Services
LocationsGuides
About us
How it works

Our Review of The Best Quick House Buying Companies

An honest review with expert input to help you sell your house safely

  • Average offer in 2024 was 80.39% of Market Value
  • From offer to completion, average sale in 119 days
  • Helped sell over £186 million worth of property.
Yorkshire town with houses selling with the best house buying companies

Content Written By: Karl McArdle - Last Updated: 02/04/2025

I want to start by addressing the proverbial elephant in the room. You’re probably asking yourself, how can a quick house sale company provide an honest and unbiased opinion on other house buying companies? 

The truth is, we can’t. In this article, we have tried our absolute best to provide you with detailed and unbiased information about your options as a seller. We’ve done this by using outside sources, such as Trustpilot, to help us determine our rankings and reviews, including customer testimonials. 

However, this article should only be one of your sources when researching house buying companies. Because each source will have its biases, whether conscious or not, it’s important to do your research across numerous sources before deciding which option is best for you. 

For instance, it’s a good idea to also refer to Property Sale Watchdog’s (PSW) reviews of house buying companies. PSW reviews members of The Property Ombudsman and the National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB). All of the companies we’ve included on our list are NAPB members, so you can also find PSW reviews of each one. This includes a PSW review of The Property Buying Company (TPBC). 

However, PSW is a lead-generation website (more on this near the bottom of the page) so avoid sharing your details via any of the forms. It’s just a good resource to have on hand, but also has its fair share of biases, so don’t treat it as your sole source of truth. 

We understand how important it is to keep your interests safe. Selling a house can be a life-changing event when you’re working with people you can trust. Unfortunately, it can also be a stressful nightmare if you find yourself dealing with a dishonest cash buyer, estate agent or lawyer. 

Believe us, we’ve seen a few bad apples operating within this industry and we don’t want anyone falling prey to them. Our aim with this information is to help you identify a genuine and honest cash buyer, and make the best decision for your situation. 

According to 2023 HM Land Registry data analysed by UK mortgage broker SPF.co.uk, cash sales of properties around the UK rose significantly between 2013 and 2023. The increase varies across regions, with some of the biggest changes occurring in Inverclyde (39.4%), Hart (26.1%), Solihull (25.4%), Kensington and Chelsea (21.2%) and City of London (20.3%), according to Insider Media

Another element of this cash buyer-friendly landscape is the high level of income required for home buyers to purchase. According to 2024 data from Zoopla, an existing owner will need about £72,600 to upsize. Meanwhile, a first-time buyer is looking at around £60,600 to get on the ladder. 

The income required differs greatly across areas, as we see in the below graph by The Negotiator created in 2023 using data from multiple sources. 

Today, this change in buying trends favouring more cash sales means sellers need to be extra aware of the types of buyers they can trust. We’re here to help you figure out who that is. 

So, how have we determined the best quick house sale companies in 2025? You can quickly navigate this article by using the table of contents below:


Our process for calculating the rankings

To determine the best house buying companies currently in operation, we’ve focused primarily on customer appraisals through Trustpilot. This is because former clients of these companies often offer the clearest and most authentic picture of what it will be like for you to sell your house through one. 

I think Raphael Kaye, one of our Property Consultant Managers, is right on the money when he says, “When choosing a cash buyer, I genuinely believe the thing you should consider most is the trust and reputation of the company. You can do this through looking at reviews on Trustpilot ... but it’s also something that you get a feeling for when you talk to them directly. 

“The transparency of the service is key. We hear from several customers who have talked to our competitors and been promised figures close to, or even market value, for their properties. Whilst that might seem fantastic, when you take a step back and consider it, there is no way a company can successfully operate without making a profit, so chances are they are going to let you down, or change the goal posts, much later in the process.”  

Far from just taking these overall rankings at face value, we’ve devoted hours to reviewing individual customer reviews. This has helped us determine an overall appraisal and how each company responds to criticism. We’ve included some examples where relevant in our individual company appraisals just below the overall table. 

However, it would be shortsighted of us to rely solely on customer reviews. For a more comprehensive review and ranking, we’ve also looked at: 

  1. Average cash sale offer

  2. Highest cash sale offer

  3. Average sale time

  4. Fastest sale time

  5. Membership status of nationally recognised regulatory bodies.

  6. Whether they charge fees

Keep in mind that figures for cash sale offers and sale times have been sourced directly from company websites. So actual figures may be higher or lower than stated here. 

