So you're considering selling your Barefoot Beach home.

Whether you're simply moving within Barefoot Beach or have decided to head elsewhere, it's a big decision and one you want to make sure you get right. Unfortunately, only 64% of sellers nationwide report being happy with the process of selling their home.

With so much at stake, you deserve peace of mind. After having guided hundreds of clients through the process, in this post I'll give you everything you'll need to navigate selling your home as efficiently and profitably as possible. You can be happy with the process of selling your home.

Where Do I Start When Selling My Barefoot Beach Home?

When homeowners begin flirting with the idea of selling their home, it inevitably brings up countless questions.

Am I really ready to move?

What would my home even sell for?

What would I actually walk away with?

How long would it take?

What time of year should I list my home?

And the list goes on…and on…and on…

It's enough to make even an experienced seller's head spin.

To get things off to a good start, let's first get you some data – when it comes to selling your home, knowledge is definitely power. 

How Much Will Your Home Sell For?

This question can in some cases be much easier to answer than in others.

In neighborhoods that have homes priced closer to the median home price nationwide, it's typically easier to value a home, as there are more comparable sales.

In more expensive neighborhoods, like Barefoot Beach, it can often be more challenging, as there are typically fewer true comparable sales than normal.

Not to worry though – there are a number of ways to get a considerably accurate estimate of what you'll end up selling your home for.

Zestimate Or Other Automated Valuation Model (AVM)

Automated Valuation Models use artificial intelligence and vast amounts of real estate data to produce an estimate of a particular property's value.

All of this data allows these systems to more often than not get an accurate representation of your home's value. From time to time, though, and particularly in markets like Barefoot Beach where there aren't as many comparable sales, they can be significantly off the mark, so their estimates cannot be taken as gospel. 

The advantage to using these systems, though, is that they're typically free and you can simply plug your address in and instantly get an estimate.

Consult With Your Realtor

In markets like Barefoot Beach, it's best to rely more on the local professional than a Zestimate or other AVM.

A Realtor who has specialized in a particular neighborhood throughout their career will be better able to account for the unique characteristics of your property than even the most advanced algorithm.

Be wary of Realtors who promise an overly generous price for your home. While you'll obviously want to get top dollar, overpricing ultimately doesn't work in your favor. It can lead to the home taking longer than necessary to sell with no guarantees you won't end up having to reduce the price anyways.

How Much Will You Walk Away With?

It's important to have a full understanding of not just how much your home will likely sell for, but also how much of that you'll actually walk away with after closing costs, taxes, and a handful of other considerations.

Let's take a look at each in turn:

• Do you have a mortgage balance remaining on the home? If so, are there any fees for paying it off early?
• What will your Realtor commission be? This can vary from state to state, so be sure to check with your Realtor.
• Any miscellaneous fees? You'll also be charged fees by your attorney for reviewing the contracts and the title agency for conducting the title transfer, etc. These costs are typically less significant, but can still make a material difference in what you walk away with.
• What will your taxes be? You may need to pay some taxes when you sell your home. Luckily, though, this can be more minimal than you might think. For example, if you've lived in your home for at least two of the last five years, you can pay no capital gains taxes on the first $250,000 in gains if you're single, or $500,000 if you're married. Talk with your accountant to get an exact idea of what your tax liability may be.

Knowing how much you'll actually walk away with can be one of the most important data points you'll need to make the best decision for you and your family, so it's worth investing the time to figure it out.

When Should I List My Home?

What's that saying? “Timing is everything”? Well, it definitely applies to real estate, too.

Knowing when to list your home can have a significant impact on the success of your sale, particularly in a seasonal market like Barefoot Beach.

In Barefoot Beach, many potential buyers are in town during the winter months, so understandably you want your home to be on the market during that time frame.

Having said that, over the years the Southwest Florida population has become much more consistent year-round. Every year, more and more residents decide to fully part ways with their northern abodes, making Naples or Bonita Springs their full time residence.

That means that if you do need to list your home during fall, summer or spring, there are still plenty of buyers to be found.

Consult With Your Realtor About Local Inventory Levels

As great as it would be to give a one size fits all answer, the best time to sell your home depends on a number of factors, not just the month of the year.

Depending on market conditions it may make sense to list at time that normally wouldn't be optimal. That's why it's ultimately best to consult with your realtor so they can consider all the variables and develop a strategy that's suited both to your specific needs and the conditions present in the market.

