Sold.co.uk Review – Is Their FREE Service Even Worth It?

Table of contents

• This Is NOT a Review
• Overview of SOLD’s Free House Selling Services
• Is Sold.co.uk Really Free? If So, How and Why?
• How Sold.co.uk’s House Selling Service Most Likely Works
• Caution: You’re Unlikely to Get Full Market Value
• Concerns, Red Flags & WTFs
• Would *I* Use Sold.co.uk?
• Should *You* Use Sold.co.uk to Sell Your House?
• Alternative Services to Sold.co.uk

This Is NOT a Review

To ensure we’re on the same page, I need to make it crystal clear that this is not a review of Sold.co.uk’s services.

I have never used their service (so I can’t review it). I’m approaching this from the perspective of a window-shopper exploring my options, and deciding whether or not I would use Sold.co.uk to sell my house. Essentially, it’s a review of their proposition.

Overview of SOLD’s Free House Selling Services

They offer two types of house-selling services, both completely free:

• Online Estate Agency Service – This follows the traditional estate agency model, where your property is listed on the open market via major portals like Rightmove and Zoopla. It’s basically the same setup as Purplebricks and Yopa, except Sold.co.uk doesn’t charge you for it.
• Fast Cash Buyer Service – This option skips the open market entirely. Instead, Sold.co.uk uses its own funds to purchase your property directly for cash. The big draw here is speed – they claim completion can happen in as little as 7 days (which is entirely possible with cash buyer services).

For all intents and purposes, Sold.co.uk is a legit house selling service. And their solutions features the following (based on what it says on their website):

• Completely free house selling service – no commission, and they even cover your legal costs
• A faster house selling service
• A transparent and fully managed sale
• Over 1000 reviews on their TrustPilot profile, with a current rating of 4.5/5 (which is “excellent”)

Sold.co.uk – Online Estate Agent Service

Service	Rating	Features	Cost
My Homebuyers	Rating 4.5 TrustPilot Reviews	Features Key features Faster than the majority of the UK’s top estate agents (conditions apply) Marketed to database of pre-approved buyers for a quick sale Rightmove listing Zoopla listing Photographs Floorplan Legal services included, No agent costs or hidden fees	Cost FREE	Visit website Get Valuation

Sold.co.uk – Fast Cash Buyer Service

Service	Rating	Features	Cost
Sold	Rating 4.5 TrustPilot Reviews	Features Key features Any property, any condition considered Complete within 7 days No legal or estate agency fees to pay Walk away from the deal at any time No hidden costs, avoid estate agent’s commission Direct buyer (no middlemen)	Cost FREE	Visit website Get Valuation

Is Sold.co.uk Really Free? If So, How and Why?

I think it depends on how you define “free”, so I’ll leave it in your capable and clammy hands to decide.

Yes, both of their house selling approaches appear to be completely free in the sense that they don’t charge any direct fees for:

• Marketing
• Photos & Floorplans
• Legal services / conveyancing
• Managed sale until completion

The how & why!

1) Online Estate Agency Model

SOLD’s online estate agency pricing model is quite different from most other online estate agents (e.g. Purplebricks, Yopa). Typically, online agents charge an upfront fixed fee, then list the property on the open market at market value (or whatever price the seller chooses). However, Sold takes no fees from the seller at all.

They state:

We [Sold.co.uk] only make money if we beat the asking price

How exactly does that work? I think…

• Sold and the seller agree on a sale price — that’s the amount the seller can expect to walk away with once the property is sold.
• Sold then aims to sell the property for more than the agreed price, and they pocket the difference.
• If you agree to sell your property for £100k, Sold might list and sell it for £110k. You’ll still receive your £100k, and they’ll keep the £10k difference as their profit.
• To support their claim of faster-than-average sale times, I suspect they sell closer to £110k even if the market value is actually £120k.

So the question is: if Sold can sell my house for £110k (or even £120k), why can’t I? You probably can, but what you’re really paying for is convenience and the hope of a faster-than-average sale time, whether you realise it or not.

2) Fast Cash Buyer Service

This one seems a bit more straightforward to explain – and it follows the same model used by pretty much every “We buy any house” type of company.

In short, Sold will offer you a below market value price for your property – I suspect around 75% to 85% of what it’s actually worth – and pay you cash for it. Then they’ll go on to sell it for more and keep the difference.

This method will likely net you significantly less than SOLD’s online estate agency service, but you’re essentially paying a hefty price for a super quick and hassle-free sale.

How Sold.co.uk’s House Selling Service Most Likely Works

From what I’ve been able to piece together, this is how the cogs turn, and the magic happens:

Step 1: Get an online valuation

Complete their valuation form to receive a valuation.

You will then be contacted by one of their property analysts shortly after “to better understand your property, what you are looking to achieve, and take you through the valuation.”

