We Buy Houses Winter Haven, FL: Top 5 Companies
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- 15 min read
- Joseph Gordon EditorCloseJoseph Gordon Editor
Joseph Gordon is an Editor with HomeLight. He has several years of experience reporting on the commercial real estate and insurance industries.
Selling your home in Winter Haven, FL, can quickly feel overwhelming, especially if your property needs extensive repairs. We Buy Houses companies offer all-cash deals, providing a fast solution for homeowners facing unexpected situations or tight timelines.
These companies make selling your home a simple process, letting you sell your property as-is and skip the cost and headaches of renovation. This can be a practical solution and alternative to the traditional market for many homeowners.
In this guide, we’ll outline the pros and cons of cash-for-homes companies, explain how the process works, and compare them to working with a real estate agent, helping you decide which option works best for you.
Disclaimer: This post is meant to be used for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Links and mentions of Winter Haven area “We Buy Houses” companies should not be considered an endorsement.
Working with house-buying companies in Winter Haven
Selling your home to a house-buying company in Winter Haven is a straightforward process designed to make selling your home a snap. If you’re looking for a fast home sale with minimal effort, here are the basic steps you can expect to follow:
- Reach out to the company: Contact a house-buying company through their website or by phone to provide basic information about your property.
- Schedule an evaluation: Arrange for a representative to visit your home and assess its condition, which helps them determine the cash offer.
- Review the cash offer: You will typically receive a no-obligation, take-it-or-leave-it offer for your home within 24-48 hours after the evaluation.
- Sign the agreement: If you accept the offer, you’ll sign a purchase agreement to finalize the terms of the sale.
- Complete the closing process: The company handles most of the paperwork and works with a title company to prepare for closing.
- Receive your payment: At closing, which often happens within days, you’ll receive your cash payment and complete the sale.
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Winter Haven
If the process of selling to a house-buying company in Winter Haven sounds good to you, it’s time to find a legitimate operation you can trust.
We’ve compiled some of the top companies that will pay cash for your or your parents’ colonial-revival or mid-century modern house. By selling to one of these companies, you should be able to sell your Winter Haven home in as little as a week or two.
FL Cash Home Buyers
Founded in 2011, FL Cash Home Buyers, LLC has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has completed over 800 real estate transactions. Depending on the seller’s needs, the company typically can close in two to four weeks.
Locations: Throughout Florida, including Winter Haven.
Closing costs: You pay no closing costs; FL Cash Home Buyers cover them.
FL Cash Home Buyers has more than 190 Google reviews for an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
Website: floridacashhomebuyers.com
Phone number: 954-519-7040
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Winter Haven (and across the country) can request a cash offer for their home. Simple Sale connects you to the largest network of cash buyers in the U.S. Partner investors have a wide range of investment strategies, including fix-and-flip and buy-and-hold. This enables Simple Sale to provide cash offers for a wide array of properties, even those that need some or a lot of work, in different locations throughout Winter Haven.
With Simple Sale, you can get a no-obligation, all-cash offer in 24 hours and sell your home in as few as 10 days, skipping the months it can take to sell the traditional way.
Locations: Nationwide, including Winter Haven
Closing costs: No prep costs, agent commissions, or fees charged by HomeLight. Individual investor fees may vary.
Simple Sale is a HomeLight platform. HomeLight was founded in 2012 and is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating. The company has 4.8 stars on Google based on hundreds of user reviews. Below, you can hear about how Baohan Wu, a seller who used Simple Sale to sell his high-rise apartment, closed within three and a half weeks and what he thought of the process overall.
Learn more: homelight.com/simple
Phone: 844-488-8455
Revival Homebuyer
Revival Homebuyer is a local, family-owned homebuyer specializing in the Tampa Bay housing market. It has purchased over 1,000 properties, helping homeowners sell homes quickly at a competitive price.
Locations: Winter Haven and surrounding areas.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Revival Homebuyer covers them.
Since 2019, Revival Homebuyer has been BBB-accredited, holding an A+ rating. Given the team’s professionalism, it has achieved an impressive 5.0 Google rating.
Website: revivalhomebuyer.com
Phone number: 813-548-3674
House Heroes
House Heroes is a real estate company co-founded by Lucas Machado and Earl White, dedicated to buying houses, condos, vacant land, and apartments. The company prides itself on fast closings and impeccable customer service.
Locations: Across Florida, including Winter Haven.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; House Heroes covers them.
House Heroes has been BBB accredited since 2017 and holds an A+ rating. The company also holds a 4.9-star rating on Google reviews.
Website: househeroes.com
Phone number: 954-676-1846
Bigger Equity
BiggerEquity is a nationwide house-buying company that began operations in 2016. The company says it can make a cash offer in as little as seven minutes and close as quickly as seven days.
Locations: BiggerEquity buys houses throughout Florida, including Winter Haven. The company serves homeowners in all 50 U.S. states.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; BiggerEquity covers them.
