Whether you’re looking to upgrade your home, move to another place, or just are ready for a change, there comes a time in all of our lives’ where we must sell our home. However, when this time comes it can feel like a maze of confusion. Here are 7 tips to keep in mind when selling your house. 

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your home, move to another place, or just are ready for a change, there comes a time in all of our lives’ where we must sell our home. However, when this time comes it can feel like a maze of confusion. Here are 7 tips to keep in mind when selling your house. 

There are pros and cons to selling your home with or without a real estate agent. The main benefits that come with a real estate agent is negotiation power. Your real estate agent will know how to get you the most bang for your buck. They also know how to bring in the right clients to see the house. However, they require an additional cost that lowers the over all amount you gain when selling, not to mention you'll have to make any repairs and upgrades necessary to command that top price.

Many investors that are looking to flip properties will buy your house as-is. This could save you money on renovations if you have a lived-in house. The investors will often come to your house, check out what needs to be repaired, and deduct it from your total. This can save you the hassle of fixing all of the repairs and possibly save you money if you make sure you get a good deal.

Don’t blindly trust an investor. Look at their portfolio and see how much the down-payment of cash was and how quickly they paid it off. Were their past clients happy and treated fairly? Review all of this before you give their offer the thumbs up. Do they put skin in the game in the form of due diligence fees and earnest money deposits? Many "fly by night" investment companies do not show in good faith they are serious about closing with cash, and it's in your best interest to avoid companies like this.  The last thing you want to do is not have protection against the risk of the investor canceling the contract due to unexpected repair costs, but with a deposit you can justify this lost time. You can then request proof of funds from the buyer by asking for a bank statement. Also, have an attorney review the contract they give you. Make sure all of your bases are covered. 

Contingency clauses are clauses that allow the buyer to back out of the contract and protect their assets. However, they are often aimed against the best interest of the seller. Avoid these clauses and come up with a contract that you can both mutually agree on and move forward with as is. 

Unfortunately, the cash for house business comes with a lot of fraudulent activity from scammers. This isn’t always the case, but can happen, so know what to look for. Keep a close eye on your credit history and make sure that a second mortgage hasn’t been taken out. Also, if the investors ask you for an application fee upfront, they are typically a scam, so be wary. 

Have your house appraised by an outside source other than the buyer himself. You want to have a good idea of what the house is worth so that you can make sure the amount they offer will match your desired amount. The buyer can easily low-ball you if you don’t know exactly what your house is worth. Don’t get lost in the cash offer and accept a low-bid. 

You don’t have to go into this process on your own. Using a real estate agent can help you have another eye that knows how much your house should be worth in the current market and how to negotiate for that price.  Having an agent doesn't preclude you from working with a cash home buyer. Just keep in mind that by having an agent you'll inevitbly walk away with less cash in your pocket since you'll be responsible for covering their fees with your equity.  

If you want to do the process primarily on your own without an agent, you can. However, having an attorney can help you sort out the details of the contract, help you know if you’re getting a good deal, and see any holes in the process that you may miss. 

Weigh the options of renting out your house, selling alongside an agent, and selling to a cash investor. Each option has its own unique set of pros and cons. For selling your house to a cash investor, you can gain many great benefits if you follow these tips and stay diligent in your search for the right buyer. 

There are pros and cons to selling your home with or without a real estate agent. The main benefits that come with a real estate agent is negotiation power. Your real estate agent will know how to get you the most bang for your buck. They also know how to bring in the right clients to see the house. However, they require an additional cost that lowers the over all amount you gain when selling, not to mention you'll have to make any repairs and upgrades necessary to command that top price. 

Many investors that are looking to flip properties will buy your house as-is. This could save you money on renovations if you have a lived-in house. The investors will often come to your house, check out what needs to be repaired, and deduct it from your total. This can save you the hassle of fixing all of the repairs and possibly save you money if you make sure you get a good deal.

Don’t blindly trust an investor. Look at their portfolio and see how much the down-payment of cash was and how quickly they paid it off. Were their past clients happy and treated fairly? Review all of this before you give their offer the thumbs up. Do they put skin in the game in the form of due diligence fees and earnest money deposits? Many "fly by night" investment companies do not show in good faith they are serious about closing with cash, and it's in your best interest to avoid companies like this.  The last thing you want to do is not have protection against the risk of the investor canceling the contract due to unexpected repair costs, but with a deposit you can justify this lost time. You can then request proof of funds from the buyer by asking for a bank statement. Also, have an attorney review the contract they give you. Make sure all of your bases are covered. 

Contingency clauses are clauses that allow the buyer to back out of the contract and protect their assets. However, they are often aimed against the best interest of the seller. Avoid these clauses and come up with a contract that you can both mutually agree on and move forward with as is. 

Unfortunately, the cash for house business comes with a lot of fraudulent activity from scammers. This isn’t always the case, but can happen, so know what to look for. Keep a close eye on your credit history and make sure that a second mortgage hasn’t been taken out. Also, if the investors ask you for an application fee upfront, they are typically a scam, so be wary. 

Have your house appraised by an outside source other than the buyer himself. You want to have a good idea of what the house is worth so that you can make sure the amount they offer will match your desired amount. The buyer can easily low-ball you if you don’t know exactly what your house is worth. Don’t get lost in the cash offer and accept a low-bid. 

You don’t have to go into this process on your own. Using a real estate agent can help you have another eye that knows how much your house should be worth in the current market and how to negotiate for that price.  Having an agent doesn't preclude you from working with a cash home buyer. Just keep in mind that by having an agent you'll inevitbly walk away with less cash in your pocket since you'll be responsible for covering their fees with your equity.  

If you want to do the process primarily on your own without an agent, you can. However, having an attorney can help you sort out the details of the contract, help you know if you’re getting a good deal, and see any holes in the process that you may miss. 

Weigh the options of renting out your house, selling alongside an agent, and selling to a cash investor. Each option has its own unique set of pros and cons. For selling your house to a cash investor, you can gain many great benefits if you follow these tips and stay diligent in your search for the right buyer.