Home Seller FAQ
Questions to Ask Before Selling Your House
Most homeowners do not need another 47-page guide.
They need clear answers to the questions that can cost them money.
What is the house worth? Should you replace the roof? Do you have to pay the buyer's agent? What happens after inspection?
Price
What is my house worth?
Start with relevant closed sales. Then look at what buyers can purchase today and which homes are going under contract.
After that, look at your property: location, lot, condition, roof, systems, renovation level and anything else that changes the buyer's choice.
Zillow, an AVM or a citywide median can give you context. None of them has walked through your house.
Choosing an Agent
Should I hire the agent who sells the most homes?
Maybe.
Sales volume tells you the agent or team closes a lot of transactions. It does not automatically tell you whether they are the best fit for your house.
McDonald's has sold a lot of hamburgers. That does not automatically make it the right restaurant for dinner.
Ask who will handle your pricing, offers and negotiations. Ask what they would spend your money on. Ask what the fee buys.
Repairs
Should I make repairs before selling?
Fixing a clear defect can make sense.
Remodeling because you are nervous is different.
I care first about repairs that may affect buyer confidence, insurance, financing or negotiation.
Cosmetic taste comes later.
Roof
Should I replace my roof before selling?
Not just because it is old.
I want to know the condition, permit history, active problems, repairability and whether the specific property creates an insurance or financing problem.
A roof replacement is too expensive to make from fear.
Listing Cost
Do sellers have to pay 5% or 6% to sell a home?
No.
Real estate broker compensation is negotiable and is not set by law.
Uber Realty's current listing-side choices include a 1% Traditional Marketing option and a 2% Enhanced Marketing option.
Both include the same core professional representation. The 2% option adds a 30-day property-specific paid advertising campaign.
Percentages hide money. Put the difference into dollars before you decide.
Buyer-Broker Compensation
Do I have to pay the buyer's agent?
The seller decides what, if anything, to offer or agree to.
Buyer-broker compensation is separate from Uber Realty's listing-side fee and is negotiable.
A buyer may also ask for compensation or another concession as part of an offer. That request becomes one of the terms you evaluate.
Marketing
What does a listing agent actually do to market a house?
Buyers do not purchase the listing agent. They purchase the house.
Good marketing helps the right buyer notice the property, understand it, get access to it and compare it accurately with other choices.
Photography matters. MLS information matters. Price position matters. Showing access matters.
Offers
Is the highest offer always the best offer?
No.
Compare the purchase price with concessions, requested buyer-broker compensation, financing, inspection terms, appraisal exposure, deposit and closing date.
A $525,000 offer can be worse than a $515,000 offer if the first buyer asks you to give enough money back or carries much more contract risk.
Buyer Inspection
Do I have to fix everything in the inspection report?
No.
The inspection report, the buyer's request and your contractual obligation are different things.
Let the buyer make the request. Then evaluate the actual problem, the contract and the money.
Appraisal
What if the appraisal comes in low?
A low appraisal is a contract and financing problem, not automatically a price-reduction order.
What happens next depends on the contract, financing and appraisal itself.
Possible paths can include challenging the appraisal, renegotiating, the buyer bringing additional money or using another contractual right.
Closing
What happens at closing?
By closing, inspection, appraisal, title and financing issues should be resolved according to the contract.
The settlement statement shows the purchase price, seller charges, agreed credits and the money due to the seller.
Local Questions
Does the answer change by neighborhood?
Often.
A waterfront Shalimar home can require a different comparable set from an interior Port Dixie home.
A newer Niceville resale may compete directly with a builder.
An older Fort Walton Beach home may create more roof, electrical, plumbing or insurance questions.
Niceville
Established neighborhoods, newer resales, new construction and waterfront can behave differently.
Shalimar
Small sales counts make the exact property type especially important.
Fort Walton Beach
Neighborhood, age, condition and price range can create very different buyer groups.
Waterfront
Water type, dock, access, shoreline and view may matter more than city boundaries.
Have a Different Question?
Tell me about the house, not just the question
The useful answer often changes once I know the address, condition, price range and what you are trying to accomplish.
This page provides general seller education. Property facts, contract rights, insurance requirements, tax consequences, financing and legal obligations vary by transaction and should be verified when relevant.
Real estate broker compensation is negotiable and is not set by law. Uber Realty listing-side compensation and any seller-authorized buyer-broker compensation are separate negotiable terms. Exact fees, services and advertising are controlled by the current written agreement.
Jim Whatley, Broker/Owner • Uber Realty LLC • Florida Broker License BK3174026 • Florida Brokerage License CQ1038333 • Equal Housing Opportunity.