It’s always best to get in touch with a company directly and ask for their figures. The best and most transparent companies will provide their sale and time-to-sale figures as accurately as possible. Keep in mind your actual sale offer may differ from the average dependant on your property’s condition and location, the current market and other factors.  

By using this data, and applying our own expertise and 50 combined years of experience, we’ve created a comprehensive ranking of the best 10 quick house sale companies in the UK. We’ve tried to make this list as transparent and unbiased as possible. It should also provide you with more security and knowledge when navigating selling your house through a cash buyer.

The 10 best house sale companies in 2025

RankCash buying companyTrustpilot rating (/5)Number of Trustpilot ReviewsAvg. Cash Sale OfferAvg. Sale Time (days)NAPB Member?TPO MemberCovers All Fees
1Home House Buyers4.9190Up to 85%7YesYesYes
2My Homebuyers4.96480-85%14YesYesYes
3Good Move4.9986Up to 85%24YesYesYes
4Property Rescue4.8393Up to 80%14YesYesYes
5Smooth Sale4.724170-80%12YesYesYes
6The Property Buying Company4.72,56980%17YesYesYes
7Open Property Group4.613975-85%14YesYesYes
8Bettermove4.61,32275-85%30YesYesYes
9Homebuyers4u4.7219Up to 85%14YesNoYes
10House Buyer Bureau4.5352Up to 80%N/AYesYesYes

*Data last updated on 27th March 2025

As you can see there aren’t too many differences between the top 10 companies. Most house buying companies will cover your legal and selling fees, provide a faster-than-average sale, be a member of one or more regulatory bodies, and pay between 80-85% of your property’s value. 

These are pretty standard across the cash buyer industry. What really makes the best companies stand out is their focus on providing great customer service – something that’s not always easy to find. So let’s look closer at the top five companies and break down their strengths and weaknesses, including real customer testimonials sourced from Trustpilot.

Get your free cash offer now

1. Home House Buyers

Home House Buyers operate out of Harrogate, in North Yorkshire, and have a nationwide reach. According to their website, the company ticks all the core boxes of a good cash buyer, including: 

  • 10-plus years’ experience

  • Paying up to 85% of your property’s value

  • 7-day average sale time

  • Member of the NAPB and TPO

  • Take care of all fees

Customer Feedback

The company also has been highly reviewed on Trustpilot with an average rating of 4.9/5. This has been achieved with 95% 5-star reviews and 4% 4-star reviews. The company has only received one 1-star review. 

Out of 190 reviews, Home House Buyers has responded to 114, which is a 60% response rate. This is six times higher than what RaveCapture, a review management service, states as a ‘High Response Rate’. So Home House Buyers is maintaining a very personable and responsive approach to customer service.

Most-Recent Review

The company’s most-recent review was a 5-star review on 5th February 2025, which said: 

“Great company, smooth buying process. Chris was a fantastic person to deal with he was professional, efficient and always kept me informed. His knowledge and great customer care was fantastic.”

Lowest Review

The company’s lowest review was a 1-star review on 3rd February 2023, which said: 

“This company has offered me a £10 Amazon voucher if I leave a good review which is a practice Trustpilot prohibit. I haven't followed their link to get the voucher but have instead come direct to Trustpilot's website to warn people to read the other reviews with caution!

“Update: The company have responded to say the incentive was an isolated incident, if that's the case then it was a very professionally done, complete with images of an Amazon gift card in the email, it was also verbally mentioned on my call with the company.”

Home House Buyers responded to this review on the same day with: 

“We are sorry that we were not able to put forward on your property. We hope that the advice we gave you will help you to achieve a sale in the near future. Providing incentives to leave reviews is against our guidelines. After further investigation into this, we have concluded that this was an isolated incident and have taken action to ensure that our systems are updated to not send out emails that incentivise reviews. All the best from the team at Home House Buyers.”

