Purplebricks Review 2026: What the Data Shows About Their Sale Prices and Fees

What Purplebricks Is

Purplebricks is the UK's largest online-hybrid estate agency. Founded in 2012 and listed on AIM before returning to private ownership following a series of difficult financial years, it operates a fixed-fee model where sellers pay a set amount — currently around £1,349 in most of England, higher in London — regardless of whether the property sells.

This fee structure is fundamentally different from the traditional agent model, where commission is only paid on a successful sale (typically 0.9%–2% of the sale price including VAT). The practical implication is that Purplebricks carries less inherent financial incentive to achieve a sale than a commission-based agent — which is not necessarily a criticism, but is worth understanding.

How the Model Works

After paying the fee, sellers receive a local property expert (LPE) who conducts the valuation visit, writes the listing, arranges professional photography, and lists the property on Rightmove, Zoopla, and the Purplebricks website. After listing, the LPE handles enquiries and arranges viewings.

Unlike a high street agent, however, viewings are often conducted by the seller rather than the agent, particularly outside of the LPE's available hours. Negotiation support and sale progression (chasing the chain, liaising with solicitors) varies in quality depending on the individual LPE.

What the Data Shows

Independent analysis of Purplebricks' performance — using HM Land Registry completion data cross-referenced against Rightmove listing data — has produced several findings that prospective sellers should consider.

**Sale completion rate**: Studies published between 2018 and 2023 consistently found that Purplebricks' sale-to-listing ratio was materially lower than for comparable traditional agents. One frequently cited analysis suggested only around 50% of Purplebricks listings resulted in a completed transaction within 12 months, compared with higher completion rates from high street agents. Purplebricks has contested the methodology of some of these studies.

**Average time to sale**: Properties listed with Purplebricks have tended to take longer to reach completion than the market average in the same period, which is consistent with a model that lacks a strong financial incentive for rapid sale.

**Sale price vs asking price**: Purplebricks' own marketing has historically emphasised that sellers save on fees. The more relevant question is whether the net proceeds (sale price minus all costs) are comparable to those achievable with a traditional agent. Evidence here is mixed and varies by market.

Fee Savings: The Maths

For a property selling at £350,000, the fee comparison broadly looks like this:

• **Purplebricks fixed fee**: approximately £1,349
• **Traditional agent at 1.2% + VAT**: approximately £5,040

The potential saving is around £3,700. Whether that saving is realised in practice depends on whether:

1. The property actually sells (if it does not, you have paid Purplebricks £1,349 for nothing)

2. The sale price achieved is comparable to what a traditional agent would have negotiated

3. The progression support is adequate to get the sale to completion

Known Limitations

**LPE quality varies significantly.** LPEs are self-employed franchisees covering specific geographic patches. The experience, local market knowledge, and availability of individual LPEs varies widely. There is no simple way to assess quality in advance.

**Post-offer progression is a documented weakness.** Consumer review data (Trustpilot, Which?) regularly highlights poor communication and inadequate sale progression support as the most common complaints. A sale falling through due to poor chain management costs sellers both time and, potentially, the next property they wanted to buy.

**Limited presence at completion.** High street agents typically have a relationship with the solicitor and will apply pressure to keep a transaction moving. Purplebricks LPEs, juggling larger geographic patches with more listings, may be less able to perform this function.

The Balanced Assessment

Purplebricks offers a genuine financial saving for sellers who have a straightforward, saleable property in a market where buyer demand is strong. If your property is likely to generate multiple viewings and offers quickly, the fixed-fee model can work well.

For more complex transactions — properties requiring extended marketing, chain-dependent sales in slower markets, or properties with known complications — the absence of a financially incentivised agent can be a meaningful disadvantage.

Before instructing any agent, check recent sold prices on your street using HM Land Registry data (available free via Property Passport UK) to calibrate your price expectations independently of whatever valuation the agent provides.