SmoothSale are a younger company, incorporated in 2021 in Leeds, with founders who say they have worked in the quick-sale industry since 2015. They are NAPB members, registered with The Property Ombudsman, buy with their own funds and publish offers of 80 to 85% of market value. They hold a 4.8 on Trustpilot from around 395 reviews. Like Bettermove, they make a promise about rival cash offers and offer an investor route. This is a close comparison, and the detail decides it.
SmoothSale: key facts and figures
SmoothSale is the trading name of PLH Capital Limited, incorporated in January 2021 (company number 13115021) and registered in Leeds. They have been NAPB members since April 2022 and are registered with The Property Ombudsman. They say they are not a broker or lead generator, and publish offers of 80 to 85% of market value. There are no fees on the cash or investor marketing routes, legal costs are covered on both, and the valuation is covered on the cash route. Their homepage says England and Wales; other pages mention the UK and Scotland. Their investor marketing service quotes up to 100% of market value, with a net figure agreed up front, a 30-day agreement and buyers asked to pay a reservation fee. They also run an auction service.
How SmoothSale works
SmoothSale say you will receive a cash offer within 24 hours, by phone and in writing. A qualified valuation company visits and two local estate agents value the property, at their cost, and the offer is confirmed once the paperwork and valuations are reviewed. They say the price changes only for a significant undisclosed structural or legal issue, and that if it changes you can walk away free of charge. Completion is offered in as little as seven days, and they guarantee to beat any genuine formal offer from another cash buying company.
What SmoothSale do well
- Trustpilot 4.8 from around 395 reviews, 94% five-star
- A published price-change policy limited to significant undisclosed issues
- A guarantee to beat other cash buyers’ formal offers
- No fees, with legal costs covered on both the cash and investor routes
- Investor marketing at up to 100% of market value, plus auction
- Offer within 24 hours, completion in as little as 7 days
What to watch out for
- As with any buyer, ask who will value your home and whether you will see the reports
- Confirm coverage before you proceed if you are in Scotland
- Their investor route, like ours, relies on a buyer being found; ask what happens if none is found within 30 days
- Critical reviews are few (15 of around 395); most we could read concern the investor route or would-be buyers, and SmoothSale replied to most, disputing several and apologising in others
- The company dates from 2021, so its record under this name is shorter than some buyers’
SmoothSale vs Bettermove: how they compare
Both are NAPB and TPO members, buy directly for cash with no fees, make a promise about rival offers and offer an investor route. The differences are in the detail.
| Side-by-side comparison | SmoothSale | Bettermove |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 (founders in the industry since 2015, they say) | 2014 |
| NAPB member | ✓ | ✓ |
| TPO member | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trustpilot score | 4.8 ★ (c. 395 reviews) | 4.7 ★ (2,368 reviews) |
| Fees to seller | None | None |
| Legal costs covered | ✓ | ✓ (our recommended solicitors) |
| Direct cash buyer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Full survey report shared | Ask directly (price changes only for undisclosed structural or legal issues) | ✓ Standard |
| Price Promise | ✓ Guarantee to beat other cash buyers’ formal offers | ✓ Match or beat a genuine written cash offer where we can (key terms on our Sellers page) |
| Investor network route | ✓ Up to 100%; net figure agreed first; 30-day agreement | ✓ Up to 93%; net sum agreed first; not a guaranteed purchase |
| England & Wales coverage | ✓ (UK and Scotland on some pages) | ✓ |
Figures correct as at October 2026. Trustpilot scores and review counts change daily; Bettermove’s figure on this page updates automatically from Trustpilot. Check both companies’ profiles for the latest figures before you decide. Founded dates are as each company states them.
What the Trustpilot scores tell you
At the time of writing, SmoothSale’s Trustpilot score is higher than ours; Bettermove’s comes from a much larger number of reviews, and both are rated Excellent. Positive reviews often name individual staff and mention regular updates and no hard sell. Critical reviews are few, and most we could read relate to the investor marketing service or come from would-be buyers, describing communication problems or a sale not going ahead. If you are considering that route, read those reviews and ask for the agreement in writing.
💡 SmoothSale and Bettermove both make a promise about rival offers. Get a firm written offer from each, then show each company the other’s.
“When two buyers both make promises about rival offers, the only way to find out what that means is to put a written offer in front of them.”
Rory, Operations Manager, Bettermove
Bettermove’s verdict
SmoothSale are a well-reviewed direct cash buyer with a clear price-change policy, and they belong on the shortlist. Compare firm written offers. The investor routes are similar in structure: both agree a net figure up front, aim to sell within 30 days and charge no fees. Ours quotes up to 93%, with the buyer paying an exclusivity deposit; theirs quotes up to 100%, with a reservation fee. On the cash route, we share the full survey report with you. Our Price Promise also applies: if you receive a genuine written cash offer from a regulated UK property buyer after our initial offer, we will review it and match or beat it if we can (key terms on our Sellers page).
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