Do cash buyers offer less than the market value?

Yes, usually. A genuine cash buyer offers around 75 to 80% of independently assessed market value. In exchange you get a fixed completion date, no estate agent fees, and your legal fees paid. It suits people who need certainty or speed more than the top price.

How fast can a house sale complete in the UK?

A cash sale with no chain can complete in as little as 7 days once a survey and legal checks are done. An open-market sale through an agent typically takes 4 to 6 months from listing to completion, longer if the buyer is relying on a mortgage or there's a chain above or below you.

Is selling for cash the same as selling at auction?

No. Auction sets a date but the price is not guaranteed until the hammer falls, and buyers can still pull out before exchange in some formats. A direct cash sale gives you an agreed price in writing before you commit to a completion date.

Will I still need a solicitor?

Yes. Every property sale in England and Wales needs conveyancing. We instruct and pay for your legal fees, but the solicitor still acts for you and carries out the usual checks.

What if my house needs repairs or is unmortgageable?

That's fine. We buy properties in as-seen condition, including those a mortgage lender would refuse, such as ones with structural issues, non-standard construction, or short leases.

Can I change my mind after accepting an offer?

Yes, up until contracts are exchanged. Nothing is legally binding before exchange, which is standard for any property sale in England and Wales.

Sell your house fast

Name: The Quick House Buyers — London
Address: Level 6, Design Centre East, Chelsea Harbour, London, England, SW10 0XF, GB
Telephone: 020 3744 0249

Written and reviewed by Kris McClory, Head of PurchasesLast reviewed 6 August 2026

A fast house sale means selling directly to a cash buyer instead of listing with an agent. You get an offer, a survey, and a completion date you choose, typically in 7 to 28 days. The trade-off is price: cash offers are usually 75 to 80% of market value, in exchange for no fees, no chain, and a guaranteed date.

Sold board outside a semi-detached house with a removal van on the drive

Want a real number on your house?

Tell us the postcode and we'll come back with a price we can complete on. No fee, no obligation, no agent visits.

Get my cash offer »Just want a valuation Or call 020 3744 0249

What does a fast house sale actually mean?

It means removing the two things that slow down a normal sale: finding a buyer, and waiting on that buyer's mortgage, chain, and solicitors. When you sell to a cash buyer, the buyer is already known and already has the funds. There is nothing to wait for except the survey and the legal work.

A genuine cash sale is not a gimmick and not the same as an auction or a "we buy any house" marketplace that resells your lead to someone else. It is a direct purchase, funded without a mortgage, from a company that intends to complete.

How does the process work?

1. Enquiry. You give us the address and basic details of the property.
2. Initial offer. We give you a provisional cash figure based on comparable sales data.
3. Independent survey. A RICS surveyor values the property so the offer is based on fact, not guesswork.
4. Written offer. Once the survey is back, we confirm the final offer in writing and lock it in.
5. Legal work. Solicitors handle contracts, searches, and title checks. We pay these fees.
6. Completion. You choose the date. As little as 7 days is possible if there is no chain and searches come back clean.

Cash buyer vs estate agent vs auction: how do they compare?

Typical outcomes for a UK residential sale, based on current market conditions

Typical outcomes for a UK residential sale, based on current market conditions
	Cash buyer	Estate agent	Auction
Typical timescale	7 to 28 days	4 to 6 months	6 to 8 weeks to completion
Price achieved	75 to 80% of market value	Asking price or near it, if it sells	Can be below or above guide price
Fees	None, we pay legal fees too	1 to 2% agent commission plus your own legal fees	Buyer and seller fees, often 2.5%+
Chain risk	None, cash purchase	High, average chain is 2 to 3 links	Low once the hammer falls, but bidding can fail
Certainty of completion	High, offer confirmed in writing after survey	Around a third of agreed sales fall through before completion	High after the sale, low before it

Who does a fast sale suit, and who should avoid it?

A fast sale suits people who need to move on a deadline: probate that has dragged on, mortgage arrears building up, a divorce that needs resolving, a job relocation, or a property a mortgage lender won't touch. It also suits landlords who want out of a tenancy without the hassle of an empty-property sale.

It does not suit someone chasing the highest possible number with no time pressure. If you can wait 4 to 6 months, keep up with viewings, and accept the risk of a buyer pulling out, the open market will usually get you closer to full value.

Is the 75 to 80% figure worth it?

Be honest with yourself about what the discount buys. On a £250,000 house, an 80% cash offer is £200,000. Against that, an agent sale might net £245,000 after a 1.5% fee, but only if it sells at asking price, on the first attempt, without a buyer dropping out. Add up your own holding costs, mortgage payments, and the months of uncertainty before deciding which route actually leaves you better off.

Situations we buy in

Common questions

Do cash buyers offer less than the market value?: Yes, usually. A genuine cash buyer offers around 75 to 80% of independently assessed market value. In exchange you get a fixed completion date, no estate agent fees, and your legal fees paid. It suits people who need certainty or speed more than the top price.
How fast can a house sale complete in the UK?: A cash sale with no chain can complete in as little as 7 days once a survey and legal checks are done. An open-market sale through an agent typically takes 4 to 6 months from listing to completion, longer if the buyer is relying on a mortgage or there's a chain above or below you.
Is selling for cash the same as selling at auction?: No. Auction sets a date but the price is not guaranteed until the hammer falls, and buyers can still pull out before exchange in some formats. A direct cash sale gives you an agreed price in writing before you commit to a completion date.
Will I still need a solicitor?: Yes. Every property sale in England and Wales needs conveyancing. We instruct and pay for your legal fees, but the solicitor still acts for you and carries out the usual checks.
What if my house needs repairs or is unmortgageable?: That's fine. We buy properties in as-seen condition, including those a mortgage lender would refuse, such as ones with structural issues, non-standard construction, or short leases.
Can I change my mind after accepting an offer?: Yes, up until contracts are exchanged. Nothing is legally binding before exchange, which is standard for any property sale in England and Wales.

Want a real number on your house?

Tell us the postcode and we'll come back with a price we can complete on. No fee, no obligation, no agent visits.

Get my cash offer »Just want a valuation Or call 020 3744 0249