How to Sell My Home Fast in Charlotte – a Comprehensive Guide

Welcome to the comprehensive guide on how to sell your home fast in Charlotte.

This will be your compact go-to online booklet with step by step instructions on how to strategize home pricing to get the best results, the last minute important repairs you need to make before showing,  staging your house while living in it and even how to know the best staging colors.

Also, expect an up-close study as we go along on why it pays to get the best REALTOR? or how to sell your house without a realtor, and your home value and appraisal.

I realize every situation is unique and I will do whatever it takes to get the job done for you.

Use our home value estimator today to know your property better!

You can also call me, Nancy Braun, at 704-997-3794  to get an email with all the marketing and lead generation links you need as a seller. Let’s get your house sold fast.

Getting your house ready to sell

To start with, let me share with you a very simple tip that most sellers overlook and what I have proven works to help sell your Charlotte home fast and guaranteed.

• Make a video of your property. Take a look at this YouTube video on how to take good pictures of your home before you set it up for staging:

• Create a virtual tour or take photos of your property for sale in Charlotte. You may consider hiring a professional photographer to make your home stand out even more or you can use your smartphone.  People look online first for homes before they go see them, that’s the trend nowadays. More than 80 percent of house hunters start their home search on the Web.
• Use the address of the property as your video title. Smoothen your shots, edit your videos, and make sure all the important parts of your house have pictures.
• Omit the not so good ones. After all, you can go back later to improve these parts of your home. We will also have an article on how to know the last minute important repairs before you set your property up for sale. And please, no toilets with their seats up in your photos!

With today’s technology, it is so easy to upload your photos and video to any server.  This can help sell your home in Charlotte in a span of less than a week among many other houses in your area all because you have shown a video of your property.

Remember, with good photography, your home may get you a higher sales price. Check our page regularly for more hot tips on selling your home faster!

How does a seller’s checklist look like? 

When Steven Spielberg spoke at the Harvard Commencement Exercises in May 2016, he closed his speech by quoting one of the most celebrated characters he created, E.T. He said, “go home”.

What an incredible time in history to put homes back in the spotlight as a cohesive symbol of what holds every family together.

This is also a great time to put your house on the market for sale. We will have a separate topic on which months are the best to sell a house.  

Here are tips to help you get through your selling experience and eventually will help you sell your home fast even though you still have repairs to do in your house.

1. Be fixed in your purpose.

• Weigh the pros and cons why you need to sell your house.
• Figure out if you can afford to sell. Are you ready to move and buy a new house?
• Calculate your home equity.
• Research the local housing market.

2. Begin with a clear selling strategy in mind.

• If you opt to sell your house as FSBO (For Sale by Owner), make sure to get in touch with a lawyer or a real estate broker.
• Determine your home’s unique features and strengths. Make sure that they are highlighted in your ads.
• Determine how fast you need to sell your house and how much money you want to get from the sale
• Talk to at least three reliable real estate brokers and make sure your home is listed in multiple listing services (MLS)
• Weigh the pros and cons of selling the home yourself. Learn how to go about selling your home yourself.
• Consider a physical or online auction for a quick sale in a slow market.
• If you hire a listing agent, make sure you understand the terms of your agreement.

3. Multiple marketing

• Prepare your “For Sale” signs
• MLS listings
• Advertise in local newspapers
• Real estate publications
• Sign up for a free website on WordPress where you can boost your house listings

Call me, Nancy Braun, at 704-997-3794 for more information. I can post your house listing on my website to generate more clicks. The more clicks it gets, the higher the chances are in selling faster.

• Distribute flyers to real estate agents, friends, family, coworkers, everyone.
• Use high-resolution photos to showcase your home.
• Use a handheld video camera to give online buyers a virtual tour of your home, by walking through each room and talking about its features. Or you can also use your smartphone.

4.  Never disregard home staging and open houses

• Declutter.  Sell, donate or trash everything you don’t need. Let go of the things that may give any negative impression on the buyer.
• Improve and increase your curb appeal.
• Ask for tips from a professional home stager or research staging tips.
• Paint interior rooms neutral colors. We will talk about this in the succeeding sections of this article.
• Replace dysfunctional lighting fixtures.
• Hold an exclusive open house for REALTORS? to introduce them to the home. Make sure to provide a feedback form. Serve bard and refreshments.
• Advertise in local publications and put up lots of sign in the area.
• Hold an open house for potential buyers.

What sells more houses: empathy or eloquence? 

You may know everything about selling your house fast in Charlotte but one value that resonates is being able to speak to your buyers in their own language.

As sellers, empathy is highly important.

It is empathy that will lead you to know how you can transform your house into something that will make your buyers swoon for finally finding the home they are looking for.

What’s ahead?

You previously read about a few techniques on how to prepare your house before you put it up for sale.

In the succeeding chapters, we will go into details on each major point discussed. Our focus will be finding the right REALTOR?. Someone who can help you sell your house fast.

The main reason why I came up with this comprehensive guide project is to give you a booklet of the best steps to prepare you for selling your property.

This way, you do not need to spend all your valuable time researching it. This will be your quick reference to help you jumpstart one of the most important decisions in your life.

