Can I sell my house myself in Clermont? What you'll need

Yes, you can sell your house yourself. Florida doesn't require a seller to use an agent, and plenty of people have done it well.

Here's the good news. If you know what's involved, you can make a smart decision, whether you go it alone, get some help, or hand it all off. So let's walk through what the job actually looks like, honestly.

What do I need to do before I list?

Start with the home itself. Buyers decide quickly, and most of the decision happens on their screen before they ever visit.

• Deep clean and declutter. Clear the counters, thin out the closets, and make every room look like it has a clear purpose.
• Fix the small things. The dripping faucet, the cracked outlet cover, the chipped paint. Little issues make buyers wonder what else you skipped.
• Take strong photos. These are your first showing. Natural light, every room, a few of the outside. Shoot when the house looks its best.
• Gather your paperwork. Keep your roof, HVAC and other major repair records, any warranties, and your HOA details if you have them.

How do I price it?

This is the step that matters most, and the easiest one to get wrong. Price it too high and it sits while newer listings take the buyers. Price it too low and you may leave money on the table.

Don't price from an online estimate alone, since it has never seen your home. Look at recent sales of similar homes nearby, what's for sale right now, and your home's condition. I explain how it works in What is my home worth in Clermont?What is my home worth in Clermont?/blog/what-is-my-home-worth-clermont

What does Florida require me to disclose?

This is where selling on your own carries real responsibility, because the seller owns the disclosures. A few of the big ones:

• Known problems that aren't obvious. Under the Florida Supreme Court's decision in *Johnson v. Davis*, a seller who knows of facts that materially affect the home's value, and that the buyer can't readily see, has a duty to disclose them. Florida Realtors notes that selling "as is" doesn't remove that duty.
• Radon. Florida requires a specific radon gas notice in the contract or another document signed at or before contract (Florida Statutes section 404.056).
• Flood history. Florida requires the seller to provide a flood disclosure at or before contract. It asks whether you know of flooding that damaged the property during your ownership, whether flood insurance claims were filed, and whether you received flood assistance, including from FEMA (Florida Statutes section 689.302).
• Lead paint, if your home was built before 1978. Federal rules require you to disclose what you know, provide available records, give the buyer the EPA pamphlet, include a warning statement in the contract, and allow 10 days for a lead inspection (EPA Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule).
• HOA documents, if you're in an HOA. Florida requires the prospective buyer be given a disclosure summary before signing the contract, and the buyer can cancel within 3 days after receiving it (Florida Statutes section 720.401).

The list changes, and your situation may add more. A real estate attorney or your title company can tell you exactly what applies to your home.

Sources: Florida Realtors; Florida Statutes sections 404.056, 689.302 and 720.401; EPA.

How do I market the home and show it safely?

• Put it where buyers look. Online listings are where most buyers start, so the listing needs great photos and a description that leads with what a buyer will love, not a list of square footage.
• Be honest in the description. It needs to match what you disclose and what buyers will see in person.
• Screen your visitors. Schedule showings by appointment, ask for a name and contact information, and don't show the home alone. Put away valuables, medications and personal papers before anyone walks through.
• Be ready to be flexible. The buyers who want to see the house on a Tuesday evening are real buyers.

What happens when offers come in?

Price is only one part of an offer. Also look at how the buyer is paying, how long their inspection and financing periods are, their closing date, and what they're asking you to cover.

Expect buyers who have their own agent to ask whether you'll help with that agent's compensation. Since August 17, 2024, agents working with buyers through the MLS have needed a written agreement with the buyer before touring, so this is a conversation that happens. Decide your answer ahead of time.

You can accept, decline, or counter. Every reply should be in writing.

Who handles the contract and the closing?

You'll need a proper purchase contract, and it's worth having a real estate attorney or your title company look it over. Once you're under contract, the deadlines start: inspection, appraisal, financing, title and closing. Each one is a place where a deal can slip if nobody is watching.

If the appraisal comes in lower than the price you agreed on, that's a negotiation of its own. I wrote about it here: My appraisal came in low, what happens now?My appraisal came in low, what happens now?/blog/appraisal-came-in-low

When does it make sense to get help?

Selling on your own is a real job: pricing, photos, marketing, showings, disclosures, negotiation and paperwork, all while you're living your life. Some people love it. Many find out partway through that they'd rather have a partner.

Either answer is fine. Start by finding out what your home is worth. Request a free market analysisRequest a free market analysis/sell and you'll have real comparable sales and a clear picture, with no pressure and no pitch. Then you decide how much of the work you want to do yourself, and how much you'd like help with. If you'd rather talk it through first, reach outreach out/contact.