Frequently Asked Questions
Maybe you have a few questions. That’s normal, most people do. Here’s a quick collection of the questions I hear most often, along with straight answers. If you still have a question after reading through these, don’t hesitate to contact me anytime. I’d be happy to answer it for you.
A: Good question. I’m not an agent, and I don’t list houses. Here at PNW Home Offer, I’m a professional home buyer. I buy houses throughout the Puget Sound area that meet my purchasing criteria, and I don’t rely on bank financing, so you don’t have to worry about my ability to close. After I purchase a house, I may repair it and resell it to another homeowner, or keep it as a rental myself.
A: Real estate agents list properties and hope someone buys them. The agent shows the property to prospective buyers if there are any (the average time to sell in many markets right now is 4 to 6 months), then takes a percentage of the sale price if they find a buyer, often 3 to 6%. On a $400,000 house, that’s $12,000 to $24,000 in commissions.
Agents provide a real service for people who can wait several months to sell and don’t mind giving up part of the sale price to cover commissions. I’m different. I’m not an agent, I’m a home buyer, and I buy the house directly from you. Because I pay cash and I’m the one purchasing it, I can usually make a decision within a couple of days, sometimes the same day. I make my living by taking on the risk of buying the house with my own cash, repairing it, and finding a buyer myself.
Looking for this to be broken down further? Here’s a comparison chart to give an overview:
| Selling With A Puget Sound Agent | SOLD To PNW Home Offer | |
|---|---|---|
| Commissions / Fees: | Up to 6%, paid by you, the seller | None |
| Who Pays Closing Costs? | 2% on average is paid by you, the seller | We pay all costs. |
| Inspection & Financing Contingency*: | Yes, sales can fall through. | None needed |
| Appraisal Needed: | Yes, the sale is often subject to appraisal. | No, we make cash offers. |
| Average Days Until Sold: | +/- 91 Days | We provide immediate cash offers. |
| Number of Showings: | It Depends | 1 (Just Us) |
| Closing Date: | 30-60+/- days after accepting the buyer’s offer | The date of YOUR CHOICE. |
| Who Pays For Repairs? | Negotiated during the inspection period | We pay for all repairs. |
Q: Do you pay fair prices for properties?
A: Many of the houses I buy are below market value. That’s how I’m able to resell them at a profit or hold onto them as rentals. I’m looking for a fair discount on a property. In my experience, most sellers aren’t necessarily expecting a big windfall on their property. What they appreciate is that I pay cash, close fast without waiting on financing, and there’s no time, effort, or expense on your part to fix up the property or pay agent fees. If that sounds like what you’re looking for, let’s see if we can land on a price that works for both of us. My pricing is no-obligation, you don’t have to move forward with the offer I give, but it’s good to know what’s on the table.
DOWNLOAD my free guide that walks you through the pros and cons (plus the cost and timeline) of selling your house to a real estate investor versus the pros, cons, and costs of the other two alternatives: listing with an agent or selling it yourself.
Q: How do you determine the price to offer on my house?
A: Good question, and I’m an open book about it. My process is pretty simple. I look at the location of the property, what repairs it needs, its current condition, and the value of comparable houses that have sold nearby recently. Taking all of that into account, I come up with a fair price that works for both of us.
Q: Are there any fees or commissions to work with you?
A: This is one of the biggest differences from the traditional way of selling: there are no fees or commissions when you sell directly to me, compared to the up to 6% that comes out of your pocket with a listing agent. I’ll make you an offer, and if it’s a fit, I’ll buy your house with no hassle and no fees. I’ll often cover the closing costs too. I make my money after I pay for repairs and resell the house for a profit, that’s my risk to take on, not yours. Once I buy the house from you, it’s my responsibility, and you walk away without the burden of the property or its payments, plus cash in your hand.
Q: Is there any obligation when I submit my information?
A: Zero obligation. Once you tell me a bit about your property, I’ll take a look, maybe give you a call to learn more, and put together an all-cash offer that’s fair for both of us. From there, it’s entirely your decision whether you want to sell. I’ll let you decide what’s right for you.
More Questions Homeowners Ask Me
Q: Do I have to make repairs before selling my house for cash?
A: No. I buy houses as-is, which means you don’t need to patch drywall, replace a roof, or even clean before I take a look. I build the cost of any repairs into my offer up front, so what you see is what you get at closing, no last-minute renegotiations after an inspection.
Q: Can you buy my house if I still owe money on the mortgage?
A: Yes, this is one of the most common situations I help with. At closing, the title company pays off your existing mortgage balance directly from the sale proceeds, and you receive whatever is left. If you owe more than the house is worth, let’s talk, there are still options depending on your specific numbers.
Q: Do you buy houses that still have tenants living in them?
A: Yes. I buy occupied rental properties regularly, whether the tenants are current, behind on rent, or you’re simply done managing the property. We can work out a timeline that respects existing leases or gets you out from under a difficult tenant situation.
Q: Can I sell my house if it’s already in foreclosure?
A: In most cases, yes, as long as we can close before the sale date. Because I pay cash and don’t wait on bank financing, I can often move fast enough to get you an offer and close before the foreclosure process finishes. The sooner you reach out, the more options we have.
Q: How is selling to PNW Home Offer different from selling to an iBuyer like Opendoor or Offerpad?
A: Big iBuyer companies run your address through an algorithm and send an automated offer, then often lower it after a remote inspection finds issues their software missed. I walk the property myself, so my number doesn’t move on you later. You’re also talking to the actual buyer and decision-maker, not a call center reading from a script, which means faster answers and someone who can actually explain how the number was calculated.
Q: What if my house is only partially finished or has an addition that was never permitted?
A: That’s actually one of the harder situations to sell the traditional way, since unpermitted work and half-finished projects can scare off retail buyers and cause financing to fall through. It doesn’t scare me off. I factor the unpermitted work or unfinished construction into my offer and buy the property as-is, so you don’t have to pull permits, finish the work, or explain it to a bank appraiser.
Q: I inherited a house with other family members. Can you still buy it?
A: Yes, and this comes up often. Selling an inherited property with multiple heirs or a property still in probate can be complicated, but I’ve worked through this process with families before. I’m happy to work with your probate attorney if you have one, coordinate with co-heirs, and structure the sale so everyone gets their share without dragging the process out for months.
Q: Do you offer rent-to-own or seller financing instead of a straight cash sale?
A: My main business is buying houses outright for cash, so that’s what I lead with. That said, every seller’s situation is different, and if a straight cash sale doesn’t fit what you need, I’m open to talking through other options. Reach out and tell me what you’re trying to accomplish, and I’ll let you know honestly whether it’s something I can help with.
Q: My house has been sitting vacant for a while. Does that change anything?
A: Not for the worse. Vacant houses are a situation I deal with often, whether it’s from a move, an inheritance, or a property that just never got listed. I don’t need the utilities on, the yard maintained, or anyone living there to make an offer. If the house has taken on damage from sitting empty, like broken pipes, vandalism, or overgrowth, that just factors into my offer. It doesn’t disqualify the property.
Q: What areas around Seattle do you actually buy houses in?
A: I buy throughout the greater Puget Sound region, including Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Everett, Renton, Kent, Federal Way, and the surrounding cities. If you’re not sure whether your property is in my service area, just reach out. Most of the time the answer is yes, and if it’s not, I’ll tell you straight instead of wasting your time.
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