Selling a house as is can greatly reduce the stress and upfront costs of home selling. However, multiple data sources show that as-is listings typically sell for 15–25% less than area averages.[1][2]
"However, sometimes repairs are so expensive that it doesn’t make sense to do them," says Elisha Lopez, a realtor based in Central Florida. "In those cases, selling a house as is may actually save you money."
How much you lose selling a house as is really depends on a variety of factors, including the level of demand in your local market, the extent of repairs or improvements needed, and how you market your home.
Here’s how to figure out whether an as is sale is right for you — and the factors that influence your final sale price.
If you're looking for the convenience of selling as is, without compromising on price, we suggest starting with Clever Offers — our top pick among cash home buying companies. With Clever, you can get competing cash offers worth up to 100% of your home value and sell in as little as 7 days. Request offers.
What does selling as is really mean?
"Selling ‘as is’ can mean one of two things," explains Lopez. "It could mean the seller prefers not to make repairs, but there’s nothing really wrong with the home. Or, it could be referring to a complete floor-to-ceiling rehab."
Whether the house needs a little work or a lot, when you selling as is, it signals to buyers that you’re selling it in its current condition. However, selling a house as is doesn't mean you're entirely off the hook from negotiating repairs.
Buyers of as-is properties can still conduct inspections and request a credit or price reduction for undisclosed issues found by the inspector.
And you'll still need to follow your state's disclosure laws, which typically require you to inform potential buyers of the general condition of your home — including its systems and appliances — and any known issues with the property, such as structural problems or water damage.
You may even want to pay for a home inspection before you list so buyers know the extent of needed repairs and issues. Being upfront can also help you save time by attracting the right buyers and avoiding ones who aren’t serious about a fixer-upper.
Is selling a house as is worth it?
Pros
- You can avoid repair costs
- You can sell faster, especially if you work with a reputable cash buyer
- You may have a more convenient selling process
Cons
- Your final sale price will be lower
- You'll have a smaller pool of buyers
- Buyers may have trouble getting traditional financing
The most typical case for selling a house as is is when your home needs repairs that you don’t have the time, money, or energy to complete before listing.
However, selling as is could also be a good option if you need to sell quickly or simply want to avoid the traditional selling process.
Factors that influence your sale price when selling as is
While different sources put the average loss from as is home sales somewhere between 15–25%, this is really only an estimate. How much you actually lose selling as is depends on a variety of factors.
Your home's location
Home sale data shows that sellers should expect to leave at least some money on the table when selling a property as is, but location plays a big part in how much.
For example, the research team at Maker Real Estate analyzed thousands of as is property sales in Ramsey County, Minnesota. County-wide, the median sale price for homes sold as is was $265,000, compared to $315,000 for all homes.
However, the 'as is' "discount" varied greatly by neighborhood and city.
- In areas with newer construction and plenty of homes available, as-is properties sold for as much as 27% less than the area average.
- In more desirable neighborhoods, where homes tend to be older and there are fewer of them for sale, as-is properties sold for as much as 21% more than the city-wide median home price.
Similarly, research conducted by Porch found that the difference in sale price for homes designated 'fixer uppers' ranged from as little as 1% less to as much as 67% less than area averages, depending on the city.
"The profit you make really depends on the market you’re in," says Elisha Lopez, a licensed broker and owner of Ocala Realty World in Central Florida. "In Florida, for example, many sellers still see competitive offers on homes that need repairs. If there is low inventory and high demand in your area, you’re going to be able to sell your home as is. "
Buyer's market vs. seller's market
"The profit you make really depends on the market you’re in," says Florida-based realtor Elisha Lopez.
“If the market is slow, you may want to fix up the house to increase the number of potential purchasers. But if there is low inventory and high demand in your area, you’re going to be able to sell your home as is. In Florida, for example, many sellers still see competitive offers on homes that need repairs.
Even investors will adjust their offers higher for a home that's in a competitive market.
"Market conditions are one of the main drivers of adjustments," says investor Brian Harbour of Real Deal Home Solutions. "Sellers can typically expect higher offers for properties in desirable neighborhoods with strong demand and lower offers for homes in less desirable or declining areas, even with a strong after repair value."
The amount of work needed
"If you need a full remodel or have a ton of deferred maintenance, buyers may have problems getting financing with their lender," explains realtor Suzanne Seini. "So you may only be entertaining offers from investors."
While investors will purchase a home in just about any condition, they'll also offer less than they intend to resell it for. At best, you might get 70% of your home's potential fair market value after repairs.
If your home needs work, but is still livable, you may be able to expand your buyer pool to retail buyers looking for a fixer. Some buyers want to save money by getting a home below fair market value, or they may be looking to transform a property with good bones into their dream home.
