We buy houses scams are everywhere!
In this article we explain HOW to tell if a company is legit and legal or a scam and phony….
Real estate investing is more popular now than ever. Flipping houses, owning rental property, and other investments are well-known by all thanks to HGTV and other websites. Here are some ways to tell if real estate investors or “we buy houses” companies are in your town:
- You get advertisements in the mail about buying your house for cash
- There are signs on street corners saying “we buy houses for cash”
- Billboards with cavemen buying ugly houses
- There are lots of house flips/remodels going on in your area
Maybe you’ve gotten something in the mail or Googled a company to buy your house…you’d like to sell your house as-is for cash…..BUT……how do you know if you are part of a scam or talking to a real company that can actually buy your house? It’s a lot easier to tell than you think. Here are a few tips to see the we buy houses scams before you get taken for a sucker.
Tip 1 – Is the company licensed with the local real estate commission?
Your local real estate commission has very strict laws about how professionals (investors, real estate agents, etc.) can conduct business. There are ethical standards that licensed professionals have to comply with. If you break these rules/standards, you face big fines and/or legal trouble.
When wondering if you are part of a we buy houses scam, find out if the company is licensed with the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission (OREC). If they aren’t licensed, why aren’t they? Are they trying to avoid being held to high standards by the real estate commission? Are they doing some illegal and don’t want to get caught?
Getting and staying licensed with the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission takes time and money. You have to study for months to get licensed then take classes every so often to keep your license. You also have to abide by the regulations and pay to get your license renewed. If a company can’t afford the time/money to do this, are you sure you want to work with them?
W Properties is owned my a licensed agent in the state of Oklahoma (#170512) to make sure we operate by and are held up to the highest standards.
Tip 2 – Is the company accredited by the BBB?
Just like with the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission, the Better Business Bureau exists to make sure companies are legit and not out scamming people. We buy houses scams don’t want to be in the spotlight. If a company doesn’t want to join the BBB and follow the standards and rules the BBB promotes, then do you want to do business with them?
W Properties has been a member of the BBB since the start. We make sure that we stay compliant and follow all BBB standards.
Tip 3 – Do they have a legitimate website?
In this day and age, if a company doesn’t have a legitimate website, they might be hiding something. You should easily be able to Google a company and find out anything you want on them. Who is the owner? Where are they located? Are they part of the BBB? If you are thinking about selling a house and afraid of we buy houses scams, don’t forget to Google the company first. Do your research!!!
W Properties is all about being in the open. You can find out almost anything about us on our website here.
Tip 4 – Can you reach them on the phone?
A quick phone call will expose even the best of we buy houses scams. Legit and legal companies answer the phone or call you back quickly. The best ones can answer any questions you have about them or the process of selling your home. If you can’t reach a company on the phone or they avoid questions, you might be part of a we buy houses scam. If a company will only talk via e-mail or text, be cautious. A phone call is a tried and true way to evaluate a company.
W Properties is available by phone or text at 405-673-4901. Need to sell a house? Call us. Just have questions? Call us. Looking for a good contractor or real estate agent? Call us.
That’s all for tips on how to avoid we buy houses scams. Keep in mind not all companies are scams. There are legitimate we buy houses companies in Oklahoma. In the end, just make sure you follow the steps above and feel comfortable with the company you work with.
If you want to sell a house fast in Oklahoma to a we buy houses company, CALL US! We are happy to talk to you about us, who we are, how we operate and of course…about your house for sale. You can reach us any time at 405-673-4901. Also you can fill out the form below and we’ll contact you within 24 hours!
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