Let’s take a look at this good video on wise and quick tips on how to choose the right REALTOR? for your home. 

Diary of a real estate rookie

Author Alison Rogers wrote an exciting book about 10 questions that will assist you in identifying the best agent. Here are helpful tips from her book that you can use if you have not chosen your agent yet.

1. How much experience do you have?
2. How will you market it?
3. How has your business changed in the last five years?
4. Tell me how your last two deals surprised you?
5. What’s your specialty?
6. How many people are you selling homes for right now and what are you doing for them?
7. What do you expect of me?
8. What advice would you have for me if I get an offer from a buyer who wants to use an FHA loan?
9. What’s your fee?
10. Can I talk to one of your previous clients?

REALTOR? to the rescue

Real estate agents can earn professional designations granted by trade organizations. If the agent is called a REALTORS? that means she’s a member of National Association of REALTORS?. By hiring one, you are guaranteed that this is an agent who formally pledges to support the code of ethics.

Choose an agent who can help you with your home valuation, tell you what your home is worth and why.

It’s essential to have an agent that will support your choices but is also willing to tell it like it is. The right agent will test your ideas and perception of an inflated market value and will assist you in setting realistic expectations.

For suggestions, you may call 704-997-3794 for topics you would like us to have included in this booklet.

What are the top home pricing strategies

There are four known strategies that sellers utilize to price their homes. Never assume that a higher asking price will automatically mean a higher selling price.

Often, this equation works in contrary, especially if you’re not paying attention to what the market is telling you.

Now that you have picked your agent, one of his or her functions would be to help you find out the best strategy to use in pricing your property and make it work.

1. Overpriced or sometimes called High Price Tactics – They are not in your best interest.   There are some listings that add 10 – 20% of their true market value and these homes end up sitting on the market the longest and are sometimes unsold.
2. Somewhat Overpriced – These homes will also sit on the market for a long time untouched, even if they are only 5-10% overpriced.  
3. Below Market Value Price – Some sellers require a rapid sale.  They will attract multiple offers and sell fast, usually in just a few days. Be careful that the agent suggesting this method is making this recommendation with your best interest in mind.
4. Priced Correctly – Smart sellers, like you, recognize that real estate is part of the capitalistic system of supply and demand. You have thoroughly priced your home and completed an analysis of other sales on the market.

These competitively priced homes often sell within a reasonable timeframe and sell very close to the asking price. Remember that if this is priced correctly, it should sell for 97% to 99% of asking price.

How to negotiate price when selling a house  

One of the most challenging parts of real estate happens during the negotiation process. There are times that the buyer is too persistent and the seller gives up too easily or vice versa.

The great news is the market has gotten better than it has been in years, but it’s still best to be fortified with negotiation skills when trying to sell your home.

You may be the kind who never questions the offer from buyers and that would be unfair. If that sounds like you, you can use these tips on how to polish your negotiation skills, whether you’re buying or selling real estate.

1. Pay attention to your first offers – Never disregard even the low offers. It may even be your best one. The best offers usually come at the time when you first list your home. It would be a mistake not to listen to these offers, regardless of what they are.
2. Try your best not to be emotional – Don’t disregard the fact that your home is not just a structure. It may be your family’s entire history but it’s best to stay level-headed throughout the negotiation process. Be rational. Use business skills to learn as you can about the buyer. The more information you know about your buyer’s financial statements, the better you will be at negotiating.
3. Do not mention deadlines – If you’re behind on the mortgage, in the middle of a divorce or moving across the country, don’t highlight this to your buyer. This gives them unnecessary leverage. By keeping this information under wraps, you can avoid losing control of the situation.
4. Silence can be good – Author Olivia Fox Cabane said, “I’ve often heard professional negotiators tell me that they could accurately predict the outcome of negotiations fairly early on using one simple clue: whoever has less endurance for silence loses.”

A certain amount of silence shows respect for your potential buyer. Silence teaches discipline but there are moments that this may mean rudeness so just be careful.

Up next, let’s be more playful and find out the best staging paint colors nowadays and how to stage a home when you are still living in the house? More on these topics in the next chapter.

You may also like: How to Find the Right REALTOR? for Your House?

The best home staging paint colors to help sell your home fast 

Colors are everything when staging your home

Let’s watch these two videos. One focuses on the latest stellar hues and the latter shows us the timeless colors we can use most especially when we are trying to make our homes as impressive as we can, to sell them fast and the psychology behind them.    

The misconception a lot of people have is that we think that colors are changing dramatically year after year but it has always been a slow process. It’s an evolution that changes slightly from one year to another. That’s the reason why we sometimes go back to see if it has changed.

I don’t know Tori Toth personally but she did us a huge help with this video, don’t you think? It tells us exactly which colors cause the hearts of the buyers to beat faster. Warm colors will capture their attention and you have an assurance that they will make accurate decisions.

I personally find color staging choices irresistible. Imagine you can sell your home faster, not just in Charlotte, but anywhere you live just by painting your home a color that will affect not just your mood but your buyer’s mood and choices.

Hottest staging tips from a pro!

Neila Deen, an interior designer, and a home stager shared some excellent tips:

Avoid white. Although this color has always worked our focus nowadays is to make sure your homes won’t look too stark in the eyes of your buyers.

