How Do I Sell My House for Cash Without a Realtor?

Selling your home through a realtor is highly commercialized. While there are some benefits, this method is often expensive, with some of the proceeds of the house going back to the realtor in the form of commission.

If you’re thinking of selling your home without a realtor, there are several options available. Although most homeowners don’t go down this path, it is possible, and many homeowners have had success selling their house for cash without a realtor.

There are three main routes you can take:

Homeowners are drawn to FSBO because they don’t have to pay the agent commission, and they have control of the entire process. However, that also means there’s more responsibility. You have to advertise the house yourself, market the list, and host the open houses and walk-throughs.

There are drawbacks and benefits with this approach that you have to consider carefully when you opt to sell the house yourself.

BENEFITS

Realtors can take up to 3% of the sale prices of the house. You may also need to cover your buyer’s agent at another 3% of the home sale, not to mention other fees that might be required to facilitate the sale of the house. By selling the house yourself, pocket all the proceeds of the house.

You have numerous platforms you can use to market the house. These include your social media profiles, and you can also list the home on MLS, where 9 out of 10 sellers list their homes. The MLS is a more affordable marketing platform, and the fees are more reasonable than what a realtor would charge you.

Should you choose to sell by FSBO, you should be prepared to negotiate with the buyer’s agents and ensure you don’t undervalue the house. Most homeowners also have issues with the home inspection, which could reveal issues that the buyer’s agent could use to lower the price further.

If you’re looking to quickly close the sale, selling the house for cash is the most pragmatic option. Cash buyers allow you to bypass the red tape and bureaucracies associated with selling a home and close the deal quickly and in the shortest time. The process is quick, convenient, and in most cases is guaranteed.

With other methods of selling your house, there is a lot of waiting involved. It could take months to get an offer on the house and sometimes years. During this period, you’re still paying upkeep and bills for the home.

Cash buyers can close the deal in as little as 14 days. The progress of the sale depends on how fast you want to close. It is quick and efficient.

Selling the home to a cash buyer is the only option that doesn’t require the house to be appealing. You don’t need to worry about fixing the house or sprucing it up for the guests. Cash buyers will take the house as it is. You don’t even need to clean, and you can also skip the cosmetic upgrades.

Not only does this save you time, but it also saves on costs ensuring you keep your expenses as low as possible. Some cash buyers will even buy a home with mold and structural damage, which saves you substantial amounts in repairing the home and making it market-worthy.

Home inspections are among the reasons for closing delays. Most cash buyers will not require you to complete a home inspection unless they deem it necessary. Bypassing the inspection means you close the sale faster without unnecessary delays.

In FSBO, you have to be ready to host open houses and home showings for potential buyers. It’s a tedious and time-consuming process because you have to constantly clean and ensure the house is appealing. Cash buyers save you time and effort. In most cases, they will only need to see the house once, and even then, they prefer it as is. You don’t need to stage the house, clean it or entertain multiple guests.

Selling the house to a cash buyer is often preferred when you need to close the sale quickly for various reasons, among them moving to another town or selling a property that you’re not interested in.

Some homeowners are lucky enough to have a buyer lined up just as they want to buy the house. If you don’t want to involve a realtor, then you can hire a real estate attorney to facilitate the closing of the deal.

It’s imperative to have a real estate attorney close the deal, especially when the person buying the house is a friend or family. Accepting payment without a written agreement is a catastrophe waiting to happen.

The attorney can help you draft all the closing paperwork required, including the contracts and legal documents. These may vary depending on the state.

PROPS

Real estate attorneys are highly experienced in such matters. They understand the importance of every detail and will ensure that all the caveats and contingencies are covered along with the sale price and closing dates.

In case of any problems and disagreements, the attorney can step in to resolve the dispute or even prevent it from occurring. Some common disputes can include failure to disclose defects and failure to agree on a moving date.

Hiring a real estate attorney is more affordable than working with a realtor. A realtor would take about 5.8% of the sale price, while the estate attorney is more affordable and will cost an average of $250 per hour.

If you’re seriously considering selling a house without a realtor, you have these three options. They are all feasible. You only need to pick one based on your situation and needs.