Our Verdict

Home House Buyers seems to offer a high level of customer service and care when operating as a cash buyer. Their team is very responsive to customers and they have a significant amount (95%) of 5-star ratings. Their sole 1-star rating isn’t related to their overall customer service, but rather an isolated incident with review incentivisation. 

They provide trust, service and a good option for sellers. 

TPBC Rating: 4.9/5

2. My Homebuyers

My Homebuyers is a close second on our list. The company has been trading since 2016 and claims to have over 20 years’ experience within the industry. Based in Chester, they have purchased properties across England and Wales. Similar to Home House Buyers, they have a number of strengths, including: 

  • 10 years’ experience

  • Paying between 80 and 85% of your property’s value

  • 14-day average sale time

  • Member of the NAPB and TPO

  • Take care of all fees

Customer Feedback

The company also been highly reviewed on Trustpilot with an average rating of 4.9/5. This has been achieved with 100% 5-star reviews. However, it also has the least amount of reviews in the top-five companies with only 64 on Trustpilot. 

Out of 64 reviews, My Homebuyers has responded to 36, which is a 56% response rate, considered a ‘High Response Rate’

Most-Recent Review

The company’s most-recent review was a 5-star review on 5th March 2025, which said: 

“We found our sale to be extremely straightforward and hassle free. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend My Homebuyers to anyone looking for a fast sale.”

They also received another 5-star review on 14th August 2025, which called out some great customer service:

“I was very happy with the advice given. Whilst they could not assist me (very niche property) they recommended and referred me to another company and suggested other avenues for my sale. Kelvin was extremely upfront and helpful with his guidance on using a cash buying company and what to expect. Would recommend 100%.”

Lowest Review

As this company only has 5-star reviews on Trustpilot, I’ve left out a review for this section. It’s worth noting that the low number of reviews (64) might mean you need to research this company across other review sites, such as Property Sale Watchdog

Our Verdict

My Homebuyers appears to be a trustworthy and solid option if you’re looking for a cash buyer. Customer appraisals highlight the company’s customer service, including referring people to other buyers. They are members of regulatory bodies and provide a high cash offer and timely sale in most cases. Although they have a low number of reviews, all of them are 5-star ratings. 

TBPC Rating: 4.8/5

3. Good Move

Based in Leeds, Good Move is a cash buying company established in 2015. It’s an active member of both NAPB and TPO, so is committed to following industry standards. 

Good Move has a strong cash offer of up to 85%. However, its average sale time is one of the longest in this list at around 24 days. It also has a couple of other strengths and weaknesses: 

  1. Covers all fees, as long as you choose its recommended solicitor. If you want to choose your own, Good Move will cover the fees up to £500. 

  2. Has almost 1,000 reviews on Trustpilot with an average rating of 4.9 stars. 

Customer Feedback

Along with its 988 reviews and 4.9-star average rating, Good Move has 94% 5-star ratings, 5% 4-star ratings and the final 1% spread across 3-, 2- and 1-star ratings. 

Of the 988 reviews, Good Move has responded to 128, which is a 13% response rate. This is only slightly above what is considered a High Response Rate (10%). 

Most-Recent Review

The company’s most-recent review was a 5-star review on 27th March 2025, which said: 

“I wasn’t expecting much from this company, but they delivered. I didn’t sell my house via Good Move but I would have done if needed. They explained how I would get more for my house (20-30k more) and there was absolutely no pressure or tough sales. Definitely the way forward with a company/situation like this. I was able to remortgage so didn’t need to sell my buy to let.”

Lowest Review

Good Move has 13 1-star reviews, so we’ve chosen one of the more recent reviews to include here. If you’d like to look at more Good Move reviews, visit their Trustpilot page

One of Good Move’s 1-star reviews was left on 16th December 2024. I have reduced and edited it slightly for the sake of length and clarity. 

“Had the valuation done, I tried to find out what the valuation was having had a valuation done in April 2024 for £210,000 with a bridging loan company. I heard on the radio 12/12/2024 that house prices had gone up one point something each month for the last five months. The valuer said he would value the house as a buy to let and also for a straight sale. It took seven days for Good Move to tell me that the house is worth nothing because there was history of subsidence in the past.

“I should have known the offer was too good to be true. I got nothing in writing just a phone call and an offer to sell through an auction. I will not use their services; I have already wasted 2 weeks.”

