Clever Offers Agent Guide

This guide covers everything you need to know to be a top agent for Clever Offers

What is Clever Offers?

Clever Offers was built for home sellers that want to sell quickly, and are interested in seeing cash offers for their home.

Sellers interested in this program are almost always looking to sell quickly, but have a wide variety of home conditions. The majority of our sellers have a home that is in decent condition, but may have older finishes or need a few repairs before being ready to go to market. Around 20-25% of our seller leads have a practically brand new home with modern finishes that don't need any repairs.

In most cases, these sellers actually prioritize getting top dollar for their home, and they might not understand why cash offers won't be full market value, or have a misconception about the time and cost of selling with an agent. We do have some sellers who need to sell immediately due to foreclosure or other events, but the majority ultimately prioritize the highest price. 

Clever Offers was built to give top agents like yourself the tools to provide all of the selling options for a seller in one place, so you can become a source of education and trust for the customer, and not be just another agent that only wants to list their home 

If you read this entire guide and watch the included videos, you will learn all of the best practices to help Clever Offers sellers, and become a top performing agent as well. 

What Cash Offer and Listing Options Does Clever Offers Provide?

Clever Offers gives sellers multiple ways to sell their home, all through one agent they can trust. You’ll use this flexibility to position yourself as their Cash Offer Advisor, not just another agent trying to win a listing.

We currently offer several paths for sellers, depending on their goals, timeline, and home condition:

Cash Offers from Institutional Investors

These are direct cash offers from our nationwide partners like Homeward and QuickBuy. 

They are ideal for sellers with homes that need no more than moderate repairs, and  who value speed and convenience over full market price

You’ll often hear sellers say things like “I just want a clean, quick sale” or “I don’t want to deal with repairs or showings.” Your job is to show them what that actually looks like, how these offers compare to market value, what the fees are, and how much faster they can close.

Many top agents start by explaining that institutional cash offers are typically 10–20% below retail, but they remove uncertainty and stress. Once the seller understands that tradeoff, it becomes much easier to transition to a listing discussion if the net is too low. 

There are two main versions of these offers:

• Cash Offer: An outright purchase where the seller closes quickly and walks away. You will then list the home for sale on behalf of the institutional investor, and receive your listing commission from that transaction.
  
  
• Cash Offer with Upside: A “Sell Before You List” model where the seller gets upfront cash, and you will still list the home for sale on behalf of the institutional investor and receive your listing commission then, but the seller receives additional upside if the home resells for a profit. 

Agents can also source their own cash offers from iBuyers like Opendoor, Offerpad, or local investors if they have relationships, but it isn’t required.

7day Sold

7day Sold is a short-term MLS listing designed for sellers who want to test the market for a higher price, without the long-term commitment of a traditional listing.

This option is perfect when a seller says, “I want to see what the market would pay, but I don’t want to deal with a drawn out  listing.” Sellers should understand that it is likely that they will receive more than lowball cash offer, but less than your full marketing process

Many agents use this option to build trust and momentum. Once sellers see what the market response is like, they often choose to stay on the market and hold out for the highest and best offer, but some are surprised.

Traditional Listing

The traditional listing remains the best path for most Clever Offers sellers once they understand the difference in potential net proceeds. 

This option works best when the seller needs to reach a certain payoff or maximize their return. Once they see that institutional cash offers fall short of their target, you can pivot naturally:

This approach allows you to maintain credibility while positioning the listing as a logical next step, not a sales pitch.

Top Agent’s Guide for Success with Clever Offers

Top agents in this program are consistently converting over 10% of Clever Offers leads into signed business. They do it by following three simple steps: connect fast, earn the appointment, and win trust through unbiased education.

Best Practices for Receiving Leads and Converting to a Phone Call

Every great conversation should start with curiosity, not a sales pitch. When you first connect with a seller, whether by text, phone, or live transfer — your goal is to understand their situation and build rapport immediately.

Start with discovery.
Ask open-ended questions that uncover the seller’s “why.”

This simple start sets you apart. Many top agents credit this approach for their high conversion rates. By showing empathy and genuine interest, they turn skeptical sellers into engaged prospects.

