If you need to sell your house quickly for any reason, whether it’s a job relocation, financial difficulty, or an unexpected life event, selling to a cash buyer may be an option. Some homebuyers, such as private investors and “we buy houses” companies, make as-is cash offers and can close in days. Others use less-traditional methods to help you close on your house in a timely manner, such as novation agreements or seller financing. Whatever your situation, you can get competing cash offers from multiple buyers by contacting several homebuyers directly or through a free service like Clever Offers.
Generally, companies that buy houses for cash invest in homes with the intent of renovating them and reselling them on the market for a profit. They assess the property and then make an as-is cash offer, based on the amount of time and money it will take to repair and resell the home. Some “we buy houses” companies are more flexible about the condition of your home than others, but they all provide an alternative to a traditional sale through a real estate agent.
Private investors and We buy houses for cash quickly companies usually pay up to 70% of a home’s expected after-repair value, minus the cost of any necessary repairs. Those investors are willing to take on a lot of risk because they can fix and sell the house for a profit within weeks or months. However, they also have to spend a lot of time and money evaluating properties and making offers. Typically, they only purchase homes that meet their criteria, which can be quite broad in some cases.
Other options for homeowners include a specialized type of investor known as an iBuyer. These companies are different from other homebuyers, and they use proprietary algorithms to determine the value of a property and make an instant offer. However, iBuyers aren’t the best choice for everyone. They often charge a service fee, which can eat into your home’s final sales price, and they may ask you to cover the costs of any required repairs.
Cash investors can be a good solution for some sellers, but they aren’t right for every situation. If you’re looking to sell your house for the highest possible price, working with an experienced real estate agent and following the traditional sales process is a better idea.
Some people feel ripped off by the low offers they receive from companies that buy houses for cash quickly. For example, the company Brothers Buy Homes often makes offers that are as low as 50% of a home’s fair market value. In addition, most of these companies don’t disclose their fees or closing costs.
To avoid unwanted solicitations, you can put a stop-solicitation order in place with your real estate agent or add your name to the federal Do Not Call List. You can also contact local authorities, which have regulations to protect residents against commercial harassment. In Philadelphia, for example, real estate investors who continue to call or mail solicitations after being told to stop can be fined.