Sell Your House

How Cash Home Buyers Calculate an Offer

The most common reaction to a first cash offer is that the buyer pulled it out of the air. It is a fair suspicion and it is usually wrong. The number comes out of a short calculation, the same one every serious cash buyer runs, and it is worth understanding — both so you can tell a real offer from a bad one, and so you know which parts of it you can actually influence.

The calculation

Four inputs:

  • After-repair value. What the house sells for once it is fixed up — based on recent sales of comparable finished houses nearby, not on listing prices and not on what the house might be worth in a better market.
  • Repair cost. What it takes to get it there. Roof, systems, kitchen, bath, floors, and everything a buyer’s inspector would flag.
  • Holding and resale costs. Months of taxes, insurance, utilities, and financing while the work happens, plus the commission and transfer taxes owed when the buyer resells it.
  • Margin. The profit that makes the project worth doing and absorbs the things that go wrong.

Your offer is the after-repair value minus all three of the others. If a house will sell for $400,000 finished, needs $60,000 of work, carries $30,000 in holding and resale costs, and the buyer needs a $40,000 margin, the offer is around $270,000.

You will hear this compressed into a “70% rule” — offer about 70% of after-repair value minus repairs. That is a rule of thumb, not a formula, and it gets less accurate the further a house is from average.

Why the offer is below market — and what you get for it

The discount is not a trick. It is payment for four things a listed sale does not give you: no repairs, no commission, no financing contingency, and a closing date you choose. A cash buyer is taking the repair risk, the market risk, and the carrying cost off your hands, and pricing that transfer.

Whether that is a good deal depends entirely on your house. If it needs nothing and you can wait, listing nets more — comfortably. If it needs $60,000 you do not have, the comparison is not “cash offer versus market value,” it is “cash offer versus market value minus repairs you cannot fund, minus commission, minus six months of carrying costs.” Those are very different numbers.

What actually moves your number

Accurate repair information. Buyers price unknowns pessimistically. If the roof was replaced four years ago and you have the invoice, that is worth real money — produce it. Unknown condition behind a wall is assumed to be bad.

Clean title. Liens, unpermitted additions, an unresolved estate, unredeemed ground rent, or a sibling who has not agreed to sell all add cost and risk. Sorting them out beforehand raises offers.

Location specifics. After-repair value is hyper-local. Comparable sales three blocks away can differ substantially, and a buyer who works your area will price it more accurately than one who does not.

Cleaning out the house. Not always — many buyers, including us, take properties full of belongings. But it is a cost, and where it is cheap for you to handle it is sometimes worth doing.

How to tell a real offer from a bad one

  • A real buyer will walk the property, or send someone who will, before naming a firm number.
  • They will explain how they got there if you ask. Anyone who will not, is not.
  • They will show proof of funds.
  • The number will not drop right before closing. A high offer that gets renegotiated down at the last minute is a known tactic — the initial figure was never real.
  • They will not pressure you to sign that day.

Get more than one offer. A legitimate buyer expects it.

8 Day Home Sale buys houses in Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia. We will walk the house, explain the number, and leave it on the table while you compare it to what a listing would net. Request an offer or call (301) 242-SELL.

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Home Improvement, Sell Your House

Everything You Need To Know About Home Inspections

Home inspector examining a property

What is a Home Inspection?

A home inspection is an evaluation of a property that’s up for sale. The aim is to look for any potential issues, such as areas that need to be replaced or repaired. It’s also done to check if the property complies with the safety and building codes of some states. It’s carried out by a home inspector, who is a professional trained to spot issues and problems. 

The process can be initiated by either the buyer or the seller. Home inspection for buyers happens after the seller accepts the offer, but before the deal is closed. The seller sometimes does a home inspection before he or she puts the property up for listing, to help them determine how much to price it, based on the findings.

What happens after home inspection depends on the results of the home inspector’s report. If there’s a long list of issues with the home, buyers can choose to renegotiate the deal or opt-out entirely. What happens often, though, is that the seller is requested to fix the issues before turning it over to the buyer.

How Do Home Inspections Work?

To give you an idea, home inspectors are hired then typically paid after they complete the inspection of the home.

They will begin by going through each section of the house, taking detailed notes and photos of each area he or she sees. Most are very receptive to questions or comments if you need clarifications on specific areas. This is not only useful for the buyer but the seller as well, especially for areas you haven’t thought of.

Home inspectors will focus their attention on critical structural and possible safety hazards of the house. They often won’t comment on the visual or aesthetic aspects of the property, unless it’s a sign of an underlying problem.

After the inspection, the home inspector will then send a detailed report to both the buyer and seller. 