Lead with value, not pressure.
Once you understand the seller’s motivation, explain that you can bring multiple options, from quick cash to full market listings, and that your job is to help them compare.

Speed matters.
Top agents respond within minutes. They send immediate, friendly texts that position them as experts in cash solutions and then follow up with a call. Quick contact builds momentum and prevents the seller from shopping around with competitors.

Best Practices to Turn Live Transfers or Phone Calls into Appointments

Your main goal during that first real conversation is simple: schedule an appointment to see the property in person

When sellers reach Clever Offers, they expect quick answers. Lead with that energy and professionalism.

Acknowledge their reason for reaching out.

This builds trust right away. You’re not selling, you’re helping them gather data to make a decision.

Share any preliminary offers that you have 

Always come prepared with preliminary offers from Homeward or QuickBuy, plus examples of your local sales. This gives you authority and a strong reason to meet.

Share the preliminary offers, and then transition to your need to see the house in person and take photos to finalize the preliminary offer into something sellers can trust. 

Make the appointment the next logical step.

Use assumptive language to schedule the meeting naturally:

No serious buyer can make a legitimate offer without actually seeing detailed photos about the home. Some agents have success explaining this with an analogy that you can't value a car just by seeing it on the side of the road - You need to see the odometer and look under the hood. The same applies with the seller's home. To bring a serious cash offer they can trust, you need to be able to share photos with potential investors. 

You can also mention that photos or a walkthrough can actually help you increase institutional offers by negotiating with them about the condition of your home, which gives the seller a concrete reason to meet.

Be transparent about your role.
Set expectations early by saying things like:

This approach removes pressure and turns the appointment into a service, not a sales pitch.

How to Win Listing Appointments

Once you’re face-to-face, it’s time to turn education into trust and trust into a signed listing.

Lead with the cash offers first.
Show sellers the institutional offers you’ve gathered. Walk them through the pricing, fees, and net proceeds. Be honest about what investors pay and why.

This transparency builds instant credibility and positions you as their advocate, not a salesperson.

Compare the paths side by side.

Show them a net sheet or quick breakdown comparing cash vs. market sale. Most sellers quickly see that a traditional listing will net them more.

Be the trusted advisor.
Hard work and transparency wins listings.  Show real comps, discuss realistic timelines, and remind sellers that they can walk away at any time. This removes fear and makes signing easy.

Prove your value.
Use visuals like professional photos, floorplans, and your track record with homes in a similar neighborhood or price range.

Commission model: Set your own commission + 50% referral fee

With Clever Offers, you get access to motivated sellers and creative cash offers from partners like Homeward and QuickBuy that add instant value for clients seeking the speed and convenience of cash. 

• You have the advantage of charging your full commission, and Clever collects a 50% referral fee

Earning comparison: Clever Offers model vs. Clever 1.5%

EOY Promotion - Clever Offers Pays Up To $300 For Professional Photos

For the 4th quarter of 2025, Clever Offers is introducing a new benefit for Clever Offers leads to help cover your biggest marketing cost.

• Clever will reimburse you up to $300 for your photos when an eligible Clever offers home you list hits the market. 
• The promotion is for Clever Offers leads only, and you will see if a property is eligible when you claim a lead, and in the lead receipt.
• We will cover the cost of photos whether the home sells or not. As Clever Offers has a higher referral fee at 50%, we want to deliver more value to you by paying for photos, and removing your biggest up front cost. 
• Remember, with Clever Offers, you can set your own commission. Regardless of what listing commission you set (even 1.5%), we charge the same referral fee, and pay up to $300 to reimburse your photos. 
  • Note - This referral fee is only for Clever Offers leads. If you have any questions, please refer to your lead receipt

Use this form to request for reimbursement when your listing is live on the MLS, and to view the full terms and conditions. You must request for reimbursement within 8 days of listing the home to be eligible for reimbursement. 

Clever Offers Partners

These options include direct cash offers and creative solutions that mimic the speed and convenience of cash, while giving sellers the option to list for additional upside.

