If you’re house hunting and spotted “no onward chain” on a listing, these three words can make a huge difference to how smoothly and quickly your purchase goes through. When a property has no onward chain, it means the sellers have already resolved their next move and can hand over the keys as soon as the sale completes without dependency on another sale completing. It’s a more simple situation that can save months of waiting and remove a lot of the stress from buying a house.
How no onward chain affects property transactions
Property chains form when multiple sales depend on each other completing. Picture it like dominos: when one falls, it affects all the others. But properties without an onward chain stand alone. The seller has already sorted out their next move, which simplifies everything enormously.
Why some properties have no onward chain
Properties end up chain-free for various reasons. Sometimes they come onto the market after the owner passes away, known as probate sales. Or they might be investment properties where the owner never lived there. Alternatively, it means that the seller has already moved out, and the property is sitting vacant.
Percentage chance of a chain being broken
The risk of a property chain falling through increases with each additional house in the chain:
- Two houses: There’s a 42% chance that one of the sales will fall through.
- Three houses: There’s a more than 56% chance that one or more of the sales will fall through.
Advantages of buying a property with no onward chain
There are plenty of pros when it comes to buying chain free, from a reduced risk of delays and issues to faster completion times.
Reduced risk of delays and problems
Regular property chains can be fragile. Let’s say just one buyer pulls out or has mortgage problems. If that’s the case then it impacts everyone in the chain. Imagine a buyer can’t buy his intended property because the seller has cancelled the sale. Now this buyer can’t move out of his house unless he has another house to move into. This has a knock-on effect on the sale of his own property since the person who had agreed to buy it can’t do so until the seller has found another place.
Property chains can be quite long and involve multiple transactions, with each transaction presenting a risk to all other transactions. With no onward chain however, you only need to worry about your own purchase going through. There are fewer moving parts that could go wrong.
Faster completion times
When you buy a chain-free property, you won’t spend weeks or months waiting for your seller to find and secure their next home. As soon as your purchase is ready to complete, you can move in. It removes one of the biggest causes of delay in property purchases.
Benefits for sellers advertising no onward chain
Advertising your property as “no onward chain” certainly has its benefits, whether it’s because the property is more appealing to buyers or the chance of receiving better offers.
More appealing to buyers
Buyers love chain-free properties. Some even search specifically for them to avoid getting caught in lengthy chains. When you list your home as having no onward chain, it catches the eye of these motivated buyers looking for a smooth purchase.
Better offers may be possible
The promise of a faster, simpler move can make buyers willing to pay more. They might offer a higher price knowing they won’t face chain-related delays or stress. As a result, advertising a chain-free sale can result in a higher sale price.
Things to watch out for
Empty properties need to be checked. Look for signs of neglect like damp patches or drainage issues that develop when homes aren’t lived in. Ask why the property has been empty and for how long.
Chain-free sellers might want quick sales. While this can work in your favour, don’t feel pressured to skip important steps like surveys just for the sole purpose of moving quickly.
How to check if a property has no onward chain
Talk to the estate agent about the seller’s exact situation. Find out when they’re moving out. Ask about their motivations for selling. The chain-free status should be genuine, but circumstances change during sales, so verify the details.
Can chain-free sales still fall through?
Chain-free doesn’t mean risk-free. Mortgage lenders might reject some applications on the basis that the property value might not match the asking price. Surveys could also uncover serious problems. Either side might change their mind, or legal complications can crop up during conveyancing. While having no chain removes one major risk, other things can still derail the sale.
How anyone can find a chain-free buyer
The easiest way to find a chain-free buyer is to contact Property Rescue. We are a cash house buying company, so this means that we buy property as an investment, and not because we need a home to live in. So by selling to us, you are selling to a chain-free buyer. We buy homes with 100% cash, so there’s no risky mortgage complications to worry about either. The sale is super straightforward and doesn’t even need estate agents involved since their job is to find a buyer,
Even if you plan to find another property to move into, Property Rescue can make you a chain-free buyer. By selling to us first, you’ll have your cash ready to use on your next property purchase. We can time our purchase of your property exactly according to your timelines, so you can live there until you are ready.
Property Rescue guarantees to buy your home for cash, handling all the legal work and fees. With a fast, guaranteed sale, you’ll be free to focus on finding and securing your next property without being stuck in a chain. Get a free, no-obligation quote to see how much your home is worth.
Being chain-free means you’ve got a real advantage when you’re house hunting. Sellers know you’re good to go, with no complicated chain of buyers and sellers to worry about.
What is a chain-free buyer?
Sellers with no onward chain properties usually want chain-free buyers too. If you’ve got a nice straightforward sale set up, why complicate it? When a seller gets offers, they’ll often go for a chain-free buyer over someone stuck selling their own place, even if that person’s offering more money.
The obvious chain-free buyers are first-timers, as they’re just moving out of their parents’ or a rental. Investors are another one due to buying with cash or a specific buy-to-let mortgage. But there’s a clever group of buyers who’ve made themselves chain-free on purpose. You can do this too, with Property Rescue .
Property Rescue guarantees to buy your home for cash, handling all the legal work and fees. With a fast, guaranteed sale, you’ll be free to focus on finding and securing your next property without being stuck in a chain. Get a free, no-obligation quote to see how much your home is worth.
Being chain-free means you’ve got a real advantage when you’re house hunting. Sellers know you’re good to go, with no complicated chain for them to worry about.
Is chain-free right for you?
Chain-free properties tend to attract lots of interest, which can mean facing more competition. But many buyers find this worthwhile for the smoother purchase process. Sellers can benefit from increased buyer interest and potentially better offers.
Just remember that chain status shouldn’t override other factors when buying. The property still needs proper checks and surveys. A smooth purchase means nothing if you end up with the wrong house. Focus on finding the right property at the right price, and treat the chain-free status as a bonus rather than the main attraction.