Sell without an estate agent. Here’s exactly what changes.
You skip the listing, the photos, the open houses, the fees, the months of waiting, the fall-throughs, and the renegotiations after the survey. You also skip the chance of squeezing the last 5-15% of open-market value out of the right buyer at the right moment.
Honest comparison below. Sometimes we’re not the right answer.
Get my free offer → or call 02920 001331
The full comparison
| High-street estate agent | House Buyers Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| Time on market | 4-6 months on average in South Wales right now (sometimes much longer) | We make a written offer within 48 hours |
| Sale completion timeline | 8-16 weeks after offer accepted (chain, mortgage approval, surveys) | 7-21 days after offer accepted |
| Sale fall-through risk | 30-50% of agreed sales fall through (chain breaks, buyer pulls out, mortgage declined, survey renegotiation) | Zero - we’re cash buyers with no chain |
| Final agreed price | Usually higher (closer to “open-market value”) | Usually 5-15% below open-market value |
| Agent commission | 1-3% + VAT (typically ÂŁ3,000-ÂŁ9,000 on a ÂŁ200k house) | None |
| Your legal costs | Yours - typically ÂŁ1,200-ÂŁ1,800 | Zero - we pay both solicitors |
| Marketing costs | Sometimes extra (premium listings, professional photos) | None |
| Survey renegotiations | Common - buyer’s surveyor flags issues, buyer demands a discount or pulls out | None - we don’t survey, the offer is the offer |
| Viewings | 8-15 strangers walking through your home (you have to clean every time) | One visit from Jason or David |
| Public marketing | Your house on Rightmove, Zoopla, social media, agent’s window | None - private sale |
| For-sale sign | Yes (unless you opt out, which most agents resist) | None |
| Chain risk | High - your buyer is usually selling too | Zero |
| Best for | Maximum sale price, time-rich sellers, no urgency | Speed, certainty, privacy, simplicity, no fees |
When an estate agent will actually beat us on net price
We’re not the right answer for everyone. An estate agent will get you a higher final number if:
- The house is in good condition (no work needed) - so the survey doesn’t trigger a renegotiation
- You can wait 4-6 months without the holding costs eating the difference
- The property is in a desirable area with multiple buyers willing to compete
- You’re not in a chain yourself
- Your finances aren’t dependent on the sale completing on a date
If those five are all true, list with an agent and you’ll do better.
If even one isn’t, do the maths. Six months of council tax + insurance + mortgage interest + estate agent fees + your legal fees + the risk of a fall-through wiping out 8 weeks of progress - that gap closes fast.
A worked example
Let’s say your South Wales house has a true open-market value of £200,000.
Estate agent route, best case:
- 5 months on the market
- Final agreed price: ÂŁ195,000 (5% off in negotiation, typical for South Wales)
- Estate agent fee at 1.5% + VAT: ÂŁ3,510
- Your solicitor: ÂŁ1,500
- Carrying costs (5 months council tax ÂŁ900 + insurance ÂŁ200 + mortgage interest ÂŁ2,500): ÂŁ3,600
- Net to you: ÂŁ186,390
Cash sale route, with us:
- 14 days from enquiry to completion
- Agreed price: ÂŁ170,000 (15% below open-market - below the average, depends on condition + speed)
- Our fee: ÂŁ0
- Your solicitor: ÂŁ0 (we pay)
- Carrying costs: ~ÂŁ200 (14 days)
- Net to you: ÂŁ169,800
In this scenario, the agent route nets you ~ÂŁ16,500 more, but you wait 5 months and risk the sale falling through (likely 30-50% chance) which would reset the clock.
If your situation has any of: time pressure, condition issues, chain risk, or fall-through history - the gap can flip in our favour.
How to decide
Ring us anyway. The offer is free. You can take it to a high-street agent and use it as a benchmark. We don’t take it personally if you go a different route.
Get my free offer → - takes 2 minutes, no commitment.
Or call 02920 001331 between 8am and 8pm.
