Most people are familiar with the traditional process of selling a property through an estate agent on the open market. Unfortunately, this process has remained largely unchanged for more than a century, and it can be stressful, slow and unpredictable.
An attractive alternative is to use a company that buys houses. These companies have their cash funds, so they are not reliant on mortgages or investors.
This means they can provide a guaranteed house sale on a date of your convenience, and they can even buy in as little as 7 days if needed.
If you want to learn more about how companies that buy houses can offer a quicker and hassle-free way to sell a property, read on or watch our video below:
Table of Contents
What is a house buying company?
Legitimate property purchasing companies can provide you with a guaranteed property sale on a date of your preference.
They purchase your property directly with their cash funds, without depending on a mortgage or investors, which gives them the flexibility to buy your property quickly. A reputable house-buying company can even complete the sale in a week, if necessary.
House-buying companies always need to buy properties at a discounted rate to make a profit, so any home-buying sites claiming to purchase your house at 90% or higher should not be trusted.
Such property purchasing companies offering 90% or more are likely to be acting as brokers or lead generators, linking you with property investors.
This can be a problem, as companies of this type cannot guarantee how fast they can buy your house or how much they can pay.
These companies usually make you sign a contract and then try to find a buyer for your property. Once a buyer is found, you will be presented with a formal offer, which is often significantly lower than the original quote.
A genuine house-buying company will never make you sign a contract or charge you any fees for their services.
Can you trust companies that buy properties?
Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the industry around companies that buy houses remains unregulated. This means there is very little protection for home sellers who are taken advantage of by fraudulent traders claiming to be genuine “sell house fast” companies.
When dealing with property purchase companies, there are certain red flags to be aware of to avoid falling victim to rogue traders:
- They make an overly generous initial offer
- They request you to sign a contract
- They ask for a fee, either upfront or upon completion
- They are unable to fulfil the sale on the date of your choice
- They reduce their agreed offer price at the last minute
- They introduce a third party as a buyer
- They lack the accounts to validate their claims
- You have doubts about whether their property cash buyers’ reviews are genuine
- They claim to be a regulated property-buying company
- They provide you with an instant online cash offer
In the absence of any official regulation, we are committed to supporting professional bodies that strive to raise industry standards. We are registered with The Property Ombudsman and are members of the British Property Federation.
We are also one of the founding members of the National Association of Property Buyers, the only professional association dedicated solely to the professional home-buying industry.
Why use a house buying company?
When selling your home, most people opt for an estate agent. However, it is unlikely to result in a quick house sale. Companies that buy properties offer a great way to move quickly.
Selling directly to a genuine house-buying company guarantees speed and certainty that no other method can match.
A reliable company can complete your house sale on the date of your choice, with money transferred to your account immediately upon completion.
Reasons you may sell your home to a property buying company
There are many reasons why homeowners opt to use companies that buy houses instead of selling their property using traditional methods. These include:
- House sale fell through– If you have had the misfortune of a broken property chain, a reputable house-buying company can offer you a guaranteed quick sale and help you move on.
- Selling a rental property– If you are worried about the cost associated with selling a former buy-to-let property on the open market, a property-buying company can provide a fast house sale. You will be in control of the timescales, allowing you to choose the date of completion when your tenant moves out.
- Inherited property– If you’ve inherited a property, you may not have the time or energy to go through the lengthy process of selling it on the open market, particularly if you don’t live close to the property. A home-buying company could help you by providing a fast sale in as little as 7 days.
- Financial difficulties– If you are facing financial difficulties and selling your house to pay off debt, a company that buys houses may be able to assist. They can provide you with a formal cash offer, which could even be used to stop a repossession order.
- Downsizing– If you’re looking to release the money tied up in your property by downsizing, a house-buying company can provide you with a quick and stress-free sale to coincide with the purchase of your next home.
- Divorce – Selling your house after a divorce or relationship breakdown can be incredibly stressful. A fast house sale service can help you move on much quicker than a sale on the open market.
- Relocation – When relocating for work, family or a new adventure, a property-buying company can offer you a quick sale that meets your needs. They can complete the sale on a date of your choice, allowing you to time your move with your onward plans.
- Illness – If you are having to move due to illness, a fast house sale service could be the answer. It offers a private, stress-free sale on a date of your choice.
