Who Are the National Association of Property Buyers?

“Only use National Association of Property Buyers members in The Property Ombudsman scheme” – Graham Norwood (Property Journalist), The Sunday Times

Many clients come across us through our membership of the National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB).

Set up in January 2014 as a ‘not for profit entity’, the trade body brings together quick house sale companies across the UK.

The aim is to create more transparency and improve standards in an industry that frequently attracts bad press.

We became a member in 2016 as we felt the National Association of Property Buyers’ work aligned with our own code of practice and ethics.

National Association of Property Buyers members must become part of The Property Ombudsman (TPOS) redress scheme (an independent dispute resolution service).  With the Property Ombudsman’s Code now offering protection in the property buying sector, there is now an obligation to adhere to a strict Code of Practice (last updated on June 1st 2019).

This means that if there is anything that you, as a seller, are uncomfortable with or you feel under too much pressure, there is a place to turn to.

Membership of the National Association of Property Buyers is open only to companies that buy directly themselves so homeowners know exactly who they are selling to.  All members must ensure that sellers are treated fairly throughout the business dealings.

Sellers must be given the full facts to make an informed choice.  For example, if you contact our professional business to discuss a fast sale, we’ll run through all of your options.

Some of the first questions we ask home sellers include:

• Have you thought about a drop in your asking price to attract more interest?
• Would swapping to a more proactive estate agent be a good idea?
• Have you considered selling via auction or a quick sale estate agency?
• Would a swap to an interest-only mortgage make sense?
• Perhaps you could rent out your property instead of selling?

Please see our interview (as part of the Property Solvers’ podcast) with Jonathan Rolande, founder of the National Association of Property Buyers:

How to Check a Fast House Sale Company

Today, there are many fast sales companies operating both online and offline.  It’s worth remembering, however, that there is only a small group of legitimate companies operating in the space.

Even though the industry has improved, make sure you do your research on the homebuying firm to ensure they are a professional business.  The following tips should help sellers:

• Check the firm is registered with the Property Ombudsman (TPOS) redress scheme, Trading Standards and the National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB).  Remember that, just because a company is a member of these bodies, does not always mean you should sell with them;
• The better companies will also ensure you’re protected under Anti-Money Laundering regulations.  Also, check that your contact details will not be divulged without your permission.  For example, the company should be registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (for data protection);
• Go to the Companies House website and see if they are a professional house buying company.  You can see how long the company have been in business and whether they offer a transparent service;
• Request a copy of the credit report on the individual or house-buying business;
• Check the homebuying firm’s most recent reviews on sites like Trust Pilot, Reviews.co.uk, Feefo, Reevoo, All Agents and Rater Agent.  The firm should also have a Google My Business page and active social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are the most common);
• Cross-reference any valuations you’re given against Land Registry data.  Our house valuation post has a number of useful tips on how to use these tools in the best way;
• Beware of sleazy sales tactics and trust your gut to make an informed choice.

A Fast House Sale on Your Terms

One of the advantages of using a fast sale company is that the process is much faster than using an estate agent.

If you decide to go ahead, make sure you run through the following before agreeing to sell:

• Check that the company has cash funds available to buy your house to ensure they are a genuine cash buyer.  Ask for proof via a bank statement or a formal letter from their solicitor;
• Should the firm state that it will be using an ‘undrawn debt facility’, check the terms with the solicitor.  If they are using a mortgage company, the process will almost certainly get delayed;
• If the firm states it can exchange and complete in 7 days, hold them to that proposal;
• Check the conveyancing solicitor / conveyancer’s name and reputation. You can search the Law Society / Solicitor’s Regulation Authority / Council for Licensed Conveyancers‘ and check their reviews;
• If you have received a ‘subject to survey’ offer, ensure as property owners, you will be given enough time to seek other offers if you’re not happy with the final price;
• If the price is dropped within 48 hours of exchange, contact the Property Ombudsman redress scheme immediately on 01722 333306;
• More quick sale firms are offering cash advances these days.  If you need to move forward with this instant cash purchase, make sure you check the terms with your solicitor;
• Check there are no charges/fees or unfair contractual terms from the property buyers.  You should be given a standard contract of exchange to transfer title (TR1);
• Never sign an of exclusivity, “lock in” or option agreement without seeking legal advice;
• The better firms who treat homeowners fairly will guarantee the sale and go out of their way to ensure there are no hold-ups.

Sell Your House Fast Through Property Solvers

Established in 2006, Property Solvers are a team of fast house sale experts.  We pride ourselves in offering specific solutions depending on our client’s specific circumstances (and whether price is more important than speed).

Quick Cash House Sale

Property Solvers would be happy to have a no-obligation chat about how we operate as professional cash home buyers.

As any decent fast business should do, we will always start with a discussion about your real options.  More often than not we find that there is a very simple solution and we offer a fair and transparent service

If you decide to move forward with us, we will need to engage in some very quick research.  We will then make a preliminary offer over the phone.  If you agree in principle, we will then organise a viewing and confirm everything with you.

Our solicitors can also forward a legally-binding letter confirming that the price will not be dropped at the last minute.

Following this, and depending on your own circumstances, we can exchange and complete whenever you need. This can occur in as little as 7 days. We can also offer a cash advance, should you require it.

Property Auctions

Property Solvers Auctions was launched on the back of our seller clients seeking alternative solutions without compromising to heavily on price.

We offer fully-regulated traditional (28-day) and modern method auction (56-day) options and are confident about selling even the most challenging type of property.

With the benefits of pre-auction offers, we’ve been able to secure buyers in as little as a week and offer the very best marketing exposure – including the UK’s largest database of property investors on LinkedIn.

Express Home Sales Agency

The main trade-off when using our Quick House Sale service is that we pay up to 75% of the market value.   After dealing with many thousands of homeowners over the years, we developed a unique express estate agency service to help you get a reasonably quick sale at the full market value.

We employ a ‘realistic pricing model’ to sell. This helps us generate a secure offer on your property in under 28 days at the full market value.  Below are some of the key benefits of using this service:

• Floorplans and professional photos of your property;
• We actively market your property on all the major property portals. This includes Rightmove, Zoopla, Prime Location and many more (see where Property Solvers advertise);
• A bright ‘For Sale’ board;
• 24/7 freephone line/chat service so we don’t miss any enquiries;
• Accompanied viewings (including evenings and weekends)
• Weekly sales reports and complete sales progression;
• No sale, no fee;
• No tie-ins on the contract – if we do not generate an offer within 28 days you can leave and pay nothing.

For more information, please fill in our enquiry form, use our chat service or call us anytime on  0800 344 3797.

For more information, please fill in our enquiry form.  Alternatively, use our chat service or call us anytime on  0800 344 3797.