Purple Bricks

Purple Bricks describes itself as a team of entrepreneurs, property professionals, technical developers, and marketers, working together to make the process of selling, buying, letting, and renting more convenient, transparent, and cost–effective. They are a British online estate agent, founded in 2012 by brothers Michael and Kenny Bruce. As of December 2015, Purplebricks had a 60% share “among the top six online agents”

What type of Estate Agency is Purplebricks?

They are classed as a hybrid estate agent based on their methods, as they offer both online and offline services to potential customers. The customer is put in touch with a “local property expert” (who is National Association of Estate Agents trained) to value the house on sale and take photos. The customer pays only when he instructs the agency to go ahead, and after that point, the local property expert then organizes house viewings. After creating an account, the customer can keep track of scheduled viewings, and even give feedback in a dedicated area of his profile.

Purplebricks has an online webchat and contact centre which is very helpful, and is open 24/7, both facts to which customers can testify.

What Are Purplebricks Reviews Like?

Trustpilot will be the main focal point with regards to assessing the Purplebricks’ reviews. Trustpilot gives it an average rating of 5 stars out of 5 (excellent). One review can lend some insight into the quality of the company’s service and it goes thus:

“I’m so happy I found Purplebricks. Wendy has been very helpful explaining the process to me. She has communicated with me every step of the way to ensure I know what to expect. The photography/virtual tour is truly amazing. I have no doubt I will continue to be supported through this process with professionalism and kindness. I would recommend Purplebricks to anyone looking to buy or sell their home, while holding on to their hard earned equity”.

Another one goes thus: “We used purple bricks to sell our home and from start to finish, I must say how happy we are with them. From the day Tarun came out (who is a great guy, very helpful and professional) everything went so well. Vicky organized the viewings and did a great job showing people around and organizing things and we got over the asking price. In general I would recommend people to use purple bricks as they are all very helpful and get the job done”.

Homeownersalliance.com gives purplebricks a 97% sale price achievement rate, which is among the highest on the site.

The overall review situation of Purplebricks seems to be really great and we would be remiss not to recommend the agency as a very valuable option for those looking to sell their homes. It is, after all, the number 1 online real estate agency in the UK.

How Much does Purplebricks Charge to Sell my House?

Just like others, Purplebricks offers customers a wide variety of packages to choose from. Instead of the long lists of fees that other sites charge, Purplebricks’s fee structure is pretty simple. There’s an 850 pound “fixed fee” charged on the sale of your property, be it a multi-family house, single-family home or even a starter home. This fixed fee covers:

• A property expert that is dedicated to managing every aspect of the sale, from valuation to completion, making sure that you get the best price for your home.
• An expert floor plan, professional photography, and property description completed as soon as the customer gives the go ahead.
• Purplebricks perk of having one of the largest databases of UK house buyers, facilitating easy service delivery.
• Adverts on all major property portals including Rightmove, Zoopla and Primelocation as soon as the customer approves the advert.
• Creation of photobooks, which can easily be shared on social media such as Facebook and Google+ for increased buzz.
• A dedicated post-sales and support team that will be there to guide the customer through the conveyancing process and assist with any problems and questions.

According to Purplebricks, the payment can even be deferred until later if the customer wishes but their definition of the deferring process isn’t clear. Also, choosing their viewing service means a one off additional fee of 300 pounds.

Where do they Advertise my Property?

As stated earlier, Purplebricks will put your home up on Zoopla, Rightmove and Primelocation. They will also help create some social media buzz around your property on sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Purplebricks Estate Agent Summary

Overall Purplebricks looks like a contender for the best value for money online real estate agency in the UK. It also turns out to be the largest and this should speak for their experience in the space and the quality of their service delivery. The fixed fee is among the smallest we’ve seen, and even with the extra 300 pounds tacked on for the viewings service, is still a bargain for any seller. There is also the added option where the seller can defer the payment until later, although what constitutes this concept isn’t very clear on the site. Purplebricks will help you sell your house, no doubt.