Us, an estate agent, an auction, or the national buyers?
Each one is right for somebody. Here's the full comparison with real numbers, including the cases where you shouldn't use us.
| Fast Track | Estate agent | Auction | National cash buyer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical time to completion | 7 days to 4 weeks | 4 to 9 months | 6 to 10 weeks | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Certainty of sale | Guaranteed once agreed | Around 1 in 3 fall through | Only if reserve met | Offers can drop late on |
| Fees you pay | £0 | 1 to 3% + extras | Entry + pack + commission | Usually £0, check the contract |
| Legal costs | Covered by us | £850 to £1,500 yours | Yours, both sides sometimes | Sometimes covered |
| Typical % of market value | 75 to 85%, in writing | 95 to 100%, before costs and time | 70 to 90%, room decides | 70 to 82%, can fall late |
| Viewings | None | Weeks of them | Open lots | Usually one visit |
| Who you deal with | Local team, in person | Local branch | Auctioneer | Call centre |
| Local knowledge | Street by street | Good | Varies | Postcode averages |
Figures are honest sector ranges, not promises: your property and timing decide the exact numbers, and we'll show you ours in writing before you commit to anything.
The number that matters: what lands in your pocket
A £120,000 asking price means nothing until you subtract time, fees, and risk. A worked example for a typical Valleys terrace:
Estate agent
- Sale agreed at
- £117,000
- Agent fee (1.5%)
- -£1,755
- Your conveyancing
- -£1,200
- 7 months of mortgage, bills, council tax
- -£4,900
- Fall-through risk along the way
- 1 in 3
≈ £109,145
Best when you have time and the house shows well.
Auction
- Hammer price (85%)
- £102,000
- Commission (2%)
- -£2,040
- Entry + legal pack
- -£700
- 3 months of costs to completion
- -£2,100
- Sells first time
- Not guaranteed
≈ £97,160
Best for unmortgageable or unusual properties.
Fast Track cash offer
- Written offer (80%)
- £96,000
- Fees
- £0
- Legal costs
- Covered
- 2 to 4 weeks of costs
- -£700
- Certainty
- Guaranteed
≈ £95,300
Best when weeks matter more than the last few thousand.
Notice the gap is smaller than the headline percentages suggest, and that's with the agent sale going smoothly. When a chain collapses in month five, the maths turns upside down. That's the honest picture: if you can comfortably wait and the house is mortgage-friendly, an agent may net you more. If you can't, you now know exactly what the certainty costs.
What to watch out for with quick-sale companies
Our sector has cowboys, and pretending otherwise would make us one of them. Before you sign with anyone, including us:
Check their redress scheme membership
Every legitimate property buyer belongs to the Property Redress Scheme or TPO. Search the register yourself; don't take a logo's word for it. We're PRS member PRS058109, and you can verify that in two minutes.
Get the offer in writing, and ask what changes it
The classic trick is a strong verbal offer that shrinks after a 'survey' the week of exchange. Ask upfront: under what circumstances would this figure change? Get the answer in writing too.
Ask for proof of funds
A genuine cash buyer shows you the money without fuss. If they need to 'confirm their investor', they're a broker, not a buyer, and your timeline is at their mercy.
Weighing up auction specifically? Read our honest guide to South Wales property auctions, or see all four of our selling routes.
Comparison questions
Do cash buying companies really pay 75 to 85 per cent of market value?
The honest ones do, and say so upfront. Some national firms advertise higher percentages, then reduce the offer after a 'survey' days before exchange, when you're most committed. Always get the offer in writing, ask what could change it, and check the company's Property Redress Scheme membership before proceeding.
How do I check a house buying company is legitimate?
Three checks in five minutes: search the company on the Property Redress Scheme or TPO register (every legitimate buyer belongs to one), find their company number on Companies House and check the accounts are real, and ask for proof of funds, which a genuine cash buyer produces without hesitation. Our membership is PRS058109 and we'd encourage you to check it.
Why wouldn't I just use an estate agent?
For many homes with no time pressure, you should, and we say so on this page. An agent maximises price when you can absorb 4 to 9 months, viewings, and a roughly 1-in-3 fall-through risk. When you can't, the discount on a certain sale is buying you time, privacy, and a completion date that holds.
What's the catch with 'zero fees'?
With us, genuinely none: no fees, legal costs covered, and the written offer is the amount you receive. Whoever you sell to, get the offer and the agreement in writing and take your time reading both: a straight buyer will happily walk you through exactly what commits whom, and when.
Are the national cash buyers on TV any different?
The reputable ones work much like us but from a call centre a long way from the Valleys, often reselling your details to local investors anyway. Our difference is being the local end of that chain directly: we know the streets, we view in person, and you can meet us.
Compare us against anyone.
Get our written offer, hold it against every alternative, and take your time. That's how confident we are in the maths.