HomeVestors Reviews (We Buy Ugly Houses)

Q: Does HomeVestors give a fair price for homes?

No, they won't pay much for your home . Like most cash buyers, HomeVestors generally purchases homes for a maximum of 70% of their true market value. This is because their business model relies on purchasing homes at a discount and then reselling them for a profit. If you want to receive top dollar for your home (and save on realtor commissions), consider going with a low commission real estate brokerage near you .

Published January 25, 2023

Written by Bailey Peterson
Edited by Josiah Wilmoth

Should I sell to HomeVestors? | HomeVestors vs. top competitors | Find HomeVestors reviews from real customers | Locations

HomeVestors is a nationwide company that buys houses for cash. Most people are more familiar with HomeVestors’ famous trademark, “We Buy Ugly Houses.”

Like other We Buy Houses companies, HomeVestors purchases homes in as-is condition for a steep discount — sometimes just 50% of fair market value. It fixes them up, then resells them for a huge profit — typically tens of thousands of dollars.

We Buy Houses companies like HomeVestors are only worth considering if you need to unload an unwanted, distressed property fast. You’ve worked too hard to build up equity in your home to sell it for pennies on the dollar.

If you want to sell quickly without sacrificing a ton of equity, it’s crucial to get multiple offers from trustworthy cash home buyers. Comparing multiple quotes helps you avoid lowball offers and helps you be confident you’re getting a fair price for your home.

To get fair cash offers quickly, we recommend trying Clever Offers. Clever will match you with an experienced local realtor who will bring you fair offers from reputable cash home buyers. You’ll also get a free home price estimate, so you see what your house is worth on the open market. Get fair cash offers from top local buyers now!

🔑 Key Takeaways

HomeVestors is best for people with distressed or unwanted homes who need to sell as quickly as possible.
HomeVestors can help you sell your home in as little as three weeks, but they’ll also pay significantly less than the fair market value of your home — sometimes as little as 50%.
Most home sellers should try selling on the open market first. A discount brokerage can help you sell fast and for a better price.
If you absolutely need to sell quickly, an iBuyer is always a better option than a cash buyer — as long as your home qualifies.
HomeVestors is the parent company of the well-known “We Buy Ugly Houses.”

HomeVestors, at a glance

Criteria	WBUH Data
📍 Locations	More than 800 local franchises across 44 states and Washington, DC
⏱️ Time to offer	24–48 hours
📅 Time to close	As little as 3 weeks
✅ What customers love	Fast, easy transaction with flexible closing times
❌ Common complaints	Low offers, limited ability to negotiate price
⭐ Customer reviews	4.4 out of 5 across 1590 reviews

Pros & cons of selling to HomeVestors

✅ Pros

Availability. HomeVestors is a national brand, so it’s an option for most home sellers.
No repair costs. You don’t need to worry about prepping your home for listing photos or paying for repairs because HomeVestors purchases houses as is.
Fast closing. When you sell to HomeVestors, you can close in as little as three weeks. However, if you need extra time, they will still work with you.

❌ Cons

Lower offer prices. HomeVestors won’t pay nearly as much as an ordinary home buyer. You could be missing out on tens of thousands of dollars by selling to a cash buyer.
Quality of service varies. Since franchisees are independently owned and operated, the quality of service may vary. Complaints made by previous sellers are usually about specific franchises, not the entire company.
No representation. If you sell directly to HomeVestors, there’s no one to represent your best interests, so you’ll have to negotiate and evaluate HomeVestors’ offer on your own. Whereas when you list with a real estate agent, they work for you and typically do everything they can to help you get the best deal possible.

How does selling to HomeVestors work?

Homeowners who want to sell to HomeVestors can request an offer by calling their 1-800 number or completing a form online.

Your local HomeVestors franchisee will then follow up to get more information on your home and schedule an in-person or virtual inspection. A HomeVestors representative will then visit your home to examine its overall condition and see what repairs are needed.

