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One in four property sales falls through in the UK. Most of those fall-throughs happen after your negotiator has invested weeks of their time. Gazeal's reservation agreement changes the economics of fall-through.

Gazeal provides a legally backed reservation agreement and deposit guarantee system for UK property sales - giving sellers exclusivity, giving buyers commitment and giving estate agents a mechanism to protect the instruction fee they have already earned. Used by estate agents across England and Wales.

6
6 Kerfuffle reviews
4.0-star average from UK agents
109
109 Google reviews
4.3 stars from agents and clients
10%
Below 10% fall-through
When reservation agreements are in place
Legal
Legal guarantee
Backed by Gazeal's independent guarantee

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6
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109
reviews - 4.3 stars

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The fall-through problem

A sale that collapses after weeks of progression costs your agency money it will never recover - and most agencies have no mechanism to prevent it.

The UK has one of the highest property transaction fall-through rates of any comparable country. The absence of any binding commitment between buyer and seller at point of sale means either party can withdraw at any time before exchange, for any reason, with no financial consequence.

"A buyer withdrew three weeks before exchange and our vendor lost their onward purchase."

When a buyer withdraws late in the transaction, the seller loses their onward chain, has to restart the marketing process and your agency restarts a sales progression process that was weeks from completion. The fall-through cost to your agency in lost time is significant.

"A buyer reduced their offer by £15,000 the day before exchange."

Gazundering - a buyer reducing their offer just before exchange - is legal, disruptive and demoralising for vendors and agents alike. A reservation agreement with a financial commitment from both parties removes the incentive to gazunder.

"We had four sales fall through in a quarter and our pipeline collapsed."

High fall-through rates create volatile revenue pipelines that make agency business planning extremely difficult. Even a partial reduction in fall-through rate - from 25% to 10% - has a significant impact on revenue predictability.

"Our vendor accepted an offer from a buyer who was not really committed and we found out five weeks later."

Buyers who are not fully committed to a purchase often show no outward sign of their hesitation until they withdraw. A reservation agreement creates a financial stake that encourages buyers who are not truly committed to identify themselves early - before weeks of progression are invested.

How Gazeal works for estate agents

A reservation agreement that protects sellers, buyers and the estate agents who serve them.

Gazeal's system is designed to work within the existing conveyancing process - not to replace it. It adds a layer of financial commitment at the point of sale that the standard sales progression process currently lacks.

1

Reservation agreement

A legally binding document that both buyer and seller sign at point of sale. Both parties commit to a minimum financial consequence if they withdraw without valid reason - typically both paying a reservation fee to set up the agreement, with a larger compensation sum payable to the innocent party if either withdraws unreasonably.

2

Gazeal guarantee

Gazeal acts as independent guarantor of the compensation arrangement. If either party withdraws without valid reason, Gazeal pays the compensation to the innocent party and recovers it from the withdrawing party - removing the need for either side to pursue a legal claim.

3

Seller protection from gazundering

Because the buyer has signed a reservation agreement committing to the agreed price and terms, they cannot reduce their offer without triggering the compensation provisions. This protection is particularly valued by sellers in volatile markets.

4

Buyer protection from seller withdrawal

The reservation agreement is mutual - the seller also commits to exclusivity with the buyer during the reservation period. Sellers cannot accept a higher offer or withdraw from the agreed sale without facing the same financial consequences as buyers.

5

Estate agent process integration

Gazeal is designed to be offered by estate agents as part of their standard sales process. Agent-facing tools cover how to present the reservation agreement to vendors and buyers, how to process the setup and how to handle the claims process if a fall-through occurs.

6

Digital processing and claims

Reservation agreements are processed digitally. If either party withdraws during the reservation period, the claims process is managed by Gazeal's Independent Expert Panel - whose decisions are final and binding, removing the need for court proceedings.

How the process works

Five steps to getting started.

1

Offer agreed

Buyer and seller agree on price and key terms. The estate agent presents the Gazeal reservation agreement as the next step before conveyancers are instructed.

2

Reservation agreement signed

Both buyer and seller sign the reservation agreement and pay the reservation fee - typically £250 plus VAT each. Both parties are now financially committed to the agreed terms during the reservation period.

