Is there such a thing as an online estate agency any more? A decade ago, about the time I started editing Estate...
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![Homeday - Purplebricks quietly writes off German expansion](/upload/images/Logos/PurplebricksLogo2020-400x310.jpg)
Hidden amongst the annual results released by Purplebricks on Tuesday – which saw revenue and profits down, as well as a...
04 August 2022
From: Breaking News
![New Purplebricks CEO – what challenges will she face?](/upload/images/Logos/Purplebricks-TeamGB-Board-400x310.jpg)
Yesterday afternoon, Helena Marston was finally confirmed as Purplebricks new CEO after all the due diligence checks that are required for...
21 April 2022
From: Breaking News
!['Hundreds' of former Purplebricks agents back workers' rights legal claim](/upload/images/library/Sad-Tenants-Evicted-400x310.jpg)
Hundreds of former Purplebricks agents have now signed up to a potential legal claim against the firm. Contractors For Justice, known as...
12 April 2022
From: Breaking News
![Lawyers ready to issue Purplebricks working rights claim 'within weeks'](/upload/images/library/Purplebricks-2019Logo-400x310.jpg)
Lawyers working on a class action against online agents including Purplebricks have said they will be ready to send a letter...
11 April 2022
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks' 'Mr Motivator' joins Boomin in senior role](/upload/images/Logos/Boomin-Logo-400x310.jpg)
A former UK national sales director at Purplebricks has been reunited with the online agent’s founder Michael Bruce at Boomin. Paul Vickerstaff,...
05 April 2022
From: Breaking News
![Over And Out - An Editor Departs…](/upload/images/Site%20logos/eat-logo-400x310.png)
For the record, this isn’t my last Industry Views for Estate Agent Today, although by the time you read this I'll be...
02 April 2022
From: Features
![Purplebricks completes move away from self-employed agents](/upload/images/Logos/PurplebricksLogo2020-400x310.jpg)
Purplebricks say it’s going to complete its transformation from an agency using self-employed local operatives in the field, to having fully...
31 March 2022
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks chief executive quits because of “personal circumstances”](/upload/images/library/Purplebricks-2019Logo-400x310.jpg)
Purplebricks chief executive Vic Darvey has quit, citing “personal circumstances”. He leaves at the end of this month with chief operating officer Helena...
10 March 2022
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks denies sell-off rumour](/upload/images/Logos/Purplebricks-2019Logo-400x310.jpg)
Purplebricks has this morning said that a newspaper report over the weekend, claiming part of the business is to be sold...
04 January 2022
From: Breaking News
![Legal Action against Purplebricks - “phenomenal” response by claimants](/upload/images/Logos/Purplebricks-2019Logo-400x310.jpg)
The leader of the organisation proposing a class action against Purplebricks says there’s been a “phenomenal” response to his request for...
05 November 2021
From: Breaking News
![Will more online agencies face class actions over self-employed pay?](/upload/images/PropTech%20%26%20Online/PropTech-4-400x310.jpg)
The class action taken by former self-employed workers against two online agencies should be a warning to other firms breaking the...
21 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks faces legal action from agents over holiday and pension pay](/upload/images/Logos/Purplebricks-2019Logo-400x310.jpg)
A claims firm wants to commence proceedings against online estate agency companies such as Purplebricks and Yopa. It's on behalf of thousands...
20 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks shock as finance chief quits at short notice](/upload/images/library/Purplebricks-2019Logo-400x310.jpg)
Purplebricks has this morning announced that chief financial officer Andy Botha is quitting at the end of the month. In a terse...
14 October 2021
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks reveals result of switch from self-employed](/upload/images/Logos/Purplebricks-TeamGB-Board-400x310.jpg)
Purplebricks says its aim to move 650 staff from self-employed status to employed has had a 95 per cent success rate. It...
07 September 2021
From: Breaking News
![Executive Pay - Purplebricks shareholders get date for key vote](/upload/images/Logos/PurplebricksLogo2020-400x310.jpg)
A date has been set for Purplebricks’ shareholders to give their verdict on a controversial remuneration package given to the agency’s...
25 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Ex-Purplebricks Local Property Experts set up new hybrid agency](/upload/images/Housing%20Market%20%26%20Property%20Images/OpeningHours400x310.jpg)
Two former Local Property Experts at Purplebricks have set up their own hybrid agency, offering an upfront fee or a no-sale-no-fee...