The overall goal of home staging is to make each room feel fresh, inviting and neutral enough so that prospective buyers can imagine themselves living there.

Here are my top 3 staging colors from Neila Deen’s blog that have proven to help sell houses faster:

• Gray is the new white. Take note of the different hues for gray though. This is where the evolution of colors come in. If you have no idea what the color greige looks like, I’m sure you’ve already seen it. A pale gray with a beige undertone is one of the most versatile colors for staging. 

• Classic Navy. Navy blue is an excellent paint color to add sophistication, drama and a feeling of refined maturity to a room. Similar to charcoal gray, navy works well in a light-filled room or on a featured accent wall, particularly in smaller rooms or walls with architectural details like a fireplace.
• Bird’s Egg Blue. Neila Deen calls this color a grown-up turquoise.  It is great for living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms, particularly when the rest of the room is white, beige or gray.  This calm environment can have a positive emotional effect on potential buyers and allow them to appreciate the beauty of the space.

Don’t even think about painting over your wallpaper – it will look shabby and give red flags to the buyer about all the work he or she will have to do later.

How to stage a home when you are still living in the house?

Obviously, staging a house is exciting and ideal when you have an empty space to work with but not really when you still have all your stuff in it or you have not moved out.

Is there a way to show buyers what your home for sale can offer even if you’re living in it?

The answer is yes.

Whether you need to take pictures that you can upload online or you have people coming in for showings, trust me, you can still make your property impressive, marketable and a sure win.

Here are my tips:

1. The easiest step that every stager gives is to hide the clutter that’s in your home as best as you can. Pick things up and put them in their places and anything that can be defined as not part of your flooring should be moved out to the garage.  Ideally, 75% of your things should be out of sight, at least for the duration of the listing.
2. If there is another C in staging, that is getting rid of all the cords on the floor. Hide them all. If you can hide electrical cords, that will definitely make your house look a lot neater.
3. Just choose your best pieces when it comes to your home decor. The rest of your pieces will have to be moved out to your garage until you figure out what to do with them.
4. Give your beds TLC. It adds charisma if your pillow sheets and cases are ironed out. Nobody wants to walk in and see your beds unmade.
5. Whitney Parrott, lead designer at Everything Creative Designs has this rule: Take “you” out of the home. Remove your emotional attachment and look at the home as a product you’re selling. I realize it may be harder when you are doing it, exhausting and sometimes, demoralizing but it’s most definitely worth the time and investment.
6. The goal is to stage your home like no one is living there. Even if you are working and barely have time to declutter, it needs to be accomplished also, consider boarding your pets on weekdays when there are showings.

According to the Real Estate Staging Association, professionally listed staged properties simply look better; spend 73 percent less time on the market; typically sell for more money; end up on buyers’ must-see lists; are viewed as well-maintained and have fewer concessions requested by the seller.

What if your home sells fast and you have no new place to move into yet? Up next.

You will also like: The Best Home Staging Paint Colors to Help Sell Your Home Fast

How do you avoid being homeless between the time that your house sells and finding a second home to purchase?

If you are not able to negotiate a longer closing period with the new owners (30-60 days) consider the following options:

Corporate Housing

This used to be a travel industry term but it also doubles as a real estate term. Corporate housing or Executive Rental providers rent out temporary dwellings to individuals or families. Renters may choose to live in an apartment or to rent a house, condo, or even a loft for a short time.

Most of the time, this is already completely furnished which can help you save time, money and effort on the number of times you will have to move your furnishings. Leave your furniture in storage while waiting for your new home for sale in Charlotte. Also, amenities, utilities, cable and wifi connections are all part of the rent.

Extended Stay Hotels

This is a place you can easily find nearby. The average studio rate ranges from a little less than $40.00 a night at budget hotels to $150.00 per night in upscale chains. Discounted weekly rates are dependent upon how long you stay, the size of your room, and location.

Hotels

Hotels, which are not extended stay, are good for anyone who needs housing for just a few days, perhaps a week. Payment is per night and you can stay as long as you want but the price isn’t discounted. The price per week may be prohibitive since there is no weekly rate discount and amenities vary.

Airbnb

Check out the online community marketplace, Airbnb. People who wish to rent their homes, or a space in their home, are connected with folks who are searching for accommodations. You might even consider taking a trip abroad while waiting for your house to sell. Airbnb has locations in 190 countries around the world, and 34,000 cities.

Airbnb guests pay through a secure online payment system. Payment is due when space is booked. Your host will set the rates and you may find that prices change depending on the dates you choose. Additional fees are applied to the base fee and include a cleaning fee, extra guest fee, an Airbnb guest fee, and a currency exchange fee.

How to negotiate the price when selling your house

Selling your house can be an unforgettable and pleasant experience if you have the right knowledge of how to go about it and if you have the right professionals to help you.

I know that once you’ve decided to put your home on the market, the next thing that you need to do is to think about preparing it for sale. Yes, preparation is the key!

Let’s find out how you can learn better-negotiating skills when selling your house with these 3 tips.

