Selling a House ‘As Is’ in Vermont
If you want to skip repairs and make a quick sale, selling your home in Vermont “as is” may be the right choice. Learn more about the “as is” sales process.
Looking to sell a house “as is” in Vermont? 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.
“A lot of people consider selling their homes “as-is”, and the desire to do so typically comes from either having a busy lifestyle, or a home that needs a lot of work. Sometimes, it’s a home that does not need a lot of work. But I think the real goal behind it, is that it’s generally a time-saving mechanism for the seller because, as you know, selling a home is a full-time job,” says Mikail Stein, a top-selling Vermont real estate agent with over a decade of experience.
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 Vermont, your options for getting an offer, and what to expect from the process.
Fast facts about selling a house ‘as is’ in Vermont
| Median sales price in Vermont | $430,000 |
| Average days on market (DOM) for Vermont | 36 |
| Disclosures | Vermont law requires sellers to disclose material facts about the property through the Seller’s Property Information Report. |
| MLS has a field to mark a listing “as is”? | No. “It is possible to have an agent write into the description or in a note somewhere that the home is being sold as-is,” says Stein |
| Is a real estate attorney required? | Real estate attorneys are not considered essential for closing in the state of Vermont. |
| Real estate transfer taxes? |
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What is ‘as is’ condition in real estate?
“As is” is a type of home sale in which it’s understood that no improvements will be made to the property. When selling a house “as is,” the seller chooses not to entertain buyers’ requests 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.
“Any home that’s listed for sale is technically listed for sale ‘as-is’,” says Stein.
“When you make the statement, ‘“We’re selling a home as is”, what you’re saying is, “We don’t want to do any negotiation or inspection or repairs.” It’s really a big statement and it can make people feel really like something’s being hidden, like there’s extra work that needs to be done and something that’s missing,” Stein adds.
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.
What problems do you have to disclose in Vermont?
Selling a house “as is” in Vermont doesn’t mean sweeping known problems about the house under the rug.
A good time to fill out a Seller’s Property Information Report is prior to listing your home or requesting an offer, so that you know it’s taken care of.
According to the document, the seller is required to provide information based on their personal knowledge concerning the property.
The form will walk you through documenting what you know about the property’s water supply, sewage disposal system, heating system, electrical system, roof, structural components, presence of hazardous materials, and permits or zoning violations.
You’ll also be prompted to fill out information about:
- General property conditions (any past flooding or drainage issues)
- Appliances
- Pest infestations (evidence of termites or rodents)
- Any material defects that could affect the value or safety of the property
No matter what method you choose to sell your home, it’s required to make these disclosures to the best of your ability. However, Vermont does allow certain exceptions for sellers who haven’t lived in the home. Sellers are not required to disclose defects or conditions they have no actual knowledge of. This can apply to inherited properties or homes that the seller has never occupied.
“The biggest part is that all material facts need to be disclosed so without using a seller disclosure form, you’re leaving yourself out where there’s that potential conversation of “I told you this”, but we can’t provide proof that we did share X,Y and Z and that can be where it comes back to haunt you,” says Stein.
“Even if you intend to share everything, if people’s memory falters, you want to have a history and a paper trail showing what we disclosed,” he adds.
Review your options to sell ‘as is’ in Vermont
The main options to sell a house ‘as is’ include:
List ‘as is’ with the help of a real estate agent
A great real estate agent will provide assistance throughout the process of listing and selling a home “as is.” An agent gives simple presentation tips to improve marketing, helps to set an appropriate price that reflects the home’s condition, and works to find a buyer willing and eager to buy your home in its current state.
Sell directly to a cash buyer
Someone needing to sell their home “as is” can also work directly with a property investor or house-buying company rather than list, where it may be difficult to get an offer from a limited buyer pool.
We Buy Houses operations buy “as is” at a discounted rate and generally seek out homes in need of significant repairs. These companies can help sellers cash out quickly, and many will cover a seller’s closing costs.
Steps to list ‘as is’ with the help of a real estate agent
Find an agent willing to list the home ‘as is’
Your choice of real estate agent always matters, but even more so when selling a property “as is.” It’s important to find the right match. You’re looking for an agent who doesn’t shy away from listings that need a little TLC and maybe has a strong network of investor connections.
Your agent should also be willing to go the extra mile on marketing. Considering that a majority of homebuyers say they would prefer to buy a move-in-ready home, an “as is” sale likely has a reduced buyer pool from the start.
Consider a pre-listing inspection
A pre-listing home inspection is the same as a standard home inspection except that the seller pays for it before listing their home on the market. It may sound like a counterintuitive step for an as-is sale, but getting the inspection results upfront can illuminate any issues that could impact the value of the home and inform an accurate pricing strategy. If a buyer requests further deductions to the price based on their own inspection, you may be able to point to how the estimated cost of certain repairs was already baked into the list price.
Stein tells HomeLight that a pre-listing inspection can help remove some of the liability from the seller.
“Since there is that requirement to disclose all material defects, this is one way that you can say a professional came in, they took a look around, they found X,Y and Z,” he says.
“It’s about making the buyer feel comfortable and we’re disclosing it upfront, when you do that, then negotiation for those things really should happen prior to going under contract since it’s information that you knew at that time,” Stein says.
Price to reflect ‘as is’ condition
The median sale price for homes in Vermont hit $430,000 in January 2025, an 8.3% increase over the previous year.
You can start with a free estimate from HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator (HVE).
Our HVE combs public data, including tax records and assessments, and pulls recent sales records for other properties in your neighborhood. Using a short questionnaire, we also factor in specifics about your home, such as the property type and described condition. Input your address, and we’ll provide you with a preliminary home value estimate in under two minutes.
What is Your Vermont Home Worth?
