Selling a Waterfront Home in St. Augustine
Make the waterfront easier to evaluate with an organized record of what is known, what was repaired and what remains unresolved.
Prepare a waterfront file before photographs
Gather the survey, wall and dock permits, repair invoices, warranties and professional reports. Keep original dates and authors visible. If records are missing, describe the gap honestly instead of presenting a tidy folder as complete.
Useful evidence includes before-and-after photographs and the precise repaired location. An invoice for landscaping or paver replacement does not establish that the seawall itself was repaired.
Avoid a cosmetic repair that hides the question
If there is visible cracking, soil settlement or movement, ask an appropriate professional what needs investigation before resurfacing or replacing finishes. The objective is an accurate condition record and a clear scope.
- Record the concern before any work.
- Explain which component was treated.
- Keep permit and inspection closeout documents.
- Retain the agreed warranty and any conditions.
- Make unresolved findings available to your advisers.
Request missing permits with enough detail
Use the property address, parcel identifier, approximate work dates and the words “seawall,” “bulkhead” and “dock” as appropriate. Start with the municipality or county that controls the parcel. Ask how older records are handled when a digital search is empty.
On oceanfront property, retain DEP approvals with local permits. The county guide helps distinguish the different records.
Building Permit Information: bulkhead/retaining wall · Building Department · Coastal Construction Control Line Program
Plan access for a buyer’s specialist
Confirm who authorizes entry, whether a dock or association area is involved and which surfaces are unsafe to approach. Give the specialist the existing reports without implying that they must accept another professional’s conclusions.
Discuss disclosure and contract wording with your real-estate and legal advisers. This guide provides a preparation checklist; it does not decide what a particular transaction must disclose.
Build a file a buyer can actually follow
Completed work
Group the approved scope, invoice, inspection evidence, photos and warranty by job. Label the section repaired and preserve the original dates and authors.
Open questions
Create a short list of missing records, unresolved findings and visits already arranged. Make it clear which professional can answer each technical question.
A timeline is often more useful than an unlabeled folder: original construction if known, later repairs, observations and the latest assessment. Give buyers access through the agreed transaction process. Let your advisers handle disclosure requirements and negotiations; the aim here is an accurate and usable waterfront history.
Show sourcesHide sources
- Building Permit Information: bulkhead/retaining wallSource reviewed 2026-10-26
- Building DepartmentSource reviewed 2026-10-27
- Coastal Construction Control Line ProgramSource reviewed 2026-10-26
Ask about a pre-listing assessment
Record what needs checking and when. Confirm the assessment, price and date directly with the professional you choose.