From indication to assessed offer
The buyer may start with basic property details and comparable prices. Ask what assumptions it used and whether an inspection or survey will follow. A remote estimate is not an independent valuation.
After assessment, ask for the price and conditions in a dated document. Keep earlier versions so you can understand any reduction.
Clarify what “accepted” means
Accepting an offer does not necessarily create the binding purchase contract. A reservation or exclusivity agreement can still impose obligations, so have it reviewed before signing.
Ask your local solicitor when the purchase becomes binding and which deadlines follow. England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and auction arrangements differ.
Evaluate changes and deductions
Request evidence and a clear reason for any revised price. Compare the new net proceeds against alternatives and your debts. Do not accept an unexplained reduction merely because removals or another purchase have been planned.
Have your solicitor explain exit rights and costs under any agreement before withdrawing. Pressure to avoid independent advice is a reason to pause.
Sources & review
Last reviewed:
No buyer, price or deadline is endorsed or guaranteed. Cash funding does not remove legal checks. Offer percentages are editorial scenarios, not current measured market ranges. The OFT study and CMA investigation are historical. Legal guidance primarily concerns England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland differ. Images are AI-generated illustrations, not actual transactions.
- MoneyHelper — Quick house sales
Government-backed guidance: quick-sale companies usually buy for less than a regular sale would achieve, may offer much less than market value, and many are unregulated.
- GOV.UK — How to sell a home
England and Wales: selling costs, paperwork, leasehold information, valuations, chains and legally binding exchange (sections 2–7, 16–17 and 21–22).
- CMA / OFT — Quick house sales investigation
Historical investigation (2013–14): quick-sale firms usually buy at a discount; undertakings address misleading offers, price reductions and completion promises. This is not a current market-price or speed survey.
- OFT — Quick house sales market study (OFT1499, 2013)
Found quick-sale buyers typically paid around 10–25% below market value (roughly 75–90% of it), sometimes working to a target such as 80% before adjusting for location and condition; much larger discounts were sometimes seen. Historical (2013), not a current measured average.
Review dates record our source check, not the date a rule took effect. Rules can change; check the linked guidance before acting. Legal processes differ across the UK.