What are the different ways to sell a house in St. Louis?

When it’s time to sell your house, the best mode of sale depends on your wants and needs. Are you facing time constraints such as relocation or downsizing? Do you need to sell an inherited house that needs a lot of work? Do you want to sell a rental house quickly? Or are you relocating?

When it comes to selling your house, there are various options to consider based on your situation and needs. These include:

• Selling via a real estate agent
• Selling your property FSBO (for sale by owner)
• Selling your house to an iBuyer
• Making an off-market direct sale to a buyer like We Buy Ugly Houses^®

Let’s look at each method’s advantages and disadvantages.

1. Sell your St. Louis house via a real estate agent.

Of all the options for selling a house, this is the most common method.

Pros:

• Agents have the resources to effectively market a house.
• These professionals know how to accurately determine a house price according to the local housing market and other data.
• They can offer expert guidance to the seller.
• Real estate agents know what documents and paperwork are needed, and the legal aspects of a house sale.

Cons:

• Traditional sales are generally a lengthy process with many steps. House-selling hassles include open houses, showings, and negotiations.
• Costs of selling a house this way include hiring a professional real estate photographer to take photos of your property, paying for staging, and closing costs.
• Prepping the house for market includes repairs, updates, deep cleaning, and decluttering.

2. Sell your house FSBO

Selling FSBO is another choice for selling a house. It seems to be decreasing in popularity, from 15% of all sales from 1981 to 2022, to only 7% in 2023, nationwide.

Pros:

• Eliminates commissions
• Sellers have complete control over the selling process

Cons:

• Time-consuming with various duties. You'll be responsible for all aspects of marketing, including listing the property online and offline, arranging showings, and negotiating with potential buyers. It's essential to do a lot of research to avoid making costly mistakes, such as pricing your home incorrectly or mishandling legal paperwork.
• FSBO homes typically stay on the market longer than with a traditional sale, unless the owner and buyer know each other.
• Homes sold FSBO tend to fetch a lower selling price, according to statistics.

3. Sell to an iBuyer for a quick sale.

IBuyers are a newer choice for selling a house. iBuyers calculate their initial quote using proprietary software. The first offer may change once they have a video or live viewing of the property.

Pros:

• Quick sale
• Avoid hassles of a traditional sale such as home showings, staging, and photography
• No real estate agent commissions

Cons:

• According to Forbes, “...with iBuyers you’ll pay a service fee of 5% to 14% of the home’s sale price.
• iBuyers don’t pay top dollar
• Little to no personalized service

4. Make a direct sale with no go-between or lengthy waiting periods.

When looking at options for selling a house, sometimes, you just want a quick and easy sale without having to make repairs. And when that’s the case, working with a reputable off-market home buyer like We Buy Ugly Houses to get a direct sale could be the best choice.

However, don’t do business with just any off-market company or individual. Some companies have good intentions but don't have experience, resources, and financial connections. Unfortunately, there are also house-buying scams in St. Louis, so it’s important to do your research and vet any off-market house-buying companies or individuals when you are selling your house.

You can trust We Buy Ugly Houses^® in St. Louis. 

As an off-market house buyer, We Buy Ugly Houses buys houses “as is” in almost any condition. But unlike other direct house buyers, we prioritize your situation and needs at the time of the sale. Our customers’ seller stories say it all. We Buy Ugly Houses is a highly respected house buyer you can trust.With a nationwide 95%^* customer satisfaction rating from sellers who responded to our post-sale survey, as well as amazing reviews, rest assured you’ll get quality customer service.

We’ve bought over 150,000 houses across the country since 1996, and during that time, we’ve learned that each seller has their own unique set of circumstances. We tailor our streamlined process to suit your needs. We have no hidden fees, and we pay typical closing costs.

If you decide that we’re the off-market house buyers in St. Louis to work with, simply contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. One of our friendly St. Louis property buyers will meet you at your house, take a tour, and answer your questions. We can sometimes give you a fast offer on the same day. If you accept the offer, you’re on your way to a speedy closing—potentially in as little as 3 weeks, or longer if you need more time.