You make an offer on a UK house by telling the estate agent — verbally then in writing — how much you'll pay and on what terms. Have your deposit, mortgage agreement-in-principle and solicitor ready, because a "proceedable" buyer with proof of funds beats a higher offer that can't move. Here's the full sequence.
You make an offer on a UK house by telling the estate agent — first verbally, then in writing — how much you will pay and on what terms. Before you do, have your deposit, mortgage agreement in principle and a solicitor lined up, because a proceedable buyer with proof of funds often beats a higher offer that cannot move. Here is the full sequence, from preparation to acceptance.
Before you offer: get proceedable
The strongest offers are made by buyers who are ready to act. Three things put you in that position. First, a mortgage agreement in principle (also called a decision in principle) — a lender's written indication of how much they will lend, usually arranged in a day or two. Second, proof of funds for your deposit: recent bank statements or a gifted-deposit letter. Third, a conveyancing solicitor chosen and ready to be instructed the moment your offer is accepted. With all three in hand you can describe yourself, truthfully, as a buyer who can complete — and that phrase carries real weight.
Making the offer: verbal, then in writing
Call or tell the estate agent your offer and the reason behind it. Agents are legally required to pass on all offers to the seller, so make yours easy to relay: a clear figure, a short justification, and your buyer status. Then follow up in writing — an email is enough — so the terms are on record. Keep it factual and brief.
Timing, and how many offers to make
There is no rule about when to offer, but it pays to view the property in person first and to have your three figures decided before you call — an opening offer, a counter, and a walk-away line above which the deal stops making sense. With those set, an opening bid below the market is normal practice, not an insult; agents expect it. Plan to move up at most once or twice, each time tied to a reason, so an accepted offer still lands at or below the fair value you calculated. If you are unsure where that fair value sits, work it out with how much to offer on a house before you make the call.
Avoid the two common mistakes: anchoring high "to be safe", which simply hands money to the seller, and going so low with no justification that the agent never takes the offer seriously. A figure tied to comparable sold prices does both jobs at once — it is competitive enough to earn a counter and defensible enough to hold under pressure.
Conditions worth attaching
An offer is more than a number — it is a set of terms. "Subject to survey and contract" should be standard: it preserves your right to renegotiate or withdraw if the survey finds problems, and reminds everyone that nothing binds until exchange. If you want the home taken off the market, ask the agent to recommend the seller mark it sold subject to contract and stop further viewings — sellers are not obliged to agree, but it is reasonable to ask. Spell out which fixtures and fittings are included; disputes over white goods, curtains and garden equipment are common and cheap to avoid in writing.
Get the offer range for a real address.
Broc pulls the comps, reduction history and seller signals automatically — and gives you opening, target and walk-away numbers.
"Sold STC" and the risk of being gazumped
When your offer is accepted, the listing is marked "sold subject to contract" (STC). This is a milestone, not a guarantee: because nothing is binding until exchange, a seller in England and Wales can legally accept a higher later offer and drop you — being gazumped. You cannot eliminate the risk, but you can shrink it by moving fast through conveyancing, staying in regular contact with the agent, and being the buyer the seller does not want to lose. Speed is your best defence.
What makes one offer stronger than another
Sellers compare offers on certainty as much as price. The table below shows the factors that strengthen a bid — and why each one matters to a seller deciding between you and someone else.
| Factor | Why it strengthens your offer |
|---|---|
| Cash buyer | No mortgage to fall through; fastest, most certain completion |
| Chain-free | No onward sale to collapse and drag your purchase down with it |
| Mortgage agreement in principle | Shows a lender backs you; the funding is largely pre-checked |
| Flexible timing | Lets the seller match their own move; certainty on the completion date |
If you have any of these advantages, say so explicitly when you offer. A seller who can see that your purchase is likely to complete cleanly may well accept a little less from you than from a higher but shakier bid.
After acceptance: what happens next
Once the offer is accepted, the legal and financial work begins — instruct your solicitor, apply for your mortgage, and book a survey. Our guide to offer accepted — what happens next sets out the order of play through to completion. And because nothing binds until exchange, it is worth knowing your exit too — see can you back out of an offer on a house for when and how you can withdraw.
Get the number right before you make the call
The mechanics of offering are the easy part; the figure is what decides whether you overpay. Broc reads the sold comparables, days-on-market and seller-pressure signals for a specific address and turns them into an offer you can justify — plus the words to use, covered in how to negotiate house price. Walk in proceedable, evidence in hand, and your offer does the work for you.
See the offer range for the house you're chasing.
Comparable sold prices, seller-pressure signals, and opening / target / walk-away figures — in one report. £99, one-off.
Frequently asked questions
Should I offer in writing?
Make the offer verbally first, then confirm it in writing — by email is fine. The written version records your price, your conditions and your buyer status, which reduces misunderstandings later and gives the agent something definite to put to the seller.
Does a higher offer always win?
No. Sellers weigh certainty as well as price. A chain-free buyer with a mortgage agreement in principle, proof of funds and flexible timing often beats a higher but riskier bid, because a sale that completes is worth more than one that might collapse.
Is my offer legally binding?
In England and Wales, no — nothing is binding until exchange of contracts. Either side can withdraw before then, which is why getting through conveyancing quickly matters. Scotland works differently, with offers becoming binding earlier at conclusion of missives.
Broc
Broc is the badger behind trybroc.io — "broc" is Old English for badger. While the estate agent speaks in superlatives, Broc speaks in evidence: sold comparables, days on the market, price history and the quiet signals of seller pressure. Calm, grounded and firmly on the buyer's side, Broc turns the noise of a property search into a number you can defend — and the words to defend it with.
