There may be many reasons why you’re thinking of turning to the quick house sale market. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just people who are in debt that need to sell their properties quickly; there are lots of homeowners who find themselves in circumstances where selling the home is the best and most practical option. If you’re in this position, don’t rush into choosing any old company – make sure you go with someone who has your best interests at heart and will sell your house for the price you need in the timescale you want.

There was a time when there were only a few companies offering to organise a fast sale for your home, and there was little to choose between them. Today, however, the market has grown rapidly, and there are hundreds of companies dedicated to helping you sell quickly. What you need to do is work out which company will be best for you, and that means you need to know more about the quick house sale market in general:

• A local or national company? You might want to stick with a company that only operates in your area. This might let you speak to other customers easily, or you may feel more comfortable if you can go and visit them in their local offices. On the other hand, a national company may be better financed, and could offer you a better price for your home. A company like njoy has a pool of dedicated property buyers in your area, so you get the best of both worlds – a national presence and a local buyer.

• A rent-back option – not all companies offer you the option to rent back your property once the sale has gone through. The quick house sale market has suffered from some companies not playing fair with people who take this option, and so other business have chosen not to offer rent-back at all. If you want to stay in your home, make sure that the companies you’re talking to offer this type of arrangement and you’re happy with the terms and conditions that apply to your tenancy.

• Time to consider – it’s important that you have time to consider the offers for your property fully. The quick house sale market is not regulated as yet, so whereas a mortgage adviser must give you all the information you need before you decide to commit to payments, a fast house sale company has no restrictions. This means it’s up to the company to decide how responsible they want to be. Make sure you ask about how long the offer is valid for and whether any pressure will be put on you to decide quickly.

Always talk to someone at the companies that you’re interested in using – don’t rely on email alone. If you can get someone to come and see you and explain the process to you, then do so. Don’t commit to a company that won’t give you all the information you need, or that you feel uncomfortable with using.