Selling for cash feels like it should be the easy route. No need to wait for mortgage approvals, no waiting on someone else’s buyer to get their paperwork in order. In theory, you hand over the keys, get the money, and move on.
But in 2025, there are more “cash buyers” than ever, and they’re not all working according to the same set of rules. Finding the right cash buyer is important to make sure that the sale stays easy. Whether that’s searching for something specific like a review of Express Offers or doing your own research via directly contacting buyers, you really need to take the time to find the perfect one for your requirements.
Make sure they have the cash
This should be step one. A true cash buyer has the funds sitting there, ready, but the vast majority of purported cash buyers are actually brokers. When you ask if they’re actually a cash buyer, if they won’t answer the question or say it’s “not how we do things,” that’s a big warning sign.
In the UK, quite a few outfits calling themselves cash buyers aren’t buying with their own money at all. They’re lining up another buyer in the background. It’s not necessarily dodgy, but it’s not the same as a guaranteed sale either, and they will likely want to take a cut.
Look past the marketing
Anyone can throw up a professional-looking homepage nowadays, with an AI bot and an app. What matters is whether they actually complete, and how often they do so on time.
Read reviews from third-party sites, not just the hand-picked ones they post themselves. If you can, ask for a recent seller’s contact details. A quick call will tell you more than any marketing brochure.
Membership of The Property Ombudsman (TPOS) or the National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB) is a plus. It means they’ve agreed to a code of practice and there’s somewhere to take complaints, though, to be fair, it’s no magic shield.
Ask how they calculated their offer
A cash buyer’s offer is rarely full market value – you’re trading some of that in for speed. But how much of a discount is “reasonable” depends on the property, location, and what’s happening in the market. Some will knock 10% off, others 25% or even more.
If they can’t clearly explain the number, be wary. Vague lines like “it’s just what the market’s doing” shouldn’t really cut it, not when you’re giving up potentially tens of thousands of pounds. A decent buyer will walk you through their reasoning and leave you with time to decide.
Timelines
“Seven-day sale” gets thrown around a lot. More often than not, it’s “completion in as little as seven days” – which is marketing speak for “maybe seven, much more probably, twenty-five.” Still fast, but not the miracle the headline suggests.
Choosing a cash buyer isn’t just seeing who offers the most. It requires checking who can prove they’ve got the funds, who’s actually completed deals, and who gives you straight answers. In 2025, speed’s worth something, but only if you’re not gambling with the biggest asset you own.