Selling a vacant or abandoned property can feel completely overwhelming to Florida homeowners, especially if you live out of state, need to sell your house fast, or simply don’t know where to start. It can be challenging to find a buyer who is willing to purchase a property that’s been sitting vacant for a while, as they are typically neglected or poorly maintained. However, here at Particular Properties we buy houses for cash and keep the selling process as simple as possible.
At Particular Properties , we specialize in buying homes, as-is. This means that you don’t have to worry about making any repairs or renovations to your property before selling it. Our team will take care of everything, from start to finish, so that you can focus on other matters.
If you’re looking to sell a vacant or abandoned home with a realtor or For Sale By Owner, here are eight tips to help you out:
1. Get a professional appraisal
Before putting your property on the market, it’s important to get a professional appraisal. This will help you determine the fair market value of your home and ensure that you’re pricing it correctly if you opt to list it on the MLS. Depending on how much deferred maintenance is on the property will determine if you will need to receive a cash offer. Most banks wont finance if the condition is too bad. Meaning roof, ac, if there’s mold in the house, plumbing issues, etc. Sometimes there can be money held in escrow for repairs to get done. Just depends on what bank you use. Here in Florida home insurance is absolutely insane! If your roof is a certain age it makes it difficult to get insurance and without insurance you can’t get a mortgage. Crazy right? It really has gotten tough here for homeowners! If you choose not to get the appraisal we definitely recommend checking http://www.realtor.com or with your local realtor to pull some comparables to get a starting point. Particular Properties can help you with both! Get started here Contact Us and we can help you compare selling direct to a cash home buyer vs. selling your house with a realtor.
Sidenote-I like Realtor.com over Zillow. Just my personal opinion. Realtor also pulls directly from the local MLS. So it gives you real time numbers. Definitely check both out and compare!
2. Clean up the property
First impressions matter, so it’s essential to clean up the property before showing it to potential buyers. This includes removing any debris, cutting the grass, and trimming the bushes. Curb appeal is SO important! You’ll need to make repairs and possibly repaint or tile. Ugh! Often times vacant or abandoned houses are filled to the brim with belongings. It is so defeating walking into a house that is filled with boxes in every room and household items from floor to ceiling. You look around and have no idea where to start! There are several junk haulers you could call. Get quotes and compare that way. We buy houses that are often times loaded with stuff, especially the garages! We know it can be a hassle so we buy the house as is! You don’t have to lift a finger! It definitely saves the homeowner time and that extra step not having to hire a junk removal company!
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3. Stage the home for potential buyers
If possible, stage the home to make it look more appealing to potential buyers. This can be as simple as adding some furniture and decor to make the space feel more welcoming. For better results, hire a professional stager, but keep in mind, this can be costly. Another option is to virtually stage. Basically the photographer of choice does this for you. Just let them know if you want it. Staging is typically saved for the properties that are turn key and have very little work that needs done. Professional photography is highly recommended. They take high-quality photos of your property, know which angles to use, how to adjust the lighting, etc. Just please don’t let your realtor take the photos and we see them in the mirror of the bathroom! I see it so often and it drives me crazy!
Professional photos attract more potential buyers and increase your chances of selling your house fast. So if you do choose to stage or list your home with a realtor please hire a professional photographer to capture interior and drone footage of your home! If you want to skip this step all together we buy houses just as they are! No need to stage or worry about cleaning up. Saves you time and money!
5. List the property on multiple platforms
If you choose the FSBO route and decide to sell your house without a realtor AND you want to reach as many potential buyers as possible, list your property on multiple platforms, such as Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com. If you choose to sell your home with a realtor they will put your property in the MLS and it will typically go to several platforms automatically. If neither of these options are for you- a direct sale to a cash home buyer can be another option! Often times cash home buyers will buy your property directly from you! That’s us guys. We are cash home buyers! We buy houses in Florida directly from homeowners like yourself that want to save time and sell their house fast!
6. Be flexible with showings
When selling a vacant or abandoned home, it’s important to be flexible with showings. This means being willing to show the property at different times of the day or on weekends. Without people in the house, showing it should be relatively easy. For the owners selling FSBO (For Sale By Owner) you can always put a lock box on the front door if you don’t feel comfortable showing the property or if you live out of state and don’t live near the property. I highly recommend having the buyers show their drivers license prior to you showing it. Have them shoot it over in a text. If a buyers agent is showing the property I would as the same thing. Have them send a pic of their card and their license. Safety is #1! If you are able to show the property its a great way to highlight the positives of the property and be there when the buyers have questions. If you are going to sell with a realtor they will handle the showings themselves.
7. Consider working with a real estate agent
While selling an empty or abandoned home on your own is possible, it can be challenging. Especially if you live far away or out of the state all together. Consider working with a real estate agent who has experience selling properties in your area. Realtors can be a great team member! If they’re local they will typically have a list of vendors to call should you need any-Plumbers, A/C techs, junk removal etc.
8. Sell Your Florida House Directly to Particular Properties
If you want to sell your property quickly and easily, consider working with Particular Properties . We buy houses, as-is, and take care of all the details listed above so that you don’t have to stress about it!
At Particular Properties , we understand that selling a vacant or abandoned home can be stressful. That’s why we’re here to help make the process as simple as possible. Our team of experts have 18+ years of experience buying properties in Florida, and we’re confident that we can help you sell your home quickly and easily. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you sell your vacant or abandoned home. Even if you are not ready to sell and just have questions we are happy to help! 407-721-6898
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Particular Properties is your Central Florida Cash Home Buyer. We have been buying real estate since 2006. Currently we operate in Altamonte Springs Beverly Hills Brooksville Casselberry Citrus Springs Cocoa Crystal River Homosassa Homosassa Springs Inverness Lecanto Longwood Orlando Oviedo Rockledge Sanford Spring Hill and Titusville
Our market space is constantly expanding! If you do not see your city listed please Contact Us and let us know where you are located. We’d love to hear from you! Want to jump ahead and fill us in on your property info? Click here to fill out to receive your Cash Offer!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jessica is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida. She has been buying and selling real estate since 2006. She is an investor at heart. Specializing in Tax delinquents, foreclosures, and creative financing. All publications are opinion based formed by experience. If you are seeking tax or legal advice it is recommended that you contact a licensed CPA and/or Attorney for your specific needs. If you’d like to learn more about how Particular Properties can help you please click the button below!