How long will it take for my Sarasota house to sell? That’s one of the questions home sellers ask, and while we can’t tell the future (as much as we try!) we do have a few tools in our toolbox to help forecast answers to this question and many others. Other questions I often get are “Can I expect a cash offer?” and “What are the chances that I’ll get full asking price for my house?”. These are all excellent questions and the answer depends on quite a few factors. Here are three that come to mind: 1) The current market in Sarasota, including the time of year. 2) The condition of your home and how it compares to others in the same price range. 3) How available the house is for showings. Let’s take a closer look!
The current market in the Sarasota area, including the time of year is a big factor.
Charts like the one above are helpful because they’re pulling data directly from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for Sarasota County (I also pull data for Manatee County, fyi, since I serve in both counties). This data, and much more, is available to help us see the trend, which can swing widely from month to month and year to year. For example, last year at this time, homes went under contract in 6 days, now that’s stretched to 21 days. Cash sales make up nearly 45% of home sales, so yes you’ve got a good chance of selling for cash. Take a look at the chart above and you’ll see data that most realtors don’t publish.
The condition of your home and how it compares to others in the same price range is also a major consideration.
Buyers looking at your home are likely also looking at other homes in your area in the same price range and they’re determining the best deal. Rather than basing the price of your house on how much money you have put into it, how much you owe, or how much you need out of it to buy your next home, it’s wise to look at the price from a buyer’s eyes. Is it move-in ready? Is it reasonably priced compared to others?
Making your home highly available for showings is also key to getting it sold.
I understand this can be a tough one for many of us who have pets, kids, who work from home or maybe even have tenants living in the home. Planning ahead, even if it costs a little money in pet boarding fees, etc., is money well spent. This is especially true here in the Sarasota area where many house hunters have only a short window of time to house shop before they fly back home.
If you’re planning on selling your home in the next year or so, please reach out to me. Let’s strategize on the best way to get the most out of your home!
More seller tips on the blog.
More seller tips via video.