Purple Bricks rental management

[Rusty Gusset]

I'm looking for an agent for full rental management of a flat. Purple Bricks comes out around 16% cheaper than nearest conventional local competitor over one year and even greater over subsequent years (26% YR2, 29% YR3...) because of cheaper monthly % rates and diminishing effect of initial charge .

It seemed a no-brainer but I've not been impressed with 1st contact raising an alarm bell. Any experience with them as rental agents?

Thanks

[Ello]

Where is the property based?

I may be able to help, or know someone who can.

[Bikesalot]

Rusty Gusset said:

I'm looking for an agent for full rental management of a flat. Purple Bricks comes out around 16% cheaper than nearest conventional local competitor over one year and even greater over subsequent years (26% YR2, 29% YR3...) because of cheaper monthly % rates and diminishing effect of initial charge .

It seemed a no-brainer but I've not been impressed with 1st contact raising an alarm bell. Any experience with them as rental agents?

Thanks

After my recent house purchase, and first experience of them...I wouldn't be keen to use them for anything. The communication struggles are real!

However I can't comment on the rental management.

[superlightr]

so what is the property value and what is the % pbricks charging and then what are the "extras" they are charging?

Do they add charges or get commission when they instruct contractors - when I asked this the 'rep' would not answer

What has you local Letting agent offered? (Not estate agent)

remember you are buying a service not a product when you let out a house using an agent- so the service side has to be excellent otherwise you are wasting your money.

The cost of using a cheap bad agent easily outweighs the cost of using a good one who charges a fair amount. Use a dedicated letting agent not an estate agent and certainly not a listing agent such as pbricks.

Edited by superlightr on Monday 10th July 13:01

[BoRED S2upid]

We pay 10%. How do purple bricks do property mgt? Who deals with viewings? Check outs and check in? Repairs etc...?

I've always gone local as they have the best rates with local tradesmen for repairs and their own handyman who is very cheap. I doubtpurple bricks offers such a service.

[Rusty Gusset]

Thanks for the feedback. The property is in Edinburgh

PB want 9% management fee per month (Net) with a 450UKP initial fee. The local agents vary between 12 - 15% Net with lower initial fees.

I've decided to go with an established local company based on : -
- Details of what PB cover are sketchy.
- Getting them on the phone was hard and I ended up getting someone who knew nothing and struggled with English
- Email correspondence was poor
- When I was assigned a "Purple Bricks local agent" they booked a date to visit next day, then said they were going on vacation and would pass it to a colleague, then changed their mind again... Then I pulled the plug

PB principle seems like a good idea. I liked their flat rate and the online interface but they don't seem to be there yet with property management.

The local company have already picked up the ball and ran with it, collecting keys, organising factoring, furniture, maintenance, licensing etc... Seems you pay for what you get

[Rusty Gusset]

.... As a final close-out on this for anyone searching in the future... PB agent turned up unannounced wanting to pick up keys to do a Home "Sale Evaluation" (rather than rental), basing his mistake on communication error between him and the group. He also commented that they actually don't do rental management in the area, at this time and it was all a miscommunication error in the PB group

Stay clear until they get their house(s) in order

[superlightr]

Rusty Gusset said:

....
Stay clear until they get their house(s) in order

Stay clear. Full Stop.

Pleased to hear you are using a proper agent. Hope you went with a dedicated letting agent rather then a estate agent who does a bit of lettings !;)