A customer called this week to ask me to evaluate a parcel of land he owns. His property is in Port Charlotte and he has owned it through the speculative period of the mid-2000’s. I sent a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) of his lot and he replied with an email, an excerpt of which follows:
(A company) has been calling me about the land …saying that there is a buyer for my land ….anyway it’s a sham. They make it sound that they have a buyer waiting for the lot, BUT they need 500.00 deposit ….They are probably taking advantage of the elders….
This should be a caution to any owner of real estate, especially vacant land. If someone calls you out of the blue and says he or she has a buyer for your lot, be wary. NEVER give money to someone who calls you first. If someone is offering to buy your real estate, ALWAYS get a second opinion of its value, insist that you choose the title company or at least be able to confirm the the title company the buyer wishes to employ.
On rare occasions, an agent calls with a legitimate offer. For instance, I sold a house and the buyer asked me to contact the owner of the neighboring lot to see if they wanted to sell. In a case such as this, the broker will be forthcoming, reveal the interest of the buyer and never ask you for a payment. A person with a legitimate interest in your property for personal use rather than investment should be willing to pay market value and all costs of sale.
When you hire a real estate broker to represent you, that broker works for you, in your best interest and must work to help you get the best deal possible. Your Suncoasteam works for you. We will evaluate your property at no cost. We will help you determine a fair asking price and if you hire us, we will represent your interests.
Our primary territory is Punta Gorda, north to Bradenton, including Port Charlotte, Rotonda, Englewood, Gulf Cove and South Gulf Cove, Boca Grande, Manasota Key, North Port, Venice, Nokomis, Casey Key, Osprey, Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Anna Maria and Holmes Beach. If you have property you wish to sell, please call or email Suncoasteam Realty for a free, no obligation analysis.