Wow, there’s a lot to talk about since the major shift with Purplebricks, the leading online estate agent in the UK. They’ve gone from one of the highest-cost online agents to offering their services for free. Can you believe it?
Upon hearing that Purplebricks is providing a house-selling service at no cost – a service previously priced over £999 – you’re probably as shocked as everyone else and hurried to search for the reasons behind it.
Those of us skeptical about getting something for nothing are left wondering about the catch. Are we missing something here?
We need to consider:
- Is the house-selling service from Purplebricks genuinely free of any hidden charges or catches?
- And if it’s free, why is that?
Let me fill you in on what’s happening…
Overview of Purplebricks’ Estate Agent Service
Here’s an overview of Purplebricks’ eye-catching offer of their house selling service being completely free:
- Purplebricks.co.uk is now the UK’s only online estate agent that offers a completely free service.
- Since its inception in 2012, Purplebricks charged a service fee of £999 up until December 2023.
- They’re the top online agent in terms of property listings, ahead of competitors like Yopa.
- They have accumulated over 90,000 reviews on their TrustPilot page.
Is Purplebricks’ House-Selling Service Really Free?
In brief, absolutely! There are no hidden fees whatsoever.
Book your Free Valuation here
In 2023, Purplebricks was purchased by another online estate agency, Strike.co.uk – the third most popular online agent at the time – known for their free house-selling services which skyrocketed their popularity.
As Purplebricks has a more robust brand compared to Strike, the free service previously offered by Strike has migrated over to Purplebricks. This strategic move includes making Purplebricks.co.uk their primary platform and closing down Strike.co.uk.
Essentially, Strike took over Purplebricks, got rid of their original packages, and implemented their own offerings instead.
Thus, you can truly sign up with Purplebricks and sell your house at no cost.
So, Is There a Catch with Purplebricks’ Free Service?
Not exactly. In essence, their free house selling service comes with no strings attached. However, there are a couple of points worth noting:
£60 Anti-Money Laundering Fee
By law, Purplebricks, like all estate agents, must conduct anti-money laundering checks on sellers.
Usually, this cost is included in estate agents’ fees. Purplebricks, however, charges sellers a £60 Anti-Money Laundering (AML) fee, which they consider reasonable given their free service.
While £60 isn’t a dealbreaker for their “free” service, it’s still worth pondering if it really means “free”, and whether their claim that “thousands of our customers really do sell their homes without paying a penny” stands up.
You can form your own opinion on this matter.
£299 Rightmove Listing Fee
Many believe having a property listed on Rightmove & Zoopla is key to selling it quickly. While Purplebricks’ free service includes a Zoopla listing, being listed on Rightmove will cost you an extra £299.
I’d argue that Rightmove is the top property portal in the UK, drawing in more potential buyers than Zoopla.
So, although Purplebricks’ free offering is appealing, I find this aspect somewhat disappointing.
Other online estate agents can provide both Zoopla & Rightmove listings at a lower total cost.
However, no one else is offering a free house selling service with a Zoopla listing included. Zoopla still attracts significant traffic, and many estate agents use it as their primary platform, with impressive results. Some even claim Zoopla outperforms Rightmove in certain areas.
A free Zoopla listing is still very valuable, and Purplebricks’ free service might be worth trying even without the Rightmove option.
It’s something to keep in mind.
How to Sell Your Property with Purplebricks
Step 1: Get a Valuation
Purplebricks includes an in-person valuation by a local agent as part of their free service. Booking this valuation is the first step.
To be clear, there is no obligation to proceed with their service following the valuation.
Book your Free Valuation
Step 2: Instruct Purplebricks
If you’re satisfied with the valuation, you can instruct Purplebricks to market your property. It will be listed on major UK property portals, including Zoopla, for 6 months.
Step 3: Manage Your Advert & Enquiries
You can oversee your listing and all buyer communications through Purplebricks’ online dashboard or app, managing viewings and offers as well.
When you receive any messages, offers, or viewing requests, notifications will be sent through the app, text, or email.
Step 4: Conduct Viewings
If you didn’t opt for the £899 “hosted viewings” service, it’s up to you to arrange and conduct property viewings.
Purplebricks’ Professional Photography Service
If you want professional property photos through Purplebricks, you’ll need to pay.Photography isn’t included in the complimentary package from Purplebricks and it’s not inexpensive. You have two options:
1. Use your own photos for free.
2. Pay for one of the paid-add on options:
– £699 for digital enhancements, a 360 virtual tour, and a professional floorplan.
– £899 for the “Boost” package which includes all free offerings plus the above enhancements, a Rightmove premium listing, and discounted expert mortgage advice.
