Today’s question is, why do I get unsolicited phone calls from people offering to buy my house?
Hey there, I’m Dawn D’Amico, your favorite realtor, and today we’re diving into a question that a lot of people ask me.
“Why do people call me offering to buy my house?”
But first, let me ask you this. Do you get calls like this? Would you ever entertain a stranger telling you they want to buy your house, sight unseen? Comment below.
So the truth is, there are a few reasons why people might call you offering to buy your house, even if you haven’t listed it for sale. However, you should be very cautious about these offers, and we will get into the reason why in a moment.
First, let me share this with you. I’ve helped quite a few homeowners get out of predatory contracts with people who had called saying that they were a cash buyer.
However, the documents that these buyers had the homeowners sign literally gave away the homeowner’s right to sell their own home. The contract also locked them into accepting a lower price than the home’s actual value.
So, beware and use a lawyer if you decide to get involved with someone offering to buy your home if you are not using a licensed realtor to facilitate the sale.
Okay, let’s look at some legitimate reasons why you may be getting these phone calls.
The first reason is real estate investors. They’re always looking for new properties to buy, especially in competitive markets where housing is in short supply, like we have right now. They may use a variety of methods to find potential investment properties, including public records, direct mail, and cold calling.
Investors are often looking to pay below market values for a property, but they may also be able to offer a quick and easy closing process.
The second reason you may be getting these calls is from homebuyers, they may also contact you directly with an unsolicited offer, especially if they are looking for a specific type of property or if they’re willing to pay above market value.
For example, a homebuyer may be interested in your home if it’s located in a neighborhood that’s hard to get into, has good schools, or has features that are important to them, like a large backyard or a pool.
The third reason is real estate agents, like myself, may be contacting you with unsolicited offers on behalf of clients. This is especially common in competitive markets where agents may be trying to find off market deals for their clients.
However, it’s important to be cautious when receiving unsolicited offers to buy your house. Not all of these offers are legitimate, and some scammers may try to take advantage of homeowners. Public records provide mortgage data on homes, so if you own your home free and clear, you’re probably getting more calls than most homeowners.
The thought process with these offers is that you might be willing to sell for less because you don’t owe anything on the property.
Here are some tips for handling unsolicited offers to buy your home:
If you are not planning on moving, be polite but firm in declining the offer.
If you are thinking about a move, and it sounds promising, ask for the person’s name, contact information, and tell them you need to think about the offer before making any kind of decision. It is important to verify the identity of the person making the offer before accepting any offer. Do some research on the person or company making the offer.
If it is a real estate professional making the offer, you can check online for reviews or contact your local real estate board and see if they have any information on the person or company.
Have your home appraised to determine its fair market value. This will help you decide if the offer is fair.
If you are interested in selling your house, consider working with a realtor, like myself, who can assure that you receive the offer you’re looking for.
A licensed realtor can help you market your home to the widest range of possible buyers and negotiate the best price possible. Putting your home in front of the most buyers with the right marketing will usually result in a much higher sale price than an unsolicited offer over the phone.
Keep in mind, you are not obligated to sell your house to anyone, even if they make you an offer. You have the right to decline any offer and you should only sell your house if you’re ready to do so and if you’re getting a fair price and favorable terms.
Okay, friends, don’t forget to follow my blog and like this article if you’re finding these videos valuable. And of course, share your thoughts and questions in the comments below.
So, are you thinking about buying, selling, or investing?
Reach out to me today and see if working together makes sense.
I’m Dawn D’Amico, your trusted realtor in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey. And I’ll talk to you soon.
Dawn D’Amico: 215.962.9307
