4 Top We Buy Houses for Cash Companies in Baton Rouge
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Joseph Gordon EditorCloseJoseph Gordon Editor
Joseph Gordon is an Editor with HomeLight. He has several years of experience reporting on the commercial real estate and insurance industries.
If you don’t have the time, budget, or know-how to make necessary home repairs before selling, all-cash offers from “We Buy Houses” Baton Rouge, Louisiana companies can be a practical solution. These businesses buy homes in as-is condition, helping homeowners avoid the hassle and cost of repairs and move forward with their lives quickly.
This article unpacks the pros and cons of selling your home for cash in Baton Rouge, providing the tools and knowledge to decide if this is the right path for you. We will also give you a brief window into the process, explain how it works, and present you with alternatives.
Working with house-buying companies in Baton Rouge
Navigating a home sale with a house-buying company is straightforward. Here’s a simple guide to the process of selling your house for cash:
- Research companies: Look for reputable cash-for-homes companies in Baton Rouge. Check their reviews and past transactions to ensure they are legitimate and trustworthy.
- Submit your details: Contact your chosen company with information about your property. This usually involves filling out a form on their website or making a phone call.
- Receive an offer: Based on the details you provided, the company will make an all-cash offer for your home. This typically happens within a few days.
- Home inspection: If you accept the offer, the company will arrange to inspect your home to verify its condition.
- Close the sale: Should everything check out during the inspection, you’ll proceed to closing. The company usually takes care of all paperwork, and you can receive your cash in a matter of days.
- Move on: With the sale complete, you’re free to move forward with your plans without the usual stresses of selling a home.
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Baton Rouge
If the process of selling to a house-buying company in Baton Rouge sounds good to you, it’s time to find a legitimate operation you can trust.
We’ve compiled some of the top companies that will pay cash for your parents’ property, whether it’s a bungalow or a French Colonial. By working with one of these companies, you should be able to sell your Baton Rouge home in as little as a week or two.
BuyHousesBR
Guided by the core values of integrity, commitment, reliability, and compassion, BuyHousesBR is dedicated to serving homeowners with transparency and care. It provides prompt cash offers within 24 hours, ensuring efficiency from the outset.
With a strong focus on personalized solutions, the team assists clients facing a wide range of challenges, including foreclosure, inherited estates, unwanted rental properties, and homes in need of repairs.
Locations: Baton Rouge and other cities in Louisiana, such as New Orleans and Denham Springs
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Buy Houses BR LLC covers them.
With a reputation built on integrity and trust, BuyHousesBR earned accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in 2021 and now proudly bears an A+ rating. Its Google Business Profile features positive customer testimonials, resulting in a perfect 5-star rating.
The company receives high praise for its integrity, flexibility, and efficiency in the homebuying process. Clients appreciate the team’s honesty and ability to close deals swiftly, highlighting their considerate approach to sellers’ timelines.
Website: buyhousesbr.com
Phone number: 225-217-1778
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Baton Rouge (and across the country) can request a cash offer for their home. It connects you to one of the largest networks of cash buyers in the U.S.
Partner investors have a wide range of investment strategies, including fix-and-flip and buy-and-hold. This enables Simple Sale to provide cash offers for a wide array of properties, even those that need some or a lot of work, in different locations throughout Baton Rouge.
With this platform, you can get a no-obligation, all-cash offer in 24 hours and sell your home in as few as 10 days, skipping the months it can take to sell the traditional way.
Locations: Nationwide, including Baton Rouge
Closing costs: No prep costs, no agent commissions, and no fees charged by HomeLight. Individual investor fees may vary.
Simple Sale is a platform by HomeLight, a real estate solutions company founded in 2012. Given its strong focus on excellent customer service, it received its BBB accreditation in 2019 and now holds an A+ rating. The company has 4.8 stars on Google based on hundreds of user reviews.
Below, you can hear about how Baohan Wu, a seller who used Simple Sale to sell his high-rise apartment, closed within three and a half weeks, and what he thought of the process overall.
