"Australians are infatuated with real estate. For us, it's great because it means they will embrace our model as they have done in the UK.

"We grew to 300 local property experts in the UK in less than two years; it could be a lot quicker in Australia," he said.

This confidence is founded on the belief that Australians, like Britons, are fed up with paying high fees to estate agents only to be locked out of the process of selling their home.

He also believes that Australian estate agents are looking for a "credible alternative" to the traditional model and are looking for the "next winner" which he claims is the Purplebricks model.

"Finding entrepreneurial people who want to run their own businesses has not been difficult. In many ways we've been pushing against an open door," he said.

He declined to say how much of the $4500 fee will be split between Purplebricks and the local property expert, but claimed they could earn "considerably more" than working for a traditional estate agent.

Agents will be paid for every instruction they receive with the ability to earn extra fees by offering conveyancing, mortgages, insurance and other top-up services.

Mr Bruce may be supremely confident, but McGrath executive director John McGrath said he expected only a small percentage of people would be attracted to their proposal.


"It's a different market in the UK. Commissions are higher and property values are lower once you take out Central London. Most of our clients have no issue with the fees we charge.

"Purplebricks will find a small niche in the market and I wish them well." Mr McGrath said.

After establishing a presence in Melbourne and Brisbane, Purplebricks will be rolled out to Sydney and the other capital city markets.

The business is being led in Australia by Ryan Dinsdale, the former marketing director of Virgin Money.