We buy any house companies work by purchasing properties directly from homeowners using their own cash funds through a simple three-step process: initial property assessment, cash offer presentation, and quick completion – often within 7-28 days without the need for estate agents, viewings, or lengthy chains.
The property buying industry has experienced significant growth, with research showing that the average time to sell property through traditional estate agents is 65 days, whilst cash house buyers can complete purchases in as little as 3 days. These companies handle thousands of transactions annually, with some major operators assisting over 25,000 property owners each year. The sector offers homeowners an alternative route to sale, particularly valuable when speed and certainty matter more than achieving full market value.
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What Are Property Buying Companies and How Do They Operate?
Property buying companies are businesses that purchase homes directly from sellers using their own funds rather than relying on mortgage financing or property chains. Unlike traditional estate agents who market properties to find buyers, these companies become the buyer themselves, offering immediate solutions for homeowners who need to sell quickly.
These firms operate across England, Wales, and Scotland, covering both urban and rural locations. They purchase all types of residential property – from flats and terraced houses to detached homes and even commercial buildings. The key advantage lies in their ability to buy properties in any condition, meaning sellers don’t need to spend money on repairs, renovations, or improvements before sale.
The Complete Process: How Property Buying Services Work
The property buying process follows a straightforward path designed to minimise stress and maximise speed:
Initial Contact and Information Gathering – Homeowners complete an online form or phone consultation, providing basic details about their property including location, type, condition, and desired timeframe for sale.
Property Valuation and Assessment – A company representative visits the property within a week to conduct a thorough evaluation, considering factors like condition, local market values, and any necessary repairs.
Cash Offer Presentation – Based on the assessment, the company presents a no-obligation cash offer, usually within 24-48 hours of the property visit.
Legal Documentation and Conveyancing – If the offer is accepted, the company handles most legal work through their panel of solicitors, though sellers can choose their own legal representation if preferred.
Exchange and Completion – Contracts are exchanged and completion occurs according to the seller’s preferred timeline, with funds transferred directly to the seller’s account.
How Much Do These Companies Pay for Properties?
Understanding the financial aspect is essential for homeowners considering this route. The table below compares different offer ranges you might expect:
| Company Type | Offer Range | Timeframe | Additional Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property Saviour | 70% of market value | 7-28 days | We pay £1,500 towards your fees |
| Property Auctions | 80% of market value | Up to 60 days | Auctioneer fees and legal fees |
| Estate Agents | Up to 100% of market value | 60 days | Estate agent fees and legal fees. 1 in 3 sales collapse. |
| Other property buying companies | 85% of market value initial offer | 28+ days | Last minute price drops, excuses and delays. |
The offers reflect the speed and convenience provided, with companies needing to factor in their own costs, risks, and profit margins. Higher offers often come with longer completion times, whilst the quickest sales attract the lowest prices.
Do We Buy Any House Companies Actually Complete Sales?
Based on customer experiences and industry feedback, legitimate property buying companies do complete sales, though the sector includes both reputable operators and less scrupulous firms. Research from Property Saviour’s market analysis shows that established companies with proper funding and regulation complete approximately 85-90% of agreed sales.
However, some sellers report issues with certain operators, including last-minute price reductions or withdrawal of offers. Reddit users have shared mixed experiences, with one noting: “They offered 70% of the property value initially, but this dropped further just before completion when they claimed to have found structural issues that didn’t exist”. Another user reported a more positive outcome: “The company showed proof of funds and completed as promised, even offering 50% of any sale price above our agreed valuation if they sold the property for more”.
At Property Saviour, we’ve witnessed both positive and concerning practices within the industry, which is why we maintain complete transparency about our funding, process, and pricing from the very first conversation.
Key Benefits of Using Property Purchasing Services
The advantages of selling to cash buyers extend beyond just speed:
Guaranteed completion – No mortgage dependency or chain complications
Any condition acceptance – Properties sold as-is without repairs needed
Flexible timescales – Complete as quickly as 7 days or wait several months if preferred
No marketing costs – No estate agent fees, photography, or advertising expenses
Reduced legal complexity – Experienced teams handle most paperwork and processes
Certainty of outcome – Clear timeline and defined completion date from acceptance
What About Auctioning a Property Instead?
Auctioning a property represents another quick-sale option, though with different characteristics. Property auctions can achieve 85-95% of market value but require more preparation time, with the process taking 4-6 weeks from instruction to sale. Auctions work best for unique properties, those needing renovation, or when sellers want to achieve the highest possible price quickly.
