Sellers

When it comes to selling your Key West home, we’ve got you covered.

Thinking of selling your house? We help a lot of Key West home owners sell their houses. Read on to find out our best advice and what’s involved in selling your house for top dollar.

Important considerations:

Time of year – Listing Real estate in Key West in September when historically it is the slowest month will create days on the maket, we recommend waiting to list closer to the end of December or January. January – March are the busier months.

Current competition – Inventory is low and prices are coming down. Pricing yourself out of the market is common along with price reductions. Even though it is a sellers market, we have seen sellers ride the market down so now it is your turn to ride the market up and take advantage of pricing your property at the perfect price to sell quickly.

Current market conditions – Even though it’s still very much a seller’s market due to the high levels of home-buying demand and short supply of properties for sale, time is of the essence.

Mortgage rates have risen, which will make buyers more conservative in their bids and could reduce demand. More sellers are likely to enter the market as the buying season rolls on, increasing competition.

When preparing your house for sale, keep these 3 goals in mind:

Declutter – maximize the space you have and allow potential Buyers to imagine living in your home. Remove personal items, extra armoires and anything that could distract potential Buyers. Let the potential buyers see the home,
not your stuff.

Staging – Make sure every room is staged for optimal viewing. A good REALTOR® will spend time identifying your house’s target Buyer and will guide you to stage your home to reflect how they would want to live in
it.

Clean, clean and clean again! The cleaner your house is, the faster it will sell. Buyers will look inside your closets, your kitchen cupboards and your bathroom vanity.

Curb Appeal – How your home looks from the outside will set the tone for how a Buyer feels about your home.

Pricing a house in Key West is both a science and an art. Your REALTOR® will discuss with you the pros and cons of pricing for a bidding war, pricing with the intent to negotiate, and pricing at market value.

  • Step #4 – Marketing

    A comprehensive marketing campaign for your house should include both traditional and digital marketing.

    Real estate marketing should include:

    Photography – Most Buyers will see your home for the first time online, and if the photos don’t capture their attention, they’ll move on to the next house and be lost to you forever. We strongly recommend
    professional photos. We have a vendor we use that charges a very reasonable price.

    For Sale Signs – Buyers often cruise their target neighborhoods in search of their perfect house, so a For Sale sign on the lawn is always recommended.

    Open Houses – Depending on your neighborhood and how well the open house has been promoted, you can expect anywhere from 5 to 100 or more people to attend. Great agents will be able to spot the serious and motivated
    Buyers and will make selling your home their only priority.

    Online Marketing – With 92% of Buyers starting their search on the web, being found online is critical! Make sure you’re working with a real estate agent who knows how to use other websites to your and your house’s
    advantage.

    Email Marketing/Social Media – Top REALTORS® promote their listings to other agents via email and have a network of potential Buyers they can reach via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and email.

    Print Marketing – Most agents will print feature sheets for your home so that the potential Buyers who see it will have a takeaway of information and photos. Depending on your REALTOR® and your ideal Buyer, your
    home might also be promoted with postcards or in real estate magazines.

     

When Buyers make an appointment to see your house, keep the following in mind:

  • Leave your house! Buyers are usually very distracted walking around when the home owner is present.
  • Be flexible with showing times.
  • Not everyone will love your dog as much as you do it is best to take them for a walk or board them.
  • Consider temporarily moving out of your home while it is for sale.
  • Cleanliness matters! The house must be clean every day that it is on the market.

 

While your agent will take you through what to expect come offer time.

  • A financing condition
  • A home inspection condition
  • Multiple offers

Make sure to:

  • Inform the utility companies of your impending move
  • Inform the county so that you do not continue to pay property tax
  • Cancel your home insurance
  • A day or two before closing day, you will need to visit your lawyer and sign a lot of paperwork.
  • Still have questions about selling your Key West home? Please contact us through the form on the right side of the page or give us a call today!

Buyer Resources, Information and Vendors

Oropeza Stones & Cardenas

  • Gregory S. Oropeza, ESQ.
  • 221 Simonton Street
  • Key West, FL 33040
  • Tel: 305.294.0252
  • Fax: 305.402.2802
  • greg@oropezastonescardenas.com

Home Inspectors
Keys Inspector
Termite Inspections
HAMMERHEAD TERMITE CONTROL
  • 30385 Quail Roost Trail
  • Big Pine Key, FL 33040
  • 305-515-2800