The interior of an Ohio home, where sellers have options to sell their house fast.

Need to sell your house fast in Ohio?

Competitive cash offers: There’s no need to sort through dozens of We Buy Houses Ohio websites. Our team of experts understands the local market, and we work with one of the largest cash buyer networks in the nation to ensure you get the best offer possible through HomeLight’s Simple Sale Ohio platform.

No repairs or roadblocks: We specialize in helping Ohio sellers move quickly, even if a house needs repairs or you’re going through a difficult situation such as divorce, death in the family, or financial troubles.

Simple and fast: Get the cash you need to move on to your next chapter without the stress of showings, negotiations, or waiting months to close.

How it worksExploring your options is free and easy

Step 1 Tell us about your home

Step 2 We find you the best offer

Step 3 You accept and decide when to move

TestimonialsTake their word for it

Kevin R.
Saint Augustine, FL

HomeLight was a home run for us. We tried using HomeLight to see about getting a cash offer in a quickly changing market. 3 weeks later the house was sold and we were able to move without the worry of two house payments. HomeLight was a success for our family.

Karen S.
Olive Branch, MS

Thanks to HomeLight I was able to sell my home quickly and without any hassle. I was very skeptical at first because of all the many we buy houses for cash that are out there nowadays, but I am thankful that I decided to give them a try. I didn't need to do any repairs and we closed on my timeline. This was the absolute best decision that I could have made.

Lynna L.
Dallas, TX

The experience of selling our home with HomeLight was amazing. We were facing getting the house ready to show and the staging that's necessary in today's market. I filled out a form on Facebook, which offered to tell us what our house was worth, and we received a call from HomeLight. They explained their process and set up an appointment time to come take pictures. Within a day or so, we received a cash offer from HomeLight AS IS. We decided to accept and were thrilled with the experience.

Muriel E.
Grand Prairie, TX

I needed to move my mother into assisted living and sell her old house. Since I needed to sell quickly, I opted for cash offers. HomeLight connected me with a few reputable investors. I received a very fair offer to sell and close in 30 days, which was perfect. We went from having an old home in need of constant repair to having a pool of cash to help care for my mom. HomeLight gave me the confidence to know I was dealing with reputable investors, which was huge.

Laura B.
Bay Village, OH

HomeLight connected me to a local agent that made the home selling process quicker and simpler than I could have ever imagined. I received multiple offers above asking price within days of being on the market and the all cash close was completed in 7 days. The outcome exceeded all expectations.

Sean and Marla S.
Avon, OH

I used HomeLight service that easily connected me with a Real Estate agent that led my through the process of selling my house. The referral by them was by far the best thing we did to get our house sold with our agent asap! I would definitely recommend them to anyone and will look to use them again in the future. Thanks.

Mark G.
Columbus, OH

I found HomeLight on Google and they responded promptly with multiple options. The property sold quickly and the closing went smooth. I'm extremely happy with how everything went.

Shelly W.
West Unity, OH

The HomeLight website was really easy to use. I was matched to a couple agents right away. Then I spoke to them and I was able to choose who I wanted to go with to sell my home.

Sandra F.
Lorain, OH

HomeLight...I would like to thank you for making our transactions so quick and efficient. With having so many people involved of this sale the thought of keeping it simple and pleasant...well, let me just say you hit the bulls eye on quick and efficient! Thank you.

Gregg B.
Westlake, OH

We recently used HomeLight to search for a realtor to sell our residence in Ohio. HomeLight provided us an exceptional realtor, given our property is in the luxury category. Using HomeLight was a fast and efficient process and we would definitely use it again should we need to sell and highly recommend it.

How to Sell My House Fast in Ohio: Cash Offer Options

At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.

Are you an Ohio homeowner looking for the best ways to sell your house fast? You may be managing an unexpected job change, going through a divorce, or helping a loved one relocate quickly for medical reasons. Or perhaps you’ve inherited an Ohio property you can’t maintain.

In this guide, we delve into practical strategies to speed up your house sale. From understanding the pros and cons of cash offers to tapping into the expertise of top Ohio real estate agents, we break down your options and provide expert selling tips that can lead to a swift sale.

Sell Your Ohio House Fast With an All-Cash Offer

Get an all-cash, no-obligation offer on your Ohio home through HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform whenever you’re ready. Receive your offer in 24 hours and close in as few as 10 days. No showings, no repairs, no open houses.

Option 1: Sell your Ohio house fast for cash

Selling your Ohio house to a cash buyer allows you to cut through the typical real estate process, such as inspections and repairs, home prep and staging, and can significantly accelerate your home sale.

HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform connects you to the largest network of cash buyers in the U.S., including trusted buyers throughout Ohio. We use the information you provide about your home plus local neighborhood data to get you a convenient no-obligation cash offer in 24 hours. If you accept the offer, you can close in as few as 10 days.

Here’s a snapshot of the easy 3-step Simple Sale process:

HomeLight was founded in 2012 and is BBB accredited with an A+ rating. The company has 4.6 stars on Google based on more than 500 user reviews.

Who else will buy your Ohio house for cash?

You can also find other cash buyers in Ohio, such as house flippers, iBuyers, and investors, who will buy a house for cash. Here are examples of these businesses, the types of homes they look to purchase, and their process.

  • House flippers: House flippers buy homes with good bones in dire need of repair to remodel and resell as turnkey for a maximum profit. Flippers typically make offers well below market value to account for the cost of needed repairs.
  • iBuyers: iBuyers use a proprietary algorithm that compares many data sets, including price history, lot acreage, a home’s square footage, tax valuation history, and other data points to determine the home’s automated valuation model (AVM). While historically offering more than flippers, iBuyers typically charge sellers a fee between 5% to 6%.
  • Buy-and-hold investors: Buy-and-hold investors buy houses as long-term investments, often converting properties into rental units to build equity.
  • Franchising/homebuying companies: These investors will buy your house “as-is” for cash, and renovate and sell them as turnkey homes for a significant profit. Like flippers, these investors offer sellers below market value.

Cash house buyers in Ohio

Ohio house-buying companies, also known as We Buy Houses companies, typically buy houses in need of repairs. Most of these companies will conduct a walkthrough within 48-72 hours, pay cash, and strive to close the sale in around seven to 10 days.

Here are examples of some of the top house-buying companies in Ohio.

Company name Contact About Closing costs*
Ohio Cash Buyers ohiocashbuyers.com

513-815-5000

Provides cash offers within 24-48 hours after collecting information about your property None
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform) Homelight.com/simple

844-488-8455

Connects you to the largest network of cash buyers in the U.S., including trusted buyers throughout Ohio None
We Buy Houses Columbus columbus.webuyhouses.com

614-363-2585

Provides unified branding, marketing materials, and systems to professional investors nationwide None
Sesa Properties sesabuyshouses.com

216-877-8430

Serves Greater Cleveland, Ohio, buying houses in any condition None
Homesmith homesmith.com

614-401-3651

Buys houses throughout Ohio fast for cash with flexible closings Varies
Cincinnati Property Twins cincypropertytwins.com

513-445-2274

In operation for 22 years, paying fair market value for “as is” properties in the Cincinnati area None
Easton Buys Houses eastonbuyshouses.com

614-504-4360

Buys houses in Columbus and surrounding areas of Franklin County, including Delaware County None

*Service plans can change. Check the company’s website for current fees and costs.

Pros and cons of selling your Ohio house for cash

The experience of selling a house for cash in Ohio can vary from company to company. However, most owners encounter these benefits and drawbacks when selling their home to companies for cash.

Pros

  • Fast closing: A cash sale is significantly faster than a traditional mortgage-backed home purchase, often allowing you to close in as few as three to 10 days.
  • No repairs needed: You can sell your home as-is, in most cases, with no repairs or renovations.
  • No fees or commissions: Many cash buyers will cover closing costs and fees.
  • No showings or open houses: You won’t have to stage the home for listing photos or prepare the property for showings or open houses.
  • No obligation until you commit: After you receive a no-obligation offer, you can compare it to other offers. You can even consult a Realtor® for comparisons.
  • Step away from a problem: With a fast cash sale, you can often avoid dealing with problem tenants or potential foreclosure.
  • No contingencies: Cash buyers can waive contingencies that can make negotiations difficult, namely the financing contingency and appraisal contingency.
  • No negotiating: You won’t have to deal with multiple buyers or the pressure of back-and-forth negotiating on price, credits, or repairs.
  • Move on with life: If you inherited a home, are facing divorce, dealing with a death, or having financial challenges, a cash sale can help you move on from the home and possibly resolve some issues faster.

