Frequently Asked Questions
Maybe you have a few questions. That’s okay; most people do. Here we cover almost every question you could possibly think of. If you still have a question, don’t hesitate to contact us (or give us a call) and we’ll be happy to answer it for you.
I Need to Sell QUICK
Q: How can I sell my house fast in Chicago, Illinois?
A: If by ‘fast’ you mean in under 10 days, there is only one option for you: a cash buyer. We pride ourselves on how quickly we work and can get money in your pocket in as quick as 5-7 days. After we agree on price, we expedite the closing through our experienced team.
Q: How do I sell my house for cash in Chicago, Illinois?
A: Great question. If you want a quick sale and don’t want to fix anything, selling to an investor sounds like an ideal fit. We’re not agents, and we don’t list houses. We are professional home buyers: We buy houses in Chicago that meet our purchasing criteria. From there we may repair the house and resell it to another homeowner or keep it as a rental ourselves.
Q: I need to sell my Chicago house ASAP. Can you help?
A: We’ve helped many people in a similar spot as you. That’s why we are known as Chicago’s fastest cash home buyers. We can put money in your pocket in 7 days since we pay cash and don’t rely on financing. Click for link on: Benefits of selling a house for cash in Chicago, Illinois.
Q: How to sell your house in Chicago, IL in 5 days?
A: Sounds like you’re thinking, “I need to sell my house fast in Chicago!” Five days is on the quicker side of what is possible in Illinois. But we have done it! And we always aim to meet or exceed your expectations.
How Much Will You Pay?
Q: Do you pay fair prices for properties?
A: Many of the houses we purchase are below market value (we do this so we can resell it at a profit to another home owner). We are looking to get a fair discount on a property. However, in our experience, many sellers aren’t necessarily expecting a large “windfall” on the property but rather appreciate that we can offer cash, we close very quickly (no waiting for financing), and no time or effort or expense is required on your part of fix up the property or pay agent fees. If that’s what you’re looking for and you see the value in getting your house sold fast… let’s see if we can come to a fair win-win price. (Besides, our no-obligation pricing commitment means that you do not have to move forward with the offer we give… but it’s good to know what we’re offering!)[DOWNLOAD our free guide that walks you through the Pros and Cons (plus the cost and timeline) of selling your house to a real estate investor… plus learn the pros, cons, and costs of the other two alternatives… listing with an agent or selling it yourself. Head on over here download your free guide →]
Q: How do you determine the price to offer on my house?
A: Great question, and we’re an open book: Our process is very straightforward. We look at the location of the property, what repairs are needed, the current condition of the property, and values of comparable houses sold in the area recently. We take many pieces of information into consideration… and come up with a fair price that works for us and works for you too.
Q: Are there any fees or commissions to work with you?
A: This is what makes us stand out from the traditional method of selling your house: There are NO fees or commissions when you sell your house with us. We’ll make you an offer, and if it’s a fit then we’ll buy your house (and we’ll often pay for the closing costs too!). No hassle. No fees. We make our money after we pay for repairs on the house (if any) and sell it for a profit (we’re taking all of the risk on whether we can sell it for a profit or not, once we buy the house from you… the responsibility is ours and you walk away without the burden of the property and it’s payments… and often with cash in your hand).
Questions About the Process
Q: Why should we sell to Windy City Solutions?
A: We are a local, family-owned business that works directly with the seller. We aren’t a big chain located across the country that treats you like a number. We put you as a priority.
Q: How long does it take to get an offer on my Chicago house?
A: In most cases, you will have an offer within 24 hours. We pride ourselves on customer support.
Q: Is there any obligation when I submit my info?
A: There is absolutely zero obligation for you. Once you tell us a bit about your property, we’ll take a look at things, maybe set up a call with you to find out a bit more, and make you an all-cash offer that’s fair for you and fair for us. From there, it’s 100% your decision on whether or not you’d like to sell your house to us… and we won’t hassle you, won’t harass you… it’s 100% your decision and we’ll let you decide what’s right for you.
Q: Do you buy houses all throughout Illinois?
A: We buy houses in Chicago, Illinois and all surrounding suburbs. We work primarily in Cook County, Will County and DuPage County. However, we have conducted business in Lake County, McHenry County and Kane County. If you have a house, give us the address and we’ll quickly be able to tell if it will be a good fit.
