Yes, we pay cash for houses in Atlanta, and we’re well aware that we’re not the only ones who do. In recent years, a host of companies have sprung up to compete with us as HomeVestors^®, America’s #1 home buyer. Many of them are online buyers, called “iBuyers,” and what they offer sounds good: You contact them online, fill out some pages of information on you and your house, and you get an offer. Sounds so convenient and helpful. But is it too good to be true? 

Most iBuyers charge commissions, which could be 8%—that's more than the 6% commission you’d pay for all the services of a real estate agent who sells your house on the market. HomeVestors^® will not charge you a commission. 

While the companies that buy houses online have a promise that sounds good with their seemingly hands-off approach, they will ultimately inspect your house. And that’s when they can surprise you with fees for repairs and other issues they discover. You may not be informed of those fees until the last minute, when you only have the option to pay the fees or else cancel the sale. Your hand may be forced because the timing of selling a house and moving can be crucial to you. And the iBuyers know that.  

We buy houses “as is;” we take repairs into account when we make our offer, so we don’t charge those hidden fees. Plus, we can often close in as little as three weeks, or later if that’s better for your schedule.  

Closing costs can be another surprise when you sell to someone other than HomeVestors. According to finder.com, average closing costs in Atlanta, including property taxes, amount to more than $3,500 for a $250,000 sale. That’s a significant amount; when we pay cash for houses in Atlanta, we cover typical closing costs, and that can save you thousands. Very few companies that buy houses can say that.