I'll start with the end...this afternoon I closed with Open Door on my current home and had money in the bank before dinner. Aside from having children, this has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Seriously. I got a text at the start of last month with a preliminary offer from Open Door that caught my attention. It wasn't a lowball offer as I imagined these sorts of things would be (and based on doing a lot of review reading, does seem to be the case for some companies). However, what I read about Open Door (and what I personally found to be true) is that they really do make you a fair market offer. So, with a healthy dose of skepticism and knowing my house needs some updates, I set up a virtual home walk through with Lori N. my "Open Door Experience Partner". Let me tell you, Lori is bright and genuine, and I was a bit worried in the beginning that this nice young lady might be working for some shammy company and not know it. After the virtual walk through with Lori and sending a live person (Chip...also totally awesome) to physically walk around the outside of my home, they came back with an offer that was still very fair, but reflective of some of the repairs and updates that are needed. Before long, I had a contract...and having an attorney pal, I sent it right over to him so he could tell me where the catch was...no catch...in fact a couple outs for me (and for them). Lori stayed with me throughout this adventure and if she was ever away to enjoy life or lunch, a fellow pleasant Open Door team member would call to follow up. I was surprised by the menu of options Open Door provides and just their attention to detail. For example, when I told Lori that I had put a new home under contract, it really meant a lot to me that she recommended that I let my bank know a big deposit was coming from them and not a Nigerian Prince so they wouldn't put a hold on it affecting the closing of my other home. Additionally, she let me know how I could move the closing with Open Door to better align with the closing of my new home, how I could rent my house back in the transition, etc. Since, I hadn't planned on selling my house out of the blue and so quickly, I did not have a real estate agent lined up. Although, they have people...I texted a realtor friend about a house I wanted to go check out the next day. I'm glad I did, because being a sellers market they got two offers...but ultimately accepted mine! :) When I told my friends I had a house under contract they all responded with the same question...when did you put your house on the market? I didn't, I'd say with a laugh...and then I'd tell them the eerily easy ride I was on with Open Door....and so they waited with me, a bit skeptical and curious too, to see how this all played out. Chip called me two days before my closing wanting to come inside the DAY BEFORE my closing with this story about the HVAC team wanting to see the attic and so he could take some notes. I asked him if this was when they come along and nickel and dime thousands of extra dollars off? Chip assured me that he wasn't coming to do that at all and explained how they really just needed to see the attic so they could get their game plan together. So I agreed, but then worried that it might really be a trick, because life usually isn't this smooth. What if I was just being gullible? I called my attorney pal back, he told me that because Open Door moves so fast the due diligence is really all the way to closing...so he said it could be a trick...but he reminded me that I could back out of the contract if they tried to knock thousands off and he also surmised that it probably really was the team getting ready to work. The day before my closing I took the required pictures for my digital checkout and said farewell. Chip and his crew came over and apparently really did just take notes, lol! No last minute shenanigans costing me thousands of dollars. The only last minute surprise was not a big deal at all...in Lori's review of the photos she saw the huge trampoline I'd left in my backyard. It was there when I bought the house, so I figured the next folks could have it too. Well, apparently it had to go or they'd charge a modest fee to remove it. Being cheap and knowing that my kids wanted said trampoline anyway, I discovered that taking down a trampoline isn't as intimidating as one might imagine. Lori cheered me on and when the last piece hit the ground I finally believed that Open Door really was buying my house for the agreed upon price. Open Door does charge a fee for their service (if you sell your house to them), but they are transparent in showing it and as easy as this all turned out to be...it was totally worth it! My advice to those thinking of going into a contract with Open Door...look at the estimated net proceeds...if that number is fair/reasonable then take the leap...if your experience turns out to be anything like mine, you'll be glad you did. :) A big thank you to Lori and Chip...I'm so glad that y'all really are working for a company as amazing as you both are!!!! Best wishes in all life has to offer.