In a rush to sell your home? Cash-buying companies can be a godsend, but tread carefully as not all are as genuine as they claim. These buyers offer a hassle-free sale for homes in any condition, appealing to those facing urgent situations like mortgage arrears or inheritance issues, but always verify their authenticity and understand the numbers to avoid costly mistakes.
When time is short and certainty matters more than chasing the last pound, a cash buyer can be a practical choice. But not every offer is reliable, and not every company works the way it says it does. This guide explains how cash house buyers work, what they typically pay, what to check before you sign anything, and how Property Saviour’s cash offer compares, with the numbers shown openly.
Last updated October 2026. This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Speak to a solicitor before you sign a contract.
In this guide
Companies that buy houses as is purchase a property in its current condition. The seller does not need to carry out repairs, redecorate or prepare the home for viewings before completion.
That matters for probate property, unmortgageable homes, subsidence, fire damage, structural problems and homes with sitting tenants. Many of these properties are hard to sell on the open market because buyers using a mortgage struggle to get lending. A cash buyer who buys as is removes that uncertainty, although you will usually accept a lower price in return.
Selling quickly is not only for people in financial difficulty. A direct cash sale can suit a wide range of situations:
Many people reading this are under real pressure, whether that is an estate to wind up or a deadline from a lender. A cash buyer can take away part of that burden, but only if the buyer is reliable. The next sections show how to tell.
Lists of the “best” companies that buy houses for cash are usually written by the companies themselves or by sites that earn referral fees. We are a cash buyer ourselves, so we have not ranked our competitors. Instead, here are the criteria that matter most when you compare any company, including us. Each point is backed by the sources at the end of this page.
| What to compare | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of funds | Written evidence the buyer has the cash, such as a bank statement or a solicitor’s confirmation | The Home Owners Alliance lists “Is there proof that they have funds available?” among the key questions to ask |
| Price changes | A written statement that the offer will not be reduced late without a valid reason | The Home Owners Alliance warns that some firms agree a price and then cut it at the last minute |
| Contract terms | No lock-in clause or penalty that stops you selling elsewhere | The Home Owners Alliance warns that some contracts tie sellers in and impose excessive penalties for leaving |
| Fees | All fees in writing before you sign, and nothing payable if the sale does not proceed | The Home Owners Alliance warns of hidden fees and of firms that charge even if the sale does not go ahead |
| Complaints route | Membership of a redress scheme such as The Property Ombudsman | If a firm is a member you can go to the ombudsman; if it is not, the Home Owners Alliance says you cannot take a complaint further unless you go to court |
| Company record | A company that is active, files accounts on time and does not have a long list of charges | Companies House is free to search and shows this information |
Sources for this table: Home Owners Alliance: Quick house sale firms, what to watch for and The Property Ombudsman: Code of Practice for the National Association of Property Buyers. The Property Ombudsman code applies to members of the National Association of Property Buyers, which is a voluntary trade body.
For more detail read our guide on how to identify a genuine cash house buyer.
Companies that buy houses in any condition will consider homes that a mortgage lender may refuse to fund. That can include:
On empty homes: GOV.UK says you can be charged additional Council Tax if your home has been empty for at least one year, and up to four times your normal bill if it has been empty for at least 10 years (GOV.UK: Council Tax on second homes and empty properties).
For a seller in any of these circumstances, a cash buyer can be one of the few realistic options. It is still worth getting more than one opinion on value.
The market includes several types of business. Knowing the difference can save you time and money:
Property Saviour is a direct buyer. We buy properties in the name of Collingtree Ltd, and you can check its Companies House record yourself (see below).
The right buyer can prove it has the funds, buys without a chain and completes on a date that suits you. Always ask for proof of funds before you accept an offer. That could be a recent bank statement, a solicitor’s confirmation letter or written confirmation from the bank. If a buyer hesitates or makes excuses, treat that as a warning sign.
With Property Saviour you can also read reviews and success stories from sellers who needed to sell fast, sell inherited property or move on from a difficult situation.
There is no easier way to sell a house today.
Before accepting any offer, spend five minutes on the free GOV.UK company search. Search for the buyer’s registered company name and look at:
A long list of charges can mean a company borrows money to fund its purchases rather than paying from its own cash, but it is not proof on its own. Companies House shows what a company has filed. It does not tell you whether it will honour an offer, so use it alongside proof of funds and a written offer.
At Property Saviour our answers are: we aim to issue a formal cash offer within 48 hours, completion can be in as little as 10 days or at a pace that suits you, you can use your own solicitor, and we contribute £1,500 towards your legal fees. Our price promise is that the agreed price is paid, provided everything matches the condition you describe.
The Home Owners Alliance says quick sale offers are often around 75% to 80% of market value, and in some cases up to 85% (Home Owners Alliance). The price depends on the condition of the property, how fast you want to sell and how much work the buyer has to do.
Property Saviour’s offer is 70% of a realistic open market valuation. That is below the range the Home Owners Alliance describes as typical, so it is worth getting a second offer and comparing the full costs of each route. We explain exactly how our figure is built below.
Each way of selling has a different mix of price, cost, speed and risk. This table uses figures from MoneyHelper, Which? and the Home Owners Alliance:
| Method | Typical cost or price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Estate agent | Fee between 0.75% and 3.5% of the selling price, with an average of 1.42% including VAT in 2026 (MoneyHelper) | Can achieve a higher price than a quick sale, but the sale depends on finding a buyer and on that buyer’s funding |
| Auction | Commission of roughly 2.5% plus VAT if it sells, and an entry fee of a few hundred to a few thousand pounds even if it does not sell (Which?) | No guarantee of a sale. If the hammer falls, the buyer pays a 10% deposit and the balance within 28 days (Which?) |
| Cash buyer | Offers often around 75% to 80% of market value, sometimes up to 85% (Home Owners Alliance). Property Saviour offers 70% | Speed and certainty, but a lower price. Check proof of funds, contract terms and fees first |
On a £250,000 house, the average estate agent fee of 1.42% would be about £3,550. A cash sale at 70% would be £175,000, and at the 75% to 80% the Home Owners Alliance describes would be £187,500 to £200,000. Sources: MoneyHelper: Selling your house or flat, Which?: Property auctions, pros and cons and Home Owners Alliance. For more on auctions see our guides to auctioning a house and the pros and cons of selling at auction.
