Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will you list my property on the MLS, or are you actually buying it?
We buy properties directly — we don’t list them. There’s no MLS, no open houses, no sign in the yard, and no stream of strangers walking through. When we make an offer and you accept, we’re the buyer. That’s it. The transaction stays private from start to finish, which matters a great deal to families handling an estate and to trustees with confidentiality obligations.
Q: Do you pay fair prices?
Yes — and we’re transparent about how we get there. We’re not offering retail market value, and we don’t pretend otherwise. What we offer reflects the fact that we’re buying as-is, purchasing with cash or private financing, and removing every variable that makes a traditional sale uncertain or burdensome for you.
For many of the families, trustees, and out-of-area owners we work with, the number on the offer isn’t the only thing that matters. The certainty of closing, the absence of repairs or cleanout, the speed of the transaction, and the privacy of the process are often just as important — sometimes more so. We try to structure every offer so that it’s genuinely fair on both sides. And because we make our offers with no obligation, you’re never under pressure to accept.
Q: How do you determine your offer price?
We look at four things: the property’s location, its current condition, the repairs it needs, and what comparable properties have sold for recently in that area. We’re straightforward about what we find and how we weigh it. If you’d like to understand our offer once you receive it, we’ll walk you through the reasoning. There’s nothing hidden in our process.
Q: Are there fees or commissions?
There are no agent commissions and no transaction fees charged by us. As with any real estate sale, the seller does pay certain standard closing costs — things like title insurance, escrow fees, and any property taxes owed through the date of closing. These are normal costs of any transaction, whether you sell to us or through a traditional listing.
What you won’t pay is an agent commission (typically 5–6% of the sale price on a traditional listing), inspection contingency costs, repair requests, or staging expenses. We’ll walk you through the estimated closing costs clearly before you make any decision, so there are no surprises when you get to the closing table.
Q: How are you different from a real estate agent?
A real estate agent lists your property, markets it to potential buyers, and earns a commission — typically 5–6% of the sale price — when it closes. For a Bay Area property, that’s often $50,000 or more. The process can take three to six months, requires the property to be in showable condition, and comes with no guarantee of closing.
We work differently. We’re the buyer, not an intermediary. We don’t need the property staged or repaired. We don’t rely on bank financing, so there’s no waiting on loan approvals. And because we’ve done this many times in the Peninsula and East Bay, we know the market and can move quickly when a situation calls for it.
For trustees, fiduciaries, and families handling an estate, the agent route often adds time, cost, and complexity at a moment when simplicity is exactly what’s needed. That’s the gap we fill.
Q: The property needs significant repairs. Does that disqualify it?
Not at all — it’s actually one of the most common situations we work with. Deferred maintenance, structural issues, leaking roofs, fire or water damage, properties that haven’t been updated in decades: none of these are deal-breakers for us. We assess every property on its own merits and make offers based on what it actually is, not what it would need to be to list on the open market.
Q: What happens to the belongings still in the property?
We understand that sorting through a lifetime of belongings is one of the hardest parts of handling an estate — and one of the biggest practical obstacles to a traditional sale. You are not required to remove anything before we close. If it’s easier for your family to leave items behind, we’ll handle the contents after the transaction. This is something we work through on a property-by-property basis and will address clearly in our offer.
Q: We live out of state. Can we still work with you?
Yes — and this is one of the situations we handle most regularly. Managing a Bay Area property from a distance is difficult under the best circumstances. We can conduct our property review without requiring you to be present, handle coordination locally on our end, and work through the transaction in a way that doesn’t require you to fly in for every step. We’ll let you know specifically what’s needed from you and when.
Q: As a trustee, will selling to you satisfy my fiduciary obligations?
We understand that trustees have real responsibilities to beneficiaries and to the estate — and that any transaction needs to be defensible. We work with trustees and their attorneys regularly. Our offers are documented, our process is transparent, and we’re accustomed to the pace and documentation requirements of trust and probate transactions. If your attorney has specific questions about the process, we’re happy to speak with them directly.
We’d also note that we’re not attorneys and this isn’t legal advice — if you have fiduciary questions specific to your situation, your estate attorney is the right resource. But from a practical standpoint, we’ve been through this process many times and know how to make it straightforward for everyone involved.
Q: How long does the process take?
We can close in as little as seven days when the situation calls for it. More commonly, we close in two to four weeks — enough time for title work and any documentation the estate requires. We can also take longer if that works better for your timeline. The schedule is driven by what the property and the estate need, not by our calendar.
Q: Is this process confidential?
Completely. There’s no public listing, no yard sign, no open house, and no MLS entry. The transaction is handled privately between you and us. For families navigating grief, trustees with professional obligations, and out-of-area owners who simply don’t want a public process, this matters — and it’s something we take seriously throughout.
Q: Is there any obligation when I reach out?
None whatsoever. You can share information about the property, receive our offer, and take all the time you need to decide. We won’t follow up repeatedly, we won’t apply pressure, and we won’t take it personally if the timing isn’t right or the offer doesn’t fit your situation. Our goal is to give you a clear, honest option — what you do with it is entirely your decision.
Still Have Questions? Let’s Talk.
The best way to get answers specific to your property is a short conversation. There’s no obligation, nothing to prepare beforehand, and no pressure to move forward. Just tell us about the situation and we’ll take it from there.
Or Call us directly: (650) 360-2527