Purplebricks - Do they intentionally undervalue?

mr_goo
mr_goo Posts: 3,770
edited April 2017 in The cake stop
Has anyone ever used this online estate agent for selling?
We had their local rep around to value our place a couple of weeks back as we are thinking of moving from our bungalow. He valued the place at what I thought seemed quite low. Stating that if it was put on any higher then nobody would look at it. I thought this rather curious as a similar property just up the road had sold for £40k more, and was in an awful state of repair and had smaller plot. I mentioned this, and was met with a mumbled explanation that ' run down properties fetch more because they are a project sale'. WTF.
Got in a local estate agent specialising in bungalows, who told me that our place would sell quickly as it is in demand and would easily fetch £75k more than the valuation given by Purplebricks.
So I guess a word of caution to those out there thinking of selling with Purplebricks. They clearly promote their service very well on the telly and radio. And they go big on the quick hit and turnover rate when discussing their service. But is it any wonder they sell quickly? I'm sure I'd get plenty of people queuing at the door if I put my place up for sale at a grossly undervalued price.
Always be yourself, unless you can be Aaron Rodgers....Then always be Aaron Rodgers.

Comments

  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 27,487
    Sounds a bit like webuyanycar: it prioritises making a quick sale over getting the best price.
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,252
    But when your house is worth a few million that £40k could be less than the estate agents fees. ;-)
    A house over the road was up for sale with Purple Bricks, not sure what the valuation was like. They seemed to have a fair number of people look at it but the sale fell through twice I believe. I doubt that can be blamed on them though, don't know the full story. I think the final sale went through a conventional estate agent.
  • mr_goo
    mr_goo Posts: 3,770
    Veronese68 wrote:
    But when your house is worth a few million that £40k could be less than the estate agents fees. ;-)
    A house over the road was up for sale with Purple Bricks, not sure what the valuation was like. They seemed to have a fair number of people look at it but the sale fell through twice I believe. I doubt that can be blamed on them though, don't know the full story. I think the final sale went through a conventional estate agent.

    Rest assured my house isn't worth a few million.
    As previous poster has stated. It seems to be all about quick selling so that their statistics look great.
    Always be yourself, unless you can be Aaron Rodgers....Then always be Aaron Rodgers.
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    Its quick selling so that you can get rid of your house as well.

    Some people just want to get shot and can't be bothered/aren't in the position to wait around.

    As an aside what's purplebricks' commission as opposed to the one that sold up the road - if its a lot lower than by the time you take the commission of the difference then it may come down to a couple of grand.

    I wouldn't be bitter as your posts are sounding, its just business. Don't worry yourself about other people's decisions and don't slag off a firm that you aren't even dealing with.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,252
    Mr Goo wrote:
    Rest assured my house isn't worth a few million.
    Heavy sarcasm, hence the wink.
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 27,487
    Veronese68 wrote:
    But when your house is worth a few million that £40k could be less than the estate agents fees. ;-)
    A house over the road was up for sale with Purple Bricks, not sure what the valuation was like. They seemed to have a fair number of people look at it but the sale fell through twice I believe. I doubt that can be blamed on them though, don't know the full story. I think the final sale went through a conventional estate agent.
    In other words, you get what you pay for.
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,252
    rjsterry wrote:
    In other words, you get what you pay for.
    Don't know the exact details, but it certainly looks that way.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    The moral of the story is that it might be worth looking at houses for sale by Purplebricks.

    That said, in Cambridge these days, the asking price just seems to be the opening price of a bidding war...
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    How does Purplebricks' valuation compare to the valuation which your mortgage repayments are based on?
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    rjsterry wrote:
    Sounds a bit like webuyanycar: it prioritises making a quick sale over getting the best price.

    Are you saying that the 50 quid they valued my 1985 low mileage Saab 900 Turbo 8 is an undervaluation? And I was just going to accept that offer! I owe you one.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,252
    Rolf F wrote:
    rjsterry wrote:
    Sounds a bit like webuyanycar: it prioritises making a quick sale over getting the best price.

    Are you saying that the 50 quid they valued my 1985 low mileage Saab 900 Turbo 8 is an undervaluation? And I was just going to accept that offer! I owe you one.
    I'll give you £510
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Veronese68 wrote:
    Rolf F wrote:
    rjsterry wrote:
    Sounds a bit like webuyanycar: it prioritises making a quick sale over getting the best price.

