The Big 3: How to Sell Florida Homes for More

What’s the secret to selling your home for the most money, the quickest sale, and the fewest problems? I call it the “Big 3”: three attributes that consistently enable sellers of Florida homes to get more return on the sale.

So you’re a Florida homeowner, and you’ve decided to sell your home. Most likely, you want to get the best price and terms on the sale. Sellers of Florida homes consistently sell for more when they have the “Big 3.” What are the Big 3, you ask? In my opinion, they’re Condition, Availability, and Price.

Having been in the real estate business for a long time, I can tell you these three points consistently enable sellers of Florida homes to get more return on the sale. Let’s take a look at each.

1. Condition: Get Your Home in Tip-Top Shape
This one might sound like a no-brainer to most, but you’d be surprised how often the condition of the listing is overlooked. Of course you might want a fresh paint job, to make a good first impression on the prospective home buyer who initially sees your home while driving by or in an online photo. But when I talk about “condition,” I’m talking about more than just a fresh coat of paint and new flowers in the front yard, or even having the home cleaned. To get your home in prime selling condition, the house needs to have been gone over from roof and gutters to floor (or basement, if you have one).

Think about all those items on your “to-do” list that you’ve been putting off for a while. I’ll bet a few of them have to do with simple home repairs. Try to walk into your home with fresh eyes (and nose!) and ask: “How would someone else see and smell my house?” A good real estate professional will be able to help guide you, and even provide you with checklists, to help you through this process.

2. Availability: Be Flexible

A good way to help ensure that your home fetches a good price is to maximize its availability to be shown. This can be a challenge: Everyone’s busy these days, and if you’re still occupying the home while trying to sell it, things can get especially hectic. Trying to keep the house “showing ready” can be difficult — especially if you have pets. Unfortunately, if buyers can’t get in to see your home, it’s unlikely they’ll make an offer or even try to schedule another showing.

3. Price: Pricing It Right = Selling It Faster and for More Money
Remember, this is your home. Based on the information provided by your real estate agent, you’ll need to determine a compelling market position for your home. Your agent should show you a range of prices being paid for similar homes in your area. Ask not only for a comparative market analysis (CMA), but also a list of comparable active, pending, and sold properties. This will tell you what buyers have purchased for, the price at which they made an offer, and lastly, how your home will measure up to the competition. Knowing the value of your home is important, a quick market analysis of your property value might help get you started. Keep in mind nothing takes the place of an experienced agent evaluating your home to specifically identify what would be defined by the appraiser and buyers as comparable. The biggest secret to getting the most money and the quickest sale with the fewest problems is to price-position your home properly from the start.

There are many things you can do to help get your home sold quickly. Check out this Home Seller Handbook for more valuable information and tips!

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Kim Knapp

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