After the home inspection, you will receive an all-cash offer from the HomeVestors franchisee. This typically happens within 24-48 hours or even sooner.

If you accept their offer, you can close in as little as three weeks. The franchisee will take care of the necessary paperwork; all you need to do is sign on the dotted line.

💰 How much does HomeVestors pay for houses?

HomeVestors typically pays between 50–70% of market value for houses.

For example, if your home is worth $350,000, HomeVestors would likely pay between $175,000 and $245,000 for it, costing you more than $100,000 in lost equity!

Selling to HomeVestors vs. selling on the open market

HomeVestors can make the home selling process both fast and predictable. However, the convenience comes at a cost.

Like other cash buyers, HomeVestors typically only purchases houses if they’re getting a bargain price — sometimes for as little as 50% of the home’s fair market value. Sellers will almost always get more money for their home by listing on the open market.

Ordinary home buyers generally expect to pay fair market value to purchase a house — while cash buyers like HomeVestors expect to get a deal so they can flip the house for profit.

Selling your house on the open market creates competition among buyers, helping you sell quickly while still getting top dollar for your home. And if you sell with a discount brand like Clever, you can get a lower commission rate, which keeps even more of your hard-earned equity in your pocket.

When you list with Clever, you’ll save on realtor commissions while working with a top agent from a brokerage like Keller Williams or Coldwell Banker. Interview as many agents as you want until you find the perfect fit — or walk away any time with no obligation.

HomeVestors locations

HomeVestors is a national cash buyer brand with franchises in 44 states and Washington, DC. The company has franchises in almost every state, with the exception of Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

Not in HomeVestors’ service area, or just want to compare your options? Check out our list of the best low commission real estate brokerages near you!

HomeVestors reviews from real customers

Customers give HomeVestors a rating of 4.4 out of 5 across 1590 reviews on Yelp.

	Avg. rating	Total reviews
Weighted avg.	4.4	1590
Google	4.5	1488
Yelp	2.5	82
Better Business Bureau (BBB)	1.4	20

HomeVestors doesn’t have a lot of customer reviews online, so the customer rating doesn’t reveal much useful information about the quality and overall value the company provides. However, our Research Team investigated all 1590 HomeVestors reviews, and found that customers who gave positive reviews tended to note benefits like:

The speed and ease of the transaction
Professional customer service
A hassle-free closing

On the other hand, complaints and negative HomeVestors reviews focused on problems like:

Lowball offers
Failed promises surrounding closing time
Losing an offer that was supposed to be firm

What customers liked about HomeVestors

This home seller in Georgia says he knew he would receive a lower offer from HomeVestors, but that the process was worth it to sell his house:

This reviewer in Dallas says HomeVestors provided professional service from start to finish:

This home seller in Connecticut said HomeVestors closed quickly on her company:

What customers didn’t like about HomeVestors

This reviewer says they made his mother a lowball offer that was far below what the home was worth:

This Washington state home seller claims the HomeVestors franchise he worked with made lots of false promises about closing dates:

This home seller described her experience with the HomeVestors franchise in St. Louis as a complete scam:

HomeVestors vs. top competitors

HomeVestors stacks up well against other We Buy Houses for Cash companies, but most home sellers will find much better value by working with an iBuyer or a low commission real estate brokerage.

Company type	Who it's best for	Our top pick
🏆 Low commission brokerage	Home sellers who value a quick sale but don’t want to sacrifice their hard-earned equity	Clever Real Estate (full rankings)
🥈 iBuyer service	Home sellers who need to sell quickly and have cookie-cutter homes in large markets	Offerpad (full rankings)
🥉 Cash buyer	Home sellers who need cash immediately, even if it's just pennies on the dollar	HomeVestors (full rankings)

🏆 A low commission brokerage will sell your home for top dollar

A low commission company is the best option for most home sellers because it allows you to sell your home for top dollar while saving on real estate commissions. The best discount brands, like Redfin and Clever Real Estate, provide full service from top agents at a fraction of the price you’d pay with a traditional agent.