Unlike direct cash buyers, auction sales require a 10% deposit on completion day and full payment within 28 days. This suits some sellers better, particularly those with unusual properties that might attract investor interest. However, if properties don’t reach their reserve price, they remain unsold, creating uncertainty that cash buyers eliminate.
Why Do Some Companies Get Poor Reviews?
Unfortunately, not all property buying companies operate ethically. Some concerning practices include:
Bait and Switch Tactics – Initial high estimates followed by significantly reduced offers just before completion, when sellers feel trapped in the process.
Hidden Costs – Additional charges for surveys, legal work, or administration that weren’t disclosed initially.
Pressure Selling – Aggressive follow-up calls and high-pressure tactics designed to force quick decisions.
Lack of Proof of Funds – Companies without actual cash available who act as middlemen, adding delays and uncertainty.
Property Saviour operates differently because we understand that selling your home is often prompted by challenging circumstances that require sensitivity and genuine support, not additional stress from unreliable operators.
How to Choose a Legitimate Property Buyer?
When selecting a property buying company, verify their credentials and approach:
- Request Proof of Funds – Legitimate cash buyers provide bank statements or solicitor confirmation of available funds without hesitation.
- Read Recent Reviews – Focus on completed sales rather than just initial consultation experiences, looking for patterns in customer feedback.
- Understand the Process – Reputable companies explain their process clearly, including how they calculate offers and what happens at each stage.
- No Upfront Costs – Genuine buyers don’t charge fees for valuations or offers – they make their profit from the property purchase itself.
Is This the Right Option for Your Situation?
Property buying services work best for specific circumstances rather than every sale. Consider this route when you need:
Speed over Maximum Price – Job relocations, financial pressures, or personal circumstances requiring quick resolution.
Certainty of Completion – Avoiding the risk of buyer withdrawal, mortgage declined, or chain collapse.
Minimal Involvement – Limited time or energy to manage viewings, negotiations, and marketing activities.
Property Challenges – Homes needing significant repairs, unusual properties, or those with legal complications.
Why Choose Property Saviour?
Property Saviour stands out in the ‘We Buy Any House’ market for several reasons:
- We’re genuine cash buyers, meaning no delays from mortgage lenders or bridging loans.
- We don’t send estate agents to value your property, ensuring privacy and speed.
- Our price promise guarantees that the offer we make is the price you’ll receive, with no hidden deductions.
- We offer flexibility, allowing you to complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you.
How to tell if ‘we buy any home’ company is a scam?
There are seven tell-tale signs to identify a scam. These include:
- An offer that’s too good to be true often close to market value;
- Estate agents being sent around to ‘value your home’ almost certainly indicates that they may be buying with a bridging loan
- Exclusivity agreement that enables them to flip your property or advertise it online for others to buy.
- Insisting that you use ‘their recommended solicitors’
- Faceless reviews on their websites.
- Your research into their financial affairs—does their company show a list of charges on Companies House?
- Have they introduced delays or started giving you excuses? If so, walk away now.
Why should I use a ‘we buy any house’ company?
If you are not in a hurry, we recommend selling via an estate agent to get the best price. However, it can take several months to agree on a sale, and then there’s a frustrating and complex conveyancing process.
If your circumstances change, you may wish to consider a ‘we buy any home’ company. Here at Property Saviour, we promise a 10-day sale for any freehold residential property. If you need more time to find your forever home, we will work within your timescale.
Using a ‘we buy any home’ service, you won’t achieve full market value, but it can work in these scenarios:
- You wish to sell without being stuck in a property chain;
- You have been let down, and the sale has fallen through;
- Your house has been on the market for a long time with no offers;
- You need to stop a repossession;
- You prefer a private and discreet sale.
Here at Property Saviour, we are transparent and ethical and have many legitimate reviews. If we do what we promise, we hope to win your review.
Always be careful of companies with thousands of reviews. Either they are left after an initial chat, or reviews have been bought online to deceive you into trusting them.
What should I be cautious about?
While many We Buy Any House companies are legitimate, it’s important to be aware of potential risks:
- Two estate agent valuations: Usually means they need to borrow money as property needs to be mortgageable
- Lowball offers: Some companies may significantly undervalue your property
- Last-minute price reductions: Be wary of companies that drastically lower their offer just before completion
- Research the company thoroughly. Are they borrowing money to buy your home?
- Ask for proof of funds to ensure the company can follow through with the purchase
- Be wary of companies that require you to sign long exclusivity agreements
- Understand that while the process is quicker, you’ll likely receive less than market value for your property
What are the advantages & disadvantages of using a ‘we buy any house’ company?
