Who You Are Dealing With
Brandon Seger started Bird River Properties in 2020. He was born and raised in St. Louis and has lived all over it, from Affton to St. Charles to South City. Every part of this metro is its own little ecosystem, completely different from the municipality next door, and knowing those differences is a big part of why we have been able to buy over 200 houses here. More than half of the houses we buy are in North County.
We buy houses in St. Louis because this is the market we know and care about. We do not want to see hedge funds buying up every property and letting it sit vacant. We buy houses to put them back to use.
When you call, you will talk to Josh Moore, our client care specialist. He will tell you who we are, ask a few questions about the house and your situation, and figure out whether we are a good fit. If we are, one of our home buying specialists, Josh Freeman or Marcus, will come out and put eyes on the property. Robert is our project manager, and the customer service specialists at our office handle the paperwork.
We do not buy every house we see. Our goal for every meeting is to leave the homeowner in a better place than they were before we got there.
Problems We Solve
Inherited or probate houses. We have bought several houses with five or more heirs. One in Bridgeton had five heirs split between two sides of a family that would not speak to each other. We got in the middle, negotiated with both sides so everyone got what they needed, paid a fair price, handled the attorneys and the title company ourselves, and closed in two weeks because everyone wanted it done. Read more about selling an inherited house in St. Louis.
Vacant houses and rentals you are finished with. Most of what we see in North County is a house that has been sitting. Sometimes the tenant moved out or was evicted and the owner is done being a landlord. Sometimes it is a house someone moved out of that needs too much work to list, and the owner does not want to wait three or four months for a buyer. Either way, we buy it as it sits, quickly.
Behind on payments or facing foreclosure. A homeowner in the Raintree subdivision in Hillsboro was headed to the foreclosure auction, where he would have walked away with nothing. We bought the house, then leased it back to him for six months so he had time to get back on his feet. He walked away with well over $40,000 in his pocket.
Divorce. We worked with a St. Louis couple where one spouse would not go to the title company and be in the same room as the other. Instead of letting that hold up the sale, we arranged a mobile notary so each of them could sign on their own time. Read more about selling a house during a divorce.
A house full of belongings. After decades in a house, most people have no idea what to do with everything in it. When you sell to us, you take what you want and leave the rest. No storage units for boxes you will never open again. If you do want a storage unit, we will help with the move and load it for you when that makes sense for everyone.
Relocating or a job change. We have done this many times. If you need to close in a few weeks, that is no problem. If you need a few months, that is fine too. We work around your move, not the other way around.
Any Condition, Any Price Range
The worst house we ever bought was a full gut rehab in South City that needed over $200,000 of work. Water damage, foundation problems, squatters, mold. If you can name it, that house had it. We bought it anyway.
We also buy houses that are in good shape. We will look at any property, no matter how much work it needs or what it is worth, because everyone deserves a fair offer no matter their situation.
That South City house, before we bought it and after our gut rehab.
A West County ranch we bought as it sat, before and after it was fixed up.
How It Works
1. Call or fill out the form. You talk to Josh Moore. He asks about the house and what you are trying to accomplish, and you ask him whatever you want to know about us.
2. We come see the house. A home buying specialist meets you at the property, usually the same day or the next day, or a few days out if that works better for you. It is a quick walkthrough, not an inspection. You do not need to clean up.
3. You get a written offer and pick your closing date. Signing to closing is usually about 30 days. We have closed in seven days when a seller needed it, and we are happy to go longer if you are not ready. You choose any weekday that works for you. We close through Continental Title, who we use because of how they treat people.
Leave anything you do not want. Do not clean. It is completely as is. Selling to us is like hitting the easy button. See the full process.
What You Pay: Nothing
No commissions, no repairs, no cleaning, and we cover the closing costs and title fees. Nothing comes out of your price except what you already owe on the house, like a mortgage or back taxes.