1. Set a specific date to accept offers to create a “bidding war”.  List your home on the market and make it available to be shown. Make sure to schedule an open house a few days later. Avoid answering offers until after the open house. If you’re dealing with serious buyers, you can expect them to stay in the competition and they will place higher offers as a result. There’s a possibility that you may only get one offer, but the buyer won’t know that. However, if you get a lot of offers, then you can pick the top bidders and ask for their highest and best offers.
2. Don’t be afraid to set an expiration date when you counter offer. You get yourself involved in a legally binding negotiation when a buyer makes an offer and you counteroffer to it. This means that you can’t accept a better offer if it comes along. Many buyers won’t submit an offer when another negotiation is underway. (will insert negotiation link for real estate offers). Consider setting an expiration date or time on your counter offer. This will let the buyers know they need to make a quick decision or you need to move on to the next one. Don’t turn off your buyer by setting a short deadline though. You’re fine just as long as it’s shorter than the default timeframe in your state’s real estate contract. If they set it for 3 days then you can go for 1-2 days.
3. Don’t counter offer. Rather, ask your buyer to re-submit another offer. If you’re brave enough, here’s a negotiating skill that might work for you and bring in that sale! Simply reject the buyer’s offer and don’t counteroffer at all. Keep them in the game by asking them to submit a new offer. If they’re really interested, they will make a new offer. This approach sends a stronger signal that you know your property’s worth what you’re asking for. If the buyer resubmits, they’ll have to make a higher offer. The main reason why you avoid counter offering is so you are not locked into a negotiation with a specific buyer. You can still accept a higher offer if another one comes along. For the buyer, knowing that someone can come along and make a better offer at any moment creates pressure to submit a competitive offer quickly, if they really want the property. Remember, this strategy can be more effective when your house has only been on the market a short time or if you have an open house coming up.
   The more days your home is on the market, the less desirable it appears, and the more likely you are to have to lower your asking price to get a buyer.Ask for the help of Nancy Braun by calling her at 704-997-3794, as you go through this phase in your life. I have years of experience helping people buy and sell their house.

How to sell your home in 5 days

Is it possible to sell your house in 5 days or less?

Our next topic will probably ring a bell because of George Cappony’s famous book also with the same title.

Let’s watch this first:

REALTORS? say that selling a house in today’s market is all about price and adequate exposure, not to mention patience. 

It usually takes a REALTOR? an average of eight showings to get one bid on a specific house. But what if you need to sell faster than that?

Call me, Nancy Braun, at 704-997-3794 for more information. I can post your house listing on my website to generate more interest. The more clicks it gets, the higher the chances are of it selling faster.

Here are several tips on how to sell a home in five days:

There are techniques that sellers can utilize to sell a home faster. Either you list your home online, visiting and updating your listing frequently and making huge risks of price reductions rather than small, incremental ones.

And if I ask you, I’m sure 8 showings or even 8 days is already too much time for waiting. So here are our tips to help you and your home in Charlotte sell faster:

• Be a risk taker. You can price your home 5% lower than the other homes for sale in your neighborhood. Pricing is obviously critical, and when it’s too high people shy away. To make sure that the pricing is below neighborhood values, you’ll need to research recent sales in your area. I can help you price your home right by using the link on my website. It will show you prices for many addresses in the United States. Just plug in the address of the home in your neighborhood that has recently sold, and you’ll get the sale price.
• Make it like an announcement for a garage sale, only it’s your home that you’re marketing. Let buyers see that you’re just offering a specific price for “one day only”. Post 50 fliers that say “One Day Sale in Beverly Woods Neighborhood, Friday 8-5”. Like what you would do for a garage sale. Advertise the sale. Placing the ad in more than one category will guarantee more viewers, so list it in as many categories as you can to get the most exposure. As people come through to see the home, collect sealed bids on the day of the sale and at 5 p.m. look through and choose a winner if the bid is appropriate.
• Highlight the incentives. Don’t just focus on your home. You can also feature what amenities in the neighborhood are available that will attract more buyers. For example: Offer to pay for closing costs, broker commission bonus, or prepay house taxes for two years.
• Create your own incentives. You can take your incentives to the next level. Some incentives work and some don’t, but everyone will talk about them so get creative and offer things like a free moving van fee, a free vacation, a new appliance, or even a new car!
• Make your first impression lasting. Buyers know if they want your home in the first eight seconds after they enter your home. It’s important to make sure your home is spick and span and ready to make a good impression on your potential buyers. The big payoffs on the outside are the front door, the shrubs, and the condition of the paint. On the inside, you can find a big payoff by ridding the house of clutter, deodorizing, and making sure the bathroom and the kitchen are spotless.

Closing the Deal

If you’re going for a quick sale, keep in mind that small reductions in price rarely speed the process along. Price reductions work if done in big steps, especially if it brings the listing below a new $50,000 or $100,000 each engine threshold.

Keep in mind, too, that one home in three homes today are sold on the Internet.

Do everything to post beautiful, quality photos showing your floor plan, your kitchen and the rooms available. Add clear and positive descriptions.

 

You’ll also like: What Are the Top Home Pricing Strategies?

 

Most important things to repair before selling a house

Take a look at your house and examine which of them need fixing

We’re on our eighth installment of our comprehensive guide on how to sell your home fast in Charlotte. The aim of this special series of articles is to give you the aide and guide that you need as you go through this part of your life.

