If you’ve ever sold a house the “normal” way, through a realtor, MLS listing, and endless showings, you already know how expensive and unpredictable it can be.
Most homeowners focus on the sale price, not the net they actually take home. Between commissions, repairs, holding costs, and closing fees, the traditional route can chip away thousands before you ever see a dime.
Here’s a closer look at where that money really goes, and why more Louisville homeowners are choosing to sell directly to a local cash buyer instead.
1. Commissions and Closing Costs Add Up Fast
When you sell through a real estate agent, you’re usually paying 5–6% in commissions right off the top. On a $250,000 house, that’s about $12,500–$15,000 gone before you even start packing boxes.
Then come closing costs: title fees, attorney fees, transfer taxes, which can easily take another 2–3% of your sale price.
By the time it’s all said and done, you’ve lost nearly 8–9% of your home’s value before repairs or holding costs even enter the picture.
When you sell directly to a local cash buyer like Danvo Properties, all of that disappears. No commissions. No closing costs. No surprises. The number we agree on is exactly what you take home at closing.
2. Repairs, The Biggest Wild Card of All
If your home needs work, this is where things get unpredictable fast.
A few years ago during Covid, when houses were selling in hours after being listed, this was not a big issue, people were still paying crazy prices and over bidding each other just to get anything, we’re living in a different reality now. Today, an agent might tell you to replace flooring, paint walls, fix that leaky roof, or update the kitchen just to attract buyers. Even “small” projects can turn into big expenses, and you are unlikely to see that money back in your sale price.
And here’s the truth: today’s buyers want move-in ready. Anything less, and you’ll be dealing with inspection reports, repair requests, and price negotiations.
Maybe your property is inherited and sitting vacant — like this post breaks down — or maybe you’re just ready to move on.
That’s where selling AS IS comes in. You don’t lift a hammer or spend another dollar. We handle the repairs after closing, while you walk away clean and stress-free.
3. Holding Costs, The Silent Wallet Drainer
Even if you skip repairs, simply owning a house costs money every single month.
Mortgage payments, insurance, utilities, taxes, yard work, it adds up. And if your home sits on the market for 3–6 months (which is common these days), that’s thousands out of pocket just waiting for the right buyer.
If you’re juggling two homes or dealing with an inherited property, those months feel even longer.
Selling for cash changes that. You can close in as little as a week or two, stop the bleeding on monthly costs, and move forward without the financial drag.
4. Inspection Headaches and Buyer Demands
Traditional sales almost always involve an inspection, and that’s where things get messy.
Inspectors find issues, buyers ask for repairs, lenders delay things, or someone gets cold feet and walks away. Every round of negotiations costs time, money, or both.
Cash buyers simplify the process. We walk through the property once, make a fair offer based on condition, and that’s it. No repair lists. No back-and-forth. No surprises.
5. Stress, The Most Expensive Cost of All
You can’t put a price tag on peace of mind, but you can feel the weight of losing it.
Traditional listings mean weeks (or months) of cleaning, showings, negotiations, and worrying whether the deal will actually close. It’s stressful, especially if you’re managing another home, facing deadlines, or settling an estate.
If that’s your situation, take a look at these helpful reads:
- What to Do With an Inherited Unwanted Property in Louisville
- Capital Gains Tax on an Inherited House in Kentucky
Sometimes, convenience, closure, and control are worth more than squeezing every last dollar out of a sale.
A cash offer gives you that. You decide when to close, and you know exactly what you’ll walk away with.
The Bottom Line: Keep More by Skipping the Middlemen
When you factor in commissions, repairs, fees, and holding costs, a traditional sale often looks better on paper than it actually is.
For many Louisville homeowners, a fair cash offer ends up netting about the same, or even more, once all the hidden expenses are removed.
If you want to understand how that works in detail, check out this guide:
👉 Unlocking the Advantages of Selling Your Property AS-IS to a Local Cash Buyer in Louisville, KY
Because sometimes, keeping things simple really does pay off.