Here is how we get to that number, because we will walk through every line of it with you at the kitchen table. We look at what houses like yours are selling for in your area. We subtract what it will cost us to own the house while we fix it, including utilities and holding costs. We subtract the repairs needed to bring it up to the level of those comparable sales. And we subtract what it costs to sell a house today: agent commissions, the roughly five percent in credits buyers ask for now, closing costs, and cleanout. You will know exactly where the offer comes from.
Two promises. We do not change the offer after you sign the contract. The only exception is something significant, like the house being damaged while we are under contract, and that is usually covered by insurance. We are not in the business of lowering your number, ever.
And we do not assign contracts. If we make you a cash offer and tell you we are buying your house, we take title every single time. It is never contingent on us finding someone else to buy it.
When a Cash Offer Is Not Your Best Option
Sometimes it is not, and we will tell you so. If your house is in good shape and you have time, you may do better on the open market. For sellers in between, we have our Equity Protection Program. Think of it as a sold with you program: you get closer to market pricing, with terms that feel more like a cash sale.
A couple in Affton had a new construction home six months into being built, and their sale had to close on time or they could not close on the new one. Their house needed foundation, sewer, cosmetic, and occupancy work first. We put over $20,000 into that house before we owned it so it could reach the closing table on schedule. They told us afterward that without us, they could not have afforded to buy the home they had been waiting on.
Why Sellers Choose Us Over the National Buyers
Most national buyers follow the same pattern. They give you a big number over the phone, then lower it after someone finally looks at the house. Their offer is contingent on finding a third party to take over the contract. Most of them close fewer than half the contracts they write. For every ten homeowners who sign, five or more never get to closing, and they are worse off than when they started.
We are local, we see every house in person before we put a number on paper, and we take title ourselves.
I first noticed Bird River Properties when I received a very professional letter on their letterhead. … Every question I asked was thoroughly answered. … For example, being a single woman with some physical limitations with doing a great deal of packing and lifting, if I needed more time, that was provided for me. … I highly recommend Bird River Properties if you want excellent and professional service on the sale of your home.
Claudia Jean Potts, Kirkwood, MO, Google review
Where We Buy
North County is where we do the most business: Florissant, Jennings, Hazelwood, Ferguson, Dellwood, Spanish Lake, Bellefontaine Neighbors, Normandy, Overland, St. Ann, and Black Jack. ZIPs 63031, 63033, 63114, 63121, 63134, 63135, 63136, 63137, and 63138. Florissant in particular has one of the toughest occupancy inspections in the metro, and we deal with it so you do not have to. See our pages for Florissant, Hazelwood, Ferguson, and Jennings.
St. Louis City, especially South City and Dutchtown. ZIPs 63109, 63111, 63116, and 63118.
West County: Maryland Heights, Ballwin, and Chesterfield.
St. Charles County: St. Charles, St. Peters, O’Fallon, and Lake St. Louis. ZIP 63376 in St. Peters is one of our busiest.
South County: Affton, Oakville, Mehlville, and Lemay.
Jefferson County: Arnold, Imperial, High Ridge, Hillsboro, and De Soto, ZIP 63020.
Most houses in the City were built before 1960. Seventy year old electric, plumbing, foundations, and floor joists are what show up in inspections when you list on the open market. We buy as is, so none of that is your problem.
Questions Sellers Ask Us
How do I know I can trust you?
Start with our A+ rating and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau and our Google reviews. If you want to talk to someone who has actually sold to us, ask. We are happy to connect you with past sellers.
Is this better than listing my house with an agent?
Honestly, we do not know yet. We need to learn about the house and your situation first. For some sellers the open market is the right answer, and we will tell you if that is you.
Do I need to clean or make repairs?
No. Leave what you do not want, skip the cleaning, and do not fix anything. We buy the house exactly as it sits.
Do you assign the contract to someone else?
No. When we make you a cash offer, we take title ourselves every time. If we say we are buying your house, we are the ones buying it.
Ready to Talk?
Call or text (314) 207-5288, or fill out the form below and Josh Moore will call you back. No pressure.