25 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter – has Purplebricks dealt a fatal blow to the self-employed model?](/upload/images/Site%20logos/PropertyNatter-2019-400x310.png)
One of the biggest trends since Covid, in the property world and elsewhere, has been a shift towards more hybrid, flexible...
14 August 2021
From: Features
![Escape route for Purplebricks refugees who want to stay self-employed](/upload/images/library/MillennialAgent-Graphs-400x310.jpg)
Self-employed agents working for Purplebricks who want to resist the instruction to become fully employed are being wooed by a Midlands...
11 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks’ autumn marketing blitz goes ahead despite shock jobs move](/upload/images/library/Purplebricks-TeamGB-Board-400x310.jpg)
Purplebricks’ chief executive says a £4m marketing blitz scheduled for the autumn will go ahead despite the upheaval caused by the...
11 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks admits short term disruption but CEO makes pay pledge](/upload/images/library/Purplebricks-TeamGB-Board-400x310.jpg)
The chief executive of Purplebricks says he wants to move his agency’s 600 Local Property Experts from self-employed to employed status...
10 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks ends self-employed agent service and goes “fully employed”](/upload/images/library/Purplebricks-2019Logo-400x310.jpg)
Purplebricks has this morning confirmed that it’s ending its self-employed Local Property Experts operation and is moving to “a fully employed model...
10 August 2021
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks to launch local marketing blitz after Olympics](/upload/images/PurplebricksBoards-2021-LauraKenny-400x310.jpg)
Purplebricks is to launch an extensive marketing campaign after this summer’s Olympics to emphasise the local knowledge of its 600 agents...
12 July 2021
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks goes local - more emphasis on Local Property Experts in future](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks is to tilt its marketing increasingly towards local advertising on traditional and online platforms, and promoting the ‘on the street’...
17 March 2021
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter – what does agency look like Down Under?](/img/default/eat.png)
In my last Natter, I explored the differences between estate agency in the UK and the US with the help of...
15 August 2020
From: Features
![Cheap and nasty Purplebricks - why it didn't work down under](/img/default/eat.png)
A leading expert on estate agency and the housing market in Australia has lifted the lid on how Purplebricks failed down...
14 August 2020
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks delays changes to fees structure until the autumn](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks says changes to its fees structure - possibly becoming less reliant on controversial upfront charges - has been delayed until...
03 August 2020
From: Breaking News
![Horses for courses - the rise of the personal agent](/img/default/eat.png)
The phrase ‘game-changer’ has been hugely overused. But when applied to how Covid-19 is changing the way estate agents will work...
20 June 2020
From: Features
![Purplebricks asking sellers to draw their own floorplans](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks Local Property Experts are asking sellers who are not allowing agents into their homes during the virus crisis to draw...
03 April 2020
From: Breaking News
![Property Jobs Today - new moves on the March...](/img/default/eat.png)
Hello and another Monday means PJT Day, your regular update on movers in the industry - and it’s March already. If there...
02 March 2020
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks boss slams agents as “miles behind” on digital personalisation](/img/default/eat.png)
The chief executive of Purplebricks says agents are “miles behind” in using digital information to provide a personalised service. Vic Darvey has given...
13 February 2020
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks keeps 2020 pricing strategies secret - for now](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks is not revealing details of the different pricing strategies it is testing “in the field” early this year. Last month the...
06 January 2020
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks: so what do Local Property Experts REALLY earn?](/img/default/eat.png)
A statement made by Purplebricks in its trading statement yesterday appears to fly in the face of statements it has made...
13 December 2019
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks testing four different pricing strategies in 2020](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks says it’s put four different pricing strategies into the market with a view to testing them in 2020. In a trading...
12 December 2019
From: Breaking News
![easyProperty's new owner reveals ambitious 'local expert' plans](/img/default/eat.png)
The relaunched easyProperty hybrid agency is to rely exclusively on local marketing to drive awareness and customers, and not follow the...
09 December 2019
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks in Canada - is it the agency’s secret success story?](/img/default/eat.png)
Controversy and Purplebricks have gone hand in hand since the agency was first launched in 2012, through its float on the...
18 October 2019
From: Breaking News
![Why has Upad gone down?](/img/default/eat.png)
Upad, the national online letting agent set up by entrepreneur James Davis has announced that it is “closed to new business”...