Should I Sell My Home Before I Buy?

Which came first – the sale or the purchase?

The final thing you need to consider with respect to the timing of listing your home is whether you should sell it before purchasing your next home.

This will vary greatly from one buyer to the next, so this is another question that can be helpful to consult both your realtor, mortgage banker, and perhaps even your financial advisor on.

Even if you speak to your mortgage banker and find out you're qualified to purchase your new home before selling your current home, you may want to think twice before doing so.

You need to consider the possibility that you may end up owning both homes for some length of time while you're waiting for your current home to sell, thus leaving you paying two mortgages at the same time.

If you're unwilling to put yourself in that position, there are a handful of things you can do to mitigate the risk:

• Ensure your home sells as quickly as possible by working with an experienced Realtor with a proven track record. Without question, this is the single best thing you can do to ensure you're able to sell your home efficiently and move on to the next chapter of your life.
• Wait to start searching for your next home until you've accepted an offer on your current home. One option to buy you some time between selling this home and moving into your next is to negotiate you staying in your current home after closing as a renter. That will allow you to get the sale behind you before turning your focus to finding a new home.
• When you find your next home and write an offer, have your Realtor make your offer contingent on your current home selling. If you're in a sellers market, this might not be possible because the seller may already have another offer that doesn't have any contingencies, but it's still worth exploring.

How Should I Sell My Home?

So you've analyzed the different factors involved and you've made the decision that it's time to make your move (pun intended).

What next? First, you'll need to determine how you're going to go about selling your home.

Primarily, you have three main options to consider. Let's take a look at each in turn.

Engage A Real Estate Agent

This is of course the first thought most people have, and that's not without reason. Realtors take what can be an incredibly complex, stressful and time consuming process and make sense of it, guiding you every step of the way.

Specifically, Realtors bring a number of skillsets to the table that make your life easier when it comes time to sell your Barefoot Beach home. Here are some of the most important:

• As we just discussed, Realtors can help tremendously with the work you do before even deciding whether you want to sell, such as inventory analyses, developing a pricing strategy, and figuring out when to list.
• Realtors know what sells and what doesn't. That means they can guide your efforts to declutter your home, make any small or major repairs, and bring in the best professionals to stage and photograph your home.
• Any Realtor worth their salt is a professional marketer. They'll help you get your home in front of as many people as possible, ensuring your home sells as efficiently as possible and for top dollar.
• Not only are Realtors doing traditional marketing, they can also do open houses and bring in buyers from their network, ensuring an even wider pool of potential buyers.
• With all those potential buyers seeing your property, when you get your first offer(s) your Realtor will help you negotiate the best price and terms for your home.
• Real Estate transactions produce no shortage of complex and nauseating paperwork. Your Realtor has seen it all countless times and will be able to help you navigate it, ensuring your interests are protected.

Unfortunately, not all Real Estate agents are created equally…That's why the next step is determining which Realtor you want to engage to sell your home.

Find The Ideal Real Estate Agent

The key to finding the best Realtor for your home is seeking out whoever is considered to be the local expert.

Realtors tend to focus on a particular neighborhood or part of town, that way they can develop a niche and conduct the lion's share of business in that niche. This also means that they end up knowing far more about that neighborhood than other realtors. They know the pricing trends, the likely buyers, and what gets those buyers to sign on the dotted line.

Not to toot our own horn, but in Barefoot Beach, we're the local experts. I moved to Barefoot Beach in 1989 and became a realtor immediately after that. Since then, I've helped hundreds of families buy and sell homes in Barefoot Beach. We also own the site you're reading this post on right now, BarefootBeach.com, which consistently ranks on the first page of Google results for keywords related to Barefoot Beach Real Estate.

This expertise combined with our passion for this incredible community we call home uniquely positions us to provide sellers with the most stress free, efficient, and profitable selling experience possible. If you're ready to sell your Barefoot Beach home, get in touch today!

Sell Your Home On Your Own

Your second option for selling your home would be to forgo the assistance a Realtor provides and sell your home on your own.

In 2018, only 7% of the homes marked for sale were for sale by owner. The reason for this is everything we mentioned above – the marketing skills, knowledge of local trends, and expertise with respect to the paperwork all combine to make most homeowners happy to engage a Realtor when it comes time to sell their home.

Sell Your Home To An iBuyer

Need to sell fast and without any headaches? You may want to consider selling to an iBuyer.

