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Purplebricks is having a lot more conversations with experienced, successful agents now than it did a year ago since implementing its new business model, according to its national head of sales.
National sales manager Sean Green said that engaging with high-performance agents 12 to 18 months ago wasn’t easy.
But he said that the situation has changed since the company changed its model in September.
“Under the new model, they are a lot more open to talk when we present the new model to them,” Mr Green told REB.
“They also see that the marketing package we offer is similar to or better than what they can offer as a traditional real estate agent. More and more of them are coming up against a Purplebricks agent as well, so they are more in tuned with our new model and how it is getting traction with the public.”
Mr Green said that the changes were necessary, especially in the wake of early reports of mass walkouts and a toxic work environment.
“Certainly, the changes to the model have gone a long way to alleviating start-up frustrations, and we’ve learnt lessons from the past where we had an English model that was dropped in here.”
He said that the English model didn’t translate well into the Australian market, but with some tweaks it is now more appropriate.
“With a fee upfront and a fee in the backend once the property successfully sells, it is more favourable to consumers and more beneficial to our agents out in the field.
“They are earning substantially more money under the new model than they did under the previous model.”
Mr Green credits much of the Purplebricks turnaround to the impact that new CEO Neil Tavender is having on the business.
“Neil is a strong leader. He has got things very organised with a structured approach to things. He has employed a number of new people over the last couple of months from various walks — not just real estate.
“He has recognised the need to have more Australian real estate experience in the company as well — and through my appointment, and others in the pipeline, this is happening already.”
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