Customer Question: How do I sell my house in Chicago with lots of problems? As Chicago’s most trusted fast cash home buyer we often field questions from new, potential, and former customers.

Today’s question comes from a potential customer who has had a lot of difficulty selling her grandmother’s home due to extensive needed repairs.

I live in Chicago’s southside neighborhood of West Pullman and recently inherited an old house from the 1880s. I grew up in the home and it’s difficult to sell for sentimental reasons. However, the house hasn’t been occupied in over four years and is falling apart. I tried selling the home with a realtor most of last year, but after a building inspection, I would need to invest another $15,000 to sell the property. I don’t want to leave the house to die if you know what I mean. But I also cannot afford to keep the home or repair it. I also recently received a call from a neighbor that suspicious people have been using my home in the middle of the night and I’m scared of the safety issues and liability problems I will have if someone is hurt squatting in the house. I don’t have any other relatives who can take over the home and I just don’t have the money.

I’ve seen your advertisements about paying fast cash for as-is homes. But I don’t know what that means. Do you buy houses with damage? My grandmother’s home had a small electrical fire a few years ago. And there is a hole in the roof that has been leaking for at least a year.

My big question is, how do I sell my house in Chicago with lots of problems? My second question is, does URB Chicago buy houses with a lot of damage? I can’t afford to fix the problems. Can you help?

This is one of the most common questions that we receive both in person and through email. The fact is that every Southside home for sale is different. Some southside homes have cosmetic damage. Other southside homes in neighborhoods like West Pullman and Englewood are beautiful historic properties but have a lot of Chicago building code violations.

As in this question, the older a home is and is left abandoned the more damage that a distressed house for sale will accumulate. This home was likely a beautiful two-story Englewood home. It may have been used as a multi-use property with the owner living downstairs and rental properties on the second floor. However, as homes age, it is common for Chicago homeowners to not repair smaller problems as they attempt to keep up with aesthetic concerns such as curb appeal and exterior paint. As indicated in the letter, there was an electrical problem. Every year dozens of Chicago homes are lost to electrical fires from outdated wiring. Compound that with the challenge of roof leaks. A roof can last more than a decade. But, if left unattended a roof is subject to rodent and bird damage, storm damage, and bigger issues. If not repaired as it appears occurred in this home, a small hole will become bigger in time. And what was once a small roof leak is now big enough for a person to fit through.

Have you inherited an older home in Chicago like this woman? If so, you probably felt sympathy for her. Older homes are great. But if you inherit a cheap house, you can expect headaches. A cheap older home can be a money pit. Add to the repairs and upkeep, an annual property tax and insurance and your inheritance can cost you more than the value of the home.

So what does a homeowner do when they inherit a Southside Chicago house with problems? You can go the route that this person took and try to sell the home with a realtor. However, you will likely end up in the same situation. To sell a home you need to pass a building inspection which will likely result in you having to dish out a lot of money to repair your house. Additionally, a distressed home for sale by a realtor can take several months if not years to sell. Don’t you want to sell your distressed property that is costing you money? Selling a home with problems may seem impossible, but there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel.

URB Chicago buys homes with problems

The good news is that URB Chicago buys Chicago homes with problems. We have been paying fast cash for distressed houses since the 1980s. As one of the oldest fast cash buyers in Chicago, we have the experience and knowledge of neighborhoods that allow us to quickly determine the fair market value of homes in their southside neighborhoods. We not only know the southside Chicago neighborhoods, but we live there.

URB Chicago pays cash for as-is homes. That means we buy houses in any condition, and you don’t need to spend any money to sell your home. Homeowners don’t need to worry about listing your home. You don’t need to worry about property showings or open houses. If your house has fire damage or water damage, no problem. Our fast cash process is smooth and easy. Contact URB Chicago and we can provide a fair market fast cash offer in as fast as 24 hours. Once we have signed the cash offer agreement most Chicago homes for sale can close in as fast as 7 business days. That means without wasting money on expensive repairs you can sell your distressed southside home and have cash in hand in less than two weeks.

URB Chicago has some of the best real estate professionals in the business and we are ready to answer your questions.

Sell your home fast and for cash regardless of property damage, back taxes, and Chicago building code violations.