Purplebricks - anyone bought? Experiences?
Discussion
As title says really.
I know estate agents are largely out of the picture once you get an offer accepted. But wondered if anyone had any experiences good or bad with them as a buyer.
I found their site quite a change from normal buying.... a bit like ebay for houses! It worked though we went from offer, negotiation to acceptance in about 2hrs yesterday.
I know estate agents are largely out of the picture once you get an offer accepted. But wondered if anyone had any experiences good or bad with them as a buyer.
I found their site quite a change from normal buying.... a bit like ebay for houses! It worked though we went from offer, negotiation to acceptance in about 2hrs yesterday.
We bought... viewing / offers / negotiation / acceptance not a problem but all I can say is I don't rate the Purple Bricks conveyancing "service" our sellers used (Premier Property Lawyers). SLOW and uncommunicative
Thankfully we could speak to the vendor directly through Purple Bricks messages to let them know the issues our solicitors were having with PPL and get things moving/to exchange.
Thankfully we could speak to the vendor directly through Purple Bricks messages to let them know the issues our solicitors were having with PPL and get things moving/to exchange.
Edited by JungTheForeman on Friday 15th March 13:16
digimeistter said:
That's when the real work begins! PB have the highest fall through rate in the industry by a country mile!Purplse bricks sign says to me = not that serious at best, delusional at worst.
okgo said:
digimeistter said:
That's when the real work begins! PB have the highest fall through rate in the industry by a country mile!Purplse bricks sign says to me = not that serious at best, delusional at worst.
t out. Went through in the end.Never, never sell to wannabe property developers who’ve watched one too many episodes of Homes Under the Hammer.
We purchased a house through purple bricks late last year. Absolute ste. They are cheap for a reason, they do absolutely fk all. They don’t even get engaged in negotiations, they leave it for you to do yourself via their website.
Luckily we had a blooming good traditional EA who kept the chain alive and chased everything that needed chasing until completion. PB did nothing and didn’t even get any communication from them.
It was great pay for our seller - they paid peanuts and we did all the work
te. They are cheap for a reason, they do absolutely fk all. They don’t even get engaged in negotiations, they leave it for you to do yourself via their website.Luckily we had a blooming good traditional EA who kept the chain alive and chased everything that needed chasing until completion. PB did nothing and didn’t even get any communication from them.
It was great pay for our seller - they paid peanuts and we did all the work
okgo said:
Purple bricks sign says to me = not that serious at best, delusional at worst.
Certainly says something to me. If it was the right house, no estate agent would put me off, in fact the house we bought was a local bricks and mortar equivalent of the pile it high budget end of the spectrum. The sellers where slating them from the opening conversation on the first viewing, when my and my partner turned up with my parents and sister in tow. She was a small lady on her own, evening, and had been told it was just my partner turning up! They must have added a month two the process if not two, when we had a down valuation it was me that did all the legwork not their valuer.
Daniel
Purchased my first property through PB. The vendor done all the viewings, and had his diary on the site so I could book viewings when he would be in - simple and efficient. I actually made the offer to the guy, in his home before putting it through PB's as I couldn't be bothered faffing around.
Offer accepted, offer accepted through the online portal then I get a call from the 'local' agent talking a few things through and asking to see proof of deposit, and could I text her an image of my POD....fair enough I thought.
Vendor didn't pay for the additional viewing services so the mortgage valuation was delayed because he worked 9-5 and wasn't there to let the surveyor in.
Overall it was OK.
I put my property on the market a few months ago (not with purple bricks) and I’ll explain why.
Had PB round to value, came in 30k under what other agents had valued, came with one example of a similar property sold locally, however this property had sold 3 years ago, the other agents came with 6-7 current and local examples of advertised, sold, STC properties.
