PettyReal

What PettyReal does

PettyReal, trading as Petty Real and legally registered as REAL BIG ESTATES LTD., is a privately held independent estate agency founded in 1929 and headquartered in Burnley, Lancashire, United Kingdom. The company operates a network of seven physical branches across East Lancashire (Burnley, Barrowford, Colne, Nelson, Barnoldswick, Blackburn, and Padiham), employing between 11 and 50 staff, and delivers residential and commercial property sales, lettings, and property management services to individual consumers, landlords, and small commercial clients in its regional catchment area. Its core product set spans seller agency, buyer representation, landlord letting and management, tenant search, commercial property, auctions, and new homes, supplemented by in-house conveyancing, financial advisory, and home improvements services that allow the firm to capture multiple stages of the property transaction lifecycle under one brand.

The company's underlying technology is a conventional property portal built around an online search experience featuring filterable listings (location, radius, price, bedrooms, property type, STC visibility), 360-degree virtual tours, 3D floor plans, and an online instant valuation tool that allows prospective sellers to receive indicative valuations without direct agent contact. Marketing and lead capture are supported by email property alerts, a newsletter, and content/news publishing covering the local market. PettyReal is a member of The Property Ombudsman, NAEA, ARLA Propertymark, Trading Standards Approved, and Client Money Protection schemes, which provide regulatory cover and dispute resolution across sales, lettings, and client fund handling.

Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-fee commissions on residential and commercial property sales, recurring management fees on lettings portfolios, and professional services fees from in-house conveyancing (with a stated £1,500 plus VAT minimum fee) and financial advice. Pricing is opaque and quoted per engagement rather than published, consistent with the relationship-driven, high-street agency model. The go-to-market is regional and omnichannel: physical branch footfall, phone enquiries, and the website together drive lead generation, with the seven-branch footprint providing the local distribution advantage the business relies on.

Name

PettyReal

Legal name

REAL BIG ESTATES LTD.

Website

https://pettyresidential.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PettyReal is an independent UK estate agency founded in 1929, operating seven branches across East Lancashire to deliver residential and commercial property sales, lettings, conveyancing, and financial advisory services to individual consumers and landlords in its regional catchment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Services

NAICS

Real Estate Property Managers (53131)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Multifamily Apartment Property Management (BPAJAFAA)

Keywords

• Residential property sales
• Property lettings management
• Estate agency services
• Conveyancing legal services
• Commercial property services

Headquarters

HQ city

Burnley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Property Sales Commission: Estate agency services for residential and commercial property sales, earning commission on successful transactions. The company also offers free conveyancing upon completion of sale (minimum fee of £1,500 plus VAT).
2. Lettings and Property Management: Letting agent services for landlords including tenant finding, property management, and rental collection. Fees discussed individually with estate agents.
3. Conveyancing Services: In-house legal team providing conveyancing services to individuals and families, with free conveyancing offered to sellers upon completion (minimum fee applies).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PettyReal is a traditional independent estate agency operating across East Lancashire, providing residential and commercial property sales and lettings services through a network of seven local branches. The company offers a multi-skilled, full-service approach combining core estate agency with in-house conveyancing (legal), financial advice, and home improvements services to support the entire property transaction lifecycle.