If you need a quick, easy and stress-free house sale, these are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using ‘we buy any house’ companies:
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Ease. Effortlessly sell your home online by filling out the enquiry form, waiting for our callback, sending us photos, and getting an offer, usually in 48 hours. Any genuine ‘we buy any home’ company should be able to provide you with proof of funds to confirm their status as cash buyers. | You won’t get full market value compared to selling via an estate agent. A typical property-buying company will pay you 70% of the value of the property. They will have 10% transactional costs, including holding costs such as bills, insurance, stamp duty, solicitor fees, and resale estate agency fees. Their profit margin will be around 20% before tax. |
Speed Sellers who need to unlock equity tied up in their property love the speed at which transactions can be done compared to a buyer who needs a mortgage. It shouldn’t take more than 2-3 weeks to buy any type of property, compared to months with a typical buyer. | Not all cash buyers have the cash, as roughly 80% of them ‘borrow’ the money via a bridging loan. Ask for proof of funds and do your own due diligence by checking if they have charges on the Companies House website. |
Certainty In a world of uncertainty, the last thing you need is an uncommitted buyer. Here at Property Saviour, there are no delays or excuses. There are no last-minute surveys, price reductions or false promises. Agree on a price, receive a formal offer with proof of funds, get your solicitor to send our solicitor the contract, and finally start counting down. We’ll complete in 10 days for residential property and 15 days for commercial property—or at a timescale that works for you. With Property Saviour, the price agreed is the price you will receive. | Anyone with a website can claim to be a cash buyer. Their primary tactic is an offer too good to be true up to 90% of the value; some even offer 100% of the value! You have to ask yourself, how can they make a profit? They will make you sign an exclusivity agreement, either try to sell your property online or introduce delays to better understand your motivation. Then, after months of delays and just before the exchange of contracts, they will reduce their price! |
Convenience Have you ever paid more for groceries because you shopped at a 24-hour local convenience store? Sellers sell us all sorts of problem properties — those with complex title issues, relationship breakdowns, neighbourly disputes, properties with subsidence, problematic tenants, illness, rogue letting agents, and non-compliant and unsafe houses. | Most property-buying companies want to have their cake and eat it. They wish to purchase property at a discount, but only if it is mortgageable. Hence, why will ‘two estate agents’ call around to ‘value your house’? It makes you wonder why these cash buyers can’t buy with cash. Because their lenders only lend against mortgageable properties, which may explain their tactics. |
Ready To Sell?
Property Saviour stands out among ‘We Buy Any House’ companies for several key reasons. Unlike many competitors, we are genuine cash buyers, meaning we don’t rely on borrowing or bridging loans to fund our purchases. This allows us to complete transactions quickly and reliably, often within 10 days of receiving contracts. Our commitment to transparency is evident in our Price Promise – the offer we make is the price you’ll receive, with no hidden deductions or last-minute changes.
We pride ourselves on our personalised service, ensuring you deal directly with the buyers throughout the process. There are no estate agents involved, no surveys to worry about, and we even contribute £1,500 towards your legal fees. Our approach has earned us numerous five-star reviews from satisfied sellers, a testament to our dedication to customer satisfaction.
At Property Saviour, we understand that selling a property can be stressful, especially when you need a quick sale. That’s why we’re committed to making the process as smooth and straightforward as possible. Whether you’re dealing with an inherited property, relocating, or facing financial difficulties, we’re here to help. Why not get in touch today and find out how we can assist you? Request a call back from our team, and we’ll provide you with a no-obligation cash offer within 48 hours. Let us show you how easy and stress-free selling your property can be.
Sell with certainty & speed
Property Saviour Price Promise
- The price we’ll offer is the price that you will receive with no hidden deductions.
- Be careful with ‘cash buyers’ who require a valuation needed for a mortgage or bridging loan.
- These valuations or surveys result in delays and price reductions later on.
- We are cash buyers. There are no surveys.
- We always provide proof of funds with every formal offer issued.
We'll Pay £1,500 Towards Your Legal Fees
- No long exclusivity agreement to sign because we are the buyers.
- You are welcome to use your own solicitor.
- If you don’t have one, we can ask our solicitors for recommendations.
- We share our solicitor’s details and issue a Memorandum of Sale.
Sell With Certainty & Speed
- Our approach is transparent and ethical, which is why sellers trust us.
- 100% Discretion guaranteed.
- If you have another buyer, you can put us in a contracts race to see who completes first.
- Complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you. You are in control.