Like most cash buyers, HomeVestors tends to follow the 70% rule used by real estate investors and house flippers — meaning that they’ll likely pay a fraction maximum of 70% of the actual market value of your home. They’re not incentivized to pay more than that because their business model relies on purchasing homes at a discount then flipping them for a profit.

Although a cash buyer like HomeVestors can help you get to the closing table quickly, listing on the open market is the best way to get a fair price for your home.

🥈 An iBuyer can make an instant cash offer

If you need to sell your home quickly, an iBuyer is a better alternative to We Buy Houses companies — if your home qualifies. Unlike HomeVestors, iBuyers make competitive cash offers that are much closer to — but still usually less than — market value, and most services allow you to close in as little as 2 weeks.

Unfortunately, iBuyers are only available in a few select markets. And these companies tend to be extremely selective about the types of homes they buy — so if you’re selling a home in poor condition, it might not be an option for you.

» MORE: The best iBuyer companies in 2022

🥉 Other We Buy Houses companies offer a fast closing

While we don’t recommend We Buy Houses companies for most home sellers, there are times when these companies can be your only option. Selling to a real estate investment company may make sense if:

You’re selling a home in extremely poor condition
You need to sell quickly
You don’t have the time or money to spend on repair costs, and
You’re okay with leaving money on the table

If you’re certain you need to sell to a We Buy Houses company, we strongly recommend getting multiple quotes before accepting an offer from HomeVestors.

Some of HomeVestors’ top competitors include WeBuyHouses.com, Sundae Real Estate, and MarketPro Homebuyers. These companies all have similar business models, as well as the same pros and cons. The main benefit is that they will generally buy your house quickly in as-is condition, and the main drawback is that they’ll likely make an offer that’s far below market value.

Should you sell your home to HomeVestors?

No, the majority of home sellers should not sell to HomeVestors because you’ll receive a fraction of what your home might net on the open market. It might be an attractive option for you if you’re selling a distressed home and you’re looking for a fast closing. But we still recommend talking to a realtor to find out what your home is worth before you sell your home to a company like HomeVestors.

Realtor’s take: List on the open market, even if you’re in a rush

We asked 25 licensed real estate agents about HomeVestors, and all said that they typically advise their clients against selling with these kinds of companies.

“These companies work well for desperate home sellers who are in immediate need of liquidating their property,” says Bill Gasset, who has been a realtor for 35 years in Hopkinton, MA. “For the general population, they would be a complete waste of time as they only pay pennies on the dollar for what the home is worth.”

Christopher Avallon, a real estate broker in Princeton, NJ, agrees. “The people who usually benefit most from [companies that buy homes for cash] are ones who are not concerned with getting the full market value on their home,” he says.

“For someone looking for less hassle or a quick close, a cash offer is often a great solution,” says John Gluch, realtor and CEO of The Gluch Group San Diego. In these situations, he encourages sellers to shop around for multiple cash offers and talk to a real estate agent to determine their home’s true market value. “Comparing actual cash offers and terms to what the market will bear gives you the most options and the least risk.”

Kurt Grosse, a realtor with Realty One Group in Las Vegas, encourages home sellers to list on the open market — even if they’re in a rush. “We are in a seller’s market and there are fast closes and cash offers in bidding wars,” he says. “A home seller can specify their unique needs in a listing and still get TOP DOLLAR offers immediately. They’ve worked too hard for the equity in their homes and I hate to see them give it away.”

Bottom line: Should I sell to HomeVestors?

Most home sellers will find better value by selling their home on the open market. A low commission real estate brand, like Clever Real Estate, can help you save on realtor commissions while receiving top dollar for your home.

Sellers who work with Clever will get matched with a top local agent from well-known brokerages like Century 21 and RE/MAX. You’ll learn how much your home is worth and how long it might take to find a buyer. Best of all, you’ll pay just 1.5% in listing fees, saving thousands while potentially getting a better price for your home.