What's an iBuyer? So glad you asked…

iBuyers are large, typically nationwide homebuyers backed by a large pool of money and advanced computer algorithms that determine what your home is worth. Once they establish that, they'll make you a below-market offer that they can typically close on in just days or weeks. Even Zillow now offers this service (albeit not yet in Barefoot Beach).

The pros are that it's quite possibly the easiest way to sell your home, having no showings to deal with, no lengthy closing period and very little in the way of inspections. The cons are that you're going to have to be willing to take a significant price cut. iBuyers make their money by only buying homes at below-market prices so they can immediately turn around and sell the home for a profit.

So if speed and ease are your priorities, this can be a great option, but if you're looking for top dollar and are willing to wait a little longer for it, get in touch with a Realtor and get the ball rolling!

How Should I Prepare My Home For Sale?

Alright, we're moving right along!

You've determined it's time to sell, found your dream Realtor, and you're ready to take the plunge. Now what?

Well, there are a number of simple things you can do to improve the odds that your home sells quickly and for top dollar.

Make Select Repairs/Upgrades

You probably have a handful of repairs or upgrades you're considering making before selling. The question is, which ones should you actually make?

The short answer? Only the repairs that buyers are actually willing to pay extra for.

This is where your Realtor comes in and is another reason you want to go with the local expert – they will know best what's hot in that particular market. What paint colors, fixtures, etc. that will make your home competitive against what else is available on the market.

This part can be challenging for many homeowners because they're changing things about their home that perhaps they designed themselves and that they particularly like. But unfortunately, selling a home isn't about personal preferences – it's about mass appeal. So you need to be willing to trust the expert and make the changes that they suggest to ensure a sale that's both efficient and as profitable as possible.

This begs the question, which repairs typically attract the most buyers?

Look for the quick wins  – fresh paint (both inside and outside), improving landscaping, new carpets, changing light bulbs to LED, etc. These items will make a huge impact on the curb appeal and overall appearance of the home, all without breaking the bank.

For larger repairs, only make them if they're absolutely necessary or if they're something that a buyer would likely ask you to fix prior to closing. This includes things like a broken furnace, plumbing issues, a leaky roof, etc.

You need to keep in mind that selling your home is basically a popularity contest – you're competing against other homes that might not have those issues, so if you're unwilling to fix these things, buyers will be more likely to simply go with the home that doesn't have those issues.

Decluttering

There's nothing quite like a move that makes you realize just how much stuff we tend to accumulate over time. Take advantage of this moment.

Before listing your home go through your closets, storage areas, and garages to get rid of all the unnecessary clutter that you possibly can.

Buyers will appreciate a clean, organized home and it will make them feel like they can move right in. Not to mention, it will also give you peace of mind knowing you've already put in the work to move out of your home as easily as possible come that time.

The other thing to keep in mind is after you're done decluttering, you'll want to make sure you have the home as clean as possible. It's worth bringing in a cleaning service to do a deep clean – again, buyers want to be able to envision themselves living there and in order for most people to do that, they want the space to be clean and fresh.

Air fresheners or candles are a worthwhile investment too. Scents are strongly linked to memory, so if your prospective buyers come in and are immediately greeted by a pleasant smell, they'll be that much more likely to remember your home among the countless others they see.

Stage Your Home

Imagine for a moment – you're a model preparing for a runway event.

The photographers, fashion bloggers, designers and everyone else who matters are all there, eagerly awaiting your entrance onto the runway.

Suddenly you appear, but to the sound of a deafening silence…

You're wearing raggedy old jeans, run down shoes and haven't even showered much less put make up on.

Selling a home that hasn't been staged properly is the equivalent of that runway appearance. You're not even giving your home a chance.

Having said that, staging doesn't have to be anything extravagant. Odds are you've already got some of your own furniture still there, so if your furniture and artwork are modern and already present the home well, you may not need to do anything other than the decluttering and cleaning we discussed in the last section.

If you have your furniture organized and laid out in a particular fashion that doesn't keep the floor plan open and inviting, consider rearranging it. But if you've already moved out or if you haven't updated the furnishings in your home in ages, it will likely make sense to spend the money to get it appropriately staged.

When most buyers are presented with the possibility of staging their home, all they can see are dollar signs – the bad kind. But in reality, staging has proven time and time again, particularly with higher end properties like the homes in Barefoot Beach, to be a worthwhile investment.

