When you request a viewing, we ask you to include an indicative offer along with a bit of information about your buying position.
We understand it can be tough to know exactly what to offer before seeing a property in person. An indicative offer is an estimate based on the photos, floor plan, and location. It helps the owner get a sense of whether you're roughly aligned on price.
This offer isn’t legally binding, but it gives the owner useful context when deciding whether to invite you to view the property.
What should my indicative offer be?
What you choose to offer is completely up to you.
Each listing shows a price guide set by the owner. Ostrich suggests this guide based on market analysis, but the final figure is always the homeowner’s decision. It gives you a helpful sense of what they might be hoping for in order to consider moving.
Because most homeowners on Ostrich aren’t in a rush to sell, offers that match or exceed the guide are more likely to lead to viewings. This is especially true for homes with a 12+ month timeline, where a stronger offer might encourage them to bring their plans forward.
Can I change my indicative offer?
If the homeowner feels your initial offer is too far off what they’d be willing to accept, they can respond to let you know. At that point, you’ll have the option to increase your indicative offer and, if you’d like, add a quick message to the owner to explain your thinking.
Again, nothing is set in stone. If you visit the property and it doesn’t quite match your expectations, you can always adjust your offer later on.
You can also message the homeowner first if you’ve got any questions or want to chat things through before updating your offer. Once you’ve updated your indicative offer, if the homeowner is happy to go ahead with a viewing, you’ll get an email with their availability and can go ahead and book something in.
What if I want to make a formal offer?
If you’d like to make a formal offer after your viewing, you can do this easily by filling out our short offer form. You’ll be asked to confirm the amount you’d like to offer, along with a few details about how you plan to fund your purchase and your ideal timeline.
Once you’ve submitted your offer, a member of the Ostrich team will share it with the homeowner. We’ll let you know as soon as they’ve responded.