Selling a House ‘As Is’ in Whittier

Looking to sell a house “as is” in Whittier? Whether you’ve got a fixer-upper or recently inherited a relative’s home, sometimes the goal is to skip repairs, get a fair offer, and move on.

Most homeowners who want to make an as-is home sale are doing so because the home is in disrepair and they cannot afford the required updates to list it on the traditional market.

However, selling a house “as is” usually means accepting a lower offer, and it doesn’t always prevent buyers from trying to negotiate a lower price. Let’s take a closer look at how to sell a house in Whittier, your options for getting an offer, and what to expect from the process.

Consult With a Top Agent About Selling Your Home 'As Is'

Know your options before you sell your home “as is.” It takes just two minutes to match you with the top-rated real estate agents in your area. To connect with an agent, simply tell us a little bit about your property and how soon you’re looking to sell.

Step 1: Talk to an Expert

Fast facts about selling a house ‘as is’ in Whittier

What is ‘as is’ condition in real estate?

“As is” is a type of home sale in which it’s understood that no improvements will be made to the property. When selling a house “as is,” the seller declines to entertain buyers’ requests to complete repairs or provide a credit for them.

An as-is sale may also indicate that the functionality and longevity of certain components of the home, such as a stove on its last legs or an older roof, is not guaranteed.

When selling a house “as is,” the general condition of the property should already be accounted for in the purchase price of the home to the best of the seller’s knowledge.

Which types of homes are sold ‘as is’?

Homes sold “as is” often need some work or may be cosmetically outdated. It’s not a label you’re likely to put on a listing in pristine, move-in-ready condition.

“As is” sales often attract investors searching for their next flip or buyers seeking a bargain, perhaps on a home in a great location with lots of potential.

What problems do you have to disclose in Whittier?

Selling a house “as is” in Whittier doesn’t mean sweeping known problems about the house under the rug.

A good time to fill out a Transfer Disclosure Statement is before listing your home or requesting an offer, so you know it’s taken care of.

According to the document, the seller must disclose the property’s condition.

The form will guide you through documenting what you know about material defects and the property’s condition.

You’ll also be prompted to fill out information about:

• Material defects
• Asbestos, radon, lead-based paint or any other hazardous materials present in the property
• Encroachments or easements
• Flooding
• Structural damage
• HOA

Review your options to sell ‘as is’ in Whittier

The main options to sell a house ‘as is’ include:

List ‘as is’ with the help of a real estate agent

A great real estate agent will provide assistance throughout the process of listing and selling a home “as is.” An agent gives simple presentation tips to improve marketing, helps to set an appropriate price that reflects the home’s condition, and works to find a buyer willing and eager to buy your home in its current state.

Sell directly to a cash buyer

Someone who needs to sell their home “as is” can also work directly with a property investor or house-buying company rather than list, where it may be difficult to get an offer from a limited buyer pool.

We Buy Houses companies buy “as is” at a discounted rate and generally seek out homes in poor condition. These companies can help sellers cash out quickly, and many will cover a seller’s closing costs.

Steps to list ‘as is’ with the help of a real estate agent

Find an agent willing to list the home ‘as is’

Your choice of real estate agent always matters, but even more so when selling a property “as is.” It’s important to find the right match. You’re looking for an agent who doesn’t shy away from listings that need a little TLC and maybe has a strong network of investor connections.

Consider a pre-listing inspection

A pre-listing home inspection is the same as a standard home inspection, except the seller pays for it before listing their home.

It may sound like a counterintuitive step for an as-is sale, but getting the inspection results upfront can illuminate any issues that could affect the home’s value and inform an accurate pricing strategy. If a buyer requests further price reductions based on their own inspection, you may be able to point out that the estimated cost of certain repairs was already baked into the list price.

Price to reflect ‘as is’ condition

The median sale price for homes in Whittier hit $789,000 in January 2026, a 1.3% decrease over the year prior.

You can start with a free estimate from HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator (HVE).

Our HVE combs public data, including tax records and assessments, and pulls recent sales records for other properties in your neighborhood. Using a short questionnaire, we also factor in specifics about your home, such as the property type and described condition. Input your address, and we’ll provide you with a preliminary home value estimate in under two minutes.

What is Your Whittier Home Worth?

Enter your address and get a preliminary estimate of home value in under two minutes.

