FAQ

Homeshake is a real estate company that is transforming the way people buy and sell homes. A liberation from the old way of doing things, we replace the traditional model of agents and high commissions with a simple and hassle-free experience that brings buyers and sellers together.

Traditional real estate brokerages require a 6-month listing contract and charge 6-7% of the sale price, meaning they take a big chunk of homeowners’ hard-earned equity. Despite the hefty price tag, many customers are left feeling disappointed and frustrated. Homeshake connects buyers and sellers directly and provides everything you need. You get a better experience at a lower cost. Sellers only pay 1% at closing.

Homeshake is with you from start to finish. You’re in control, but never alone. You get service and support from our brokerage and real estate attorney throughout the transaction. There is no upfront cost or long term listing contract.

And the best part, you’ll never pay 3% to a buyer’s agent. FSBO sellers try to avoid costly commissions, but end up paying a buyer’s agent anyway. Not on Homeshake. You only pay 1% at closing. Period.

When you eliminate the 6% commission, everybody wins. It costs sellers less to transact, making pricing a home more flexible. Buyers may pay a lower price because sellers can accept less but still keep more than they would using an agent. The result? You get your dream home AND a better deal. You win and the seller wins.

Plus, you’ll always know what’s around the corner. Once you find your home, there’s no need to find legal support or closing services. Our team of attorneys and real estate professionals is with you every step of the way.

Yes. As required by law to provide these services, Homeshake is a licensed real estate broker in Ohio and Kentucky. Our team also includes attorneys and other real estate professionals.

A dual agent maintains a neutral position between buyer and seller, and may not advocate the position of one party over the other or disclose any personal or confidential information without consent. Homeshake is exclusively a dual agent, providing professional service and support to both buyer and seller throughout the process. In other words, we’re all on the same team.

Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, including Hamilton, Clermont, Butler, and Warren Counties in Ohio and Kenton, Campbell, and Boone Counties in Kentucky. We are expanding to other cities and states in the near future.

Buyers: Homeshake sellers want to hear directly from you. If you have been working with an agent, Homeshake will pay them a referral fee for time spent thus far. Our team of real estate attorneys and professionals will provide all of the guidance and support you need - at no cost to you.

Sellers: If your home is listed for sale with another brokerage, your listing contract must expire or cancel prior to listing your home on Homeshake.

Homeshake only charges 1% at closing. The minimum fee is $3,000. There are other closing costs in any real estate transaction - such as a county transfer tax and deed preparation fee - that are not paid to Homeshake. Our team can provide an estimate of net proceeds from your home sale.

Homeshake is free for buyers. No fees or surprises. There are closing costs in any real estate transaction - such as a title exam and recording fees - that are not paid to Homeshake. There may be other third party costs at closing, but these depend on your unique circumstances like whether you are getting a loan.

Homeshake customers are only charged when the deal is closed. Your success is our success!

You can contact Homeshake by emailing us at hello@homeshake.com or by calling or texting 513-453-6144.

Homeshake gives you control over your home buying or selling experience with a personalized Dashboard. From your Dashboard, you can send and receive messages, tour requests, and offers, manage your home’s listing, and keep track of homes you like.

After an offer is accepted, you will have access to Homeshake’s transaction software from your Dashboard. From here, you can complete and sign documents, keep track of key dates and next steps, and stay informed about the status of your deal. We keep you organized and in the loop so you can close confidently and enjoy what is a very exciting time!

First, we need to know who you are and that you own the home! By finding your home from the “Sell My Home” page and creating an account, you claim your home and get control over your home’s listing.

Then, from your Dashboard, you can begin editing the information on your home’s listing right away. Update basic information like bedrooms, bathrooms, photos and tell your home’s story!

Your comp report can be created shortly after you claim your home, no matter if you’re selling now or a year from now! We’ll send you an email when the report is ready and make it available on your home preview.

You get to choose your list price. Use your comp report to see sales prices of similar homes that recently sold in your neighborhood. Ultimately, you control your home selling experience. Our team of experts will help you strategize.

The basic data on Homeshake is pulled from various, public and private databases.

If you see incorrect information on your home, you can edit it from your Dashboard or contact us at hello@homeshake.com and we’ll happily correct it!

After you claim your home, we will be in touch to schedule your complimentary professional photoshoot. We provide beautiful HD photos at no cost to you.

If you’re interested in state of the art, interactive 3D virtual tours, videography, drone footage, or floor plans, contact us at hello@homeshake.com and we’ll craft a package for you with one of our visual media partners.

Privacy is important for many sellers. You’ll be able to see the home’s approximate location within a small radius directly on a home’s listing. To obtain the exact address, simply message the seller, express interest, and ask. When the seller responds, you’ll be able to see the home’s address on the home listing and in your Dashboard.

To message a seller directly, simply go to the home’s listing, enter a customized message, and click Send Message. Messages appear in your Dashboard. The seller will receive your message in their Dashboard and can respond to you directly on Homeshake. Each time a user receives a message on Homeshake, they will be notified via email and text message.