Website: homelight.com/simple
Phone: 844-488-8455
Geaux Home Buyers
Geaux Home Buyers provides a streamlined solution for homeowners looking to sell quickly and easily. Clients receive competitive cash offers within 24 hours and can choose their preferred closing date.
Properties are purchased in any condition, eliminating the need for repairs or renovations. Sellers are also free to leave behind unwanted items, which the company removes at no additional cost. With a focus on convenience and professionalism, the team ensures a smooth and stress-free selling experience.
Locations: Baton Rouge and other cities in Louisiana, such as Baker, Zachary, and Denham Springs
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Geaux Home Buyers covers them.
Geaux Home Buyers has a high Google review rating of 4.4. Clients consistently report strong satisfaction, often noting the speed of the process and how clearly everything was communicated. Many especially value the team’s prompt replies and their steady support during difficult moments.
Website: geauxhomebuyers.com
Phone number: 225-330-8418
New Leaf Homebuyers
New Leaf Homebuyers offers a straightforward solution for homeowners in Baton Rouge looking to sell their properties quickly and without the usual hassles. The process is designed for speed and simplicity, offering fair cash offers within 24 hours of contact and the flexibility to close on the seller’s timeline.
As a locally based homebuying company, they bring in-depth knowledge of the area to every transaction. Their familiarity with the area allows them to provide fair and accurate offers based on real market conditions. Moreover, they provide a personalized approach and responsive service.
Locations: Baton Rouge
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; New Leaf Homebuyers covers them.
New Leaf Homebuyers has a Google review rating of 5.0. Past clients frequently express great satisfaction, with many stating the company went above and beyond what they anticipated. Reviews often highlight the team’s courteous attitude and professional conduct throughout the home-selling journey.
Website: selltonl.com
Phone number: 225-523-2086
Why sell your Baton Rouge house for cash?
Why sell your Baton Rouge house for cash?
There are plenty of valid reasons a Baton Rouge home seller may choose to work with a Cash-For-Homes company. The benefits of speed, certainty, and remarkable convenience are the most commonly cited.
In Baton Rouge, selling a home on the open market using an agent typically takes around 110 days. That includes an average of 70 days on the market plus the typical 40 days a buyer needs to close on a purchase loan.
Compare that to the typical seven to 10 days promised by many house-buying companies in Baton Rouge, and it’s clear why these Cash-For-Homes groups are an attractive option, even though they don’t always offer top dollar for the homes they purchase.
Selling your Baton Rouge home for cash might be right under certain circumstances. Here’s when reaching out to a “We Buy Houses for Cash” company could make sense:
- Job relocation: A cash sale is quick and efficient, perfect for those relocating for work.
- Divorce settlement: During the tough times of a divorce, selling your home for cash can simplify dividing assets.
- Unwanted inheritance: Dealing with the responsibilities of a home left to you can be overwhelming. A cash sale offers a straightforward solution, especially when you’re looking to sell an inherited house quickly.
- Downsizing transition: If it’s time to move to a smaller place or a retirement community, a cash sale means less hassle.
- Major repairs needed: When your home is in poor condition and requires more work than you can handle or afford, selling for cash can provide relief.
- Open house stress: If you prefer not to have strangers touring your home, A cash sale eliminates the need for open houses.
- Foundation issues: Selling a house with foundation problems can be a deal-breaker in traditional sales, but cash buyers are often willing to take on these challenges.
- Foreclosure solution: If you’re at risk of foreclosure, a fast cash sale can provide a way out, allowing you to settle debts and avoid further financial damage.
- Problem tenants: If you’re ready to retire from being a landlord, cash buyers can purchase your property even with tenants still in place.
- Remote home sale: A cash offer simplifies the process of selling a property from out of state.
For homeowners in Baton Rouge navigating these scenarios, a cash offer can provide a timely and convenient solution. In the following section, we explore the pros and cons to help you decide if selling your home for cash aligns with your situation and goals.
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in Baton Rouge
Working with house-buying companies in Baton Rouge presents a unique set of advantages and challenges. The most compelling benefits include the speed of sale and the ability to sell your home as-is without investing in repairs or staging.
