Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When you’re getting ready to sell your home in San Jose, it’s normal to have questions about the process. You’re not alone – most people do. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of some of the questions we get asked most often by potential sellers. If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us by email or phone.

How does your home buying process work?

The first step of our process is to start by reaching out to us either by filling out a form on our website or by calling us directly at (323) 622-6021. After that you’ll share a bit about your property and how you are hoping we can best help. If the property is a good fit for our buying criteria, then we will either request photos/videos of the property or set up a direct appointment to present you with a cash offer. If you accept the offer we will finalize the agreement, have it sent off to the lawyers, and we will be on our way to the closing date. It’s that easy.

Are there any fees or commissions that I need to pay to work with you?

When you choose to move forward and sell us your property, you won’t have to concern yourself with any fees or commissions, as we are direct home buyers, not real estate agents. You can walk away from the property with cash, no longer having to worry about owning it.

How quick can we close on sale?

We close on our sellers’ timelines. Typically we close properties in as little as 2-3 weeks for the most time sensitive sales or as long as 3 months, and sometimes even longer; we work with you. Since we aren’t relying on traditional financing from a bank, we aim to make the process as flexible and convenient as possible.

When you buy my house, do you actually pay me cash?

Yes! Buying properties for cash means that we don’t depend on banks for our purchases. This allows us to work with your timelines to have the property closed. Once our offer is accepted, and closing day arrives, you will receive all the funds through your lawyer.

How do you determine the price to offer on my house?

This process can be fairly complex. The key factors that are considered by our team are: the property’s location, necessary repairs, the current condition, and the prices of similar houses recently sold in the area. We piece all of these factors together to come up with a price that works for you and us.

Do you pay fair market value?

We are typically buying properties for less than the traditional MLS price. That being said, we offer a fair market value for the property based on the convenience, problem solving, and value of our services. We have helped sellers move, close quickly, avoid costly repairs, negotiate mortgages down, talked with bylaws to help sellers with liens or work orders, negotiated with troublesome tenants, and more. Our goal is to make sure that this is a mutually beneficial purchase and sale for everyone involved. If you are looking to get the full retail or appraised value for your home, contact us anyway, as we have many resources to help you achieve that.

My home is a mess. Can you give me time to clean it up before you buy it?

This is a very common question. One of the biggest benefits to working with us is that we buy properties as-is, and we mean it! Don’t worry about staging or renovating your property; we have seen it all. Unlike traditional real estate sales, you won’t have to pay for staging, costly renovations, or cleanup, in order to have hundreds of people parade through your house. There will be none of that, and the condition of the property will not impact our interest or ability to buy your home.

Can you come to my house and make me an offer?

Much like you, we value our time and want to be working directly with people who really need to have their home sold. If you are not ready to sell your property, please wait on requesting an appointment. If you are simply looking for information on how much your property is worth, we highly recommend seeking out a licensed appraiser instead.

My house is currently listed with an agent. Will you still buy it?

Typically we do not work with on-market properties. If you happen to cancel the listing and are actively seeking a
private cash sale, then we may be a good fit. Our services are really meant for people who do not want to deal with the traditional real estate process. Because you have already gone through that, you will likely not benefit from these additional services. If you have already listed it, it looks like that is in your best interest. Should you decide to cancel your listing, feel free to contact us and we will see how we can best assist.

I’m not looking to sell my property, but I know someone who wants to and wants to sell privately. Can I refer them to you?

Yes, we are always open to speaking with those looking to sell. Should we be able to buy the property you sent us, we will be happy to pay you a referral fee for doing so; this is typically anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500, and is paid out at closing. All we ask is that you provide us the name and phone of the individual that is looking to sell their property.

Is there any obligation to work with you when I submit my info?

There is no obligation to work with us and accept our offer. After we receive information about your property, we will review it and potentially schedule a call to learn more about it. If after our phone call it seems that we may be a good fit, we will then make you a fair, all-cash offer and provide you the option to decide whether it will work for you or not. If it does, then we have ourselves a deal, and if it doesn’t, we can shake hands and go separate ways. The choice is yours and we at Ontario Property Buyers respect whichever decision you make.

Who is the cash offer not for?

A cash offer is not for anyone who is looking to maximize the resale value of their property, but rather, it is for someone who is willing to take an under market value offer in exchange for speed and convenience. Through a cash offer one does not have to do any repairs, clean up, go through countless showings, or wait on banks to finance a purchase. That being said, if you find yourself in a position where you are wanting to maximize the resale value through a traditional sale we do have a number of partnerships which can assist with this, but a cash offer is not for you.