House needs major repairs? Sell it as it is.

What to know before selling a house that needs work

Most houses that need major work can still be sold. The real question is who takes on the repairs, and how that shows up in the price. Here is what usually matters in Florida.

Why big repairs complicate a normal sale

Many buyers use mortgages, and lenders usually want a house to meet basic condition standards. Florida insurers also look closely at roofs, electrical panels, plumbing and AC systems, and an older roof can make a policy hard to get. When a house can't be financed or insured in its current condition, the pool of buyers shrinks to people who can pay cash or use specialized loans.

Disclosure still matters

Florida courts have generally held that home sellers must disclose known facts that materially affect a property's value and aren't readily observable to the buyer. Selling as-is does not usually erase that duty. The simplest approach is to tell any buyer, including us, what you know. An attorney can explain how this applies to your sale.

Permits and open permits

Work done without permits, or permits that were opened and never closed, can show up when a buyer or title company searches the property. The county or city building department holds those records. Open permits don't always stop a sale, but they need to be accounted for, and as-is buyers usually factor them into the price.

Repair and list, or sell as-is

Fixing first can bring a higher sale price, but it costs money up front, takes time, and repairs often uncover more problems once walls and roofs are opened. Selling as-is usually means a lower price in exchange for skipping that work and that risk. There is no single right answer, and we will lay out both sides honestly.

What we look at

We look at the condition, the county records, recent comparable sales nearby and a realistic repair budget. Then we give you a written offer and explain how we got there.