HomeVestors of America company profile


Headquarters	Dallas, TX
Company type	Private
CEO/President	David Hicks
Owner	Bayview Asset Management, LLC

Frequently asked questions about HomeVestors

Is HomeVestors a scam?

HomeVestors is not a scam — it's a legitimate cash buying brand with franchises across the country. However, HomeVestors pays less than fair market value for houses in order to resell them for a profit.

The quality of service that you receive may vary from franchise to franchise since each one is independently owned and operated. Make sure you do your research on your local franchise to find out if they have a good reputation before contacting them.

If you want to sell your home for top dollar, we recommend listing on the open market with a discount real estate brokerage. This is the best way to get fair market value for your home, and listing with a discount brand will get you a lower commission rate that saves you thousands on realtor fees.

Should I sell my house to HomeVestors?

No, most home sellers should not sell to HomeVestors because you'll typically get much less than what your home is worth.

If you want to sell your home and walk away with as much money as possible, we recommend working with a low commission real estate brokerage. These companies allow you to save money on realtor fees while finding the best buyer for your home. If you need to sell your home quickly, see if your home is eligible to be purchased from an iBuyer like Offerpad.

You should only consider selling to a We Buy Houses for Cash company like HomeVestors if you're selling a distressed property and you need a fast closing. But you should still speak to a realtor and compare multiple cash offers to make sure you're not sacrificing your equity for pennies on the dollar.

Are there any problems with HomeVestors?

As a home seller, the biggest problem you're likely to encounter with HomeVestors is that they won't pay much for your home. Cash buyers like HomeVestors often operate using the 70% rule, which means they'll pay no more than 70% of the home's after repair value, minus repair costs. In fact, they might pay even less than 70% to maximize their profits.

Does HomeVestors give a fair price for homes?

No, they won't pay much for your home. Like most cash buyers, HomeVestors generally purchases homes for a maximum of 70% of their true market value. This is because their business model relies on purchasing homes at a discount and then reselling them for a profit. If you want to receive top dollar for your home (and save on realtor commissions), consider going with a low commission real estate brokerage near you.

Can you negotiate with HomeVestors?

In reality, most home sellers won't be able to negotiate their HomeVestors offer.

While you can certainly try to negotiate with HomeVestors, the final offer is up to the discretion of the local franchise lead. Most HomeVestors owners won't increase their offer because their business model runs on purchasing houses for less than market value and then reselling at a higher price.

In addition, when you sell to a cash buyer company like HomeVestors instead of listing on the open market, you eliminate competition between potential buyers. This makes it much more difficult (and often impossible) to negotiate the sale price of your home because the company knows they don't have to compete with anyone else.

Who is Robin Milligan?

Robin Milligan is a HomeVestors executive who works in their corporate office in Dallas. Her name is sometimes added to the company’s marketing materials to help build credibility. If you receive mail with Robin’s name on the return address, it’s your local HomeVestors franchise that’s reaching out, not Milligan herself.

Who owns HomeVestors?

HomeVestors of America is owned by Bayview Asset Management, LLC, a global investment management firm. The real estate franchise was sold to Bayview in January 2022 and was previously owned by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (LLCP), a private equity firm based in Los Angeles. HomeVestors is the parent company of subsidiary We Buy Ugly Houses.

Methodology

We performed an in-depth analysis of HomeVestors and their subsidiary brand, “We Buy Ugly Houses”, to write this review. Our ranking and editorial positions were created from hundreds of hours of research by the cash buyer review team at Real Estate Witch. We also read all of the customer reviews online for HomeVestors’ individual franchise locations, reviewed numerous press articles about the company, and interviewed 25 licensed real estate agents across the U.S. to gather their opinions on cash buyer companies.

We regularly review and update this article to bring you the most up-to-date information on HomeVestors pricing, business model, customer service, and reviews.