How to Find the Correct Property Buying Company for your Needs
With the property market showing a general slow-down in the winter months, many house owners are looking towards property buying companies in order to find a possible route to a quick sale. Whilst there are companies who operate to high ethical standards, how do you sort the good from the bad? Here are some pointers to help find the company who will do the best job for you.
First and foremost, anyone who is looking to sell a house quickly must bear in mind that it is likely to be one of the biggest financial transactions of their life, and will take time to do some research. No matter how desperately you need to make a quick sale on your house you should, at the very least, conduct an internet search on the company you are thinking of using. Remember, there are a number of ways a company might attempt to make money from you without even buying your property! Firstly, steer clear of 0870 (National rate) telephone numbers. These numbers are simply a way of generating cash for the company at your expense.
Secondly, always choose a company that is willing to make you an offer without cost or obligation. After all, you have every right to know from the start what percentage below market value you are likely to be offered. If a company is not being clear and open at this point, they have got something to hide - leave well alone.
Thirdly, you should never pay any fees up front. You should not expect to pay for surveys or any reasonable legal fees relating to the sale of your property; and on the subject of surveys, you should not rely on external valuations, or "drive-bys" as they are known in the industry, as the sole basis for valuing your property. These are guideline valuations only, which in the words of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (R.I.C.S.) "...confirm the existence of the property and are used in conjunction with a desk analysis of local comparables." If you want an external valuation, you can arrange one for yourself for no more than £75 from an R.I.C.S. accredited firm.
Make sure you always opt for a company with national coverage. National coverage indicates a brand name and a reputation to protect, which in turn means higher levels of customer care. The very best of these national companies will have offices across the country and local managers familiar with your area and property market, and should be happy to give you advice whether or not you use their services. Unfortunately many property buyers are 'one-man bands', attempting to pass themselves off as national.
Another obvious test of a company's ability and standards is the lengths to which they are prepared to go to, in order to come up with a solution which is right for you. There are more ways to a quick sale than simply selling at a discount. Furthermore the company's representative should be happy to visit you before making a final offer, and you should always expect an offer regardless of the material condition or status of the property.
Put your mind at rest by asking for real testimonials. A good company will be happy to let you inspect the originals.
There are a few other things to watch out for, such as businesses that won't provide an office address on their website, literature or letters, or give you names and telephone numbers of local contacts. And finally never use a company featured on Watchdog or similar consumer programs - that's where the internet search comes in handy!
Take on board these suggestions, and you will soon be on course to finding a quick and trouble free solution to your needs.
Related Tags: property market, selling a house, sell a house quickly, property buying companies, royal institute of chartered surveyors, r.i.c.s, property buyers, property valuation, watchdog
Martin McAllister is a freelance online journalist. He lives in Scotland.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- 5 Reasons to Buy Jasper Real Estate
Jasper is a small town in North Georgia and it is growing rapidly. Since North Georgia Foreclosures - Ellijay Real Estate
Ellijay Georgia has always been known for it's outdoor activities and seasonal festivals. Downtown E - How to Deal With Blocked Drains
A blocked drain is an occurrence that happens eventually to all households. You may have experienced - The Benefits of Hiring a Plumbing Consultant
Your dream home may not always be brand new, with fresh paint and home essentials. There are certain - The Worst Mistake You Can Make When You Apply to Rent a Home
A whole new class of people has become renters and potential renters in America during the last thre - State of Individual Real Estate Markets
Everybody is well aware of the hit that the real estate market has taken over the past three years. - Thoughts on Avoiding the Landlord Trap
I've heard several people say they would never invest in a multifamily rental property because they - An Idea to Increase the Bottom Line of Your Investment Property
Are you pretty sure that you've already maximized the income coming from your property? If you've cl - Finding the Value of a Piece of Investment Real Estate
There is a lot of confusion about how much investment property is really worth. We'll look at three - Arkansas Land For Sale - Search Engine Optimization and Your Website
If you have Arkansas land for sale and are interested in advertising it on your website I have a few
Most viewed articles in this category:
- How High Did Home Prices Really Go
The U.S. Census Bureau released data on Tuesday that revealed where the nation's hottest markets wer - New Homeowners Tips for Household Safety
With so many items on their ¡°buying a home¡± checklist, few homeowners take into considerati - Truth About VA Foreclosures
Many people now days are finding themselves out of work and not being able to make the mortgage paym - Avoid Rookie Real Estate Investing Mistakes
When Robert Kiyosaki, author of the Rich Dad book series, bought his first property he was, of cours - Finding The Perfect Roommate On Craigslist
Craigslist, Roommates, and The Concerns Craigslist is "great" when it comes to looking for housing - The Forgotten Secret To Selling Property - Simple, Quick And Cheap
Why spend big dollars trying to get people to drive a long way to see your house, when your best pro - Get Amazing Results Selling Real Estate Online
This is the age of the internet. Why not take advantage of the widespread use of the internet to ad - Dallas Real Estate Information
In the United States, Dallas is considered as the second leading state according to the area. If any - The Largest Private Equity Indian Real Estate Deal
In the largest private equity deal won by the real estate sector, Morgan Stanley Real Estate has inv - Fractional Real Estate Ownership
Fractional ownership of vacation ski condos is growing in popularity. Park City Utah a popular ski t