Account
Frequently Asked Questions
General
1. What is homebuddy?
homebuddy is a unique online platform that allows homeowners and/or private sellers to sell their house without the need for appointing an estate agent.
2. homebuddy’s aim.
homebuddy wants to educate and encourage people to sell properties privately without the need to appoint and pay an estate agent.
3. Why use homebuddy and what are the benefits?
Homebuddy enables you to take control of the house sale process and advertise your home on homebuddy’s specialist platform without the need of appointing and paying expensive estate agent fees.
Key benefits include:
- Save yourself thousands of pounds that would otherwise be paid to estate agents;
- Homebuddy has the ability to advertise your home to a wider audience whilst having a dedicated marketing campaign focused on drawing potential buyers to your advert.
- Flexibility to arrange home viewings at your leisure therefore not being restricted by the 9-5 working day.
- Have a more personal yet efficient experience. Homebuddy enables sellers and buyers to communicate with each other on a regular basis without the need for passing messages back ad forth through third parties.
- As a seller, you decide what pictures and descriptions to post as well as the price you are looking for.
- Once a sale is agreed homebuddy you will have the opportunity to speak with local homebuddy partners who can provide you with quotes to complete your transaction.
- Each homebuddy partner is a local company. Our partners cover every aspect of the conveyancing transaction, ensuring all your needs are in one place.
4. Is homebuddy an estate agent?
No, homebuddy is not an estate agent. Homebuddy provides private sellers with a unique online platform to advertise and sell their home privately without the need to appoint an estate agent.
5. What can I sell on homebuddy?
In a nutshell, your home and/or land. Whether you live in a 1 bedroom flat or a 7 bedroom mansion with a pool or you’re a property investor selling off your portfolio, homebuddy. is for everyone.
6. How do I register with homebuddy and create an account?
Register your details and create an account either on our homepage or clicking on “Log In”
7. Do I need an estate agent to sell my home?
No. There is no legal requirement or obligation to sell your home using an estate agent. Therefore, why not take matters into your own home and sell your own home privately without the need of appointing and paying an estate agent?
9. I’ve already appointed an estate agent; can I list my home on homebuddy?
The short answer is yes, providing this listing is submitted by you and not the estate agent. However, you must check the terms and conditions agreed with your estate agent to ensure that you can use other providers as well as your current agent. If in doubt, speak to your estate agent prior to listing on homebuddy.
10. How much does homebuddy cost?
A basic homebuddy package costs £99. However, you can add optional extras at your discretion.
Selling your Home
1. How do I sell my house on homebuddy?
You first need to create a homebuddy account. Once registered, you can create your advert by clicking on either “Sell” or “Add Listing”. You will then be required to provide information, photos and the EPC relating to your property. Once you are happy with your advert click “Save and Activate Listing”.
2. How do I upload photos?
Photos can be uploaded when creating the initial advert by clicking on “Photos”.
3. Can I upload a video of my home?
Yes, you can upload a video, but you will need a “You Tube” account.
4. How do I upload a video of my home?
- Log into your You Tube account
- Click on the video icon at the top right hand side of the window, which can be found next to your user icon, messages, apps and notifications.
- Click “upload video”.
- Then press “select files to upload” to find the video saved to your computer.
- Once uploaded, click on the “share” button and then click “embed - this will then produce a code that you can use for your homebuddy advert.
5. How do I value my home?
We have provided some guidance for how to value your home. Please visit our “Top Tips” section for further information.
6. When will my house be listed as available?
Your house should go live with immediate effect, however, if your listing does not appear please contact us.
7. Is the homebuddy fee refundable?
No. The reason being is that the homebuddy listing fee is payable immediately before your listing goes live. Once your listing is live, then it is visible for website visitors.
8. Can a homebuddy representative conduct viewing of my home?
No. Homebuddy. is merely an online platform that allows individuals to sell their home privately. It will be up to the seller to arrange and conduct all viewings. For advice on conducting viewings visit our “Top Tips” page.
