Braintree, MA: Investor vs. Realtor — Which Nets You More?

Is selling through a traditional real estate agent really the most profitable way to sell your Braintree home? Not always. Let’s run the numbers on a single-family Braintree home with an estimated after-repair value of $600,000.

Path 1: Selling Through a Real Estate Agent

The headline price looks great, but here’s what comes out of it:

• Pre-sale renovations and staging: $12,000 – $30,000
• Realtor commissions: ~$30,000 (5% on $600,000)
• Inspection repairs and seller credits: $6,000 – $12,000
• Closing costs: $6,000 – $12,000
• Holding costs during the listing period: $8,000 – $16,000

After all the deductions — and months of marketing and uncertainty — a typical net lands around $530,000.

Path 2: Selling to a Cash Investor

• No required repairs — the investor handles everything
• Zero commission
• No inspection concessions
• The investor may cover closing costs
• A fast closing, often in about two weeks

A cash offer on the same home might come in around $535,000 — with little to no additional cost to you.

The Bottom Line

When you account for repairs, commissions, concessions, and holding costs, the final net proceeds often compare favorably between the two paths. The difference is that a cash sale eliminates months of effort, expense, and uncertainty. For many Braintree sellers, that certainty is worth more than chasing the last few thousand dollars of retail price.