If you need to sell your house quickly, the right company can make a huge difference. Cash home buyers, an iBuyer, or a home trade-in service can help you secure an offer in just days and close in as fast as a week.
Whether facing financial distress, foreclosure, or simply wanting to skip a lengthy sale, these companies offer quick, convenient solutions. But it's crucial to compare options to secure the best price and terms. That's why we recommend Clever Offers! We'll vet local cash buyers to find you top offers on your property and sell your home in 7 days or less. Fill out this form to sell your home fast.
View our breakdown of the top companies to sell your house fast for cash.
7 best companies to sell my house fast for cash
Customer Rating
Service Fee
Time to Close
Why We chose it
Pros and cons
Specifics
Clever Offers helps you find and compare offers from leading cash buyers in your area — all with a proven track record of ethical dealings with home sellers.
Because Clever's network includes local/national investors, iBuyers, and agents with experience listing homes as is, you get a range of offers to choose from — including alternative deal types that deliver a higher payout over time.
The 5-star rated company gets top marks for helping you make an informed decision without pressuring you to move forward. See our full Clever Offers review.
Customer Rating
Service Fee
Time to Close
Why we chose it
Pros and cons
Specifics
Knock's Bridge Loan lets you borrow against the equity in your current house to buy a new home before you sell.
The loan covers your down payment, moving expenses, home prep costs (like minor repairs and staging), and ongoing mortgage payments while your house is being listed. You can also borrow up to $35,000 for home improvements before listing.
If your current home doesn’t sell within six months, you have a guaranteed cash offer to fall back on, worth about ~80% of your home's market value. See our full Knock review
Customer Rating
Service Fee
Time to Close
Why we chose it
Pros and cons
Specifics
We Buy Houses is a solid choice if you need to sell fast or have a home that’s difficult to sell. You don’t need to worry about repairs and can close extremely quickly, sometimes in just a week.
The company has been around since 1997, carefully vets its investors' reputations, and is available in most of the U.S.
Franchise owners have a high degree of independence when it comes to the types of offers they can make. While the customer experience may vary between locations, most offices maintain above-average ratings. See our full We Buy Houses review.
Customer Rating
Service Fee
Time to Close
Why we chose it
Pros and cons
Specifics
We Buy Ugly Houses / HomeVestors will purchase homes that most other buyers won't. The company makes near-instant offers and it buys homes as-is, so you don’t need to worry about repairs or cleaning.
As a franchise company, service quality can vary between locations. Most locations maintain positive customer ratings, but the company recently received bad press for the questionable sales tactics employed by some of its licensees.
The company's broad availability makes it a viable choice for home sellers with limited options, but we strongly suggest comparing at least 2–3 other offers before entering into a contract. See our full We Buy Ugly Houses review.
Customer Rating
Service Fee
Time to Close
Why we chose it
Pros and cons
Specifics
Orchard is a solid option if you want to try selling on the open market, but you like the certainty of having a backup cash offer.
Its trade-in service lets you borrow the equity in your current home to make a non-contigent offer on a new one, meaning you don't have to wait for your house to sell to free up funds for a down payment and closing costs.
The downside? Orchard's fees start at 8% of the sale price. And if your house doesn’t sell on the open market, Orchard’s backup offer will be less than your house is worth. See our full Orchard review.
Customer Rating
Service Fee
Time to Close
Why we chose it
Pros and cons
Specifics
Opendoor is for home sellers who want to skip the hassles of a traditional home sale — without sacrificing too much on price.
You can get an initial offer within 24–48 hours, choose your closing date, and skip repairs and showings. The company also pays much closer to market value than traditional house flippers.
Opendoor does charge a 5% service fee, and some customers complain that final offers are lower than initial estimates. See our full Opendoor review.
Customer Rating
Service Fee
Time to Close
Why we chose it
Pros and cons
Specifics
As an iBuyer, Offerpad stands out for its perks, including free local moves and a 3-day grace period to wrap up your move after closing.