Q: Will you be listing my house on the MLS or actually buying it?
A: Great question. We’re not agents, and we don’t list houses. We are professional home buyers: We buy houses Chicago that meet our purchasing criteria. From there we may repair the house and resell it to another home owner or keep it as a rental ourselves.
I’m Working With You, Now What?
Q: If I request an offer, am I committed to selling to you?
A: No, you are not obligated or committed to anything. Your offer is free and costs you nothing.
Q: What are the exact steps needed to sell my Chicago house fast?
A: Fill out the quick form HERE or contact our call center 24 hours a day at 708-832-6654. We will call you to schedule a time to meet at the house. We’ll present you with a fair, no-obligation offer. Once you accept, we have a team that orders title and takes care of paperwork. We schedule closing on the date you choose. You have a choice to attend closing or a ‘remote’ closing. The check is given at closing or wired directly to your bank account.
Q: How long do appointments last when you come to my house?
A: Typically 30-40 minutes. Just enough time for us to see the condition of the house and discuss about your needs so we can be on the same page. This is also the time for you to ask us any questions that we may have missed here. Unlikely : )
Q: What do I need to do once I accept an offer?
A: You do not need to worry or stress about anything. All you have to do is remove the things you want to keep and we will handle everything from start to finish. We coordinate the entire closing process.
Q: How long does it take to close and get paid?
A: We can close and get you paid on the date of your choice. If needed, we are able to close and get you paid in as fast as 5 days.
Should I Use a Real-Estate Agent Instead?
Q: How are you different from a real estate agent?
A: Real estate agents list properties and hope that someone will buy them. The agent shows the properties to prospective buyers if there are any (the average time to sell a property in many markets right now is 6-12 months) and then take a percentage of the sale price if they find a buyer. Oftentimes, the agent’s commission is 6% of the sale price of your house (so if it’s a $100,000 house, you’ll pay $6,000 in commissions to an agent). Agents provide a great service for those that can wait 6-12 months to sell and who don’t mind giving up some of that sale price to pay for the commissions. But that’s where we’re different: We’re not agents, we’re home buyers. Our company actually buys houses. We don’t list houses. Since we’re actually the one buying the house from you, and we pay with all cash… we can make a decision to buy your house within a couple days (sometimes the same day). Again, we make our living by taking the risk to buy the house with our own cash, repair the house, and market it ourselves to find a buyer (which is the hard part in this market).
Q: A real-estate agent said I can get more money, why should I sell to you?
A: This is very common. A real-estate agent is incentivized to tell you a number you want to hear so you will list the house with them and they can get their commission. If the house doesn’t sell for what they say, they aren’t on the hook. It’s YOU who loses. We actually guarantee our number since we’re the ones putting up the money.
Q: Will you still buy my home if it is listed with a realtor?
A: As long as the property meets our criteria and we can agree on a price and/or terms. In most cases, no. There are typically too many commissions and fees after you’ve listed your house with a realtor for us to get what we both need out of the property. But, if the price is right and you’re ‘done’ waiting, we have stepped into situations such as this in the past.
Q: Can I list my house with a real-estate agent and sell to you if I can’t find a buyer?
A: Most certainly you can. However, you have to understand we take on the risk of buying your house with the uncertainty of not knowing the exact demand. When you list it with a realtor, you help answer that question for us. And if there was not enough demand for a sale, you’ve helped us by taking out some of the guesswork. So, thank you, but now we will need to readjust our offer price.
Price is a Big Concern For Me
Q: Someone else offered me more money, why should I sell to you?
A: First of all, this is rare. We are the ones actually buying your house so we have to deal with less middlemen, so our prices are usually the most competitive. A common scenario we run into is a ‘wholesaler’ will offer more than us in hopes of finding a cash buyer of their own. If they can’t, the contract will expire and time is wasted while you start from square one again. The wholesaler, similar to a real-estate agent, isn’t GUARANTEEING anything. We put our money where our mouth is.
Q: How can I get the most money possible for my house?
