An Alternative to using a Real Estate Agent to sell your property

Traditionally, anyone with a house to sell, would use a Real Estate Agent. For many people they are seen as a necessary evil.

A small minority of people manage to sell their house privately by doing their own advertising and putting up their own For Sale board, but as their property does not appear in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), this is very much a hit and miss endeavor.

Even when a sale is secure using traditional methods of listing with a realtor the sale can fall through. In fact one in three agreed upon sales do not complete, meaning that the sale process has to start all over again.

For anyone relocating this is frustrating and annoying as plans have to be put on hold. For people with financial difficulties or in danger of having their house repossessed, it can be very serious.

A realistic alternative to Real Estate Agents

At last there is an alternative to using a Real Estate Agent. Using a specialty property-buying company offers the speed and certainty lacking if selling on the open market through a Real Estate Agent.

We Buy Houses companies are now offering a service that more and more people see as a better alternative than waiting and hoping for an elusive buyer. They will normally make an offer to buy a property within a few days, completing at a date to suit you, so that people can move on with their lives.

So, what’s the catch? Well, the main one is that they will be looking to buy the property at a reduction from the open market value. How much of a reduction often depends on the type and size of property but is likely to be at least 10%.

The other thing to watch out for is that some of these companies charge an upfront valuation fee of several hundred dollars. While this fee is usually refundable if you go ahead and sell to them, it is quite possible that their offer on your property will be unacceptable to you, leaving you out of pocket!

Questions to ask The We Buy Houses Company

If the speed and certainty of selling to a property-buying company appeals to you, what do you need to look out for?
Probably the first question to ask is will it cost me anything to get an offer on my property?

You wouldn’t expect to pay a Real Estate Agent for a valuation, so why pay these companies?

The next question most people need answering is, Can I rely on this company? Can they Purchase my House in my time frame? These companies should be asking you about your time frames and deadlines and tailoring a solution perfect for your situation. Look carefully at the company and website to see if they are flexible and offer a range of solutions. It is also a good idea to ask them for examples or testimonials from previous customers.

So, if you have a property to sell, before you call a Real Estate Agent, it might be worth checking out a couple of these companies who can offer you a quick sale.