Our Frequently Asked Questions
My house needs major repairs, will you still buy it?
Yes - whatever condition we will still buy it, however, if there are major repair works it will have a significant effect on the amount we'll offer you.
Should I sell my house or fix it up first?
It really depends! Every situation is completely different. It's always good to do the smaller pieces of work like painting, lighting, carpets & small DIY, but if you have major repair work you will need to weigh up the cost vs benefit.
If the repairs required are going to be flagged on a survey you need to consider repairing it or prepare to get bartered down.
Can I sell my house to you if it needs repairs?
Yes - we'll buy your house no matter the condition.
What is an early repayment charge?
An early repayment charge (ERC) occurs if you overpay on your mortgage by more than they allow or if you pay the whole loan off too early.
This penalty is charged as most deals have a tie-in period which is often longer than the deal period itself.
This means that if you have a two-year fixed rate mortgage you might get charged an ERC if you try and remortgage within three years.
This might mean that you will have to spend at least a year on the lender’s standard variable rate unless you pay the charge.
How do I know if I should pay off my mortgage?
If your property valuation covers your current mortgage debt or you can afford to pay off the mortgage debt, then you will most likely be better off paying off your mortgage.
Alternatively, if your current mortgage deal is too expensive and you want to look for a new deal then paying off your mortgage will be the way forward
How do I know if porting my mortgage is right for me?
If you are content with your current mortgage deal, then you may be better off porting your mortgage if your lender allows it.
Another plus to doing this if you are not in your mortgage’s initial deal term then you won’t have to pay early repayment charges.
If your property valuation won’t cover your mortgage debts and will leave you in a mortgage shortfall, then porting may be the way forward.
However, not every lender will allow you to port your mortgage so it is always worth letting your mortgage lender know of your plans so you can discuss your options, or go through an independent mortgage broker.
If the prospective buyer does not agree to pay the fee do I lose my offer?
You will need to talk to your chosen agent about this, they can advice you accordingly.
How quickly will I have to move out?
It depends upon which auction option that has been selected and the auction house you choose however generally speaking you are looking at anywhere between 28 - 56 days.
Do I have to accept the highest bid?
No, not unless the bid is over what you set as your reserve price. As soon as the offer goes above the reserve then the highest offer will be accepted.
What happens if a property doesn't sell at auction?
The property will then be withdrawn from the sale and the auctioneer will ask any interested bidders to speak to them afterwards in which point they can make a bid directly to yourselves.
House selling situations
I’ve recently inherited a property; can you buy it from me?
Yes, of course we can. If you would like to read more information about us purchasing inherited properties, please visit our inherited property page.
Unfortunately I have fallen ill, can you buy my property from me?
We are sorry to hear about your circumstance; however, we can help by purchasing your property. If you would like to read more information then we have a page on selling your house due to illness.
My property has Japanese Knotweed, will you still buy it?
We will buy your property with Japanese Knotweed. We can buy the property quickly off of you and then instruct a Japanese Knotweed specialist to create a treatment plan for the property. You can read more about selling a house with japanese knotweed.
My property is run down and in a pretty poor condition, will you buy it?
Yes! We buy any property in any condition, but of course our offer will be reflective of that.
Unfortunately, my house suffers from subsidence; would you still purchase it?
Even if your property has subsidence issues, we will buy your property. Unlike traditional and online estate agents who generally will not sell properties with subsidence.
House valuation process
What information do you require to value my home?
To provide you with an initial valuation we need you to go through the quote process telling us the postcode, amount of bedrooms & type of property. We'll then have a chat to you around the general condition of the property which we will then be able to provide you with an initial offer.
Providing us with correct and accurate information will help us provide you in turn, with a more accurate offer.
How will you calculate the value of my property?
At our office, we have an underwriting team that uses the most up-to-date software combined with their experience in the local and national property market.
With the blend of experience and software, we are able to make an accurate desktop valuation on your property, which we will present to you.
This offer is always subject to an independent RICs survey, if you choose to accept and proceed with the process.
How do you value my flat?
Much like a normal property! There are just a few more things to consider, which we will gather information on, such as the leasehold and ground rent.
We then use a variety of online tools to research your flat and its local area which we use to determine an initial valuation.
We may then decide to send our one of our Acquisition Managers to come and see the property to assess the condition is as described, which we will then submit our offer.
Will you come out to see my property before you make an offer?
It depends. Unlike a lot of fast house selling companies, we have our own Regional Managers that we often send to visit and assess the property, confirming the offer.
This isn't, however, always necessary, and is done on a property-by-property basis.
