Your Questions About Selling to Us — Answered

Central Select Properties LLC is a locally owned real estate investment company based in the Chicago area, founded and operated by Alfred Poellnitz. We buy off-market, distressed, and difficult-to-sell properties directly from homeowners — no agents, no middlemen, no MLS listing.

We acquire properties ourselves, renovate them, and hold them as long-term rentals that serve the neighborhoods we invest in. When you sell to us, you are dealing with the actual buyer from day one. Alfred grew up in these neighborhoods and has a direct stake in seeing them improve.

We are actual buyers — not agents and not wholesalers. We do not list your property on the MLS. We do not assign your contract to another investor or collect a fee for introducing you to someone else.

Alfred personally evaluates and purchases every property. The offer he makes is the offer that closes. There is no mystery buyer waiting in the background.

Several important differences stand out:

• → Alfred grew up in the neighborhoods he buys in — Fernwood, Washington Heights, Auburn Gresham, and across Chicagoland. This is not a remote operation.
• → Alfred visits every property personally and builds his offer around its real condition — not a lowball number designed to be renegotiated at the table.
• → You always speak directly with Alfred — not a call center, not a rotating team, not an assistant who needs to “check with someone.”
• → Alfred buys and holds properties. He is invested in these communities long after the closing is done.

Alfred evaluates three main factors:

• → Property condition — what the home is worth in its current state and what it would cost to bring it to a rentable or resalable standard.
• → Comparable sales — what similar properties in your specific Chicago neighborhood have recently sold for.
• → Local market dynamics — demand, carrying costs, and long-term rental viability in that area.

Alfred walks you through exactly how the number was built. There is no mystery and no pressure. If something does not add up, ask — he will explain it.

A cash offer from a direct buyer will typically be below what a fully renovated home might sell for on the open market — and that is the honest truth. What you get in exchange is significant:

• → No repair costs out of pocket before selling
• → No agent commissions (typically 5–6% of sale price)
• → No closing costs paid by you
• → Certainty — no deal falling through at the last minute
• → Speed — 30 days or faster vs. 60–90+ days on the market

Alfred’s goal is a genuine win-win: a price that works for you and still makes sense for him as an investor. He is not going to present a high number to get your attention and then chip it down at the table.

After you submit your property information, Alfred typically reaches out within 24 hours to learn more or schedule a walkthrough. In most cases, a formal written offer follows within a few days of that conversation. For straightforward properties, an offer can sometimes come the same day as the walkthrough.

Yes. Alfred’s initial offer is based on the information available at that time. If you have context that affects the value — recent repairs made, comparable sales you are aware of, unique circumstances of your situation — bring them to the conversation. Alfred is open to an honest discussion and will revisit numbers when new information changes the picture.

Typically 7 to 14 days, though Alfred can discuss flexibility based on your situation. Cash offers can be influenced by market changes, material cost shifts, and carrying cost projections — which is why they are not open-ended. But the goal is never to pressure you into a decision before you are ready. If you need more time, say so. Alfred will work with you.

None. Because you are selling directly to us, there is no listing agent, no buyer’s agent, and no commission. On a traditional $200,000 sale, a 5–6% commission means $10,000–$12,000 in fees. That amount stays in your pocket in a direct sale.

Central Select Properties covers the closing costs. This is standard in a direct cash sale. There are no deductions at the table for transfer taxes, title fees, or escrow costs that would otherwise be charged to or split with the seller.

The one exception: outstanding liens, back taxes, or a remaining mortgage balance on the property are settled from your proceeds through the title company before the remainder comes to you. Alfred will walk you through how these affect your net number before you sign anything.

Delinquent property taxes and liens create a legal claim against the property, but they do not prevent a sale — and they are often more manageable than sellers expect. These items are typically resolved through the closing title company using sale proceeds, so you do not need to come up with cash upfront to clear them.

Alfred has navigated properties with back Cook County taxes, mechanic’s liens, judgment liens, and HOA balances. He will be upfront about how each one affects your net proceeds before you make any decision.

No. One of the core benefits of a direct cash sale is predictability. Alfred does not add fees, change terms, or adjust numbers at the closing table. The purchase agreement you sign is the deal that closes — no last-minute surprises, no “we found something in the inspection that changes the price.”

You will receive a closing disclosure from the title company in advance so you can review exactly how every dollar is being handled before closing day.

No — and that is not just a marketing line. We buy properties in any condition and we mean it. Foundation cracks, roof damage, outdated electrical, plumbing issues, code violations, mold, pest damage — Alfred has purchased properties with all of these. You do not need to fix or clean a single thing before closing.

That is exactly the kind of property Alfred focuses on. Homes that need significant work are often the ones where a traditional listing is not practical — banks will not lend on them, retail buyers will not touch them, and the seller cannot afford the repairs needed to list it.

Alfred factors renovation costs honestly into his offer. Both parties understand the numbers clearly. These transactions are straightforward when everyone is being transparent about what the property needs.

Fire-damaged, flood-damaged, and storm-damaged homes are some of the most difficult to sell through traditional channels because lenders will not finance them and insurance complications create delays. Alfred buys them.

He has experience assessing damaged properties, understanding remediation costs, and making offers that reflect the real situation honestly. If you have a damaged property in the Chicagoland neighborhoods we serve, reach out regardless of the extent of the damage.