Enter your address and get a preliminary estimate of home value in under two minutes.
Do ever-so-light preparations
Even for as-is home listings in Vermont, Stein typically recommends that sellers should undergo a pre-listing inspection, checking things like the septic tank, heating system, and that its in the seller’s best interest to create an atmosphere of transparency.
“Basically, providing as many material facts about the property to a potential buyer when you’re selling “as-is” is a good idea to make that buyer feel comfortable,” he says.
Photograph to show potential
Your home listing warrants professional photography regardless of its condition. A professional photographer will take steps to shoot each room from the best angle, ensure optimal interior and natural lighting, and edit for the ideal brightness and exposure.
A high-quality camera with a wide-angle lens is also essential to showcasing entire rooms rather than half or three-quarters of what’s there. For these reasons and more, professionally photographed homes can help earn homeowners up to a 47% higher asking price per square foot compared to houses marketed without professional photos.
Your real estate agent will almost always arrange for professional photos as part of the listing process.
Highlight the surrounding area
A home’s location will be important to buyers seeking out a home with potential. Mention in your as-is listing if your home is close to any of the following:
- Downtown areas
- Major employers
- Parks and green spaces
- Sports venues and entertainment districts
- Waterfront views or access (ocean or a lake)
- Highly rated schools
- Access to outdoor activities
- Public transportation
Include ‘as is’ in the listing
Unless you explicitly mention that your house is being sold “as is,” buyers will have no idea of your intentions with the listing. Other common descriptors mentioned in as-is listings in Vermont include priced to sell, fixer-upper, handyman special, or a “call for investors.”
To balance the focus on as-is condition, work with your agent to craft a property description that highlights the best features of the home,
Understand buyers may still negotiate
Listing “as is” provides no guarantee that buyers won’t try to negotiate savings on their purchase, even on an asking price you felt was already reduced to reflect the home’s condition. One of the best defenses you can have is an agent who takes a hard stance to prevent a deal from going south for the seller.
Be aware of minimum property standards for certain loans
When you place your home on the market, it’s hard to predict if your top offer will come from a cash buyer or a buyer pre-qualified for a home loan.
But if you do end up working with a financed buyer, be aware that different mortgage types (such as conventional loans or government-backed FHA, USDA, or VA loans) have different minimum property standards. These are standards related to the overall condition of a property which will play a role in the willingness and/or ability of a lender to finance a buyer’s loan.
Before properties can be financed, their value and condition is typically examined by a state-licensed, independent appraiser contracted by the buyer’s mortgage company.
If you’re unsure whether your home will meet appraisal requirements, you can start by taking a look at the FHA minimum property standards. If your house complies with FHA, then it complies with most other lenders’ requirements.
Prioritize a cash offer if you receive one
On occasion, conventional lenders may even finance a fixer-upper property sold “as is,” and it’s not impossible to finance a fixer-upper with an FHA loan. However, if you’re selling a house “as is” — especially one that needs heftier repairs — you may want to consider accepting a cash offer if you receive one. Cash eliminates the lender-ordered appraisal as well as the time it takes to close on the buyer’s loan, creating a faster and clearer path to settlement.
Pros of listing a home ‘as is’:
- Save time and money on prepwork
- Possibility of reducing negotiations from the inspection
- Solution for out-of-state owners and inherited homes
Cons of listing a home ‘as is’:
- Limited buyer pool
- Expect lower offers
- Negotiations and repairs aren’t always off the table
Steps to sell directly to a cash buyer
Now that we’ve covered the general process of listing a home “as is,” let’s discuss the alternative of working with an investor. While the process varies from business to business, the steps to selling your home to a house-buying company typically go something like this:
- Decision: A homeowner decides a traditional listing isn’t for them. Perhaps their house needs a lot of work, or they do not want to host any showings or open houses. They’re concerned about finding a buyer willing to purchase their home “as is” in its current state.
- Contact: A seller contacts a company that buys homes in their area and provides some basic information about their home.
- Preliminary offer: At this stage, some house-buying companies will provide a preliminary offer that is subject to change after a house assessment.
- Assessment: The company schedules a walkthrough of the property to evaluate its condition, usually within 24 to 48 hours.
- Firm offer: The company makes a firm offer (usually within 24 hours, sometimes on-site after the walkthrough) which you can accept or decline. Most of these companies will not negotiate on price, so the offer is a take-it-or-leave-it scenario.
- Closing: If you accept the offer, you and the company will each sign the contract, and closing will begin. Some companies offer a large deposit or moving cost assistance, and a few may even pay for the home upfront.
- Payment: The seller receives payment quickly, typically within seven days to a few weeks. This can vary by company, and sellers who work with a house-buying company often enjoy flexibility in selecting a move-out date that works for them.
If you aren’t sure where to get a cash offer, consider Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight. With Simple Sale, you tell us a bit about your home, such as whether it’s a single-family or condo and how much work it needs. From there, we’ll provide you with a full cash offer to buy your home in as little as a week.
Skip repairs
No need to call the roof inspector or drain your savings to replace the HVAC. HomeLight will provide an offer for homes in almost any condition.
Sell when it’s convenient
Want to get out right away? Or need a little more time to pack? Either way, we’re flexible. Pick a move date that works for your schedule within 30 days of closing.
Close with certainty
Cash buyers don’t need a lender’s involvement to purchase a home, meaning they can move nimbly and quickly compared to someone who needs financing. With Simple Sale, you can close in as little as 10 days, compared to the 30-60 days or longer it typically takes to close with a financed buyer.
Curious to know more about the Simple Sale experience? Hear it firsthand from one of our valued clients in the video below.
Additional We Buy Houses companies in Vermont
Below we’ve compiled a list of some of the leading companies that purchase homes “as is” for cash in Vermont and information about each.