Cons

  • Lower sale price: Cash sales typically result in a lower selling price than a traditional sale with the help of a qualified real estate agent.
  • Repairs cost may be deducted: If the home does need major repairs, the cost of those may be deducted from the offer, depending on the cash buyer.
  • May be harder to find a buyer: Depending on the condition or location of your home, you may have limited cash buyer options, especially if you have a unique property that will be harder for investors to flip.
  • You’ll need to vet companies: It’s important to do research on “we buy houses for cash” companies to make sure they are legitimate and reputable.
  • Transparency may be limited: Some cash buyers won’t share their home evaluation process or how they calculated their offer, which is sometimes reduced last minute.
  • Hidden fees: As you vet cash buyers, watch for hidden or unexpected fees. Read your purchase contract carefully before signing.

Option #2: Work with a top Ohio agent to sell your home fast

Working with a top agent in Ohio can be a good option for sellers who would like to sell faster than average but who have some time to devote to a traditional sale vs. an instant cash offer. Top agents who know the local area can add value in the following ways:

HomeLight data shows that top Ohio agents sell homes faster than most agents, and the top 5% of agents sell homes for up to 10% more than average agents. Working with a top agent can lead to a speedy sale for top dollar to help you move past a divorce, sell a loved one’s estate, or get out of debt.

How fast homes are homes selling in Ohio?

Local market conditions often determine how quickly or slowly your house sells in Ohio. Statewide, the median days on market (DOM) — the time from listing to a signed contract — typically spans between 23 to 32 days, depending on the home’s location, condition, and list price. Ohio sellers should also take into account the additional 43 days a mortgage-backed buyer typically needs to close on a purchase loan.

In many parts of Ohio, sellers have the upper hand as the inventory continues to remain low. Nikki Fanizzi, a top Ohio-based real estate agent with 20 years of experience, provides insights on the turnover of properties in the state.

“Currently in Ohio, it’s a good time to be a seller. We have very low inventory and when a house hits the market, if it’s priced appropriately and marketed well, it sells quickly, often with multiple offers,” says Fanizzi.

Despite elevated interest rates, the rental prices in Ohio are extremely high, making mortgage payments a more affordable alternative. “I have clients paying $1,600 and $1,700 a month in rent when they could certainly get into a mortgage in Northeast Ohio for less than that,” Fanizzi adds.

Unlike some parts of the country, competition among buyers in Ohio has also resulted in buyers make concessions for sellers, such as shouldering closing costs, waiving inspections, or letting the seller stay in the home after closing without additional fees. Fanizzi says there are also buyers willing to pay higher prices for turnkey properties, which are houses that require little or no renovation.

Here is a snapshot of current real estate conditions in Ohio:

As of June 2023
Days on market (average time from list to contract) 23-32 days*
Median home sale price $239,000
Sale-to-list price 100.6%
Supply of inventory 1.2 months
Number of closed home sales year over year -17%
Population growth between 2020 and 2023 -0.37%

*Does not include the typical 44 days a buyer needs to close on a purchase loan.(HomeLight data)

How to find a top Ohio real estate agent

Finding a great real estate agent in Ohio can play a vitall role in a fast and smooth home sale. HomeLight’s Agent Match platform is here to assist. By analyzing over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews, we can connect you with top-performing agents in your Ohio city who are well-versed in the state’s shifting market dynamics. Whether you’re buying or selling, HomeLight can help guide you to the best real estate professional for your specific needs.

9 strategies to sell a house fast in Ohio

Top-performing Ohio agents have an arsenal of successful strategies that attract buyers and make homes sell faster.

“Despite new strategies, it still boils down to the basics – right pricing, good advertising, and attractive offers,” says Fanizzi.

1. Set your price competitively

An experienced top agent will perform a comparative market analysis (CMA) to help you set the best price to sell a house fast in your Ohio market.

“In terms of pricing strategy, it’s advisable to list on the higher end of the market range,” says Fanizzi. “We’re in a market where if we have a desirable property, we can push the price a little bit and usually get it.”

If you’re curious about your home’s current value, try HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator. While it shouldn’t dictate your final pricing strategy, an online home value estimate can give you a ballpark price range. You can get a preliminary estimate in less than two minutes.

2. Consider a pre-listing inspection

Home inspections can often hold up a sale. With a pre-listing inspection, you’ll know repair issues in advance and let the buyer know about issues before they make an offer, which saves time. However, spending the extra time and coin on a pre-listing inspection doesn’t make sense in every market.

In Ohio’s hot seller’s market, Fanizzi says buyers are often waiving their right to an inspection, so a pre-inspection often isn’t necessary for sellers, and there could be a downside.

“Any issues found during a pre-listing inspection, even if corrected, must be disclosed,” explains Fanizzi, adding that inspection regulations vary across the state and are mandatory for things like wells and septic systems. In some parts of the state, a point-of-sale inspection is required. In that case, a pre-listing inspection might be beneficial to sellers who can correct any issues that might surface later in the process.

