Selling our house

Pmellor

This is my first post to one of these so please excuse!
Following an advert i heard on local radio I have been in touch with a company called '4weekcomplete' to sell my parents home as they have moved closer to us but into rented.
The company match investors to sellers and use 'extensive research' from their 'highly experienced propoert team' to make an offer for the property 'subject to survey'. Commission is paid by the buyer.
All good so far!
The pack comes through and requests an up front survey fee for £495 payable to Green Crest Homes Ltd. So that investors can be 'fully informed in the early stages of a property deal' so as to avoid 'last minute gliches' and ensure 'all relevant information is available upfront'.

I am nervous about sending a cheque for the best part of £500 and finding out i've been duped. Should i be? or Am i being overly cautious?

googler

Why would any buyer pay a commission to this agency to buy a house from them, when they can buy elsewhere without having to do so?

Oh, yes, they're the 'investors' who are coming through this company.

So how big is your buyer base? As big as the number of investors this company can recruit.

So how will they promote your property? To only those who they can recruit. Not to the general public.

vuvuzela

If they actually have 'investors' waiting, I will be surprised. Personally, it's not something I would do, it seems too much like the companies who buy your house by making an unrealistically low offer. I certainly wouldn't pay upfront.

BitterAndTwisted

DO NOT pay up-front fees to any company pretending to find a buyer for your property! They'll either just take your money and not find you a buyer or tie you into a contract which entitles them to charge you another fee (generally around the £1200 mark) to withdraw. They are nearly always nasty scams.

Just sign up with a local estate agent and do things the normal way.

twirlypinky

If a company can find a way to sell your property in four weeks, why can't you?

Also, they say they matcher investors to sellers and use extensive research. They just sound like estate agents to me. They introduce buyers to sellers. Estate Agents.


Unlike estate agents, they want cash up front. Seems a little odd to me. Pay on completion, not before.


I've just looked on the website. They're offering to buy your house in order for you to move on, and then they'll sell it. They will not do this for free. They'll probably offer you about 10% under the valuations you had in order to make a profit on it.

Why not cut out the middle man and just reduce your sale price by 10%

RAS

4weekcomplete is the trading name of Green Crest Homes Ltd. The company does no appear to have filed any returns with Companies House

I would not even contemplate this.

1. There may well be no investors out there.
2. Even if there are the day before exchange they will suddenly reduce the price offered.

Whatever way, you will lose the £500 and not get to sell the house.

Googling the name produces no record of successful transactions - not even any transaction which was unsuccessful.

GREEN CREST HOMES LTD
CALDERDALE BUSINESS PARK CLUB LANE
OVENDEN
HALIFAX
HX2 8DB
Company No. 07491022


Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 12/01/2011

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC):
None Supplied
Accounting Reference Date: 31/01
Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
Next Accounts Due: 12/10/2012
Last Return Made Up To:
Next Return Due: 09/02/2012

Pmellor

Thanks for your helpful response. All responses are along the lines of what i expected but was looking for another(s) view.

Cheers

Pandabear2

hi- just wondering how you got on with this?
we got an offer which whilst slighlty low, i am happy with but wondered if anyone had any success to counter balance the (very legitimate) sceptical views?
thanks:p

BitterAndTwisted

Slightly low? Just wait until you are minutes from exchange of contracts and they will drop their offer to something eye-watering right when you are most committed to a sale. I foresee that you are about to have your @rses skelped big-time.

Please pop back and let us know what happens, won't you?

hoscar2b

Has anyone actually completed with this company?

Suzie_shoes

I haven't had any dealings with the company personally but someone I know has paid substantial amounts for land in Yorkshire that the company promised would be developed and rocket in value. Sounds like a scam - and Green Crest Homes Ltd has now applied to be struck off, so I think my acquaintance can wave goodbye to his money.