How to Find a Buyer When You Sell Your House As-Is

One of the trickiest parts of selling a house can often finding the right buyer. No matter what condition you list your house in, your property can sit on the market for weeks to months while you wait for the right offer, and and this time can be extended if you decide to sell your house as-is. Because most homeowners want to purchase a move-in ready house with completed updates and minimal repairs necessary (like in the photo on the right), listing your property as-is can increase the amount of time you spend searching for a buyer, marketing your property, and waiting for an offer. Here are a few tips to help you avoid common roadblocks and quickly find a buyer when you decide to sell your house as-is.

What does is mean to sell as-is?

In real estate, selling a property as-is means that you don’t invest in repairing or updating your property and bringing it to its full market value. You might avoid small cosmetic repairs like fresh paint or new flooring, or you might avoid larger necessary repairs, like replacing the HVAC or plumbing. Regardless of what work needs to be done on the property, the as-is condition of the property will be reflected in a lower listing price.

Selling as-is also means that you likely have a smaller pool of potential buyers, depending on the condition of your property and of your local housing market. Most buyers who can avoid it don’t want to buy properties that they will need to invest additional funds into after purchasing. This means that it can be more difficult for you to find the right buyer when you sell your house as-is.

Reasons to sell as-is

Sellers can have any number of reasons for choosing to bypass repairs and updates before listing. Often, sellers can’t or don’t want to spend the time or money that repairs require. Common projects like fresh paint or new appliances can cost several thousand dollars and take long periods of time to complete. More invasive repairs like new plumbing or updating the home’s foundation can be more expensive and more time-consuming. If a you are eager to sell your house, move on quickly, and avoid these additional costs, listing your property in its as-is condition might be the best option. Luckily, there are a few steps you can take in order to find a buyer and make the selling process as easy as possible.

Finding the right realtor

When listing an as-is property, one of the most important things to prioritize is finding the right realtor to list with. Around 81% of home sellers only interview or contact one agent before finding the right one to list with. It’s great if this is the case for you, but it’s also important to be selective because listing as-is reduces your pool of potential buyers. This means you should do your due diligence to vet any potential agents to find the best person to sell your property. Along with finding someone who you can see yourself working with for an extended period of time, you want to seek out an agent who has experience in selling as-is properties. This can bring a lot of benefits to the selling process: experience with selling as-is properties means that your agent knows the best ways to make your house marketable and how to price the home appropriately in its current condition. The agent might also have professional connections that can help you find a buyer more quickly, like contacts who are house flippers or professional home buyers. Taking time upfront to find an agent with the right experience and connections can be invaluable when you decide to sell your house as-is.

Marketing the property

Marketing your listing appropriately is another step you can take when you sell your house as-is. This step is super important because most buyers want to purchase fully repaired and updated properties, so you should give your best effort to make your property as desirable as possible to any buyers who are willing to buy as-is. This means that you and your agent will have to go the extra mile when marketing your property. Here are a few points to keep in mind:

Know your property: the more you understand about the condition of your property, the more clearly you will be able to market to potential buyers. You should be able to highlight the best attributes of your house while also being upfront about any necessary repairs or updates. This ensures that you price the home appropriately based on its condition, and that you avoid potential surprises during a buyer’s home inspection or appraisal before closing.

Commit to the usual pre-listing checklist: when you sell your house, no matter it’s condition, it’s important that you make sure your home is depersonalized, decluttered, and deep cleaned. Even an as-is property can look market-ready with the right amount of elbow grease, and a clean and tidy property will always draw in more buyers than a disorganized property will.

Photograph to show potential: listing photos are always important when when trying to sell your house. This is because buyers’ searches for homes are done most often online, so those photos are likely the first impression that buyers will have of your property. You want to make sure that you have good quality photos that will show off your home’s best attributes.

Write an effective property listing: your home’s listing description is your chance to highlight your as-is property’s best attributes. Work with your agent to determine which traits will be the most attractive to potential buyers, such as a large backyard, lots of natural light, or proximity to parks or shopping. Also make sure to include “as-is” in the description; you can even use other terms like “good bones,” “great potential,” or “priced to sell.” Any of these descriptors will alert buyers who are interested in as-is listings that your property may be a good option for them.

Once you have a clean and tidy house combined with an effective as-is property listing, you and your agent can getting the word out about your property. Most of the marketing will likely fall to your agent, depending on the contract that you have, but it’s still smart for you to be aware of the marketing process when you are trying to sell your house as-is. The first step will be for your agent to post the listing on the MLS (the Multiple Listing Service) so other agents and potential buyers can see it. Your agent will market the listing to their professional contacts and on social media, as well as possibly arrange an open house to try and find interested buyers. You should also put up a For Sale sign in the yard of the property, and possibly include flyers or brochures with the listing description and your agent’s contact information. These flyers and brochures can also be put out in your Georgia area to spread the word. Also, because buyer’s home search is done increasingly online, you might also invest a few bucks into a boosting a Facebook ad for your listing. Any of these options are a great to way to find potential buyers when you are trying to sell your house as-is.

Direct sale to a professional homebuyer

If you’re looking to avoid real estate agent commissions and skip the work that is required when trying to sell your house as-is on the real estate market, you can always approach a buyer directly. Professional homebuying companies purchase houses completely as-is and give sellers the opportunity to avoid making repairs, listing their properties, or waiting for the right offer. When you request an offer on your as-is property from a local homebuying company, they can usually provide you with a no-obligation cash offer within a week.

Depending on the area you live in, there might be a large selection of these companies for you to choose from. It will be up to you to research your different options to see which company you would prefer working with. This gives you the time to review these companies’ reliability, processes, and reviews. We would also recommend directly contacting the company with any questions you have. This allows you to ensure that you are working with a credible business who can help you get to a quick and easy closing on your as-is property.

Summary

Deciding to sell your house as-is can lead to a lot of stress in the selling process, but there are concrete steps that you can take to ensure that secure a buyer for your as-is property. Finding the right agent and marketing your property the right way are simple game-changers that can help you quickly draw in buyers without you worrying about investing in repairs before listing. And if the hassle of listing is something you want to completely avoid, you have the option to seek out a professional homebuyer to make an offer on your property as-is. If that choice is what will work best for your situation, We Buy Houses in West Georgia is happy to help with your real estate needs.