How to Sell a House As-Is in Riverside, CA: 6-Step Process!

If you’re tired of walking through your house and mentally adding up all the repairs it needs, you can end the struggle with a simple solution. Just sell your Riverside home exactly as it is, broken faucets and all!

Selling as-is means you’ll skip the whole renovation process and instead, find a buyer who’s cool with your house’s current situation. There are many buyers in Riverside who are looking for exactly this kind of opportunity. Casey Buys Houses can help you get your house sold fast!

Pros and Cons of Selling House As-Is in Riverside, CA

Every decision has its ups and downs, and selling as-is is no different. Here’s what you’re really signing up for.

Pros of an As-Is Sale

You get to dodge the repair madness completely. Think about all those weekends you’d spend at Home Depot, all those contractor calls, all that dust and chaos in your living space. Selling as-is lets you skip straight to the fun part.

• Faster sale process: You can list today and potentially close within weeks instead of months of prep work.

• No upfront repair costs: Keep that money in your pocket instead of dumping it into fixes you might not even recoup.

• Less stress and hassle: No contractor meetings, permit applications, and constant project management headaches.

• Avoid contractor delays and issues: You won’t deal with workers who don’t show up or projects that drag on forever.

• Sell in any market condition: Even when the market’s slow, investors and cash buyers are always hunting for deals.

• No risk of going over budget on repairs: That $5,000 bathroom fix won’t suddenly become

Cons of Selling As-Is

The biggest reality check comes with your final number. Buyers want a discount when they’re taking on your house’s to-do list, and that usually means 10% to 20% less than market value. Here’s a complete list of the possible trade-offs.

• Lower sale price (often 10% to 20% less): A $500,000 Riverside home might sell for $400,000 to $450,000, depending on needed repairs.

• Smaller buyer pool: Most families want move-in ready homes, so you’re mainly targeting investors and DIY enthusiasts.

• Potential financing issues for buyers: FHA and VA loans often won’t approve financing for homes with major problems.

• Buyers may still request repairs after inspection: Even with “as-is” in the contract, buyers often ask for credits or price reductions.

• Properties may sit longer on the market: Houses needing major work can take months to sell, especially in slower markets.

• Potential legal issues if problems are not disclosed: You still must disclose known issues even when selling as-is.

Step-by-Step Process for Selling Your Riverside Home As-Is in Riverside, CA

Let’s stop messing around and get this house sold! Here’s the no-nonsense process.

Step 1: Be Honest About Your House’s Problems

First, you need to walk through your house like you’re your most judgmental relative coming for Thanksgiving dinner. Write down every single thing that’s wrong: the bathroom door that won’t close properly, that stove that’s not working, the windows that creak when you close.

Test stuff, too. Does the garbage disposal sound like it’s eating rocks? Write it down. Is there a light switch that does nothing? Yeah, that too.

Take pictures of the worst stuff because three weeks from now, you’ll completely forget about that weird water spot on the ceiling. Oh, and go outside. That roof shingle hanging by a thread isn’t going to fix itself.

Step 2: Figure Out What Your Neighborhood is Actually Worth

Research every house that has sold in your area in the last few months. Remember, only the ones that actually closed, not the ones still sitting there with crazy high asking prices. You want houses similar to yours that need work.

See that one down the street that sold for way less than everything else? That’s your competition. Look for words like “needs TLC” or “as-is” since those are your comps.

If you can’t find enough beat-up houses to compare to, call a couple of real estate agents and ask what they think your place is worth. They’ll usually tell you for free because they want you to be their client.

Step 3: Decide What You’re Actually Going to Fix

Don’t go crazy here. Some stuff is worth doing, most isn’t.

Low-Cost Improvements That Pay Off

Do some deep cleaning or have someone deep clean for you. Scrub toilets, vacuum under furniture, and get rid of that weird smell in the basement. You might also want to paint over scuff marks and nail holes with whatever boring color you can get cheap at Home Depot.

Be sure to fix things that could hurt someone, like loose railings, electrical outlets that spark, and steps that wobble. You should also mow the front yard so it doesn’t look like a jungle and trim bushes that are trying to eat your house.

These cheap fixes will make buyers think your place has potential instead of “let’s get out of here.”

Expensive Repairs to Skip

Don’t touch anything expensive. Leave that water heater making noises. Also, leave those kitchen cabinets that are older than your marriage because it’s not your problem anymore.

You can forget about the new roof, HVAC repairs, and bathroom renovations, too. You’ll spend $20,000 and maybe get back $5,000 if you’re lucky. Let the buyer deal with the big stuff and use their own money and contractors.

