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You've found a house, submitted an offer and the Seller has accepted it. Now what? In Northeast Florida, once you have a signed Purchase & Sale Agreement, a Buyer has a set period of time in which to perform their due diligence. This time, also known as the inspection period, is often 10 days but may be shorter or longer depending upon what was agreed upon in the sales contract.  During the due diligence period, a Buyer should do whatever inspections and research they deem important. Before the period ends, a Buyer may either cancel the contract and have their escrow deposit returned to them, or proceed with the transaction and risk losing their escrow deposit if they don't purchase the home.

Below are some things I encourage my customers to do as part of their due diligence.

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Did you know that many homes listed for sale are given nicknames by potential buyers? Possibly even more than one nickname and the homeowners will likely never know. Most buyers begin their home search online and name the houses while looking at photos. When they view the homes with their Realtor® the nickname often sticks or is replaced by another one. Was the house on Poplar St. the one with all the cameras and recording equipment or was that the house on Morris Dr? Which one was it that looked like a fraternity house with red solo cups, dirty laundry and take-out containers piled up? Which house had the custom shoe shelves with hundreds of pairs of heels?   Was the house with the dog, cats and reptiles the one on Sunset Ct?

It can be difficult for buy...

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If your answer is yes, it's probably time to sell your house. If, like me, you go into some rooms only to dust, you likely don't need that space. You may envision staying in your now-empty nest for years and having beautiful family gatherings with children and grandchildren staying in those extra rooms. The reality is that it probably doesn't make sense to live in a house larger than you need only to accommodate guests. 

Here are some other signs that it's probably time to sell your house:

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Update: Since this article was published, Sheri's inspections have been completed and the buyers of her home have requested one repair - there is a small area of wood rot on an exterior door frame. Sheri's contractor has taken care of it at a cost of less than $100. 

A customer I've been working with for some time, I'll call her 'Sheri, ' worked diligently to prepare her home for sale. She had been maintaining it well over the years and before listing it she called in outside help for things like window washing, pressure washing, refreshing the flower beds and touching up interior

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People move to northeastern Florida for many reasons with job opportunities, great schools and the pleasant climate being among the most common. As you begin your search for a home here are a few things you may want to know about the area.

Do you have any other questions about St. Johns or Jacksonville, FL? I've probably answered them before! Send me a message, call or text me.

Julie Bentley has been answering questions and selling homes in St. Johns, FL since 2012. Ask her anything - if she doesn't know the answer yet she will soon!