The disposition of Clean as a Whistle, a high-performing full-service and express car wash in Leesburg, Florida, required a highly targeted and discreet approach. The Matthews™ agents facilitated the transaction under strict off-market conditions, leveraging a long-standing relationship with the owner to align timing, pricing, and buyer qualification. The assignment focused on achieving a premium valuation while maintaining full confidentiality throughout the process.

 

Challenge

Clean as a Whistle presented a unique set of constraints that eliminated the viability of a traditional marketing process. The owner maintained a firm, non-negotiable asking price at the top of the market and required a strictly off-market execution to protect employee morale and ensure operational stability. Without the ability to publicly list the asset or create competitive bidding tension, the challenge centered on identifying a single, highly qualified buyer willing to meet a premium price without broader market validation.

 

Strategy

The Matthews™ agents leveraged deep industry expertise and institutional relationships to identify a strategically aligned buyer. Building on a prior relationship with Link’s Car Wash, the agents recognized a compelling opportunity based on geographic proximity. With an existing location nearby, the acquisition represented a strategic move to consolidate market share and eliminate a key competitor. The opportunity was positioned not simply as an acquisition, but as a submarket control play, further supported by the asset’s strong performance and an attractive basis relative to replacement cost. This targeted narrative allowed the agents to justify the seller’s pricing expectations without exposing the asset to the open market.

 

Result

The transaction closed as an all-cash deal at 100% of the asking price, achieving a valuation that exceeded typical market expectations. Completed on the final day of the year, the sale enabled the buyer to realize significant tax advantages while strengthening its market position in Leesburg.

 

This outcome demonstrates the Matthews™ agents’ ability to execute complex, off-market transactions by aligning seller requirements with strategic buyer objectives, ultimately delivering a seamless and highly efficient closing.