Before you sign anything
Questions to ask a cash home buyer before you sign
Ask who is actually buying, where the money is, how the number was calculated, what could change it after you accept, and what happens if you back out. A legitimate buyer answers all five without hesitating.
1. Are you the actual buyer, or are you selling my contract?
Some companies put your house under contract and then sell that contract to a third party. That is a different transaction from the one most sellers think they are agreeing to, and it can change who turns up at closing.
A good answer is direct and specific. A bad answer is vague, or explains the business model instead of answering the question.
2. Where is the money coming from, and can you show it?
Proof of funds is a routine request in a cash transaction. A buyer who will not provide it, or who needs several days to produce it, may be relying on finding someone else to fund the purchase.
3. How did you arrive at this number?
An offer should be explainable: what the property is worth repaired, what the repairs cost, what carrying and reselling it costs. A buyer who cannot walk you through their own math is not a buyer you should rely on.
4. What would make this offer change after I accept?
Ask specifically what happens after an inspection. An offer that is reduced late in the process, once you have already made plans around it, is the most common complaint in this industry.
5. Am I locked in if I change my mind?
Read the cancellation terms before signing, not after. Ask how long you have and what it costs you to walk away.
6. Who pays closing costs and fees?
Ask for the number you will actually receive at closing. Headline offers are not always comparable to each other once fees and costs are counted. Our answer: no fees, no commission, and we pay the closing costs, so the offer is the number.
7. Would I be better off listing this house?
Sometimes the honest answer is yes. Lincoln has been running about 19 days on market at roughly 101% of asking (median sale data, May 2026). If your house is in good condition and you can wait, listing usually nets more, and a buyer worth dealing with will tell you so.
Warning signs worth taking seriously
- Pressure to sign at the kitchen table on the first visit.
- Refusal or reluctance to provide proof of funds.
- An offer that drops after inspection with no clear explanation.
- A contract with no cancellation window.
- A buyer who will not say whether they intend to assign your contract.
- Repeated unsolicited calls and texts after you have said no.
A note on this industry
Some of the reputation is earned. National investigations have documented high-pressure tactics used against homeowners in difficult circumstances, and several state attorneys general have taken action against companies in this category.
Being asked hard questions is reasonable. We would rather you ask them, of us and of everyone else you talk to.
Ask about your property
Send the address and the best way to reach you. No obligation, and we will answer any of the seven questions above about our own process.