How to Prepare for a Home Buying Inspection

Preparing for a home inspection is a crucial thing sellers should do to increase the odds of a good result. It won’t cover up glaring issues like leaks and missing shingles. But you can do so much to clean up unnecessary things that might end up unfavorably on the inspector’s report.

Clean your house as thoroughly as you can. Replace filters if you have an HVAC system. Check your sink for clogs, then use a drain cleaner to unclog them if you can. If possible, you should also replace broken windows or door screens.

You can also speed the inspection process along by making sure the inspector has easy access to critical areas. Unlock your electrical panel or water heater, and make sure to lock away pets in your home, if any, as they can be a disturbance.

How long does a home inspection take?

This depends on the size of your home. On average, inspections on medium-sized houses should take no more than 3 – 4 hours to complete, unless big issues are found.

What do home inspectors look for?

Home inspectors are very thorough and have a detailed checklist of significant areas to watch out for. These often include the roofing, plumbing, and electrical wiring – three of the most common sources of issues in houses. They will also check for structural problems, as well as the presence of pests or molds.

What happens if you fail?

It’s important to realize that a buyer inspection of your home is not a pass or fail thing. It’s an objective assessment of your property. What happens after that depends entirely on your negotiations with the buyer. You can repair the issues or sell it at a lower price.

How to Avoid a House Inspection

In the typical buying process, it is unconventional to not go through a house inspection. A lot of buyers, especially in a buyer’s market, will require it. That’s understandable because no one wants to buy a property with underlying problems that can cost them thousands down the line.

If you’re anxious about a home inspection adding to your closing costs or don’t want to go through with it, there are better alternatives. The easiest is just to skip the traditional real estate selling process and go with an innovative company like 8 Day Home Sale. We buy houses for cash with our simple and hassle-free sales process. 

It begins when you contact 8 Day Home Sale. Once we discuss your property with you over the phone, you will receive a fair cash offer in as little as 10 minutes. 

We’ll then schedule a time to meet with you in person to explain the details of your cash offer. At that time, all you have to do is review the documentation, accept our offer, and we put cash in your hand as quickly as possible Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia residents. It’s that easy! With 8 Day Home Sale, there’s no need to go through a tedious house inspection that will result in days of back-and-forth with a potential buyer. Our process is quick and lets you sell a house for cash hassle-free. Give us a call at 301-242- SELL, and we’ll give you a fair cash offer in as little as 10 minutes.

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Flipping, For Sale by Owner, Real Estate Investing, Sell Your House

How to Choose the Best Time to Sell a House

Calendar and house keys representing timing a home sale

Many of us buy our homes expecting to pass it off onto our loved ones eventually, but sometimes, life can get in the way. Maybe our job relocates us, we need to upgrade, downgrade, or every scenario in between. You will need to know when the best time to sell a house is.

To help you get the most value out of your house, we’ve put together this handy guide to show you when it’s the best time of year to sell a house. Learn more and make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.

The Best Season to Sell a House 

So, when is house selling season? It’s easy to go with the old adage that you should sell in the spring market, but the area of the country that you live in plays a huge factor. 
Below, we’re going to discuss the pros and cons of the seasons, but you always need to keep your unique circumstances in mind when listing a house for sale.

Selling Your House in the Spring
When does the housing market pick up? For most people, early May is the best month to sell a house. Tax refunds have been saved to make major purchases and the weather has lightened up, it’s more enjoyable for people to browse for homes. Homes also benefit in curb appeal around this time as the flowers bloom and the trees fill out. 
Keep in mind that with the housing market picking up, homes for sale face more competition, and less urgent buyers. Your house may have better curb appeal and gain attention from numerous buyers, but chances are those buyers have a wide variety of equally appealing listings to choose from, making your chances of selling a little slimmer.

Selling Your House in the Summer
Spring isn’t the only time to sell, still, it does offer prime market opportunities. In fact, for some areas, June is the best time of year if you want to sell a house fast.
With summer days come summer daylight hours, extending the time you have to show your home to prospective buyers. People also usually take vacation time this season, allowing you and home shoppers more opportunity to meet. 
Summer also lends a sense of urgency to home buyers. Many need to get into a home before their kids begin school, causing them to make more competitive offers to secure a deal. The summer market also allows you to use the spring sales data to gauge the best listing price.
If you live in areas where the heat becomes unbearable, then the summer months may not be the best time to sell a house. In the summer, you may also find yourself in a seller’s market, as the number of offers on homes increases. You may also have to spend more on making your home show-ready, since this is usually the busiest time for landscapers and contractors.

