There's no single "best" way to sell — only the best way for your situation. Here's how the three main routes stack up on the things that actually matter.
| Estate agent | Auction | Cash buyer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical price | Full market value | Below market | 75–85% of market |
| Speed to complete | 4–6 months | ~28 days after sale | 1–3 weeks |
| Fees | 1–3% + legal | Auction fees | None |
| Certainty | ~1 in 3 fall through | Legally binding | Guaranteed |
| Effort | Viewings, staging | Some prep | None |
Estate agent — best for top price
If you have time and your home shows well, an agent will usually get you the highest figure. The costs are the fees, the months of waiting, and the real chance of a chain collapse.
Auction — best for a binding, fairly quick sale
Great for unusual, tenanted or problem properties, and the sale can't fall through once the hammer drops. But you wait for a suitable auction date, pay fees, and accept a below-market result.
Cash buyer — best for speed and certainty
You trade a slice of the headline price for a guaranteed, fee-free sale on your timetable, with no chain and no viewings. It's the right call when certainty is worth more to you than squeezing out the last few percent — see how it works.
So which should you choose?
Time-rich and price-focused? Estate agent. Unusual property, want it binding? Auction. Need it done, cleanly and fast? Cash buyer. If that's you, find your area and we'll build you a fair, no-obligation figure.