When to Skip All Repairs

If your house is really falling apart with multiple disasters, just embrace the chaos. Sometimes the smartest move is to do nothing and sell your home for cash in Riverside or nearby cities exactly as it sits.

Your time and sanity are worth more than trying to polish a turd. Let some investor who actually enjoys this problem take it off your hands and deal with everything while you move on with your life.

Step 4: Pick Who Gets to Deal With This Mess

As we’ve shared earlier, you’ve got three main options when selling. Cash buyers will take your house no matter how awful it is and close super fast, but they’ll price it lower compared to traditional buyers. Real estate agents will try to get you more money, but you’ll wait forever and deal with picky buyers who want you to fix everything anyway.

Meanwhile, those online companies like Opendoor are okay if your house just needs paint and new carpet, but they won’t touch anything with real problems. You need to choose based on how desperate you are and how bad your house really is.

Step 5: Price This Thing So Someone Will Actually Buy It

Take whatever similar crappy houses sold for and knock off at least 15%. Your house isn’t special, and buyers know they’re getting a project.

Price it too high and it’ll sit there forever while you keep making mortgage payments on a house you don’t want. Price it too low and you’ll hate yourself later.

Start a little higher than you think because you can always come down, but once everyone thinks your house is overpriced, you’re screwed. If you’re going with cash buyers, expect offers around 65% of what your house would be worth if it were actually nice.

Step 6: Get the Right People to Look at Your House

Stop trying to make your house look perfect in photos. It’s not fooling anyone! Show what it really looks like, but focus on the good stuff! too, like if it’s near great schools, has an intact foundation, great lawn, etc.

If you’re working with an agent, make sure they’re not scared to show houses that need work. Some agents only want easy listings and will make you feel bad about your house. If you’re calling cash buyers directly, tell them everything that’s wrong upfront. They’ve seen worse, and they actually appreciate honesty because it helps them prepare for what they’re getting into.

California Disclosure Laws You Must Follow When Selling As-Is in CA

California is strict on disclosure laws and you should not overlook them if you want to avoid getting sued later.

Property Condition Disclosures

You have to fill out this thing called a Transfer Disclosure Statement and tell buyers about every problem you know about. You should disclose that roof leak you’ve been ignoring, the weird smell in the garage, and the fact that the upstairs toilet runs all night.

Don’t try to hide stuff because it will be a huge problem in the end. If you honestly don’t know about something because you just inherited the place, you can mark it as unknown.

Environmental Hazard Reports

California makes you tell buyers about all the scary environmental stuff that might be lurking in your house. These are things that could kill or bankrupt your buyer, like lead paint if your house is old, asbestos if it’s really old, earthquake zones, flood zones, and fire hazard areas.

You can order most of these reports online for a few hundred bucks total. Yeah, it’s annoying, but it’s way cheaper than getting sued.

HOA and Municipal Requirements

If you’re stuck in an HOA or trying to opt out of your HOA, you’ll need to gather all the paperwork, including the community rules, financial statements, and any notices about upcoming fees or violations. In Riverside, certain neighborhoods pile on extra rules, especially in historic districts or areas with unusual zoning.

We suggest calling the city planning department and asking what you need to disclose. Better to over-communicate than get blindsided by some random rule you never heard of.

How Long Does It Really Take to Sell As-Is?

If you go with cash buyers, you’re looking at 1 to 3 weeks from “hello” to “here’s your check.” Some can close in just 7 days if you’re really desperate.

If you list with a real estate agent, you’re in for a longer ride. The best case is 30 to 60 days for a house that just needs cosmetic work, but a more realistic timeline for something that needs real work is 3 to 6 months.

iBuyers fall somewhere in between at 2 to 4 weeks, but they might reject your house completely if it needs too much work.

The wild card is your local market and how bad your house really is. A hot seller’s market in a good Riverside neighborhood means everything moves faster. Meanwhile, a slow market or sketchy area adds another month or two to whatever you’re expecting.

If you’re dealing with serious problems like foundation issues or mold, traditional buyers will definitely back out and you’ll be stuck waiting for an investor anyway. So, just skip the wait and go straight to cash buyers if your house is truly messed up.

Tax Implications of Selling Your Riverside House As-Is

Selling as-is doesn’t really change your tax situation. You’re just making less money, which means less taxes anyway. If you’ve lived in your house for at least 2 of the last 5 years, you can exclude up to $250,000 in profit if you’re single, or $500,000 if you’re married. Unless your house went up in value like crazy, you probably won’t owe any capital gains taxes at all.