What pays off are quick fixes before selling your home. How do you know which area of your name needs the most important repairs? And which repairs will bring the biggest return?

Many home sellers often make the mistake of doing unnecessary repairs. There is no shortcut to know exactly which ones will need repair but like in all aspects of selling, there are guidelines that you can follow to have clearer eyes and make quick decisions about quality repairs.  The National Association of REALTORS? (NAR) publishes a Cost vs. Value Report each year which features costs and returns of some home projects. (2017 Remodeling Impact Report) 

There is remodeling or improvement that you can do to your house that will return a 100% ROI. Or you can complete certain upgrades and not address the maintenance issues. These two are different so we don’t want to confuse you

PAINT

We wrote The Best Home Staging Paint Colors (insert link) previously and we are once again pointing out the importance of painting, not just your interior, but your house in general. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to prep the look of your home is painting. The great thing about this is you don’t need to pay workers to do this for you. And you don’t need to be a professional painter to make this work for you, either. Watch a few videos online, pick your colors and go to town!

KITCHEN

You can make some minor repairs that will make your kitchen appear more inviting, even if it isn’t a  dream kitchen. If the painting, lighting, and countertops all scream the 1970s, you can change all of these without too large of an investment. You can paint as necessary, install new fixtures and replace the countertops to give a more updated appealing look.

BATHROOM

A clean bathroom is a necessity. You’re in big trouble if you have a running toilet or a leaky faucet. Make repairs as necessary. Replace your toilet seat before showing the house. Any missing tiles should also be replaced.

Clear off the counter to create a clear canvas. No soaps, toothbrushes, cotton balls or toiletries should be left out. Buyers would rather see an empty counter than one with your personal hygiene.

Also, get rid of cleaning products. The bathrooms and kitchen are the most important areas in a home. These are areas where buyers will put their focus. They are also the most expensive areas in a home to upgrade. This makes it vital for you to repair any issues before putting your home up for sale.

LIGHTING

Lighting is everything. Even the tiniest room will look inviting and open with proper lighting. It gives the illusion of space, so you will want to take advantage of the many lighting options now available. There is a lot of information online nowadays about affordable lighting options that will be far superior to the current overhead or stand-up lights in your house. Analyze your current space and check how you can find ways to improve the lighting. If you have “dated” light fixtures, you can sell them and buy new ones. A lot of people still look for antique fixtures but buyers want an updated look. Most of all, go natural. Ditch the heavy, dark drapes for light colored curtains that let in the sun.

One of the best things in selling is getting rid of thing you don’t need. It’s free and liberating!

How to correctly price your home in Charlotte

The worth of your Charlotte home

I’m Nancy Braun. We’re more than halfway through this comprehensive guide and here I am with one of our personal videos we made just for you.

When we talk about being the best in the nation, I’m happy to say that I’m setting the bar when it comes to selling homes in Charlotte.

Call me at 704-997-3794 so we can meet and start talking about your dreams.

When selling your home, attractive pricing and packaging are arguably the two most basic essentials. In our current real estate market, the buyers have a lot of choices. In many areas, the shelves are simply overstocked. And since no two homes are the same, making that distinction between your home and the dozens of others is key.

Where pricing is concerned, establishing that all-important asking price is part science and part art, and there are several things you should consider.

• Do not confuse active listings with past sales. Active listings have not sold. They are just your competition. It is important to be aware of your competition’s pricing, but this is often just an indication of what your home won’t sell for.
• Do not overprice because you have “time.” If the market is appreciating, this strategy may work, but if prices in your area are declining, you may quickly find yourself chasing a market and costing you money. And if the market is stable? Your home will just sit. Buyers will pay what is worth today and time is rarely on your side.
• Study past sales. This is the starting point for any thoughtful and successful pricing strategy; think of it as the “science” part. Take the time to study past sale statistics for homes in your area and areas similar to yours. None will be identical, of course, but having a clear understanding of true market value is the first step in establishing your list price.
• Leave some room for negotiation, but don’t overreach. No seller wants to feel like he/she left money on the table, and no buyer wants to overpay. Your price should give both parties room to maneuver, but if it is too high, you risk being perceived as unrealistic, and buyers will pass over your home.
• Think like a buyer. What are the things that you value in your home? Is there a large yard, an updated kitchen or a view? These are likely the same things that your buyer values as well. Talk to your agent about current buyer trends. Yesterday’s avocado green shag carpeting is today’s granite countertop. The property facing the interstate is going to be a tougher sell than the one with a mountain view. Your price should reflect how your home compares to the others offered for sale. Buyers will find objections to any home, as none are perfect. It is curious how quickly their objections disappear when the price is compelling.
• React swiftly and decisively. If your home is on the market and is not being shown or if you receive feedback that you are priced too aggressively, don’t hesitate to adjust your price. Bad news, like spoiled milk, doesn’t get better with time.

First impressions are everything when selling your home. Studies have shown that the first two weeks on the market are the most crucial to your success. During these initial days, your home will be exposed to all active buyers. If your price is perceived as too high, you will quickly lose this initial audience and find yourself relying only on the trickle of new buyers entering the market each day.