Again, it all gets back to the buyer being able to visualize themselves living there. You can even take this a step further and go with staging packages that allow the buyer to purchase the furnishings along with the home, thus making the home truly “move-in-ready”.

Take High Quality Photos & Videos

Here's where you get the payoff from all the blood, sweat & tears you put into repairing, cleaning and staging your home. Now you get to show off your finished product to the world.

In today's day and age, everyone starts their search online. That means one thing and one thing only – you'd better have showstopper photos.

Think of the online home search as an online dating app – you're not going to set up a date (showing) with someone who has terrible photos. Instead, your photos need to make your place stand out from the endless sea of competition and make buyers want to drop everything and request a showing.

This is yet another opportunity to turn to your trusty Realtor. Not only do they know the best professional photographer to use, they'll gladly pay for them on their own dime because they know just how much more likely the home is to sell quickly when it has professional photos and videos to go along with it.

One thing to keep in mind is that not all markets are alike. For example, it'd be a little challenging to do a drone tour of most apartments or homes in New York City. When you're selling a home in Barefoot Beach, though, drone tours are considered to be a must.

Take a look at this drone tour of Barefoot Beach to get an idea of how well these types of videos can show off a Barefoot Beach home.

Make It Known

Alright, now comes the fun part!

Now you get to finally let the world know that your home is for sale. Your Realtor will have a broad marketing plan to ensure the right people find out.

This will include posting on social media, the MLS, buying ads in magazines, posting it on websites that potential buyers are likely to visit (wink, wink, BarefootBeach.com), conducting open houses, and privately sharing the news with their network of buyers.

In short, you want your home to be put in front of as many eyeballs as possible to ensure all potential buyers are aware that it's for sale. Don't be afraid to put on your sales hat yourself – share your listing with your own Facebook friends and network, even encouraging your network to do the same.

Conduct Showings & Open Houses

Making progress! Now that you've gotten the word out, you'll start getting buyers who want to take a look in person.

Not only is this great because you'll potentially get an offer, even if you don't get one your Realtor can solicit crucial feedback from the buyers who don't end up submitting an offer. You'll then be able to develop with a game plan to combat any weaknesses you might not have seen before (for example, maybe more people are complaining about the paint than you had initially expected, so maybe it now makes sense to spend the money to have it painted).

The main thing with showings is to try to maintain as flexible of a schedule as possible. We know – easier said than done. But keep in mind that each showing could be the one that leads to an offer, so do your best to keep the home clean and clutter free (especially after all that hard work to get it to this point), and try to ensure your Realtor will be able to access it more often than not.

This is especially true during winter, as that's the busy season for Barefoot Beach, so showings can often pop up without much time to prepare.

Another way to coordinate this can be to develop a schedule with your Realtor so they can plan (sometimes multiple) showings in advance and you'll be able to rest easy knowing when exactly you need to be out of the home.

Seal The Deal

Congrats! After all of you and your agent's hard work, you've received a handful of offers!

Unfortunately we've still got a ways to go before we're at the finish line, but the light is definitely at the end of the tunnel.

This is also where the process can get particularly stressful and confusing, so throughout it you'll want to rely on your Realtor and attorney for their guidance.

In order to get it right, there are a handful of things you'll want to ensure you do. Let's take a look at each in turn.

Select the Best Offer

This might not be as straightforward as one would think.

If you're fortunate enough to have multiple offers, it can be tempting to just go with the highest price. Unfortunately that can lead to some unintended consequences.

The National Association of Realtors reports that 24% of home closings get delayed due to anything from financing issues, to inspections, to attorney review. When you're selecting an offer, you want to try to pick the one that you think has the highest probability of successfully closing at the highest price in an efficient time frame.

So if one buyer has a higher price but has a financing contingency, and another buyer has a slightly lower price but is paying cash and will close in 30 days, it might be in your best interest to go with the second offer.

Post 2008, US banks became much more stringent in how they underwrite home mortgages. You now have to check every box in order to get approved for a loan, so while a buyer may be confident they can get the necessary financing to purchase your home, they may be in for a rude awakening when they actually go to apply.

The other great thing about having multiple offers is it gives you much more leverage in negotiations. For example, it's possible the buyer with the highest offer may not actually need financing, it's just their preference. So maybe you submit a counteroffer at their same offering price, but with no financing contingency, thus making the offer more likely to actually close on schedule.

