Selling your home to a cash buyer can be a genuine lifeline — fast, certain and hassle-free. But it's an industry that also attracts a few cowboys, and knowing how to tell them apart protects you. Here's how.
The warning signs
- The offer drops at the last minute. The classic trick: hook you with a high figure, then "gazunder" you just before completion when you're committed and it's hard to walk away.
- Upfront or hidden fees. A genuine buyer never asks you to pay to receive an offer.
- No proof of funds. If they can't show they actually have the cash, they may be hoping to find a buyer for your house — that's a broker, not a cash buyer, and it kills the speed you were paying for.
- High-pressure tactics or a demand to sign a lengthy tie-in that stops you talking to anyone else.
- A figure that's wildly below 75–85% of market value.
What a genuine buyer does
- Buys with its own funds and can show proof of funds on request.
- Charges no fees and covers your legal costs.
- Gives a clear written offer and explains how it was reached.
- Holds to the price — no last-minute reductions.
- Applies no pressure, and is happy for you to take advice.
Questions to ask before you commit
- Are you buying with your own funds, and can you show proof?
- Are there any fees, at any stage?
- How did you arrive at this figure, and will it change before completion?
- Can I speak to people you've bought from recently?
Your quick checklist
Proof of funds ✓ No fees ✓ Written offer ✓ Price held to completion ✓ No pressure ✓ — if a buyer ticks all five, you're in safe hands.
That's exactly the standard Braehold holds itself to: our own funds, no fees, a fair written offer we stand by. See how it works, or read how much cash buyers actually pay.