HomeBlogHome SellingHow to Vet a Home Buyer in St. John, MO Share on Like what you see? Share with a friend. How to Vet a Home Buyer in St. John, MO Chris Kirshenboim | February 24, 2020 Last updated August 10, 2026 You are allowed to ask a buyer for proof, and the ones worth selling to expect it. How to vet a home buyer comes down to five checks anyone can run in an afternoon. Ask for proof of funds dated within the week, from a bank rather than a screenshot. Look up the company and confirm there is a physical office you could drive to, plus a phone number a person answers. Ask how many houses they closed in St. Louis County last year and pull two of those addresses on the county recorder's site, which is public and free. Read the contract for the escape hatches, particularly a long inspection window with an unlimited right to renegotiate, since that is where a firm number quietly becomes a starting number. And notice how they behave when you say you need a week to think, because that response tells you more than any of the paperwork. The difference between a great home buyer vs a bad one is almost never in the first offer. It shows up in whether the closing number matches the offer number. Here is how agents and buyers differ, our reviews are public, and how we buy houses lays out our own process end to end. Quick Cash In St John, MO Great home buyers will offer you a quick closing; sometimes as fast as 2 business days. They will offer to pay for your property in 100% cash, but may also use other payment types to suit the situation. Bad home buyers are difficult to get in touch with, they may offer you a quick closing but constantly delay or do not return your phone calls or emails. If they do close, they may have had to be qualified for a loan first, and hopefully, they are able to have the final closing. Great home buyers will also not typically renegotiate unless extraneous situations arise or hidden facts are uncovered. Bad home buyers may try to readjust the price, maybe even multiple times. Great Reviews In Missouri A great home buyer will have a lot of reviews, mostly positive. We all know that things happen, and sometimes people make mistakes, so there may be some negative reviews. This shouldn’t sway your decision too much at first, but make sure to read if the home buyer has responded to the reviews. If they did, how did they handle the situation? Do you agree with how they handled it? If you were the seller in that situation, would you have been settled? Also, don’t be afraid to ask around. Have your family or friends ever heard of this buyer? The MO Agent's Personality Great professional home buyers have a positive attitude about real estate and they follow through. If you ask them to call you back at a certain time, they will do so consistently. They will talk a good game, and back it up too! Bad home buyers will amp you up and disappoint. They will set appointments with you, and never call you back or never show up. Can you imagine, spending hours tidying up, cleaning the house, and the potential buyer never shows up? References In St John, Missouri References are an important part of the business. A great home buyer will have multiple references you can call to see how they do business, and they shouldn’t hesitate to answer any of your questions. If they do, then this may be a sign they are a bad home buyer. Look at their website, does it list reviews? Are they situation-specific, or is it a really general, too good to be a true review that makes you question if their employees wrote them? Do they have a presence on social media or other websites that provide ratings? What are their followers saying in their comments? Do they have public reviews to read? Closing Date Of Your MO Property A great home buyer will commit to a relatively quick closing date, anywhere from 2 to 30 days, and will provide a deposit. They will not try to rush you out of the home and stay in contact with the title company. A bad home buyer may try to extend the closing date multiple times, or ignore the closing date altogether and may have never submitted their deposit according to the contract. If the buyer is using financing, there will be very few items listed on the commitment letter. Bad home buyers will have multiple issues listed on their commitment, possibly questioning sources of funds and a sudden drop in credit score. Sell My House In St John, MO Chris Buys Homes in St. Louis is the area’s most respected home buying company. We have highly experienced Missouri home buyers that are focused on helping homeowners like you to sell your house in St. Louis quickly, without any hassle, games, or fees, and we’re committed to delivering this service with transparency and integrity throughout the entire experience. Planning to sell your home in St. John, MO? Please call us at (314) 334-1481 or send us a message to discuss ways to tell a great home buyer from a bad one in St John, MO. FAQs Frequently Asked Questions What does proof of funds actually look like? + A recent bank letter or statement showing the funds available, addressed and dated. Anything older than about thirty days is worth asking to have refreshed. Is a lower offer that closes better than a higher one that might not? + Usually, yes. Compare the net at closing against the risk of restarting after a month off market, because a failed contract costs you both time and leverage. Can I check a buyer's past closings in St. Louis County? + You can. The county recorder of deeds publishes transfers online, so a few addresses and a name will tell you whether the track record is real.
