of what is to be expected so I think they were trying it on

Pewmouse

We sold with House Simple, it wasn't too difficult and we save a lot of money as we chose to pay up front. We got more than we expected for the house and sold within 6 days of being on the market (in Yorkshire not London) but the level of customer service and support is not that of a traditional estate agents. We also had to write our own description which was a bit of a pain. All I will say is if you go with them don't use their conveyancing service! Its premier property lawyers and the are not great.

kinger101

tim123456789 wrote: »

So they can ask stupid question like "what do you really want for this house?"

He was my first viewing (ever, as well as for that house), the genuine answer was "as much as I can get", and I had no idea if the EA had priced it correctly or not, so I said nothing.

I'd put a rude name for him here if I didn't suspect that MSE would blank it out

It's not a stupid question. Just one unlikely to be answered. Your answer was fine. I'm sure the type of person who'd be that direct would have asked the same question to an agent.

kinger101

Pewmouse wrote: »

We sold with House Simple, it wasn't too difficult and we save a lot of money as we chose to pay up front. We got more than we expected for the house and sold within 6 days of being on the market (in Yorkshire not London) but the level of customer service and support is not that of a traditional estate agents. We also had to write our own description which was a bit of a pain. All I will say is if you go with them don't use their conveyancing service! Its premier property lawyers and the are not great.

Many high street agents use Premier as well. There is a thread on here somewhere detailing their incompetence.