How to add value to your home on a budget

Thinking of selling your house?

First impressions count the most. Your potential buyers will always remember the first thing they see once they get out of their car. Simple tweaks can make all the difference, so making the front of your house more attractive to potential buyers could change people’s first impressions of your home.

 

1. Add show-stopping potted plants, clean the windows, sweep the walkway and clear the gutters. If your budget allows, give the front door and window frames a lick of paint.
2. Apply for planning permission. Showing people that your home has potential to expand can increase its value by a couple of grand. Even if you can’t afford to get the builders in yourself, you’ll still entice buyers with the promise of potential extensions or loft conversions by applying with the Building Department for planning permission.
3. Declutter your rooms. It’s a good idea to declutter the whole house so buyers can visualize where all of their things will go. Spend a weekend going through your stuff to see what can go into storage, and what can be donated or thrown away.
4. Paint your walls. A fresh lick of white paint will make the rooms in your home seem larger, and a neutral shade can add around $3,000 to the value of your house. If you don’t fancy re-painting the whole house, replace your bulbs with ones with a higher wattage to instantly brighten up rooms.
5. Spruce up your bathroom. A nice bathroom can improve your home’s value by up to 3%. Simple things like replacing the toilet seat and giving the grout a good scrub will make a real difference.
6. Give the illusion of space. If there is a small room in the house that is putting buyers off, try some clever décor tricks to make it seem larger. Use floating shelves instead of bedside tables and ditch the headboard in favor of a collection of pictures.

Maximizing your chance of selling your property

When you haven’t done it before, selling your house can be time-consuming and emotionally challenging. It’s also not a guarantee that your house will sell immediately especially if it’s not ready or marketable.

Choose your agent carefully. It’s much better if you look for a REALTOR? since this means the agent is a member of the National Association of REALTORS? and they’re bound to a certain code of ethics. You will deal with your REALTOR? on a regular basis so you should look for someone you can trust and possibly be friends with. Choose someone who is knowledgeable, enthusiastic, one who sees and accentuates the positive parts of your house.

Second, prepare all the needed documents in advance. Your buyer won’t like a seller who’s taking his/her time to gather all the relevant paperwork. That will make your potential buyers nervous and at a time when some buyers feel cautious about the market, being nervous is the last thing you’d like them to feel.

Third, do your part to improve your home. This does not mean that you need to redo the entire house but keep the vibe neutral from paint color to appliances until you have a sure buyer.

Avoid overspending. Buyers like an affordable home so until you know what your local market wants, don’t try to spend too much on a home renovation.

Lastly, if your house is still on the market for a long time, you may have to revisit your price. Be realistic. In a slow market, pricing is lucrative.

If you work with me, Nancy Braun, I will show you which properties are similar to yours so you’ll know what price to expect. I can help you with the selling price of the properties you’re in competition with. Some sellers undercut other sellers by deliberately offering a price lower than what your competitors charge.

Give me a ring today at 704-997-3794! Let me help you sell your home!

You may also like: How to Find the Right REALTOR? for Your House?

How to fix up an old house

Is an old house still saleable?

There are many things that you can do to spruce up an old house and give it a “millennial” look.

If you still have plans to sell your home after the renovation but you’re getting nervous of the thought of it, you can relax now because we have some ideas that you can do that may become quick-fix solutions. This, eventually, will help you net a decent sum.

I found this light-hearted video about an old house being rebuilt by replacing the walls and aiming to have an open floor plan. Let’s watch it!

Condition your mind and make a decision to sell your house in Charlotte!

Make sure that you envision how the house will look like if you decide to renovate. As Stephen Covey said, “begin with the end in mind”. Talk to family members and ask for their input. Then make a list of what you need to get from the hardware store. This will also help you to be in control of your choices.

Get ready for the deconstruction. This is just another word for demolition. This is when the walls are taken down and they build temporary supports. After this, you can get ready to fix the infrastructure. Walls may need to be built, fixed or repaired and new lights and fixtures can be installed.

I am Nancy Braun. When you have decided whether you want to sell your old house or fix it up, call me at 704-997-3794. We can talk about the pros and cons of your decision.

What steps can we do to give an old house a new look?

1. Consider new fixtures. Whether it’s faucets, door knobs, drawer or cabinet handles, these little details will give your home a new kick and will give the buyer an impression that you have a uniform and well-cared house.
2. Check if your doors need replacing. Have you tried timeless wooden doors? Replace your outdated doors and moldings. Make sure that the moldings match your door to project a minimalist look.
3. Renovate floors. Use appropriate carpets or modern wood floors. If you prefer carpets, make sure to use materials that don’t easily stain.
4. Change windows. Accentuate your windows even if it’s an old home. For big windows, go for long drapes so you can catch the attention of your potential buyers.
5. Paint if you need to. Go for bold colors, try them! Use it on all walls or just on one wall to highlight it.
6. Don’t forget curb appeal. Paint the exterior of your house and trimmings. And make sure to manicure your lawn!
7. Check out the details! Your driveway should be weed-free!
8. Raise the roof! Does your roof need new shingles or tiles? Ensure that it looks perfect.
9. No garden? Maybe it’s high time to spend time in the garden. Brighten up your exterior with flowers and shrubs.