The PB agent stated ‘just check my google review if you want to see how good I am’ before even stepping foot in my property (I decided at this point he wasn’t getting my business)
The agent, thinking they had sealed the deal when I asked about their pricing was ‘forcing’ the use of their conveyancing team otherwise I would have to pay upfront for their services.
The agent came to view on a Saturday morning (as did the others), PB agent had to book an appointment with his ‘photo guy’ and ‘plans guy’ and I could expect to hear from these within 2-3 days, and it would take a day after that for my property to be on the market.
The winning agent took photos when they came to value ‘just in case’ I decided to instruct them. Then returned later that afternoon to do the building plans once instructed, my property was online the next day.
Offer accepted, offer accepted through the online portal then I get a call from the 'local' agent talking a few things through and asking to see proof of deposit, and could I text her an image of my POD....fair enough I thought.
Vendor didn't pay for the additional viewing services so the mortgage valuation was delayed because he worked 9-5 and wasn't there to let the surveyor in.
Overall it was OK.
I put my property on the market a few months ago (not with purple bricks) and I’ll explain why.
Had PB round to value, came in 30k under what other agents had valued, came with one example of a similar property sold locally, however this property had sold 3 years ago, the other agents came with 6-7 current and local examples of advertised, sold, STC properties.
The PB agent stated ‘just check my google review if you want to see how good I am’ before even stepping foot in my property (I decided at this point he wasn’t getting my business)
The agent, thinking they had sealed the deal when I asked about their pricing was ‘forcing’ the use of their conveyancing team otherwise I would have to pay upfront for their services.
The agent came to view on a Saturday morning (as did the others), PB agent had to book an appointment with his ‘photo guy’ and ‘plans guy’ and I could expect to hear from these within 2-3 days, and it would take a day after that for my property to be on the market.
The winning agent took photos when they came to value ‘just in case’ I decided to instruct them. Then returned later that afternoon to do the building plans once instructed, my property was online the next day.
As a surveyor I find PB to be a right PITA. Their office is only a call centre and they always refer me to the local rep, who normally takes at least three days to return calls and "local" often means 10-12 miles away. Getting a survey booked is ALWAYS hard work. All the estate agents I know cannot stand them as the EA has to do PB's work for them as well. So PB look cheap but they rely on everyone else to sort out all the usual hassle with buying and selling.
I know estate agents are largely out of the picture once you get an offer accepted.
You couldn't be more wrong, without input from an incentivised agent who only gets paid when the transaction completes probably more than a third of sales would fall apart.
Many of the issues the vendor may not even be aware of as they are quietly sorted in the background. When a mortgage valuation is booked in we do the valuers work for him/her by supplying all the comparables that underwrite the agreed price.
A further problem is if you are a vendor with PB and you offer on something a traditional/proper agent is selling and there is a competing bid, every agent will always suggest to a vendor not to take an offer that puts PB in a chain. This is not sour grapes it is entirely due to zero communication up and down the chain and the higher than average fall through.
You couldn't be more wrong, without input from an incentivised agent who only gets paid when the transaction completes probably more than a third of sales would fall apart.
Many of the issues the vendor may not even be aware of as they are quietly sorted in the background. When a mortgage valuation is booked in we do the valuers work for him/her by supplying all the comparables that underwrite the agreed price.
A further problem is if you are a vendor with PB and you offer on something a traditional/proper agent is selling and there is a competing bid, every agent will always suggest to a vendor not to take an offer that puts PB in a chain. This is not sour grapes it is entirely due to zero communication up and down the chain and the higher than average fall through.
GT03ROB said:
Oh great!!
Ah well right house so there is no choice. Forewarned is forearmed.
Yeah for sure.Ah well right house so there is no choice. Forewarned is forearmed.
One of the main things is to be able to communicate effectively with the seller during the buying process, else you can end up both waiting for each other as the solicitors do nothing to progress the sale.