9. How to I accept an offer?
When you receive an offer, you should receive a prompt to either “accept, reject or negotiate”. When you click “accept” this will send a prompt to the Buyer.
11. What if I accept an offer above the asking price?
You are entitled to accept an offer above the asking price. As with all accepted offers, should a mortgage be required then this is subject to a lender’s valuation.
In some scenarios a lender may devalue the property. When this occurs speak to your solicitors about the options that are available to you.
Please note that there are no guarantees that even an estate agent’s valuation will match the lenders valuation and this is one of the potential pitfalls in property transactions.
12. What if I don’t sell my property?
As with all property transactions, there is no guarantee that your home will sell.
However, if you believe your property is taking too long to sell, consider if its overpriced, and whether the pictures are up to date and of a high standard.
Price amendments and changing pictures are common methods suggested by estate agents to increase interest.
Failing that consider speaking to one of our “Home Staging Partners”. Just contact us to arrange an initial consultation.
Buying my Home
1. How do I arrange a viewing?
You can arrange a viewing by clicking on the button “Arrange a Viewing” which is available on the individual house listing page.
2. How do I make an offer?
You can make an offer by clicking on the button “Make an Offer” which is available on the individual house listing page.
3. Can I offer under the asking price?
Yes, however, we would advise that all offers are sensible and thought out prior to being submitted. A seller will likely only consider offers close to the asking price.
4. How do I withdraw an offer?
You will need to contact the Seller by way of the “Message Seller” icon and advise them that you are withdrawing your offer. You can do this any time up until exchange of contracts. You do not need to provide the Seller with a reason.
5. How do I know that the Seller has the right to sell the home advertised?
Unfortunately, as homebuddy is a private sellers platform, we do not carry out checks as to whether the seller owns their home and this is up to you to satisfy yourself. However, if you have any doubts please raise this with your solicitor. As part of the conveyancing process, your solicitor will confirm that the seller has legal title and/or authority to sell the home. If you suspect an advert is fraudulent or that the seller is not the home owner then please contact us immediately.
6. How to I ask the Seller further questions?
You can contact the Seller at any time by clicking on “Message Seller”.
7. What happens after my offer is accepted?
You are required to instruct solicitors who will complete the conveyancing transaction on your behalf. Speak to one of our homebuddy partners for a quote.
Optional Extra’s
1. What are the Optional Extra’s?
The optional extra’s are additional services that homebuddy provides that may assist with the sale / purchase of your property.
2. Are the Optional Extra’s included in homebuddy’s base price of £99?
No. Optional extra’s may not be required by everyone and as such an additional fee will apply. These fees are set out in the individual Optional Extra page.
3. What Optional Extras do you offer?
We currently offer the following optional extra’s
- For Sale Signs (delivered, installed and removed)
- 2D and 3D Floor Plans
- Energy Performance Certificates
4. How do I select an Optional Extra?
You will need to click onto the Optional Extra’s page and select the item / items you require.
5. How do I pay for an Optional Extra?
After selecting an Optional Extra, you will be required to provide further information as prompted, to enable us to process your order.
6. Can I combine and pay the base price and optional extra at the same time?
Unfortunately, not. The base price is payable when you activate a listing. Any Optional Extra’s are paid for separately as and when required.
7. Where can I find further information on the Optional Extra’s
Each Optional Extra contains some information on the product. We have also included some basic information below in these FAQ’s. However, if you have any questions please contact homebuddy on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For Sale Signs
1. Do you provide a “For Sale” sign?
For Sale” sign is only provided if you opt for this as an optional extra.
2. How do I order a “For Sale Sign”?
This can be requested prior to finalising your advert. Alternatively, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will arrange this with you.
3. What information do I need to provide when ordering a “For Sale Sign”?
If you have any special instructions or requirements for how / when your For Sale Sign should be delivered and installed, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. immediately after placing your order.
4. When do you deliver the For Sale Sign?
Orders should be placed before midday Monday – Friday. We will aim to deliver and install your For Sale Sign within 72 hours of receiving your order.
