Is selling ‘as-is’ to an off-market investor really my best option? NO.

I closed a transaction last week where I helped my clients net an additional $80,000. Engaging a Realtor can bring a ton of value in situations like this. 

I was connected to the administrator of a probate estate by his attorney, who found me while searching online for a Sacramento probate specialist. 

The situation with this property was challenging and the seller was overwhelmed. The home had been owned by a woman who struggled with hoarding. After her passing, the property sat vacant for over a year. During that time, it was broken into, and suffered significant damage from a plumbing leak. Utilities were shut off. The interior and exterior were filled with excessive debris. Landscaping was overgrown. It was overwhelming. 

Enter the off-market investors. Several approached the seller, offering quick, “as-is” solutions. The highest offer was around $215,000. They positioned themselves as the easy path. No cleanup. No repairs. No Realtors to pay. Just sign and be done. 

Friends: these investors are trying to buy at a steep discount…and they know many sellers in these situations feel stressed, uncertain, and just want relief. After paying off the mortgage and liens, the estate would have netted very little money. Barely enough to cover the cost of the probate itself, with a trivial amount left for the heirs of the estate. The seller was paralyzed by what to do next and tempted to take it. Thankfully I got involved and we went to work. 

The estate had no funds to prepare the property for sale, so I leveraged my network of tradespeople to make it happen with no upfront cost and the expenses billed to escrow: 

• Coordinated a full property trash-out 
• Secured the home and addressed access concerns, including boarding up gaps in the fence
• Arranged exterior vegetation cleanup 
• Got an up-front pest inspection to provide with disclosures 

Then we took professional photos and brought the home to market at $295,000. 

The response was incredible! More than 20 offers. Final sales price that closed last week: $320,000. 

That’s roughly $80,000 more net to the estate after mortgage loan and lien payoffs, and the other costs of preparation and sale than the highest off-market investor offer and a dramatically better outcome for the estate. All because they trusted me to smooth out the rough edges of the situation and take their overwhelm away. This is the difference between taking the “easy” offer versus having the right representation working on your behalf who knows how to get things done. 

Having an experienced Realtor on your side DOES NOT add complexity! We create opportunity, connect the right people to help with strategic repairs or improvements, we protect equity, and make sure sellers fully understand their options. 

Let me tell you… $80,000 makes a tremendous difference in someone’s life. I’m so happy for this family and I’m also relieved to bring a positive conclusion for them to this experience. So when people ask me if selling ‘as-is’ to an off-market investor really my best option? The answer is NO.