If you have a home that you need to sell quickly in Columbia, you have a few options:
- Sell your home with an agent who knows you need to sell fast.
- Sell to an iBuyer if you have a home in good shape.
- Sell to a We Buy Houses company if your home needs major repairs.
Each of these options has its own advantages and disadvantages. The main disadvantage is that you may need to accept a lower price to sell faster. However, if you need to sell your home fast, whether due to a job change or other life event, the convenience of a quick sale is often worth the sacrifice in price.
Below, we have outlined the best options for selling your home quickly in Columbia.
To get cash offers right now, sign up for Clever Offers. A local agent will gather and compare offers for you from leading iBuyers and We Buy Houses companies. Your agent will help you negotiate to get the best price and provide you with a free home valuation so you know what your home is worth on the open market.
What to expect when selling a home in Columbia
In South Carolina, homes usually sell the fastest during May and slowest during January.
To set expectations for your selling timeline in South Carolina, look at two factors:
- Median days on market: Number of days before a seller accepts an offer
- Average time to sell: Number of days on market until offer, plus the average number of days to close
Average time to sell a house in South Carolina
In South Carolina, the current average time to sell is 8.4% faster than than the national average.
» LEARN MORE: Average Time to Sell a House in South Carolina
How to sell my house fast in Columbia
Best option: Sell your house quickly with an agent
⚡ Quick facts: Selling with an agent
- Percentage of market value you’ll earn: 90–95%
- Average time to sell: 69 days
- Fees you’ll pay:
- Average listing commission: 2.82%
- Average buyer agent commission: 2.81%
- Average closing costs: 3.16%
Hiring an agent to list your home is the best way to maximize your sale price. If you need to sell your home faster than the average 76 days in South Carolina, consider pricing your home about 5% below market value to speed up the sale.
There are some expenses that will further cut into your profit, such as your agent's commission, the buyer's agent's commission, and closing costs. Learn more about the costs involved in selling a house in South Carolina here.
With an agent, it's likely that you won't sell as quickly as you would using an iBuyer or a We Buy Houses for Cash company. These companies can close the sale of a home in just a few weeks because they pay cash. This means you don't need to wait for financing to come through like you might when selling to an individual buyer with an agent.
Selling with an agent is best for…
- People with homes in good condition
- Sellers with at least 30 days to sell
- Those with a good agent who understands their goals (specifically sacrificing price for speed)
Tips to sell fast with an agent
- Work with an agent with knowledge of the local market
- List below market value
- Offer credits for repairs
- Mention in the listing that cash offers are preferred
💸 How cash offers work
Cash offers are the fastest path to closing because the buyer doesn't need to get a loan. The financial institution doesn't have to spend time checking the buyer's financials (known as the underwriting process). There's also less risk of the buyer's financial situation changing in a way that puts the sale at risk.
When listing with an agent, you can state your preference for cash offers. Keep in mind, though, that this might limit the number of offers.
Cash buyers can be a good option if you need to unload an unwanted, distressed property fast. However, if you want to sell quickly without sacrificing a ton of equity, Clever is one of your best alternatives.
Clever sellers typically get offers 2.8 times faster than the national average AND save an average of $7,000 in realtor fees.
Better option: Sell to an iBuyer
⚡ Quick facts: Selling to an iBuyer
- Percentage of market value you’ll earn: 90–95%
- Average time to sell: 8–60 days (customer preference)
- Fees you’ll pay:
- Service fee: 5%
- Average closing costs in South Carolina: 3.16%
iBuyers make cash offers on your home. Typically, iBuyers purchase homes in good condition, so if you have major problems with your home, you likely won't qualify. Typical iBuyer purchase criteria include:
- 🏠 Built after 1930
- 💰 Valued at $100,000–600,000
- 🌲 Located on 1.5 acres or less
- 👤 Owner-occupied
iBuyers are still a relatively new way to sell a house — only 27% of homeowners fully understand what they are. Before you consider using one, research how iBuyers work and familiarize yourself with the top iBuyers across the U.S.
