Sundae Real Estate Reviews for Selling a House ‘As Is’
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Dena Landon, Contributing AuthorClose
Dena Landon Contributing AuthorDena Landon is a writer with over 10 years of experience and has had bylines appear in The Washington Post, Salon, Good Housekeeping and more. A homeowner and real estate investor herself, Dena's bought and sold four homes, worked in property management for other investors, and has written over 200 articles on real estate.
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Richard Haddad, Executive EditorClose
Richard Haddad Executive Editor
Richard Haddad is the executive editor of HomeLight.com. He works with an experienced content team that oversees the company’s blog featuring in-depth articles about the home buying and selling process, homeownership news, home care and design tips, and related real estate trends. Previously, he served as an editor and content producer for World Company, Gannett, and Western News & Info, where he also served as news director and director of internet operations.
A home is most Americans’ largest asset, but sometimes it can feel like a liability. Whether you can’t keep up with maintenance, are trying to help an elderly relative downsize, or have fallen behind on payments, there are times when you just need to sell your house and move on. Cash buyers or iBuyers, like those on sundae.com’s network, offer a quick, convenient sale, but what might you be giving up in return? To make a smart choice, it’s wise to read sundae.com reviews before moving forward.
Sell Your House 'As Is' Through Simple Sale
Not everyone has the time or money to make repairs for listing. HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform provides cash offers for off-market homes in almost any condition nationwide. No repairs, no staging, no open houses. Receive an all-cash offer within a week and close in as little as 7 days.
Most customer testimonials online are largely positive, and we’ll share some review notes and rankings later in this post. Of course, as with any company involved in the homebuying process, there are pros and cons to using their services. Even if you’re in a hurry to sell, take a few minutes to read up on their service. After all, your home is likely your largest investment.
What is sundae.com?
Sundae.com is an online marketplace that connects sellers with cash buyers. Their tagline is “Sell your house as-is, for the highest off-market price.” The website caters to home sellers who either don’t have the time, willingness, or money to get their home ready to sell on the open market.
Unlike other “cash for houses” buyers, such as We Buy Ugly Houses or iBuyers, sundae.com doesn’t buy homes directly. Instead, they provide a platform where multiple pre-vetted buyers, typically investors, can place bids on your home. Because there’s competition, and you could receive multiple bids, sundae.com claims that this leads to a fairer price for as-is sellers.
How does sundae.com work for home sellers?
Home sellers who are facing foreclosure, have inherited a distressed property, or simply don’t want to spend the time and money to fix up their home for a sale could possibly benefit from sundae.com’s services. The company states that homes sold through their platform can close in as little as 10 days, and if you agree to an offer, they will even advance you up to $20,000 before closing.
The process to list on sundae.com is simple. After you call the company, they send a “market expert” to visit your home. If you agree to their estimate of your home’s value, you sign an agreement and are listed on their site. Sundae’s buyers do have a home inspection performed, after which the website brings you the four highest offers.
Buyers in sundae.com’s network don’t negotiate for repairs after a home inspection, unlike buyers in the open market. They take your home’s condition into account when making their offer. If you know that your home needs considerable work and just need to get out of it, partnering with sundae.com is a good selling option to consider.
How does sundae.com work for homebuyers?
Homebuyers in the open market can’t shop for homes listed on sundae.com’s website — they only work with investors. These investors are usually looking to buy homes they can fix up and either resell or rent out for profit. Sundae screens these buyers ahead of time to help make sure they can actually complete the purchase. This setup can help create competition among buyers, which may help sellers get better offers.
Investor reviews praise sundae.com for saving them time on cold calls, digging through the multiple listing service (MLS), and following up with agents. The real estate platform also offers investors analytical tools they can use before making an offer.
If you’re a real estate investor in one of the states sundae.com serves, it might be worth checking them out.
Does sundae.com serve your area?
As of writing, Sundae.com serves several major California markets, including the Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Oakland, Orange County, Sacramento, and San Diego. The company has indicated that it intends to grow its footprint and bring its services to more cities nationwide.
Is there a cost to use sundae.com?
There are no fees, including agent commissions, when you list with sundae.com. Their website makes the offer of “zero fees,” and home sellers don’t even pay for the home inspection or escrow fees.
