Free Purplebricks House Selling, any good?

Skiddaw1

We've only ever viewed one house where PB was the EA. The bloke who showed us around was late, had clearly just dragged himself out of bed with a hangover, knew absolutely nothing about the house and spent most of the viewing having a row with someone on his mobile. We tried to view another PB house once but the booking a viewing system didn't work and no-one ever did reply to our messages. So no- we'd avoid a PB house like the plague.

IMO, a good local EA is worth their weight in gold. It isn't just the marketing- it's the sales progression and general oiling of the wheels. I'd always be prepared to pay what is necessary for a good service.

eurobabe

I wouldn't skimp on trying to save by marketing the property yourself.Even if you have good selling skills it's handy having a buffer between you and the perspective buyers.If not there's a chance they could turn up at your door unannounced and to bargain with you directly, even when you've accepted another offer etc.Also with PB as a buyer I'd very weary buying through them as their service is awful.The vendors solicitor is important when buying as their another link in the chain and also handy when it comes to chasing things from vendor and vendors solicitor.
I viewed a property via PB the agent was busy in his mobile when I arrived then called me by another clients name and all the text and email reminders were annoying.
Might not always be the case but someone who scrimps on a estate agent gives me concern as to what else they have scrimped on or will do when selling.such as certification for works or will selling be delayed by scrimping later on.

pinkshoes

A friend of mine just sold her flat with PB and had no issues. 

It was much cheaper than the local EA, the valuation was in line with other similar flats so sensible, it was listed on Rightmove, she did the viewings herself and accepted an offer just under the asking price within a month. 

Perhaps PB puts some people off, but I'd say it's a minority. If someone ones a house then the EA it's being sold with is irrelevant - plenty of crappy high street EAs out there who demand you see their mortgage broker before they'll let you view!

Mutton_Geoff

I always assume people list with PB because they think their house is worth more than local agents have indicated. To try to avoid agents fees in this way can backfire. I've used posh national firms like Savills and Knight Frank to sell. In every case, they have more than earned their fee by selling the houses for much more than the small local agents suggested.

My last sale cost me £25,000 in fees but gained me much more in achieved sale price than the other agents believed it was worth.

When appointments were made, I always went out. Buyers are likely to feel much more uncomfortable in the presence of the owner so I would never think of hosting a visit myself. We can be our own worst enemy.

EssexHebridean

housebuyer143 said:

gwynlas said:

Most buyers do not consider looking at houses advertised by Purple Bricks.

A High St EA does more than list properties

Doing things yourself is like trying to find a private buyer for a top of the range car Mr & Mrs average would rather go through a dealer

Where do you get that information from?  People find a house they like and would they really discount it because it's PB? Seems unlikely. 

When we were looking last year I didn’t even bother looking at listings with PB. Having had experience of how terrible they can be at work, I didn’t fancy trying to get into a transaction with an agent who I knew would be likely to be apathetic at best if things needed chasing. 

propertyrental

housebuyer143 said:

gwynlas said:

Most buyers do not consider looking at houses advertised by Purple Bricks.

A High St EA does more than list properties

Doing things yourself is like trying to find a private buyer for a top of the range car Mr & Mrs average would rather go through a dealer

Where do you get that information from?  People find a house they like and would they really discount it because it's PB? Seems unlikely. 

Obviously I have no stats on numbers etc, but yes, having had appalling experiences with PB as a buyer I'd never (try to) view though them again.

Albermarle

Mutton_Geoff said:

I always assume people list with PB because they think their house is worth more than local agents have indicated. To try to avoid agents fees in this way can backfire. I've used posh national firms like Savills and Knight Frank to sell. In every case, they have more than earned their fee by selling the houses for much more than the small local agents suggested.

My last sale cost me £25,000 in fees but gained me much more in achieved sale price than the other agents believed it was worth.

When appointments were made, I always went out. Buyers are likely to feel much more uncomfortable in the presence of the owner so I would never think of hosting a visit myself. We can be our own worst enemy.

I think this must depend on the personality of the vendors.
I have only ever actually sold one house, but as we had small children it was not really practical to move out for every viewing.
Also both me and the OH were in sales and quite sociable and level headed, so I do not think it caused any issues.
A younger family member has been recently looking at houses and they were quite shocked at how poor some of the younger inexperienced EA's assistants were showing them around.

user1977

Albermarle said:

Mutton_Geoff said:

I always assume people list with PB because they think their house is worth more than local agents have indicated. To try to avoid agents fees in this way can backfire. I've used posh national firms like Savills and Knight Frank to sell. In every case, they have more than earned their fee by selling the houses for much more than the small local agents suggested.

My last sale cost me £25,000 in fees but gained me much more in achieved sale price than the other agents believed it was worth.

When appointments were made, I always went out. Buyers are likely to feel much more uncomfortable in the presence of the owner so I would never think of hosting a visit myself. We can be our own worst enemy.

I think this must depend on the personality of the vendors.
I have only ever actually sold one house, but as we had small children it was not really practical to move out for every viewing.
Also both me and the OH were in sales and quite sociable and level headed, so I do not think it caused any issues.
A younger family member has been recently looking at houses and they were quite shocked at how poor some of the younger inexperienced EA's assistants were showing them around.

Yes, I know we've had similar threads before, but my experience in Scotland is that it would be considered a bit weird for an owner-occupier seller to go and hide somewhere rather than show buyers round. Not much point having a clueless EA who can't answer any normal questions about the property or the neighbourhood.

eurobabe

Also check the wording for the package you're signing up to as a number of people have got shocks further down the line with PB when theyve signed up to higher fees than they original nally thought.

Sapindus

Mutton_Geoff said:

When appointments were made, I always went out. Buyers are likely to feel much more uncomfortable in the presence of the owner so I would never think of hosting a visit myself. We can be our own worst enemy.

Thread creep - I absolutely would show buyers round myself.  As  buyer, I would rather meet the vendor.  I'm selling this house with one or two could-be-issues and I want to make the sure the buyer is aware of them and I appear as an honest seller.  I want to make sure I get the "right" buyer.