Questions About Selling A House Fast In Charleston
Maybe you have a few questions. That’s okay; many people do. So here’s a quick collection of some of the questions people ask us… along with our answers. If you still have a question, please contact us (or give us a call) and we’ll be happy to answer it for you.
Questions about working with D Gilpin Properties
Q: How is D Gilpin Properties different than the other companies?
We care! Seriously. Our mission is to help you sell your home in a simple fashion with the best possible resolution. Some houses we buy have seamless, straightforward closings. Others have unforeseen issues (unclear titles, probate issues, etc.) that prevent an easy close for the seller. When things get complicated, most buyers walk out. Or, they expect you to conquer the challenges yourself before selling. We don’t. In fact, we do whatever it takes to get the job done, all while minimizing unnecessary stress for the homeowner.
Q: Are there any fees or commissions to work with you?
A: This is what makes us stand out from the usual method of selling your house: There are ZERO fees or commissions when you sell your house us. We’ll make you an offer, and if it’s a fit then we’ll buy your house (and we’ll often pay for the closing costs too!). No struggle. No fees or commissions. We make our profit after we pay for repairs on the home and sell it (we’re taking all of the risk here on whether we can sell it for a profit or not, once we buy the house from you… the responsibility is ours and you walk away without the burden of the property and it’s payments… and oftentimes with cash in your hand).
Questions about Listing vs. Selling to Our Company
Q: How does your offer stack up against an offer on the MLS?
A: Usually, we find that the offers work out to be the same. Generally, the MLS offer is slightly higher but is offset by the length of time it takes to complete the transaction. With us, you skip the costly buyer incentives and credits, realtor fees and attorney’s fees. Since our transaction time is so short, you pay less in taxes and insurance along the way. Don’t forget, you won’t have to pay for repairs or cleaning either when you sell directly to us.
Q: How are you different from a real estate agent?
A: Real estate agents list properties and hope that someone will buy them. The agent shows the properties to prospective buyers if there are any (the average time to sell a property in many markets right now is 6-12 months) and then take a percentage of the sale price if they find a buyer. We encourage home owners to research Zillow or Trulia to see what properties in the area look like and how long they have been on the market.
But that’s where we’re different: We’re not agents, we’re home buyers. Our company actually purchases houses. We don’t list houses. Since we’re actually the one buying the house from you, and we buy with cash… we can make a decision to buy your house the same day. Again, we make our living by taking the risk to buy the house with our own cash, repair the house, and market it ourselves to find a buyer (which is the hard part in this market).
Q: Should I just list with an agent?
A: It depends on your property. Certain properties are more suited for the MLS. We pride ourselves in being completely transparent and will discuss all of your options with you. If you’ll make more money fixing it up and listing it, or if it’s in great condition and just listing it, we will tell you upfront! We believe in radical transparency and, therefore, don’t expect to buy every house we see. Houses that should be listed are said to be in “retail” condition. This means the house is move-in ready and a buyer can qualify for financing. Banks don’t like to lend on houses that aren’t in great condition. Generally someone that has cash and doesn’t need inspections or an appraisal is the best buyer for houses that need some TLC.
Questions about getting starting with our process
Q: Is there any obligation when I submit my info?
A: There is absolutely zero obligation for you. Once you tell us a bit about your property, we’ll take a look at things, maybe set up a call with you to find out a bit more, and make you an all-cash offer that’s fair for you and fair for us. From there, it’s 100% your decision on whether or not you’d like to sell your house to us… and we won’t hassle you, won’t harass you… it’s 100% your decision and we’ll let you decide what’s right for you.
Q: What does an initial phone call look like?
A: You’ll jump on the phone with me, Danny, and we’ll talk about your situation and the best solution for you. I’ll ask you some basic questions to get an idea of the condition and age of your house’s systems. This helps me give you a “ballpark” of what we could offer. If it sounds good, we schedule a meeting at the house so we can give you an exact offer.
Q: Say I’m interested, what will I have to do throughout the process?
This is a question we love! We do all the heavy lifting. We’ll clean out the house, prepare the paperwork and organize the closing. As a seller, the only items you are responsible for are:
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- Letting us view the house
- Signing the contract
- Coming to the closing (or closing electronically)
We work with you as not just a buyer, but a partner. This means we’ll handle any obstacles you run into along the way. We’ve helped with probate cases, paid liens, cleared up titles, and back taxes. We’ve even towed old boats and cars, protected houses during storms, you name it! Our support doesn’t end at the closing table, either. We have helped homeowners get approved for subsidized housing, find new homes, and find trustworthy real estate agents in other areas.