Good Move responded to this review eight days later. Again, I have reduced their response slightly for the sake of length and clarity, but you can read the full response here

“We understand your frustration - it's unfortunate for both you and ourselves that we had to withdraw from the purchase. This can happen in extreme circumstances where issues have been brought to light following the survey of a property.

“In this case we were given no choice but to withdraw as an independent RICS surveyor gave a valuation of £0 due to the 'property suffering structural movement in the form of significant cracking to the masonry'.

“I will email you a copy of the survey and with your permission (removing the address and personal information) I would like to make the report available online for anyone reading your review to see/understand the situation more clearly.”

Our Verdict

Good Move appears to be one of the most-used quick house sale companies on our list, with almost 1,000 Trustpilot reviews. Despite this high number, they have a 4.9-star rating with 94% 5-star ratings. They do have a number of low ratings, including 13 1-star reviews. However, they seem to be responsive and genuine when communicating with unsatisfied customers, based on their replies on Trustpilot. 

TPBC Rating: 4.7/5

4. Property Rescue

Property Rescue was established in 2005, making it one of the UK’s oldest cash buying companies. It operates out of Borehamwood and is an active member of both TPO and NPAB. It also has some other strengths worth considering: 

  1. Cash offer of up to 80% of your property’s value

  2. Average sale time of 14 days

  3. Simple contract only when you’re happy with the price

  4. Covers all fees

Customer Feedback

Property Rescue has an average 4.8-star rating on Trustpilot from 393 reviews. Of these 393 reviews, it has 88% 5-star, 8% 4-star and 3% 1-star, as well as some 3- and 2-star reviews. 

Out of the 393 reviews, Property Rescue has responded to 11, which is a 2.8% response rate. This is just below what RaveCapture considers a ‘Low Response Rate’. This makes Property Rescue one of the least responsive companies on our list. At least on Trustpilot (it may respond via different channels). 

Most-Recent Review

The company’s most-recent review was a 5-star review on 20th March 2025, which said: 

“Very friendly, professional and understanding, and got the results we wanted. Communication [was] outstanding all thanks to Alex and Emilio, again thank you.”

Lowest Review

Property Rescue has 13 1-star reviews, so we’ve chosen one of the more recent reviews to include here. If you’d like to look at more Good Move reviews, visit their Trustpilot page

One of Property Rescue’s 1-star reviews was left on 21st February 2025. I have reduced and edited it slightly for the sake of length and clarity. 

“A very deceptive company that acts as a middleman between estate agents / developers and clients. Property Rescue will target the vulnerable and evaluate their properties based on inaccurate information taken from other properties in the area.

“I think Property Rescue acts similar to an auction house when properties have to go through a sale due to repossession or probabe. It’s not your normal estate agent so pls be careful.”

Property Rescue responded to this review about one month later: 

“We are sorry to hear that your experience with Property Rescue was not to your satisfaction, however I would like to point out that we only had one conversation and even though you were not interested in our service we were just trying to provide you with some useful advice. We are cash buyers and offer 80% of the market value. You mentioned that we act similar to auction houses and estate agents, but we are neither as we are the principal buyer. We hope you have found a suitable solution to your needs.”

Our Verdict

Property Rescue has a solid track record for high (5-star) customer service and offers a good platform for selling your home fast and for a decent price. However, it’s worth considering their low response rate on Trustpilot and keeping this in mind when communicating with the company during your sale process. 

TPBC Rating: 4.6/5

5. SmoothSale

Based in Leeds, SmoothSale is the youngest quick house buying company in our top five. It has been operating since 2021, so it has under five years’ experience within the industry. However, I can’t say for sure what experience its team has because I couldn’t find a ‘Meet the Team’ or equivalent page on its site. In under five years it has purchased over 120 properties for cash, according to its About Us page

SmoothSale has a number of reasons that make it a good option for selling your house quickly, including: 

  1. Average sale price of 70-80% of your property’s value

  2. Average sale time of 12 days

  3. Covers all fees

  4. Member of the TPO and NAPB

Customer Feedback

SmoothSale has an average rating of 4.7 stars on Trustpilot from 242 reviews. About 94% of its 242 reviews are 5-star ratings. The other 6% is spread evenly across 4-, 2- and 1-star reviews. 