However, if you’ve been claiming depreciation because you rented out part of your house, you might owe depreciation recapture tax at around 25%. For an inherited house, you’re probably in good shape because you get a “stepped-up basis.” This means the IRS will pretend you bought it for whatever it was worth when the person died.

So, if grandma bought her house for $50,000 in 1980 and it’s worth $400,000 now, you only pay taxes on any gain above $400,000. Always talk to a tax professional if you’re dealing with big numbers because this is not official tax advice.

Sell Your Riverside Property As-Is to Cash Buyers

Cash buyers are the people who actually get excited when they see a house that makes everyone else back out. These investors and companies buy houses for a living, so they’ve seen everything from holes in roofs to places where the previous owner thought DIY electrical work was a brilliant idea.

They don’t need bank approval, so there’s zero chance your deal will fall through because some loan officer decided your house is too scary to finance.

Note, though, that they might offer you 60% to 75% of what your house would be worth if it were perfect. In exchange, you can avoid months of repair headaches, contractor drama, real estate commissions, and the very real possibility that a traditional buyer backs out at the last minute.

Most cash buyers can close in just days, cover your closing costs, and some will even let you pick your closing date. They actually prefer when you’re honest about every problem because they’re planning to fix everything anyway.

FAQs About Selling Your House As-Is in Riverside

Can I really sell my house without fixing anything?

Yes. That’s what as-is means exactly. You sell it in whatever condition it’s in right now. You still have to disclose problems you know about, but you don’t have to fix them.

Will I get lowball offers if I sell as-is?

Yeah, you’ll still get lowball offers when selling as-is. Buyers expect a discount when they’re taking on repairs. This means there will be offers that are 10% to 20% below market value, sometimes more if your house needs major work, but you can still sell your home for cash in Corona or nearby cities and close quickly.

Do cash buyers actually close fast?

The legit ones actually close fast. Most can close in 7 to 14 days since they don’t need bank approval. Just make sure you’re dealing with a real company, not some scammer.

What if buyers ask for repairs after inspection?

They probably will, even with “as-is” in the contract. You can say no, but they might walk away. It’s all negotiable.

Are there any repairs I’m legally required to make?

Not usually, but you might need to fix serious safety issues to pass certain inspections. Depends on your buyer’s financing and local requirements.

Key Takeaways: Successfully Selling Your Riverside Home As-Is

Selling as-is is not giving up. Let me repeat that. Selling as-is is not giving up. It’s being smart with your time and money. You’ll get less cash upfront, but you won’t deal with months of contractor stress, repair cost overruns, and the risk of deals falling through.

Just be completely honest about your house’s problems and price it realistically based on actual market data.

Do you need to sell your home without making repairs or renovations? Whether you want to sell quickly, avoid costly updates, or simply prefer a hassle-free sale, Casey Buys Houses is here to help. We buy houses in any condition, offer fair cash offers, handle all the details, and make the process seamless. Ready to sell or have questions? Contact us at (909) 455-9496 for a no-obligation offer. Get started today!

LUXURY HOME	SUNDAE	RIVERSIDE COUNTY	RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA	RIVERSIDE CALIFORNIA	REALTORS
CONTRACT	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT	HOMELIGHT	MLS	LOANS	ESCROW
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU	BBB	BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU (BBB)	SOCAL	SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	BROKERAGE
BROKERS	MORTGAGE LENDERS	LAWYER	INLAND IMPIRE	INLAND EMPIRE	MORTGAGE DEFAULT
FORECLOSURE	FORECLOSED	FEES	DIVORCE	WHOLESALERS	PRIVACY
OPTIONS	NATURAL HAZARD	HOME INSPECTION	LENDER	DOWNTOWN RIVERSIDE	RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA
REAL PROPERTY	HOUSE PRICE	MARKETPLACE	LOS ANGELES	LITIGATION	IBUYER
FHA	DOLLAR	CONDO	CALCULATOR	U.S.	RENTERS
MOTHER	INSPECTOR	FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS	DATA	CREDIT	ASSETS
FOR CASH IN	SELL YOUR HOUSE	SELL MY HOUSE	WE BUY HOUSES	A HOUSE ASIS	A CASH BUYER
FAIR CASH OFFER	YOUR HOUSE FAST	IN RIVERSIDE CA	CASH HOME BUYERS	FAST IN RIVERSIDE	SELL A HOUSE ASIS
TO SELL YOUR HOUSE	SELL YOUR HOUSE FAST	SELLING A HOUSE ASIS	GET A FAIR PRICE	GET A CASH OFFER	A FAIR CASH OFFER
YOU SELL YOUR HOUSE	HOUSE FAST IN RIVERSIDE