Staying safe as a private seller

Viewings

• Full name, phone and email before anyone visits; ring the number back.
• Someone with you, daylight, valuables and paperwork out of sight.
• Trust your instincts. You can end a viewing.

Money

You never receive any money directly from a buyer. Not a deposit, not a holding fee, not "to show commitment". All money goes through solicitors at exchange and completion. Anyone who offers to pay you directly, pay over the asking price without viewing, or send a cheque for more than the amount and ask for change, is a scammer.

Scams to know

• The overseas cash buyer who wants it sight unseen and asks for your bank details.
• The "solicitor" email asking you to change bank details for a payment. Always confirm bank details by phone on a number you already have.
• The fake buyer who wants a copy of your ID and deeds "for their lender". Your solicitor handles all of that.
• Title fraud: sign up to the free Land Registry Property Alert service so you are told if anyone tries to change the register.

Proving you own it

Genuine buyers may ask. The answer is: your solicitor will provide official copies of the title to their solicitor once an offer is accepted. You can show the Land Registry title summary (£3 online) if you like, but never hand over deeds or ID to a buyer.

Online

Your email and phone are not shown on the listing unless you choose. Enquiries come through the site. Use a separate email address for the sale if you prefer. Report anything odd to us and we will remove the account.

This is general information for people in the UK selling or buying privately, not legal or financial advice. Property law differs in Scotland and Northern Ireland; always use a solicitor.