Your Top 15 Real Estate Questions Answered

Your top 15 real estate questions answered

We discuss the main questions around selling a house fast as well as working with investors to sell your home.

How can I sell my house fast full of stuff?

If you need to sell a house full of stuff (and you don’t want to remove it all yourself), then find an investor who is willing to buy the home and remove all your unwanted items after the sale. Make sure to take time going through everything so that you don’t miss valuable items that end up getting tossed. Alternatively, you can hire a junk removal company but make sure to get multiple bids and stay away from the national brands as they are typically quite expensive.

Is it better to sell everything and move?

Selling individual items can be extremely time-consuming and stressful. People who buy smaller items via neighborhood apps typically want to haggle or low-ball you. Do you really want to do this 20 times?

How do I sell my cluttered house?

The best way to sell a cluttered house is by working with a direct homebuyer (aka investor) who can do the cleaning or repairs once they buy the home. Alternatively, a real estate agent may be willing to help coordinate a decluttering service, however, these services cost money.

How quickly do most houses sell?

This depends on your market. The best way to find out how long houses take to sell is by looking at nearby recent sales on Zillow or Redfin and comparing the list date vs the sale date. In hotter markets a fully remodeled house might go under contract after the first weekend but if the home is outdated, during colder months, or in a less desirable location, it may take a few months to receive any offers.

What is the fastest a home can be sold?

The fastest a home can be sold depends on who the buyer is and how fast the title company can perform. Usually 7 days is the fastest a home can be sold.

What time of year is best to sell a house?

In most markets, spring to early Summer (January to June) is the best time to sell a home, although if you are selling to an investor, the time of year does not matter. After the winter blues wear off, many buyers are ready to go out and shop for a home. If you are thinking of selling in November or December, it is highly recommended that wait until your market warms up before selling.

What months do houses sell the fastest in?

In a lot of markets, the spring and early summer months are when houses sell the fastest. September and October also rank high in a lot of markets.

How can I make my house look good to sell without spending a lot?

You can make your house ready to sell by decluttering, painting (even just spot painting), trimming the yard down, and doing a deep cleaning. These are tasks that can be done inexpensively but add a lot of value to your resale.

What is the quickest way to sell a house?

The quickest way to sell a house is to work with a direct buyer (real estate investor). These buyers can be found online and usually offer to close in as little as 7 days. Simply search for “we buy houses companies near me” and you will get a list of results.

 

Read our guide on what to know when selling to an investor here.

What is a cash home buyer?

A cash home buyer is simply a real estate investor. They are also known as direct homebuyers, “we buy houses” companies, or fix & flippers. All terms describe the same thing.

How much do investors pay for houses?

Most investors pay a percentage of the “after-repair value,” but that amount can vary greatly, and it usually depends on what condition the property is in. For homes that are very outdated or in poor condition the amount an investor can pay is closer to its actual value than if the home is already remodeled. This is because most investors’ business model relies on selling a home at a higher price-per-foot than repairs cost.

For example, a 1,500 sqft home in poor shape is sold for $500,000 and the investor projects to spend $67 per foot on remodeling ($100,000). The investor sees that remodeled homes in this area sell for $430 per foot ($650,000). After holding costs, resale commissions, and renovations, the investor can ensure a safety margin and profit after remodeling the home.   

How do I know if a “we buy houses company” is reputable?

First, check around the web for testimonials. We recommend starting with a Google search, but also check Facebook, Yelp, and less commonly the Better Business Bureau. Legitimate are usually spaced out over time, come from active users who review other businesses, and usually vary in writing style. You can also ask the company for past client references.

Is it safe to sell a home to an investor?

Yes, but you need to do the same due diligence you would do for any other large transaction. Make sure you check references and reviews, ask questions to get to know the buyer, and review the paperwork carefully so that you understand it.  

What are the disadvantages of selling a home off-market?

The primary disadvantage of selling a home off-market is less exposure which means you may miss out on other offers.

What are the advantages of selling a home off-market?

The primary advantages of selling a home off-market are paying less (or no) commissions if you choose to sell without a real estate agent, privacy, it can be easier to find buyers, sell without doing repairs or cleaning, and solve complex problems that retail buyers are not capable of handling.

Picture of Jake Knight
Jake Knight

Jake Knight has been a residential real estate investor since 2016. He specializes in acquiring and renovating houses in the Bay Area, Sacramento, eventually expanding to over 15+ states. Jake’s prior experience in lending, going back to 2003, laid the foundation for solving complex real estate issues.

Drawing upon his background in assisting sellers with the task of transitioning from a home they have lived in for decades, Jake launched a “senior move management” business in 2021. This company provides valuable support to seniors during the process of packing, coordinating their moves, and downsizing as they transition into senior living communities.

In 2022, Jake expanded his services by becoming a licensed real estate agent in California, providing comprehensive solutions to his seller clients.

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On the other hand, there are some sellers who need a custom solution due to either the property’s condition or the seller’s personal situation, or a combination of the two.

When the property is in really bad shape, they’re likely going to sell to an investor, so it may make sense to save money on commissions and find their own investor.

Some examples of personal situations that we can help with are: hoarding, pre-foreclosure or other financial issues that require a fast home sale, house with non-paying tenants or squatters, severely delinquent property taxes, homeowners who want to rent back the home longer than normal, or sellers who value privacy and/or are embarrassed by their home.

If your seller lead meets these criteria, you should propose the idea of making an introduction to me. You can simply suggest to them that your partner or colleague buys houses and ask if they are interested in speaking with me. Remember, you are not performing real estate agent duties. See our disclaimer below. The main thing to keep in mind at this point is to qualify them as a good fit or not. I can help you with the documentation and process things.