Best way to sell fast | Sell to a cash buyer | Sell to an iBuyer | List on the open market | Use a trade-in service | Tips to sell your house fast | Companies near you
If you need to sell your house fast, you can use a cash home buyer, an iBuyer, or a home trade-in service. These companies can give you an offer within days and help you close quickly, sometimes in as little as 1–2 weeks. Here are our top picks for companies that will buy your house fast for cash.
7 best companies to sell my house fast for cash
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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. This service 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. That way, Young suggests, "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
- You can close in as little as 7 days.
- You don't need to worry about repairs or home prep.
- There's less risk of your deal falling through.
Cons
- You'll likely sell for less than you'd get on the open market.
- Some cash buyers pressure people into sales.
- There's little room to negotiate the offer.
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.
But these companies are real estate investors. Investors buy distressed properties to resell them for a profit, so they pay as little as possible.
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 at the time, 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!
Selling to an investor may make sense if you're facing foreclosure, your property is badly distressed, or you're dealing with bad tenants. However, we highly recommend getting multiple offers before you accept one. You should also consult a couple of real estate agents (preferably from brokerages that offer low commission rates) to see what your house could sell for as is.
How 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. In some cases, 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
- You can close in two weeks or less.
- You don't need to prep your home, negotiate, or prepare for showings.
- The iBuyer usually provides a contractor for repairs.
Cons
- An iBuyer's 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 bigger than 1.5 acres) and a price point that falls within a given range for the metro.
iBuyers currently operate in only about half of the US. 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 the amount of 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 homes that are owner-occupied, built after 1930, and need only minor repairs and updates.
You can submit your information for free. And in most cases, you receive an offer (or rejection) within 24–48 hours — with no obligation 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 that includes deductions for any 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 for your home.
- You have an agent to represent you in negotiations.
- Your agent can give you a free home valuation so you know how much your home is worth.
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.
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
- You can control your move dates.
- You don't have to pay two mortgages while you sell.
- The trade-in company will buy your home if it doesn't sell within the listing period.
- You can make a cash offer on a new home, making your offer more attractive to sellers.
Cons
- You pay as much as 6% in service fees.
- You may owe rent on your new home until your old home sells.
- The company may require you 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 74% of home sellers worry that their home will take too long to sell and 58% fear that the timing will cause their next home purchase to fall through. A trade-in service can ease these worries.
Trade-in services like Knock and Orchard front you the money to buy a new house before you sell. 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 gives you the assurance 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 in hand, you can make a non-contingent offer backed by the trade-in company's cash.
- Sell your old home. Depending on the company, it either 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 is transferred to you at closing, along with any remaining profit.
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 a bit below market value can help your home move faster, but don't go too extreme. Pricing too low might cause buyers to think that 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 or city below to find companies near you that can buy your house fast.
| Arizona | Phoenix |
| California | Glendale, Los Angeles |
| Colorado | Denver |
| Florida | Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando |
| Georgia | Atlanta |
| Kansas | Kansas City |
| Kentucky | Louisville |
| Nevada | Las Vegas |
| New Jersey | |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma City |
| Pennsylvania | Philadelphia |
| South Carolina | Columbia |
| Texas | Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio |
| Wisconsin | Milwaukee, Waukesha, Wauwatosa, West Allis |
FAQ about selling your house fast
What's the fastest way to sell a house?
The fastest way to sell a house is typically by requesting a cash offer from an iBuyer or other company that purchases homes for cash. However, with the right selling strategy, homes listed on the open market can sometimes close just as quickly.
What's the best way to sell a house fast?
The best way to sell a house fast depends on your situation and your home's condition. Options include selling as is to a cash investor, requesting a cash offer from an iBuyer who pays closer to fair market value, working with a top agent to sell on the market, or using a trade-in service to buy a new house before you sell.
Can I sell my house in 7 days?
While not guaranteed, it's possible to sell a house in seven days to an iBuyer or another cash buyer that purchases homes to flip for a profit. Check out your options for selling a house fast.
Related reading
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.
We also talked to home sellers and interviewed both external and in-house real estate professionals with expertise in listing, marketing, and selling homes:
- JC Young, real estate author and licensed agent
- Luke Babich, real estate investor and Clever Real Estate CEO
- Todd Stolte, real estate investor and licensed agent
We also drew on data and research from these sources:
About Clever Real Estate
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