Expert Commentary — Lisa Hayes

On speed versus price

The single biggest decision a seller makes is the trade-off between speed and price. A genuine cash sale completes in 7–28 days at roughly 75–85% of market value; the open market can edge closer to full value but takes months and carries real fall-through risk. Neither is "right" in the abstract — it depends on whether certainty or the last few percent matters more to you.

On the current market

In a price-sensitive market, the asking price does most of the work: well-priced, well-presented homes still sell, while over-priced ones stall and then attract the very lowball offers sellers fear. Knowing your real value from sold comparables — not an online estimate — is the best protection. For the latest figures, see our property news and industry statistics.

On the quick-sale industry

The fast house-sale sector contains genuine, funded cash buyers alongside lead brokers and firms that inflate an offer then reduce it near exchange. The fix is not to avoid the sector — it’s to verify the buyer (proof of funds, NAPB, TPO) and compare several offers. Transparency, not trust, is what protects sellers.

On protecting vulnerable sellers

Many people selling fast are under real pressure — repossession, debt, probate, divorce. That is exactly when honesty matters most: realistic figures, no pressure, and the reminder that there is almost always more time and more options than people fear.