PURPLE BRICKS
by Neil Jenman
After less than three years, the English real estate company Purple Bricks that claimed to offer massive discounts to property sellers is exiting the Australian real estate market.
Contrary to their claims, Purple Bricks gave many Australian sellers a worse deal than local agents. In both Australia and England, Purple Bricks has been in trouble for deceptive conduct.
Purple Bricks came to Australia back in 2016 and, through mass advertising, yelled at Aussie home-sellers: “You are paying too much commission. You are being ripped off.” The hypocrisy was breathtaking. Before the authorities stopped them, they even had the hide to claim they charged “no commission”.
But Purple Bricks did charge commission and, in many cases, more than local Australian agents because sellers were slugged for commission even if their home was not sold. No Australian agency treated sellers so badly. Most Australians soon woke up to the duplicity of a company that seemed more interested in lining its own pockets than helping sellers.
With Purple Bricks now exiting Australia, they claim they will look after their current sellers. If that’s true Purple Bricks should refund the commission paid by its current unsold sellers and allow them to use an Australian agent. That would be the honourable action to take.
To help sellers caught in the Purple Bricks fiasco, real estate consumer advocate, Neil Jenman, is offering to help sellers find Australian agents who will agree to credit sellers with the amounts they have paid to Purple Bricks. So, if a normal agent charges say, ten thousand dollars to sell a home and the sellers have already paid four thousand dollars to Purple Bricks (for no result), Jenman will ask Australian agents to deduct that amount from their commission. So, instead of paying ten thousand dollars, sellers will pay six thousand dollars. They will effectively not suffer any loss despite paying Purple Bricks thousands of dollars for no result.
Sellers interested in this help can call the Jenman Support service on 1800 1800 18 or email info
