How Preferred Home Buyer Works
The most common question we get on the phone. Here’s the honest, no-surprises answer.
Homes Bought Since 2011
“How do you guys work?” is the first question almost everyone asks when they call us, so here is the full answer, not the thirty-second version. No catch, no fine print you find out about later.
Call (219) 348-8098 or fill out the form, and here is exactly what happens next.
The Short Version
- You call or fill out the form. Tell us the address and a little about the property.
- We walk the property once. Usually within a day or two of you reaching out.
- We give you a real cash number. We will walk you through exactly how we got there if you want to know.
- You decide, on your own time. No pressure, no deadline to accept.
- If you accept, we close at a local title company. As little as 3-5 business days*, or whatever date works for you.
That is the whole process. Below is the detail behind each step, because “trust me” is not good enough when it is your house.
We Make Selling Your House on Your Timeline Easy
How it Works
Step 1: You Call or Fill Out the Form
This part takes about five minutes. We ask for the address, the general condition of the house, and why you are selling, not because we are nosy, but because it helps us come back with a real number instead of a lowball guess. If you would rather text or fill out the online form than talk on the phone first, that works too. Either way, nothing is asked for that you would not expect: no upfront fees, no credit check, no obligation to move forward after this call.
Step 2: We Walk the Property
One of us comes out and looks at the house in person, usually within a day or two. We are not doing a full inspection with a clipboard and a checklist, we are looking at the same things a buyer’s inspector would flag later: the roof, the foundation, the mechanicals, how much work the interior needs. Most of the time, this one visit is all we need before we come back with a number. If anything ever takes a little longer on our end, we will tell you plainly rather than leave you guessing.
Step 3: You Get a Real Cash Number
This is the step people are most skeptical about, and honestly, they should be. Anyone can throw out a number just to keep you talking. We give you a real cash number, not a placeholder and not a lowball to get you on the hook. If you want to know exactly how we got there, ask. We will walk you through the comps, the realistic repair costs, and our margin.
We are not going to pretend our number will always beat what a realtor could get you on the open market, because it will not always. If your house is updated, move-in ready, and in a strong local market, listing it might genuinely put more money in your pocket, even after commissions and months of waiting. We will tell you that if it is true. Our offer earns its keep when your house needs real work, when you cannot afford to wait months for a buyer, or when the hassle of showings, repairs, and financing fall-throughs is not worth it to you. That is an honest tradeoff, not a sales pitch.
Step 4: You Decide, No Pressure
Once you have the offer, it is yours to think about. We do not do countdown timers, “this offer expires tonight” tactics, or repeated calls to wear you down. Take a day, take a week, talk it over with family. If the answer is no, that is fine, we would rather you say no than feel pushed into a yes.
Step 5: If You Accept, We Close at a Local Title Company
We do not do closings out of a car or a coffee shop. Every deal closes through a licensed local title company, the same kind of closing you would have with any other legitimate home sale. They handle the paperwork, the title search, and making sure the money moves correctly and legally. If you need to move fast, we can close in as little as 3-5 business days* from acceptance. If you need more time, whether that is finding a new place, coordinating a move, or just needing a specific date for tax or personal reasons, you pick the closing date and we build around it.
Still Have Questions?
What About Repairs, Cleaning, and My Stuff?
None of it is your problem. We buy the house in whatever condition it is in right now, broken appliances, bad roof, outdated everything, it does not matter. You do not need to fix a single thing before we walk through or before closing. You also do not need to clean the house out. Take what you want, leave the rest, including furniture, junk, and anything left behind by previous tenants or family. What stays becomes our responsibility after closing, not yours.
What Does This Cost Me?
Nothing. No commissions, because there is no agent involved. No closing costs out of your pocket, we cover the typical seller-side closing costs at a local title company. No fees for the walkthrough or the offer, those are free whether you accept or not. The only way this costs you anything is if you say yes and then find out we did not do what we said, and that has not been how we operate since 2011.
Is This Legitimate?
Fair question, and we would rather you ask it upfront than wonder about it later. Preferred Home Buyer is BBB A+ accredited and has bought more than 1,050 houses across Northwest Indiana since 2011. Our office is at 8021 Cleveland Pl, Merrillville, IN 46410, a real address you can visit before you sign anything. Look us up, read the reviews, come meet us in person. We would rather earn your trust before the sale than ask you to take our word for it.
How It Works FAQ
How is your cash offer calculated?
Recent sold prices for comparable houses near you, minus the realistic cost of repairs and updates, minus a fair margin for us. We will explain any part of the math you want walked through.
Do I have to accept the offer once I get it?
No. There is no obligation at any point in this process, including after we have given you our number. Walk away at any time, no pressure and no follow-up campaign to wear you down.
How fast can you actually close?
As little as 3-5 business days* after you accept, through a local title company. If you need longer, you set the date and it holds, whether that is two weeks or two months out.
Do you really buy houses in any condition?
Yes. Fire damage, hoarder houses, outdated systems, structural issues, we have bought all of it. Condition changes the number in the offer, not whether we make one.
What happens to the stuff left in the house?
You take what you want and leave the rest. Furniture, old belongings, anything you do not want to deal with becomes our problem after closing, not yours.
Will you lowball me because I need to sell fast?
No. The offer is built from the same math whether you are in a hurry or not. We would rather show you real numbers and lose the deal than give you a lowball number and hope you are too desperate to check it.
Is there ever a case where I should just list the house instead?
Yes, and we will say so if that is your situation. If the house is updated and the local market is strong, a realtor might net you more, even after commissions and time on market. We are the right call when condition, timeline, or hassle make a cash sale the better tradeoff for you.
What if I am just curious what my house is worth, not ready to sell?
Call anyway. The walkthrough and the number itself are free with no obligation, and plenty of people call just to have a real number in hand before deciding what to do next.
Hear From Our Clients
See How Preferred Home Buyer Works, Step by Step
The best way to understand the process is to go through the first step and see for yourself. One call gets you a real answer, not a script.
Call Preferred Home Buyer at (219) 348-8098 or fill out the offer form now.
Curious about a specific situation first? See how we handle foreclosure, inherited houses, houses that need work, or rentals with tenants.