Tips for Selling a Home As-Is

If you own a property with flaws, selling it in its current condition can save you a lot of stress and money. However, it is important to be aware that simply advertising that a property is “as is” in a real estate listing is not always enough. Failure to take the proper steps for selling a home that isn’t in the best condition can cost you a lot of money. Therefore, before selling as is, consider these 7 tips.  

1. Have an inspection done.
It can be difficult for an untrained eye to see precisely what aspects of a home need repairs. So its a good idea to have the property inspected before listing it. A licensed home inspector can uncover issues like foundation damage, electrical problems, mold, and other things that may impact a buyers decision to purchase a home or cause them to take legal action if they bought it without knowing about these issues. Then, after the inspection, you can decide whether it would be in your best interest to have repairs done. As of 2021, a typical pre-listing inspection costs around 279-399, according to HomeAdvisor. That’s a small price to pay for the amount of money it can save you later on.

2. Get estimates for repairs.
Once you know what needs to be fixed, you can decide whether it makes more sense for you or the buyer to handle these repairs. In either case, its essential to have an idea of how much the repairs will cost. In some situations, after researching the cost of a repair, you may discover that having it done before listing will enable you to sell the house for a significantly higher price. And if you choose not to do any repairs yourself, having repair estimates available to share with potential buyers will make them more comfortable when submitting an offer to buy the home.

3. Disclose anything relevant.
Disclosing critical details about a home is also a legal obligation the seller has to the buyer. While every state has different specifics on what information needs to be included in a disclosure report, they all adhere to the same basic principle: If a defect would affect a buyers decision to pay a specific price or buy a property at all, it needs to be disclosed beforehand. The disclosure requirements for Texas are listed under its Property Code.

4. Clean up.
Making a home look appealing before selling it increases your odds of getting a higher price, and this goes double for selling as is. You may not be able to offer your home in perfect condition, but you can still make it shine in other ways. A little tidying up goes a long way when it comes to showing a buyer that an as-is home is worth investing in.

5. Be reasonable with your price.
No matter how amazing a property may be, the as is label will automatically reduce its value in buyers minds. So go into selling with realistic expectations and be willing to negotiate. It’s much better to sell a home for less than you would like than to not sell it at all.

6. Work with the right agent.
As with any home sale, its essential to find a real estate agent who has experience working with similar properties to the one you're selling. Agents who have sold as-is homes before can provide valuable input in every step of the process and help you sell your home for the best possible price.

7. Find a cash buyer.
Often, the best way to get a good deal on an as-is home without putting in a ton of work is to sell to a cash buyer. Cash home buyer companies like AMI House Buyers specialize in buying homes as-is and can make you a no-obligation cash offer on your property, regardless of what problems it may have.