There are a lot of companies buying houses for cash in Dallas-Fort Worth. Most of them are fine. Some are excellent. A few are not. These are the questions that tell you which is which, and you should ask them of us too.
We wrote this because we’d rather compete on being answerable than on being loudest. If another company answers these well, they’re probably a good company.
1. “Can you show me proof of funds?”
A cash buyer should be able to show you, in writing, that they have the money to close. This is a normal request and nobody legitimate will be offended by it.
What to listen for: a straight yes. Hesitation, or an explanation about “partners” who will fund it later, is worth a follow-up question.
2. “How much earnest money are you putting down, and is it refundable?”
Earnest money is how a buyer demonstrates they’re serious. A hundred dollars, fully refundable, with a long option period is a very different commitment than several thousand dollars at risk.
What to listen for: a real number, and clarity on what happens to it if they walk away. We put thousands into escrow, if we back out without cause, that money is yours.
3. “Will you explain how you got to this number?”
Any buyer should be able to walk you through their math: what they think the home is worth repaired, what repairs they estimate, and what they need to make it work.
What to listen for: whether they show you actual recent sales nearby. “This is just what we can do” is not an explanation.
4. “Under what circumstances would this price change?”
A price that drops right before closing, sometimes called re-trading, is the most common complaint sellers have about cash buyers.
What to listen for: a clear, specific answer. Ours is that we don’t renegotiate unless something material about the property surfaces that neither of us knew at the appointment, and we’ll show you exactly what it is.
5. “Have you actually closed on properties here, and can I see reviews?”
Public reviews are hard to fake at volume. Look for how the company responds to criticism, not just praise.
What to listen for: a real local track record. Ours is public, 164 Google reviews at 4.9 stars, and 500+ homes purchased since 2019.
6. “Where is your office?”
Not every good buyer has a storefront, and plenty of legitimate investors work remotely. But a local company with a real address has more at stake in its reputation.
Ours: 915 N Bowser, Richardson, TX 75081.
7. “What title company do you use, and can I choose?”
You generally have the right to a say in the title company. A buyer who insists on one you’ve never heard of and won’t discuss alternatives is worth a second look.
8. “What happens if I say no?”
The answer should be “nothing.” No pressure, no expiring offer, no same-day-only discount. Real deadlines exist, a foreclosure sale date is real, but manufactured urgency is a sales tactic.
If you don’t feel fully confident, get a second opinion
Or a third. Any good buyer will still be there tomorrow.
Some people know at the kitchen table that a number works for them, and they’re ready to move forward that day. That’s completely fine, if you’ve heard the answers you needed and the number makes sense, there’s no rule saying you have to wait.
Other people want to sleep on it, talk to family, or call two more companies first. That’s equally fine, and we’d never make you feel otherwise. We’ve had sellers call three other buyers and come back to us a week later. We’ve had sellers call three other buyers and go with one of them. Both are good outcomes, because both times the person felt sure.
If our offer works for you, great. If not, you at least have something to compare it to.
A few things worth being careful about
Regardless of who you end up working with:
- Be cautious of anyone asking for money up front to “save” your home
- Don’t sign documents transferring your deed that you don’t fully understand
- Be wary of an offer that expires in hours, real deadlines exist, like a foreclosure sale date, but manufactured urgency is a sales tactic
- Ask for the offer in writing
If something feels off, slow down. That’s true of us as much as anyone else.