🤝 Homeward

Homeward Option 1: Sell Before You List

• Homeward makes an upfront cash offer at estimated market value. They hold ~16% in reserve while they work with you to sell the property on the open market. After the final sale, the seller receives the additional upside minus program fees and selling costs.
  • Availability: OR, AZ, CO, TX, TN, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, DC
  • Timeline: 21 days for initial cash closing, up to 180 days for open market sale
  • Program fee: 7%
  • Other costs: Broker fees, carrying costs, standard closing costs
  • Commission: Your full commission paid at close of open market sale (2nd transaction)

Homeward Option 2. Buy Before You Sell

• Sellers receive a guaranteed offer for their current home, allowing them to qualify for a new mortgage and make a competitive, non-contingent offer on a new home. Sellers can then access their equity to pay off their current mortgage and make a substantial down payment on a new house. Homeowners can then sell their old home for top dollar. Homeowners can then work with an agent to sell their old home for top dollar. A monthly extension fee applies after 90 days.
  • Availability: WA, OR, AZ, CO, TX GA, FL
  • Timeline: 21 days for initial cash closing, up to 180 days for open market sale
  • Program fee: 3.5%
  • Other costs: Broker fees, carrying costs, standard closing costs
  • Commission: Your full commission paid at close of open market sale (2nd transaction)

🤝 QuickBuy

QuickBuy Option 1: Immediate Offer

• A direct purchase offer from QuickBuy, akin to an iBuyer offer. QuickBuy acquires the property outright, closing in as little as 14 days (up to 60). Because QuickBuy takes full ownership, the seller receives a larger cash payment at closing but does not share in any resale proceeds. 
  • Availability: Nationwide
  • Timeline: Can close in 14–60 days
  • Program fee: ~6.7% of sale price, plus negotiated repair credits
  • Other costs: Broker fees, carrying costs, standard closing costs
  • Commission: 0.5% paid on first transaction and 3% paid after property closes on market

QuickBuy Option 2: Advantage

• Sell Before you List product where the seller gets less of their equity upfront than the Immediate Offer, but gets additional proceeds after the market sale.
  • Availability: Nationwide
  • Timeline: Can close in 14–60 days
  • Program fee: 6.5% of sale price
  • Other costs: Broker fees, carrying costs, 'market ready' costs, standard closing costs
  • Commission: 0.5% paid on first transaction and 3% paid after property closes on market

QuickBuy Add-on: Lock

• Gives the seller the ability to lock in either the Immediate or Advantage offer for 150 days while listing it traditionally. Can help with overcoming DTI hurdle to get pre-approved if Seller would like to Buy Before they Sell. QuickBuy works with top national lenders if customer needs any assistance getting DTI approval using this program.
  • Program fee: Flat $3,500

QuickBuy Add-on: Leaseback

• Available with either the Immediate or Advantage options. 1% of the purchase price each month to lease the property back after the sale to QuickBuy
  • Program fee: 1 % of QuickBuy price per month, prorated daily

⭐️ Case study: Michael got $20,000 more than his next best offer

Michael originally reached out to Clever Offers in December of 2024, shortly after his father passed away. He was tasked with selling the family house, which held a lot of memories, but was more than he could afford the upkeep and improvements on. It was also in a declining area — and while living there wasn't an option, he didn’t want to give it away.

After researching local 'we buy houses' companies on his own — and seeing that most of them had poor reviews — he found Clever Offers via a Google search and gave us a call. 

He liked that there were no platform fees, something he was hesitating over with a couple of auction sites he had looked at. He also liked the ability to explore different options, including getting direct cash offers vs. selling as is with a local realtor.

Michael ended up working with a Clever Partner Agent, who guided him through the probate process and ultimately secured an offer for $110,000 — allowing him to walk away with $105,000 in cash.

In addition to the more competitive offers, Michael appreciated how simple and convenient the process was. "I didn't want to have to worry about fixing anything up. I didn't want to have to worry about paying bills," he said. 

With his agent handling buyer outreach through his contacts rather than listing the property traditionally, Michael was able to sell the property completely as-is — no photos or staging required. Once the property cleared probate, it sold in less than three weeks.