If you have time, your property can be mortgaged and you are not under pressure from a deadline, the open market can achieve a higher price. MoneyHelper notes that the time between exchange and completion is typically between 7 and 28 days, but finding a buyer comes first and can take longer. If you want to compare, ask local agents what price they would expect to achieve and how long they think it will take.
Which? says that at auction there is “no guarantee of a sale” and that sellers usually pay an entry fee even if the property does not sell. If you need a certain amount by a certain date, ask what happens if your reserve price is not met.
Yes. This is one of the main reasons cash buyers exist. Properties with damp, structural movement, fire or flood damage, short leases, subsidence or long-term disrepair can be difficult to sell through the usual mortgage route. A cash buyer values the property as it stands, and you do not carry out repairs before completion. If the home is inherited and has been empty for a long time, see our guide to selling an inherited house.
The price will reflect the cost and risk of the work, so compare offers. We buy residential and commercial property in any condition, and our commercial property buyers page explains how that works for business premises.
Possibly, but speak to your lender first. Citizens Advice says a lender can take you to court to repossess your home if you cannot agree a way to pay what you owe, and that even then it is not too late to reach an agreement. Before applying to court, the lender has to give you at least two weeks’ notice in writing (Citizens Advice: Dealing with mortgage arrears).
Selling is one option among several. Get free debt advice before deciding, ask your lender what the sale price needs to cover to clear the mortgage, and read our guide on selling a house with mortgage arrears.
We offer 70% of a realistic open market valuation. These percentages are our own allowances for the costs and risks we take on, not official figures. On a £250,000 house the 30% difference is £75,000, made up as follows:
| Allowance | Share of valuation | On a £250,000 house | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal costs | 2% | £5,000 | Our legal costs on the purchase |
| Holding costs | 3% | £7,500 | Insurance, council tax, utilities and cleaning while we prepare the property for resale |
| Stamp duty land tax | 5% | £12,500 | Our budget for stamp duty land tax on the purchase |
| Resale costs | 5% | £12,500 | Estate agent and solicitor fees when we sell on |
| Gross profit before tax | 15% | £37,500 | Our profit before tax |
| Total discount | 30% | £75,000 | You receive 70%, which is £175,000 |
Stamp duty land tax is set by the government. GOV.UK lists standard residential rates of 0% up to £125,000, 2% from £125,001 to £250,000 and 5% from £250,001 to £925,000, with a further 5% on top for buyers who own another residential property (GOV.UK: Stamp Duty Land Tax residential rates). Our 5% is a planning allowance across our purchases.
We would rather you see the numbers and decide with full information. If a higher price matters more to you than speed, the open market may suit you better.
| Method of sale | Value achieved | Fees | Timeframe | Is sale guaranteed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estate agents | 90–95% | 1–5% | 3–6 months | No – one in three sales collapse |
| Auctioneers | 70–80% | 2% plus | 2–3 months | No – half of properties don’t sell |
| Property Saviour | 70–80% | £0 | 10–28 days | Yes – 99% success rate |
We are a direct cash buyer, not a broker or lead generator. Here is what we offer:
Property Saviour buys properties in the name of Collingtree Ltd. We checked its public record on Companies House on 21 October 2026:
You can check this yourself: Collingtree Ltd on Companies House and its charges page. Companies House shows what a company has filed. It is not a guarantee of future performance, so we encourage you to ask for proof of funds from every buyer, including us.
Some are, and some are not. The Home Owners Alliance says the quick house sale market is not regulated, so you need to carry out your own checks (Home Owners Alliance). Check the company on Companies House, ask for written proof of funds, read the contract for lock-in terms and fees, and see whether the firm is a member of a redress scheme such as The Property Ombudsman.
No. If you have time, a property that can be mortgaged and no chain pressure, the open market may achieve a higher price. For an inherited home, structural problems, debt pressure, a broken chain or tenants in place, a cash buyer can be a sensible option, as long as you compare the price with the alternatives.
Property Saviour buys properties in any condition, including those that mortgage lenders may refuse to fund. We handle the clearance, repairs and resale, and our offer reflects that work.
It depends on the buyer, the property and your solicitor. At Property Saviour completion can be in as little as 10 days, or at a pace that suits you, and we aim to issue a formal cash offer within 48 hours. Delays can come from the legal work, such as probate or title problems.
Ask for every fee in writing before you sign. The Home Owners Alliance warns that dishonest companies can impose hidden fees, and that you should ask whether you will have to pay even if the sale does not go ahead (Home Owners Alliance).
If you want a cash offer to compare with an estate agent or an auction, request a call back. Tell us about your property and we will talk through your options with no obligation. We aim to issue a formal cash offer within 48 hours, you choose your completion date, you can use your own solicitor and we contribute £1,500 towards your legal fees. We encourage you to get independent advice and compare offers before you decide.
Request your call back today. No obligation and no pressure.
Whether you’re facing a tricky sale, navigating probate, or simply looking to sell fast without hassle, you’re in the right place. Our blog is packed with practical advice, expert insights, and real-life tips to help homeowners, landlords, and executors across England, Scotland and Wales make informed decisions — whatever the condition of their property.