Step 2: Sold will discuss your path to selling, and negotiate a sale price with you

Sold will work with you to determine which of their two services – the cash offer or the online estate agency – best suits your needs.

Depending on the method of sale you choose and the property’s valuation, Sold will work with you to agree on an appropriate asking price – they will “work with you to agree on a realistic price that you are 100% satisfied with.”

Caution: You’re Unlikely to Get Full Market Value

I can’t overstate – Sold is not a registered charity (I checked).

Sold claims fast sales and zero fees! But they’re definitely making money somewhere along the way. And make no mistake, they are making money.

Essentially, their model can only work in either one of two ways:

In other words, does Sold offer sellers a price above or below market value to deliver their free and fast service?

Which is it? Which is more likely?

I’m pretty sure I know the answer.

That said, I do enjoy the subtle explanations Sold provide, they’re wonderful:

Traditional estates are known to over-value your home as much as 7% to win your business. you’ll be encouraged to put your property on the market for more than this is worth and will then have to lower the price every few weeks until you reach a realistic price.

we never over-value and we never-over promise

They cleverly frame the narrative around the common issue of overvaluing (which, to be fair, is a big problem), subtly nudging us to see lower valuations as more “realistic” and ultimately more effective. But while they emphasise how they never overvalue, there’s a conspicuous silence when it comes to whether they undervalue – which, funnily enough, would be far more relevant in their case.

All of this adds up to one key takeaway: they’re priming us to accept – even welcome – the idea of selling at a lower price than traditional agents would suggest.

In other words, their pitch boils down to: “Cheaper houses sell faster.”

Brilliant. Groundbreaking. Who knew?

The bottom line: I suspect both of SOLD’s sales options hinge on the same core principle: you agree to walk away with less than your property’s market value, and they pocket the difference when they sell it on for more. That gap (the “spread”) needs to be big enough to cover their costs (like marketing and legal fees), and still leave room for profit. Simple as that.

So the whole “free” offer is, well, open to interpretation, let’s say.

Concerns, Red Flags & WTFs

• 1) Terms & Conditions

  This is the biggest WTF for me!

  Their Terms & Conditions pages aren’t accessible from their website:

  

  I think a part of me may have just died.

  Why do I need to call or email for their terms of service?

  Here is Purplebricks’ terms of service
  Here is Yopa’s terms of service

  If that doesn’t concern you, DM me. I’ve got a lump of coal I’d be willing to sell you for £1,000. Unused and as-new condition.

  I think this comment on TrustPilot sums up the concern nicely:

  

  The terms of service of any business will typically unravel a lot more than the marketing guff they want you to be seduced by.

  I’m sure they have a spectacular reason for keeping theirs hidden. I don’t care what it is.

• 2) Vague admission to how they make money (and how they’re able to offer a free service)

  I don’t have a problem with how Sold make money.

  However, this entire post has essentially been an attempt to unravel how and why SOLD’s service is free, because, frankly, they don’t lay it out clearly (and that’s being generous). To me, that’s a red flag, or at the very least, something to be cautious about.

  Sure, they drop hints, but there’s no real transparency or proper explanation.

  

• 3) Are sellers contracted to SOLD?

  The answer to this question is likely tucked away in the mysterious terms of service that have been inconveniently hidden away. Legend has it that it’s being sat on by a giant ogre for protection.

  I couldn’t find any details [on their website] of whether sellers are subject to binding contracts, which could enforce cancellation fees or sole agency agreements, for example.

  I would not be surprised if both apply, which is quite normal. However, this information definitely seems like shop-window worthy material, and not to be treated like grandma’s second-hand bra, hidden out back of a flea market. The fact it is being treated like the latter is not comforting at all.

Would *I* Use Sold.co.uk?

Unfortunately, I’m not SOLD *smirk* It’s a pass from me.

It’s a non-starter, to be honest. The red flags make me sweat bullets and send my spider senses batshit crazy.

My concerns aren’t even a reflection of their service – it could be incredibly terrific – but I’ll never find out. My main issue is that I think it’s too easy for someone to get lured into their “free” and “fast” service without fully understanding how it all works, and that seems to be by design.

All the evidence (and common sense) suggests that they are valuing low and selling high, but there’s no clarification, so all I’m able to do is speculate.

Could they turn things around? Sure. Nothing I have flagged is a terminal weakness – they just need to be a buttload more transparent.

If Sold needs to price below market value to secure a quick sale and turn a profit – I’m absolutely fine with that. And if they operate differently, that’s fine too. But what’s frustrating is the lack of clear, upfront explanation. I couldn’t find any concrete confirmation either way, which makes it hard to decide if their service is actually a good fit for me.

Should *You* Use Sold.co.uk to Sell Your House?

I’m not telling anyone to do anything.

