If you’ve ever gotten a call from someone asking “Would you consider selling your house?”, you probably wondered who they are, what they want, and whether it’s a scam. So let’s pull back the curtain. Below are four calls like the ones we make every week, with what was said and what was going on behind it.
This is for sellers who want to know what to expect. It’s also for investors, private lenders and other real estate guys who want to see how the front end of this business actually works.
Call 1: The house that’s already fixed up
Junk Home Buyer: Hey, how you doing? I know this is an unexpected call. I’m reaching out about a property I think you own. Have you thought about selling it, and would you consider an offer?
Seller: Actually, I was just about to list it on the MLS.
Junk Home Buyer: Gotcha. Do you already have an agent? And if you don’t mind me asking, what are you looking to get for it?
Seller: Somewhere around what Zillow says. We put about $30,000 into the kitchen and floors, so it’s in good shape. I’d come down a little for the right buyer.
Junk Home Buyer: Fair enough. I’ll be straight with you. We look for houses we can fix up ourselves, so with all that work already done, we’re probably not the right fit. Any other properties you might sell, maybe one that needs some TLC?
Seller: No, just that one and the house I live in.
Junk Home Buyer: No problem. I appreciate your time, and good luck with the sale.
What was going on: This seller doesn’t need us. The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is the system real estate agents use to list homes for sale to the public. When a house is updated, the owner is in no rush, and an agent is already involved, listing it is usually the best way to get top dollar. The Zestimate is Zillow’s automatic estimate of a home’s value. It’s a rough guess, not an appraisal.
A cash buyer earns a discount by solving a problem: repairs, speed, a situation that’s become a burden. When there’s no problem to solve, the honest move is to say so and hang up. For investors and other real estate guys, the lesson is simple. Don’t burn hours running numbers on a lead that doesn’t need you.
Call 2: The landlord who’s doing just fine
Junk Home Buyer: Hey, I’m calling about a property you own. Have you ever thought about selling it?
Seller: I’ve thought about it. I’ve had it about 12 years. I lived there a while, then moved out and started renting it. The mortgage is low and the rent covers it with some left over.
Junk Home Buyer: That’s the way to do it. Any other houses you might be looking to sell?
Seller: I wish I had more.
Junk Home Buyer: Ha, I hear you. No worries. Mind if I check back in a year or so in case things change?
Seller: Sure, you never know.
What was going on: This owner is winning. A small mortgage and steady rent make what investors call a cash-flowing property. There’s no pain here, so there’s no deal today. But life changes. Tenants move out, repairs pile up, people retire. A friendly “can I check back” keeps the door open without pressure.
Piti piti, zwazo fè nich li. Little by little, the bird builds its nest. A lot of our deals come from a follow-up call months or years after the first one.
Call 3: “Let me talk to my wife”
Junk Home Buyer: Hey, how are you? I know it’s a surprise call. I’m reaching out about the house you own. Have you thought about selling it?
Seller: Maybe. I’d want to run it by my wife first.
Junk Home Buyer: Totally understand. It’s the weekend, so would it be easier if I called you Monday?
Seller: Yeah, Monday works.
Junk Home Buyer: Perfect. Talk to you then.
What was going on: This is what a good cold call looks like. Nobody signs a contract on the first call, and nobody should. Selling a house is a family decision, and a seller who wants to check with their spouse is being smart.
On our side, this becomes a lead, which just means a person who might want to sell. It goes into our CRM (Customer Relationship Management), a system that tracks every conversation so the follow-up happens on the day we promised. Real estate guys, this is where most of the money is lost. The lead wasn’t bad. The follow-up just never happened.
Call 4: The out-of-state owner with a problem house
Junk Home Buyer: Hi, I’m calling about a property you own. Have you thought about selling?
Seller: I have. Somebody already made me an offer.
Junk Home Buyer: Okay, good to know. What’s going on with the house?
Seller: Some floor joists under the house are damaged and need to be replaced. Nobody’s living in it right now.
Junk Home Buyer: Got it. Have the kitchen and bathrooms been updated in the last 10 or 15 years?
Seller: Probably not.
Junk Home Buyer: How old is the roof? And the AC unit?
Seller: The roof’s about 12 years old. The AC is getting up there too, probably over 10.
Junk Home Buyer: That’s the basic info we need. Let me do some research and see if I can come back with something better than the offer you have. Is this the best number for you?
Seller: Yes. Would you cover closing costs?
Junk Home Buyer: Usually, yes. If you’d rather not pay closing costs, we build that into the offer so you’re not surprised at the table.
Seller: Okay. I live out of state and have a property manager watching it. Can you just text me?
Junk Home Buyer: Absolutely. I’ll text you once I’ve run the numbers, probably later today.
What was going on: This is the kind of seller we exist for. The house is vacant, it needs structural repair, and the owner lives far away and depends on someone else to watch it. Every month it sits empty costs money and adds stress.
Floor joists are the beams that hold up the floor. When they fail, most regular buyers and lenders won’t touch the house until it’s fixed. A cash buyer can buy it as-is, meaning you don’t repair anything first.
The questions about the roof, AC, kitchen and baths aren’t small talk. They tell us the rehab budget (what it will cost to fix) and the ARV (after-repair value, what the house is worth once fixed). Our offer comes from those numbers. Closing costs are the fees to finish the sale, like title work and recording. They get paid one way or another, so a good buyer tells you up front who pays them.
About that other offer: sellers, it’s fine to talk to more than one buyer. Just don’t go on price alone. Ask who closes fast, who’s straight with you about fees, and who actually answers the phone.
What investors, lenders and real estate guys should take away
Out of four calls, one turned into a real opportunity, one became a scheduled follow-up, and two were polite passes. That’s normal. Good acquisitions people make a lot of calls, track how many real conversations they have, and measure how many leads come out of those conversations. When the numbers drop, they check whether it’s the list, the script, or the effort.
For private money lenders, this is where your deals come from. Calls like #4 turn into purchases that need fast, reliable funding. For other real estate guys, the whole game is being honest, filtering fast and following up like your paycheck depends on it. It does.
Men anpil, chay pa lou. Many hands make the load light. It takes callers, buyers, lenders and title companies working together to close one deal.
Is your house a Call #4?
If you’ve got a vacant property, a house that needs repairs you can’t take on, an inherited home, or you’re just worn down by a property that’s become a burden, we’d like to hear from you. Fill out the form on our site and we’ll call you back within 48 to 72 hours. No pressure, and if we’re not the right fit, we’ll tell you so.