Neglected Homes › Situations

Selling a house that needs major repairs

Roof, foundation, water or fire damage, old wiring, a failed inspection or open code violations. If the repair list is longer than your budget or your patience, you can sell the house the way it sits.

Why these houses are hard to sell the usual way

Many buyers need a mortgage, and lenders often will not finance a house with serious defects. That narrows the field to cash buyers. Showings are also harder when a house is unsafe or full of belongings.

Problems we look at every week

• Roof leaks and water damage
• Foundation and structural movement
• Fire and smoke damage
• Outdated electrical, plumbing or heating
• Mold, hoarding or heavy clean-outs
• Open permits and building code violations

How we price a house that needs work

We start from what the house could sell for once repaired, then subtract the repair cost, the cost of holding and selling it, and a margin for the risk we take on. We will walk you through the numbers so you can compare them with other options.

Code violations

If the city has cited the property, tell us up front and send any notices you have. Violations do not stop us from looking at a house. How they are handled at closing depends on the case, so have your attorney review it.