Out of 242 reviews, SmoothSale has responded to 8, which is a 3.4% response rate. This is just about the threshold for a Low Response Rate (3%). Most of these responses are for its 1-star reviews. 

Most-Recent Review

The company’s most-recent review was a 2-star rating on 27th March 2025, which said:

“Not at all impressed. Huge hype at the start of the relationship. 99% of our properties are sold within a month. We need exclusivity so please terminate the relationship with your estate agents. Started the exclusive relationship with SmoothSale and not even a single enquiry.”

However, before this review, the company had a 5-star response on 13th March 2025, which said: 

“I was unfamiliar with the online agent world but worked with Dan negotiating a purchase. I found he was excellent and informative throughout. His positive can-do attitude was refreshing and he was very responsive. The property had a fair share of complications and Dan proved that transparency and open communication is key. Would recommend them!”

Lowest Review

The company’s most-recent 1-star review (there are only six on Trustpilot) was on 26th November 2024. It said: 

“It’s all rubbish… no investors… they act as an online agent. Don’t trust them at all... the weeks with no interest... not on offer from an investor. I’ll use a local agent.”

SmoothSale responded to this review within one week: 

“Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear you were dissatisfied with your experience. To clarify, we are not an online agent. We are a property buying company that purchases properties directly for cash, and we also work with investors to explore alternative solutions on specific properties if we cannot meet a seller’s desired price.

“In your case, we were unable to secure an offer at the price you were seeking, either from ourselves or from an investor. While we strive to achieve the best outcomes for all our clients, we are always transparent about what is possible in the current market.

“We appreciate your comments and take them on board to continue improving our service. If you would like to discuss your experience further, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly.”

Our Verdict

Despite not yet having five years’ experience within the industry, SmoothSale has already established a strong portfolio of successful property sales and happy customers. While the company don’t respond much on Trustpilot, it has responded to the majority of 1-star reviews in a timely and open manner. 

SmoothSale may offer slightly less than other cash buyers on this list. However, it has a fast sale time (avg. 12 days), so could be a good option if you’re prioritising a fast, stress-free sale. 

TPBC Rating: 4.5/5

Compare our cash offer today!

Final thoughts on choosing the best quick house sale company

When choosing a cash buyer for your property, I think the two most important things to do are:

  1. Consider your priorities (i.e. is speed or money the number one priority?)

  2. Manage your expectations

When it comes to the latter, it’s best to stay realistic about what you’re going to get for your house or flat. Do your research into the market, either with the help of an estate agent or independent valuer. Then make sure you’re clear about your expectations when talking with a cash buyer. 

They may not be able to give you the price you expect. It may also take longer than the company states online, as every sale encounters different conditions. But hopefully, though a little research and clear communication you should either get a good result or enough information to decide it isn’t for you and move on. 

At the end of the day, most quick sale companies aren’t here to rip you off. We’re here to help you sell your house quickly for a good price, without the stress of lawyers, a slow buyer market, unexpected fees and long waiting times. 

Top Tip: If you’re unsure about what questions to ask a cash buyer, refer to this helpful resource from Money Helper, a free service provided by HM Government.

What about The Property Buying Company? 

I think it would be a bit on the nose for me to use this article as a platform for promoting The Property Buying Company. To keep this guide as unbiased and informational as possible, I’m not going to tell you why you might want to consider us as your cash buyer. 

If you’d like to learn about what we can offer and why we might be a good fit, visit our Why Choose Us page

If you’d like to read an independent appraisal of TPBC, read the Property Sale Watchdog’s review

If you’d like to learn more about cash buyers, including how they work and their legitimacy in the industry, carry on reading.

What is a cash house buyer? 

A cash buying company is a business specialising in buying homes for cash without the help of a mortgage or loan. They’re similar to the cash buyer you'd find through the open market. You just won't have to spend hundreds of pounds in property marketing to attract them.

The majority of cash buyers, including TPBC, buy any house in any condition. So you could say you have the upper hand in negotiations; if you don't like their offer, you can simply walk away.

Cash buyers are becoming more and more common across the country, with Belvoir claiming that quick house sale companies now make up 35% of all property transactions in the UK. Cash sales are especially popular in the South West, where they account for 43% of transactions, while London sees 27% of its house sales conducted in cash.

