On Ostrich, you can discover unique homes before they reach the open market. When a property catches your eye, you can send a viewing request directly to the homeowner.
When you request a viewing, we’ll ask for a few details to help the owner get a better sense of who you are and whether you might be a good fit.
What’s included in the viewing request?
Indicative offer
As part of your viewing request we ask you to include an indicative offer. Naturally, you can’t know for sure how you feel about a property until you’ve seen it, but indicative offers give the owner a sense of what you might be willing to pay if the property lives up to your expectations.
Indicative offers are not legally binding, but help make sure you’re broadly aligned on price. Once you've viewed a property, there will be the opportunity to update and formalise your offer if you’d like to move forward.
Personal message
You’ll have the chance to tell the owner what caught your attention, whether it was the light-filled kitchen, the characterful layout, or just that it felt like a place you could see yourself living in.
It’s your opportunity to make a connection and share what you like about the home in your own words. Thoughtful messages can help make a great first impression.
Buyer profile
You’ll need to share a couple of details about your position, including whether you need to sell a property before moving and how you’re planning to fund your purchase. In addition, we ask for a short note about yourself and what you're looking for in a home.
This becomes your buyer profile and is included with all of your future viewing requests. You can update it at any time from your Ostrich account.
Verifying your identity
Before we can send your first request, we’ll ask you to verify your identity. This adds credibility to your offer and helps protect homeowners who host viewings themselves.
Our verification partner, Stripe, will verify your details online via their third-party, secure app. This process typically takes two minutes and only needs to be done once.
What happens next?
Typically you’ll hear back from the homeowner within seven days, however it can take a little longer if they’re away or busy. You’ll be notified by email as soon as they respond and can follow updates in your account.
Please keep in mind that if you see a 12+ month timeline on a listing, it means the owner isn’t planning to sell for at least a year. You can still send a viewing request to register your interest and try to tempt them to accelerate their move, but most owners with longer timelines won’t be ready to organise viewings just yet.