You probably have some questions, and that’s completely normal. Most people do when they first learn about selling for cash in Chicago. Below, we’ve put together answers to the questions we hear most often from Chicago homeowners. If you don’t see your specific question answered here, just give us a call or send us a message. We’re always happy to talk through your situation and answer anything that’s on your mind.
Good question. We’re not real estate agents, so we don’t list properties. At Big Door Home Buyers, we actually purchase homes directly from you. We only buy houses in Chicago that fit what we’re looking for, and we pay with cash instead of relying on bank financing. That means there’s no risk of the deal falling through because of loan approval issues. Once we buy your house, we typically fix it up and either sell it to another family or keep it as a rental property.
Real estate agents put your property on the market and wait for someone to make an offer. They show it to potential buyers when they can find them (in many markets right now, it takes about 4 to 6 months to sell), and if they successfully find a buyer, they take a percentage of what you sell for. Typically, agent commissions run anywhere from 3% to 6% of your home’s sale price. On a $100,000 house, that means you’re paying $3,000 to $6,000 just in commission fees.
Agents offer a valuable service if you have the time to wait several months and don’t mind paying those commission costs out of your profits. But our approach is completely different. We’re not agents trying to find you a buyer. We are the buyer.
Our company purchases your house directly from you using cash. Because we’re paying with our own money and not waiting on bank approvals, we can make a decision about buying your home within a few days. Sometimes we can even give you an answer the same day you contact us. We make our money by taking on the risk of buying your property as is, putting our own cash into fixing it up, and then doing the work to find someone else to buy it or rent it. That’s our business model, and it allows us to move fast when you need to sell.
Want to see the differences more clearly? Check out this comparison chart below:
| Selling w/ A Chicago Agent | SOLD To Big Door Home Buyers | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
We usually buy houses at below market value because we need to invest money into repairs and reselling the property while still making a reasonable profit. We’re looking for a fair price that works for both sides.
In our experience, most sellers aren’t expecting to get top dollar for their home. What they value more is the speed and convenience we offer. You get cash in hand, we can close in just days instead of months, and you don’t have to spend a dime or lift a finger to repair anything or pay commission fees. You simply walk away and move on with your life.
If that sounds like what you’re looking for and you understand the trade off of getting less money in exchange for a fast, guaranteed sale with zero hassle, then let’s talk. We’ll work with you to find a price that makes sense for everyone involved. And remember, when we give you an offer, there’s absolutely no obligation to accept it. At least you’ll know exactly what we’re willing to pay, and you can decide from there what’s best for your situation.
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 versus the pros, cons, and costs of the other two alternatives – listing with an agent or selling it yourself.
That’s a great question, and we’re happy to explain exactly how it works. Our process is simple and transparent. We start by looking at where your property is located, what kind of repairs it needs, its current condition, and what similar houses in your area have sold for recently. We gather all of this information and use it to calculate a fair offer that makes sense for both of us. Our goal is to come up with a price that gives you a quick solution while allowing us to cover our costs and make a reasonable profit on the investment.
This is what sets us apart from the traditional way of selling. When you sell directly to us, you pay zero fees and zero commissions. Compare that to listing with an agent, where up to 6% of your sale price disappears just to cover their cut. We give you an offer, and if it works for you, we buy your house without any hassles or hidden charges. In most cases, we even cover the closing costs ourselves.
We earn our money after we purchase your home by investing in the necessary repairs and then selling it down the road for a profit. We’re the ones taking on all the risk of whether we can actually make money on the deal or not. The moment we buy your house from you, it becomes our responsibility. You walk away free from the burden of that property, free from the mortgage payments and expenses, and with cash in your pocket to move forward with whatever comes next.
You’re under absolutely no obligation whatsoever. Once you share some basic information about your property with us, we’ll review everything and possibly schedule a quick call to learn a bit more about your situation. Then we’ll put together a cash offer that’s fair for both sides. After that, the decision is completely yours. There’s no pressure from us at all. You can take your time, think it over, and decide whether selling to us is the right move for you. We respect whatever choice you make.
After you give us some basic information about your Illinois property, we’ll put together a straightforward cash offer with no strings attached, usually within 24 hours. If you choose to accept, we’ll set up the closing with a reputable local title company, and most of the time we can wrap everything up in around a week. When you compare that to the months of waiting and uncertainty that come with a traditional listing, it’s easy to see why so many homeowners prefer this faster, simpler approach.
Our goal is to give Illinois homeowners a fair cash offer that’s easy to understand. Unlike big investment firms or those automated online buying services, we actually take time to explain how we came up with your number. We calculate our offer based on what your home could sell for after we complete the necessary repairs and improvements. The whole process is straightforward and transparent because we want you to feel completely confident about your decision. We’re always available to answer your questions and walk you through exactly how we arrived at your offer. That way, you have all the information you need to make the choice that’s best for you.
We’re here to help you through this difficult time. Dealing with foreclosure in Illinois is stressful and scary, but you don’t have to face it by yourself. If we’re able to buy your home, we can often stop the foreclosure process in its tracks. And if selling to us doesn’t turn out to be the best fit for your situation, we can point you toward trusted Illinois professionals who focus on helping people navigate foreclosure and explore their options.
When you’re facing foreclosure, time matters. The sooner you reach out to us, the more options you’ll have available. Contact us right away so we can look at your situation together and help you figure out the best path forward.
Not to worry, we can buy your property as is, in any condition. No repairs are needed and we can make you an offer within 24 hours. Get in touch today!
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Download our FREE Guide here and contact us anytime with questions or if you would like a no-hassle Situation Evaluation. Learn more about how we help Chicago homeowners sell their unwanted properties for cash.
Get your FREE Guide and then give us a call at (224) 464-3623. We would love to discuss what your home is worth and what we can offer to buy it with our Cash Offer Program.