In general, the more buyers you expose your home to, the higher the final sale price.
How you market your home
To avoid leaving money on the table when selling a house as is, competition is key.
"Anyone can list a house for a lower asking price," says Florida-based realtor Elisha Lopez. "However, more experienced listing agents will have a ready pool of buyers they can market the home to."
By way of example, realtor Nathan Clark recently helped a client who had inherited a home from a parent.
"The home was in a great location, but unfortunately, the condition was less than ideal as the parents were hoarders. The client didn’t have time to do a complete rehab, and two other agents said they couldn’t sell it without the work being done," said Clark. "To make matters worse, the client only had a week to get the home sold and on a shoestring budget."
"In its original condition, the comparable sales indicated the home was worth about $300,000 and would take 30 days to sell," explains Clark.
Rather than list it at that price, Clark hired a junk removal company to clear out the clutter, had the home professionally cleaned, and did what he could to brighten the space with natural light and fresh paint. The all in costs were less than $2,000.
"During the week the home was being prepped for the market, we contacted hundreds of buyers in our database and had them drive by the home," recalls Clark. "When the home went live on the MLS, it sold for $350,000 within 48 hours."
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Is it worth it to make repairs?
✅ Scenario 1: You can afford a few high-impact improvements
While a full remodel probably won't be worth the investment, some lower-cost improvements could be — particularly if your home is in a desirable neighborhood with the potential to attract traditional buyers.
"If part of your target audience are buyers who’re in the mood for a project but want to move in ‘as is’ for now, it’s a good idea to do some refreshing and staging to sell the dream," recommends Cynthia Cummins, a top-selling realtor in San Francisco.
A particular example Cummins recalls is a longtime owner who was downsizing and moving into assisted living. "There was a lot of deferred maintenance in the home, but it was a legacy property located in one of the most prime neighborhoods in San Francisco."
The target audience was likely to have enough money to take on a fixer-upper — especially one in a great location with "dream home" potential, she explains.
"The client had already interviewed two other agents, both of whom said to sell it as is," notes Cummins. However, she advised the owner to take an alternative route, which included doing some basic repairs, painting everything, and staging — all for about $75,000.
"Even with the number of repairs still needed, the home sold for $500,000 more than the previous realtors predicted," says Cummins. "Needless to say, the owner was thrilled."
❌ Scenario 1: Repair costs would exceed the potential return
"Doing repairs is only sometimes the best play," says investor Dan Belcher. "I've seen it play out both ways."
One interesting case he recalls was a client who needed to sell fast and couldn't afford many repairs. The house needed a decent amount of work — including fixing a worn kitchen and outdated bathrooms.
"We weighed putting money into repairs versus listing it as-is," says Belcher, "but the numbers showed that even with fixes, they wouldn't recoup the investment through a higher sale price. So we went the as-is route, disclosing the home's condition in detail and targeting investors and handyman types who are okay with a bit of work."
"Ultimately, we got some solid offers to choose from," says Belcher. "My advice is to run the numbers to see if upgrades will pay off in the end."
"Getting quotes for repairs needed is not only helpful for you to decide whether or not to make the improvements yourself, but this will also give you a great negotiation tool to counter an offer that comes in below your list price," adds realtor Sharlys Leszczuk.
"Oftentimes, I have seen sellers pour money into a property just so they can sell for top dollar. The problem is, those sellers don't always recoup their investment," says Lee Harbaugh, a realtor based in Fort Worth, TX. "Spending $50,000 on new windows is not going to get a seller $50,000 more than if they sold as-is. They might get an additional $5,000–10,000 at best."
If you're not sure whether repairs would make financial sense, a local realtor can run a comparative market analysis to help you figure out your home’s current market value vs. after repair value based on comparable homes that have recently sold in a similar condition.
You can also request quotes from contractors to weigh the cost against the potential return in resale value.
Some real estate brokerages may even have programs to help you make home improvements before listing and potentially sell for a higher price.
"At my brokerage, we offer a program called InnoEquity," explains Suzanne Seini, a top-selling realtor based in Southern California. "The program enables homeowners to tap into their equity with no out-of-pocket costs and have pre-listing renovations done to their homes."
"We recently helped a seller who had been on the market for two months with no offers," continues Seini. "We pulled the home off the market, updated the flooring and paint, and added new staging. The home sold in less than 30 days over the list price with multiple offers."
Selling as is to an investor vs. listing with a realtor
🪧 When it may make sense to hire a realtor
- You're not in a rush to sell
- You want to maximize the sale price
- Your property is in a high-demand market
- Your property is in relatively good condition (outdated, but no major repairs)
- You have the resources to make a few high impact improvements
⚒️ When it may make sense to sell to an investor
- The property is in poor condition
- You need to sell fast (due to foreclosure, a sudden life event, etc.)