Even if you don't have multiple offers, you can likely still negotiate on things like closing timeframe, price, furnishings, closing credits, etc. This is your one chance to get the deal you want, so depending on how much negotiating leverage you and your Realtor think you have, don't be afraid to speak up.

If you haven't received any offers, it's time to go back to the drawing board. Selling a multimillion dollar piece of real estate, like the homes in Barefoot Beach, takes time. In fact, the average home in Barefoot Beach stays on the market for ______ days before selling, so there's no need to panic if you're not getting offers right out of the gate.

Having said that, it still may make sense to consider lowering the price to attract some new attention. Or perhaps it's time to reconsider taking the plunge on those additional repairs you were debating. Have a frank discussion with your Realtor and they'll be able to guide you through the options at your disposal.

Accept An Offer & Submit It To Escrow

Look at you! You've got an accepted offer and you're seeing dollar signs.

Now it's time to send the offer over to the title company and let the paperwork armageddon begin.

The title company is responsible for orchestrating the transfer of the deed from you to the buyer. They're confirming that you are the rightful owner of the property and that it's free from any liens or encumbrances that would negatively affect the buyer.

Although it's rare for homes in Barefoot Beach, title issues can from time to time hold up sales from closing on schedule. Therefore it's best to get the title report as soon as possible, that way if there are any issues, you and your attorney can get to work resolving them as soon as possible.

Prepare for the Home Inspection

Time to buckle up! Issues found during inspections account for 16% of delays in home closings, so this is definitely something you'll need to be prepared for.

Buyers will request an inspection within 10 days of their offer being accepted. From there, the inspector will come out to your property to identify any potential issues with the home. This includes anything structural, health related, or any mechanical issues.

Inspections typically take a couple of hours but can be longer if the buyer wants to conduct other, more specialized inspections. The inspector will then write up a report over the following 3-4 days that documents his findings.

Most homes (even newer ones) will have their fair share of issues, so expect a number of things to be brought up in the report. If you have any major problems with your roof, plumbing, HVAC systems, any structural issues, electrical problems, bug or rodent infestations or any water damage, be prepared for your buyer to negotiate on those points and request repairs.

This is where market conditions really come into play. If you're in a seller's market where there's very little inventory and buyers are fighting over homes, your buyer's Realtor will advise them that they could lose your home to another buyer if they make too many demands. In that case, you can likely push back pretty hard and refuse to make many concessions.

If, on the other hand, it's a buyer's market and you're not sure when the next buyer might come along if this deal were to fall through, you'll likely need to bite the bullet and make the repairs (or at least the most important ones) in order to get the deal across the finish line. The other option if you prefer not to go through the headache of fixing the issues yourself is to offer the buyer a closing credit so they can fix the problems themselves.

Consult with your Realtor to determine how much negotiating leverage you truly have.

Next Up, The Appraisal

Once you're past the inspection and any repairs you decide to make, the buyer and their lender will want to make sure the home is actually worth what they're paying for it. In order to accomplish this, they'll request an appraisal.

This is unfortunately yet another point at which the closing can get delayed or sometimes thrown completely off track. That's because the lender will want to make sure that if they're lending $1,000,000 to the buyer, for example, that the home isn't actually worth $900,000. So if the property doesn't “appraise out,” the deal can sometimes fall apart.

Luckily, though, there are a number of things you can do to influence the outcome here.

• Make sure you home is spotless the day of the appraisal. You want to treat it like it's a showing, because in a way it is. Appraisers are humans too, so you want them to feel at home in your house because as much as they're trained to be objective, if they get the warm & fuzzies when they walk into your place, you're much less likely to have any problems with the appraised value. You can even consider small gestures such as leaving out warm cookies. It may sound silly, but it's all about making an impression.
• Ensure you or your Realtor are there for the appraisal. Ultimately, everything in life is a sale. Rather than letting the appraiser come to their own conclusions about your home, you or your Realtor should be there to point out the highlights that make your property unique and valuable. Appraisers tend to get into a routine and can often miss certain features that might make a significant difference in the value of the home, so make sure you're telling the property's full story.
• Ask for an appeal. If your appraisal doesn't come back at the price you need it to, not all hope is lost. You or your Realtor can request an appeal to have them take another look at things. During this process you want to provide as much evidence as possible that your home is worth what you say it's worth. Submit comparable sales, a list of upgrades, other offers you received, and anything else you think might help you make your case – the sale of your home depends on it.
• Ask your buyer to switch lenders or consider seller financing. If all else fails, you still have two options. First, you can ask your buyer to switch lenders. This isn't ideal because it will start the lending process over with no guarantee that the new appraiser will come to a different conclusion, but depending on circumstances it may make sense. The second option is to consider seller financing. That means that instead of the bank giving your buyer a mortgage, you would act as the bank. So rather than being paid your home's entire value up front, you'd only receive their down payment and would then receive monthly mortgage payments until the property was paid off.