15 October 2019
From: Sponsored Content
![Online agents face new guidelines as advertising complaints rocket](/img/default/eat.png)
The Advertising Standards Authority has issued a guidance note warning online estate agents, after complaints about them have “grown dramatically”. “Property is big...
01 August 2019
From: Breaking News
![Ex-Purplebricks boss defends 'nightmare' stories of LPEs earning 'peanuts'](/img/default/eat.png)
The former chief executive of Purplebricks has defended claims that some Local Property Experts are underpaid, saying that success comes through...
08 July 2019
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks ex-CEO defends record on sales progression and LPEs](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks’ former chief executive Lee Wainwright has made a stout defence of the controversial agency’s sales progression process and its local...
28 June 2019
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks ex-CEO hits out at untrue claim that agency sold only 50%](/img/default/eat.png)
The former chief executive of Purplebricks UK says the agency completes on over 80 per cent of the homes it lists...
25 June 2019
From: Breaking News
![In Praise of Purplebricks: a senior estate agent speaks out](/img/default/eat.png)
A former Territory Owner at Purplebricks, who at one time managed 11 Local Property Experts, has spoken out in support of...
24 June 2019
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks workforce turns on agency with string of damning reviews](/img/default/eat.png)
A series of damning reviews about Purplebricks’ working environment, apparently written by existing and former staff, have appeared online. Indeed is a...
19 June 2019
From: Breaking News
![Online agents “too cheap” and look too good to be true - Quirk](/img/default/eat.png)
The failure of online agencies to significantly disrupt the industry is down to their being too cheap and creating a perception...
16 April 2019
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks stock downgraded 80% by investment bank](/img/default/eat.png)
Analysts at Berenberg Bank have sharply reduced their price target for Purplebricks by over 80 per cent from 470p to 80p, accusing...
05 April 2019
From: Breaking News
![Online agencies 'will still take 50% market share' claims company chief](/img/default/eat.png)
An online estate agency insists the online/hybrid sector will take a 50 per cent market share in the future - despite...
01 April 2019
From: Breaking News
![Regional agency expands with opening of 10th High Street office](/img/default/eat.png)
Regional agency Prospect, which already has offices in Berkshire and Surrey, has opened its 10th office at Farnborough in Hampshire. Last year Prospect...
18 March 2019
From: Breaking News
13 March 2019
From: Features
![Purplebricks Uncovered: What it's like to be a Local Property Expert](/img/default/eat.png)
Here’s an unusual story, describing the work of one of Purplebricks’ Local Property Experts who was with the company for around...
04 March 2019
From: Breaking News
![Online agency looks to private sales because of Purplebricks and others](/img/default/eat.png)
The regional agency MoveSelf, which set up in 2017 as an online estate agent, is shifting emphasis towards For Sale By...
05 February 2019
From: Breaking News
![Emoov was never going to find a buyer, says leading agency analyst](/img/default/eat.png)
The demise of Emoov, Tepilo and lettings platform Urban raises question marks over the long-term viability of online agencies according to...
04 December 2018
From: Breaking News
![Are online agencies in trouble? Investors will decide](/img/default/eat.png)
However mild the weather may have been for most of us, it’s a cold autumn for the online estate agency market...
10 November 2018
From: Features
![Network passes 300-mark with office opening in north of England](/img/default/eat.png)
Fine & Country has opened its latest office in the Lancashire town of Rossendale, specialising in high-end properties across the county. The...
25 September 2018
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter: Q&A with Stephen Ludlow, ludlowthompson](/img/default/eat.png)
Next week ludlowthompson celebrates its 25th anniversary. Here, I catch up with Stephen Ludlow, co-founder and now executive director of the...
11 August 2018
From: Features
![Purplebricks says traditional agents sell only 50% of homes they market](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks co-founder Michael Bruce says traditional agents sell only around 50 per cent of the homes that they list, so spend...
07 August 2018
From: Breaking News
![I know the secret behind Purplebricks, says industry newcomer](/img/default/eat.png)
A businessman who’s just entered the estate agency industry says he’s got the secret behind Purplebricks’ success - even though he...
26 July 2018
From: Breaking News
!['Local property experts' - controversial advice issued by ad watchdog](/img/default/eat.png)
The Advertising Standards Authority has today issued a three-point guidance note for estate agents, including controversial interpretations of what constitutes a...