What’s it like to fix an old house? It will be exciting, exhausting and satisfying. It will always be worth it. Although it may need to be brought to code before you sell it, these are all necessary steps if you want to sell your house fast. Good luck!

You’ll also like: What Are the Top Home Pricing Strategies?

More on how to price your Charlotte home for sale

Price your house right, price your house right!

You have seen this topic in our comprehensive guide alone many times. The single most important factor to consider when selling a house is pricing the house correctly! Again, it’s attractive pricing and packaging.

Now more than ever in real estate, first impressions last! It’s a critical step because you can’t just perceive it as too high, and it would be wrong to price it below market value.

Let’s dig deeper into the subject of pricing your home right and the underlying topics we need to know before going for the big sale.

What mistakes should you avoid when selling a home in Charlotte?

1. Pricing it too high – Your price should give both parties room to maneuver, but if it is too high, you risk being perceived as unrealistic, and buyers will pass over your home. If the market is appreciating, this strategy may work, but if prices in your area are declining, you may quickly find yourself chasing a market and costing you money.

2. Home is in bad condition – Getting your house ready for market goes beyond making the beds and washing dirty dishes. Some homes need updating and quick fixes. Doing repairs before resale can boost chances of quickly selling. If items are broken or buyers see deferred maintenance, they wonder what else is wrong. It’s more expensive, actually, not to fix the house. Dressing your home for showings is called staging a home. Think of the process of arranging flowers in an attractive vase.
3. Unpleasant marketing – How do you market a home? Just think about where you start looking for a house. What draws you in and makes you look closer at each listing? Most of the time a picture really says more than a thousand words. It is a good picture that will draw in the browser to look at a listing more closely. Have a sign in your yard. People drive by and may stop to write down the phone number.
4. Ineffective REALTOR?. Not all realtors are the same. Choosing a less than stellar REALTOR? will ruin your chances of scoring a good deal. Today, prospective buyers can find everything they want regarding a home on the internet. This means your property must be marketed on that incredible platform!

Choosing a realtor who doesn’t run a real estate website or blog will damage your selling prospects. Did you know about 90% of home buyers look for homes they would potentially buy, on the internet? This makes it all the more important for your realtor to have an internet presence. Look for someone who won’t have concerns regarding open communication whether face-to-face, by calls, texts, or emails.

I’m Nancy Braun and I’m proud to tell you that one of the things I practice by heart is to listen to my clients. This way, I’m aware of what you need as a seller. I’d like to personalize my service as much as I can.  You can reach me at 704-997-3794!

 

What are the best practices for pricing your home right?

Heads up: this information is something I can confidently assist you with but this is to make sure that you and I will be on the same page when it comes to going through the steps of knowing the price of your home.

Look at every similar home that was or is listed in the same neighborhood over the past three months. Appraisers do not use comps older than 3 months.

The list should contain homes within a 1/4 mile to a 1/2 mile and no further unless there are only a handful of comps in the general vicinity or the property is rural.

Pay attention to neighborhood dividing lines and physical barriers such as major streets, freeways or railroads, and do not compare inventory from the other side of the tracks. Perception and desirability have value.

Compare similar square bartage, within a 10% variance of up or down from the subject property, if possible.

Look for similar homes which were built the same year. One neighborhood might consist of homes built in the 1950s next door to another ring of construction from the 1980s. Values between the two will differ. Make sure to compare apples to apples.

Assess desirability. If you are fortunate enough to own a dream home that will cause buyers to faint upon entering, you might get away with tacking on a premium.

Active Listings

To see what buyers will see, tour your home. Make note of what you like and dislike, to get the general feeling you experience upon entering a home that you’re to potentially buy. Or if there are homes that are showing, do everything to see these homes especially if they are similar to yours.

These homes are your competition. Ask yourself why a buyer would prefer your home over any of these and adjust your price accordingly.

Market Dependent Pricing

Same house, three different prices. After you have collected all your data, the next step is to analyze the data based on market conditions. Again, you don’t have to worry, I’m here and I’ve been doing this for a long time. My team and I  would like to help you sell your house for the least amount of hassle, for the most amount of money (and faster!).

For comparison purposes, let’s say the last three comparable sales in your neighborhood were $250,000. In a buyer’s market, you might be allowed some wiggle room for negotiation but be strong enough (near the last comparable sale) to entice a buyer to tour your home.

In a seller’s market, you might want to add 10% more to the last comparable sale. When there are little inventory and many buyers, you can ask more than the last comparable sale and likely get it.

I have sold thousands of homes as REALTOR? in my 18 months of selling. You can ask around about my experience for references but it’s better that we meet in person so I can hear your goals straight from you!

You’ll also like: How to Find the Right REALTOR? for Your House

How to sell your house without a REALTOR?

Thinking about how to sell your home in Charlotte without the help of an agent?

A lot of people say selling your house by yourself can save you six percent in commissions! That’s $30,000 on a $500,000 house.

My team and I understand that you would like to minimize your costs as much as possible. However, before you seriously consider this option, keep in mind that this process is far from easy and convenient.  