If you want a free house-selling service and you’re compelled by Sold.co.uk [after doing your own due diligence], then that’s your call. At the very least, it’s worth getting an offer from them to see if it tickles your pickle.

They’ve been trading for a few years, and have racked up plenty of positive reviews – they must be doing something right. So don’t let my giant gob get in your way.

As long as you understand why they’re offering a free service, and you’re happy with the arrangement, that’s all that matters. Honestly, a quick sale for less money can be a very practical solution for a lot of people, which is why property cash buyer companies have become incredibly popular.

Alternative Services to Sold.co.uk

Whether or not you’re considering SOLD’s house-selling service, it’s always smart to see how they stack up against the competition.

Alternative 1: Online Estate Agent

I’m not aware of any other online estate agent offering a free service quite like SOLD, or at least not using the same model I suspect they’re operating. As far as I can tell, they’re pretty unique in how they absorb the costs: agreeing a fixed return with the seller, then marketing and selling the property for more to make their profit.

So while I can’t point you toward a direct alternative that works the same way, here are a couple of reputable online agents that follow the more traditional model-charging a fixed upfront fee and listing your property on the open market at market value (or whatever price you choose):

Alternatives Online Estate Agents

Estate Agent	Rating	Duration	Includes / Notes	Price from
Visum	Rating 4.2 TrustPilot Reviews	Duration 1 month	Includes / Notes Basic package Key features Zoopla listing OnTheMarket listing PrimeLocation listing	Price Discount price £34 Inc VAT (Normal price: £49)	Visit Website£15 Discount Code: PIP1
99Home	Rating 4.8 TrustPilot Reviews	Duration 4 months	Includes / Notes Standard package Key features Zoopla listing OnTheMarket listing PrimeLocation listing	Price Discount price £94.05 Inc VAT (Normal price: £99)	Visit Website5% Discount Code: PIPSSTD5
Quicklister	Rating 4.6 Google Reviews	Duration 3 months	Includes / Notes Exposure package Key features Zoopla listing OnTheMarket listing PrimeLocation listing Pay on listing (not sign up)	Price Discount price £119.2 Inc VAT (Normal price: £149)	Visit Website20% Discount Code: x74tbhrV
Emoov	Rating 4.7 TrustPilot Reviews	Duration 12 months*	Includes / Notes Essential package Key features Rightmove listing Zoopla listing OnTheMarket listing PrimeLocation listing *Rightmove listing is included for the first month. After that, you have the option to renew the listing for £25 per month. If you continue advertising on Rightmove for a full 12 months, this would amount to an additional £275.	Price£295 Inc VAT	Visit Website

Compare All Online Estate Agents

Alternative 2: Genuine Cash Buyer Company

If you’re considering using SOLD’s Cash Buyer service, I strongly recommend getting a few offers from other cash buyer companies that operate in a similar way, there are plenty out there to compare.

Here are a couple of highly reputable cash buyer companies:

Best rated Quick House Sale / Cash Buyer Companies

Service	Rating	Features	Offers (up to)
My Homebuyers	Rating 4.9 TrustPilot Reviews	Features Guarantee to beat any genuine cash offer Members of The National Association of Property Buyers, members of The Property Ombudsman and Trading Standards Any property, any condition considered (England or Wales) Cash offer within 24 hours, Sales completed in as little as 7 days Legal fees included, no agent costs or hidden fees Guaranteed sale Direct buyer (no middlemen)	Offers (up to) 80-85%of Market Value	Get cash offer
Home House Buyers	Rating 4.9 Reviews.co.uk	Features Members of The National Association of Property Buyers, members of The Property Ombudsman and Trading Standards 14 days average sale time Service is 100% FREE Cash offer guaranteed for 7 days Direct buyer (no middlemen)	Offers (up to) 80-85%of Market Value	Get cash offer
House Buy Fast	Rating 4.8 Reviews.co.uk	Features Founder of The National Association of Property Buyers, members of The Property Ombudsman, NAEA Propertymark and Trading Standards. Any property, any condition considered (England and Wales) Cash offer within 24 hours, Sales completed in as little as 7 days No legal or estate agency fees to pay No viewings required Will buy tenanted properties Direct buyer (no middlemen)	Offers (up to) 85%of Market Value	Get cash offer
Property Solvers	Rating 4.6 TrustPilot Reviews	Features Members of The Property Ombudsman, The National Association Of Property Buyers, Trading Standards & Anti-Money Laundering regulations Any property, any condition considered (UK) Sales completed in as little as 7 days No legal or estate agency fees to pay Guaranteed sale Cash offer within 24 hours Direct buyer (no middlemen)	Offers (up to) 75%of Market Value	Get cash offer

Please note, I try my best to keep the information of each service up-to-date, but you should read the T&C's from their website for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Happy selling!

Landlord out xo