07/18/2024
To date, selling this listing is my proudest Real Estate accomplishment --
First and foremost, Realtors solve problems - we owe it to our seller to do almost anything to sell their home for as much as possible even if it means getting dirty.
Sadly, my buddy Gary passed away suddenly in July 2023 but he had already "Lady Bird" deeded the home to his sister living in Rhode Island. As expected, she knew nothing about selling a South Florida home or local painters, electricians, drywall repair and Iguanas. And, this home needed TLC for sure.
I visited the property bi-weekly for the next 10 months (23 visits total). I learned that even empty houses get dirty and need attention - it was my first ever vacant listing with an out-of-state owner. To make things easier for her I advanced payment to all the vendors which she then reimbursed me.
So it went:
07/11/23 sister contacts me - turns out the attorney handling the estate, and other investors, were offering to "take the house off of your hands for $425k" by repeatedly trying to convince her that the house is only investment grade at best but I felt differently. She was confused and nervous.
07/31/23 advised her to spend ~$7500 on paint, cleaning, restoring the green pool, etc to sell it for significantly more than she was told it was worth
08/03/23 completed listing agmt w/ seller and hired a painter, pressure cleaner, window cleaner, pool service, drywall repair, lawn service and flooring guy (laminate in 1 room) to get it ready for sale
09/20/23 house "live" on MLS
10/22/23 OPEN HOUSE
01/28/24 my son DJ repaired a broken sprinkler pipe, mulched beds
01/31/24 ***house under contract for $560,000, however, during the inspection the roof was found irreparable (Btw, an inspector stated the roof "had 5 yrs of life left"!); buyer cancells contract
***02/08/24 - 04/16/24 house OFF-MARKET to replace roof
02/16/24 arranged for Superior Roofing to replace roof for $21,000
03/04/24 arranged sale of some furniture, pool table
04/24/24 I replaced sprinkler pump and timer
05/11/24 I painted (2) interior doors, trim and rear patio walls
05/12/24 OPEN HOUSE
06/11/24 ***house under contract for $560,000
06/18/24 arranged electric panel, FPL riser replacement for $3,000
07/06/24 we painted garage walls & floor (DJ, Taylor and I did this just as a treat to the new owners)
07/12/24 CLOSED for $560,000 :)
If you read this far, thanks!