18 July 2018
From: Breaking News
![Regional hybrid agency launches with upfront fee of £1,500 including VAT](/img/default/eat.png)
A hybrid estate agency has launched in Bury, one of the first of its kind to operate in the UK on...
10 July 2018
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks: UK revenue up 81%, 630 LPEs and 74% of online share](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks says it enjoyed an 81 per cent growth in revenue in the UK the year to the end of April and...
05 July 2018
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks rejects claims of bullying Local Property Experts in Australia](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks says it completely rejects any claim of bullying its representatives in Australia. The Australian Financial Review, which last week reported the...
26 June 2018
From: Breaking News
![Commisery for Purplebricks - it's hit trouble in Australia](/img/default/eat.png)
It looks as if Purplebricks has hit something less than a purple patch in the Australian housing market. The Australian Financial Review,...
22 June 2018
From: Breaking News
![Major online agencies unaffected by Supreme Court ruling](/img/default/eat.png)
Major online agencies appear to be unaffected by yesterday’s Supreme Court decision over workers' rights in the so-called 'gig economy'. Yesterday’s case concerned...
14 June 2018
From: Breaking News
![Estate agency comparison site to advertise on TV](/img/default/eat.png)
GetAgent, an estate agent comparison website, has won investment from a growth fund that also provides a 10 month advertising campaign on...
11 May 2018
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks comes out fighting on behalf of all online and hybrid agencies](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks has returned to the fray after recent controversies with a claim that home owners saved themselves over £140m in commission...
16 April 2018
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter: Day in the life of…a Local Property Expert](/img/default/eat.png)
With the rise of Purplebricks in recent years, many will be eager to know what the hybrid agency’s Local Property Experts...
07 April 2018
From: Features
![Purplebricks begins search for lifetime relationship with customers](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks has given details of how it intends to use some of its new investment, and in particular is spelling out...
27 March 2018
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks: boards up, shares down?](/img/default/eat.png)
Why I won’t buy Purplebricks shares and why if I had any, I’d sell fast… In its latest adverts, Purplebricks attempts to...
13 February 2018
From: Features
![Purplebricks ads confront 'best price' issue and mock High Street rivals](/img/default/eat.png)
Controversial new Purplebricks advertisements on social media mock traditional estate agents who “twiddle their thumbs” in offices and claim the hybrid...
13 February 2018
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks' new UK chief to face the industry for the first time](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks’ new UK chief executive officer, Lee Wainwright, is to address a major industry conference in May - his first address...
02 February 2018
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks announces new chief executive of UK operation](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks has announced that former Countrywide director Lee Wainwright has been appointed chief executive officer of the hybrid agency’s UK operations...
09 January 2018
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks: Estate Agent Today's experts look behind the latest figures](/img/default/eat.png)
Here it is - the industry’s verdict on the latest set of figures from Purplebricks. The agency doesn’t play by any of...
15 December 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks: revenue soars as agency claims 74% of online sector](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks’ latest trading statement for the six months ending October 31 claims a large rise in revenue, its number of UK...
13 December 2017
From: Breaking News
![Watchdog defends 'informal resolution' of complaints over online agencies](/img/default/eat.png)
Outspoken estate agent Chris Wood has criticised the Advertising Standards Authority for its succession of ‘informally resolved’ judgements on complaints against...
07 December 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks tells City and investors we're on course for 2017 targets](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks has issued the briefest-of-brief statements to the City and the company's investors to assure them it is "on course". The latest...
07 November 2017
From: Breaking News
![Exclusive: four more complaints about Purplebricks filed to watchdog](/img/default/eat.png)
Estate Agent Today has been told that there are four more complaints filed to the Advertising Standards Authority about hybrid agency...
30 October 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks: agency wins advert dispute over Local Property Experts](/img/default/eat.png)
Complaints about a Purplebricks claim concerning its Local Property Experts have been rejected by the Advertising Standards Authority. Complaints came from PDQ...
25 October 2017
From: Breaking News
![London agency Douglas & Gordon embraces hybrid part-online model](/img/default/eat.png)
London’s long-standing chain Douglas & Gordon is the latest company to embrace the concept of the Purplebricks-style hybrid estate agency. The company’s...
04 October 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks claims UK revenue now double that of a year ago](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks' latest trading statement, issued this morning, claims "good progress" and says its revenue in the UK for the first half...
29 September 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks says LPEs typically earn much more than high street agents](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks has launched something of a charm offensive to lift the lid on the experience and work of its Local Property...
