House needs more work than you can afford? You've got more options than a low cash offer.
Damp, rewire, roof, structural — we buy properties most cash buyers reject and most agents won't list. And in the right circumstances, an assisted sale lets us refurbish at our cost while you walk away with thousands more than a typical cash offer.
If you're reading this, you've probably already had one of two conversations: "It needs too much work, we can't list it" from an estate agent, or "I can offer you £X, take it or leave it" from a national cash buyer. Both are correct in their own way — and both leave money on the table. Here's the third option.
The condition issues we buy through, not around.
Damp & condensation
Rising damp, penetrating damp, severe condensation, dry rot, wet rot. We assess what's actually needed and price accordingly.
Electrical rewires
Old fuse boxes, lead cabling, missing RCDs. Common in pre-1980s Glasgow properties. We handle the rewire ourselves.
Roof & chimney work
Slate replacement, lead work, chimney head repairs, full roof renewal. Often the most off-putting cost for buyers — and the easiest for us to manage.
Subsidence & structural
Movement, cracks, suspect timber, defective rendering. We commission specialist surveys where needed and proceed eyes open.
Outdated kitchen & bathroom
1980s avocado suite still standing? We assume full strip-out and replace as part of any refurb plan.
Non-standard construction
Wimpey No-Fines, Orlit, BISF steel-framed, prefab. Most lenders won't touch these — we buy them regularly as cash.
Failed Home Reports
Below-average Home Report bringing buyers down on price? Sell to us — no Home Report needed for a cash sale.
EPC F & G
Failed EPC under PRS regs? We take on the upgrade obligation. You don't need to retrofit before selling.
Hoarder situations & clearance
Property full of belongings, decades of stuff. We handle clearance after completion — you don't need to clear first.
Which route nets you more?
For properties needing work, there are two real routes — and the right one depends on the spread between current and refurbished value.
The rule of thumb
If refurb cost (£) is significantly less than (refurbished value − as-is value), an assisted sale typically nets you more. If the refurb spend doesn't justify the uplift, a cash sale is the cleaner answer.
Example A — Assisted sale wins
Property in current state: £85,000. Refurb cost: £28,000. Refurbished value: £147,000. Uplift after costs: ~£28,000. Your share at 50%: £14,000. Total you receive: £99,000 (vs £85,000 cash). Assisted sale wins by £14k.
Example B — Cash sale wins
Property in current state: £120,000. Refurb cost: £25,000. Refurbished value: £150,000. Uplift after costs: ~£0. Cash sale at £120,000 wins because the refurb doesn't add enough value to justify the work.
We'll model both routes for your specific property — no obligation to choose ours.
Things sellers think they need to do before selling — that they don't.
People often delay calling because they want to "tidy the property up" first. Don't bother. Here's what you don't need to do:
- Don't fix anything. We assess as-is. Fixing things rarely adds proportional value before sale.
- Don't clear the property. Take what's sentimental. We handle clearance.
- Don't get a Home Report. Not needed for cash sale or assisted sale through us.
- Don't get quotes for repairs. Our trades-people give us better pricing than retail quotes.
- Don't worry about asbestos, lead paint, or older surveys. We expect them in older Glasgow stock and price accordingly.
- Don't decorate. Paint over damp doesn't fool us — and the survey will catch it.
The cleanest call is: leave the property exactly as it is, send us the address, and let us assess it from a position of knowing what we're actually buying.
Questions sellers with property issues ask us.
Is there a condition you won't buy?
Rarely. We've bought fire-damaged, partially-collapsed, and condemned property. The few we'd decline are typically ones where the title or planning situation makes resale impossible — not condition issues.
How do you value a property that needs major work?
We do two valuations: current "as-is" value (what we'd pay cash), and post-refurb market value. For cash sale, we offer the as-is figure. For assisted sale, you receive that figure plus your share of the uplift after the refurb sells.
What if the work is more extensive than expected?
On a cash sale, that's our risk — once we've agreed a price, the price is locked. On an assisted sale, the refurb budget is capped before work starts; overruns come out of our share, not yours.
Will you commission a survey?
We may, for properties where structural issues are suspected. We pay for any surveys we instruct. You're not asked to commission anything.
What if there's asbestos?
Asbestos is common in pre-2000 Scottish housing stock — Artex ceilings, vinyl floor tiles, pipe insulation. We assume it's there and handle removal as part of any refurb. It doesn't kill a deal.
What if the property has been served a Building Standards notice or repair notice?
We deal with these regularly. We take on the obligation as new owner and address the works. Be sure to share any notices with us so we factor them into the offer.
What about a property that's been empty for years?
Long-term empty properties are some of the most common ones we buy. Empty council tax premiums, insurance issues, security risks — we resolve all of these after purchase.
Is there really no upfront cost to me?
None. Cash purchase: we cover legal fees and the Home Report isn't needed. Assisted sale: refurb costs and selling fees come out of the final sale price, not your pocket.
What's the fastest you've completed on a problem property?
9 days on a non-standard-construction ex-council semi where the seller had a repossession deadline. 14–28 days is more typical.
Property in G41, G42, G43, G44 with tenement-specific issues? See our Southside repairs guide for common-repair, sandstone, and factor-dispute context.
Find out what your property's really worth — issues and all.
Free valuation, both routes modelled, no pressure to choose ours. Most sellers are surprised by how much they can actually walk away with.