Cash house buyers are also unencumbered by property chains, avoiding long wait times or frustrating chain breaks. For this reason, and many more, you can usually sell your house faster through a cash buyer. According to The Advisory, even in a hot market, the average time to complete a purchase is in-between 60 and 90 days. The Property Buying Company, meanwhile, can purchase your property is as little as seven days.  

Learn More About

Are quick house buying companies legit?

Most cash buying companies are legit. However, it’s always important you thoroughly research a cash buyer before contacting them about your company. Issues will only arise when you overlook warning signs and engage with a buyer who may not operate with integrity.

I’ve outlined a lot of elements that determine a cash buyer’s legitimacy in our list of the top 10 above. But here’s a quick breakdown for you: 

Legitimate cash buyers indicators

Keep in mind that the industry isn’t regulated yet. That doesn’t mean it’s illegitimate. The UK has a fair few industries which still remain unregulated, including cryptocurrencies, mobile learning and certain strains of business loans. Basically, new industries which haven't yet aged enough to reach the point of being regulated. 

All this really means is that before selling your house to a quick sale company, you should do your research and get to know the industry first before diving in headfirst. Essentially, what you're doing now.

Here’s a great resource from The Advisory on how to avoid cash home buyer scams, including what to look out for. I recommend reading this from front to back. 

Speaking of The Advisory and Property Sale Watchdog, these are lead-generation websites linked to specific quick house sale companies. So it’s best to use them as one of your resources, not your only resource. And stick to the information they provide without needing your details. I’ll cover more on this shortly.

We'll buy your house... FAST!

What to look out for when selling to quick sale companies

Vetting a cash buyer isn’t as straightforward as vetting an agent. Property buying companies use the internet as their shopfront, making them harder to vet. But it’s not impossible. 

Here are some key questions to ask when searching for a legit cash buying company. 

1. Do they have cash on hand to buy your property?

It’s not always the case that a cash buying company has cash on hand to purchase your house. In fact, many of these companies use loans to purchase properties. This means they don’t have complete control over your sale – the lender does. 

Fortunately, there are some companies out there, like The Property Buying Company, that only purchase homes with their own cash. We have a £10 million purchasing capacity at any one time, making our sales cleaner and faster. 

2. Are they a member of The Property Ombudsman and NAPB? 

The best quick house sale companies are members of The Property Ombudsman scheme and NAPB (National Association of Property Buyers). However, just because you see these logos on their website, it doesn't mean they're active members. 

For less legit cash buyers these are just a trust builder, designed to give you confidence in their brand. If in doubt, ring the organisations or use the links above to check membership status. All of the companies we’ve listed in our top 10 are members of one or both of these regulatory bodies. 

3. How long have they been operating? 

This isn’t always a sure-fire way to determine a company’s legitimacy, but it does help to gauge their experience and expertise within the industry. If you find a quick cash buyer who’s been operating for 10 years or longer, it’s a good sign they have the knowledge, professionalism and legitimacy to help you sell your house. 

Now you may be thinking that all quick house buying companies are startups, which isn’t true. Some of the big players have been around for decades. Here’s a quick look at when some of the UK’s leading cash buying companies were founded:

Line Graph of established cash buyers

4. Lead-generation websites

As I mentioned earlier, sites like The Advisory, Home Selling Expert and Property Sale Watchdog are good sources for information but also come with ulterior motives. These sites aren’t actually house buyers themselves; they’re designed to collect your details (like your address and email) and sell them or pass them on to other companies for profit or a kick back, or because they are a subsidiary for the initial company.

Following their CTA links leads you into their system, where you become a lead for consultation with the company’s own team, rather than receiving unbiased recommendations.

I suggest using them as resources only and not sharing your personal details via any form on the sites. Take The Advisory, for example. It presents itself as an independent property advice website and claims to run rigorous tests to identify genuine cash buyers, but in reality, it’s a lead generation site connected to companies like House Buyer Bureau and Quick Move Now.

So just like this article, the information you find on these sites is going to come with biases. As always, refer to them as one of your many sources and you’ll be okay. And also remember to cross-reference any information you find with other resources. Just like I’ve done earlier in this article when looking at the top 10 quick house sale companies. 