You can choose between listing with an agent and getting a cash advance for home prep/repairs or taking a competitive cash offer with flexible closing dates, ranging from 8–90 days.
If you accept a cash offer, be prepared for relatively high repair costs — which customers report can substantially reduce your final offer. See our full Offerpad review.
What's the best way to sell my house fast?
According to JC Young, a top listing agent and author of several real estate books, the best way to sell your house fast depends on your situation. For example:
- In a divorce where the parties prefer minimal communication, a quick home sale to an iBuyer could be a good option.
- If you have a distressed property or a home facing foreclosure, you might have trouble selling on the open market. In these cases, it makes sense to find a cash buyer willing to purchase your home as-is.
- If you need to time your home sale with a new home purchase, you could use a home trade-in service. It helps you use your current home's equity to buy before you sell so you can avoid having two mortgages.
"There are many ways to sell your house," says Young, "and many of those ways will sell your house quickly." She advocates sitting down with a real estate agent to review different selling options side-by-side. Young suggests that "you can determine which would be best for you, and which you'd prefer to have based on what you will net."
Sell to a cash buyer
Pros
- Close in as fast as 7 days.
- No repairs or home preparation.
- Less risk of your deal falling through.
Cons
- You'll sell for less than you'd get on the open market.
- Not all cash buyers are trustworthy.
- There's little room to negotiate.
If your top priority is simply getting out from under your mortgage, a cash buyer like We Buy Houses or Clever Offers can help you do it. Companies that buy houses for cash can purchase your house quickly, and they're often willing to buy homes that wouldn't sell otherwise, including homes with major issues like water damage or cracked foundations.
Remember that these companies buy distressed properties to resell them for a profit, so they typically don't pay fair market value. In fact, a survey by Clever found that investors typically pay 65% to 70% of a home's after-repair value (ARV).
In other words, for a property valued at $300,000, investors would likely offer between $195,000 and $210,000, which is 65% to 70% of its ARV.
We talked to one homeowner who sold her house to HomeVestors (also known as "We Buy Ugly Houses") for $60,000. Because the market conditions were so favorable then, the company sold the house two months later for $116,000 with minimal repairs.
The homeowner got the speedy sale she wanted, but with a little extra time she could have sold for $56,000 more!
Cash buyers: The bottom line
If speed and convenience are your top priorities, a cash sale might be the right choice. But if you're willing to invest a little more time, getting multiple offers or consulting with real estate agents could result in a higher sale price.
If you're decided on a cash sale, services like Clever Offers can help you explore multiple options, ensuring you make the best decision for your situation while saving on realtor commissions.
Compare multiple offer types from leading cash home buyers — with no obligation to move forward. Simply tell us about your property, and we'll do everything we can to get you the best possible price for your home.
Get Cash OffersHow does selling to a cash buyer work?
Companies that offer cash for your home typically look for bargain properties they can flip for a profit after making repairs and updates.
Here’s how a typical transaction works:
- Request an offer. Most companies collect basic information about your home through an online form or over the phone. Sometimes, you receive an initial estimate of your cash offer within 24–48 hours.
- Complete an inspection. A third-party inspector or company representative completes an on-site inspection. The company adjusts your final offer to account for repair costs.
- Accept the offer and close. If you accept the company's final offer, you sign a purchase agreement and schedule your closing date. Unlike buyers who require lender financing, companies offering cash can move quickly. You could close and receive a payout within 7–10 days.
Sell to an iBuyer
Pros
- Close in two weeks or less.
- No home prep, negotiating, or preparing for showings.
- The iBuyer usually provides a contractor for repairs.
Cons
- Initial offer is often much lower than the final offer.
- You typically can't negotiate the sale price.
- You usually pay at least 5% in service fees.
If you have a home in fairly good condition, an iBuyer can help you sell your home in under two weeks and generally pay a lot closer to market value than a cash buyer.
