You Don't Have to Win the Eviction Before You Can Sell
A bad tenant situation can feel like it has to be resolved before anything else is possible, that you have to finish the eviction, get the property back, clean it up, and only then think about selling.
That's not actually true, and waiting through that entire process is often the most expensive way to handle it.
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Tennessee's eviction process, even when uncontested, generally requires written notice (14 days for nonpayment under Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, which applies in most counties over 75,000 residents), followed by a court filing, a hearing, and, if you win, a sheriff-enforced writ of possession.
Start to finish, that's commonly 3 to 5 weeks for the simplest cases, and 2 to 6 months or longer if the tenant contests it. Every one of those weeks is a week of lost rent, legal costs, and a property you're still responsible for.
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Selling to Blue Shield Home Buyers means you don't have to wait that out first. We buy properties with problem tenants still in place, whether you're mid-eviction, haven't started the process yet, or have simply decided you're done managing the situation.
We evaluate the property, make a cash offer, and can often structure the sale so the tenant issue becomes our problem to resolve after closing instead of yours to finish the fight.
Common Bad Tenant Situations We Help With
These are the situations we see most often from landlords across Davidson, Wilson, Rutherford, Sumner, and Montgomery counties.
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Tenant behind on rent, not paying — Whether it's been one missed month or six, nonpayment is the most common reason landlords reach out to us.
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Property damage from current or former tenants — Holes in walls, broken fixtures, trashed units. We buy as-is, so the damage is priced into our offer, not a repair bill you have to cover first.
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Eviction already filed, still in process — Mid-eviction is a situation we work with regularly. We can often move forward with a purchase agreement while the legal process continues.
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Tenant refusing to leave after lease ends — A holdover tenant who won't vacate creates real uncertainty. We can structure a sale around it.
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Lease violations, unauthorized occupants, or repeated complaints — Situations that have become more trouble than the rental income is worth.
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You've decided you're simply done dealing with it — No further explanation required. Managing a bad tenant situation is exhausting, and walking away is a valid decision.
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Multiple problem units in a small portfolio — If more than one property has become a headache, we can talk through buying more than one at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy my property if I haven't started the eviction process yet?
Yes. You don't need to have filed anything or served any notice before reaching out to us. In fact, the earlier you talk to us, the more flexibility we have in structuring a sale around your specific situation, whether that means starting eviction proceedings before closing or handling the tenant matter as part of the purchase.
Will a bad tenant situation lower my offer?
It factors into our evaluation, similar to any other complicating circumstance, unpaid rent owed to you, potential damage, and the time it will take to resolve the occupancy. We'll walk you through exactly how we arrived at our number so you understand what's built into it.
Can I remove the tenant myself before selling to speed things up?
No, and this is important: Tennessee law prohibits self-help evictions. You cannot change the locks, shut off utilities, or remove a tenant's belongings yourself, even if they're significantly behind on rent or clearly in violation of the lease. Doing so can expose you to real legal liability, on top of the tenant situation you're already dealing with.
What if I've already filed for eviction and it's still in court?
That's a common situation, and we can often work through it with you. Depending on where the case stands, we may be able to move forward with a purchase agreement now and close once the eviction concludes, or in some cases sooner. Every case is a little different, so the best next step is a direct conversation about where things currently stand.
Do I need to tell you everything about the tenant situation upfront?
Yes, as much as you can. The more we know, whether that's how far behind they are, any damage you're aware of, or where an eviction case currently stands, the better we can structure an offer and a closing timeline that actually works. Surprises after we're under agreement slow things down for everyone.
How fast can this close?
It depends on where the tenant situation stands. Some sales with a cooperative or already-departed tenant can close in 7 to 14 days. Sales involving an active eviction may take longer, aligned with the court process, but we'll give you a realistic timeline once we understand your specific situation.
Areas We Buy Rental Houses As-Is
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Nashville
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Murfreesboro
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Clarksville
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Smyrna
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Lebanon
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Gallatin
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Hendersonville
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Mt. Juliet
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LaVergne
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Portland
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Spring Hill
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Goodlettsville
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Joelton
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Madison
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Hermitage
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Old Hickory
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White House
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Greenbrier
...and surrounding communities in counties across Middle Tennessee including Davidson, Wilson, Rutherford, Sumner, Montgomery, and Maury.
You don't have to finish the fight before you can sell.
Get a fair, no-obligation cash offer, tenant situation and all.