What are your options for an as-is house?
With an agent, you can discuss listing the house as it stands or doing selected work first. You and the agent set the listing terms, including preparation, buyer access, and costs. Buyer requests and the time the house is on the market can affect what you keep.
If you sell by owner, you set the asking price and handle marketing, buyer questions, visits, offer discussions, and sale coordination yourself, or hire help for parts of the work.
Compare Cash Offer and EZ Sale
We have two ways to buy. A Cash Offer is built for speed, condition, and tough situations — heavy repairs, tight timelines, difficult circumstances. EZ Sale is often the better fit when the house doesn't need major repairs and you want a higher number. Either way, you compare written numbers and you pick what works best for you.
You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company.
No agent commissions when you sell to us.
Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.
Compare the written terms with the preparation, visits, carrying costs, and timing in the other routes. The table below puts the four choices side by side.
Cash Offer or EZ Sale: compare the written numbers
We have two ways to buy. A Cash Offer is built for speed, condition, and tough situations — heavy repairs, tight timelines, difficult circumstances. EZ Sale is often the better fit when the house doesn't need major repairs and you want a higher number. Either way, you compare written numbers and you pick what works best for you.
Swipe across the table to compare all four selling options.
| Factor | List with a realtor | FSBO | Cash Offer | EZ Sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Market-dependent | Market-dependent | 30 days or less | 60 days or less |
| Price | Highest, if it sells | Varies | Lower price | Higher price than the Cash Offer |
| Repairs | Repairs may be needed before listing or after inspection | The seller handles repair decisions | No repairs | No repairs |
| Commissions | Agent commissions apply under the listing agreement | No listing-agent commission; the seller handles the sale | No commissions | No commissions |
| Closing costs | Seller costs depend on the contract and settlement statement | Seller costs depend on the contract and settlement statement | No closing costs | No closing costs |
| Showings | The seller prepares for and coordinates showings | The seller markets the property and coordinates showings | None | Yes, partner visits |
| Who buys | Retail buyer | Retail buyer | USA Home Buyers buys directly | Goes to one of our partners |
| Certainty | Depends on the buyer, inspections, financing, and contract | Depends on finding and qualifying a buyer | You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company. | You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company. |
| Net proceeds | Compare the expected sale price after commissions, repairs, costs, and waiting | Compare the expected sale price after seller-managed costs and work | Compare the written price after your payoff and other property obligations. No commissions. No closing costs. | Compare the written price after your payoff and other property obligations. No commissions. No closing costs. |
Compare what you would keep after costs with the Ilchester calculator →
Questions about the two options? Call 888-274-5006.
What local details matter when you sell in Ilchester?
Ilchester is a Census-designated place in Howard County. Howard County Finance collects county recordation and transfer taxes and stamps deeds; the Circuit Court Land Records Department records deeds. See the County's recordation-tax information and the court's Land Records information.
If the house needs repairs, you can compare the cost and time of that work with an as-is sale. We buy houses as-is, so you can include the house in its current condition in that comparison.
Which costs should you compare?
Maryland's state transfer tax is 0.5% of the sale price. State law generally presumes the buyer and seller split transfer and recordation taxes unless the contract says otherwise. If the buyer is a first-time Maryland home buyer who will live in the house, the state rate is 0.25%, and the seller pays the state transfer tax, recordation tax, and any county transfer tax unless the parties expressly agree otherwise. Some transfers are exempt. The county sets its recordation-tax rate, and an applicable county transfer tax may also apply.
Read the rules for the Maryland state transfer tax, county recordation tax, who pays these taxes, and transfer-tax exemptions. For Howard County's local charges, see the County's recordation-tax information.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. No agent commissions when you sell to us. No fees. Your mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate amounts to compare.
Compare the numbers for your own sale with the Ilchester home-sale net-proceeds calculator.
What can you do now?
Tell us what needs work and which sale option you are weighing. Not sure? Call us — we'll sort it out with you.
Call 888-274-5006 with a question, or share the house details in the form.
What our sellers say
“LISTEN, PROPERTY TAXES GOT TOO HIGH FOR MY FIXED INCOME. SOLD IT TO THEM. WALKED AWAY WITH CASH. GLAD IT'S OVER.”
“Facing foreclosure ... Very stressful time... They handled it professionally and got me out of the debt...”
“no open houses. no realtors tracking dirt in. just a straight cash sale for our house so we could move. Glad it's over.”
Ilchester as-is sale questions
Can I sell my Ilchester house without fixing it first?
Yes. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
What are my options for selling an as-is house?
You can list with an agent, sell by owner, or compare our Cash Offer and EZ Sale. We have two ways to buy. A Cash Offer is built for speed, condition, and tough situations — heavy repairs, tight timelines, difficult circumstances. EZ Sale is often the better fit when the house doesn't need major repairs and you want a higher number. Either way, you compare written numbers and you pick what works best for you.
Who pays Maryland transfer and recordation taxes?
Maryland’s state transfer tax is 0.5% of the sale price. State law generally presumes the buyer and seller split these taxes unless the contract says otherwise. If the buyer is a first-time Maryland home buyer who will live in the house, the state rate is 0.25%, and the seller pays the state transfer tax, recordation tax, and any local transfer tax unless the parties expressly agree otherwise. Some transfers are exempt. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs.
How soon can a sale close?
Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.