Examples of their photography can be seen on one of their Rightmove listings.
A word of caution: while you might be tempted to take pictures yourself or seek help from a local acquaintance, remember that quality photography can greatly influence the number of leads you generate.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective alternative to Purplebricks’ £699 offer, consider hiring an independent photographer from around £100. It could save you money, although it might require extra effort.
Please read the terms and conditions on the Purplebricks website for the most current and accurate information.
Many people wonder why Purplebricks offers free services. It’s because they aim to profit from selling additional services. These extra paid services include hosted viewings, Rightmove listings (standard and premium), photography, energy performance certificates, conveyancing, and mortgage services.
Purplebricks is transparent about their upselling strategy—they offer choices and you’re under no obligation to accept them. Ultimately, they hope customers will opt into these extra services, but you are not legally required to purchase any of them.Purplebricks provides a professional photography service, but it’s not the cheapest on the market. However, it may be more convenient to get all the services you need from one place, even if it’s a bit pricier. Ultimately, you’ll have to decide if that convenience is worth the cost. That said, it’s wise to compare prices from various sources to understand your options.
I’m suggesting that it’s not a bad idea to take advantage of Purplebricks’ free offer and then shop around for the additional services you need. Purplebricks might not afford to give good deals on these extra services due to their pricing model. They have to maintain their business, after all.
Regarding Purplebricks’ conveyancing service, it’s crucial to find reliable legal support to ensure a smooth property transaction. There have been some negative experiences with their recommended service, often described as an overloaded, impersonal system that can lead to poor communication and mistakes. My advice is to research and choose a conveyancing service that is reputable and possibly local, avoiding the cheapest options for better quality service. You can also use a tool provided by Reallymoving.com to find regulated solicitors.
Can you really trust Purplebricks’ property valuation? Well, it’s hard to trust any agent’s valuation completely. While Purplebricks offer an in-person valuation, which is great, they’re not necessarily more accurate than any other agent. It’s common for different agents to give varying estimates on a property’s worth. Always conduct your own research, look at market prices in your area, and then decide if you agree with the valuation given.
Comparing Purplebricks with other online estate agents, many people think Purplebricks is unique, but there are actually many online estate agents to choose from. I’m not going to compare them in detail, but let’s look at how Purplebricks stacks up against Yopa, a close competitor. Both offer UK-wide service and in-person valuations, but there are differences in cost and what’s included in their core services, like listing on Rightmove, photographs and floorplans, and whether they include a for-sale board/sign.In the first table, the ticks indicate that both options offer negotiation and sales progression. One option provides a sole agency contract for 13 weeks, while the other offers it for 16 weeks. An online dashboard and app are available with one choice but not with the other.
In the “Extras” section, the service labeled “*London prices” is free in one case, but costs £1,499 in total with the other option. The “*No sale, no fee” feature is also free with one option but varies by location with the other, starting at £999. Hosted viewings are listed at £899 for one service and £300 for the other. Additionally, both have buttons encouraging you to visit their websites.
I believe choosing between the top two services is an easy decision, even if I might need to pay more for Purplebricks’ Rightmove listing add-on.
Should you use Purplebricks to sell your house, and are they good at what they do? Granted, offering something for “free” can be quite appealing, but free doesn’t always equate to value.
I haven’t personally used Purplebricks or Strike’s estate agency services, but I aim to share their current offerings and shed light on the motivations behind the free services, which can seem as dubious as a raccoon in a trench coat.
It’s hard to understand how their business model is sustainable, but as consumers, should we care? If they’re handing out freebies, why not take advantage? At a minimum, it might be worth just taking the free valuation into consideration.
In terms of feedback, remember that Purplebricks has changed ownership, so most reviews before 2024 were under different management, which might affect their relevance.
One possible reason for negative reviews about online estate agents like Purplebricks might be the mismatch between customer expectations and the reality of the services provided. This might be why there’s a mix of positive and negative reviews.
It’s critical to understand how online agents operate differently from traditional high street agents before using their services. Online agents primarily facilitate marketing properties on large portals, leaving the selling process more in the hands of the homeowner.
If you’re comfortable managing viewings and negotiations, an online estate agent might save you money. However, if you prefer a full-service approach—despite the higher cost—a traditional agent might suit you better. Choosing the right agent is a personal decision based on your preferences and understanding of the service structure.
Personally, I would use Purplebricks, especially now that they offer services for free—quite a change from their previous fee of £999. Your experiences with Purplebricks’ free service would be interesting to hear—are they worth it?
Disclaimer: I’m not a professional legal or financial advisor. Please consult a qualified professional for such matters.