posted 29th July 2025
In today’s property market, many buyers and sellers are being quietly pushed into practices that don’t serve their best interests — all in the name of speed, sales targets, and market share. One of the most concerning of these? Conditional selling.
At Shepherd & White, we believe in doing things differently — with transparency, trust, and your best outcome at heart. Here’s what you need to know about the industry practices we don’t use — and why that matters.
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🚩 What Is Conditional Selling?
Conditional selling is when an estate agent makes the sale or acceptance of an offer dependent on you using their own in-house services — such as:
• Mortgage brokers
• Conveyancers or solicitors
• Insurance providers
You may be told:
“Your offer will only be considered if you use our mortgage broker.”
“We can’t present your offer unless you agree to our solicitor.”
Let’s be clear: this is not advice — it’s pressure. And it’s not in your interest. It’s often designed to generate extra commission for the agent, not a better outcome for you.
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💸 The Real Cost of “In-House Services”
While these services may be presented as “convenient,” they’re rarely the best value. In many national chains:
• Mortgage advisors are incentivised, not independent
• Conveyancers are overworked and under-responsive
• You lose control, clarity, and flexibility
At Shepherd & White, we never make your sale or purchase conditional on using anyone we recommend. We may suggest trusted local partners — but the choice is always yours.
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🌟 Beware the 5-Star Illusion
Some big agencies boast hundreds of 5-star reviews. But dig deeper — many of these are requested before the transaction is even complete, when things are still going smoothly.
These “early” reviews often:
• Reflect only the initial interaction
• Are solicited under pressure
• Don’t cover the most important parts — like how issues were resolved later
We prefer real, verified reviews from clients who’ve seen the full journey — the good, the challenging, and the resolution. That’s how trust is built.
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📊 Market Share ≠ Better Service
“Most properties sold in the area!” sounds impressive — but it often means:
• Too many clients per agent
• Rushed communication
• Transactional, not personal, service
At Shepherd & White, we focus on quality over quantity. We limit our caseload to provide the time and attention each client deserves. You’re never just another number.
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✅ Choose Local. Choose Independent. Choose Honest.
We don’t:
• Make sales conditional on services
• Push you toward “partner” firms for profit
• Inflate reviews or chase meaningless targets
We do:
• Offer expert advice
• Give you freedom of choice
• Provide personal, accountable service
• Focus on outcomes, not optics
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Experience the best in local property services — with Shepherd & White.
Proudly serving Leicester, Coalville, Ashby & the Charnwood Villages.
📞Talk to us on 01530 231859
🌐 www.shepherdandwhite.co.uk
📍 Independent. Experienced. On your side.
