Zillow Instant Offers: The New Way to Sell a Home?

What if you could sell your home in less than a week? It sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Well, that's what Zillow is shooting for with it's new Zillow Instant Offers program. 

Zillow Instant Offers is a newly launched program that allows you to sell your home directly to either Zillow or another investor within a few days. 

Pro tip: Zillow is going to use your Zestimate as a starting point, so be sure yours is as high as possible. 

Sell your home fast

This is a great option if you need to sell your home fast. Normally when you sell your home a buyer might come look at it multiple times to decide if it's really the right choice for them. But with Instant Offers, you're selling to either Zillow or another investor. They're looking at your home as a business opportunity, not somewhere to raise their family, so they're able to make a decision much more quickly—and they're able to pay in cash. 

Those cash offers also mean that the entire process can happen pretty quickly since there's less of a chance that the sale will fall through because the buyer couldn't get financing. Zillow says that you can close on your home in as little as five days or as many as 90 after you sign the contract. 

Sell your home without the hassle

One of the nicest features of Zillow Instant offer is that you don't have to physically show your home, just take some pictures, update your information, and you're on your way. So, if the thought of staging your house or controlling your pet's mess is just too overwhelming for you this could be perfect. 

What's the catch? 

Since these are investors, or Zillow itself, buying the homes, you'll likely have less room for negotiation. Although you don't have to take an offer if you're using Instant Offers. You could theoretically turn everything down and choose to sell your home the traditional way. 

So, do I need a Realtor?

If you decide to accept an offer, you will need a local real estate agent or Realtor to close the deal. Since these deals can happen pretty quickly, you might not have anyone in mind. In that case, Zillow can help connect you with someone.

How do I get it?

Zillow is launching Zillow Instant Offers in Las Vegas and Phoenix, so if you live in one of those two cities you can take advantage of the program now. If not, you'll just have to wait until Zillow expands the program. 

What do you think? Will Zillow Instant Offers be the new way to sell a home? Or will it fizzle out in favor of the traditional method?

Have you used Zillow Instant Offers? Let us know how it went!