If you have bought a house before you should be ok, and can post on here, if you haven't just remember that basically nothing will happen unless you asking to and chase it
Daniel
Nearly lost our dream home due to purple bricks, or so everyone kept blaming them anyway. Our buyers were selling through purple bricks and at the last minute their buyers couldn't get a mortgage.
I also found that the estate agents of the house we're buying really didn't like that our buyers were using purple bricks. Then when it fell to bits I think they took great joy in, "I told you so".
I also found that the estate agents of the house we're buying really didn't like that our buyers were using purple bricks. Then when it fell to bits I think they took great joy in, "I told you so".
I'm in the process of buying through them at the moment.
The 'local property expert' from PB showed me round and then let me loose on the on-line portal to submit a bid. That turned into a farce of him trying to be clever and I think trying to suggest there was another bidder in play which I doubt as I ended up talking to the owner direct and she knew nothing about it.
I got the deal done but at no point have I been asked for ID or proof of funding.
I don't really care as I've got the place cheaper than I expected. Can't help but think that the seller has got what she paid for in terms of service but in reality has probably lost out, I'm sure a traditional agent would have squeezed me a lot harder!
I've been an agent for 30 years and I know I would!
The 'local property expert' from PB showed me round and then let me loose on the on-line portal to submit a bid. That turned into a farce of him trying to be clever and I think trying to suggest there was another bidder in play which I doubt as I ended up talking to the owner direct and she knew nothing about it.
I got the deal done but at no point have I been asked for ID or proof of funding.
I don't really care as I've got the place cheaper than I expected. Can't help but think that the seller has got what she paid for in terms of service but in reality has probably lost out, I'm sure a traditional agent would have squeezed me a lot harder!
I've been an agent for 30 years and I know I would!
GT03ROB said:
Oh great!!
Ah well right house so there is no choice. Forewarned is forearmed.
Never used them but I have bought a few houses and had to chase estate agents left right and centre, I don't know who all these people are with wonderful EAs who do so much amazing work to get a house sold, but I've never met one. Ah well right house so there is no choice. Forewarned is forearmed.
LFB531 said:
The 'local property expert' from PB showed me round and then let me loose on the on-line portal to submit a bid. That turned into a farce of him trying to be clever and I think trying to suggest there was another bidder in play which I doubt as I ended up talking to the owner direct and she knew nothing about it.
I got the deal done but at no point have I been asked for ID or proof of funding.
I don't really care as I've got the place cheaper than I expected. Can't help but think that the seller has got what she paid for in terms of service but in reality has probably lost out, I'm sure a traditional agent would have squeezed me a lot harder!
I've been an agent for 30 years and I know I would!
I spoke with the local expert at the property & asked if there was much interest. Got told one guy had already been round couple of times, another had made an offer but was not proceedable as they hadn't yet marketed their property. I asked what that offer was to save wasting everybody's time. He wouldn't divulge.I got the deal done but at no point have I been asked for ID or proof of funding.
I don't really care as I've got the place cheaper than I expected. Can't help but think that the seller has got what she paid for in terms of service but in reality has probably lost out, I'm sure a traditional agent would have squeezed me a lot harder!
I've been an agent for 30 years and I know I would!
Day later I put a fair offer in via the site. He came back to me within the hour, said the other offer had been 20k above mine, but vendor would deal with me for 5k more than I had offered. Deal wrapped up within a couple of hours of making the offer. Again no ID request or proof of funding although he did contact my agent 1st thing the next morning to confirm my sale position.
One advantage I can see is there is the facility for a lot more transparency between buyer & seller.
Good luck.
What’s your vendor’s position? And forgive me, I read the thread yesterday (and was mildly surprised by the general tone as commonly similar threads sing the praises of online only agencies and contain very many more posts like jasandjules’, above) and have forgotten yours!
What’s your vendor’s position? And forgive me, I read the thread yesterday (and was mildly surprised by the general tone as commonly similar threads sing the praises of online only agencies and contain very many more posts like jasandjules’, above) and have forgotten yours!
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