If you have a home you need to sell quickly in Milwaukee, you have two options:
- Sell your home with an agent who understands your need for speed.
- Sell to a We Buy Houses company if your home needs repairs.
There are plenty of reasons to value speed over a higher sale price. For example, you may have recently inherited a home that you can’t take care of, or you might need to move quickly due to a new job or other life change.
Each option to sell fast has its own benefits and drawbacks. Read on to see the best way to sell your Milwaukee home faster than usual.
To get cash offers right now, sign up for Clever Offers. A local agent will gather and compare offers for you from leading iBuyers and We Buy Houses companies. Your agent will help you negotiate to get the best price and provide you with a free home valuation so you know what your home is worth on the open market.
What to expect when selling a home in Milwaukee
In Wisconsin, homes typically sell fastest during May and slowest during January.
To set expectations for your selling timeline in Wisconsin, look at two factors:
- Median days on market: Number of days before a seller accepts an offer
- Average time to sell: Number of days on market until offer, plus the average number of days to close
Average time to sell a house in Wisconsin
National | Wisconsin | |
|---|---|---|
Median days on market | 67 days | 75 days |
Average time to sell | 83 days | 83 days |
Based on Realtor.com data (February 2023) | ||
In Wisconsin, the current average time to sell is 0.0% faster than than the national average.
» LEARN MORE: Average Time to Sell a House in Wisconsin
How to sell my house fast in Milwaukee
Best option: Sell your house quickly with an agent
⚡ Quick facts: Selling with an agent
- Percentage of market value you’ll earn: 90–95%
- Average time to sell: 75 days
- Fees you’ll pay:
- Average listing commission: 3.12%
- Average buyer agent commission: 2.55%
- Average closing costs: 3.06%
Listing with an agent is your best bet to earn the most money from your home sale. If you want to sell your home faster than the average 83 days in Wisconsin, you'll need to make some concessions, such as pricing your home about 5% below market value.
The potential risk in selling with an agent is that you may not sell as fast as you would with a We Buy Houses company. Listing your home and the buyer financing process can add several days to your timeline, but the overall profits are often worth it.
Some expenses that will eat into your profit include your agent's commission, the buyer's agent's commission, and closing costs. Learn more about the costs involved in selling a house in Wisconsin.
Selling with an agent is best for…
- People with homes in good condition
- People with at least 30 days to sell
- People who want to sell fast while making the most money
Tips to sell fast with an agent
An experienced local agent will have valuable insight into the local market, giving you the knowledge you need to market your home for a quick sale. We asked Jess Lex of Jess Lex Homes-Keller Williams in Madison, WI, for her best tips to sell a home fast in Milwaukee.
Price your home to sell, but don't discount it too much. "Pricing significantly below market value can just be confusing for buyers and cause sellers to get too many offers so that sorting through them is difficult," says Lex. "Getting the home priced correctly right at market value will still allow for a quick sale and strong offers."
Make the home look as updated and stylish as possible. Lex says sellers should "at bare minimum be prepared to work with a stager and professional photographer, if their timeline allows."
And remember, staging doesn't have to be an expensive overhaul with new furniture. "The reality is that stagers can come in and help sellers figure out what to do with their existing things," says Lex. "This consultation could include advice on decluttering, refreshing paint colors, rearranging furniture, and suggestions for accessories."
Stagers can even lend the seller some of their own things. "If the seller isn't willing to buy their own accessories to spruce up their home to sell, often the stager can bring in some accessories that will really give the home personality," says Lex. "This is a very cost-effective way to help your home stand out at the time of sale."
💸 How cash offers work
Cash offers are the fastest path to closing because the buyer doesn't need to get a loan. The financial institution doesn't have to spend time checking the buyer's financials (known as the underwriting process). There's also less risk of the buyer's financial situation changing in a way that puts the sale at risk.
When listing with an agent, you can state your preference for cash offers. Keep in mind, though, that this might limit the number of offers.
Option 2: Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company
⚡ Quick facts: Selling to a We Buy Houses company
- Percentage of market value you’ll earn: 50–70%
- Average time to sell: 3–21 days
- Fees you’ll need to pay: None
The fastest way to sell a home in Milwaukee is by selling to investors who buy in cash, also known as We Buy Houses companies. These companies can close on your home in just a matter of weeks. Since they pay cash, you won't need to wait for the buyer's financing to come through like you would if you sold to an individual with a mortgage.
But there's a steep price to pay for these conveniences. We Buy Houses companies typically only pay a maximum of 70% of a home's market value, since they bake the cost of planned renovations into the offer price.
Most cash home buyers in Milwaukee follow a similar buying process. After you contact the buyer, a representative will make an appointment to evaluate your home, either in person or virtually. After the walkthrough, you'll get the cash offer.
There's no obligation to accept the offer, so contact several companies to compare their prices.
We Buy Houses companies are best for…
- People who want to sell their homes in as-is condition
- Sellers with no iBuyer option in the region
- People with inherited homes (for more info, see our Stress-Free Guide to Selling an Inherited House)
How to choose a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Milwaukee
Most areas have several cash buyer companies available to buy homes. Start your search by looking at our top 6 We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Milwaukee. Look at customer reviews when choosing any cash buyer company.
The biggest difference between companies — beyond their reputation — is how quickly they can close. Some cash for homes companies in Milwaukee will need several weeks, while others promise to close in a matter of days.
Many people wonder if We Buy Houses companies are a ripoff. The majority of cash buyer companies are legit, but some companies may try to take advantage of sellers. Don't sign anything before seeing the offer price in writing, and walk away if you feel uncomfortable with the process.
Why trust us
Jon Stubbs has spent hundreds of hours researching ways to sell homes quickly. This research includes interviewing real estate agents and representatives from iBuyers and cash buyer companies. The author has written dozens of articles on selling homes with a listing agent as well as non-traditional selling methods.
FAQs
Your best option to earn the most money is to work with an agent who understands your need to sell quickly. You can also sell to a We Buy Houses For Cash company, though you'll sacrifice more money. Learn more about how to sell your home quickly in Milwaukee.
You can sell your home in a matter of weeks by selling to a cash buyer company, also known as a We Buy Houses company. The fastest companies can usually close in a week, with others taking up to one month. Learn more about selling to a We Buy Houses company in Milwaukee.
To sell your home in 30 days in Milwaukee, go with a We Buy House company. You'll sacrifice money — these companies typically pay about 70% of market value — but the transaction will go much faster than selling with an agent. Find out more about selling to a cash buyer company in Milwaukee.