The Process

How we buy houses
in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Four steps. Plain language. No obligation at any point. Here's exactly what happens when you reach out to Deforest Solutions.

Most real-estate investors lead with a number. We lead with a question: what are you actually trying to accomplish? The answer shapes everything that follows.

Step 1: A real conversation

You can reach Greg by phone at (513) 368-3755, by email at carp@deforestsolutions.net, or through the form on this site. There's no answering service, no script, no triage. You'll hear from Greg directly.

That first conversation usually runs 15 to 20 minutes. We'll ask about the property: the address, approximate condition, any encumbrances we should know about. But what we're really trying to understand is your situation: the timing pressure you're facing, what a good outcome looks like for you, whether selling is actually the right move at all.

If we think a traditional listing, a loan modification, or another path would serve you better than a direct sale, we'll say so in that first call. That's not something most buyers will tell you.

Step 2: An honest walkthrough

If the property looks like a fit, we'll schedule a visit, typically within 24 to 48 hours of your first call. Greg comes alone or with one contractor when a specialist opinion is genuinely needed. There's no entourage, no investor hype, no pressure to decide anything on the spot.

The walkthrough lets us see what we're actually buying. We look at foundation, roof, mechanicals, and layout: the things that drive real repair costs. We don't penalize for clutter, cosmetics, or items you plan to leave behind. We price the property based on its bones, not its presentation.

You don't need to clean, stage, fix, or prepare anything before we arrive. Come as you are. That includes properties that have been vacant for years, homes with serious deferred maintenance, and houses still full of a family member's belongings.

Step 3: A clear, written offer

Within 24 hours of the walkthrough, you'll receive a written offer. It's a simple document with the purchase price, the proposed closing date, and a plain-language breakdown of how we arrived at the number: comparable sales in your neighborhood, our repair estimate, and the margin we need to make the deal work on our end.

We show you our math because we want you to feel comfortable, not just compliant. A homeowner who understands the offer is a homeowner who can make a genuinely informed decision. You're free to show it to your attorney, your family, or your accountant.

There is no obligation to accept. There is no pressure to decide on any timeline. The offer stands for a reasonable period, and we won't follow up aggressively if you need time.

Step 4: You decide, and we close on your schedule

If you accept, we move toward closing. We use a local title company or closing attorney, the paperwork is straightforward, and you choose the closing date. We can close in as little as 10 days if you need speed, or we can wait 60 days if you need time to find your next place.

You receive your funds at closing, with no deductions for commissions, no surprise fees, no last-minute re-negotiations. The number in the contract is the number you walk away with.

If you'd like to leave furniture, appliances, or other items in the house, that's fine. If you need a few weeks to vacate after closing, we can structure a post-closing occupancy arrangement. We work around you, not the other way around.

What you will never pay

  • Real estate commissions (typically 5–6% of sale price)
  • Buyer concessions negotiated after inspection
  • Repair costs or clean-up fees
  • Extended carrying costs while a listing sits
  • Title or closing fees on our side (we cover our own)

What makes this different from listing with an agent?

A traditional listing is the right choice for many homes, if the property is in good condition, the seller has time, and the market is cooperative. But for homeowners dealing with a time-sensitive situation, a distressed property, or a complicated personal circumstance, the traditional path can be painful and unpredictable.

With Deforest Solutions, there are no showings, no contingencies, no financing fall-through risk, and no waiting for an offer that may or may not come. One buyer. One offer. One closing.

That simplicity has real value, and we think it's worth understanding clearly before you decide which path makes more sense for your situation.

What is wholesale real estate? And is it right for you?

You may have seen the term "wholesale real estate" and wondered what it means for a seller. Here's the plain version: a wholesale buyer purchases properties directly from homeowners without listing on the MLS, without a traditional agent representing either side, and pays cash. The transaction closes fast, the seller pays no commissions, and the buyer takes on the cost and risk of repairs after closing.

What the seller gives up is the potential upside of a fully renovated retail sale. In a healthy market with a property in excellent condition, that process often nets a higher gross price. But for a property that needs $30,000–$80,000 in work, or for a seller who needs to close in weeks rather than months, the difference in net proceeds narrows considerably once you factor in repair costs, agent commissions (5–6%), carrying costs, and the very real possibility of a financed deal falling through before closing.

Greg brings 28 years of licensed real estate experience to every conversation, which means he is one of the few wholesale buyers in Cincinnati who can show you, with real comps and real repair estimates, exactly what both paths look like for your specific property. If listing on the MLS is the better financial decision for you, he will tell you. That's not a marketing line; it's the only way a business built entirely on referrals survives for nearly three decades.

Common questions

About the buying process.

Yes, completely. We will never pressure you to accept. The offer is an invitation, not a contract. You can walk away at any point before signing a purchase agreement, even after the walkthrough, even after we've made an offer, and there are no fees or consequences for doing so.
We start with comparable sales in your neighborhood: what similar homes have sold for recently. Then we subtract our estimated repair costs (what it will take to get the home to a sellable condition) and our operating margin. We show you this math in the written offer. We're not trying to give you the lowest number possible; we're trying to find a number that works for both of us honestly.
No. We buy houses as-is. You don't need to patch walls, replace appliances, mow the lawn, or remove a single item from the home. If you want to leave furniture, a car in the garage, or years of accumulated belongings, leave them. We handle everything after closing.
We can close in as little as 10 business days if you need to move quickly, for example, if you're facing a foreclosure deadline or need to relocate immediately. We can also close on a longer timeline if you need time to find your next home or settle an estate. The closing date is your choice.
Most homes we buy have a mortgage on them, that's normal. Liens, back taxes, and other encumbrances are also common. These get resolved through the closing process: your mortgage payoff and any liens are settled from the sale proceeds at closing, and you receive the remaining balance. We work with experienced local title companies who handle these situations regularly.

Ready to see what
your options are?

There's no cost to the conversation, and no pressure to do anything with it. Call or send a message. Greg will respond personally.