Cash house buyers
If you need to sell your property quickly and securely, a cash property buyer could be the perfect solution. As a reputable quick house sale company, Good Move will provide an accurate cash offer for your home within just 24 hours. There’s no property chain, mortgage lender or estate agent to worry about – and we’ll even cover your legal fees.
- 1Start by entering your postcode
- 2Receive a cash offer within 24 hours
- 3Sell your house fast for cash
Ready to get started? Just fill out the form on the right and receive a free, no-obligation cash offer today!
Get a free cash offer
Sell your house Fast
What are cash home buying companies?
Simply put, cash home buying companies are businesses with the financial resources to make an immediate cash offer on your property.
Selling your home to a cash buyer simplifies the process, as there are fewer external factors that can cause delays – often resulting in a much quicker sale.
Using a quick house sale company also helps you avoid property chains and allows you to sell your home faster than selling via an estate agent on the open market. Moreover, cash house buyers don’t charge estate agency fees, legal fees or commissions. However, it’s worth noting that they typically offer up to 85% of your property’s market value.
The fast house sale process is far less complex than relying on a buyer who needs mortgage approval, and it can be broken down into five simple steps (outlined below).
How we buy houses with cash
Cash offer made
A cash offer is made on your property, by an individual or a genuine cash house buyer like Good Move. At Good Move, we aim to make a free cash offer on homes within 24 hours.
Survey conducted
Surveys are instructed, and carried out, to check the condition of the house.
Solicitor checks made
Further checks are carried out by the cash house buyer’s solicitor.
Contracts exchanged
Contracts are exchanged, making the sale legally binding. A deposit is paid, usually to be held by the solicitors until completion.
Completion of sale
The buyer, or the buyer’s solicitor, pays you in full. You hand over the keys, and the sale is done!
When to use cash buyers for houses
There are many reasons why people choose to use quick house buyers or ‘we buy any house’ companies – here are some of the most common:
You need to sell your house quickly
Whether selling to an individual or to a company like Good Move, a cash sale is often the best way to sell your house fast. It’s an ideal solution if you’re facing repossession, selling an inherited property, or going through a divorce.
You want to avoid unnecessary fees
With Good Move, you won’t pay solicitor, survey, valuation or estate agent fees. This means that when you sell your house for cash, you’ll receive that amount.
Your property is in disrepair
We’ll make you an offer regardless of your home’s condition. Good Move will purchase any property in the UK, at up to 85% of market value.
Is it worth selling your house to a house buying company?
That depends on your individual circumstances. If you need to sell quickly, a cash home buying company could be the ideal option. Here are some of the key benefits:
Less chance of the sale falling through
When the buyer has the funds available, you’re not relying on a mortgage lender – which reduces the risk of the sale collapsing.
No property chain
With a quick house sale company, you won’t be caught in a chain. There’s no need to worry about a buyer’s sale falling through and affecting your own.
Simpler process
With no mortgage involved, the sale is streamlined – it’s just you, the buyer, and your solicitor.
Faster sales
According to Zoopla, a typical UK house sale takes between 17 and 34 six weeks. With a cash buyer like Good Move, we aim to provide cash offers for homes within 24 hours and complete in as little as two weeks.
While there are many advantages, it’s important to consider all your options carefully.
Are businesses that buy houses for cash regulated?
There’s no official regulator for companies that purchase homes, but independent bodies such as the National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB), The Property Ombudsman, and RICS help monitor standards within the quick sale industry.
The NAPB was established to encourage transparency, fairness and integrity among its members. However, membership is voluntary, so it’s essential to ensure that any company you’re dealing with is a registered member.
Good Move has been a proud member of the NAPB since 2014. We’re committed to being honest, transparent and fair throughout every stage of the sale, ensuring the cash purchase of your house is done in the right way.
How does industry self-regulation work? Am I protected if something goes wrong?
When dealing with a NAPB member, you are always protected because firms must adhere to the NAPB Code of Conduct and be registered with the Property Ombudsman in order to qualify for NAPB membership.
The Property Ombudsman offers added peace of mind with a comprehensive, independent redress and compensation scheme available should any disputes arise.
The pitfalls of unregulated quick house sale companies
If you decide against using a quick house sale company that are not members of the NAPB and registered with the Property Ombudsman, some of the potential pitfalls include:
- A long, drawn-out sale that could last months
- A lack of transparency in terms of surveys or valuations
- No code of practice, so there is no minimum level of customer service that the house buying company needs to adhere to
- No recourse action to follow up with if a sale goes wrong
- Offer price reduction without any reasoning and un-agreed additional costs (legal fees and valuations)
- No guarantee on an offer price and a reliance on untrustworthy third-party investors
The Good Move difference
Our offers are realistic
That means no gazundering – the initial offer we make on your property will only change if any material adverse matters affecting the property are revealed during the buying process.
Your sale will complete quickly
We don’t use delay tactics when we buy your home; we’re just as keen as you are to get your house off the market, so your property could complete in as little as seven days.
No hidden fees
We’ll pay for the valuation, the survey and cover any legal fees involved in the sale – plus, you avoid spending money on an estate agent.
Compare house buying companies in the UK
Good Move is the most independently monitored property buyer in the industry – we’re even regulated by the NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents), so you can be sure you’re in safe hands if you choose us to buy your house for cash. Here are some other popular house buyers operating throughout the UK:
We Buy Any Home: We Buy Any Home is one of the founding members of the NAPB and worked with The Property Ombudsman to establish a comprehensive Code of Practice for Property Buying Companies.
The Property Buying Company: As a member of the National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB), The Property Buying Company abide by a strict code of conduct.
Property Rescue: Established in 2005, Property Rescue is a professional house buyer regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for undertaking sale and rent-back schemes.
