Who is paid by whom
| Who | Who they act for | How they're usually paid |
|---|---|---|
| Estate agent | The seller | A fee from the seller, usually when the sale completes |
| Lender's valuer | The mortgage lender | By the lender (sometimes through a fee you pay), to check the house is enough security for the loan |
| Mortgage broker | You, to find a mortgage | Often commission from the lender when the mortgage completes, sometimes plus a fee |
| Your solicitor or conveyancer | You, on the legal side | A fee from you, often only in full if the purchase completes |
| Your surveyor | You, on the condition of the building | A fee from you |
| What To Offer | You, before you offer | £9.99 from you, whatever you decide |
None of this means anyone is doing anything wrong. Estate agents must treat buyers fairly and can't mislead you. But their job is to get the seller a sale, and the asking price is the seller's opening position, not a measure of what the house is worth.
Why it matters before you offer
Your offer is usually made before a survey or a solicitor is involved, on the strength of the listing and a short viewing. That's the moment when you have the least independent information. Our report fills that gap: what the street actually sold for, compared like for like by size, plus flood risk, the plot, condition checks and the questions to ask the agent.
Our promises
- Paid only by you. No commission, referral fees or payments from agents, sellers, lenders or anyone else connected with the house.
- Every figure sourced. Public data, listed with its source and the date we checked it.
- Facts, not a sales pitch. We show the evidence as it is, including when it doesn't support the asking price, and when it does.
- Your decision. We never tell you what to offer. If we ever recommend another service, we'll tell you if we have any connection to it.
See the evidence before you offer. Pre-offer report for any house in England, checked by a person, by the next working day. £9.99, or £24.99 for three.
This page is general information about how house purchases usually work in England, not legal or financial advice.