When deciding to sell your home you have two options. You can either use the services of real estate broker or you can sell it yourself to a “We Buy Houses Cash” company. Each scenario has its pros and cons which we have outlined for you below. Every situation is different and we want to make sure you make the best decision possible. We have also outlined some key questions you should ask yourself before making this big decision.
Realtors. Realtors are the best source for selling your property. It’s a proven fact that realtors will get at least 10-20% more for your property than you would if you sold it yourself. It is also a proven fact that you will sell it 50% faster using the services of a local real estate agent. Since most agents are current on up to date trends they will be able to guide you in what items need to be addressed in order to get maximum price for your house. With an agent who specializes in your neighborhood they may have connections to buyers through colleagues and past clients that you do not have access to. An agents network is a very powerful tool to getting your house sold fast. I recommend using bigger cooperate brokers such as Berkshire Hathaway or Coldwell Banker Gundaker.
With any service provider their is a cost of doing business. The average expense for a realtor is 6-7% of the sales price of your home. For example if you sell your home for $200,000 it will cost you anywhere from $12,000-$14,000 at closing. If you decide to use a real estate professional to sell your property then you will more than likely be dealing with financed buyers which means you might possible have to pay seller commissions ranging anywhere from $3,000 – $5,000. Selling to a financed buyer also means once you sign a contract to purchase you will usually have to wait anywhere from 30-60 days to close. Let’s also not forget the cost of inspections. Most cities require the house pass an occupancy inspection. When the city sends there inspector out there may be items that don’t meet city requirement which may get costly to fix. The potential buyer will also hire a private inspector due to there own due diligence to see what the house may need. This can also get costly if the buyer has high demands before deciding to move forward with the purchase. The extra money you make hiring a real estate professional may cancel out with the expense of broker fee’s and inspection expenses.
We Buy Houses Cash Companies. These companies often get a bad wrap in the area. They are often thought of as scam artists or dishonest people when in reality these companies can be of great service to people. Just like anything there are pro’s and cons to taking this route. Since these ugly house buyers are investors they are not going to give you full price for you home. They are usually buying properties anywhere from 50-60 cents on the dollar.
But before you kick these guys out of your house take a moment to think about the benefits of selling to a cash investor. Fast Cash! In most cases these buyers have the cash to buy the property immediately. Not only will it be a cash sale but you don’t have to worry about paying any seller concessions. Often times they will even cover your closing costs which will save you additional money. These cash buyers will also save you on those hefty realtor commissions. Since your property is a for sale by owner there will not be any broker involved. No broker = NO FEE’s! Did I mention there will not be any inspections done. Since it will more than likely be an AS-IS cash sale the buyer will not bring a city or private inspector through which means you don’t have to do any repairs to the property. So even though you may not get full price for what you think your home is worth you will be saving tens of thousands of dollars in fee’s and repairs. It makes the deal even sweeter knowing they can close in as little as 7-10 days if needed. The best part about selling to a cash investor is that you can leave the unwanted items in the property so you can save even more money on moving expenses.
This is a big decision that should not be take lightly. There are some questions you need to ask yourself before deciding which route to take.
1. Does the home need repairs?
2. Is the home outdated to today’s standards and what other similar homes look like?
3. Do I need to sell immediately?
4. Is the repair list too much for me to handle right now?
5. Will a fast sale take the burden off my shoulders of dealing with this property?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above then you will probably want to consider selling to a local real estate investor who has the cash to close right away. A fast cash offer with no realtor fee’s, closing costs or hefty moving expenses may be the best fit for you. If the home has been kept up and maintained pretty good over the years and you can afford to sit on it for a while then your local real estate agent will be the best option for you and your bank account.
Click the following for more information on Berkshire Hathaway or Coldwell Banker Gundaker.
More Stories
What is a Short Sale and How Does it Connect to the Foreclosure Process?
Selling My House in Philadelphia, PA
The Advantages Of For Sale By Owner When Selling Your Home