How we calculate your cash offer

The four things that go into the number

What the house would sell for after repairs. We look at recent sales of similar homes nearby, adjusted for size, age, and features. This is often called the after-repair value.

What the repairs will cost. Roof, furnace, plumbing, floors, a dated kitchen: whatever it takes to bring the house to market condition. You don't fix any of it. We price it in.

What it costs to hold and resell. Property taxes, insurance, and utilities while the work gets done, plus the agent commission and closing costs when we sell it later.

Our margin. We're a business, and every purchase has to leave room for the risk that repairs cost more than expected or the market shifts.

How it compares to listing with an agent

If you made the repairs yourself and listed the house, you'd usually end up with more money. In exchange, you'd pay for those repairs up front, cover the agent's commission and closing costs, keep paying the bills while the house is on the market, and take the risk that a buyer's financing falls through.

A cash sale trades some of that money for speed, certainty, and no work on your part. If the difference matters more to you than time and hassle, listing may be the better choice, and we'll tell you so.

What you don't pay when you sell to us

No commission, no fees, and we cover the typical closing costs. The number in our written offer is the number you get at closing, less any mortgage or liens that are paid off from the sale.

How to judge any cash offer, including ours

Ask the buyer to show you how they got to the number. Get the offer in writing. Ask whether they're buying the house themselves or plan to sell the contract to another investor. And compare it against at least one agent's estimate of what you'd net by listing. A good buyer will be glad you asked.