What does it mean when a relocation company is selling your house, or the home of one of your employees?
When an employee owns their home, selling it can become the biggest barrier to accepting a job relocation offer. The logistics, stress, and uncertainty of selling a home, especially under time pressure, can cause hesitation or even lead candidates to turn down an otherwise excellent opportunity.
That’s where real estate relocation services come in.
When employers work with a relocation company with real estate services to sell an employee’s home, it removes the barrier to accepting a job relocation entirely. A relocation real estate agent manages the process, and corporate funds cover the real estate and closing costs. Meanwhile, the employee can enthusiastically begin a new role instead of focusing on the home sale.
In this article, we’ll walk through how relocation companies sell houses, explore the different types of relocation real estate services, and explain the advantages of working with a relocation company during a job-related move.
Ways to Sell Your Home Through a Relocation Company
Relocation companies offer different types of real estate services for employers and employees. The best home sale method depends on the employee’s needs, the relocation policy, and the level of employer support provided for the job relocation.
Employer Reimbursement For Real Estate Expenses
In the most basic model, the employee selects and hires their own real estate agent. The home is listed and sold like any other real estate transaction. After the sale closes, the employee submits receipts to the employer for reimbursement.
Each employer handles real estate reimbursement differently. Some cover all closing costs and real estate fees. Others offer capped reimbursements or exclude certain expenses.
Due to uncertainty over which real estate expenses are reimbursable, this method can create confusion, delays, and additional stress for the employee. Additionally, this approach places the entire home sale process on the employee’s shoulders. Therefore, real estate reimbursement demands substantial time and energy from employees.
Learn more about the pros and cons in our Relocation Reimbursement Guide.
Managed Real Estate Relocation Services
With this more streamlined option, the employer works with a relocation company that provides full real estate relocation services. These services include assigning a relocation real estate agent, coordinating the listing and sale to a new homeowner, and paying real estate costs directly on behalf of the employee.
Managed real estate corporate relocation services align the home sale with the overall relocation timeline. It is more streamlined when the employer pays all costs as part of the corporate relocation package. The employee saves time and avoids confusion, and the home sale is professionally managed from start to finish.
Explore our Home Marketing Services for a detailed understanding of relocation real estate services.
Providing Home Buyout Options
In a home buyout scenario, the relocation company purchases the employee’s home upfront. The employee receives funds quickly, sometimes before the relocation company finds a buyer, and the relocation company handles the resale to the next homeowner.
A relocation company selling your house as part of a home sale program has major benefits:
- The employee can move and has the funds to purchase a new home at the destination immediately.
- The employer can write off the home sale costs as a business expense.
- Employees and employers avoid the stress and delays of a traditional home sale.
However, relocation companies selling homes may have drawbacks. Home may be purchased below market value to mitigate employer risk, and there may be complex tax considerations.
Read about home sale programs pros and cons to see if this approach fits your relocation policy.
How Does a Relocation Company Selling Your House Work?
The Home Buyout Program Process
If the employer offers a home buyout program, the relocation company purchases the home from the employee and then sells it to the next homeowner. Understand the process of how relocation companies sell houses via home sale programs in our article: Should You Sell Your House to a Relocation Company?
The Managed Relocation Real Estate Process
You might be surprised to learn that selling a house through a relocation company via managed real estate services is similar to working with any other Real Estate agent. When a relocation company sells a house with a relocation real estate agent, it is more structured and employee-friendly.
1. Relocation Company Provides an Experienced Relocation Real Estate Agent
A relocation company starts selling the house by assigning a relocation real estate agent. This professional specializes in corporate moves. The agent understands the nuances of relocation policies, works closely with the employer and relocation management company (RMC), and ensures the sale fits within the employer’s parameters.
Relocation real estate agents don’t just sell homes. They also support the wider relocation process and ensure compliance with corporate policy.
2. Relocation Real Estate Agent Prepares For the Relocation Company Selling Your House
The agent evaluates the property and recommends any necessary repairs, staging, or upgrades. These preparations help the relocation company sell the home quickly and for the best possible price. The relocation company and Realtor coordinate vendors and services on the employee’s behalf.
3. Relocation Real Estate Agent Lists and Markets the Home
From professional listing photos and videos to aggressive marketing strategies, the relocation real estate agent lists the home to attract buyers fast. Because relocation timelines are often tight, the agent will prioritize speed without sacrificing value.
