Cash offer vs. listing: compare the real numbers.
Two good ways to sell a house. Here’s how they compare, line by line, so you can pick the one that fits your home and your timeline.
| Cash offer from Elevated Homes | List with an agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs & cleaning | None. We buy as-is, including what you leave behind. | Usually expected before listing; inspection may ask for more |
| Showings | One walkthrough with us | Showings and open houses while you keep the home ready |
| Commissions & fees | No agent commission | Agent commissions (vary and are negotiable), plus marketing or prep costs |
| Closing costs | Seller pays their own normal closing costs, spelled out in your written offer | Seller typically pays a share (title, escrow, transfer tax, and similar) |
| Time to close | As little as 7 to 14 days when title is clear, or on the date you choose | Often 30 to 90+ days after an accepted offer, plus time on market |
| Certainty & appraisal risk | Cash purchase, no lender appraisal or loan approval | Buyer financing or a low appraisal can delay, reprice, or cancel the sale |
| Who pays for what | We cover repairs and our own holding costs after closing. You see every number in writing. | You pay repairs, utilities, taxes, and insurance until it sells, plus commissions and seller costs |
| Best fit | Homes needing work, inherited or vacant homes, tight timelines, or when certainty matters most | Move-in-ready homes where you have time to wait for top dollar |
Example net-sheet walkthrough
Round, illustrative numbers for a hypothetical house. Not real deal data and not an offer. Your numbers depend on your home, the market, and your agreement.
List with an agent
- Sale price after repairs
- $300,000
- Repairs & prep before listing
- − $15,000
- Agent commission (example 5%)
- − $15,000
- Seller closing costs (example 2%)
- − $6,000
- Holding costs, 3 months (example)
- − $3,000
- Example net to seller
- $261,000
Roughly 3 to 4 months from prep to closing, if the buyer’s loan and appraisal go through.
Cash offer
- Cash offer, as-is
- $250,000
- Repairs & prep
- $0
- Agent commission
- $0
- Seller closing costs
- Per written offer*
- Holding costs
- $0
- Example net to seller (before any closing costs)
- $250,000
*Sellers pay their own normal closing costs, and every cost is spelled out in your written offer. This example shows the net before seller closing costs. Close in as little as 7 to 14 days when title is clear, or on your date.
The honest takeaway: In this example, listing nets about $11,000 more if everything goes to plan, and the gap can be larger once seller closing costs on the cash sale are added. The cash offer trades that for speed, certainty, and no repairs, showings, or months of carrying costs. When we make you an offer, we show you our math the same way, so you can compare it with listing using real numbers for your home.
If listing is the better fit for your home, we’ll tell you. No pressure. No obligation.