How to Sell a House ‘As Is’ in Ohio

Looking to sell a house “as is” in Ohio? Whether you’ve got a fixer-upper or recently inherited a relative’s home, sometimes the goal is to skip repairs, get a fair offer, and move on.

According to top-producing Columbus, Ohio real estate agent Lorraine (Lori) Lynn, every house is sold as-is in the state of Ohio. However, some sellers may not want to complete needed repairs on the house or may not have the funds to complete the repairs, so they will sell the house in its current condition without upgrades. Some of these things may include not wanting to repair a broken heating system or a leaky toilet.

However, selling a house as-is usually means accepting a lower offer, and it doesn’t always prevent buyers from trying to negotiate savings. Let’s take a closer look at how to sell a house in Ohio, your options for getting an offer, and what to expect from the process.

Fast facts about selling a house as-is in Ohio

Average sales price in Ohio
$305,041 (May 2024)

Median days on market for Ohio
30

Disclosures
Ohio law requires sellers to disclose material facts about the property through the Residential Property Disclosure Form

MLS has field to mark a listing “as is”?
No, all houses are considered ‘as is’ in Ohio

Is a real estate attorney required?
Real estate attorneys are not considered essential for closing in the state of Ohio

Real estate transfer taxes?
Ohio’s real estate transfer tax, known as a conveyance fee, is $1.00 per $1,000 of the property’s value, usually based on the purchase price.

What is ‘as is’ condition in real estate?

“As-is” is a type of home sale where it’s understood that no improvements will be made to the property. When selling a house, as-is, the seller is choosing not to entertain requests from buyers to complete repairs or provide a credit for fixes.

An as-is sale may also indicate that the functionality and longevity of certain components of the home, such as a stove on its last legs or an older roof, is not guaranteed.

When selling a house as-is, the general condition of the property should already be accounted for in the purchase price of the home to the best of the seller’s knowledge.

Lynn approaches things a bit differently when selling a house as-is in Ohio.

Which types of homes are sold ‘as is’?

Homes sold as-is often need some work, or may be cosmetically outdated. It’s not a label you’re likely to put on a listing in pristine, move-in ready condition.

As-is sales often attract investors searching for their next flip or buyers seeking a bargain, perhaps on a home in a great location with lots of potential.

Some homes that are typically sold as-is are homes being sold as part of an estate sale, inherited homes, investment properties, and homes where repairs were started but the seller ran out of money to finish them.

What problems do you have to disclose in Ohio?

Selling a house as-is in Ohio doesn’t mean sweeping known problems about the house under the rug.

A good time to fill out the Residential Property Disclosure Form is prior to listing your home or requesting an offer so that you know it’s taken care of.

According to the document, the owner must answer all questions in the disclosure form, even if they haven’t lived in the property. If something doesn’t apply to your house, you can write it as not applicable, and if you don’t know the answer to a question, such as when the roof was last repaired, you can write unknown.

The form will walk you through documenting what you know about things like the type of water supply system, the type of sewer system, if there was ever any fire damage to the property, and if there are any other material defects that you know about.

You’ll also be prompted to fill out information about termite damage if there are problems or defects in the electrical or plumbing systems, and if you know of the presence of hazardous materials in the home, such as lead-based paint or asbestos.

No matter what method you choose to sell your home, it’s required to make these disclosures to the best of your ability. However, Ohio does not allow certain exceptions for sellers who haven’t lived in the home.