This 24/7 online estate agency is shaking up the property market less than two years since launch. Will it get your bid for People’s Champion at the Startups Awards 2015?
Start-up name: Purplebricks.com
Founders: Michael and Kenny Bruce
Started in: 2014
Based in: London
Business description: Online estate agency
Shortlisted categories:
Innovative Business of the Year
Tech Business of the Year
Venture Funded Business of the Year
The Purplebricks.com story:
Named top spot in our Startups 100, Purplebricks.com is turning the traditional estate agency model on its head with its open-all-hours online property platform which claims to offer customers a better, cheaper and simpler way to sell or let a property.
It enables customers to arrange viewings, put their house on the market, book a local property expert and even make an offer/sale agreed on a property from any device, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day.
The business concept of brothers Michael and Kenny Bruce, Purplebricks launched in April last year and, with 70% of its activity taking place when local estate agents are closed, has already taken over 61% of the national online housing market, and 34% in London.
Following a nationwide roll-out, the Bruce’s have big ambitions and want to “revolutionise the way people buy and sell houses” starting with their business model – instead of normal commission, customers pay a flat fee of £665 + VAT (said to save customers £9,000 on average).
Low cost pricing, around-the-clock operations and a humorous national TV campaign have quickly seen Purplebricks establish itself as a serious contender to key industry players and it consistently sits at the top of Rightmove figures in terms of new listings. Customer reviews are equally impressive; scoring ratings of 9.5 on Trust Pilot.
Why Purplebricks.com made our 60:
Purplebricks.com’s hybrid model, coupled with a transparent approach, has seen it take a large chunk of the UK housing market less than 16 months after launch. In some parts of the country, the start-up even has a bigger market share than the leading traditional agent!
Where to find out more about Purplebricks.com:
Website: www.purplebricks.com
Twitter: twitter.com/purplebricks
Facebook: facebook.com/purplebricksUK