Product overview

PettyReal operates as a traditional estate agency with a multi-skilled, unified service model rather than a modular platform. The core offering centers on residential property sales and lettings (for both landlords and tenants) across East Lancashire. These core services are supplemented by integrated add-on modules including conveyancing (legal services), financial advice and mortgage calculators, property valuations, auctions, new homes sales, and commercial property services. The company also provides in-house home improvement advisers. All services are delivered through a network of local estate agent branches, with the primary platform being the website for property search, valuations, and tenant/buyer registration. The company has over 95 years of experience operating in Burnley and surrounding areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Property Sales Estate agent service helping homeowners market and sell their residential properties across Burnley, Colne, Pendle, Barrowford and surrounding East Lancashire areas, with access to local branch expertise, free valuations, viewings, and full transaction support.
• Property Lettings & Management Letting agent services for landlords including tenant finding, full property management, rental collection, and rental registration handling across Lancashire, with monthly recurring management fees.
• Buyer Services Property finding services helping buyers discover their next home, with access to featured listings, viewing bookings, area guides, and registration for property alerts.
• Tenant Services Rental property search services helping tenants find available properties to rent in East Lancashire, with registration for property alerts and application processing support.
• Commercial Property Services Commercial real estate services for businesses looking to buy, sell, or lease commercial premises in East Lancashire, including lease negotiations.
• Conveyancing Services Award-winning in-house legal services providing conveyancing and property transaction support for buyers and sellers, offered free to sellers completing with Petty Real, subject to a minimum fee of £1,500 plus VAT upon completion.
• Property Valuations Free property valuation services including an online instant valuation tool and in-branch appointments for sellers and landlords considering marketing their property.
• Financial Services In-house financial advisers providing mortgage advice, calculators, and financial guidance to support property transactions for buyers and sellers.
• Property Auctions Auction services for properties in East Lancashire, helping sellers reach auction buyers and assisting buyers with purchasing properties at auction.
• New Homes Specialist service for new build properties and developments in the Lancashire area, supporting developers and buyers of newly built homes.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Property Ombudsman (TPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPetty Real is a member of The Property Ombudsman scheme, providing independent dispute resolution services for customers and demonstrating commitment to professional standards and consumer protection.
• NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of NAEA, the leading professional body for estate agents in the UK, ensuring adherence to professional codes of conduct and industry best practices.
• ARLA PropertymarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of ARLA Propertymark, the professional body for letting agents, providing consumer protection and professional standards for rental services.
• RealmoveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember of the Realmove network, connecting Petty Real with other estate agents and expanding property marketing reach.
• Trading StandardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrading Standards approved, providing additional consumer protection and demonstrating commitment to fair trading practices.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Strike: UK online estate agent offering fixed-fee residential sales and related conveyancing/mortgage services. Competes directly with PettyReal for sellers in Lancashire on price and digital convenience, exerting fee pressure on traditional agents.
• Purplebricks: UK online hybrid estate agent offering lower-fee residential sales services with local property experts. Represents the digital-first disruptor model that challenges PettyReal's traditional commission-based high-street agency approach.

Direct peers

• Hunters: National UK estate agency franchise with a large branch network offering sales, lettings, and property management. Competes with PettyReal for the same residential customer base using a similar in-branch service model.
• Bridgfords: UK-wide estate agency chain providing residential sales, lettings, and property management through a high-street branch model. Closely aligned with PettyReal's service mix and customer segments, with overlapping presence in the North of England.
• Chancellors: Multi-branch UK estate agency providing residential sales, lettings, and property management across the South and Midlands. Comparable high-street agency model with similar service breadth to PettyReal.
• Reeds Rains: Established UK estate agency offering residential sales, lettings, and mortgage services through a multi-branch network. Operates a similar high-street-plus-add-on-service model to PettyReal, serving comparable customer segments.
• Dewhurst Estate Agents: Long-established regional estate agency operating across Lancashire and the North West, offering residential sales and lettings through a branch network — directly comparable to PettyReal's model, footprint, and customer base in East Lancashire.

Broad incumbents

• Connells Group: One of the largest UK estate agency and property services groups, encompassing Connells, Countrywide, and other regional brands. Overlaps with PettyReal across residential sales, lettings, conveyancing, and mortgages but at materially greater scale and geographic reach.
• Foxtons: Major UK estate agency chain known for high-street branch presence and full-service sales/lettings. While more urban-focused, Foxtons competes with PettyReal for the same residential property transaction customers with a similar integrated service offering.

Others

• Rightmove: UK's largest property portal, which PettyReal and its peers depend on for listing distribution. While not a direct competitor, Rightmove sets the customer-acquisition channel economics for estate agents like PettyReal and increasingly intermediates the transaction flow.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pettysestagents
• Facebookfacebook.com/pettyestateagents
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/petty-estate-agents-limited

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PettyReal