- You don't have any equity in the home
- Legal issues (probate sales, divorce settlements tax liens, etc.)
- Privacy concerns (want to avoid showings)
Investors can typically close faster
The main benefit of selling as is to a cash buyer is speed. Most cash buyers can close in just 1–3 weeks, compared to the national average selling window of 51.
The tradeoff is that investors typically offer way less than your home is actually worth, since they still need to earn a profit after making repairs and carrying the cost of the home during the renovation.
That said, cash buyers will generally purchase your home in whatever condition it's in, give you the flexibility to choose your closing date, and let you leave any unwanted things behind. If you have little to no equity in your home, they can also help you avoid a lot of expenses associated with selling a house, such as realtor fees and closing costs.
» MORE: The best companies that buy houses for cash
A realtor can typically net your more money
"If a seller has no pressing time constraints, they would benefit from listing with a realtor," says investor Brian Harbour. "Exposure to a broader pool of buyers could spark a bidding war, potentially driving up the sale price far beyond what an investor or wholesaler might offer."
By way of example, DJ Olhausen, a licensed real estate agent and investor based in San Diego recently had a home seller contact him about purchasing her house for cash.
"The house smelled, was in horrible condition, and needed at least $70,000–100,000 in renovations to become fully livable," recalls Olhausen. However, the home was in a desirable area. So instead of purchasing it outright, he suggested listing it to maximize the potential sale value.
"I told my client that we could sign a short 14–day listing agreement in order to test the market, and that she could always take one of the offers she had in hand if we couldn't find her a buyer. Her current and best offer from a flipper was at $515,000, and I was convinced we could get her over $600,000."
Olhausen took professional photos, held open houses, and personally reached out to investors he thought might be interested. "By the time we were ready to review offers," says Olhausen, "we had five offers over $600,000, with our top offer being at $675,000."
👉Tip: Remember that realtor commission is negotiable
One way to maximize your proceeds from an as is sale is to work with an agent willing to negotiate their commission. Working with a listing agent that charges 1–2% vs. the typical 3% can save you thousands on your home sale.
But picking a low quality agent could mean selling for way less than you'd save in realtor fees — so if you opt for commission savings, choosing a reputable agent is a must.
» FIND: The top low commission real estate brokerages near you
Explore both options to get the best price
"Selling as is to a reputable cash buyer can be a good fit if you need to sell immediately — as in the next few days — your home is in bad shape, and you need someone with a truly proven track record they can close," says Ben Mizes, real estate investor and President of Clever Real Estate.
However, Mizes cautions that you need to vet investors carefully, since there are plenty of frauds in the space. Even then, he says, you can usually get more by listing your house as is on the open market with an agent.
"If you need to sell fast, you can list your home slightly or even significantly below market value, and require all offers to come in within a week — with no financing or inspection contingencies, a high earnest money deposit, and proof of funds," suggests Mizes. "Doing this almost guarantees the offers you receive will be strong, proven cash offers."
In the meantime, you can request cash offers from a few different investors to use as a backup. Requesting offers is free, and you're under no legal obligation to accept one.
If you're on the fence about selling as is, we recommend starting with Clever Offers. With Clever Offers, you can explore direct cash offers for speed vs. a 7-day MLS listing to maximize your market value — with no added fees or pressure to move forward. Simply compare your options and choose the solution that works for you.
FAQs
How much do you lose selling a house as is?
How much you lose by selling as is depends on a variety of factors, including the condition of your house, your home's location, and how you market your property for sale.
Why should I sell a house as is?
You should sell a house as is if you don't have the time or money to make repairs. Marketing your home as is can attract both investors and traditional buyers looking for a fixer upper. Learn more about selling your house as is, including how to save on your home sale.
Can you sell a house as is without an inspection?
Yes, you can sell a house as is without an inspection. An as-is home sale means the home buyer accepts the home in its current condition without repairs. The buyer might still include a home inspection contingency in the sales contract, which allows them to inspect the home and renegotiate terms or walk away from the contract if there are certain issues. Learn more about selling your house as is.
Related reading
Selling a House As Is: A Guide: What does it really mean to sell a house "as is," and what are the pros and cons? Find out here.
The Most Important Repairs to Make Before Selling: Some repairs and improvements carry a much higher return on investment than others. Learn which repairs to make (or skip) before listing your home for sale.
Companies That Buy Houses for Cash: If your top priority is to sell a house quickly, consider selling to a company that buys houses for cash. View your best choices here.
How Much Will an Investor Pay for My House? It's no surprise that investors generally pay less for houses than regular buyers. But there are some situations when selling to an investor makes sense. Learn more here.