Property Portals

The asking price is the price the seller is publicly asking for. You can offer below, at, or above this price. The seller can accept, reject, or negotiate.

Example: If a home is listed at £300,000, you might offer £290,000 if similar homes sold for less or the property needs work.

A fixed price means the seller is suggesting they want that exact price. It can mean there is less room for negotiation, but you can still ask questions and make a sensible offer.

This wording is common in Scotland and sometimes appears in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Offers over means the seller wants offers above the stated price. This does not always mean you must offer much more, but an offer below the figure may be less attractive.

Example: “Offers over £275,000” usually means the seller hopes buyers will start from £275,000 and compete upwards.

Buyer tip: In Scotland, “offers over” is very common. Check the Home Report value and speak to a solicitor before offering.

Offers in excess of, often shortened to OIEO, means the seller is looking for more than the stated price.

It is stronger than “offers in the region of”. It usually suggests the seller may not want to consider offers below that number.

Example: “OIEO £400,000” means the seller is likely hoping for offers above £400,000.

OIEO means Offers in Excess Of. It is a short version used on property portals and estate agent listings.

Before offering, check similar sold prices nearby. Do not offer more only because the listing uses strong wording.

Offers in the region of, often shortened to OIRO, means the seller is giving an approximate price area. It usually suggests they may consider offers around that figure.

Example: “OIRO £325,000” may mean the seller could consider offers slightly below or above £325,000, depending on buyer position and market demand.

OIRO means Offers in the Region Of. It is softer than “offers over” or “offers in excess of”.

This wording can give buyers more room to negotiate, especially if the property has been on the market for a while.

Offers around means the seller may be open to offers close to the listed price. It is similar to “offers in the region of”.

Example: “Offers around £250,000” may mean the seller is not fixed at exactly £250,000.

A guide price is an indication of the price the seller or agent expects. It is not always the final selling price.

Guide prices are common in auctions, but they can also appear on normal estate agent listings.

Warning: A guide price can be set low to attract interest. Always check sold prices and auction terms before relying on it.

A guide price range gives a lower and upper figure, such as “Guide Price £300,000 to £325,000”.

This usually means the seller expects offers somewhere in that range, but the final price can still be lower or higher depending on demand.

Price on application, or POA, means the price is not shown publicly and you must contact the agent to ask.

For normal residential listings, buyers should treat POA carefully because it makes price comparison harder. Ask for the exact price in writing before spending time on a viewing.

POA means Price on Application. It is often used for expensive, unusual, private, or off-market properties.

Buyer tip: If you see POA, ask whether there is a clear asking price, guide price, or expected offer range.

From £x usually means the lowest available price starts at that figure. It is common with new builds, shared ownership, retirement developments, and property schemes.

Example: “From £295,000” may mean only one smaller plot starts at £295,000, while larger plots cost more.

Starting from means prices begin at the stated figure. It does not mean every property or plot is available at that price.

Ask which exact plot, size, floor, lease, parking space, and incentives are included at the starting price.

Reduced means the seller has lowered the asking price. This may show they are more motivated, but it can also mean the original price was too high.

Check how long the property has been listed and whether similar homes nearby sold for less.

Recently reduced means the price was lowered not long ago. It can be a chance to negotiate, but you should still check whether the new price is fair.

New price usually means the listing price has changed. It often means a reduction, but always compare the old and new price if the portal shows listing history.

An auction guide price is a starting indication, not a guaranteed selling price. Auction properties can sell above the guide price if there is strong bidding.

The guide price may also be lower than the seller’s reserve price.

The reserve price is the minimum price the seller is willing to accept at auction. It is usually not shown publicly.

If bidding does not reach the reserve, the property may not sell.

The starting bid is the price where bidding begins. It is not the final expected sale price.

Buyer warning: Do not confuse a low starting bid with the true value of the property.

The current bid is the highest bid at that moment. It can rise quickly before the auction ends.

