Cape Coral Florida's Real Estate Guide

In case you haven't heard, there's good news for sellers right now in SW Florida. According to Realtor.com, Florida cities have the largest average list price increases in the country. Florida cities are thriving, and are among the first to bounce back from the housing bubble, as well as the recession.

Among the top 15 cities for highest percentage of average list price increases are Miami at number one, with an increase of 27%, and yes, you guessed it, Fort Myers/Cape Coral in the number two position, with an average list price of $444,500 and a listing price increase of over 26%.

Home sales are also up, with a 16% increase in the number of Fort Myers/Cape Coral home sales in the third quarter of 2011 when compared to last year's figures.

Okay, so this is the time to sell. You've waited until the opportune time, and it's now, right? Not so fast. Even in ideal conditions, like we're currently experiencing, there is a right and wrong way to list your Cape Coral property.  By avoiding common 'self-sabotage' seller behavior, the sale of your Fort Myers or Cape Coral home can be a quick and profitable experience.

Don't Miss Your Sweet Spot

In order to avoid self sabotaging behavior, you'll need to take a look at the psychology of a home sale through the eyes of the buyer.

The minute your Cape Coral property goes on the market, the clock starts ticking. The first week after listing is the seller's sweet spot. Realtors scan the MLS daily and will set up appointments for their buyers as soon as they notice your listing. So, what does this mean for the seller who actually wants to sell quickly and at asking price? It means, stay away from the common mistakes that will cause your home to sit on the market for 20, 30, or 100 days.

Here it is...the list of self sabotaging seller behavior. If you are thinking any of these things or saying them, stop now.

• "I'm just going to put my house up for sale at the price I'd really love to receive, instead of what's more realistic according to current real estate values (and the advice of my agent). I can always lower the price later, right?" If you find yourself thinking this way, you are headed for disaster. Why? Because, like we said, you need to look at a home sale from the eyes of the buyer. Once your home sits on the market for 20 days or longer, the buyer doesn't think to himself that it may have been overpriced. Instead, the red flags are popping up. Buyers are wondering why it hasn't sold yet and thinking something must be wrong. Don't let your home fall into that 'questionable' stage. Price your Cape Coral property appropriately from day one.
• "I know I need to update the kitchen and probably give it a fresh coat of paint, but let's just list it and see what happens." No, no, no. Do you want to know what will happen? Every single potential buyer that walks through during a showing will mention the outdated kitchen appliances and the shabby paint. They will think about how time consuming painting is, how expensive appliances are, and they will continue to look for a move-in-ready home. This is self-sabotage to the tenth level. If you want to sell your property quickly, have it ready to sell.
• "They made an offer close to my asking price, but I'll hold out for a better one." Okay, maybe you can afford to say this during the first day or two, but if you haven't had a bite in a week and suddenly an offer comes in that is very close to your asking price, you need to seriously consider it. A home sale has to be a win/win situation for both the buyer and the seller. Some buyers automatically think there should be an offer, counter offer, counter-counter offer situation in a home sale. Go with it. Take the advice of your agent and make the sale.

The time to sell your Fort Myers or Cape Coral home is now. Prices are up, home sales are up, and as long as you have the right sales strategy, you're in for a quick and stress-free process.