Unlike cash investors, who seek distressed properties they can flip for a hefty profit, iBuyers like Offerpad and Opendoor typically opt for homes in fairly good condition that are comparable to others selling in the area. That means they buy homes with a typical lot size (no more than 1.5 acres) and a price point within a given metro's range.
iBuyers currently operate in only about half of the U.S. They mostly stick to major cities with healthy real estate markets and a higher concentration of residential homes for sale.
To boost their earnings, iBuyers like Opendoor typically charge service fees of about 5% of the purchase price. But these fees can climb to 10% or more depending on how much prep work the home needs and how long the iBuyer thinks it'll take to resell.
How does selling to an iBuyer work?
Each iBuyer has slightly different purchase requirements. Most iBuyers choose owner-occupied homes built after 1930 and need only minor repairs and updates.
You can submit your information for free. In most cases, you receive an offer (or rejection) within 24–48 hours, and you aren't obligated to commit.
Here's how selling to an iBuyer typically goes:
- Request a preliminary offer. You visit an iBuyer's website to submit your property information via an online form. You receive a response within two days.
- Get an inspection. If your property is eligible, the iBuyer conducts a video or on-site inspection to verify your home's condition.
- Review the final offer. After the inspection, the iBuyer presents a revised offer, including deductions for needed repairs. Generally, repairs are 1–2% of the purchase price and can't be negotiated.
- Choose your closing date. If you accept the revised offer, you sign the purchase agreement and pick a closing date. Most iBuyers offer a flexible closing window. You can often close in 1–2 weeks or up to 30 days or more. You receive the funds either on closing day or several days after.
» MORE: The best iBuyer companies
List your home on the open market
Pros
- You'll likely receive more money.
- You have an agent to represent you in negotiations.
- Get a free home valuation for pricing guidance.
Cons
- Your home may take longer to sell.
- You pay 4–6% in real estate agent commissions.
- You may need to repair or clean your home to get it market-ready.
If you want to sell fast for the most money, consider working with a top real estate agent. Although it tends to take longer than selling directly to a cash buyer, good agents can typically get your home sold quickly and for a much higher profit.
Our analysis found that sellers using an agent sell for nearly $50,000 more on average than those who sell without one, outweighing potential commission savings.
JC Young, who has nearly a decade of experience selling homes in Austin and North Texas, says that if a buyer brings cash, "closing can happen as soon as two days after they get the title work and HOA documents — or seven to ten days total."
Young notes that many buyers also get fully underwritten by their lenders before submitting offers, allowing them to close 14–17 days after signing the contract — about the same amount of time it takes to sell to an iBuyer.
If you need to sell quickly, the right real estate agent will adjust their approach to expedite the process.
A realtor may even suggest pursuing multiple tactics to ensure a faster closing, like soliciting cash offers from third-party buyers and using an iBuyer as a backup. Consider brokerages offering discounted commission rates to help you maximize your profits.
⚡ Want to find top-performing real estate agents near you? Answer these five questions to get matched with local agents who work for just a 1.5% listing fee. Compare agents from the top discount companies and major brands like Keller Williams and RE/MAX.
Use a trade-in service to buy before you sell
Pros
- Control your move dates.
- Avoid paying two mortgages while you sell.
- They'll buy your home if it doesn't sell within the listing period.
- Make a cash offer on a new home (more attractive to sellers).
Cons
- Up to 6% in service fees.
- You may owe rent on your new home until your old home sells.
- You may be required to work with its agents or lenders.
A home trade-in service can help you sell quickly when moving from one home to another.
When you sell and buy a home, it's rare for the closing dates to match up perfectly. A study by Clever found that 23% of home sellers said their home took longer to sell than expected, and 21% struggled to time the home sale with moving into their new home. A trade-in service can potentially help in these cases.
Trade-in services like Knock and Orchard give you the money to buy a new house before selling. Once you move out, they help you list your home on the open market, where it has the greatest chance of selling for top dollar. Most companies offer interest-free loans to cover minor repairs and improvements to help you maximize your home's selling potential.
