Selling a home is one of the biggest financial transactions most people will make. Done right, it puts money in your pocket quickly and on your terms. Done wrong, it can drag on for months, cost a fortune in fees, and still fall through at the last minute. This guide walks you through every option available in the UK today, and helps you decide which is right for your situation.
Option 1: Sell through an estate agent
The traditional route. An estate agent lists your property on Rightmove and Zoopla, arranges viewings, and negotiates offers. Fees typically range from 1 to 3% of the sale price plus VAT. Average time from listing to completion: 4 to 6 months. The main benefit is access to the open market and potentially achieving full market value. The main risks are fall-throughs (around 1 in 3 sales collapse before completion), slow chains, and uncertain timelines.
Option 2: Sell via the Bettermove cash route
On the cash route, Bettermove buys your property directly using our own funds, no mortgage, no chain, no third-party buyer to manage. The process works like this: we start by understanding your property and your circumstances in more detail, asking about condition, tenure, your ideal timeline, and any factors that might affect the sale. Based on what we learn during that initial appraisal, we’ll make you a provisional offer. If that offer works for you, we’ll book and pay for an independent surveyor to attend as quickly as possible. The final confirmed offer follows the survey. Cash route offers are typically up to 80% of open market value, the trade-off for a guaranteed, chain-free sale with no estate agent fees, no viewings, and a completion date that suits you.
💡 Good to know: When you factor in 6 months of mortgage payments, council tax, insurance, estate agent fees, and the emotional cost of a lengthy sale, a clean cash offer at up to 80% of market value often puts more money in your pocket than a higher open-market price that drags on.
Option 3: Sell via the Bettermove investor route
The investor route is different. Rather than Bettermove buying your property directly, we match it to a buyer from our network of 60,000+ active, cash-ready investors, typically within 48 hours of your enquiry. Before we begin, we agree a net sum with you: the minimum amount you will walk away with. Once a buyer is matched and that figure accepted, they pay a £1,000 exclusivity deposit, which secures your sale and prevents them from pulling out without consequence. This route regularly achieves a higher price than a direct cash purchase, while still completing far faster than a traditional estate agent sale. It is particularly suited to tenanted properties, HMOs, properties needing refurbishment, or sellers looking for a certain, fast sale without the delays of the open market.
Preparing your property for sale
Even for a quick cash sale, presentation matters. You don’t need to redecorate, but decluttering, cleaning, and ensuring access for a valuation visit all help. For open-market listings, first-impression photography (ideally professional) makes a significant difference to enquiry volume. Properties with high-quality photos receive 60% more enquiries on average.
Understanding your legal obligations
As a seller in England and Wales, you’re legally required to provide: an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), answers to standard property information forms (TA6 and TA10), and details of any disputes, planning history, or building works. Your solicitor will guide you through these, but gathering them in advance speeds up the process significantly.
Quick-start selling checklist
- Get a free valuation from Bettermove (no obligation)
- Identify and instruct a conveyancing solicitor
- Locate title deeds or confirm with your lender
- Obtain an up-to-date EPC (if expired)
- Prepare answers to property information forms
- Decide on your ideal completion date
- Notify your mortgage lender of intention to sell
“I’d been with an estate agent for four months with three fall-throughs. Bettermove had a cash buyer in 48 hours and we completed in three weeks. I genuinely couldn’t believe it.”
Sarah M., homeowner, Birmingham
Ready to take the next step?
Speak to the Bettermove team for free, personalised advice. No obligation, no pressure.