Did you know in Sarasota County alone there almost 600 properties owned by residents of the United Kingdom and nearly 5,000 properties owned by Canadian residents? It’s true! Sarasota is a popular place for people around the world. While owning a beautiful vacation home here definitely has its perks, there comes a time when you may want to sell for whatever reason. Maybe you prefer staying closer to “home”, maybe traveling becomes too burdensome, maybe another vacation spot closer to home becomes a more appealing option. Whatever the case may be, Christine Pope can help you get your Sarasota or Manatee property sold.
First let’s answer a few Frequently Asked Questions about selling your home from Canada or the United Kingdom, answered by Christine…
Question: I haven’t had a chance to go back to Sarasota and remove my personal items or prepare the house to sell. Do you help with that?
Answer: Absolutely. There are several ways this can be done, depending on your personal preferences. I’ve found that it generally works best for us to videochat through an app such as WhatsApp. I’ll walk through the house, room by room, and you let me know which items you’d like me to pack and return to you.
Question: Should I sell my house fully furnished or try to sell the furniture separately?
Answer: Since many properties in Sarasota and Manatee Counties are sold to people who will be using them as a second home or vacation home, many buyers are happy to accept gently used furniture, even if it’s not their particular style because it gives them something to use until they have a chance to replace them. The furniture can either be handled as a separate bill of sale or it can simply be included in the sale. This is a convenience for both you and the happy new homeowner.
Question: There are some things in my house that need to be thrown away or donated, how can I make that happen from the UK or Canada?
Answer: Items that are in good condition can be donated to one of many charitable causes here in Sarasota or Manatee County. I’ve often scheduled pickups for furniture, clothing, shoes, electronics, bicycles, patio chairs, dishes, pans, appliances, lawn care equipment and more. Having sorted through many homes over the years, I’ve got a good plan for what to donate and how. It’s free to donate gently used items. Other household items that don’t qualify for donation can be sent to waste management at minimal cost. I personally handle all of this for you.
Question: I’ve heard that I might owe taxes to the United States when I sell my property. Is that true? How does that work?
Answer: Yes, in most cases that is correct. While I can’t give financial or legal advice, I do highly recommend discussing your particular situation with your accountant, tax preparer or with a local company here in Sarasota who frequently assists foreign sellers with this particular tax. You can look up FIRPTA (which stands for Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) for more information. A word of caution here…reading through tax information can be daunting and confusing. Save yourself some time and trouble and hire a pro to handle this for you. I would be happy to connect you with a trusted local firm if you’d like.
Question: Do I need to return to the United States in person in order to sign paperwork to sell my property?
Answer: No. We make it simple for you. There are two main packets of paperwork that you’ll need to sign. The first is the listing paperwork which I will prepare for you. We’ll schedule a Zoom call or WhatsApp call to discuss everything and then I’ll send everything over to you to electronically sign. All you need is an email address and an internet connection. It is surprisingly easy to sign! The second set of paperwork is your actual sale, or “closing” paperwork. That will be emailed to you by the attorney or title company. You’ll simply print it out, sign it in front of a notary, and mail it back. We make it very simple by even including the paid return label so you don’t even have to address the envelope.
Question: How do I receive the funds from the sale of my property?
Answer: On the day of closing, you’ll get your funds wired to your bank account. You’ll no longer have to worry about maintaining a property here, paying condo fees or homeowners association fees, property taxes, utilities, pool care or housewatch services, and no more worries about hurricanes, repairs or any kind of maintenance. You’ll have money in your pocket and freedom to choose your next adventure!
Question: How can I talk with Christine about my other questions?
Answer: Whether you’re just starting to think about selling or you need your property sold yesterday, I’m here to answer all of your questions. I am highly responsive, not high pressure. I’ve sold many homes for Canadian and UK clients with great success. I’ve sorted socks, sold artwork, sold cars, cleaned ovens, donated furniture, pulled weeds…you name it. I understand the challenges you face as a foreign seller and am happy to do the “extras” that it takes to get this done for you! Don’t worry about the time difference, I am accustomed to working with clients from all over the world. Call or text me at 941-685-5565 or email me at [email protected] or message me on WhatsApp.
You can read my latest client testimonials here.
et a general idea what your property is worth here.
Let’s talk today and get started!