4. The Realtor Negotiates the Offer and Selects the Buyer
The relocation real estate agent handles negotiations to secure the highest and best offer in the shortest amount of time. They will work with the employee to select the buyer and put the home under agreement.
5. Home Closing With the Relocation Company, Realtor, Employee, and Employer
The relocation company’s real estate process is similar to other home closings. The relocation real estate agent will coordinate with attorneys, title, mortgage, and insurance agencies, ensuring a smooth ownership transfer.
The main difference is that the employer usually covers the closing costs. The relocation real estate agent will also coordinate with the relocation company as part of the closing process. The relocation company will pay the closing costs and Realtor commissions directly and then pass the expenses on to the employer, along with the costs for the other relocation services.
This way, the employee does not have to consider the cost and burden of selling their home when making their relocation decision.
Advantages of a Relocation Company Selling Your House
Working with a relocation company to sell a home clearly benefits both employees and employers. Beyond the financial savings, it reduces stress, shortens timelines, and ensures a more organized, compliant process. Here’s what makes managed relocation real estate services so effective:
Employee Receives Real Estate Relocation Benefits
When a relocation company manages selling the home, the employer pays for real estate relocation services. These real estate costs typically include agent commissions, closing costs, and sometimes even repair or staging expenses. These are significant costs that the employee would otherwise need to pay out of pocket.
Relocation companies and employers design relocation real estate benefits to reduce the financial burden of moving. The service allows employees to relocate with minimal expense or without delaying their start date due to home sale logistics.
Real Estate Relocation Services Have Expertise in Corporate Relocation
Not every real estate agent understands the complexities of corporate moves, but relocation real estate agents do. These agents specialize in working with relocation management companies (RMCs) and have experience aligning home sale transactions with employer relocation policies.
They know how to stay within budget parameters, avoid unnecessary costs, and streamline communication between all parties involved.
The Relocation Company Selling Your House is in Conjunction with Other Relocation Services
The process becomes far more integrated when selling the home is part of a larger corporate relocation package. Instead of managing various move components separately, the relocation company can coordinate everything from real estate to temporary housing and moving logistics.
This synchronization means fewer missed deadlines, better communication, and a more efficient overall timeline.
The Speed of Sale is Prioritized
Speed is a major advantage of a relocation company selling a house. Unlike a traditional home sale, which can stretch over several months depending on the market, the relocation companies and Realtors’ focus is on selling the home quickly. Real estate agents working within relocation programs often adopt more aggressive marketing strategies, stage the home faster, and respond to buyer inquiries with urgency.
The faster the home sells, the sooner the employee can finalize their move, focus on their new role, and potentially purchase a new home at the destination.
Employees Save Time and Energy
Selling a home is notoriously stressful, especially when it happens under the pressure of a job relocation. Without support, employees must coordinate appraisals, manage repairs, navigate offers, and negotiate closing details, all while preparing for a new position.
When the relocation company is involved in selling the house, they remove that burden. The relocation team, together with the relocation real estate agent, manages the bulk of the sale process on behalf of the employee.
The Relocation Company Manages the Real Estate Tax Implications
A less obvious but critically important benefit is how relocation companies manage the tax implications of selling a house. Relocation-related expenses can create complex tax scenarios for both employees and employers, so relocation companies build tax compliance into the process.
The relocation company finds opportunities for employees and employees save on taxes, such as through capital gains tax exclusions and the “gross-up” of taxable benefits. The relocation company ensures that the benefits provided are in accordance with IRS guidelines and that the sale is structured to avoid misreporting or penalties.
Hire a Relocation Company to Sell Employees’ Homes
Selling a house for a job relocation doesn’t have to be a stressful or uncertain experience. When a relocation company manages the home sale, the employee can focus on their new opportunity, not on paperwork, open houses, or closing timelines.
Whether employers use reimbursement, managed real estate services, or a buyout program, partnering with a trusted relocation provider removes one of the most significant barriers to job mobility.
Want to know how a relocation company sells employees’ houses efficiently, quickly, and with full support? Let’s discuss how real estate services can strengthen your corporate relocation program.
Explore our full suite of real estate relocation services and learn how we support companies in every aspect of the relocation process, from the first home listing to the final closing signature.
Contact us today to build a seamless, stress-free home sale experience into your corporate relocation package.