You will need to spend a lot of your time doing the work a REALTOR? would normally handle which includes showing your home to marketing it to negotiating the price.

If, after knowing this, you still want to take the challenge and you’re fully determined to sell it on your home, we bring you five tips to help you get started.

Your home in Charlotte should be prepared to show

You will need to prepare your property for showings and open house events in your area. Go through the entire process of deep cleaning it. From the curb appeal to cleaning the carpet and removing all your personal items. The result should be a home that’s clean and improved.

Highlight your property’s selling point

When you write your ad copy, have a clear description of everything that makes your house special and worthy of attention. Make sure to include the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, lot size, and location. Include landmarks such as schools, parks or anything that will make your home more appealing to buyers. And don’t forget your price!

Be mindful of the laws in your state

You should earnestly know the laws in your area connected to selling homes. The Fair Housing Act specifies that you cannot discriminate buyers for reasons including race, religion, and sex. You may want to hire a real estate attorney to review the contracts and the documents related to the sale of your home.

Learn to advertise

Gone are the days when we could just stick a sign in our yard and hope those potential buyers can see it. Approximately ninety percent of home buyers go online the moment they decide to buy a house. This means that you should list your home on websites such as ForSalebyOwner.com so you can reach a wider market.

You can also consider signing up for Multiple Listing Service, a tool all REALTORS?  like myself use, to get a comprehensive listing of all real estate for sale in the country.  

Know the right price to sell your home

Learn how to price it competitively. Don’t fall into the trap of overpricing your home. Set a realistic amount. You may compare the selling prices of the homes for sale in your area. I usually call it “comparables” where you select sold homes with similar characteristics to your house.

What are the documents needed to sell my home in Charlotte without an agent?

Understand that you will need to take care of the legal and financial paperwork which can be overwhelming at times.  

You will need a title company, and in some cases, a lawyer, to process the final documents. To mention some of them:

• Residential sales contract
• Residential property disclosure
• Lead-based property addendum (if your property was built before 1978)
• Offer and counteroffer forms
• Third-party financing addendum
• Homeowners Association
• Title documents

 

Is it worth selling it by yourself?

This option is not for everyone. A lot of sellers won’t have the time and patience to deal with everything. For some, if the listing price is low, the potential savings that you’re aiming for may not be worth the time and effort necessary to sell the house without a REALTOR?.

My job is to help you sell your home for the least amount of hassle for the most amount of money – and faster! This is Nancy Braun once again and call me at 704-997-3794!

I’m leaving you with one of our exclusive videos that will show you our only aim is to provide you with all the help that you need and for you to see the benefits of selling your home with us! You are our star!

How to close on a house for sale

As a REALTOR?, my team and I have helped a lot of people close real estate transactions in Charlotte over the years.

I’ve seen a lot of different situations and dealt with virtually every type of buyer, seller, lender, and property type imaginable. After working through many of the different scenarios that can materialize in the real estate closing process, I have to admit, I totally understand why most people are intimidated by the idea of closing a real estate transaction themselves.

For understandable reasons, there can be a lot of confusion and fear about how to close a real estate deal without the assistance of someone who has an extensive knowledge of this process.

You can utilize this home closing checklist once you have moved your personal belongings and also your furniture.

Retain executed seller disclosures, purchase contract and closing statement. Ideally, you will be handed a complete closing package by your escrow officer or myself. But you could also find some of these documents scattered about in your car or at your office.

Keep all of these documents in one safe place. It’s conceivable you could need them again, especially if a bill was unpaid or the buyer becomes upset for some reason and hires a lawyer.

Clean the house. If you don’t have time to clean, then at least hire a professional cleaning service. How clean to leave a house is often personal preference. It’s not always necessary to shampoo the carpets, but that’s a nice touch.

This also means wipe down cabinets, inside and out. It doesn’t hurt to make your last impression on the buyer a good one by polishing sink fixtures. Leave your home the way you, as a buyer, would like to find it.

Turn off shut-off valves. If you have disconnected a washer, for example, make sure the shut-off valve is completely turned off because a small drip, can eventually flood a home. Some sellers shut off the valves to all water sources such as sinks, toilets, and dishwashers, too.

Leave a note for the buyers so they won’t call a plumber when the water won’t turn on.

Attend the final walkthrough. There are so many quirks that only you know, and you can pass on these tips to a new home buyer during the final walk-through. Things like which light switch operates the lights, whether a door sticks or how to clean a swimming pool. I like to ask sellers what they always wanted to do for a home improvement project but never got around to doing.

• Cancel your insurance policies. Wait until you know the deed has been recorded or title transfer has formally occurred before you call your insurance agent. You should receive a refund from a prepaid premium for your homeowner’s insurance.

• Cancel utilities and stop the newspaper. In advance, write a list of the phone numbers of each of your utility companies. Not every utility is always paid monthly, some are quarterly. If you subscribe to a daily newspaper, you might have to request your cancellation a week or more in advance to stop newspapers from piling up in the front yard.
• During closing, don’t forget to bring government identification, proof of insurance, and all your paperwork.

I’d rather meet you in person so I can know your plans as a seller. Get to know the rest of the process. You may call me anytime at 704-997-3794!