Prepare To Move Out By Closing

Once you're past the appraisal you've gotten through the hard part! Well, sort of…Now it's time to move…

Preparing ahead of time for your move will make life significantly easier when the big day finally comes. Luckily, you've already made some serious headway on this when you did all that decluttering.

Now it's time for the heavy lifting (figuratively and literally). Anything that can be packed away ahead of time should be. Try to keep things organized in such a way that will make unpacking and getting settled into your new home that much easier. Sharpies are your friend – make sure you're labeling each box with what's inside.

As it's likely that your home will sell in a busy season – when many other homeowners are moving as well – it's best to schedule your movers well in advance so you're not scrambling to find an available company at the last minute.

Closing with Confidence

After all of your hard work, you're finally about to take your seat at the closing table – congrats!

Before you pop the champagne, though, you've got a mountain of paperwork and a huge to-do list staring you in the face. Luckily, this is where your Realtor, title agent and attorney come in to guide your every move.

Prepare Your House For The Final Goodbye

Breaking up is hard to do…

Unfortunately, once you and your buyer agree to a closing date, you need to start saying your final goodbyes to your beloved home. Unless you've made arrangements to stay in the home beyond the closing date as a renter, you'll need to be completely moved out by that date to avoid violating the contract.

Before heading out though, you've got a couple last things to take care of:

• Set up mail forwarding. Really this should be done as early as possible, because it can take time for the USPS to get this fully set up in their system. Anything that goes to the home after the closing date may never end up making its way to you.
• Notify others of your new address. When you move there will be a number of people who'd probably like to know that you've moved – your banks, insurance companies, utility providers, friends, family members, etc. Make sure to go down the list and let each know.
• Gather any paperwork the new owners might need. If you've kept manuals and warranty information organized for your appliances, water heaters or furnaces, place all of that in one spot out in the open so the new owners can find it easily.
• Leave the keys and garage openers behind. Again, put them somewhere easily visible so the new owners will find them quickly.
• Turn off shut-off valves. To prevent the possibility of a flood or fire before the sale closes, turn off the water and gas to the home. The last thing you need after all this hard work is a rude awakening finding out the house burned down after you moved out.
• Give the house one last cleaning. Treat the new owners the way you would want to be treated. Don't leave them with a messy home that they'll need to clean before they can even think about moving in. Instead let them be greeted by a nice, clean space. If you really want to go above and beyond, you can leave behind a welcome gift and a personal note.
• Move out. This is it. The time has come to say your final goodbye. While it will certainly be sad, the closing of this chapter will give way to the opening of a new one. Do one last run through to double check that you have everything, then say your final goodbye and head to closing.

The Closing

Let's make it official, shall we?

On closing day, consult with your Realtor and attorney as to whether you need to be present at the closing. In some states, it's not even necessary – your attorney can simply close on your behalf (note that in this case you'll likely need to sign a power of attorney ahead of time, so make sure you're prepared) and spare you the dreadfully boring paperwork.

Even if you have that luxury as an option, you still might not be willing to leave it all out of sight. If you prefer to be at closing, just let your Realtor or attorney know and they'll tell you where you need to be.

If you're going to be present at closing, be sure to bring:

• Photo ID for yourself and anybody else on the deed
• The deed
• The house keys
• Documentation of any repairs you made as part of the negotiations
• Mortgage payoff letter
• Property tax information including an escrow account statement if applicable
• Closing statement
• Inspection agreements

Receive Your Proceeds

All that painful paperwork does at least have a payoff…

Once everything has been signed, you can finally collect your proceeds from the escrow company.

