Property: 7761 SW 170th St, Palmetto Bay, FL
Type: Single-Family Home
List Price: $1,399,000
Agent: Karina Reyes | The Opes Group at Compass
When a family in Palmetto Bay was ready to close one chapter and move on to the next, they turned to a trusted referral — and found an agent who knew their neighborhood from the inside out. Karina Reyes of The Opes Group at Compass brought hyper-local knowledge, a creative dual-listing strategy, and a solution-driven approach that ultimately delivered results for a seller facing real challenges.
The Property and the Opportunity
Nestled in the heart of Palmetto Bay, this single-family home was listed at $1,399,000. While the home had tremendous potential, it came with a few hurdles that needed to be addressed before it could make its best impression on buyers.
When Karina first walked through the property, she identified several key areas for improvement: a cluttered interior, an overgrown backyard, and — most noticeably — multiple rooms with dark black-painted walls that made the home feel smaller and less inviting.
She also discovered an actively leaking roof that would shape the entire sales strategy going forward.
Pre-Listing Preparation: Small Changes, Big Impact
Before the property ever hit the market, Karina worked with the seller on a targeted preparation plan. The team recommended decluttering, cleaning up the backyard, and repainting the dark walls to lighter, more neutral tones.
The results were almost immediate. Within just two weeks of the walls being painted, the sellers received their first offer — direct proof that presentation matters and that Karina’s eye for detail paid off.
“We got a lot of feedback from buyers who agreed — and within two weeks of painting the walls, they did receive an offer.”
— Karina Reyes
The Compass Private Exclusive Advantage
Rather than jumping straight to the open market, Karina leveraged Compass’s Private Exclusive platform first.
This strategic move allowed the property to gain exposure among a curated network of Compass agents and qualified buyers, generate early showings and valuable feedback, and fine-tune the pricing strategy before going live publicly.
The insights gathered during this phase helped Karina calibrate the list price more accurately when the property transitioned to the broader market — a critical advantage in a competitive environment.
A One-of-a-Kind Dual Listing Strategy
One of the most unique aspects of this sale was a remarkable coincidence — and a marketing opportunity Karina and her Opes Group colleague Joanna Jimenez were quick to seize.
The team simultaneously held listings on two properties sitting on opposite corners of the same street, sharing the same address format and identical floor plans.
One was the subject property; the other had been fully renovated. Rather than let these listings compete with each other, Karina and Joanna turned it into a major advantage.
The team hosted mega open houses with dual showings, walking prospective buyers from one corner to the other, allowing them to compare both properties side by side.
This creative approach not only increased traffic to both listings but also helped buyers see the potential of the unrenovated home against its already-upgraded mirror image — and helped bring up perceived value in the process.
“Joanna and I had listings with the exact same address and floor plan on opposite corners of the street, so we were able to promote both at the same time with mega open houses — we would walk people over from one corner to the other.”
— Karina Reyes
Marketing That Generated 100+ Showings
The marketing effort behind this listing was comprehensive. Professional video content was produced and distributed across YouTube and Instagram.
Individual agents who toured the property also created and posted their own content to their respective social media platforms, amplifying reach organically across multiple audiences.
The result? Over the course of the listing, the property was shown more than 100 times — a testament to the consistent visibility and demand the team generated.
Navigating Real Challenges
This sale wasn’t without its obstacles. The home had an aging roof that was actively leaking, which significantly impacted the buyer pool. Because the condition limited financing options, the property had to be marketed exclusively to cash buyers — a smaller segment of the market.
The seller also carried additional financial complexity, including a PACE (green energy) loan and existing liens on the property, which required careful navigation through the transaction process.
Karina also explored Compass Concierge — a program that allows sellers to front the cost of renovations and repairs with no upfront payment — to evaluate whether completing the roof repairs would be worthwhile.
After careful analysis, the team determined it was in the seller’s best interest to sell at a slight discount rather than take on additional financing obligations. Ultimately, the major repairs were negotiated to be handled by the buyer at closing — a clean, practical solution that got the deal done.
The Power of Hyper-Local Knowledge
As a Palmetto Bay resident herself, Karina brought something no out-of-area agent could replicate: genuine, first-hand knowledge of the community. She spoke authentically to prospective buyers about the top-rated nearby schools, the charm of living on a quiet cul-de-sac, and beloved local spots like Maxwell Pizza just around the corner.
“Speaking from first-hand, intimate experience about the neighborhood — I feel like that sold a lot of the families on the location.”
— Karina Reyes
That authentic local voice resonated — especially with the families ultimately drawn to the home.
A New Family Finds Their Home
The property sold slightly below the asking price, reflecting the roof’s condition and the need for cash buyers. But the outcome was deeply meaningful. A new family with children eager to attend the local high school moved in — exactly the kind of buyer Karina had envisioned for the home.
For the sellers, the closing meant freedom. The family had been navigating a significant life transition, and the sale gave them the ability to move forward with clarity and peace of mind.
“Very happy to move on to the next chapter. Her family was transitioning through a big change, and it was time for them to move on.”
— Karina Reyes
What This Sale Tells Us About the Market
This transaction reinforces an important truth about today’s real estate market: pricing strategy matters enormously, especially when a home requires significant repairs. Starting too high — even to “test the market” — can result in extended days on market and ultimately weaken a seller’s negotiating position.
Karina’s advice to other Palmetto Bay homeowners thinking about selling is direct: price to the market, not ambitiously. A well-priced home attracts serious buyers, generates momentum, and leads to better outcomes — even when the property needs work.
Thinking About Selling in Palmetto Bay?
If you own a home in Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Kendall, or the surrounding Miami-Dade and Broward communities, The Opes Group at Compass is ready to put this same level of expertise, strategy, and care to work for you.
We are a local team backed by Compass National Brokerage — with dedicated full-time realtors who have a pulse on current and changing market trends, an established operations team to ensure a smooth process, and exclusive marketing programs designed to maximize your home’s exposure and value.
Ready to take the next step?
📞 Contact The Opes Group at Compass today and let’s talk about what your home is worth.
🌐 www.opesre.com