It’s tempting to compare a cash offer to a listing price and assume the higher number wins. But the two aren’t apples to apples. Here’s the math sellers forget.
What a listing really costs
- Agent commissions: often up to 6% of the sale price.
- Pre-list repairs and staging: frequently several thousand dollars.
- Holding costs: mortgage, taxes, insurance, and utilities for 60–90+ days.
- Buyer concessions after inspection.
What a cash sale removes
No commissions, no repairs, no months of carrying costs, and we typically cover standard closing costs. The offer we agree on is what you walk away with.
Run your own numbers
Take a realistic listing price, subtract commissions, repairs, concessions, and a few months of carrying costs. Compare that net figure to a no-fee cash offer — for many St. Louis sellers, especially on homes that need work, cash wins.