Pros
- Quick closing: Selling to a house-buying company can significantly accelerate the selling process, allowing you to close in as little as a week.
- No need for repairs: These companies will buy your home in its current condition, saving you the time and expense of making repairs.
- Cash offers: The certainty of a cash offer means you don’t have to worry about buyer financing falling through due to contingencies.
- Simplified process: The sale process is straightforward, eliminating the need for open houses, showings, and negotiations.
Cons
- Below-market-value offers: The biggest drawback is that these companies usually offer less than what you might receive on the open market.
- Limited negotiation: Offers from these companies are often non-negotiable, leaving you with a take-it-or-leave-it decision.
- Scam risks: While many companies are legitimate, the industry does have its share of house-buying scams. It’s crucial to conduct thorough research.
- Less profit: The convenience of a quick sale often comes at the cost of lower profit from the sale of your home.
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
The level of integrity and service you experience from a We Buy Houses for Cash company can vary, even within an established house-buying group that strives to maintain high standards. This is because many Cash-For-Homes companies are franchises and often use independent investors or wholesaling outfits. Your experience depends on the character of the person or group making the offer.
Before committing to a cash offer, vet the company thoroughly. Check reviews, read testimonials, and research its presence and performance in the market. And, of course, read the buying agreement carefully before signing.
Consult with an experienced local agent to get a better idea of what your home might be worth if sold on the open market. Then, compare your cash offer.
HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent in your market. You can also try our Home Value Estimator to get an initial ballpark estimate in less than two minutes.
Other options to sell your Baton Rouge home quickly
Exploring other avenues to sell your home quickly in Baton Rouge opens up two main alternatives: working with iBuyers and listing with a real estate agent.
Working with iBuyers: Instant buyers or iBuyers use automated valuation models (AVMs) to provide near-instant property valuations and cash offers, often closer to market value for homes in better condition.
The process is streamlined and mostly online, wrapping up sales within days to a couple of weeks. Despite charging service fees around 5% to 6%, major iBuyer companies like Opendoor and Offerpad appeal to sellers with homes in areas of consistent housing types and in relatively good shape.
Listing with an agent: Contrary to the direct sale approach, enlisting a top real estate agent could expedite your sale, especially in a seller-friendly market. High-quality marketing and strategic pricing, guided by a professional, can lead to a fast sale at a premium price.
A key advantage of working with agents is receiving a comparative market analysis (CMA), usually offered for free, to price your home competitively. Experienced agents may also connect you with cash buyers ready to make near-market-value cash offers. For those considering their options, HomeLight can connect you with a leading agent in your area to get started.
FAQs on Baton Rouge house-buying companies
By and large, most We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Baton Rouge are legitimate businesses. Their services and transaction fees may differ, but the business model has been around for decades. If you use an established group with a track record, you can be fairly confident that it’s legit.
That said, as with any financial transaction, it’s a good idea to be on the alert for scams. Always research companies before you sign a contract. Check customer reviews, look at their online presence, verify professional licenses, get a referral if possible, and vet the company on the BBB website. Watch for anything that just doesn’t seem right.
Most Baton Rouge We Buy Houses for Cash companies apply the 70% rule, meaning they’ll offer you about 70% of your home’s after-repair value (ARV), minus their estimated repair costs.
Here’s an example of what a simplified formula might look like:
(Your home’s ARV x .70) – repair costs
To see how this might work in a real-world scenario, let’s take a look at an example offer equation. Let’s say your Baton Rouge French Colonial could sell for $270,000 after repairs, but it’s going to need $25,000 of work to get there.
($270,000 x .70) – $25,000 = $164,000
In this example, a Baton Rouge We Buy Houses company might offer you around $164,000 for your home.
However, different types of house-buying companies will offer varying amounts for homes. As mentioned previously, iBuyers tend to pay more than We Buy Houses companies because they look for homes in better condition. An iBuyer might pay you 90% or more of market value while charging a fee for their services.