BiggerEquity has been BBB accredited since 2018 and holds an A+ rating and 4.8 stars on Google.
Website: biggerequity.com
Phone number: 866-333-8377
Why sell your Winter Haven house for cash?
Why sell your Winter Haven home for cash? For many homeowners, the speed of the transaction, combined with the overall ease of the sales process, are some of the biggest incentives compared to selling with an agent.
In Winter Haven, it typically takes around 102 days to sell a home on the market using an agent. That includes an average of 58 days on the market plus the typical 47 days a buyer needs to close on a purchase loan.
Compare that to the typical seven to 10 days promised by many house-buying companies in Winter Haven, and it’s clear why these Cash-For-Homes groups are an attractive option, even though they don’t always offer top dollar for the homes they purchase.
Selling your home for cash can be a practical solution for many Winter Haven homeowners facing unique or urgent situations. Here are some common reasons why homeowners opt to sell for cash:
Common scenarios where selling for cash makes sense:
- Job relocation: You need to sell your home quickly to move for a new job opportunity.
- Divorce: Splitting assets swiftly can ease the stress during a divorce.
- Inherited property: Managing or maintaining a home you inherited may not be practical.
- Downsizing: Selling for cash helps you transition to a smaller space or retirement community.
- Repairs needed: Your house requires expensive repairs, and you’d rather sell as-is.
- Open houses are inconvenient: You’d prefer to skip open houses and avoid showing your home.
- Foundation issues: Structural problems, like foundation issues, make your home harder to sell traditionally.
- Facing foreclosure: A cash sale could help you resolve debts and avoid foreclosure.
- Problem tenants: You want to offload a property with difficult tenants.
- Selling from out of state: Managing a sale remotely can be stressful; selling for cash simplifies the process of selling from out of state.
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in Winter Haven
House-buying companies in Winter Haven provide a fast and hassle-free way to sell your home. They’ll purchase your property as-is, meaning you don’t need to spend time or money on repairs or staging.
Pros of house-buying companies
Selling to a house-buying company in Winter Haven offers convenience, especially if you need to sell quickly or avoid costly repairs. Here are some of the biggest benefits:
- Fast closing timeline: You can typically close within days or weeks, offering speed and flexibility that traditional sales often lack.
- Buy as-is: Companies will buy your home as-is, saving you the hassle and expense of making repairs or improvements.
- No contingencies: Unlike traditional sales, there are no contingencies that could delay or derail the closing process.
- Simple process: The transaction is straightforward, with the company handling most of the paperwork and logistics.
Cons of house-buying companies
While selling to a house-buying company can be convenient, it comes at a cost. The most significant downside is that you’ll likely receive below-market value for your home. Here are the main downsides:
- Lower offers: These companies typically pay less than what your home could sell for on the open market.
- Potential for scams: Some companies may not be reputable, so you need to watch for scams or untrustworthy practices.
- Loss of control: You don’t get to negotiate terms or have input in the selling process, leaving the company in control.
- No competitive bidding: Selling to one buyer eliminates the opportunity for multiple offers that could drive up your home’s price.
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
The integrity and service you receive from a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Florida can vary widely. Before committing to a cash offer, take these steps to protect yourself:
- Check reviews: Look up online reviews and testimonials to see what past clients say about their experiences with the company.
- Research the company: Investigate the company’s reputation and track record in the market to confirm its reputable and reliable status.
- Ask questions: Before proceeding, speak with the buyer to understand their process, terms, and any fees involved.
- Know your home’s value: Compare the cash offer to your home’s fair market value to ensure the price is reasonable.
- Review the agreement: Read the buying agreement thoroughly to understand the terms before signing anything.
HomeLight suggests you consult with an experienced local agent to better understand what your home might be worth if sold on the open market. Then, compare your cash offer. HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent in your market. You can also use HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator to get an initial ballpark estimate in less than two minutes.
Other options to sell your Winter Haven home quickly
If you’re looking to sell your home fast in Winter Haven, but don’t want to work with a We Buy Houses company, you have options:
iBuyers: iBuyers like Opendoor and Offerpad use automated valuation models to provide near-instant, all-cash offers for homes in good condition. Their process is streamlined and mostly online, with closing timelines as short as a few days. While they often offer closer to market value, service fees of 5%-6% apply.
Listing with an agent: A top real estate agent can help you achieve a quick sale, especially if your home is priced strategically. Consulting with an agent often includes a comparative market analysis (CMA) to assess your home’s value, which is often free. Agents may even connect you with cash buyers offering market-competitive prices. HomeLight can connect you with a proven agent to explore this option.
FAQs on Winter Haven house-buying companies
By and large, most We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Winter Haven are legitimate businesses. Their services and transaction fees may differ, but the business model has been around for decades. If you use an established group with a track record, you can be fairly confident that it’s legit.
