Conditional selling

Conditional selling tends to become more visible when the market gets harder. When sentiment is weak, GDP has contracted and transactions are slower, some agents and developers become more desperate to control the chain, protect the sale and keep referral income flowing.

It is especially common around new builds because developers want speed and certainty. They often prefer buyers using their recommended broker or solicitor because it gives them more visibility over the case and less risk of the buyer drifting. But convenience can quickly become pressure.

The problem is that buyers may feel they have to use a particular adviser, solicitor or service to be taken seriously. That is not healthy. A buyer should be judged on their ability to proceed, not whether they use the estate agent’s preferred contacts.

In 2026, conditional selling feels less like a rogue habit and more like a symptom of a nervous market. The weaker the market, the more aggressive the sales tactics can become.

The economy is on its knees, so naturally, estate agents have responded with pure, unadulterated integrity. What i actually mean is blackmailing buyers into using their in-house mortgage brokers just to get an offer looked at.

It’s truly touching how corporate agencies treat the Estate Agents Act like a gentle, optional suggestion. As for New build firms? Absolutely peak performance. Forcing buyers onto the developer's "preferred" panel ensures total efficiency, specifically, the efficient extraction of extortionate fees while stripping away consumer independence.

So lets all celebrate a fair property market right now, that feels exactly like wearing blow up arm bands in the sea.