3. Showcase your outdoor area

Ohio home shoppers love usable outdoor space. Extending your living space outdoors can be extremely appealing to buyers. Consider how you might transform your outdoor area into an attractive oasis. This might include adding a full furniture set, smoker, and television to watch the Cleveland Browns play on a Sunday night.

“Freshening up the outdoor landscaping is crucial,” says Fanizzi. “We have to sell them on the outside before we get them inside. The exterior has to be tidy, with fresh flowers in season, grass cut, mulch or stone laid out, and any outdoor paint issues touched up.”

4. Use the best technology to market your home

Using technology to market a home during the selling process has several benefits. It allows for greater reach and exposure, enabling the property to be viewed by potential buyers worldwide, not just those in the immediate vicinity. Technologies such as virtual reality or 3D tours can provide a realistic, interactive viewing experience, eliminating the need for physical visits and thereby saving time for both buyers and sellers.

Beyond the MLS, technology platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn can help a listing gain maximum visibility. However, Fanizzi emphasizes that high-quality photography is the top marketing priority.

“The first thing that gets buyers in the front door are the photos online,” says Fanizzi. “That’s why professional photos are so important.”

5. Paint, pressure wash, and plant

Presentation plays a significant role in selling a house quickly, and activities like painting, pressure washing, and planting can greatly enhance a property’s curb appeal. A fresh coat of paint can transform a house, making it look newer and well-maintained, which appeals to potential buyers. Pressure washing helps to clean the exteriors, sidewalks, and driveways, removing grime and making the property appear cared for, while adding plants and landscaping can create an inviting, homely atmosphere that might sway buyers in their decision-making process.

Another advantage of investing in things like fresh paint, cleaning, landscaping, and improvements like new flooring is that it helps market the home by showing off its shiny features through professional photography.

6. Advertise your neighborhood’s walkability

Walkability is important for many Ohio buyers. This makes it critical for sellers to highlight parks, coffee shops, and local restaurants in the neighborhood.

Advertising a home’s neighborhood walkability is vital in the marketing process as it offers potential buyers insight into the convenience and lifestyle the location offers. Promoting walkability can attract individuals seeking active, sustainable lifestyles, highlighting proximity to shops, parks, schools, and other amenities. This feature adds significant value to the property, potentially increasing its marketability and eventual sales price.

7. Promote additional space for lodging, an office, or an ADU

If your property has an auxiliary dwelling unit (ADU), such as a mother-in-law cottage, emphasize this in your listing. If you are selling a home with large square footage or a home office, leverage these to showcase flexibility and value. These features meet various needs such as potential rental income, home office space for remote work, or extra room for family members. By emphasizing these aspects, sellers can appeal to a wider range of potential buyers and potentially increase the home’s market value.

8. Focus on the right repairs

Ohio is an active seller’s market, but if you want to get top dollar for your property, don’t put it on the market in fixer-upper condition. Buyers don’t want to be bothered with having to make essential repairs and improvements — they want a home that’s livable from day one. Offering a turnkey property in Ohio is particularly advantageous in the current market, as buyers are willing to pay a premium for homes that require no immediate renovations or updates, providing sellers with an opportunity to achieve higher selling prices.

9. Take advantage of Ohio’s market timing

Given the current Ohio housing market conditions, it is critically important for sellers to seize this unique opportunity. Buyers’ willingness to pay more for turnkey properties and make concessions, coupled with their receptiveness to professional advertising, allows sellers to command higher prices. Therefore, sellers should ensure their homes are presented in the best light, with updates where necessary and professionally taken photographs, to take full advantage of the current market dynamics.

“It’s a wonderful time to be a seller in Ohio,” says Fanizzi.  “Although it’s more difficult to be a buyer due to lack of inventory, sellers can max out at top dollar, especially with second homes or investment properties.”

Ready to sell your Ohio home?

As you can see, a top real estate agent in Ohio can help you navigate the many nuances that you might not otherwise discover until you’re swamped in the process. Their organizational efficiencies and marketing expertise can help you sell your Ohio house fast.

If you need an even faster sale, HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform provides cash offers for homes in almost any condition in Ohio. If you don’t have the time or the means to prepare your home or move through the traditional listing process, you can skip the repairs and showings and close in as few as 10 days. Complete a short questionnaire and receive a no-obligation cash offer in 24 hours.

Writer Stacy Sare Cohen contributed to this story.

Header Image Source: (TopSphere Media / Unsplash)