- Don’t want the hassle – If you don’t want the hassle of viewings, estate agent negotiations and lengthy conveyancing, a quick house sale to a company that buys houses could be the right solution.
How quick house sale companies work?
Selling to a company that buys houses means you won’t have to wait for months to find a buyer. We use our cash funds, so we can side-step any mortgage application delays.
Plus, we collaborate with some of the UK’s best conveyancing solicitors, who work quickly and are determined to complete the legal sale process on time.
Selling directly to Property Saviour
Selling via the open market
Listing with an estate agent
0 hours
5 hours
Hosting viewings
0 hours
12.5 hours
Waiting for your buyer to secure their mortgage
0 hours
4 weeks
Avg time for conveyencing
1 week
16 weeks
Total
1 week
20 weeks 17.5 hours
It typically takes 20+ weeks to sell a home through the open market – but with Property Saviour, you’ll be done in just one week! Our conveyancing partners are among the UK’s best and have experience with tight deadlines.
They’ll make sure your chosen completion date is hit.
What happens to my house after I sell it to a company?
Different firms that purchase houses have different approaches to what they do with their acquisitions.
Some retain the properties and let them out, but most will resell them on the open market. This entails taking on the risks related to how long it will take to sell the property and what price it will be sold at.
Companies that buy houses – the process
Step 1: Get in Touch
Reach out to our experienced property buying team to discuss your property and get an indicative offer.
Step 2: Get a Formal Offer
After an independent valuation, we’ll give you a free, no-obligation cash offer for your home.
Step 3: Decide the Completion Date
If you accept our formal cash offer, you get to pick the date of the sale completion.
Step 4: Completion
On the specified completion date, the house sale process concludes and the money is transferred to you.
What are the benefits of selling a house to a company?
Selling a house to a company can have many benefits. These include:
- Selling your house quickly has never been easier. Property Saviour, the UK’s leading home-buying company, will buy your house in as little as seven days, and you’re in full control of the timescale. Plus, with our guaranteed sales service, you don’t have to worry about your sale falling through due to unexpected issues.
- We also take away the associated costs of a traditional house sale. No estate agents, EPC costs, or legal fees – we cover them all. And, as we buy houses ‘as is’, there’s no need to spend money on expensive repairs or redecoration before you sell.
- Selling directly to a property-buying company like us takes away the normal anxieties and delays associated with a traditional house sale. So you can be sure of a hassle-free move.
Why sell to Us?
Property Saviour is the UK’s pioneering and largest home-buying firm. Since its inception in 1998, we have sold and purchased more than 6,000 homes in the last 25 years.
We have testimonials from hundreds of satisfied customers, and many of our clients have used our services more than once, so you can have confidence in our dependability.
Our house-buying service offers great versatility. Whether you need to complete it in a week due to a failed property sale, or you are moving to a newly built home that will be ready in two months, we will operate on your timeline and deposit the money into your account when you require it.
In short, our credentials make us the perfect company to buy your house for cash!
As a business, we can’t pay the full market value. However, our customers pick us because they believe the definite sale that we are uniquely placed to offer is a more attractive option than the difficulty and doubt that comes with selling on the open market.
A legitimate home-buying firm will always pay below market value, in exchange for a risk-free, positive house sale, with the timeline completely in your hands.
We understand that how much we can pay for your home is a major factor in your decision-making process, which is why we evaluate each property independently and always make the highest offer we can.
We are aware that selling your house is a serious decision and do not want you to feel rushed, so we guarantee that our cash offer is made without any cost, obligation or ‘hard sell’.
Property Saviour Price Promise
- The price we’ll offer is the price that you will receive with no hidden deductions.
- Be careful with ‘cash buyers’ who require a valuation needed for a mortgage or bridging loan.
- These valuations or surveys result in delays and price reductions later on.
- We are cash buyers. There are no surveys.
- We always provide proof of funds with every formal offer issued.
We'll Pay £1,500 Towards Your Legal Fees
- No long exclusivity agreement to sign because we are the buyers.
- You are welcome to use your own solicitor.
- If you don’t have one, we can ask our solicitors for recommendations.
- We share our solicitor’s details and issue a Memorandum of Sale.
Sell With Certainty & Speed
- Our approach is transparent and ethical, which is why sellers trust us.
- 100% Discretion guaranteed.
- If you have another buyer, you can put us in a contracts race to see who completes first.
- Complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you. You are in control.