That said, as with any financial transaction, it’s a good idea to be on the alert for scams. Always research companies before you sign a contract. Check customer reviews, look at their online presence, verify professional licenses, get a referral if possible, and vet the company on the Better Business Bureau website. Watch for anything that just doesn’t seem right.
As described in our pros and cons list above, most Winter Haven We Buy Houses for Cash companies apply the 70% rule, meaning they’ll offer you about 70% of your home’s after-repair value minus their estimated repair costs.
Here’s an example of what a simplified formula might look like:
(Your home’s ARV x .70) – repair costs
To see how this might work in a real-world scenario, let’s take a look at an example offer equation. Let’s say your Winter Haven colonial-revival could sell for $280,000 after repairs, but it will need $30,000 of work to get there.
($280,000 x .70) – $30,000 = $166,000
In this example, a Winter Haven We Buy Houses company might offer you around $166,000 for your home.
However, different types of house-buying companies will offer varying amounts for homes. As mentioned previously, iBuyers tend to pay more than We Buy Houses companies because iBuyers look for homes in better condition. An iBuyer might pay you 90% or more of market value while charging a fee for their services.
When you accept an offer from a Winter Haven We Buy Houses for Cash company, you will likely be coming to grips with a double-edged sword. On the one side, it shouldn’t cost you any additional money because these companies make an offer and handle almost everything once it is accepted. Conversely, you’ll likely get less money overall for your home.
Because We Buy Houses for Cash companies tend to focus on distressed homes, they typically have zero fees. Many will even cover your closing costs. In most cases, this means that the cash offer you receive will be the price you walk away with at the end of the deal. Of course, asking the company if any hidden program fees might impact your bottom line is always a good idea.
- Research and vet the house-buying companies that serve your Winter Haven area. Our list above is a good place to start.
- Submit offer requests to a few of the companies you like best.
- Schedule any required on-site property visits.
- Compare offers. Weigh the pros and cons and choose the best option for you.
- Close the sale in a week to 30 days and get paid. (Some companies will let you choose a closing date up to 90 days after accepting the offer, which can be helpful when planning a move.)
We Buy Houses for Cash in Winter Haven vs. top Winter Haven agent
Another helpful exercise is to compare how a We Buy Houses for Cash company might stack up against working with a real estate agent. Let’s take a glance at how different aspects of the sale might look and compare possible proceeds.
Aspect of the sale | Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Winter Haven | Sell with a top Realtor in Winter Haven |
Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 102 days average; 58 to attract an offer, 44 to close the loan |
Home preparations | None | Deep clean, declutter, make necessary repairs, landscape, stage home |
Showings | None | 10 to 25 showings average |
Inspections / repairs | None | May need to make additional repairs for the buyer or renegotiate the price |
Appraisal | None | May need to lower your asking price if the appraisal comes in low |
Title search | Cash-For-Homes companies often handle title issues | Must clear title before you can sell the home |
Financing contingency | None | Mortgaged buyers use a financing contingency that could hold up the deal if the buyer’s loan doesn’t clear |
Agent commission | None | 3%-5.8% average |
Closing costs | None | 1% to 3% of the home sale price on top of agent commission |
Example net proceeds
Below, we’ve compiled one example of how net proceeds may differ between selling a home to a We Buy Houses for Cash company and an agent-assisted sale.
Let’s say your home in Winter Haven is worth about $280,000 and needs about $25,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth around $305,000.
Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Winter Haven | Sell with a top Realtor in Winter Haven | |
Estimated sale price | ($305,000 x .70) – $25,000 = $188,500 | $280,000 |
Market preparations | 0 | $2,800 (1% of sale price) |
Agent commissions | 0 | $8,400 (3%) |
Closing costs | 0 | $4,200 (1.5%) |
Estimated take-home for seller | $188,500 | $264,600 |
As this example illustrates, financially, it’s usually in your best interest to partner with an experienced real estate agent.
However, net proceeds are not the only consideration when selling a home. What’s best in your situation will depend on the condition of your property, what level of repairs are needed, and your selling objectives. It could be that selling on the open market will be a challenge in your area, or the agent timeline might not fit your immediate needs.
Key takeaways
- Cash-for-homes companies offer speed: These companies let you sell your home quickly, often within days, without needing repairs or staging.
- You’ll sell as-is: Cash buyers purchase properties in any condition, saving you the hassle and expense of preparing your home for sale.
- Expect lower offers: Cash-for-homes companies typically pay less than market value, making it important to compare offers.
- No hidden fees: Most house-buying companies don’t charge fees, but always read the agreement carefully to avoid surprises.
- Alternative options exist: iBuyers and real estate agents can offer competitive cash offers or help you achieve a higher sale price.
- Know your home’s worth: Always be aware of your property’s estimated market value before you proceed with a cash-offer company.
At HomeLight, we’re happy to lend a guiding hand in navigating your real estate journey. Let us help you make an informed and confident decision, whether you’re looking for a no-obligation cash offer through a trusted platform like Simple Sale or seeking to consult with a top Winter Haven, FL, agent.
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