What Does POA Mean in Property?

What POA means

POA stands for "price on application". Instead of an asking price, the listing invites interested buyers to contact the agent to be told the figure. It is most often seen on high-value, prestigious or unusual properties, but some sellers use it for ordinary homes too. The idea is that the price is shared with genuinely interested, qualified buyers rather than displayed to everyone browsing.

Why sellers use POA

• Privacy — keeping the price (and the sale) discreet, common for prominent owners or notable homes.
• High-value/unusual homes — where the seller wants to discuss value with serious buyers.
• Gauging interest — testing the market without committing to a figure.
• Flexibility — avoiding anchoring buyers to a fixed number.
• Filtering — encouraging only genuinely interested, qualified buyers to enquire.

The downsides of POA

POA has a real cost: many buyers skip listings without a price, either because they assume it is out of their budget or because they will not make the effort to ask. Property portals also let buyers filter by price, and a POA listing can be excluded from those searches or shown without a price, reducing visibility. So while POA adds exclusivity, it often reduces enquiries and reach — which is why most ordinary homes are better off with a clear asking price that attracts the widest interest.

What POA means for buyers

If you see POA on a property you like, simply contact the agent and ask the price — that is the whole point of the label, and there is no obligation. Be ready for the agent to ask about your position and budget. As with any listing, research the property’s real value using sold comparables before offering, so the quoted price does not anchor you. POA does not mean the price is negotiable or fixed — it is just not advertised.

POA vs a clear price — and a guaranteed sale

For most sellers, a clear, realistic asking price attracts more interest than POA, because it lets buyers self-select and appear in portal searches. POA suits a minority of high-value or privacy-sensitive cases. Whichever pricing approach you use, it is still an open-market sale with the usual uncertainty. If your priority is a fast, certain outcome rather than marketing strategy, a cash sale gives an agreed figure and completion in 7-28 days. See OIEO for another pricing term.