Does selling online work e.g. Purplebricks?

p00hsticks

Only my personal opinion based on what I've heard of others experiences with Purple Bricks, but if I was looking to buy I don't think I'd consider even viewing any property that had them as the agent.  

itsthelittlethings

I bought off Purple Bricks. It took about a year which was ok as I was a FTB and my vendor was moving in with his partner. I don’t think he was so pleased! I think the main issue is that he used their solicitor as well and they were hopeless.

Skiddaw1

Might a traditional auction be a better option? Have to say that if two local EAs have failed to attract a buyer I doubt PB or similar will result in much interest either.

propertyrental

Many buyers get put off from properties being sold on PBs so you are likely to get a smaller number of interested buyers.

Price or property condition/location etc is the factor here, not which EA you use.

silvercar

My son bought through an online estate agency called Yopa. The agent was actually quite good, introducing my son to his eventual property by following up on an unsuccessful viewing by suggesting a flat in a neighbouring area that my son hadn’t considered.

FlyMeSomewhere79

Purple bricks have unbelievably bad reviews, they fail to organise viewings and god knows what else, don't go near them!! 

chanz4

After using pb, dont believe all the hype

Bigphil1474

Purple Bricks offer a range of services. There is a basic do most of the work yourself service which is free. If you are up for that, then it's a good way to get your property marketed. AFAIK, you take all the photos, do the write up, and all the viewings are arranged through the app and you do the viewings. The only problem I found with PB is that to arrange a viewing the potential buyer has to set up a PB account, which for someone trawling through the Right Move pages, might be too much of a faff. I've viewed one PB property previously, and I avoid them now unless it is an exceptional property (not happened yet). As with most EA's you find the best solicitor for you and don't necessarily use their recommended one.

OP - are you getting viewings? If you are getting viewings and no sales, then it might suggest the price is okay but maybe the reality doesn't match the online listing. If no viewings, then the people you are marketing it to aren't seeing it as suitable. My advice - do what work you can to improve the property - tart it up or spend money - then remarket.

RSTime

@silvercar suggest they look at NW2 5BU 

ReadySteadyPop

RSTime said:

We have had to move my mum into care and are selling her home. Her house in London needs considerable renovation (not been touched for over 40 years) and we have dropped the price to reflect this, however, after trying two estate agents we have not sold the house. We have had some negative feedback concerning our current estate agent (apparently they have been negative about the property in a viewing) and I am looking at other options. 

Does online selling work, any issues I need to be aware of?

I would plan to move into my mum's house for a while to conduct viewings. I would welcome the experience of others who have gone this route. Purplebricks is the only company I am familiar with, are they still the market leaders?

On a separate note, is the market really slow in (North West) London, I understand developers are not active due to high interest rates and people are struggling to get mortgages?

I believe PB went bust recently and got taken over by another company? Houses were selling themselves when interest rates were zero, now it is more tricky, all PB offer is a known name with a web space to display your property, they are not going to do any graft to sell it from what I hear, they make their money from fees to advertise not from actually selling. As other posters have said, if you have no offers the house isn`t priced correctly, unless demand in your area is way down? The EA may think that the price takes into account work needing done, but for people buying it seems it may not?