The Situation
Cheryl had decided it was time to try life in St. Augustine and had already bought a condo there. Her Cape Coral home was in the middle of a city water and sewer hookup, which brings a significant increase in the tax bill.
The Challenge
Most sellers would wait out a utility conversion, and many agents would hesitate to take the listing. New assessments and active construction give buyers every reason to hesitate or push for a discount.
The Strategy
- Priced it right from day one, accounting for the new utility costs rather than ignoring them.
- Ordered a pre-listing inspection so buyers could see the home's condition up front.
- Included a home warranty paid at closing, plus a 3D tour, to build buyer confidence.
- Ran targeted marketing to buyers in the Miami market, not just locally.
- Partnered with a local lender on a rate buy-down flyer to widen the pool of qualified buyers.
- Coordinated a fully remote closing and utility setup for the new city water connection.
The Result
Sold for the full $270,000 asking price after 11 days on market. The buyer waived inspection after reading the pre-listing report, the appraisal came in at value, and the sale closed 34 days after listing, getting the buyer into her new home before Christmas.