I assumed that selling a house in Jacksonville, Florida would be quick.
I contacted a real estate agent and expected to have the house sold by the end of that month.
It turned into an extremely lengthy, stressful and frustrating process. The real estate agent supplied a long list of improvements that needed to be made on the house. She wanted me to relocate the washer and dryer, install new windows and update the HVAC system. The cost of her suggestions would have been astronomical. I declined. We then proceeded with several open-houses and multiple showings. It took several weeks to interest a potential buyer. Because the buyer needed a bank loan, it was necessary to schedule an appraisal and a home inspection. The appraisal came back slightly lower than the asking price. The home inspection resulted in demands for repairs and replacements. Maybe I should have listened to the real estate agent, because the heat pump was on the list. They also had a problem with the age of the roof. Along with these expenses, I was looking at closing costs and realtor fees. Plus, the buyer started haggling over the price. It was a nightmare that wouldn’t end. I was so stressed that I developed an ulcer, a rash and insomnia. When I realized that selling my house was negatively impacting my house, I decided to do something different. I ended my agreement with the real estate agent and reached out to a cash home buyer. I chose a local cash home buyer that is family-owned and operated. They are known for a more personalized service and successful outcomes. It was such a relief to be treated with straightforward honesty. Everything happened very quickly. The cash offer was provided the same day that I contacted the buyer. The closing was scheduled for ten days later.