Selling Your House in the Fall
Fall usually sees a dip in the housing market. However, if you live in an area where spring and summer bring terrible weather or autumn colors enhance your curb appeal, then fall may be the best time to sell a house. 
Even if the prime market is during the warmer weather months, there are some advantages to listing your home in the fall. 
You can easily find yourself in a buyer’s market since many people are settling in for the upcoming winter. Look out to weed out the buyers who are just window shopping. 
By listing in the fall, you also have more access to home renovation professionals and landscapers at a discount, since they’re coming off of larger summer jobs and will be looking for work.
Of course, there is a reason that fall isn’t the prime selling season. The market slows as schools open and the weather begins to turn. Some homes lose their curb appeal as the foliage and plants begin to wither. 
In the fall, you may have to appease more demands due to the decrease in competition between buyers.

Selling Your House in the Winter
Winter, especially December, sees the largest decrease in home sales for most of the United States. The inclement weather is enough to keep most buyers at bay, and even if it’s not, most buyers are spending their money on the holidays. 
However, if you live in a southern state, such as Florida or Arizona, then the winter can be the best time to sell a house.
When selling during the winter months, you normally come across only the most serious buyers. This benefit is two-fold since your house will have significantly fewer competing homes on the market. 
The winter season definitely comes with its drawbacks. If you’re desperate to sell your home, you can be at the mercy of the buyer, making deals and concessions to which you wouldn’t normally agree. You may also have a hard time showing off your beautiful yard if it’s buried underneath a pile of snow.
If you do sell your home, then you have to deal with moving during the coldest time of the year—an unpleasant task, to say the least.

Timing the Housing Market
The season isn’t the only consideration that you have to take into account when deciding to list your home on the market. One of the biggest factors that will decide if you’ll profit or if you’ll falter is your local housing market. 

Selling in a Buyer’s Market
The first thing you want to analyze is your local market conditions, specifically to see if you’re in a buyer’s market. A buyer’s market is when there are more homes up for sale than there are buyers looking for them. 
In these market conditions, you can expect buyers to be pickier, for your home to stay on the market for longer, and for prices to flatline. A buyer’s market can be extremely difficult for home sellers to sit through. 
To make sure that you don’t take too large of a hit to your bottom line, you want to safeguard yourself as best as you can.
First, you want to study your local competition. By understanding what’s on the market in your surrounding area, you can try and leverage any additional features that you have to edge out the competition. If you have a larger yard, a pool, or are closer to a school, then you need to make sure these are highlighted. Whatever little advantage you have over another seller needs to be emphasized. 

Selling in a Seller’s Market
Finding yourself in a seller’s market can be a huge boon. A seller’s market is when there are more home buyers than there are listings. During a seller’s market, you can expect to receive more offers and a chance to sell at the price that you want. 
But just because supply and demand are in your favor doesn’t mean that there won’t be obstacles to selling. You still have to set a reasonable price for your area, and you still have to invest in staging your home.
If you have trouble making decisions, you might have trouble with the multiple offers that you receive to determine which offer is the best for you. You may also have to sell and vacate your home before you’ve established another house. This could lead you into renting a place and having to enter the market as a buyer in a seller’s market.

You Determine the Best Time to Sell!

You might be prepared for the move, or it might be a sudden decision forced on you. But selling your home doesn’t have to be a daunting endeavor. If you want to sell your home quickly and without having to hire a real estate agent, landscapers, and complete major repairs, then you will want the look into a company like us at 8 Day Home Sale.

At 8 Day Home Sale, we offer you a way to escape the need to research the best time to sell a house. With the help of a professional home buyer, selling your home can be a quick, easy and hassle-free task. Unlike the traditional method of selling your house, we buy houses for cash!

Call us today at 301-242-SELL or use our online form to get started! We’ll get you a cash offer within 10 minutes and walk you through the process of selling your house for cash.

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For Sale by Owner, Foreclosure, Investing, Mortgages, Real Estate Investing, Sell Your House

5 Reasons Why Selling to a Cash Home Buyer Makes Sense

Stacks of cash representing the expenses of buying a house outright

Is there anything better than cash in-hand? When it comes to selling your house, perhaps not. Selling your home to a cash home buyer or considering cash offers for homes can help you walk away from the closing table quite a bit richer than you were when you sat down. But what is a cash offer, and when is it smart to sell a home for cash?

What is a Cash Offer?

Cash offers for homes occur when a buyer offers a seller cash for the entire cost of the house instead of getting financing from a mortgage lender or other institutions.
Most home buyers must obtain some type of financing to afford purchasing the house, usually in the form of a mortgage. However, a cash home buyer will be able to purchase a home without a mortgage loan or other financial assistance. Cash offers are typically lower than the full market value of the house, but there is a good reason for this. First, cash offers are low risk, as sellers don’t have to worry about buyer financing falling through. Second, most of the reduction in the offer price is offset by the fact that the seller does not have to spend time, money, and resources on selling, upgrading, and negotiating the property.

