For Sellers
Property that won't move
the traditional way?
Probate. Divorce. Chain break. Relocation. Downsizing. Developer exit. Six named situations. One mechanism that works for all of them.
Six situations. One auction.
We don't have a generic listing form. Tell us why you're selling and we tailor the auction to maximise the right buyers.
Probate / Inherited
Executor selling a deceased estate. No viewings, no chasers, no delay. We hold the seller's hand through the grant of probate and match cash buyers who can move in 28 days.
Typical timeline: 28 days from grant of probate.
Cash buyers dominate this category.
List a probate property →Relocating / Job Move
Need to sell before you move.
28–45 days, completion in your control.
Vendor finance + cash both common.
List a relocation property →Divorce / Separation
Clean, fast, no-drama sale.
60–90 days, court-paced.
Discreet. No open-house viewings.
List a separation property →Downsizing / Retirement
Release equity from a family home.
60–90 days, at your pace.
No chain above. Cash + bridging both common.
List a downsizing property →Chain Break / Failed Sale
Estate agent hasn't delivered. Buyer pulled out. Plan B that works.
28 days to turn the situation around.
Bridging finance buyers help break the chain.
List after a chain break →Developer / Investor Exit
Clearing stock, off-plan resale, JV exit.
45–90 days.
JV equity buyers actively seeking this category.
List a development property →The 48-hour deposit rule.
Why a deposit, and why a hard deadline? Sellers who fail to pay leave buyers stranded. The 48-hour rule keeps both sides accountable.
What the deposit unlocks
- The buyer's full name + contact email
- The buyer's solicitor details
- Both parties receive a deal brief
- Sale proceeds off-platform
If the 48h deadline passes
- The transaction auto-forfeits
- The buyer's offer is cancelled
- The property is re-listed for a new auction
- The seller is sent a forfeit email
Buyer pays 1.5% on completion of the sale. Seller pays the £500 deposit separately within the 48h window above.
Rapideal vs a traditional estate agency.
The trade-off isn't always price — it's speed, certainty, and the kind of buyer you attract. Here's the honest side-by-side.
| Rapideal | Traditional estate agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to offers | 7 days (auction), with sprint final in last 60 min | 8–16 weeks typical |
| Listing fee | Free | £0 – £2,500 typical sole agency |
| Success fee | Buyer pays 1.5% on accepted offer (capped at completion) | Seller pays 1–3% on completion (varies by contract) |
| Seller deposit on accepted offer | £500 refundable, held 48h, refunded on completion | None |
| Bidder diversity | Cash, vendor finance, bridging, JV — sealed, all visible to seller ranked by financial type | Mortgaged buyers only (mostly) |
| Solicitor instruction | Both sides instructed on deposit confirmation | Buyer finds own solicitor |
| Audit trail | Full append-only audit log of bids, accepts, deposits | Email chain (deletable) |
| Best for | Probate, divorce, relocation, downsizing, chain break, developer exit | Standard residential sales needing high street presence |
Rapideal is not a replacement for traditional estate agencies. It's a different tool for a different problem.
Seller FAQ.
How much does it cost to list a property on Rapideal?
Listing is free. There are no subscription fees, no hidden charges. Buyers pay a flat 1.5% completion fee on the seller-accepted offer. Sellers pay a £500 deposit when they accept an offer — held by Rapideal, refunded on completion, retained on seller pullout under Clause 4A of the seller agreement.
How does the £500 seller deposit work?
When you accept a buyer's offer, you have 48 hours to pay a £500 refundable deposit. Once received, the buyer unlocks your name, contact email, and solicitor details, and both solicitors are instructed to begin conveyancing. If you don't pay within 48 hours, the auction forfeits and the listing is re-opened as a fresh auction.
What happens if my auction ends and no one bid?
You can either re-list for a fresh 7-day auction (free) or close the listing. There is no penalty for an unsold auction. Your seller deposit only becomes payable after you accept an offer.
What financial types can I accept bids from?
Four types: cash (fastest close, 28 days), vendor finance (you become the lender, 60-90 days), bridging loan (45-75 days, best for chain-break), and joint venture equity (60-180 days, project-dependent). You pick which types to accept on the listing form — all four or just one.
How is Rapideal different from an estate agent?
An estate agent markets your property to individual buyers one at a time, charges 1-3% on completion, and the timeline is 8-16 weeks. Rapideal is a blind auction — all bids arrive in a 7-day window, sealed, ranked by financial type, not by who shouts loudest. £0 to list. £500 deposit that refunds on completion. The seller's free-exit guarantee means you can withdraw at any time before exchange of contracts.
What's the Free Exit Guarantee?
You may withdraw your submission, decline any or all offers, and exit the Rapideal Platform at any time before exchange of contracts. No fee, no penalty, no explanation required. The success / introduction fee has never applied to Sellers and therefore nothing else is owed. After acceptance of an offer: the £500 deposit becomes the Seller's exposure for non-completion, as set out in Clause 4A. The Seller's free-exit right ends at the point of acceptance — once the Seller has accepted a buyer's offer, withdrawal triggers retention of the Seller Deposit.
Ready to sell a property that
won't move traditionally?
List in minutes. Auction runs 7 days. Sprint in the final hour.
List your property — Free →Free to list. £500 deposit refunded on completion. 1.5% buyer completion fee.