If you’re thinking about putting your house on the market in Florida, you might not know where to start. Should you use a real estate agent? What should the listing price be? How can you get the best price or sell your house quickly?
Selling a house is an intense and often stressful process. It involves multiple steps, many of which require expertise - like deciding how to price your house and negotiating the best deal. Below, we have put together a guide on selling your house in Florida to help you understand the process.
Based in Lithia, Eaton Realty works with home buyers and sellers throughout Hillsborough County. We work collaboratively with our clients to truly understand their needs and to make buying or selling a home as simple and stress-free as possible. Reach out today to talk to a member of our real estate team.
Questions about selling? Ask our realtors › 813-672-8022
How to Sell Your Florida House: Step-By-Step
Selling your home is a big step! In some cases, you may not have a choice - such as if you get a new job out of state or in another part of Florida. You may also choose to put your home on the market for other reasons - like wanting a bigger (or smaller!) house, a home that is more accessible, or to live closer to family.
Whatever the reason may be, before you start the process, it is a good idea to understand what it entails. Below, we have outlined the steps in selling your house in Florida.
Decide How You Want to Sell Your Home
There are two primary ways for homeowners to sell their house: by using a Realtor or selling it themselves. Each option has benefits, but for most people, using a Tampa real estate agent is usually the best choice.
The biggest advantage of listing your house “for sale by owner” is saving money on Realtor commissions. Paying a commission can take a big chunk out of your profits, so it may make sense for some people to handle the sale on their own. This is particularly true if you have a buyer lined up - such as a friend or neighbor - and don’t have to spend time and money marketing, staging, and attempting to find a buyer.
For most people, using a Realtor makes more sense. As detailed below, many steps are involved in selling a home - including specific legal requirements that you must meet. A Realtor will use their existing networks and platforms to market your home and handle open houses and showings for you. They will also advise you on how to get the most money for your house, help you price it competitively, and ensure that you make the appropriate disclosures and follow Florida law.
A skilled real estate agent can also help you sell your house for the best price - while minimizing stress. Selling a house is a lot of work and can be a burden on those who list “FSBO.” A good agent will know what local buyers want and how to reach them. In Hillsborough County, the team at Eaton Realty will guide you through each step of the process.
Figure Out When to Put Your Home on the Market
Many people don’t necessarily have a choice when deciding when to list their home. But if you do have some flexibility, you may be able to put off listing your home to achieve your goals.
The best time to sell your home in Florida is spring or summer. Historically, you’ll want to list your house in June for the best price. If you want to sell your home fast, list it in May. Your Tampa real estate agent can advise you of your options and help you decide what is right for you.
Choose a Price for Your House
One of the most important aspects of selling your home is competitive pricing. If you set a price that is too high, it may sit on the market for months - and you may end up not selling it at all. If you price it too low, you may leave money on the table.
Before setting a price for your house, either you or your real estate agent should perform a comparative market analysis (CMA). A CMA will examine all recently sold properties in the area, taking into account each home’s square footage, condition, and any special features like a pool. A real estate agent will likely have software that can perform a highly accurate CMA to help you set the best price for your home.
Prepare Your Home for Listing
Before you list your house, you should get it ready. Depending on your home, you may not need to do much - perhaps some touch-up paint here and there or a thorough cleaning. However, most people will need to consider doing some repairs or replacements and possibly decluttering and organizing.
Your Realtor can inspect your house with you and offer advice on ways to potentially increase the purchase price of your home. For example, spending some money on landscaping can boost curb appeal and might result in a much higher price for your home. They can also help you decide if it makes more sense to take on big repairs, like a new roof, or offer a credit to a prospective buyer.
Getting a pre-listing inspection is often a good way to see what may need to be fixed on your house - and avoid any surprises when a buyer does an inspection. Because a pre-listing inspection may reveal issues that will have to be disclosed to buyers, you should talk to your real estate agent about whether it makes sense based on the age and condition of your house. Under Florida law, home sellers must disclose certain issues with the property if they are aware of them. Preparing your house for the market should include filling out a disclosure form and listing any known problems with major appliances and systems and whether the home suffered previous structural damage. Your real estate agent can advise you of what you must disclose.
Market Your Home
Before listing your home, you will need to put in some work to market it appropriately. If you are using a real estate agent, they will do this work for you.
Marketing your home may include:
- Staging your home with furniture and accessories to show it off and help people imagine living there;
- Drafting a listing description that highlights your home’s best features as well as basic facts like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms;
- Taking photos and videos of your house and property; and
- Posting your listing on various websites. If you use a Realtor, they will get your house listed on the MLS and other platforms.
Marketing includes posting your house online and holding open houses and showings. Typically, Realtors handle both open houses and showings on behalf of clients. They may also host special showings or open houses for fellow agents who may have buyers in mind for your property.
Receive Offers, Make Counteroffers, and Negotiate a Deal
Once your house is on the market, you will likely receive offers. If these offers aren’t for the full listing price, you will probably counter with your own offer. In most cases, the parties go back and forth to negotiate terms until they can reach a deal and sign a purchase agreement.
Understanding the terms of an offer - such as contingencies - can be challenging. You may also not know what an appropriate counteroffer is, or what you can ask for as part of the deal. Common purchase agreement terms include:
- Earnest money, which is the cash that the buyer will pay to put the home under contract.
- Contingencies, which are conditions that have to be met to close the sale. Typical contingencies include things like the buyer getting financing and the house passing inspection.
- Disclosures, or any facts about the house that the seller is obligated to reveal to the buyer.
- Fixtures and appliances, which may or may not be included as part of the deal.
- Closing costs, including the anticipated expenses and which party will be responsible for these costs.
- Closing and possession dates
Your Tampa Realtor can explain the terms of each offer, help you decide on a counteroffer, and assist you in negotiating the final deal. Keep in mind that even after a purchase agreement is signed, the buyer will typically need to get an appraisal from their bank and a home inspection.
The appraisal and home inspection results may affect the sale, as the buyers may not qualify for a mortgage if the house doesn’t appraise at or above the purchase price. They may also ask you to make repairs or offer credits for any issues discovered by a home inspection. Your Realtor can walk you through this process and help you protect your interests.
Close the Deal
The final step in any real estate transaction is the closing. This is when the seller officially transfers possession of the home to the buyer. It involves signing many legal documents, and the buyer gives the seller a check in exchange for keys to the house. After the closing, an attorney or title agent will record the sale and manage any remaining legal issues.
Simplify the Home-Selling Process with Eaton Realty
Selling a home involves many steps. While it is possible to sell your Florida house by yourself, it requires a level of expertise that many people simply do not have. It also involves a lot of time and energy. If you are selling a home in West Central Florida, Eaton Realty can help make the process as easy as possible.
Eaton Realty represents buyers, renters, sellers, and investors on various real estate matters in Hillsborough County. We have decades of experience in the Tampa region, which we put to use to help our clients get the best possible deal when buying or selling a home. If you’d like to learn more, fill out our online contact form or give us a call at 813-672-8022 to talk to a team member.