Homeshake tours are led by the seller. No one knows more about the home than the homeowner, so take advantage of your time together. Ask questions and remember, you’re working towards a common goal!

To request a tour, simply go to the home’s listing, select a date and time that work for you, and click Request Tour. Tour requests appear in your Dashboard. The seller will be notified of your tour request and can respond from their Dashboard. If something changes after a tour is scheduled, you can reschedule or cancel the tour directly from your Dashboard.

We know that no one can sell a home and answer questions about the home better than the homeowner. Sellers and buyers have all of the tools they need to request, schedule, and host a tour. Homeshake recommends that the seller and buyer message each other prior to a tour to connect and make introductions. When sellers and buyers meet one another and form a relationship, the home buying and selling process becomes easier to navigate.

You can ask buyers to send you a photo ID and prequalification letter, so you know who to expect and that they’re qualified to buy your home.

The Guide to Agency Relationships is just that: a guide. As a new customer, it is important to understand Homeshake’s role in your journey to a new home. Homeshake acts as a dual agent for all buyers and sellers. This means that Homeshake will maintain a neutral position between the parties and will provide the support each party needs along the way.

The guide contains a formal explanation of dual agency. By acknowledging the document, you are not obligated to work with Homeshake. However, state law requires that we present the document to you for acknowledgment.

If you would like to contact a homeowner who is inactive on Homeshake, we can help. Contact us at hello@homeshake.com and include a line or two about your interest in their home! We’ll send a note and let you know what we hear back!

Homeshake provides a comp report that is viewable on a home’s listing. Many customers discuss the deal during tours and reach an agreement on price based on each party’s needs.

A comp report is shorthand for a comparable sales report — a collection of sale prices and physical characteristics (year built, beds, baths, square footage) of recently sold, similar homes in the area. Homeshake’s comp report also includes current market value estimates for the home you are viewing.

Sellers can use comp reports to estimate the price they are willing to accept for their home, while buyers can do the same for what they are willing to pay for a home.

To make an offer, a buyer should click Contact Seller on a home’s listing and then Make Offer. Buyers will be prompted to complete five fields, the key terms of the deal. These fields create a Letter of Intent (LOI), which is then sent to the seller as an offer, viewable in the seller’s Dashboard.

A letter of intent is a non-binding agreement that outlines the key terms of the deal. An LOI is often used in negotiations to align the parties on key terms. Once aligned, Homeshake creates a contract that includes those key terms, along with standard, but important, legal terms.

Customers can accept, counter, or reject an offer and enter into a contract, all through the customer’s Dashboard.

The five key terms are (1) purchase price, (2) whether the purchase price will be financed by a lender or paid in cash, (3) the inspection period, (4) any personal property that will remain with the home, and (5) the closing date.

Homeshake is here to help. As a dual agent, we maintain a neutral position between the seller and buyer. Although we cannot specifically advocate on the behalf of either party, we are always available to assist and offer guidance on what is customary and how the process works.

Yes. When countering an offer, you will be prompted to review each of the five terms again. If you would only like to counter specific terms, simply change the terms you would like to counter. Then click Send my Offer and be on the lookout for a response!

After an offer is accepted, you will have access to Homeshake’s transaction software from your Dashboard. From here, you will track and manage your deal. One of the first steps you’ll take is to sign your contract. The five key terms from the LOI will have been incorporated into this customized and attorney-reviewed document. You’ll return to your Dashboard nearly every step of the way – from depositing earnest money if you’re the buyer, to negotiating inspections, to reviewing closing documents, your Dashboard will be your one-stop-shop for staying organized and in the loop.

Both parties will be notified when you reject an offer. If the offer was a non-starter - keep communicating! Let them know why you rejected the offer and they might be able to adjust their terms.

The team of attorneys at Homeshake have created fair and comprehensive documents for Homeshake buyers and sellers to use. They include a contract and other legal documents you may need during a transaction. Through your Dashboard, you’ll be able to review and sign these documents at appropriate times throughout your deal. If you ever have any questions about these legal documents – a real estate attorney at Homeshake is available to help.

Homeshake encourages buyers to carefully plan and arrange their financing before making an offer. All offers must include a prequalification letter or proof of funds.

Homeshake’s contract automatically sets earnest money at the industry standard of one percent of the sale price. After a contract is signed, the buyer will use our secure and convenient electronic funds transfer tool to deposit the earnest money with Homeshake. We hold the funds in escrow until closing when they are applied to the purchase price of the home. If the buyer decides not to purchase the home within the inspection period, the earnest money will be returned to the buyer.

Yes! We are happy to help you find trusted lenders, appraisers, and inspectors and will provide professional service and support to guide you through these processes.

No need! Once the contract is signed, Homeshake coordinates title and closing services to get you across the finish line.

Yes! Whether you found each other off-market, for sale by owner, or just plain good luck, Homeshake can help you close the deal.