However, when sellers work with an investor, they typically will receive less than market value for their home, and sometimes significantly so. Investors buy distressed properties with the intention of fixing them up to either rent or sell for a profit. If they paid market value, they would almost always lose money.
While there’s no upfront fee to use Sundae.com’s services, you could be giving up potential profit by not listing your home on the open market, where it might sell for a higher price.
How does sundae.com make money?
Because nothing is charged to the sellers, they make their money through agreements with investors on their network. Investors must pay a $1,000 Admin Fee, along with a $250 fee per day if closing is delayed at their request.
In addition, Sundae offers financing options like Sundae Funding+, a lending service (available to premium investor members) that provides streamlined pre-approval, preferred rates, and faster closings. The company then earns money from the interest and fees tied to those financing services.
Sundae.com reviews
Sundae real estate reviews online are primarily favorable.
Better Business Bureau (4.41 out of 5 stars): Positive reviews say that selling with sundae.com was a smooth process, with some commending the excellent service and professionalism. Meanwhile, the negative reviews were largely from individuals who were upset that they ended up on sundee.com’s mailing list and couldn’t remove themselves despite not actually using their service.
Reviews.com (4.9 out of 5 stars): Reviewers say that they felt “relief” working with Sundae, mention a smooth process from start to finish, and say they received great service. Negative reviews claim that the company pulled a bait-and-switch with them, rescinding higher offers and lowering them. Others are upset that the investor made a large profit after buying and reselling the property.
Trustpilot (3.7 out of 5 stars): Sellers say the process was smooth and convenient, even when dealing with complex title issues. They appreciate not having to navigate the traditional real estate route, avoiding showings, cleaning, and repairs, and only needing to remove personal belongings before closing.
However, some clients report dissatisfaction, citing concerns about post-inspection price adjustments and feeling pressured to accept lower offers. A few also mention frustrations about transparency and resale outcomes after closing.
What are the pros and cons of using sundae.com?
Sundae.com can make selling a home faster and easier since you can sell as-is without doing repairs, hosting showings, or waiting months for the right buyer. The trade-off is that you may get a lower offer than you would on the open market. It really comes down to whether you value speed and convenience over trying to maximize the sale price.
Pros:
- Sell your home quickly for cash: You’ll typically get an offer after the completed home inspection. Moreover, you can close quickly, usually within 10 days.
- Partner with pre-vetted investors: Investors must complete an application and the onboarding process to join sundae.com’s network.
- Skip repairs, marketing, and staging: For many homeowners, getting a house ready to sell can take weeks or months. After making minor repairs and cosmetic improvements, they may also have to hire a stager and keep it clean for showings. If you need to move an elderly relative into assisted living and just want a faster, easier sale, sundae.com could fit the bill.
- Receive multiple offers: Many cash buyers are corporations or franchises, such as We Buy Houses. Their offer price could reflect a lack of competition, but with sundae.com, multiple investors look at your property, so you could make money overall.
- Get a cash advance: If you’ve accepted an offer on your house, sundae.com will advance you up to $20,000. You could use this money to cover moving costs, rent an apartment, or put it as part of a down payment on a new home.
- Close quickly, or take your time: If you need to get out of your house in a hurry, sundae.com says you can close in as few as 10 days. Or, if you need more time to pack and move, they can close in up to 60 days.
Cons
- Receive lower offers: Real estate investors who intend to resell follow a basic principle of buy low, sell high. Even investors who buy and hold properties to rent typically pay under market rates to maximize their profit.
- Limit your ability to sell if you’re not in their market: Sundae is slowly expanding its footprint, but right now it’s primarily focusing on California. If you live in another state or city, you won’t have access to their services.
- Wait longer to receive offers: Other cash for houses buyers can make an offer in as little as 24 hours. Because sundae.com has a home inspection performed before even listing your house, and then investors have three days to bid, it can take longer to get an offer.
What are some alternatives to sundae.com?
If you’re considering selling your home quickly, there are several alternatives to sundae.com. Different home-buying platforms and traditional selling options can offer different benefits depending on what you need. Comparing a few choices can help you find the best fit for speed, convenience, and price. Here are some worth exploring:
- HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform
- We Buy Houses companies
- iBuyers like Opendoor and Offerpad
- Local cash buyer services
How do HomeLight’s seller and buyer services work?