Some auction listings may show a “buy it now” price. This is a price where the seller may agree to sell without waiting for further bidding, depending on the auction terms.

A reservation fee is common in the modern method of auction. It may be paid by the buyer on top of the purchase price and may be non-refundable.

Always check whether the reservation fee is included in the price or added separately.

Best and final offers means the seller or estate agent is asking interested buyers to submit their strongest final offer by a deadline.

This often happens when several buyers want the same property. Your offer should be affordable and realistic, not just emotional.

Sealed bids mean buyers submit private offers, usually by a set deadline. Other buyers do not see your offer.

This can push buyers to offer more, so set your maximum price before submitting.

Offers invited means the seller is asking buyers to make offers, but the wording can be vague if no clear price is shown.

Ask the agent for a clear guide price or expected offer level before viewing.

Open to offers suggests the seller may be flexible on price. This may happen if the property has been listed for a while or the seller wants a faster sale.

This means the seller may accept an offer below the asking price if it is sensible. A strong buyer position, such as being chain-free or mortgage-ready, may help.

Subject to contract means the sale is not legally binding yet. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the sale usually becomes legally binding at exchange of contracts.

This phrase is not a price term, but it matters because the agreed price can still be affected by survey results, mortgage valuation, or renegotiation before exchange.

A shared ownership listing may show the price for a share of the property, not the full value.

Example: “£120,000 for 40% share” means the full market value may be £300,000. You may also pay rent on the remaining share.

The full market value is the value of 100% of the property. This is important for shared ownership, staircasing, resale, and affordability checks.

A deposit contribution is an incentive where a developer or seller contributes towards your deposit or buying costs.

Check whether the lender accepts the incentive and whether the property price is still fair without it.

This means the seller or developer may offer to cover some or all Stamp Duty Land Tax, depending on the deal and location.

Ask your solicitor and lender how the incentive is treated before relying on it.

New build listings may include incentives such as flooring, appliances, legal fee contribution, deposit support, or moving cost support.

Compare the property price carefully because incentives can sometimes hide a higher asking price.

In Scotland, “offers over” is very common. It means the seller is inviting offers above the stated figure.

Buyers should check the Home Report valuation and speak to a solicitor before deciding how much to offer.

The Home Report value is the surveyor’s valuation included in the Scottish Home Report. It can help buyers compare the asking price with an independent valuation.

A closing date means interested buyers must submit offers by a set deadline. This can create competition and may push offers above the advertised price.

A fixed price in Scotland usually means the seller is asking for a specific price and may be willing to accept that amount if the buyer is suitable.

This is a marketing phrase. It suggests the property is cheaper than similar homes, but you should prove this with sold price research, survey checks, and legal checks.

This often means the property may be difficult to mortgage. Reasons can include poor condition, short lease, legal issues, or missing kitchen or bathroom facilities.

A low price may not be a bargain if you cannot get a mortgage or the repair costs are high.

This phrase often appears on properties aimed at landlords or investors. Check rental yield, tenant status, lease terms, repair costs, licensing rules, and resale value.

This means the property is being sold with a tenant already living there. The price may reflect rental income, but it may not suit buyers who want to move in.

Gross yield is a simple rental return calculation before costs. It does not include mortgage interest, repairs, service charge, insurance, tax, void periods, or management fees.

Price per square foot compares property price with floor area. It can help compare similar homes, but it should not replace checks on location, condition, layout, and legal risk.

They are useful, but not always perfect. Details can be missing, outdated, or written differently by different estate agents. Always confirm important information before making an offer.

There is no single best portal for every buyer. Many people use more than one portal, plus local estate agent websites, auction websites, and official property checks.

Usually, you contact the estate agent through the portal, then make the offer directly to the agent. Ask for your offer and any response to be confirmed in writing.

It usually means the seller or agent thinks the property may not be suitable for a normal mortgage. Always ask why before viewing or offering.

Portal estimates can be useful as a rough guide, but they are not a full valuation. Compare sold prices, property condition, location, and lender valuation before deciding what to offer.