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001 727 709 2581

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870 3rd St. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33770

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Selling

Florida Property

What you must know before Selling Florida Property

So, you managed to get through the purchase of your Florida home and hopefully you found a good agent (Realtor) to navigate you smoothly through the buying process. For whatever reason you have now decided that it’s a good time to sell.

We know how difficult it can be to get adequate information and advice when your property is located in Florida and you live in the UK or another country.

We are here to take away all that potential stress and difficulty. We can help you start to gather the information you will need in order to make an informed decision on questions such as “what agent should I use?” “How much is my property worth?” “What will I need in order to list my property for sale?” and “How much will it cost to sell my property?”

We have put together a list of some common questions that we are sure will help.

How should I choose an agent (Realtor) to list my property for sale?

Well we believe that in order to get the best representation and for the smoothest transaction, you need an agent who is an expert on the local property market but also familiar with the way things work in the UK. Experience in the market and with working with UK sellers is extremely important as there are many differences in the way property is sold in the US compared to the UK. Real estate terms are different, and the same term used in the UK can have a totally different meaning in the US (see our list of commonly used real estate terms) and if you don’t ‘speak the same language’ things can become very confusing and, in some cases, contracts fall through simply because of a lack of understanding. Also, an agent that is not familiar with working with UK customers may not have experience with such things as Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax (FIRPTA) and may not know how or where you can get the best advice on saving money and not getting into trouble with the IRS. You should find an agent well versed in all of these things. Communication is key to a successful transaction and is by far the biggest complaint buyers and sellers have after buying or selling property. Our goal is to be Master of Communication!

How much should I list my property for?

Your agent should advise you on your list price. He can provide you with a comparative market analysis (CMA) which is an in-depth analysis of a property’s worth in todays market. It includes comparing similar properties that have sold, for sale and under contract. From the CMA you and your agent will determine the best list price that will generate the most amount of money in the shortest possible time. Ask us for a FREE CMA of your property.

What should I do to prepare my property for sale?

Well the answer to this question ‘depends’. Usually we find most UK owners keep their property in great condition and need to do nothing. However sometimes some minor inexpensive changes or repairs can make a big difference to how quickly you sell and how much you get for your property. We are always happy to visit your property and give you advice on what you could do that would help your property sell faster and for more money. Also ask us for our FREE seller’s guide that contains tips and ideas on preparing your home for sale.

What will I need to do in order to list my property with a Realtor for sale?

All Florida Realtors will require that you sign a listing agreement. This agreement will contain the agreed listing price, commission to be paid to the agents and the time period for which the property will be listed (amongst other things). Realtors in Florida all use a similar listing agreement that is approved by the Florida Association of Realtors and the Florida BAR. Once the listing agreement is signed the Realtor can take photographs and list the property on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Many agents will take their own photographs and sometimes only use a cell phone. We hate to see poor photographs of properties and only use a professional photographer for our photographs. We want your property to look the best it can as most buyers first introduction will be online pictures. Ask us about our listing agreement with 100% satisfaction guarantee.

How much will it cost to sell my property?

In Florida the seller pays the commission. The commission fee is usually divided between the seller’s agent and buyer’s agent. If the seller’s agent represents both parties the commission will all go to the seller’s agent, unless there is an alternative clause within the listing agreement. Commissions vary according to services provided. Make sure that if you use a discount broker, you know exactly what you are getting for the fee. You should have no upfront costs. Usually all fees are paid at closing from the proceeds of the sale. There are also fees that are related to the sale and paid to local and state government. If you choose to list your property with us, we make sure you know what your fees and estimated net proceeds will be. These fees will change slightly according to sales price and what time of year the sale closes.

How will my property be viewed?

Showings (viewings) are always arranged by the realtors. Potential buyers will always be accompanied by their agent or the listing agent. We use an electronic lockbox system in order for Realtors to gain access to the key. The lockbox is accessed electronically and only by Realtors that belong to the MLS system, it is not available to the general public. The moment a Realtor gains access to the lockbox, a notification is sent to the listing agent. We use the most up to date system available where we can add other security steps. Your property’s security is the utmost priority.

These are just a few of the questions you may have about selling your property, but I am sure you can think of plenty more. Let us know if you have any questions and we will be happy to answer them for you.

Here are some of the things we do when we list your property. We design a specific marketing strategy for each property type and therefore this is a general list. If you are interested in selling, contact us and we can discuss what specific strategy we believe best for your property. Our years of experience have enabled us to design the most effective marketing strategies in order to sell your home for the highest possible price in the shortest amount of time.

What we do when selling your home

  • Objectively evaluate and determine the best possible list price for your home. This is based on accurate assessment of competing and sold properties.

  • At least 25 PROFESSIONAL high-resolution photographs will be used for marketing materials and internet advertising. We only use professional photographers.

  • Just listed postcards will be mailed to the surrounding area.

  • Property listing details and photographs will be entered into the MLS system.

  • An electronic lockbox will be placed on the property with your consent.

  • A For Sale sign will be placed outside your property if permitted by the home owners association.

  • Property flyers and information brochures will be created.

  • Individual property website will be created with its own URL.

  • An email blast announcing your property listing will be sent out to hundreds of local agents.

  • Your property information and photographs will be syndicated to over 1000 property real estate websites including Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Homefinder.com, Homes.com, Remax.com and many more.

  • Listed globally on international websites with exposure in countries such as China, Canada and the UK

  • Social media paid post advertising on Facebook and other social media sites specifically targeted to potential buyers looking in that area.

  • ADWERX digital marketing directed towards people that have searched for homes in your property’s area. Ads for your home follow these potential buyers everywhere they go on the web.

  • Hold ‘OPEN HOUSE’ (if permitted in your community and with your consent)

  • Pitch sessions to local Realtors.

  • Local newspaper advertising.

  • Arrange showings.

  • Ensure potential buyers are qualified to purchase.

  • Request and obtain feedback from all agents and potential buyers following showings.

  • Maintain regular communication, provide progress reports and updates regarding the local market activity for new listings, sold listings and price changes.

  • Negotiate on your behalf and provide you with advice and guidance when an offer is received and finalize sales contract.

  • Guide you through the process from contract to closing. Keep you informed of timelines and contingencies. Assist with inspection and appraisal arrangements and review any repair requests with you and help you assess your options. Maintain contact with buyer’s lender (if applicable) and keep track of the loan process and buyer’s final approval.

  • Review closing documents and attend closing – CONGRATULATIONS YOU ARE CLOSED!

We will also help with advice and if required refer you to a specialist when it comes to such things as tax liability (FIRPTA) and money transfer back to the UK. We have a network of people that are specialists at working with people from the UK and like ourselves many are expats and ‘speak the same language’ that we do. We are recommended by Florida Association of British Business.

If you have come across our website and have a property to sell in another area of Florida or even another state in the USA. We would be happy to speak with you and connect you to someone like us that can help you in that particular area.