3

Conveyancers instructed

With the reservation agreement in place, both sides instruct their conveyancers with a higher level of confidence that the transaction is unlikely to collapse before exchange.

4

Transaction progresses

The conveyancing process proceeds normally. The reservation agreement provides both parties with security during the period when fall-throughs most commonly occur.

5

Exchange and completion

If both parties proceed as agreed, the reservation period ends at exchange of contracts and the transaction completes normally. If either party withdraws unreasonably, Gazeal's guarantee mechanism is triggered.

The Kerfuffle member route

Kerfuffle members can get a prioritised introduction to Gazeal - with your Kerfuffle AM involved from the first conversation.

Gazeal has 6 Kerfuffle reviews at 4.0 stars and 109 Google reviews at 4.3 stars from UK estate agents and clients. Kerfuffle members can access a warm introduction route with account manager involvement.

What Kerfuffle members get

  • Facilitated introduction to the Gazeal team
  • Kerfuffle AM in the commercial conversation
  • Process integration assessment for your agency's sales workflow
  • Agent-facing tools and presentation support
  • Reservation agreement rolled out at the pace that suits your team
Kerfuffle member route

Standard route

Direct website contact

AM-introduced from day one

Per transaction
Reservation fee paid by buyer and seller

The reservation fee is paid by both buyer and seller to set up the agreement - typically £250 plus VAT each. Gazeal's fee to the agency for processing is agreed separately. Book a conversation with the Kerfuffle team and we will arrange the right introduction.

More on Kerfuffle

Check the full Kerfuffle profile before you book.

Kerfuffle carries verified reviews from UK property professionals who have worked with Gazeal directly.

Reviews
Kerfuffle reviews
Read what UK agents say
Full Kerfuffle profile
Features, overview, contact
Book a call

Start the conversation via Kerfuffle.

A 30-minute call with the Kerfuffle team to arrange the right introduction to Gazeal.

Book a Zoom with Kerfuffle
Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Gazeal.

How do we get started via Kerfuffle?
Book a conversation with the Kerfuffle team using the button on this page. We will make the right introduction to Gazeal and your Kerfuffle account manager will be involved in any initial conversation before any commercial commitment is made.
Is Gazeal right for our type of agency?
The Kerfuffle team can advise on fit before you invest time in a full commercial conversation. Book a call and we will help you assess whether Gazeal is the right solution for your specific agency before the first introduction is made.
What does working with Kerfuffle add to this supplier relationship?
Kerfuffle's account managers have relationships with hundreds of UK estate agents and have visibility of what works and what does not across the supplier landscape. They can help you scope the right engagement with Gazeal, review commercial terms and advise on fit - all before you commit to anything.
Can we see reviews before we speak to Gazeal?
Yes - visit the Kerfuffle profile for Gazeal to read verified reviews from UK estate agents and property professionals who have worked with them directly.
What is the typical first step after the Kerfuffle introduction?
After the Kerfuffle introduction, Gazeal will typically arrange a scoping call or demonstration relevant to your agency's specific situation. Your Kerfuffle account manager stays involved through the commercial conversation to help ensure the terms and scope are right for your agency before anything is signed.
About Gazeal

A UK-based reservation agreement provider backed by an Independent Expert Panel - protecting property sales from the moment an offer is agreed.

Gazeal is a UK PropTech business that provides reservation agreement and deposit guarantee services for residential property sales in England and Wales. With 6 Kerfuffle reviews at 4.0 stars and 109 Google reviews at 4.3 stars, Gazeal has established itself as a practical solution to one of the UK property market's most persistent structural problems - the lack of any binding commitment between buyer and seller before exchange of contracts.

6
Kerfuffle reviews at 4.0 stars
109
Google reviews at 4.3 stars
<10%
Fall-through rate with reservation agreement
Legal
Independent Expert Panel guarantee
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Every fall-through your agency experiences costs time, money and credibility. A reservation agreement changes the risk profile of every instruction.

6 Kerfuffle reviews. 109 Google reviews. Reservation agreements that protect sellers, buyers and the agents who serve them. Book a Zoom with the Kerfuffle team.