When you accept an offer from a Baton Rouge We Buy Houses for Cash company, you will likely be coming to grips with a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it shouldn’t cost you any additional money because these companies make an offer and handle almost everything once the offer is accepted. On the other hand, you’ll likely get less money overall for your home.
Because We Buy Houses for Cash companies tend to focus on distressed homes, they typically have zero fees. Many will even cover your closing costs. In most cases, this means that the cash offer you receive is going to be the price you walk away with at the end of the deal. Of course, it’s always a good idea to flat-out ask the company if there are any hidden program fees that might impact your bottom line.
- Research and vet the house-buying companies that serve the Baton Rouge area. Our list above is a good place to start.
- Submit offer requests to a few companies you like best.
- Schedule any required on-site property visits.
- Compare offers. Weigh the pros and cons and choose the best option for you.
- Close the sale in a week to 30 days and get paid. (Some companies will let you choose a closing date up to 90 days after accepting the offer, which can be helpful when planning a move.)
We Buy Houses for Cash in Baton Rouge vs. top Baton Rouge agent
Another helpful exercise is to compare how a We Buy Houses for Cash company might stack up against working with a real estate agent. Let’s take a glance at how different aspects of the sale might look and compare possible proceeds.
Aspect of the sale | Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Baton Rouge | Sell with a top Realtor in Baton Rouge |
Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 110 days average; 70 to attract an offer, 40 to close the loan |
Home preparations | None | Deep clean, declutter, make necessary repairs, landscape, and stage the home |
Showings | None | 10 to 25 showings on average |
Inspections / repairs | None | May need to make additional repairs for the buyer or renegotiate the price |
Appraisal | None | May need to lower your asking price if the appraisal comes in low |
Title search | Cash-For-Homes companies often handle title issues | Must clear the title before you can sell the home |
Financing contingency | None | Mortgaged buyers use a financing contingency that could hold up the deal if the buyer’s loan doesn’t clear |
Agent commission | None | 3% to 6% of the home’s sale price |
Closing costs | None | 1% to 3% of the home’s sale price on top of the agent’s commission |
Example net proceeds
Below, we’ve compiled one example of how net proceeds may differ between selling a home to a We Buy Houses for Cash company and an agent-assisted sale.
Let’s say your home in Baton Rouge is currently worth about $245,000 and needs about $25,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth around $270,000.
Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Baton Rouge | Sell with a top Realtor in Baton Rouge | |
Estimated sale price | ($270,000 x .70) – $25,000 = $164,000 | $245,000 |
Market preparations | 0 | $2,450 (1% of the sale price) |
Agent commissions | 0 | $7,350 (3% of the sale price) |
Closing costs | 0 | $3,675 (1.5% of the sale price) |
Estimated take-home for seller | $164,000 | $231,525 |
As this example illustrates, it’s usually in your best financial interest to partner with an experienced real estate agent.
However, net proceeds are not the only consideration when selling a home. What’s best for your situation will depend on the condition of your property, the level of repairs needed, and your selling objectives. It could be that selling on the open market will be a challenge in your area, or the agent’s timeline might not fit your immediate needs.
Key takeaways
- Sell quickly: Selling to a house-buying company in Baton Rouge offers a fast closing process, an appealing solution if you need to sell urgently.
- Skip the usual home prep: These companies purchase homes in any condition, eliminating the need for repairs or improvements.
- Secure a cash offer: Expect a straightforward cash offer without the complexities of financing or contingencies.
- Expect a lower offer: Be prepared that offers from these companies are often below the market value of your home.
- Know your home’s worth: Know your property’s estimated market value before you proceed with a cash-offer company.
At HomeLight, we’re happy to help you navigate your real estate journey. Let us help you make an informed and confident decision, whether you’re looking for a no-obligation cash offer through a trusted platform like Simple Sale or seeking to consult with a top-performing agent.
Editor’s note: This post is for educational purposes only. Links to and mentions of Baton Rouge area ‘We Buy Houses’ companies are not endorsements. Moreover, the program details mentioned above may change. Visit the home-buying company’s website for the most up-to-date information.
Header Image Source: (Gower Brown/ Unsplash)