Get Estimate

Do ever-so-light preparations

Even though the home is being sold “as-is”, you still want to make minor updates to the outside and to improve curb appeal. Cleaning up the front yard, decluttering the inside — these are minimal improvements you make, and help create a strong first impression.

Photograph to show potential

Your home listing warrants professional photography regardless of its condition. A professional photographer will take steps to shoot each room from the best angle, ensure optimal interior and natural lighting, and edit for the ideal brightness and exposure.

A high-quality camera with a wide-angle lens is also essential to showcasing entire rooms rather than half or three-quarters of what’s there. For these reasons and more, professionally photographed homes can help homeowners earn up to a 47% higher asking price per square foot than houses marketed without professional photos.

Your real estate agent will almost always arrange for professional photos as part of the listing process.

Highlight the surrounding area

A home’s location will be important to buyers seeking out a home with potential. Mention in your as-is listing if your home is close to any of the following:

• Downtown areas
• Major employers
• Parks and green spaces
• Sports venues and entertainment districts
• Waterfront views or access (ocean or a lake)
• Highly rated schools
• Access to outdoor activities
• Public transportation

Include ‘as is’ in the listing

Unless you explicitly mention that your house is being sold “as is,” buyers will have no idea of your intentions with the listing. Other common descriptors mentioned in as-is listings in Whittier include priced to sell, fixer-upper, handyman special, or a “call for investors.”

To balance the focus on the as-is condition, work with your agent to craft a property description that highlights the home’s best features.

Understand buyers may still negotiate

Listing “as is” provides no guarantee that buyers won’t try to negotiate savings on their purchase, even on an asking price you felt was already reduced to reflect the home’s condition. One of the best defenses you can have is an agent who takes a hard stance to prevent a deal from going south for the seller.

Be aware of minimum property standards for certain loans

When you place your home on the market, it’s hard to predict if your top offer will come from a cash buyer or a buyer pre-qualified for a home loan.

But if you do end up working with a financed buyer, be aware that different mortgage types (such as conventional loans or government-backed FHA, USDA, or VA loans) have different minimum property standards. These are standards related to the overall condition of a property, which will play a role in the willingness and/or ability of a lender to finance a buyer’s loan.

Before properties can be financed, their value and condition is typically examined by a state-licensed, independent appraiser contracted by the buyer’s mortgage company.

If you’re unsure whether your home will meet appraisal requirements, you can start by taking a look at the FHA minimum property standards. If your house complies with FHA, then it complies with most other lenders’ requirements.

Prioritize a cash offer if you receive one

On occasion, conventional lenders may even finance a fixer-upper property sold “as is,” and it’s not impossible to finance a fixer-upper with an FHA loan. However, if you’re selling a house “as is” — especially one that needs heftier repairs — you may want to consider accepting a cash offer if you receive one.

Cash eliminates the lender-ordered appraisal and the time required to close the buyer’s loan, creating a faster, clearer path to settlement.

Pros of listing a home ‘as is’:

• Save time and money on prepwork
• The possibility of reducing negotiations from the inspection
• Solution for out-of-state owners and inherited homes

Cons of listing a home ‘as is’:

• Limited buyer pool
• Expect lower offers
• Negotiations and repairs aren’t always off the table

Steps to sell directly to a cash buyer

If you aren’t sure where to get a cash offer, consider Simple Sale, a HomeLight solution. With Simple Sale, you tell us a bit about your home, such as whether it’s a single-family or condo, and how much work it needs. From there, we’ll provide you with a full cash offer to buy your home in as little as a week.

Skip repairs

No need to call the roof inspector or drain your savings to replace the HVAC. HomeLight will provide an offer for homes in almost any condition.

Sell when it’s convenient

Want to get out right away? Or need a little more time to pack? Either way, we’re flexible. Pick a move date that works for your schedule within 30 days of closing.

Close with certainty

Cash buyers don’t need a lender’s involvement to purchase a home, meaning they can move nimbly and quickly compared to someone who needs financing. With Simple Sale, you can close in as little as 10 days, compared to the 30-60 days or longer it typically takes to close with a financed buyer.

Curious to know more about the Simple Sale experience? Hear it firsthand from one of our valued clients in the video below.

Additional We Buy Houses companies in Whittier

Below we’ve compiled a list of some of the leading companies that purchase homes “as is” for cash in Whittier and information about each.