Q: What if my house has never been updated?
A: Properties that have not been updated to meet current codes (electrical, plumbing mostly) and those with deferred maintenance are most suited for us, a cash buyer. Since we buy with cash, the houses we buy do not have to qualify for buyer financing.
Q: I have a mortgage/unpaid taxes/liens on the property, what do I need to do before selling?
A: If we were to purchase the home, any unpaid debts against the property would first be satisfied by the closing attorney. He’s responsible for all the payoffs which makes the sale nice and tidy. In the past, we have had success negotiating liens. However, taxes and mortgages generally must be paid in full.
Q: I inherited a house in Charleston, what do I do?
A: Though we’re not attorneys, we can generally answer any questions you might have regarding the process. If you need to file a probate, we’re happy to set you up with our closing attorney who has years of experience with probate cases. This makes the process even easier on you since he would also close the sale of the house. Probates generally take about 8 months, but it is possible to sell the house inside the estate. Usually,though, it’s easier to just wait.
Q: How long will it take you to buy my house?
A: Generally, we take about 10-14 days to close. If you need to close quickly, we’ve closed in as little as 5 days. Other homeowners have required several months. It’s entirely up to you and your situation.
Questions about your cash offer
Q: What are the benefits of your offer?
A: We offer a few things our competitors do not, including our Moving Assistance Program. We will also advance funds for moving expenses. We pay all attorney’s fees, closing costs, and we close on your schedule. We have closed in as little as 5 days! However, there’s no pressure to close this fast. Need to find a new home before you close? No problem, we’ll give you the extra time you and set you up with our favorite agent if you need help.
Q: How do you calculate my offer?
A: We’ll look at factors like comparable properties in the neighborhood and home size to decide what we think we can sell the property for. The home size is the most important factor for us when comparing against other nearby properties. Next, we take out the repairs, taxes, and other costs. We believe in being fully transparent, so we will show you the breakdown of costs if you wish!
Q: How do I receive my offer?
A: After a meeting at the property, we’ll run some numbers and give you a call the next day at your convenience. We’ll also send an email with an offer summary that will provide comparable properties, and our repair estimate so you can make an informed decision.
Q: Are you going to make me a ‘Low-ball’ Offer?
A: We most certainly will not waste your time. Some companies make offers to as many home owners as possible hoping that one sticks. At D Gilpin Properties, we are a small, efficient company and do not want to waste our time either. Our offers are a simple calculation based on the repairs needed to sell the house in a timely manner. Our clients are generally excited that we save them agent commissions – that usually amounts from $5000-$10000 in the Charleston area.
Many of the houses we purchase are below market value (we do this so we can resell it at a profit to another home owner). We are looking to get a fair discount on the property in turn for buying it, making the necessary updates and repairs and saving months of time on the open market.
However, in our experience, many sellers aren’t necessarily expecting a large “windfall” on the property but rather appreciate that we can offer cash, we close very quickly (no waiting for financing), and no time or effort or expense is required on your part of fix up the property or pay agent fees. If that’s what you’re looking for and you see the value in getting your house sold fast… let’s see if we can come to a fair win-win price. (Besides, our no-obligation pricing commitment means that you do not have to move forward with the offer we give… but it’s good to know what we’re offering!)
[DOWNLOAD our free guide that walks you through the Pros and Cons (plus the cost and timeline) of selling your house to a real estate investor… plus learn the pros, cons, and costs of the other two alternatives… listing with an agent or selling it yourself. Head on over here download your free guide <<]
Questions about closing and moving
Q: My house is full of stuff, do I have to clean it out?
A: Nope! We see past all the “stuff” and I’m sure we have seen worse than whatever your property looks like! We’ll take full responsibility for the clean out after closing. We’ll donate anything we can and pitch the rest. We’ve been told by sellers this has saves a lot of headaches!
Q: I live out of town, do I need to go to the closing?
A: No, you do not have to go to the closing if you do not want to attend. We know travel to Charleston can be a pain, especially if you just have to sign the closing statement. We’re able to close electronically and work very closely with our closing attorney to make the transaction seamless. We’ll even pay for the power of attorney needed for him to do so!
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