Selling in South Florida
From your first conversation to the moment you hand over the keys, here's what to expect when selling a home in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and the surrounding Palm Beach County market.
The Process
The Selling Process, Step by Step
Interview agents & sign your listing agreement
The first one to two weeks typically go toward interviewing agents, signing a listing agreement, and completing Florida's required seller disclosure form.
Pre-listing prep, repairs & staging
Weeks three and four cover a pre-listing inspection, small repairs, staging, and professional photography, one of the biggest factors in how fast a listing sells.
Go live & start showing
Once listed on the MLS, your home syndicates to Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin within 24 to 48 hours, with showings typically running through weeks five to seven.
Accept an offer & open escrow
Once you accept an offer, the buyer's earnest deposit, typically 1% to 3% of the price, is wired into escrow within three business days.
Inspection period
Standard Florida contracts give buyers 10 to 15 days to complete inspections, which is when most repair negotiations happen.
Closing
Financed sales typically close in 30 to 45 days, while cash deals can close in two weeks or less. Total costs, including commission, doc stamps, title work, and prorated taxes, usually run 8% to 9.5% of the sale price.
Ready your home
Preparation is where sellers make or lose the most money before a listing ever goes live. Staging alone makes a measurable difference.
8–10%
Typical ROI on professional staging, on an average investment of about 1% of the sale price.
$23.34
Average return for every $1 invested in professional staging, according to RESA data.
73%
Less time on market for staged homes compared to homes that aren't staged.
Seven Tips
Getting Your Home Ready, One Step at a Time
Declutter first
Pack away 30% to 50% of personal items and thin out closets and cabinets. Buyers need to see space, not stuff.
Handle the small repairs
Leaky faucets, scuffed paint, and burnt-out bulbs are inexpensive fixes that buyers notice immediately.
Paint it neutral
A fresh, neutral coat appeals to the widest range of buyers and photographs best for online listings.
Don't skip curb appeal
Strong curb appeal can boost a home's perceived value by 5% to 10%. A freshly painted front door is one of the highest-return upgrades you can make.
Stage the rooms that matter most
Buyers weigh the living room, primary bedroom, and kitchen most heavily when touring a staged home, in that order.
Deep clean before every showing
Spotless floors, windows, and fixtures make a home feel fresh both in person and in photos.
Invest in professional photography
Listings with professional photos sell faster at every price point, and syndicate to every major site within 48 hours of going live.
Same room. Different offer.
Same room, same square footage. Drag the slider and see why we always recommend staging your home.