Selling a home the traditional way by listing with an estate agent, hosting viewings, negotiating offers, then hoping the buyer doesn’t fall through can be long, uncertain, and stressful. That’s why Jackson Grundy’s Secure Sale service exists. We help to give sellers a faster, more predictable, and cost-effective alternative to private treaty sales. It’s a less traditional option than the usual method of selling a home, but the results we see with our clients are fantastic.
What Is a Secure Sale?
A Secure Sale is an online, fixed-period property sale process that uses an online bidding platform rather than open market negotiations alone. Properties are marketed with a starting bid and a confidential reserve price. At the end of the agreed bidding period, the highest qualifying bid secures the sale, provided it meets or exceeds the reserve price you’ve approved.
It isn’t just for auction-style properties or investors either. Any home type can be sold this way, from detached houses to apartments.
Why Choose Secure Sale?
- Zero Estate Agency Fees (0% Sales Fee)
Unlike standard estate agency listings that charge a percentage fee on sale, Secure Sale can be offered with 0% sales fees, meaning the seller keeps more of their sale proceeds. What this means for you: You don’t pay estate agency fees on completion and the costs are covered by buyer fees collected through the platform.
- Maximum Market Exposure
Your property gets listed instantly across all major property portals and the Jackson Grundy online bidding platform, with millions of annual page views, increasing the number of potential buyers seeing your home. This exposure helps attract a wider audience than a traditional listing alone.
- Transparent Competition & Better Pricing Potential
Because bids are visible through the online platform, buyers compete openly against each other. That can help drive the sale price closer to, or even above, market expectations. You set the reserve price in advance, and the property won’t sell for less than that minimum, so you control your bottom line.
- Reduced Risk of Fall-Through
Traditional private treaty sales see a high proportion of fall-throughs (reportedly around 30% in the UK). With Secure Sale, less than 1% of properties fail to complete once a bid meets the reserve. Why? Because buyers pay non-refundable fees once their offer is accepted, which makes them more committed and less likely to withdraw.
- Faster, Predictable Timeline
Secure Sale is designed around a fixed end date, which puts a timeline on your sale. You can agree on completion periods that suit you – often 28–56 days – or longer if needed. That contrasts with traditional sales that may drag on for months with no firm completion date.
- Professional Support Throughout
The Jackson Grundy team oversees the sale from start to finish. We will agree bidding strategy and pricing, manage marketing, coordinate viewings, and help with legal packs and completion details. You stay in control of major decisions but benefit from structured support at every step. Jackson Grundy itself is an established, independently owned UK estate agent with 30+ years of market experience and multiple physical branches, so you’re not relying on a remote or anonymous service.
How the Secure Sale Process Works
Here’s a practical breakdown of what sellers can expect:
- Initial Consultation. Discuss your goals, agree on an attractive starting bid and a confidential reserve price.
- Marketing & Launch. Your property is marketed immediately across major portals and the Secure Sale bidding platform.
- Bidding Period. Buyers place bids online up to the fixed end date. All activity is transparent and tracked.
- Highest Accepted Bid Wins. If the top bid meets or exceeds your reserve, the sale is secured. Buyer pays commitment fees that make their offer firm.
- Completion. Contracts are exchanged, and a completion date is agreed with your buyer.
During the process, qualified buyers are prioritised for physical viewings, while others may start with video tours to reduce unnecessary disruption.
Common Misconceptions
Secure Sale isn’t just for distressed properties or cash buyers. It works for mainstream homes and mortgage purchasers as well. Your reserve price protects you from low offers. So you won’t sell your property for less than your reserve price.
You can talk to members of the Jackson Grundy team about how the process works and we have plenty of testimonials from clients that have been through a Secure Sale, who share their experience of the service.
Is Secure Sale Right for You?
Consider Secure Sale if:
- You want a faster, more reliable route to sale with clear timelines.
- You want no estate agency fees eating into your proceeds.
- You want competitive visibility and pricing potential via online bidding.
- You want less risk of fall-through once an offer is accepted.
It’s ideal for sellers who value certainty and speed without sacrificing price but still want professional support at every step.
In a property market often slowed by endless negotiations and uncertainty, the Secure Sale service cuts through inefficiencies and puts control back into the seller’s hands. With no fees, transparent bidding, strong exposure, and committed buyers, it’s a practical alternative worth considering next time you sell.