    Are you saying that the 50 quid they valued my 1985 low mileage Saab 900 Turbo 8 is an undervaluation? And I was just going to accept that offer! I owe you one.
    I'll give you £510
    It gives me a warm feeling experiencing the lovely, warm generosity of BR members. On other forums folk might try to rip you off.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,866
    Without full details it seems a bit rash to condemn Purple Bricks.
    Is the price for the ramshackle hut up the road asking or sold price?
    Is the valuation to keep it in an online search bracket?
    Most agents over-value to win the business - are they guilty of being realistic?
    Is it a policy to generate interest from multiple parties to maximise achieved price?
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    I was informed by my on line estate agent that Purple Bricks want an up front fee and once they've got that off you. They don't really give a sh@t after that. He also reckoned that they were over extended financially hence their desperate and f**king annoying advertising.
  • haydenm
    haydenm Posts: 2,997
    Having not sold a house before, would it not be easier to get it on rightmove for a cheap as possible and do a private sale? I'm guessing there is a lot more to it than posting the buyers solicitor a copy of the titles though...
  • mr_goo
    mr_goo Posts: 3,770
    Without full details it seems a bit rash to condemn Purple Bricks.
    Is the price for the ramshackle hut up the road asking or sold price?
    Is the valuation to keep it in an online search bracket?
    Most agents over-value to win the business - are they guilty of being realistic?
    Is it a policy to generate interest from multiple parties to maximise achieved price?

    It sold for 40k more than my valuation.
    They obviously make a big thing on the adverts about the selling fees and the online stuff. But to undervalue by 75k is pretty stiff. All estate agents are connected to Rightmost and others of that ilk. But let's not forget there are still a large element of buyers that actually look in the estate agent windows.
    Always be yourself, unless you can be Aaron Rodgers....Then always be Aaron Rodgers.
  • mr_goo
    mr_goo Posts: 3,770
    Can I just be clear. I'm not condemning Purplebricks. I'm actually genuinely interested to know if their modus operandi is to list property under the market value as they are fixed fee and online only. Essentially a property selling sausage factory.
    Always be yourself, unless you can be Aaron Rodgers....Then always be Aaron Rodgers.
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,866
    HaydenM wrote:
    Having not sold a house before, would it not be easier to get it on rightmove for a cheap as possible and do a private sale? I'm guessing there is a lot more to it than posting the buyers solicitor a copy of the titles though...

    Rightmove don't allow private sales.
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,866
    Mr Goo wrote:
    Without full details it seems a bit rash to condemn Purple Bricks.
    Is the price for the ramshackle hut up the road asking or sold price?
    Is the valuation to keep it in an online search bracket?
    Most agents over-value to win the business - are they guilty of being realistic?
    Is it a policy to generate interest from multiple parties to maximise achieved price?

    It sold for 40k more than my valuation.
    They obviously make a big thing on the adverts about the selling fees and the online stuff. But to undervalue by 75k is pretty stiff. All estate agents are connected to Rightmost and others of that ilk. But let's not forget there are still a large element of buyers that actually look in the estate agent windows.

    Could you be the victim of a Brexit housing slump?
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 27,487
    Rolf F wrote:
    Veronese68 wrote:
    Rolf F wrote:
    rjsterry wrote:
    Sounds a bit like webuyanycar: it prioritises making a quick sale over getting the best price.

    Are you saying that the 50 quid they valued my 1985 low mileage Saab 900 Turbo 8 is an undervaluation? And I was just going to accept that offer! I owe you one.
    I'll give you £510
    It gives me a warm feeling experiencing the lovely, warm generosity of BR members. On other forums folk might try to rip you off.
    Arf. Webuyanycar make a point of saying they may not get you the best price, but it will be done and dusted rather than sat outside your house with a yellowing for sale sign in the window. From limited experience they weren't far off the trade in value. I can see that PB serve a similar 'need it done sharpish/not desperate for every last penny' market.
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • plowmar
    plowmar Posts: 1,032
    Don't forget that the value of the house is the one it sells for. Purplebricks may 'undervalue' a property to get three or four people interested and then basically auction it. Whereas the shop based agent may overvalue to enable a price reduction to make the buyer happy with his purchase and it may be almost the same in each case.
    It depends I think on what the local market is like slow = low start price, vibrant = high start price.
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Why is property in the UK so expensive?
    Is it;
    a) weather
    b) the quality construction
    c) the low crime
    d) the belief that it can only go up
    e) all of the above?!