A: Simple, but you need a lot of money, time, patience and research. First of all, renovate your house to where everything is updated and new. Clean out the house and properly stage it. List it with a realtor. Wait, wait and likely wait some more. Once you get an offer accepted, you will have to wait another 30-60 days for financing to go through. Renegotiate after the buyers get an inspection. Cross your fingers the appraisal comes in at sale price. And finally, get paid! But wait, this sale price will get cut down VERY quickly since you sold the traditional route with a real-estate agent. Take out all the commissions and fees for closing costs and whatever is left is how much you get to take away after several months to an entire year of waiting. Click for link on: All the costs to sell a house in Chicago.
Q: My neighbor’s house sold for more. Can you beat that price?
A: This is where there’s a lot of smoke and mirrors. The price your neighbor ‘sold’ their house for isn’t close to what they put in their pocket after fees, commissions and concessions. Not to mention the time wasted and any money spent fixing up the house. Your number, short of pro-rated property taxes, is what will actually go in your pocket.
Q: Why can’t I get as much money as my neighbor did for their house?
A: Typically the houses are not truly the same. We use what is referred to as a “CMA” – Comparable Market Analysis. This takes into account beds, baths, square footage, condition of house, etc. If your neighbor has an extra bed or bath it’s not realistic to expect as much as they received. It is human nature to think yours is just as good if not better — even if it isn’t. We see this a lot : )
Potential Issues With Selling My House
Q: I want to sell a house I just inherited in Chicago, Illinois?
A: As long as you are the designated executor of the estate, we can go through with the purchase of the house. You will likely need anyone else on the estate to sign off before it’s official, but we can help with all the necessary paperwork and make it easy on you!
Q: Can I sell my house in preforeclosure in Chicago, Illinois?
A: Great question. That is one of the biggest demographics that we help out. Because time is of the essence in your situation, we are an ideal fit with how fast we can move as cash buyers. We will pay for the back taxes and see how much we can put in your pocket walking away. Here you can search for your tax delinquent amount: (click your county for link) Cook County, Will County, DuPage County.
Q: How do I sell my damaged house in Chicago, Illinois?
A: Many real-estate agents don’t want any part of these types of houses. That’s where investors come in. If you sell to an investor, they will likely repair the house, but usually need the house at a good discount for their troubles. We are professional fix ‘n flippers and enjoy restoring once-wonderful houses to their glory days.
Q: Can you still buy my Chicago house even if it is in foreclosure?
A: Yes, we buy houses in foreclosure. As long as there are a few days prior to the foreclosure sale, we can buy it. It is best to request your offer or contact us sooner rather than later to give an adequate amount of time to get the transaction complete.
Q: Can I save my credit if my Chicago house is in foreclosure?
A: Yes, if you sell your house prior to the foreclosure sale, your lender will be paid off and this will prevent a “FORECLOSURE” from showing up on your credit.
Q: I live out of state, can you still buy my Chicago, Illinois house?
A: We most certainly can. A typical scenario we run into is a family member passed away and now you were gifted a house you’re not even sure you want. We can have you sign all the papers remotely with a mobile notary that we organize through our reputable title company. They will send you a check in the mail or have the money wired directly to your account.
Q: How to sell my house in probate in Chicago, Illinois?
A: You do not have to wait until the probate is finished to sell. We can show you how we can buy the property prior to the probate process being completed.
General Questions
Q: How can I sell my Chicago, Illinois house online?
A: Believe it or not we can conduct the entire transaction for you while you don’t leave the comfort of your computer. If you can get us inside the house – lockbox, neighbor, family member, etc. – we can evaluate the condition of the house. From there, we order title, have you sign papers online or we can send a mobile notary to you even if you’re in another state! You pick if you want a check in the mail or wire to your bank account.
Q: What is the best way to sell a house in Chicago, Illinois?
A: Different strokes for different folks. If you have the time, money and patience to deal with the traditional real-estate process, that may be best for you. If you don’t want to get stressed out by selling your house, we can make the process easy on you. Maybe you have more important concerns in your life. Regardless, 100% satisfaction guaranteed when you work with Windy City Solutions.
Q: How to sell a house fast by owner in Chicago, Illinois?
A: If you’d like to sell your house on your own, without a real-estate agent, we can help. We are serious cash home buyers that cut out the middlemen with unnecessary fees and commissions.
Q: How do I sell my house myself in Chicago, Illinois? FSBO
A: If you’d like to sell your house without the unnecessary assistance of a realtor, we are Chicago Illinois’ fastest cash home buyers. We can understand if you don’t like to pay extra fees and someone else’s commission when you don’t have to.
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