How Common Is It to Sell a Home for Cash?

Cash offers are quite common. The most common scenarios where cash offers occur are from an investor or investment company interested in a property. In these cases, a homeowner can typically sell their house as-is. However, there are many reasons why a cash home buyer may be interested in your property.
Some home buyers have cash on hand, such as from the proceeds of selling their previous home. Cash buyers are also common in competitive seller markets where financing delays may cause the seller to accept a more enticing offer. This occurs because buyer who can pay cash have an advantage on buying a property over mortgage buyers.
Also, the property is a fixer-upper, a cash sale can help the homeowner sell their house as-is. Cash buyers are also commonly courted if the property is facing a foreclosure, since in these cases homeowners typically must close quickly.

Is Working With a Cash Home Buyer a Good Choice for Me?

There are several advantages to accepting cash offers for homes. First, the average mortgage buyer takes 30-45 days to close, whereas a cash offer may take a week or two. Overall, in a competitive market, sellers will benefit from taking a cash home buyer offer over a mortgage buyer. Buyers with the fewest obstacles are the easiest and most profitable to deal with.
For years now, 8 Day Home Sale has been helping homeowners across Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and Baltimore . We’ve helped every single one of our customers sell their home on their timeline, for cash. If this is something that appeals to you, read on for the five top reasons that selling to a cash homebuyer makes sense.

1. More Flexible and Faster Sale Process

Cash offers for homes are more attractive to sellers because there is no fall-through risk with the purchase and there is a faster closing time. A cash house buyer does not need to obtain a mortgage, as it is implied, they already have the cash for the purchase. Therefore, the mortgage application and approval process can be skipped.
Not having to secure a mortgage also means there is less of a chance that the financing falls through. A mortgage buyer can face financial difficulties, like an employment change or identify theft, which can ultimately derail a sale. Also, the underwriting process for a mortgage takes a month or more, and there is always the possibility that the deal will fall through due to the buyer’s inability to secure a loan during that time. Therefore, mortgage buyers are less reliable and certain.
When you sell a home for cash, there is no mortgage application, documentation, underwriting, or appraisal. There is need for the buyer to sort out the title policy and insurance, provide proof of funds, and sign closing documents, but that may only take a week, maybe two. A buyer with a cash offer will have to supply a seller with proof of funds, which automatically shows the buyer is ready and able to close quickly.
When you sell home for cash, you do not need to enlist a real estate agent. Therefore, you do not have to wait for them to take photos, list your home, or host open houses. A faster closing can put money into a seller’s pocket sooner.
And a closing in a cash offer only involves a settlement statement, title, deed, and a cashier’s check. There is reduced paperwork and lower overall closing costs since there are no lender fees or transactions needed.

2. No Improvements or Updates Needed

In a cash sale, you can typically sell the house as is. When your home is offered in an “as-is” condition, the buyer can take it or leave it. You do not need to agree to making repairs or upgrades to the home before a buyer agrees to sell it. As a result, there are usually only a few, if any, contingencies with cash offers for homes.

3. No Real Estate Fees

Cash offers for homes means not having to pay for a real estate agent’s commission. Typically, commission fees are around 6 percent, which can turn out to be a large sum of your selling price. Although a seller may be accepting less money from a cash home buyer than they would a mortgage buyer, a seller will be saving on improvements, bank fees, agent fees, and interest fees.

4. Avoid Most of the Nitty Gritty

During the home selling process, there are several steps that could go wrong. However, with a cash home buyer, a lot of those make or break steps can be avoided. The deal favors the seller, rather than the buyer, because the buyer knows they are getting a home as-is.

A buyer also does not need an appraisal, as would be required by a mortgage buyer’s lender. Home appraisals are needed by the mortgage lender and are considered part of the cost of buying a home. Therefore, a cash home buyer will usually skip this process. As such, a cash offer can help people sell homes quickly and eliminates the cost and time requires to get an appraisal.

Cash home buyers will end up paying some of the same fees. For example, in either case, a buyer needs to pay an earnest money deposit and pay transfer taxes, escrow fees, and closing cost. This is in addition to the homeowner’s responsibility of purchasing homeowner’s insurance, HOA fees (if applicable), and property taxes.

5. Helps to Avoid Foreclosure

If your home is going to be foreclosed due to an unpaid mortgage, selling your home for cash will help you pay your mortgage and start over sooner. 8 Day Home Sale has helped countless home sellers in this situation, as well as people looking to downsize, sell a property they recently inherited, seniors looking to transition to new housing, and people in countless other circumstances that merit a fast and easy home sale. If you’re interested in working with a cash home buyer, contact us today – we’ll work with you on your timeline, and you’ll walk away from the closing with cash in hand.

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