At Ostrich, we have a different approach to finding the perfect buyer for your home. We allow you to list your home privately, connect with serious buyers and only take viewings when there’s an offer that interests you.
When the right buyer comes along, we'll be with you every step of the way to complete your sale. Here's everything you need to know to get you started:
Booking an appointment
The first step to getting your listing live is to arrange a time for Ostrich to visit your home. Listing on Ostrich is free and includes photographing your home, preparing a floor plan and providing you with a market appraisal.
You can select a time and date to book an appointment online here. At your appointment, a member of Ostrich will visit your home along with a professional photographer to photograph your property and prepare a floor plan.
Appointments typically take 45 to 90 minutes depending upon the size of your property.
Photographing your home
To capture your property in the best possible light, we recommend clearing kitchen worktops, dining tables and bedside tables before we arrive, removing as much visual clutter as possible. For more tips, read our guide to getting your home ready for a photoshoot.
At your appointment, a member of the Ostrich team will ask for a short tour of the property. This is your opportunity to share any information of interest about the property that we will use to prepare your listing. We're also happy to answer any questions you may have about how Ostrich works and what to expect next.
Reviewing your listing
After visiting your home, we'll send you a draft of your listing for you to review along with our suggested Price Guide and market comparatives to help you understand our recommended listing price. Check out a sample listing.
We’ll create the perfect listing for your home, highlighting the details that make it special. Whether it’s the unique layout, immaculate interior design, architectural details or local area, we’ll draw buyers’ attention to the parts you care about.
Selecting your sale status
To help buyers understand a homeowner's current position, all properties have a property status published as part of their listing: pre-market or off-market.
The status you set for your property will also determine how buyers can interact with your listing. The status should reflect your preferred timeline to selling your home, giving buyers a clearer picture of your future plans.
Pre-market
If you're not ready to engage with off-market viewing requests from buyers, we recommend setting your status to pre-market.
In this state, buyers can join a Waitlist for your property to be notified when you start inviting off-market viewing requests.
You can monitor how many buyers are on your Waitlist by visiting the property information page within your account area. We'll also send you a monthly update at the start of each month.
Off-market
If you're closer to thinking about moving, typically with plans to move in the next 12 months, we suggest setting your property status to off-market.
When your status is set to off-market, buyers can request a viewing by submitting an indicative offer. These offers are non-binding, but ensure the buyer is broadly aligned on price before you arrange a viewing.
When you change your listing status from pre-market to off-market we will alert everyone on your Waitlist to let them know that you're now inviting indicative offers. You can update your property status within your Account.
Managing your property status
To help buyers understand your timeline, your property's status should accurately reflect your current position. Should you change your plans, you can update your property status in your Account by selecting the status that is right for you.
To change your status.
Select your property listing within your Account area.
Select the status that is right for you (Pre-market or Off-market) using the selector.
Price Guide
The Price Guide aims to give potential buyers an idea of the price range that might entice a property owner to offer a viewing. By setting your Price Guide at an appropriate level, you can help manage buyer expectations and increase the quality of offers you receive. Read more about how to set your Price Guide.
Setting your listing live
As soon as you’re happy with your listing, you can set your listing live. Your listing is 100% private, so your home won't appear on Rightmove or Zoopla. Only registered buyers will be able to view it.
Receiving an offer
If you have your sale status set to Off-market, verified buyers can submit an offer to request a viewing and to tempt you to sell. All buyers must verify their identity with a government ID such as a passport or driver’s licence before submitting an offer on your home.
You will receive an email notification letting you know that someone is interested in your property. To access the full details of the offer, simply log into your Ostrich account.
Offers should be considered non-binding and indicative of the buyer's level of interest in your property. Offers made through Ostrich include an indicative price and details of the buyer's funding position.
You can let the buyer know what you think of the offer in a few clicks, by choosing one of the following options:
'I'm interested in arranging a viewing' - If you'd like to arrange a viewing, Ostrich will follow up to coordinate a time that is convenient for you.
'I'm looking for a higher price' - We'll tell the buyer that the current offer is below your expectations. If you'd like to price that you'd start to entertain offers, please provide this information when prompted, so that we can share it with the interested buyer. Buyers can resubmit a new offer if they wish to re-engage you.
'It's not the right time' - We'll tell the buyer you're not ready to sell right now. If you have an approximate timeline for when you'd consider entertaining offers, let us know and we can share this with the buyer. Many buyers are willing to wait for the right property.
Just like when you sell your home on the open market, you are free to negotiate with the interested party. Read more about how to set your Price Guide.
Arranging a viewing
If you're interested in progressing the offer, we'll be in touch to help arrange the next steps. At Ostrich, we believe owner-led viewings offer a more genuine, transparent, and convenient experience for both buyers and sellers. Your understanding and love of the property can create a more accurate and lasting impression on potential buyers.
Pursuing an offer
If you'd like to pursue an offer, our team is available throughout to assist with negotiations and the sale process. We’ll be there every step of the way to help you complete the sale. We can help with:
- Qualifying buyers
- Verifying proof of funds
- Negotiating price
- Getting buyer feedback
- Preparing the heads of terms
- Connecting solicitors
- Managing the ongoing chain
Our rates & terms
The first time you decide to take forward an offer you've received through Ostrich, we'll ask you to sign terms. You can see a template of these terms here.
We charge 1% (including VAT) for sales made through Ostrich. Everything else, like photographing your home and creating a floor plan, will remain free.
If you decide to sell your home on the open market with a traditional agent, you can leave Ostrich at any time for any reason — no strings attached. However, we’ll have to remove your listing from Ostrich as it’s exclusively for privately-listed homes.