5. Do you install the For Sale Sign?
Yes, we will install the For Sale Sign on delivery. Unless we receive specific instructions, the For Sale Sign with be situated at our discretion.
6. How do I mark the sign as sold?
Please notify us when you have agreed a sale. We will then arrange for the a “Sold” slip to be added to your sign.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)
1. Do you I need an EPC?
Yes. It is a legal requirement to provide an EPC when selling your home.
Please be aware that you may be subject to a fine if you don’t have an EPC when you need one.
2. How do I check to check if I have an up to date EPC?
When you purchased your property, you should have received an EPC. An EPC is valid for 10 years.
If you are not sure if your EPC is in date then you can check the Government EPC Register at https://find-energy-certificate.digital.communities.gov.uk/
3. How do I order a new EPC?
We have partnered with accredited assessors who will be able to provide you with a new / updated EPC.
If your property requires a new EPC, you can add this as an optional extra to your homebuddy package. Alternatively, please contact us and we will refer you to one of our accredited assessors.
4. When will I receive an EPC?
Once you have requested a new EPC, our assessors will be in touch. They aim to contact you within 48 hours (Monday – Friday) to arrange a convenient time to visit your property.
Once they have assessed your property, your EPC should be emailed to you within 48 hours of the assessors visit.
Floor Plans
1. Do you I need a floor plan?
No, you don’t need a floor plan, but it will often help a perspective buyer to get a feel for the size and shape of your property.
2. How do floor plans help?
Floor plans allow prospective buyers to visualise your home becoming theirs. Simple plans include just the basic floor plans but more detail such as dimensions and the location of fixtures and fittings.
3. Should I upload a hand drawn floor plan?
Simple floorplans can be hand drawn but risk looking unprofessional.
4. Do homebuddy offer floor plans?
Yes. We have partners who provide professional floor plans in either 2D or 3D imagery. These are optional extras which can be selected upon payment. Alternatively, please contact homebuddy and we will arrange for one of our designers to contact you.
5. Will a homebuddy floor plan designer come to my house??
Yes. Our designers will contact you to arrange a convenient time to visit your house.
6. When will I receive the floor plan?
For both 2D and 3D floor plans, our designers aim to contact you within 48 hours (Monday – Friday) of placing an order to arrange a convenient time to visit your home. We aim to provide you with 2D designs within 48 hours (Monday – Friday) from our designers visit. However, in relation to 3D designs, our designers will notify you when these will be made available.
Homebuddy Partners
1. What type of partners do homebuddy work with?
Homebuddy works with those organisations that are essential to completing your transaction. We have partnered with:
- Solicitors
- Mortgage Brokers
- Surveyors.
- Insurance Brokers
- Removal Companies
2. Are the homebuddy partners included in the homebuddy fee
No. Each homebuddy partner, if requested by you, will provide you with a quote for their services.
3. Do I have to instruct a homebuddy partner?
No. Even if you receive a quote from our partners, you are not obligated to accept the quote or proceed with them. However, why would you want the stress and hassle of contacting different service providers when we have done the hard work for you?!
Personal Data
1. Does homebuddy collect personal data?
Yes, we collect a limited amount of personal data to be able to provide you with our services.
2. Does homebuddy have a privacy notice?
Yes, homebuddy has a privacy notice which can be accessed in the bottom land hand corner of the homepage.
3. What personal data does homebuddy collect?
We only collect personal data required for use on the homebuddy platform. For further information about your personal data and how we use it, please see our privacy notice by clicking the following link: “Privacy Notice”.
Closing an account
1. How do I close an account?
If you would like to permanently close your account, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. using the subject matter “Account Closure”.
We will then aim to close your account within 72 hours from receiving your request.
Contacting homebuddy
Homebuddy is a trading name of RDD Homes Limited.
You can contract the homebuddy team at any time by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or writing to us at RDD Homes Limited C/O Berry Smith Lawyers, Haywood House, Dumfries Place, Cardiff, CF37 3HE.
