Purplebricks vs Estate Agents

Selling your home is a big deal – and choosing the right estate agent can make all the difference. Whether you’re leaning towards a traditional estate agent or considering an online option like Purplebricks, it's important to know what you’re getting into.

When it comes to Purplebricks vs estate agents, each approach comes with its own unique services. You’ll need to consider pricing, features, and most importantly, success rates when it comes to selling your home. So, which one is the right fit for you?

In this guide, we’ll take you through the key differences between traditional estate agents and Purplebricks, including:

• Fees and costs

• Key features

• The pros and cons

• Other ways to sell your home fast

Let’s dive in and help you make the best choice for the sale of your property.

What is Purplebricks?

Purplebricks is an online platform that offers an alternative to traditional high-street estate agents.

The platform allows you to:

• Manage your property listing

• Schedule viewings

• Negotiate offers from their app or web portal

Purplebricks doesn't charge commission like traditional estate agents. Instead, it operates on a fixed-fee model, meaning you pay upfront or in installments. There’s also a free option available. They’re rated 3.9 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot, with over 83% 5-star reviews.

How much does it cost to sell with Purplebricks compared to estate agents?

When it comes to selling your home, one of the first things you'll want to consider is cost. How much does the price of selling with Purplebricks compare to traditional estate agents? 

Let’s take a look.

Purplebricks packages and costs

On top of these packages, you can choose from the following add-ons to boost your Purplebricks listing:

• Hosted Viewings: £899

• Rightmove Featured Listing: £125

• Professional Photography, Floorplan & Virtual Tour: £699

• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC): £119

• Drone Photography: £199

There’s also a separate £80 Anti-Money Laundering (AML) fee, but the EPC is exempt.

Is the Purplebricks free option worth it?

You might be considering the free option with Purplebricks to save on costs. While it’s tempting, it's important to think about the work involved.

With the free package, Purplebricks will list your property for you, but you’ll be responsible for taking your own photos and arranging viewings. While this can save you money, it can also be time-consuming and might make it harder to attract buyers. 

Professional photos and well-managed viewings are key to making your property stand out. In fact, Rightmove research has shown that "great listings" (often those with great photos) generate 93% more leads compared to average listings.

Before deciding, it’s important to think about whether you’re ready to take on all these extra tasks.

What do estate agents usually charge?

Some estate agents offer a fixed fee, but most take a percentage. This can range anywhere from 1% to 4.5% of the final sale price. 

Bridgfords Estate Agents, part of Countrywide (one of the UK's leading property services groups), offers a fee of approximately 1.44% for sellers across the North of England. In the South West, Walkers is a leading agent in the region, with a fee of 1.5%.

Our CEO, Karl McArdle, offers further insight: 

"The latest UK House Price Index report from December 2024 shows the average UK home is valued at £268,000. Estate agent commission rates can vary, with some contracts reaching as high as 4.5%, though most high street agents typically charge between 1-2%.”

So, let’s imagine you sell your home for £268,000. This would cost you:

• £2,680 at 1% commission

• £4,020 at 1.5% commission

• £5,360 at 2% commission

This difference in commission shows how a small change in percentages can have a big impact.

These fees cover services like property valuation, marketing, handling viewings, and negotiating offers. You might also need to pay extra for add-ons like professional videos or premium listings, which can quickly increase the total cost.

As Karl points out, this is quite common:

“We often have customers come to us who already have a contract with an estate agent in place. It’s always a bit of a surprise when we calculate the total amount they’ll have to pay once their house sells – and sometimes it surprises them too. We understand, though. A percentage fee buried in the fine print of a contract can make it tricky to figure out exactly how much you'll owe when the sale goes through."

What else should you know?

Choosing between Purplebricks and a traditional estate agent is about more than just the price. While Purplebricks can save you money upfront, traditional agents often offer more support and have higher success rates.

According to The Advisory’s 2022 report, only 48% of homes listed with online agents like Purplebricks sell, compared to 84% with high-street agents. So, while Purplebricks might save you some money upfront, traditional estate agents often do a better job of getting the sale over the finish line.

Below, we’ve highlighted the key differences between Purplebricks and estate agents to help you compare.

The pros and cons of Purplebricks and estate agents

Now, let’s take a deeper look at the pros and cons of each to help you make a decision.

Purplebricks

Estate agents

Final thoughts: Which one is right for you?

Deciding between Purplebricks and an estate agent comes down to what matters most to you. We asked Jonny Christie, Co-Founder and CEO of The Property Buying Company, to share his thoughts:

“Purplebricks can be a great option if you’re looking for a cheaper way to sell your home and don’t mind taking on more of the work yourself. But their fixed-fee model means you’ll pay even if your house doesn’t sell, which isn’t ideal for everyone. Selling a house is about more than just saving money – it’s about trust and finding the right solution for you.”

Are there any other ways to sell your home?

Another way to sell your home is with us. At The Property Buying Company, our mission is to make the entire process easier, quicker, and hassle-free. We believe selling your home shouldn’t be stressful or complicated.

With over 12 years of experience in the residential housing market, we’re confident that we can either buy your home directly or find a buyer in as little as 7 days. As one of the nation’s leading cash house buyers, we have more than 200 years of combined experience in the industry. We’re also proud to be members of both the National Association of Property Buyers and The Property Ombudsman, so you can be confident you're getting a trustworthy and reliable service.

Learn more about how it works