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Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about what we do, what we charge and, just as importantly, what we do not do.
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Are you a property agency?
No. Empire Property Sales Ltd is an independent, buyer-side research and matching service. We do not market or list properties, we do not act for any seller, and we are not a party to your purchase. We are paid by buyers only. Any offer, negotiation and legal work is carried out by you with the seller’s own representatives and your solicitor.
Will you negotiate, bid or make an offer on my behalf?
No. We do not negotiate, bid, submit offers or transact in any way on your behalf, and we do not contact sellers or their representatives. Our work ends with giving you the information, the comparison and the questions to ask, so that you can deal directly with the selling side and your solicitor.
How do your fees work?
We charge a fixed fee for each defined piece of work, agreed in writing before we start. A buyer requirement profile is £45, a single research and comparison round is £120, and the complete buyer match is £195. There is no commission and nothing is payable on completion.
Is there any commission if I go on to buy a property?
None at all. We take no percentage of a purchase price and no payment from sellers, developers, introducers or lenders. Our only income is the fee you pay us.
How long does it take to receive a shortlist?
Most searches reach a shortlist within about ten working days of the requirements session, assuming your brief is agreed and your buying position is clear. Very wide areas, unusual requirements or a slow market can take longer, and we will tell you if that looks likely.
Where does your property information come from?
From live property advertising, Land Registry records, planning portals, published environmental data, local information about transport, schools and amenities, and recorded energy performance data. Every source is noted in the research so you can check anything you want to check.
Fees, data and logistics
Can I specify exactly which areas and what budget?
Yes — that is the starting point. We will tell you plainly whether the brief is realistic for the budget, and if it is not, we will show you what the same money would reach in a different area or a different type of property.
How is my personal information kept confidential?
Your requirements, budget and contact details are used to run your search and for nothing else. We do not sell data, we do not share it for marketing, and we do not pass it to sellers, developers or third-party introducers. Our full policy is set out in the privacy policy.
If my requirements change, can the search be redone?
Yes. Amendments within the agreed scope are included in the original fee. If you substantially change the brief or widen the area, we will quote for an additional round at £65 and run it only when you agree.
Do you arrange viewings?
No. We suggest a viewing order and give you a checklist of what to look at and ask about, but you arrange viewings directly. We never act on a seller’s behalf and never conduct viewings for them.
Can you tell me what a property is worth?
No. We do not provide valuations, and nothing in our research constitutes an opinion of value. We can show you recorded sale prices for comparable properties and what is currently being asked, which is factual background rather than advice.
Do you cover the whole country?
We work on properties in England and Wales. If your search is outside that area, tell us and we will say honestly whether we can help.
Still unsure whether we can help? Describe your situation in a short message and we will give you a straight answer, including when the honest answer is that our services would not add much. There is no charge for asking.