Selling Option | How It Works | Best For | Upfront Cost to Seller |
|---|---|---|---|
Bridge Financing | A short-term loan or lease-back arrangement lets you buy your next home before your current one sells | Sellers who need to move before closing on their current home | Traditional bridge loans: 8.5% to 11% APR plus 1% to 2.5% origination fees. Buy-before-you-sell programs: 1.25% to 3.5% program fee instead of interest |
Instant Sale (iBuyer) | A company makes a cash offer directly on your home, often closing in days instead of months | Sellers who prioritize speed and certainty over top dollar | 5% to 8% service fee, plus offers that typically run 8% to 14% below eventual resale value once repair deductions are factored in |
Listing Concierge | A service provider funds pre-listing repairs and improvements, recouped from proceeds at closing | Sellers who can't afford repairs needed to list competitively | $0 out of pocket; cost deducted at closing |
Open Market | The home is listed and marketed traditionally through an agent, with no financing intermediary | Sellers with flexible timelines who want to maximize sale price | Standard agent commission only |
Not sure which of these four options fits your timeline, or whether the open market still makes the most sense for your home?
A New Bridge
- Provider type: fintech buy-before-you-sell / sale-leaseback companies
- Availability: several national buy-before-you-sell providers now serve this category; availability and terms vary by market, so confirm current Colorado coverage directly with any provider before applying
- Cost: 8.5% to 11% APR plus 1% to 2.5% origination fees for a traditional bridge loan, or 1.25% to 3.5% in program fees for a buy-before-you-sell provider that doesn't charge interest
- Note: the sale-leaseback sector has seen significant provider turnover, including one prior major provider that closed in December 2024 after facing multiple state attorney general actions and lawsuits. Sellers considering any bridge or sale-leaseback provider should verify the company is currently operating and in good standing before signing an agreement.
The Instant Sale
- Provider: zavvie (Boulder, CO-based, founded 2015)
- Model today: zavvie has expanded beyond its original iBuyer marketplace into a broader Power Buyer and cash-offer platform (including its HomeFAI tool)
- Cost: varies by transaction; your zavvie account rep provides the exact current fee for 8z's Offer Optimizer program, since it isn't publicly posted
- Address / hours: N/A, zavvie is an online platform with no public-facing office relevant to this service
The Listing Concierge
The Open Market
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bridge loan for buying before selling?
A bridge option lets a homeowner purchase and move into a new home before their current home sells, closing the gap between the two transactions. Traditional bridge loans run 8.5% to 11% APR plus 1% to 2.5% in origination fees, while newer buy-before-you-sell programs charge 1.25% to 3.5% instead. Sellers should confirm a provider is currently active before signing an agreement.
How does an instant cash offer (iBuyer) work?
An iBuyer reviews basic details about a home and returns a cash purchase offer, often within days, letting the seller skip listing, showings, and repairs. iBuyers typically charge a 5% to 8% service fee and pay 8% to 14% below eventual resale value, and platforms like zavvie's Offer Optimizer let sellers compare multiple offers side by side.
What is a listing concierge service?
A listing concierge pays upfront for repairs and improvements a home needs before it can list competitively, then recoups that cost from the sale proceeds at closing. This lets sellers who can't afford repairs out of pocket still list on the open market rather than accepting a lower as-is offer.
