I didn't say it was decrepit, I said it was old. And, it is very old as compared to other houses being sold today in The Villages. Most total sales are new houses, and most of the resales are less than 20 years old.

In this case, it appears without the necessary roof replacement, that one buyer will have to have a pocket full of cash, love to make home improvements and also have the cash/financing available for those. We have found after buying/selling homes over the years that most buyers now want very little work to do upon purchase. They have no ingenuity or ambition to rework a home on the market. Of course, there will alway be a few that don't mind but good luck landing that buyer.

Because most of the people living in the older homes, established neighborhoods aren't looking to move. Having seen the new patio villas, I'd stick with the older ones but as always, to each their own.

I'm just going to jump on the pile.

As I am a licensed and working home inspector, my report notes the age of the utilities.

When I run into an older HVAC, my answer is this. If it's anything but a Trane, and the age is 15 or greater, expect to replace it within the next 12-36 months.

When it comes to a roof, if the roof is at or near 15 years old, you will have difficulty getting insurance. If it is greater than 20 years, you will not get insurance. There are two companies that will insure a home with a roof 15 to 19. None that will insure anything over 20.

If your roof is 3 tab, I would also note that 3-tab shingles are rated for a maximum wind speed of 60mph. This speed was exceeded last year during the two hurricanes. A sustained 65mph wind was noted along the 44 corridor for some length of time with gusts well exceeding that. The number of damaged shingles on homes with Architectural shingles was large. Arch shingles are rated 120-135mph depending on attachment method and shingle.

My point is this, your old roof means that unless you heavily discount this home, it's not going to sell.

When it comes to a replacement, contact Skylight or Sack roofing. Both are good companies and both are quite reasonable, not fly-by-night shysters.

If your water heater is old, that's an easy one. Mike Scott will swap those electric ones out for like $800 or so. Gas is a little more, but if I find heavy deposits and corrosion on the venting, I call it out and you're probably going to have to replace that anyway.

Which do you think will sell faster? New Water Heater, New HVAC, New Roof or Original utilities, but it's slightly cheaper?

Ask two or three real estate agents the same question. If anything, they would prefer to sell at the higher (improved) price. That said, the increase to them is only their percentage of the improvement. They are far more in touch with buyers than readers here. If they say to sell unimproved, they think that there are sufficient buyers willing to defer the improvements, or control of the improvements is important.

If they say to make the improvements yourself first, ask why. It is likely because most buyers want to move in without needing to do the necessary contracting and have the inconvenience of waiting or living with work being done.

Finally, if you choose FSBO, you are taking the position that you know as much or more than they do about the local real estate market and are able to reach as many or more prospective buyers and can filter buyers better. If that is true, I think you probably would not have been posting this question here. The number of real estate agents available to represent you is far higher than one.