Receiving an unexpected letter, postcard or call indicating that someone wants to buy your land for cash can be a shock. These unsolicited offers often originate from companies that operate a “we buy land” model and don’t have long-term development or personal use as their core motivation. Understanding who they are, what their core motivation is, and how to evaluate their offer can help you decide whether to accept their terms.

For the land seller, we buy land at fair price to a buyer who is willing to pay cash can be beneficial because it eliminates many of the time-consuming and costly contract contingencies found in traditional sales that involve mortgage financing. This can speed up the sale process significantly.

When dealing with cash buyers, it is important to get everything in writing. This includes a written purchase agreement, proof of funds and any other details that are critical to the transaction. Providing clear and complete documentation will also help you avoid issues that may arise later on such as zoning requirements or property tax.

When accepting a cash offer, be sure to have environmental testing done prior to closing. This will help you understand the soil and water conditions on the property, as well as any issues that could affect the value of the land or prevent future development. It is also a good idea to have a professional conduct a title search and a survey before closing. Finally, before transferring any property rights to a cash buyer, you should always tour the property on foot to see if the acreage matches up and the survey is accurate.