Selling to an iBuyer is best for…
- People with homes in good condition and meet iBuyer criteria
- People who are willing to sacrifice about 10% of the sale price for a guaranteed fast sale
- People who don't want to show their homes or conduct open houses
Sell to Opendoor in Columbia
| Avg. rating | 4.2/5 across 3,419 reviews |
| Service fees | 5% |
| Closing date window | As little as 14 days |
Beyond Opendoor's 5% fee, expect to pay about 1–3% in closing costs and another 1–2% in deductions for repairs requested by Opendoor. In our review of Opendoor, we saw that some customers complained about expensive repair costs, but others liked the service for its fast, seamless transactions.
Sell to Offerpad in Columbia
| Avg. rating | 4/5 across 2,656 reviews |
| Service fees | 5% |
| Closing date window | As little as 8 days |
When using Offerpad, you'll pay about 1–3% in closing costs along with Offerpad's 5% service fee. When researching customer sentiment for our Offerpad review, we saw many customers appreciated the company for its excellent communication and customer service. However, some customers were disappointed with reductions in their offer price after the home inspection.
Keep in mind that there is a 1% cancellation fee if you back out of the deal beyond four days after the inspection.
Good option: Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company
⚡ Quick facts: Selling to a We Buy Houses company
- Percentage of market value you’ll earn: 50–70%
- Average time to sell: 3–21 days
- Fees you’ll pay: none
The quickest way to sell your home in Columbia is to use a We Buy Houses company. These companies are owned by investors who pay cash for homes and can close the sale in just a week or two. Since these companies offer cash, you won't need to wait around for the buyer's financing to come through like you probably would when selling with an agent.
However, there is a significant trade-off for this convenience and speed. A We Buy Houses company will typically pay only about 70% of the home's market value. Their offer takes into account any necessary repairs that will need to be made before the home is resold.
Most We Buy Houses companies in Columbia follow a similar process when buying a home. After you contact the company, a representative will visit the home to assess the property. Soon after, the representative will provide you with a cash offer.
You're not required to accept the offer, so get offers from multiple companies and compare them before making a decision.
We Buy Houses companies are best for…
- People with homes that need a lot of repairs to be sold in as-is condition
- Sellers with no iBuyer option in the region
- People with inherited homes (for more info, see our Stress-Free Guide to Selling an Inherited House)
How to choose a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Columbia
Columbia has many cash buyer companies, and you can start your search by looking at our top We Buy Houses for Cash companies in South Carolina.
When choosing We Buy Houses companies to get offers from, check their customer reviews and how quickly they can close on your home. Some cash-for-homes companies in Columbia can close on your home within a week, while others might take up to a month.
Because the offers from these companies are typically lower than market value, some homeowners wonder if We Buy Houses companies are a ripoff. In most cases, they're not.
Cash buyer companies are serious investors who aim to make money by flipping homes. These companies factor the cost of improvements into their offers, which may result in lower prices. Remember, you can always turn down an offer if you don't feel comfortable with the deal.
Use Clever's free, no-obligation service to compare cash offers from top local companies with the help of a local real estate agent. You'll get a professional home valuation so you know what your home is worth, and an agent can negotiate on your behalf to make sure you get the best deal.
Why trust us
Jon Stubbs has spent hundreds of hours researching ways to sell homes quickly. This research includes interviewing real estate agents and representatives from iBuyers and cash buyer companies. The author has written dozens of articles on selling homes with a listing agent as well as non-traditional selling methods.
FAQs
How can I sell my house fast in Columbia?
To sell your home fast, work with a We Buy Houses company. It can close the sale of a home in just a few weeks. However, these companies typically only offer about 70% of a home's market value. Another option is to sell to an iBuyer or to work with a real estate agent with a plan to sell the home quickly. Learn more about selling your home quickly in Columbia.
How do I price my home to sell in Columbia?
To sell your home fast, follow your listing agent's advice about what your home is worth and how much you want to reduce the price to get the attention of buyers. Learn more about how to sell fast with an agent.
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