If your home doesn't sell within the listing period (usually 3–4 months), the trade-in company purchases it for an amount that you agree upon up front. This backup cash offer is generally less than what you'd get on the market, but it assures you of a guaranteed sale.
Trade-in providers charge service fees of up to 6%, which is about the same as what you'd pay a realtor. Depending on the company, you might also have to pay rent on your new home until your old one sells. These fees and expenses are automatically deducted from your proceeds at closing.
How does buying and selling with a trade-in service work?
When you use a trade-in service, the process usually goes like this:
- Get qualified. The cash amount that you qualify for typically depends on how much equity you have in your current home.
- Find your new home. With your loan pre-approval, you can make a non-contingent offer backed by the trade-in company's cash.
- Sell your old home. Depending on the company, it acts as your listing agent or works with an agent you choose to prep, list, and sell your home.
- Settle your bill. Once your home is sold, the trade-in provider collects its service fee and other expenses, including overlapping mortgage payments or money you borrowed for repairs. Your new home's title and any remaining profit are transferred to you at closing.
5 tips to sell your house fast
- Get a great agent. A realtor who has experience in your local market can advise you on how to price your home and prepare it for the market to sell as quickly as possible.
- Seek a buyer with secure financing. Selling delays are often due to financing issues on the buyer's end. Look for potential buyers who are further along in the loan underwriting process, can pay all cash, or have an offer without many contingencies.
- Set a competitive asking price. Pricing below market value can help your home move faster, but don't go too extreme. Pricing too low might cause buyers to think there's a hidden issue with your home. Ask your realtor for a comparative market analysis to see what similar homes in your area are going for and set an appropriate asking price.
- Start your due diligence ahead of time and disclose issues. Order a home inspection before listing your property on the market. Be thorough with your seller's disclosure. Ask your agent to prepare a package of documents to send out to interested parties. Consider working with a title company before listing to resolve any issues that may delay the title transfer.
- Show your home in its best light. Remove personal items and deep clean before your showings to attract buyers. Realtor JC Young estimates that some homes in her North Texas market could sell for as much as 10–15% more with a modest $200–400 investment in cleaning services.
Find the best companies to sell your house fast by state
Many national services aren't available everywhere, so you’ll need to check which ones are in your area.
Local companies operating in one region or state may also be a good choice. These local buyers often have excellent knowledge of the local real estate market and may provide more personalized service.
Click on your state below to find companies near you that can buy your house fast.
Methodology
This guide draws on over 100 hours of research from Clever’s editorial team. Our research included analyzing service offerings and business models of various real estate technology companies.
Here’s how we conducted our research:
- Customer reviews and ratings: We analyzed thousands of verified customer reviews across multiple platforms to assess customer satisfaction, service quality, and company responsiveness.
- Expert interviews: We consulted industry professionals, including real estate agents, investors, and market analysts. Experts like JC Young (real estate author and licensed agent), Luke Babich (Clever Real Estate CEO), and Todd Stolte (real estate investor and licensed agent) provided valuable insights into the pros and cons of various services.
- Company research. We thoroughly examined each company’s business model, pricing structures, and geographic availability. Our research also involved reviewing published data from trusted sources such as Zillow, Zavvie, AttomData, and the National Association of Realtors.
- Mystery shopping: We directly interacted with some companies to assess their customer service quality, response times, and overall transparency. This firsthand experience allowed us to verify company claims about speed, offer process, and customer support.
- Comparison of costs and timelines: We compared estimated service fees, closing timelines, and typical cash offers from iBuyers, cash buyers, and home trade-in services, ensuring our recommendations reflect the best value for various types of sellers.
About Clever Real Estate
Clever is a free online platform that aims to educate consumers about real estate and help them save money when buying or selling a home. We strive to give 100% objective advice to help you make better real estate decisions.
Learn more about Clever's editorial policy and how we make money.
If you have more questions about finding realtors or about Clever’s service, our licensed Concierge Team is standing by 7 days a week, 7 a.m.–9 p.m. CST at (833) 225-3837.
