If you’re considering an as-is offer for your house, start with a simple question: what does the buyer actually agree to take responsibility for?
The price matters. So do repairs, closing costs, possession and the steps that still need to happen before closing. Those details should be clear before you decide whether an offer works for you.
Our purchase of 405 Left Fork Fudges Creek Road in Milton gives us a real example. We purchased the property in April 2023 and later sold it in June. The original purchase agreement described the house as being purchased in its present as-is condition. That gave both sides a written starting point for discussing the purchase.
Ask what the as-is offer covers
A homeowner and a buyer can use the same phrase and still have different expectations. One person may be thinking about a dated kitchen. Another may be thinking about a repair that needs attention before anyone moves in.
Before accepting an offer, ask the buyer to explain the proposed terms in plain language. Are you being asked to complete any work? Is a visit or inspection still planned? What happens if a question comes up about the property’s condition?
Get the answers tied to your own agreement. Our repair questions before an as-is sale can help you prepare for that conversation.
Have your own qualified adviser explain anything in an agreement you don’t understand. A buyer’s advertisement shouldn’t be your only explanation of the paperwork.
Compare the whole as-is offer
Two offers with different prices may also have different responsibilities attached to them. Before comparing them, make a short list:
- The price being offered.
- Any work you would be expected to complete.
- Which closing expenses each side proposes to pay.
- The proposed closing and possession dates.
- Any conditions that still need to be satisfied.
Our guide to what to review in a written as-is offer covers these details. Ask the closing professional to help you understand the estimated amount you would receive. Keep that estimate separate from the headline offer, and remember that figures can change as the details are confirmed.
Our Fudges Creek agreement addressed costs as well as condition. Check both when comparing an as-is offer, rather than assuming that one company’s offer includes every expense.
Keep the closing date realistic
A proposed date gives everyone something to work toward. It isn’t the same as a completed closing.
At Fudges Creek, the agreement came first, followed by closing coordination and the completed April purchase. Before you arrange a move around a proposed date, ask which steps remain and when the closing office expects to have them finished.
If timing matters to you, tell the buyer what you need and ask what must happen before that date can be confirmed. Find out who will update you if something changes. That’s more useful than relying on a general promise to close quickly.
Start with your house and your questions
You don’t need to decide on repairs simply because you think every buyer will require them. You also don’t need to accept an as-is offer just because one is available. Compare the work, terms and timing of the options you’re considering.
Our Milton home-selling page explains how to start a conversation with AM Investments. Tell us the address, the property’s condition and what you want to understand about a possible sale. We’ll work from those details rather than assume your situation is the same as someone else’s.
