You’ve always heard that buying a house is typically the biggest decision one will ever make. Well, what about selling it? The home buying process today is very simple. Typically you reach out to a friend of yours that is a realtor (because everyone has a friend that’s a realtor these days), and you tell them what you’re looking for in hopes that they can go out and find it by searching the multiple listing service (MLS). Once you find a house and your offer is accepted, your realtor guides you through the process. Now, what we’ve seen over the last few years is that the true biggest decision is SELLING your house and which option is the best. There are multiple ways you can sell your house, and hopefully asking yourself these questions below can lead you down the proper path.
What Condition is the house in?
This can be a tough question to answer - honestly. You may have grown up in the house and have a lot of sentimental value attached to it, but unfortunately, a new buyer is not going to pay more money for your memories. You’re going to have to find a way to be objective about the house and think like a new retail buyer walking through the house. We see this all the time, where, yes the house is in livable condition but it hasn’t seen updates in 20+ years. Retail buyers immediately start looking at all the improvements or upgrades they will have to make and start devaluing the home. Most retail buyers don’t want to do renovations or upgrades and so they will automatically pass. So as you’re walking through the house and deciding the overall condition start asking yourself questions like: How old is the roof? the windows? the furnace? When was the last time the kitchen and bathrooms were updated? What color is the carpet? if it’s green, blue, purple, or some non-neutral color it has to go Is the plaster or drywall in good shape? or is it cracking and falling down? If you find yourself starting to realize that this may not be the house for a retail buyer, please don’t worry there are other options! In today’s market there are INVESTORS that will purchase houses in as-is condition, allowing you to sell your house without having to make any repairs or deal with inspections. In fact, we LOVE when the house needs upgrades or renovations because that is the business we are in.
HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU WANT TO SPEND ON THE HOME?
Even if you don’t update the property at all, in order to get a quick sale, you may be surprised at the amount of money you’ll still need to spend in order to sell it traditionally to a retail buyer. First, you’ll want to make sure you clean up the landscaping, touch up any paint, have your carpets professionally cleaned, and maybe even stage your home. Once your home is listed with the realtor, you’ll want to make yourself available to accommodate showings until someone buys. Then, once someone decides to buy - you’ll really be surprised by all of the little fees you pay on top of the 6% commission you’re going to pay your real estate agent. When you sell to a buyer directly, especially a professional house buyer like ours at Urban Capital Group, there is absolutely zero fees or costs (except for any taxes associated with the sale owed to the government). Many buyers who are looking to purchase properties to fix up and resell are happy to purchase the property as-is, which means you don’t need to fix it, clean it, or even get rid of any clutter or furniture. This is one advantage of selling to an investor – less work for the seller. When you sell to a professional company like Urban Capital Group we can take on any cleaning or repair costs, so you don’t need to fix or clean your property if you don’t want to.
HOW FAST DO YOU WANT TO SELL THE HOUSE?
Sometimes, the decision between listing your home with an agent or selling it to an investor can come down to how quickly you need the money and how quickly you want to sell. If you are looking to sell quickly, sometimes a traditional sale with an agent isn’t the best option because of the time required to get a buyer and close escrow. For a traditional sale, the Real Estate Agent markets the property and does as many open houses or walk-throughs as it takes to secure offers for the property. Then, once you get an offer you like and accept it, it will need to be inspected and appraised before you close. In Pittsburgh, it typically takes 45-60 days to close the sale of your house going the traditional route. When you sell your house to an investor, you don’t have to hold any open houses or do multiple showings. Typically, once you call us and we gather some basic information, we can set an appointment to see the house and either make you an offer on the spot or within 24 hours of our visit. Another benefit of working with a company like Urban Capital Group is that you can choose when you want to close. We can close in as little as 21 days with no inspections or appraisals, or if you need 6 months - we can do that too. We do this so that you can get the money you need, when you need it.
SO, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
It depends on YOUR situation – so do what’s right for you and your property! Is your house “retail ready”? If so, selling with an Agent may be your best option. However, if your property needs updating, repair, a cash close, or a quick sale – a traditional transaction with an Agent will almost always take longer, and can cost more in the long run than a lower cash offer from an investor. Do your research on your specific property and situation to find out what makes most sense for your needs, and don’t hesitate to let us know if there is any other way we can help you in your home selling process!