So, it’s time to sell your house…. The process begins!
Your first step to selling your home usually is to consult a real estate agent. You invest your time, effort, and money in revamping the property, list it on the market, and then open your doors to a stream of potential buyers hoping to place an offer. Even though many home sales traditionally follow this route, it may not be the perfect fit for everyone.
Selling your home to a professional home buyer or investor company could be a strategic or necessary alternative. We present to you the three C’s of why someone would sell to an investor:
- Controlled Sale
- Convenient Sale
- Critical Sale
The Traditional Home Selling Process
Before we explore these three categories, let’s look at what a conventional open-market sale typically involves.
To begin with, preparing your home for listing―including paperwork, cleaning, staging, and photos―can take weeks. As potential buyers tour the home with their agents, you wait for offers to arrive. The days on the market in the Austin area can last for weeks.
Once your home goes under contract, it may require an additional 30 to 45 days to close and fund. During that window, the seller endures an option period of up to 10–14 days in which the buyer can back out of the sale for any reason.
Following that, a third-party inspector is typically brought in to examine the property, uncovering everything from minor tile cracks in the fireplace to potential HVAC concerns. While thorough inspections help buyers make informed decisions, they can cause significant anxiety for sellers.
If the home passes inspection and remains under contract, the next step is an appraisal requested by the buyer’s lender. This appraisal brings another waiting period to confirm that the home’s value meets the loan requirements.
By closing day, the seller is expected to have vacated and cleaned the property for the new owner. Under these circumstances, flexibility is often limited, as the buyers likely need to move in right away and have their own timelines to meet.
To avoid these issues, many sellers choose to sell to an investor company.
The Three C’s of Selling to an Investor
This retail process can work well for some, but not everyone is suited for it. Sometimes, a seller needs a controlled sale. In this instance, timing and pricing must be firmly in the seller’s hands. They may need the proceeds from the home’s sale to finance a new residence and cannot move out until funds are received. Many investor companies allow short-term lease-backs or transitional periods.
Alternatively, the seller may be juggling legal issues, such as divorce, or relocating due to a job opportunity. In these scenarios, the seller’s timeline is paramount, which makes a controlled sale critical.
Other sellers simply need a convenient sale. They may lack the bandwidth or funds for repairs and staging, or they might have inherited the property with unresolved probate requirements. A seasoned investor company is well-equipped to guide homeowners through the complexities of heirship and probate.
Sometimes emotional or stressful situations arise, making open houses, inspection periods, or demanding buyers more than the seller can handle. Furthermore, landlords exiting the rental business might wish to sell without disrupting tenants. In these situations, simplicity and speed are everything, which is why sellers opt for a convenient sale.
Finally, some homeowners face dire financial issues and need a critical sale. This type of sale must happen fast—often to escape looming foreclosure proceedings where time is limited. A quick sale to a buyer knowledgeable about Texas foreclosure processes can be crucial. Others might be falling behind on property taxes or unable to maintain the home, rendering a protracted listing out of the question. These situations call for a critical sale.
The Way I Buy Austin Houses Can Help
We can’t speak for other companies, but at I Buy Austin Houses, we have purchased properties from clients who needed each of these solutions. Our mission is to handle your specific real estate situation with care and expertise. If we can’t serve your unique needs, we’ll be transparent about it and do our best to connect you with someone who can.
Do you need a controlled, convenient, or critical sale? Call us directly or fill out the simple online form!