29 September 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks defends its Local Property Experts after website criticism](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks has issued a strong defence of its Local Property Experts after an agency comparison website’s analysis was critical of the...
28 September 2017
From: Breaking News
![Revealed - exactly how 'local' are local property experts?](/img/default/eat.png)
An analysis conducted by estate agency comparison website GetAgent has for the first time attempted to calculate how ‘local’ agencies' local property...
27 September 2017
From: Breaking News
![easyProperty relaunches, claiming to be UK's second-biggest hybrid](/img/default/eat.png)
easyProperty has unveiled details of its relaunch, declaring itself to be the UK’s second largest hybrid estate agency - second only...
07 September 2017
From: Breaking News
!['Local Property Agents' wanted as onliner launches recruitment drive](/img/default/eat.png)
eMoov, the online agency which last month secured an additional £9m funding from investors, has launched a recruitment drive for what...
01 September 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks: interview gives insight into LPE recruitment structure](/img/default/eat.png)
An interview in an online magazine aimed at the small business sector lifts the lid on some of the structure surrounding...
18 August 2017
From: Breaking News
![Trustpilot and Woodford stay quiet on BBC's Purplebricks probes](/img/default/eat.png)
Trustpilot, the review service quoted frequently by Purplebricks as evidence of its apparent popularity, is declining to comment on the adverse...
07 August 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks' shares stabilise as NAEA stays distinctly non-committal](/img/default/eat.png)
The share price of beleaguered hybrid agency Purplebricks has recovered some of the ground it lost earlier in the week after...
04 August 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks: Ombudsman 'happy' with controversial deferred payment scheme](/img/default/eat.png)
The Property Ombudsman has told Estate Agent Today that it is happy with the controversial deferred payment scheme operated on behalf of...
03 August 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks told to slow growth and get its house in order by City analyst](/img/default/eat.png)
After a roller-coaster day on the Stock Exchange yesterday, Purplebricks has sought to defend itself against further possible share price losses...
03 August 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks share price dips after agency slated on BBC show](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks’ share price this afternoon dropped to a recent low of 406.50p before recovering to close down about five per cernt...
02 August 2017
From: Breaking News
![Agency franchise group reveals newest local property experts](/img/default/eat.png)
Franchise estate and lettings group HomeXperts has announced the latest areas where it has recruited local property experts. They are Berkshire, Essex, Kent and...
21 July 2017
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter: a half-year review – hybrids, PropTech and resilience](/img/default/eat.png)
We’re already more than halfway through 2017 and, against all the odds, it’s pushing 2016 close in terms of eventfulness and...
14 July 2017
From: Features
![More details emerge of Purplebricks' LPE expansion programme](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks has released more details of expansion plans to recruit hundreds of additional Local Property Experts. The recruitment drive was launched yesterday...
12 July 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks launches drive to recruit hundreds more Local Property Experts](/img/default/eat.png)
Purplebricks has this morning announced a drive to recruit “hundreds” of new Local Property Experts” in a bid to become what...
11 July 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks Local Property Experts 'earn average £41,925 a year'](/img/default/eat.png)
An expert analysis of the Purplebricks trading statement for 2016 reveals that the agency’s Local Property Experts each earn an average...
10 July 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks agrees a UK sale every nine minutes 24/7](/img/default/eat.png)
New figures released this morning from Purplebricks shows the onward march of the hybrid agency and its Local Property Experts. For the...
29 June 2017
From: Breaking News
![Purplebricks share price dips following California launch announcement](/img/default/eat.png)
The share price of hybrid estate agency Purplebricks dipped yesterday after it announced its US expansion will begin in California. Purplebricks' share...
15 June 2017
From: Breaking News
![Property Natter – awards success, purple and the future of agency](/img/default/eat.png)
Since we last spoke, the ESTAS – the biggest and best property awards ceremony in the UK – has been and...
27 May 2017
From: Features
![YOPA announces new funding from Savills and the Daily Mail](/img/default/eat.png)
Hybrid estate agency YOPA has announced a successful Series B round of funding in which it raised a total of £15...
17 May 2017
From: Breaking News
![Viewber network now over 1,200 as startup closes funding round](/img/default/eat.png)
Viewber, the outsourced property viewing service and brainchild of high-profile former estate agent Ed Mead, says its network of 'Viewbers' now...