The first time I sold a home, I went through a real estate agent.
The agent recommended quite a few upgrades to improve the chance of a sale.
I ended up investing quite a bit of time and money into attracting a buyer. I then needed to arrange my schedule around showings and open houses. I wasn’t happy with a bunch of strangers traipsing through my house and leaving footprints on my floors. The house was on the market for several months before it attracted a buyer. The buyer immediately started haggling, wanting me to lower my asking price. Once we agreed on a price, it was time for the buyer to secure a bank loan. The bank demanded an appraisal and a home inspection. I received a very long and detailed list of repairs that needed to be made in order for the house to qualify for a mortgage. The cost of those upgrades came right out of my profit. The whole process was long, stressful and dissatisfying. When I decided to sell my home in Jacksonville, Florida, I refused to go through that ordeal again. Instead, I chose to contact a cash home buyer. I found an online form and supplied a bit of information about the house. The cash home buyer responded almost immediately and provided an offer. There was no obligation to accept. There were no realtor fees, and it wasn’t necessary to schedule an inspection or appraisal. Without making a single repair, I sold the house and closed on it in a week. It was quick, easy and a positive experience all around.