Need to Sell Your House in Tampa? 9 Steps to Sold

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Need to Sell Your House in Tampa? 9 Steps to Sold

Tampa

May 19, 2025

Need to Sell Your House in Tampa? 9 Steps to Sold

Selling your Tampa home opens the door to your next chapter. Maybe you’re downsizing as your children move out, or handling life changes that require dividing assets from a property. Whatever your reason, there’s a lot to consider with any home sale.

Your Tampa home's location plays a key role in determining both price and potential buyers. Channelside and Hyde Park, for instance, draw buyers looking for short commutes downtown or Ybor City nightlife. In the Carrollwood area, you'll find buyers seeking good schools and green spaces where kids can play.

At Mark Spain Real Estate, we're here to make selling your home less stressful. "Your problems are our problems—and we take the burden of guiding you through the selling process and what that looks like," says Amaury Leon, leading real estate agent and Director of Sales in Tampa for Mark Spain Real Estate.

The Mark Spain Real Estate team serves the Tampa real estate market to navigate each step of the selling process confidently. Leon shared his expertise below to give you a clear picture of what to expect as you move through these nine steps to selling your Tampa home.

Ready to sell your house fast? Get a strong cash offer today.

1. Decide how you want to sell

One of the first questions you’ll have to tackle is how you want to sell your Tampa home. While most people’s minds immediately jump to a sign on the front lawn and weekly showings, there are other options.

Get a cash offer if speed is your goal

Florida Realtors® found that 1 in 3 Tampa home sales are in cash each year. In a direct cash sale, investors purchase a home without it ever going on the open market. These deals are quicker because you’re not waiting for a buyer’s loan approval. There are no showings, and you won’t spend time waiting for the perfect offer.

With our Guaranteed Offer program, we get you multiple, strong, competitive cash offers. Whether or not you choose one of these offers, your agent works on your behalf, advocating for your best interests throughout the process.

List on the open market for a stronger return

“If you feel the cash offers are not going to work for you and your family and let you hit your financial goals, we pivot to the live market,” says Leon. “We’ll go on to the MLS - the traditional type of selling.”

This path gives you exposure to Mark Spain Real Estate’s broader field of buyers and an opportunity to get a higher selling price. As a trade-off, it will typically take longer to sell, and you’ll have a more intensive sales process that involves additional preparation and showing your home.

Our agents use detailed market data to price your home right, and we advocate a low-hassle approach to listing. At the time of this writing, the median selling price for a home in Tampa is $424,000, and the average time from listing to sale is 53 days.

Florida is a perennial favorite among homebuyers due to its warm climate, lack of income tax, and good infrastructure, especially in cities like Tampa.

Tampa’s economy, particularly its tech sector, continues to grow. Tampa Bay Business and Wealth reports that the region is set to add over 3,700 jobs by 2027, representing a 14% growth rate.

3. Consider Tampa’s seasonality and timing

Spring is typically the best season for Tampa real estate, with homes selling faster for higher prices in April and May.

That said, Tampa’s year-round pleasant weather means consistent buyer demand. With the population growing 5.29% since 2020, there’s interest from both local upgraders and newcomers year-round.

4. Develop your pricing strategy

Determining a fair price is critical. Price too high, and your home might sit. Price too low, and you leave money on the table.

A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) helps estimate your home’s value based on similar recent sales in the neighborhood. Your Mark Spain agent will walk you through each comp and explain how your home compares.

Here’s a look at median prices by area (as of April 2025):

AreaMedian Price
Downtown Tampa$1,100,000
Hyde Park Historic District$540,000
Tampa Palms$450,000
Tampa Heights$680,000
Southeast Tampa$565,000
New Tampa$499,000
Northwest Tampa$482,500
Northeast Tampa$399,000
East Tampa$334,000

Source: Realtor.com

“We’re going to be completely honest with you and transparent with what the market is doing,” says Leon.

5. Get the house ready for sale

Getting your home ready doesn’t mean overhauling it.

“You can’t guess what buyers are necessarily going to want,” Leon says. “So don’t waste money trying to anticipate that.”

Focus on:

  • Cleaning thoroughly (including drapes and linens)
  • Creating a pleasant smell
  • Maintaining outdoor features like pools

6. Stay ahead of common Tampa inspection issues

Be proactive about Tampa-specific inspection risks, including:

  • Flooding: Especially for homes in A or V flood zones
  • Termites: Tampa ranks fourth nationally for first-time termite treatments (Orkin)
  • Wood-Destroying Insect Inspections: Required for many FHA and VA loans (HUD guidelines)

7. Prepare disclosures required in Tampa

Florida law requires that sellers disclose:

  • Known material defects
  • HOA or condo associations and their governing documents (when applicable)

We use a standardized disclosure form to help you comply. See an example.

8. Market your home to bring in buyers

If you accept a Guaranteed Offer, we market directly to vetted cash buyers.

For traditional listings, we’ll create professional videos and photography. Leon emphasizes:

“Photos have to be on point. First impressions are everything.”

We track metrics like views and saves to evaluate engagement. If something’s off—like no showings despite interest—your agent will help you pivot.

Marketing tactics include:

  • Online listings
  • Targeted digital advertising
  • Billboards, radio, and TV exposure

9. Navigate your offers, then close

Your agent will help you evaluate each offer, not just based on price, but:

  • Contingencies
  • Earnest money
  • Timelines

“It’s an anxious transaction,” says Leon, “and we’re here to help.”

After accepting the right offer, your agent will guide you through:

  • Inspections
  • Negotiations
  • Final paperwork and closing

Florida requires a real estate attorney to be present at closing. You’ll also need to budget for closing costs like the state’s $1 per $500 excise tax.

Sell your Tampa home—and move on happily to your next chapter

At Mark Spain Real Estate, we understand Tampa’s evolving real estate landscape.

Whether you want to sell quickly or go the traditional route, we’ll guide you with honesty, expertise, and care.

“We help you move forward as quickly, effectively, and stress-free as possible,” says Leon.

Connect with a Tampa-based Mark Spain agent today and start your next chapter with confidence.

Need to sell now? Get a strong cash offer on your home today.


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