Lead Generation websiteTrustpilot rating (/5)Company source
The Advisory2.9Quick Move Now, House Buyer Bureau
Property Watchdog0House Buyer Bureau

How do cash house buyers UK work?

Before you put your trust in quick sale companies, it’s important to understand how they work. While there are some similarities, they operate differently from traditional estate agents, with a more straightforward approach. 

Here’s a quick overview on how most cash buyers operate: 

How cash buyers work infographic

Here are some questions to keep in mind as you progress through each step:

1. Reaching OutDo they respond quickly to online enquiries and phone calls?A slow response could indicate a slow process overall.
2. Property AssessmentDo they ask questions about your property’s condition, location and history? Do they use tools like Google Maps and the HM Land Registry? Will they send somone to inspect the property in person?If the company doesn’t ask about your property, use legitimate data tools or (if necessary) send someone to inspect your home in person, they might not give you an accurate valuation.
3. Cash OfferAre they happy to negotiate your cash offer? Is their cash offer around 75-85% of market value? Do they have valid reasons for their offer backed up by information? Illegitimate companies may offer close to market value for cash purchases, which isn’t maintainable as a business. They may also not be willing to negotiate or not have valid reasons for their offer.
4. TimelineAre they flexible with their timeline (within reason)? Are they realistic with their timeline? While some cash sales can happen within seven days, the majority take 2-4 weeks. Faster timelines can be accommodated for a reduced sale price. Make sure your cash buyer is being transparent and flexible.

Here are The Property Buying Company’s fastest selling times over the past 5 years:

  • 2020

    11 days

    Average sale in 106 days

  • 2021

    16 days

    Average sale in 115 days

  • 2022

    19 days

    Average sale in 122 days

  • 2023

    22 days

    Average sale in 138 days

  • 2024

    18 days

    Average sale in 113 days

5. Surveys/Legal WorkWill the company cover all legal and survey fees?The best cash buyer companies will cover all your fees as one of their perks.
6. Exchange and CompletionAre contracts being exchanged? Is there a clear timeline and system in place for the payment?Make sure you have a legally binding contract in place before finalising the sale.

How much should you expect to make from a cash sale? 

When you sell with home buying companies, it should be made clear from the start that you will not be getting 100% market value for your property, and if any company tells you that you will, you should be very wary about continuing with the sale.

Most companies that buy your house will offer you 75%-85% of your properties value. However, the exact amount that you are offered will depend upon the location, size, and condition of your property amongst a variety of other factors.

You will often have a few different options for sale, with the direct cash buying route being the main avenue. A cash buyer may also help facilitate investor purchases or have a property auction platform to help sell houses they cannot buy.

The Property Buying Company offers a variety of solutions to suit different needs. With a soft limit purchasing facility of £10 million, we can buy directly from you. We can also provide flexible options, including matching sellers with cash investors or selling properties through a dedicated property auction. If you have more time, we can also list and market homes via an online estate agency.

The option you choose can change what percentage of your property’s market value you receive from the sale. Ultimately, you’re not usually going to make as much from a cash sale as you would from a real estate agent. But in a market where the supply of homes is outstripping demand, a legitimate cash buyer can be a great option for a quick, good sale. 

A common question sellers ask is whether cash buyers must purchase directly to be considered legitimate. Not at all. Providing alternative solutions simply adds flexibility and ensures you have the best possible options for your situation.

I really hope this information has been helpful. I wish you all the best in selling your home, whichever route you choose. Please feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions. 

Edit Log
  • 08/01/2025 - Content written by Tom Condon

  • 02/04/2025 - Content rewritten and edited by Karl McArdle, updated statistics and ratings with additional explanation of company performance.

  • 02/04/2025 - Content reviewed and updated in line with Editorial Guidelines (Reviewed by Mathew McCorry)

Bio image of Karl McArdle
Karl McArdle

Karl is one of the founders and CEOs of The Property Buying Company, which he launched in 2012 with his best friend and co-CEO, Jonathan Christie. He is an expert in buying property and knows pretty much everything you need to know about the UK property market.

Find out more about Karl McArdle

Share: