News & Advice.

There are various methods by which property can be sold, with sale types ranging from auctions and private treaty to expressions of interest.

Off-market sales invite qualified and highly motivated buyers to inspect a property before advertising it to the public. A notice of sale is typically shared with a limited number of property seekers through off-market listing platforms or buyer’s agent networks, which gives the seller control over who can view the property.

With this in mind, off-market sales can be advantageous to sellers, who do not have to pay as much for marketing and sales campaigns nor open up their houses to too many people. There are, however, benefits for buyers too. In this blog we examine the pros and cons of buying off-market so that you can make an informed decision as to whether this is the right approach for you.

The pros of buying off-market

Narrowed search – off-market real estate platforms require buyers to provide specific criteria. If a property matches their criteria, the buyer is notified immediately. Buyers working with buyer’s agents also maintain particular criteria, allowing buyer’s agents to cut through the noise and focus on properties that truly meet the brief.

Reduced competition – selling off-market limits exposure, limiting the pool of potential buyers. However, it’s important to remember that off-market sales are deliberately designed to attract qualified buyers and serious contenders.

Understand the seller better – reduced competition can allow buyers to develop a personal relationship with the vendor and better understand their reasons for selling. By understanding their position, buyers can make an offer that meets their needs outside of just price.

Less stress – less competition can reduce pressure and anxiety for buyers, particularly compared to an auction sale type where bidding wars can drive emotions high.

Better deal – typically, the more eyeballs on a property, the higher the sale price. Fewer eyeballs can minimize the chance of a bidding war and inflation, leading to a buyer securing a better price than in the open market.

Faster transaction – sellers tend to favour off-market sales because they are known to achieve faster results than a typical sales campaign that can take several months. On the flip side, this can be an advantage for buyers too.

Greater privacy – no auction, a reduced chance of a bidding war, and no online open market sale record can provide buyers with greater privacy.

The cons of buying off-market

Limited choice – buyers who set their sights only on off-market sales will not have a vast selection of properties to choose from. While there was an increased number of off-market sales during the last few years of the pandemic, most sellers still prefer to test the waters of the open market.

Serious competition – while competition may be reduced due to an off-market sales strategy, it is likely that any competition will be qualified and serious. Buyers are notified of off-market sales that meet their briefs, so it's likely to tick their boxes if someone is looking at a property.

Pressure to move quickly – going off-market can be a tactic favoured by ‘distressed’ vendors who want to sell a property quickly. Off-market sellers don’t field many bidders – typically two or three at most. This may mean that buyers have to move fast or miss out.

Vendors changing their minds – selling off-market allows sellers to test market response, gain positive and negative feedback, and gauge pricing expectations and the property’s saleability. As a result, vendors can then decide to change their selling method and take the property to the open market with a revised pricing strategy.