Can you sell your home  “As Is” In Massachusetts? 

Yes you can.   The real question is .. should you?

We have met many home sellers over the years that prefer not to invest the time and/or money in making repairs to a home before or during the sales process.  The benefit of advertising a home “SOLD AS IS” is that the expectation is set for potential buyers that any repairs would be their responsibility.  Simplifying the home sales process is certainly appealing to many home sellers but may have some drawbacks. 

If a home needs major repairs, such as a failed septic system, the home may not qualify for many types of financing.  Limiting financing options can drastically reduce the amount of potential prospects. Contractors and home flippers with access to cash or alternative financing can make the process convenient and hassle free for home sellers, however typically expect a steep discount in return for sweat equity.

If a home is otherwise in decent shape, potential home buyers often interpret “AS IS” much differently than home sellers. Some potential buyers automatically think “worst case” scenario.   They may view the home as one that needs excessive repairs and get scared that there may be an underlying problem that isn’t visible.  Compared to investors, home buyers looking to live in a home are usually willing to spend a lot more money. Many of todays buyers are not savvy when it comes to home repairs and maintenance, and can be easily spooked if a home is perceived as needing lots of work.

Even if a home is listed “AS IS” a home buyer may in fact still request repairs or attempt to negotiate.   On the other hand, if a home is not listed this way, a seller typically isn’t required to make concessions or repairs.   For sellers that have leverage by attracting lots of buyers and multiple offers, selling a home “AS IS” is often enough a by-product of market conditions.

In the suburbs north of Boston, most of the homes we sell are older and often need some sort of work.  Every situation is unique, so contact us to discuss your specific situation! 

Lure potential buyers with a simple and clean palette. Shades of white and off-white are the top colors for a quick home sale, Jody Finglas of Finglas Painting in Ossining, N.Y., told USA Today.

“White is the foundation that anchors the home,” adds Friley Saucier, a broker-associate with Sotheby's International Realty in Naples, Fla. “This is absolutely what is most requested when I’m working with home buyers.”

Finglas says less is more. “We’re seeing a lot of requests for lighter, brighter colors,” he notes.

When working with a white backdrop, the trick is to add in color through the furnishings and accessories, Finglas says. He says selecting the right shade of white paint isn’t easy. “A white kitchen can mean 40 different colors,” Finglas says.

Homeowners should still bring home paint swatches, says Dwayne Bergmann of Dwayne Bergmann Interiors in Fort Myers, Fla.

“Whites can have a more blueish hue or more of a brown or even pinkish hue depending on the exact lighting,” Bergmann says. “Even a pure white is going to look different.”

When a homeowner decides to sell their house, they obviously want the best possible price for it with the least amount of hassles along the way. However, for the vast majority of sellers, the most important result is actually getting their homes sold.

In order to accomplish all three goals, a seller should realize the importance of using a real estate professional. We realize that technology has changed the purchaser’s behavior during the home buying process. According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2016 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, the percentage of buyers who used the internet in their home search increased to 94%.

However, the report also revealed that 96% of buyers who used the internet when searching for homes purchased their homes through either a real estate agent/broker or from a builder or builder’s agent. Only 2% purchased their homes directly from a seller whom the buyer didn’t know.

Buyers search for a home online but then depend on an agent to find the home they will buy (50%), to negotiate the terms of the sale (47%) & price (36%), or to help understand the process (61%).

The plethora of information now available has resulted in an increase in the percentage of buyers that reach out to real estate professionals to “connect the dots.” This is obvious, as the percentage of overall buyers who have used agents to buy their homes has steadily increased from 69% in 2001.

Bottom Line

If you are thinking of selling your home, don’t underestimate the role a real estate professional can play in the process.