Single-family homes are the primary focus, particularly in the Chicago neighborhoods Alfred knows and invests in:

• → Fernwood & Washington Heights
• → Ashburn & Midway
• → Auburn Gresham & Morgan Park
• → West Pullman, Brainerd & Princeton Park
• → Calumet Heights, Jeffery Manor & South Chicago

Multi-family properties and properties in surrounding Cook County suburbs are considered on a case-by-case basis. If your property falls outside this list, call Alfred directly — he considers all serious inquiries.

Pre-foreclosure is one of the most time-sensitive situations a homeowner can face — and one of the most common situations Alfred works with. If you are behind on mortgage payments and have received a notice, time is critical.

A fast cash sale can stop the foreclosure process, protect your credit from a full foreclosure judgment, and put cash in your hands before the lender takes action. Alfred understands Illinois foreclosure timelines and can move quickly when that is what the situation requires.

Mortgages are paid off through the title company at closing. The proceeds from your sale go to satisfy the remaining mortgage balance first — whatever is left comes to you. As long as the property’s value supports the offer after the payoff, this is a completely standard transaction.

Alfred will calculate and show you your estimated net proceeds before you agree to anything, so there are no surprises at the table.

Inherited and probate properties are very common in Alfred’s portfolio. The process depends on where the estate stands in probate — sometimes a sale can proceed relatively quickly, other times it requires court approval first under Illinois probate law.

Alfred is experienced with Illinois probate real estate transactions and can work alongside your estate attorney to move efficiently through the process. If you are not sure where the probate stands, bring whatever documentation you have — Alfred will help you figure out the next step.

All parties listed on the title will need to agree to and sign the purchase agreement. This is a legal requirement regardless of who initiates contact.

Alfred is experienced in working with sellers in divorce situations, with multiple heirs dividing an inherited property, and with business partners or co-owners going separate ways. He approaches these conversations respectfully and can coordinate communication with all parties to keep the process moving without adding conflict to an already difficult situation.

Occupied properties are not a problem. Alfred buys properties with tenants in place regularly — in fact, since his investment strategy is buy-and-hold long-term rentals, an occupied property can sometimes be an advantage.

He understands Illinois landlord-tenant law and handles the post-closing tenant relationship appropriately. You are not required to evict anyone or end any tenancy before selling to us.

Delinquent Cook County property taxes are a lien against the property, but they do not prevent a sale. Like a mortgage payoff, back taxes are typically resolved through the closing title company using proceeds from the sale — so you do not need to come up with cash upfront to clear them.

Alfred will be transparent about how the outstanding tax balance affects your net proceeds before you make any decisions. You will know exactly what you are walking away with before you sign.

Out-of-state sellers are common, particularly with inherited properties. Illinois closings can often be handled remotely — documents can be signed via mail-away or electronic notarization depending on the title company’s process.

Alfred can coordinate with a local Chicago area title company that handles remote closings regularly. You do not need to book a flight to Chicago to sell your property.

Alfred targets closing within 30 days or faster from the time a purchase agreement is signed. In simpler transactions with a clear title, it can happen more quickly. In more complex situations — probate involvement, title issues to resolve, multiple parties — more time may be needed.

If you need more time to find your next place or make arrangements, that works too. You set the closing date. Speed is available when you need it — but it is not mandatory.

Here is the closing sequence after you accept an offer:

• 1. You and Alfred sign a written purchase agreement outlining price, terms, and closing date.
• 2. Alfred opens a title order with a local Chicago area title company. The title company performs a title search to confirm ownership and identify any liens or encumbrances.
• 3. Any identified title issues (liens, back taxes, mortgage payoffs) are resolved through the title company before closing.
• 4. You receive a closing disclosure before your appointment so nothing is a surprise.
• 5. On closing day, you sign the documents. Your funds are disbursed by check or wire — your preference.

Alfred can often accommodate a short post-closing occupancy agreement — meaning you close on the sale but retain the right to remain in the property for an agreed period afterward to complete your move. This is a common arrangement and something to discuss and document upfront in the purchase agreement, not a last-minute request at the table.

In Illinois, it is common and often recommended that sellers have a real estate attorney review the purchase agreement before signing. Alfred fully supports this — a brief attorney review typically costs $300–$600 and provides peace of mind that your interests are protected.

The title company also plays a neutral, third-party role in ensuring the transaction is legally sound, funds are disbursed correctly, and title is transferred cleanly. You have multiple layers of protection in this process.

It is a completely fair question and you should ask it of any buyer who contacts you. Here is how to verify Central Select Properties:

• → Central Select Properties LLC is a registered Illinois LLC operating under Alfred Poellnitz’s name.
• → All transactions close through a licensed, independent Chicago area title company — not directly between parties. The title company holds all funds in escrow and disburses them at closing.
• → You receive a written purchase agreement. Nothing is finalized without your signature.
• → You can speak directly with Alfred, verify the company independently, and take as much time as you need before committing to anything.
• → No legitimate cash buyer will ever ask you for money, gift cards, wire transfers to a personal account, or to transfer the deed before closing.

Yes — completely. Until you sign a purchase agreement, you have zero obligation. There is no earnest money required at the offer stage, no penalty for declining, and no aggressive follow-up designed to wear you down.

Even after signing, Illinois real estate contracts typically include an attorney review period during which either party can raise concerns. Alfred wants you to feel confident in this decision, not cornered into it. If you change your mind at any stage before final closing, let him know directly.

Your contact information is used solely for Alfred to follow up with you about your property inquiry. It is not sold to third parties, shared with lead aggregators, passed to real estate agents, or used for any purpose other than Alfred’s direct follow-up.

Central Select Properties is not a lead generation service. When you submit your information, it goes directly to Alfred — not into a database that gets resold to the highest bidder.