552—that’s how many new homes hit Fort Lauderdale’s market in April 2025. With fewer listings, sellers face less competition. Even if Fort Lauderdale’s homes are spending 98 days on the market, its growing economy and migration trends keep the market red hot.
Why wait? Now’s the perfect time to make your move! Summers are here, and selling your home in Fort Lauderdale can be as smooth as a ride along the Intracoastal Waterway while you soak up the city’s vibrant waterfront lifestyle.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Prepare your home for sale with enhanced curb appeal, neutral decor, tropical landscaping, and clean outdoor spaces.
- Decide how you want to sell, whether it’s with a local Fort Lauderdale Flat Fee MLS service, a discount broker, or a full-service Realtor.
- Houzeo, Fort Lauderdale’s #1 home-selling website, can save you thousands in agent fees. Your home will also be on the MLS within 48 hours.
- Before you price your home in Fort Lauderdale, check the current median home price, recent sales, and mortgage rates.
- Conduct showings to attract buyers. Also, review offers quickly and negotiate smartly.
- Finally, schedule utility transfers, pay your closing costs, and prepare to move out.
7 Easy Steps to Sell a House in Fort Lauderdale
Wondering about how to sell a house? Worry no more! Whether you live in the heart of Fort Lauderdale or nearby neighborhoods, follow these 7 steps to sell your home quickly.
Step 1: Prep Your Home for Sale
First impressions matter—especially when you’re up against waterfront condos and luxury homes in Fort Lauderdale. So, focus on your home’s curb appeal to make it look more presentable. Here are 3 tips to make homes for sale in Fort Lauderdale stand out:
- Redo the Landscaping: Design your home’s garden strip or front stoop using local greens. Consider plants like coconut palms, hibiscus, and bougainvillea to make it look vibrant.
- Repaint the House: A fresh coat of paint can completely transform your home. Opt for colors like sandy beige, soft coral, or ocean-inspired blues to match Fort Lauderdale’s coastal vibe.
- Highlight Outdoor Spaces: City buyers love homes with a cozy nook. If your home has a balcony, patio, or poolside spaces, use cozy furniture and stylish decor to stage it.
Step 2: Stage Your Home and Click Photos
A well-staged home can turn heads like the yachts at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. While traditional home staging is always an option, you can try virtual home staging too. Here are some tips to make your house shine:
- Declutter and Clean the House: A clean home looks more inviting. Clear out the front stoops, sweep the porches, and tidy the yard to make your home look appealing.
- Showcase Practical Features: Buyers appreciate smart, energy-efficient upgrades. Show off modern HVAC systems, smart thermostats, and green home features, if any.
- Focus on Spacious Living Spaces: Buyers love homes that look cozy and well-lit. If your home has a snug living room with a fireplace or a bright kitchen perfect for gatherings, flaunt it!
- Include a Home Tour Video: Home listings with videos get 403% more views than those without it. So, make a video that shows your property in the best light!
Step 3: Decide How to List Your House
If you’re wondering how to list your house on the MLS in Fort Lauderdale, you have multiple options! Here are 4 choices most sellers opt for:
- Full-Service Realtors – Up to 6%: These Realtors provide various services from list to close, but charge a hefty 5% to 6% real estate commission in Florida.
- Flat Fee MLS – $249: If you want to sell your home yourself, you can list on MLS in Florida for a flat fee. With Houzeo, your home can be on the MLS for just $249.
- Discount Real Estate Brokers: These brokers charge a lower fee than traditional agents and offer services like contract reviews and negotiation assistance. Discount real estate brokers in Fort Lauderdale charge between 0.5% and 2% as commission.
- Cash Buyers: They help you sell your home fast for cash. If you sell a house to a cash buyer, you can get competitive all-cash offers and close on your terms.
- For Sale By Owner: You can sell your home FSBO without hiring an agent. This gives you full control over the process and helps you save thousands on agent commissions.
Step 4: Price Your Home Competitively
Inaccurate pricing forces properties to stay longer on the market. In fact, 27.3% of homes in Fort Lauderdale sold with price drops in April 2025. Here’s how you can avoid this mistake and learn how to price your home right:
- Check the Local Market Trends: Overprice your home and it’ll sit there like traffic on I-95—longer than you’d expect. So, study the Fort Lauderdale housing market to set a competitive listing price.
- Use Online Home Valuation Tools: Use a free home value estimator to calculate your home’s Fair Market Value (FMV). Price your home slightly above its FMV to attract buyers and have a profitable home sale.
- Get a CMA: If you choose a traditional sale, your agent creates a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). The CMA compares your home to similar nearby ones to determine your home’s value. It helps you set the right price.
Step 5: Handle Showings and Review Offers
Once your listing is active, buyers searching for Fort Lauderdale houses for sale will submit showing requests. Here’s what you should do next:
- Actively Manage Showings: Always accept and confirm showing requests quickly to make a good impression. Never cancel last minute, and if a clash happens, communicate clearly and promptly.
- Host an Open House: Even a beautifully staged home can fade in like another waterfront condo along the Intracoastal. Consult your agent and announce an open house to attract serious buyers.
- Review and Counter Offers: If you get only one offer, you might have to reduce your asking price. But if you’ve got multiple offers, it’s time to negotiate and find the best one.
Step 6: Ensure Your Home Is Inspection-Ready
Usually, buyers will schedule a home inspection to check for any issues, while the lender orders a home appraisal to figure out the market value. So, fix up any small repairs ahead of time—no one likes nasty surprises!
Being ready for both keeps things smooth and your home’s value strong. It’s all about making sure the buyer feels good and the lender feels confident, so your sale stays on track.
👉 All Set to Sell Your Home? List on the MLS Now!
Step 7: Prepare for Closing Day
Closing day can be emotional, but don’t overlook the formalities. Just follow these final steps, and you’ll be good to go:
- Gather All Documents: Before you sell a home in Fort Lauderdale, keep the paperwork for selling a house by owner ready. This includes the affidavit of title, deed, purchase agreement, tax records, settlement statement, 1099-S tax form, etc.
- Transfer Ownership: You have to sign the escrow paperwork, title deed, and other documents to transfer ownership to the buyer. Then, the title company or escrow transfers its funds to you.
- Closing Costs: The cost of selling a house in Fort Lauderdale includes taxes on selling a house, like Transfer Tax and Property Tax. It also consists of HOA, real estate attorney, and home warranty fees.
How to Sell a House in Fort Lauderdale? Quick Summary📝
Whether you are tucked away in Fort Lauderdale’s suburbs or near the waterfront along Las Olas, the best way to sell your house starts with the right planning. To begin, prepare your home for sale, and click stunning photos. Then, decide how to list your home.
Price your home after checking the local trends. When your listing is live, you start getting showing requests. Remember, the buyer will conduct your home’s inspection before you can finally close the deal.
» Houzeo Reviews: Read what people say about Houzeo—Fort Lauderdale’s best home-selling website.