They'll either cut you a check or complete a wire transfer, either of which can be done right there at the closing table. Keep in mind though, that the check will have to clear at your bank, so if you're in a situation where you're trying to close on your next home and you'll need these proceeds available, you'll want to account for some time for your bank to clear the check. In that scenario, a wire transfer is going to be a much better option because the funds are available that same business day as long as the wire is completed before 5PM EST.

One last thing to note about wire transfers (both the one your title company sends to you and the one your buyer sends to the title company) is that wire fraud is on the rise. Do whatever you can to ensure that both wires are going to the right place. For more information, read this helpful guide here.

Now You Can Pop The Champagne!

You did it! You've successfully closed a major chapter of your life and you're now onto the next adventure.

We sincerely hope this guide has been helpful in preparing for your upcoming home sale. If there's anything further you have questions on or if you'd like to learn more about how the Susan Owens Team can help you with selling your Barefoot Beach home, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Cheers!

Call The Susan Owens Team Today!

(239) 248-5580

Imagine…you wake up and pour yourself a cup of coffee, stepping outside to walk down to the beach…

With your toes in the sand, you reach for your cell phone and snap the perfect picture, capturing the incredible beauty of Barefoot Beach…

Then, for the best part….you send the picture to all of your friends still stuck up North! 

All jokes aside, escaping the North for a few months in a Barefoot Beach Home can be an incredible and relaxing way to escape the frigid North. Having said that, there are some things that every Barefoot Beach renter needs to know before taking the plunge. This post will walk you through all of them.

What Types Of Properties Are Available For Rent in Barefoot Beach?

Barefoot Beach is a diverse neighborhood, offering a variety of options to suite any renter's needs.

Understanding these different property types is the first step in finding the right rental for you. To get started, have a look at this drone tour of Barefoot Beach homes to get the lay of the land.

As you can see, Barefoot Beach offers a diverse set of options to renters and homeowners alike. Some renters prefer the privacy of a single family home, whereas others want to be able to interact with other residents, so they opt for condo living.

Now that you've got your bearings, let's take a more detailed look at each individual community.

Condos

The Barefoot Beach Club Condos are the most frequently rented properties in Barefoot Beach. This is thanks to their close proximity to the beach (just steps away), The Club at Barefoot Beach, and the communal feeling that comes with easily getting to know your neighbors.

The 12 condo buildings consist of over 300 units, ranging from 1 Bedroom to 3 Bedroom floor plans. Some units feature Gulf views, while others allow you to look over the amazing backwater bays. Each building also offers access to the shared Beach Club, currently under renovations to be further expanded and improved.

Depending on the floor plan and views that the individual unit offers, condo rental rates can range from $3,000 and $16,000 per month.

Single Family Homes

Want the ultimate beachfront escape? The stunning, custom Single Family Homes in Barefoot Beach offer the pinnacle of beachfront living.

Featuring breathtaking views, uncompromising privacy, ample square footage and designer level finishes, these homes will provide the serene escape you're looking for.

The single family homes in Barefoot Beach are divided into three main sections: The Beach Gardens, Southport on the Cove, and Bayfront Gardens.

The Beach Gardens consist of 100 residences thoughtfully arranged in lushly landscaped gardens lining the beach. The design of the gardens ensures each home gets a stunning view of the Gulf, featuring breathtaking sunsets.

Both Southport on the Cove and Bayfront Gardens are gated subdivisions on the bay side of Barefoot Beach. Each features charming Single Family Homes that typically offer their own private docks and swimming pools, all while still being just steps from the Gulf.

Rental rates for Single Family Homes can range from $5,000 to $35,000 per month.

Villas

Looking for something in between a Condo and a Single Family Home? The Villas may be just what you're after.

The Villas community consists of 13 buildings with a total of 50 residences. Each townhome Villa has access to two swimming pools and is just steps from the Gulf of Mexico.

Villa rentals are extremely rare, but typically rent for between $4,000 and $15,000 per month.

Cottages

The Cottages are comprised of 15  individual row homes, each of which features a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Mexico. When you walk out of your front door you’re just steps from having your toes in the sand.

But it’s not just the proximity to the Gulf that makes the location of the Cottages one of their best features. They’re also located right next to The Club At Barefoot Beach (a private club that some Barefoot Beach homeowners choose to join), their own private tennis courts, the nature preserve, and private docks just across the street for the Cottage renter who wants to have a boat easily accessible.

Cottage rentals are even more rare than Villa rentals, but typical rates fall between $5,000 and $35,000 per month.