If we do decide to send a Regional Manager, this is of benefit to you, as it allows us to get a much more accurate valuation of the property initially.
Will it cost to get an offer on my property?
No definitely not, we can provide you with a free cash offer in as little as 24 hours, it only takes a little bit of your time to discuss the property itself.
We’re honoured to have been featured in the media by several leading outlets and major publications
:format(webp):quality(100)){kind=spacer}
:format(webp):quality(100)){kind=spacer}
:format(webp):quality(100)){kind=spacer}
:format(webp):quality(100)){kind=spacer}
:format(webp):quality(100)){kind=spacer}
:format(webp):quality(100)){kind=spacer}
:format(webp):quality(100)){kind=spacer}
Payment
Are there any fees to pay?
No, we cover absolutely everything for you as long as you go with the solicitors we recommend.
How quickly will I get my cash after the sale has completed?
We are at the mercy of the banks with this one, we will send the money instantaneously.
For most banks, this means the money is in immediately.
Are there any extra charges to pay?
No - we cover everything for you, as long as you choose the solicitors that we recommend.
When compared to a typical estate agent, that leads to a significant amount of savings for you. According to Zoopla estate agent fees range from 1-3.5%, meaning at the higher end on a £200,000 property you would pay £7,000!
Does the seller have to pay anything?
No – we cover all the costs as long as you go with our recommended solicitors.
Is it legitimate?
Yes - we are a legitimate cash house buyer and we're one of, if not, the biggest in the industry. If you want to see other customers' experiences you can check out our Trustpilot, but we're also members of The National Association of Property Buyers & The Property Ombudsman.
How we work
Are you genuine cash buyers?
Yes 100%! We have our own cash reserves at the ready to buy your Oxford property & we don't rely on any outside investment, like some of our other competitors.
You can read all of our reviews from previous customers on Trustpilot. Here's a great example review by a customer:
"Yash was really friendly and really honest throughout our conversations. He was a completely open book and made me an offer that was more than fair, explaining the process of sale very thoroughly and all the steps required. I would recommend using The Property Buying Company to anybody as they offer fair prices and all the advice/ help that anybody could need. Even after my dealings were finished, Yash offered any knowledge that he might have and even gave me his contact details if I ever needed advice in the future. Thank you!" - Shane Brooks, January 30, 2025.
Why should I sell my house to you?
Where do we start! Firstly, if you sell to us it will be quick and hassle-free. We complete sales in 2-3 weeks on average, with no hidden fees to you.
We are one of the largest cash property buying companies in the UK and buy with our own money, meaning the whole process is simple. Find out more reasons to sell to us.
Can you buy my property fast?
Yes, we've bought houses in as little as 24 hours before, although our average completion is between 2-3 weeks.
You don't just have to take our word for it, here's a review from a customer on Trustpilot:
"Just completed on our sale and couldn’t have done it without Raphael’s help and advice. After 4 weeks we have now completed. Highly recommend." - Melanie Scott, January 31, 2025
Are you part of any Ombudsman or Regulatory body?
Yes, we are part of the National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB) & The Property Ombudsman (TPO).
How quickly can you purchase my home?
We can purchase your property in as little as 7 days, however, our typical purchase is between 2-3 weeks.
Sell House Fast
Is a quick sale guaranteed?
It can never be a guarantee, with property there can be all kinds of hiccups, however we try and keep these to an absolute minimum. We’ve completed on a house purchase in as little as 24 hours before, but on average it takes around 2-3 weeks.
We also want to stress that our offer is subject to a RICs independent valuation, which we make clear from the start.
What type of property do you buy?
Anything! From a large detached house in Southampton to a flat in Newcastle and everything inbetween, we'll buy any property, in any condition for cash - we mean it!
How do I know there aren't any hidden costs?
It's hard to show you any definitive proof aside from the contract that you sign when you agree to sell - but we don't have any hidden costs, we cover absolutely everything.
There's no hidden costs if you sell to The Property Buying Company, even legal fees are included if you use our solicitors.
Do you purchase the properties yourself?
Mostly, however, there is a limit to how many properties we can purchase in a given timeframe.
If we’re unable to help you then we have a network of investors who are also property cash buyers and can complete the sale quickly and efficiently, guided and facilitated by ourselves.
Do I require a solicitor when using your service?
Yes, it works just like a normal sale, however, if you choose our recommended solicitors who we know work fast, we'll also cover the cost.
Edit Log
07/05/2025 - Content edited by Raphael Kaye & Jessica Buckley
07/05/2025 - Content updated in line with Editorial Guidelines (Reviewed by Mathew McCorry)