House Buy Fast: House Buy Fast is accredited by The Property Ombudsman and was established back in 2008. It was initially created to assist sellers to connect with investors and has now evolved into a large popular property-buying company.
National Property Trade: National Property Trade, established in 2010, is a regulated professional property buying company that adheres to The Property Ombudsman.
Sell House Fast: According to the website, Sell House Fast is a ‘leading property company’ which successfully completes over 300 house sales every year.
Open Property Group: Open Property Group are direct cash house buyers based in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. They buy any property for cash in England and Wales.
National Homebuyers: National Homebuyers will buy any property across the country, regardless of the location or condition. They speak with local estate agents to ensure that your property is valued fairly before they make you an offer.
House Buyer Bureau: House Buyer Bureau are a direct cash buyer, purchasing properties for a percentage of the market value. The company are based in Derby, and began operating in 2014.
Vivo Property Buyers: Based in Hertfordshire, Vivo Property Buyers is a cash house-buying company. They purchase properties in the South-East of England, specifically London and the Home Counties.
You can find trusted, impartial reviews of other popular house-buying companies below:
Nine tips for dealing with cash property buyers
Make sure they are a genuine cash buyer
Confirm this multiple times if you have to, and then check again with their solicitor when the sale is being processed. For extra security, make sure they are members of the NAPB and the Property Ombudsman.
Check the small print
Not all providers are the same. While Good Move won't tie you in with fiddly contracts, other quick house sales buyers might. Make sure you do your research first.
Double check the valuation figure
Get independent assessments from local estate agents to see whether their figure is too low or too good to be true.
Confirm an agreed offer price
Dishonest firms will make high valuations to get you to commit to them before reducing them just before completion.
Make sure all fees are transparent
Even reputable companies may charge extra for various services. At Good Move we guarantee there are no fees and no hidden costs.
Agree a sale timeline
Reputable cash house buyer companies will commit to a timeline of sale.
Ensure there is no third-party involvement
Scan the contract for phrases like ‘option agreements’ which give cash buyers the right to sell via someone else. In particular, look for phrasing like ‘have the right to assign to a third party’. This will likely not be a quick sale.
Make sure there is a ‘No Obligation’ policy
If, at any point, you change your mind, a reputable company will let you walk away from the house sale.
Check there is a complaints procedure
A good quick house sale company will have a good complaints process and will be regulated so you are able to go to the The Property Ombudsman (TPO).
Six essential questions to ask a quick house buying company
Are you regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB)?
Both organisations oversee the property market and NAPB members also belong to the Property Ombudsman who offer independent redress for any disputes.
Do you purchase the properties yourself or do you act as a broker to investors?
Good Move are a direct purchaser of property. If the company says they only act as a broker, you should avoid them at all costs. They are likely to be reliant on unpredictable investors.
Are you cash buyers or are you reliant on a mortgage?
Good Move are cash property buyers. Property buying companies may claim "we buy any house" but if they need a mortgage you are better off going elsewhere. Mortgages can take up to 12 weeks to go through and are becoming increasingly difficult to get through mortgage lenders.
Do you have Professional Indemnity Insurance?
Any large property buying company should carry professional indemnity insurance to give homeowners confidence that if anything were to go wrong, insurance is always available.
Do you have a complaint handling procedure?
Homeowners generally like to know that a formal system is in place to manage any problems and resolve them accordingly.
Can your solicitor provide recent evidence of house sales?
It is fundamental to know whether a house buying company has any recent experience in quick house sales. Ask to speak to the solicitors of the company, requesting evidence of TR1 forms and completion statements from recent purchases. If the company refuses, it’s obvious they aren’t cash buyers and are likely acting as a broker trying to facilitate a sale with an investor.
Alternatives to quick house buyers
A fast house sale isn’t for everyone, and it’s important you spend time doing your research to ensure it’s the best option for you. Everybody’s personal circumstances are different – what works for one person might not work for you.
While there are many advantages to choosing a quick house sales buyer like Good Move, if you’re looking to sell your house fast to manage financial problems, you may wish to seek help from the Citizens Advice Bureau, Money Advice Service and National Debtline.
Similarly, if you’re struggling to keep up with your mortgage payments, selling your home might not be the only option. You may be able to renegotiate with your mortgage lender to make your payments more manageable.
If you decide you do want to sell your property quickly and safely, contact one of our experienced surveyors here at Good Move, who will be happy to help.
FAQs
Every sale is different, and we’ll establish a timescale that works best for you. However, we aim to present you with an offer in principle within 24 hours and provide you with a formal offer to complete the sale within 2-3 weeks.
We purchase most types of property in England, Scotland and Wales. At present, we’re unable to purchase retirement properties, park or static homes, or shared ownership properties. If we’re unable to buy your property, we’ll do our best to help by finding someone who can or by pointing you in the right direction to achieve a sale.
Cash offers are usually lower than offers from buyers using a mortgage lender. At Good Move, we’ll offer you up to 85% of your home’s market value.
Cash house buyers usually offer less than full market value, as the process of selling to a cash buyer is so much quicker and more convenient.
Selling to a cash buyer is almost always faster than a mortgage buyer as there’s no mortgage application or strict lender requirements to consider. Good Move can complete your sale in as little as seven days.
Most cash buying companies will ask that the property is taken off the market prior to initiating a purchase. This is to ensure that the seller is committed, and won’t withdraw from a sale once we have entered into costs.
Some cash house buying companies are actually brokers, without access to the funds needed to buy your home. Good Move have the funds to buy your property directly with no hidden fees or sneaky small print.
There is no official regulator for cash buying house companies. However, there are several independent bodies which monitor quick sale companies like Good Move, including the NAPB, The Property Ombudsman and RICS.