Are There Minimum Stay Requirements?

In order to rent a Barefoot Beach property, you must plan to stay for at least 30 days. This applies to Single Family Homes, Condos, Villas and Cottages.

As this is a requirement enforced by the Barefoot Beach Home Owners Association, there is unfortunately no flexibility on this rule.

Can I Bring My Furry Friend?

Unfortunately they'll have to stay behind 😢

We know, it's tough to have to exclude a family member, but unfortunately there are no exceptions to this rule.

The good news is that if you end up deciding to buy in Barefoot Beach, you'll be welcomed by a thriving community of pet owners. You'll even be just minutes from the world renowned Lover's Key Dog Beach, where you can let your dog run free along the beautiful white-sand beaches.

Are Most Rentals Furnished?

The vast majority of the available rentals are exquisitely furnished, making it easy for you to start living your stress-free Florida lifestyle even sooner.

From time to time, though, we'll have a longer term rental become available which may be unfurnished, so bear that in mind if you're planning a longer stay.

When Is The Best Time Of Year To Rent?

We might be a little biased, but there's truly never a bad time to be enjoying Southwest Florida.

Renting during the summer months offers more privacy for you and your family, while renting for the winter means you have a perfect tropical escape from the cold. The winter is also peak season (Mid-December through April), so if you're someone who wants to be here during the action, you'll want to aim for those months.

With that, summer rentals tend to offer advantaged pricing. Summer rates for condos drop to $3,000 to $6,000 per month, while home rentals drop to $5,000 to $15,000 per month.

Due to the popularity of renting during Winter, the few available properties each year fill up quickly. Therefore, we highly recommend booking your rental in advance to ensure you secure the property you're looking for.

Are Rentals Ever Available For Sale?

Many of our rentals are also available for purchasing as full-time homes.

Renting before buying can actually be a great way to “test drive” your new Florida lifestyle. Come to escape the cold and snow, stay to experience all the perks of living in a year-round beachside oasis.

Even if a rental isn't explicitly on the market, it never hurts to ask if the owner might entertain an offer.

What Amenities Can I Use?

This depends on what type of property you're renting and if you're a member at The Club At Barefoot Beach.

You can only use The Club At Barefoot Beach if you're a member, or if you've worked out an arrangement with the owner you're renting from (keep in mind, not all Barefoot Beach homeowners are members, so this would only be possible if they were a member).  If the owner agrees then the owner can no longer use the membership and the tenant must pay $250 per month to the club.

Unfortunately, you typically won't be able to sign up on your own to become a member on short notice, so if you're planning to start renting down here frequently and want to be able to access the Club, you'll want to apply well in advance (their waiting list can often be over a year long).

Luckily, even if you're not a member at The Club at Barefoot Beach, you'll still have access to other clubs and amenities.

For example, condo renters have access to the Beach Club, which features Barbecue grills, a fitness center and a community gathering room, all overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. And as we mentioned earlier, it's currently being renovated and expanded to bring even greater amenities to residents. 

Renters of Single Family Homes will enjoy access to the Barefoot Beach Club (note that this is not the same as The Club At Barefoot Beach). This private clubhouse offers fitness center, a room for get togethers, and a place to get a game of tennis or pickle ball in.

Conveniently located just before the entrance to Southport, it's walking distance to all Single Family Homes within Barefoot Beach.

Is There Typically A Security Deposit?

Yes, there's almost always a security deposit.

It ranges in amount depending on the home, but it typically falls between $1,000 and $5,000.

Are There Any Fees?

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but yes, there are fees. Luckily, they're fairly nominal.

The three fees are as follows

• Application fee of $100
• 12% rental tax for rentals 6 months or less
• $250 cleaning fee upon departure

If you're renting for under 6 months, be sure to include the 12% tax, as that will be the most impactful of the fees.

What If I'm Interested In A Longer Term Rental?

While they're not as frequently available as shorter term vacation rentals, from time to time long term rentals do become available.

This can provide the perfect solution for someone looking to see if a particular home or subdivision might be right for them before pulling the trigger on buying. Some homeowners may even be willing to offer a rent-to-own contract where at any point during your rental term you have the right to buy the home at a pre-determined price.

Who Should I Talk To About Rentals?

So, you're ready to escape the frigid winter and hit the beach…Now what?

If you are ready to rent your Piece of Paradise or just need more information about renting, contact the Susan Owens Team today!