Often, sellers of distressed properties who might be facing foreclosure, think that a cash buyer is their only option. But, an experienced real estate agent still might be able to sell your home quickly and get you more money. It’s always a good idea to talk to a professional in your area to find out your options. HomeLight can match you with a local, top-performing agent.
After you answer a few questions, HomeLight analyzes over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agents in your market get the best results. You can pick from a list of potential matches and contact the agents for an interview, or just schedule a quick chat with your top choice. With HomeLight’s vast network of top agents, you’re sure to find a proven professional who can offer insights and options.
Aside from the Agent Match tool, you can use HomeLight’s Simple Sale to secure a cash offer for your home in as little as 24 hours. With an instant offer, you can avoid paying agent fees, close in as few as 7 days, and often pick your own close date. Similar to sundae.com, you can sell your home without having to make repairs, prep, stage, and keep it clean for showings.
Other services and tools offered by HomeLight
HomeLight offers more services and tools for home sellers:
- Buy Before You Sell: What if you’re selling so that you can buy another house and move? In hot markets, it’s hard to shop for a new house if your offer has a sales contingency in it, and you might have to rent for a while before you can buy again. With HomeLight Buy Before You Sell, you can make a stronger, non-contingent offer that appeals to sellers and seamlessly transition into your next home without juggling two properties.
Additional tools & resources
- Home Value Estimator: Curious about how much your home is worth? Our Home Value Estimator analyzes up-to-date sales information for comparable properties and gives you a ballpark estimate of your home’s value.
- Agent Commissions Calculator: How much will you pay in commission to an agent when you sell your home? Our commissions calculator will help you estimate it.
- Home Affordability Calculator: How much house can you afford to buy? After answering a few questions about income and expenses, our calculator’s result will help inform your potential home shopping budget.
- Net Proceeds Calculator: How much will you make selling your home? Use our calculator to estimate the cost of selling your home and the net proceeds you could earn from the sale.
- Best Time to Sell Calculator: If you’re trying to sell quickly and for top dollar, when is the best time to list? Our Best Time to Sell calculator analyzes your market’s sales data to determine the best time to list your home.
- Informative blog posts in the HomeLight Seller and Buyer resource centers with expert advice, checklists, and quick tips.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about sundae.com
Just want the quick rundown? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about sundae.com.
Yes, the company is a licensed brokerage in the states where it operates and is a registered corporation.
Sundae.com accommodates homes that need updates or repairs, which include those that haven’t been remodeled in many years, require major repairs to important structural elements or systems like the roof, plumbing, electrical, or foundation, and contain materials that may not meet current building codes or could pose health concerns.
If you own a distressed property, need to sell quickly, or are trying to avoid a foreclosure, then it might be beneficial to sell your house on sundae.com. Their marketplace model, which presents multiple offers on your house, could net you a larger profit. However, there are iBuyers and other cash offer platforms out there. To maximize your profit, you might want to get multiple quotes.
Yes, there’s an admin fee and a delayed closing fee. But for the most part, sundae.com makes its money on the buy side. Investors pay to have access to properties, particularly since sundae.com has already had a home inspection performed before listing a home on the site. Therefore, investors have a better idea of what they’re getting into.
However, while you won’t need to worry about the traditional fees and costs associated with selling a home, you’ll likely receive a lower offer from an investor compared to selling on the market with a top agent.
Weigh the benefits of using sundae.com’s services
If you have a home in good condition, especially in a hot market, an experienced agent could likely sell it quickly, even if it does need a little work. Before signing up to work with Sundae, take the time to talk to a top-rated agent.
But if you do decide to go with a cash buyer or investor, there are other platforms you can consider, such as HomeLight’s Simple Sale. Even if you’re pressed for time, taking just a few minutes to explore your options could result in a better outcome overall.
Header Image Source: (Wine Down With Pour Choices / Unsplash)
Editor’s note: Information in this article is current as of its publication date. Processes, rates, and services from real estate companies can change based on market conditions, housing trends, changes in technology, and customer needs.
At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.
