For Buyers
Win property deals
the open market never sees.
Sealed bids over 7 days. Sprint final in the last 60 minutes. Cash, vendor finance, bridging, and joint-venture buyers compete on every listing — you choose how to fund the deal.
How Rapideal works.
Six steps from listing to completion. Most auctions close in 7 days. Most completions follow within 28-90 days depending on the financial type.
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01
List for Free
A seller (or their solicitor) registers a property, picks which financial types they accept, and publishes. £0 to list. The auction starts the same day and runs for 7 days.
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02
Blind Auction Runs 7 Days
Vetted buyers submit sealed bids. Each buyer picks their financial type (cash, vendor finance, bridging, JV) and their amount. You can't see other buyers' amounts — only your own rank within your financial type.
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03
Sprint Window — Final 60 Minutes
The countdown widget turns red during the final hour. New bids are flagged "in-sprint" and surfaced prominently to the seller. Bids placed at the last minute don't extend the auction — the close time is fixed at listing creation.
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04
Beauty Parade — Compare All Types
The seller sees the top bid per financial type — the "beauty parade" — and picks which one to accept. A £400k cash offer can beat a £450k bridging offer because the seller is more likely to complete with cash.
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05
You Pay a £500 Deposit — Within 48h
The moment the seller accepts your offer, the seller has 48 hours to transfer £500 to Rapideal. This unlocks the buyer's name, contact email, and solicitor — only then can the deal progress.
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06
Solicitors Take Over Off-Platform
Both sides receive a deal brief. They handle conveyancing, contracts, and completion. The seller's £500 is refunded on completion (or retained per Clause 4A if the seller pulls out). You pay 1.5% on completion of the sale.
Four ways to win a property.
Cash, vendor finance, bridging, and joint venture. Different listings accept different types — check the listing.
Cash buyer
Funds ready. No mortgage chain. Fastest close of the four — typically 28 days. Best for unencumbered properties and motivated sellers.
When to use: probate cash buyers, chain break sales, retirement downsizing
Vendor finance
You become the lender. Buyer pays deposit + monthly instalments to you. 60-90 days to completion. Best for properties needing light renovation or with minor title issues.
When to use: renovation projects, probate sales with title delays, relocation chains
Bridging loan
Short-term loan in place. You repay or refinance once the property is sold or remortgaged. 45-75 days. Best for chain-break situations and auction purchases.
When to use: chain break purchases, time-sensitive auctions, short-term flip opportunities
Joint venture equity
You and the seller share equity. Deferred completion, project-dependent. 60-180 days. Best for developers, mixed-use properties, and complex situations.
When to use: development sites, mixed-use, complex title/leasehold
What it costs.
Registration
£0
One free tier, all features included. No subscription, no monthly fee.
Bidding
£0
Place unlimited bids during any auction window. You only pay when you win.
Completion fee (accepted offers only)
1.5%
Of the seller-accepted offer amount. Capped at completion of the sale. No fee on rejected bids, no fee on auctions that close without a winner.
Worked example. You bid £400,000 cash on a property listed at £450,000. The seller accepts your offer. On completion, you pay £6,000 (1.5% of £400,000). The seller's £500 deposit is refunded. Both sides' solicitors handle the rest.
Buyer FAQ.
What is a sealed-bid auction?
In a sealed-bid auction, buyers submit a single bid amount and financial type without seeing other buyers' amounts. The seller sees the bids ranked by financial type, not just by price — so a £400k cash offer can beat a £450k bridging offer because the seller is more likely to complete. Rapideal supports four financial types: cash, vendor finance, bridging, and joint venture.
What is the sprint final?
The sprint is the final 60 minutes of a 7-day auction. Bids placed during this window are flagged as "in-sprint" in the platform's records and surfaced prominently in the seller's review view. The auction close time is fixed at listing creation — a bid in the final minute does not extend the auction. The seller can accept any bid at any time before the auction closes; the sprint is an urgency signal, not a winner-selection mechanism.
How much does it cost to bid on Rapideal?
Registration is free. Bidding is free. You only pay a 1.5% completion fee on offers that are accepted by the seller. There is no subscription, no monthly fee, no upfront cost. If your bid is not the winning offer, you pay nothing.
Do I need to be a cash buyer to use Rapideal?
No. Rapideal supports four financial types: cash (you have funds ready, fastest close), vendor finance (you become the lender, the buyer pays you monthly), bridging loan (short-term, refinances later), and joint venture equity (you and the seller share equity). Different listings accept different types — check the listing's financial types before bidding.
What happens when I win a bid?
The seller accepts your offer. You then have 48 hours to provide proof of funds (bank statements, mortgage agreement in principle, or bridging finance offer). The seller pays their £500 deposit to unlock your contact details and solicitor. Both parties' solicitors are instructed. Conveyancing proceeds to completion. You pay the 1.5% completion fee on completion of the sale.
Can I bid on more than one property at the same time?
Yes. You can have up to 20 active bids at any one time. Each bid is on a separate listing and a separate financial type. If you bid on the same listing in two different financial types (e.g. cash + bridging), the seller sees both.
Ready to bid on a sealed-bid auction?
Free registration. Free bidding. Pay only when you win.
Register to bid — Free →1.5% completion fee on accepted offers. No subscription. No monthly fee.