Take out all the screens in your home and stack them together out of the way either in the garage or the basement.
Bring in a window cleaning crew – they are not expensive and can clean inside & out, plus they can do the exterior eaves and light fixtures.
Wash or paint walls that need to be touched up.
Remove finger prints around light switches.
If the carpet is in good condition – have it professionally cleaned prior to listing the property.
Replace all burnt out light bulbs and be sure to increase the wattage for areas with dim lighting.
Clear off the kitchen counters – a few decorative items and your toaster & coffee pot are the only necessary items that a buyer should see.
Granite is the preferred counter top for kitchens today. If you do not have solid surface, consider adding it to the center island for an updated custom look. Be sure to use a common granite that can easily be matched. If you are unable to do this, offer an allowance for the buyer to install this product on their own after closing.
If your closets are crammed buy clear plastic containers that you can stack in a storage area. Make sure the floors are clear and that items fit loosely in closets. If a buyer sees that the closets are over filled, then they begin to think there is not enough storage for their personal items.
Pressure wash driveways, and the front entry.
Update light fixtures. Brass is out – bronze finishes are the trend in today’s market.
Update the kitchen with bronze cabinet hardware.
If the hardwood floors are scratched bring in a floor refinisher.
Replace worn and tired carpet with neutral colors.
If the carpet is buckling bring in a specialist to re-stretch it.
Check the crown molding – if it is pulling away from the ceiling or walls, bring in a professional painter and re-caulk. Most of the time, this can be down without repainting the trim.
First impressions are created at the front door. Replace the kick plate on the door, and the door hardware if it is badly tarnished. Fresh paint and hardware updates are inviting. Be sure to keep the steps clean and free of debris.
A welcome mat is always inviting at the entry way.
Is your landscaping over grown and needing to be replaced? Trim it back as far as possible and remove seriously overgrown shrubs at the front door. Replace a few with new shrubs and add new mulch for a crisp look.
Are you overloaded with family pictures – take them down and pack them in a special container for the move.
Be sure to take all pictures and magnets off the kitchen refrigerator.
Silk trees and new bedding can add a fresh new look to the interior and can move with you. Consider bedding with solid colors rather than busy patterns that may not appeal to everyone.
Learn more about the selling process and then Contact Gail to discuss putting your home up for sale in Charlotte.
Before the home search begins, your real estate agent will want to know as much as possible about the features and amenities you desire. To help your agent better serve you, analyze what you want and what you need in a home’s features and amenities.
Features:
Age: Do you prefer historic properties, or newer ones?
Style: Do you have a special preference for ranches, bungalows, or another style of construction?
Bedrooms: How many?
Bathrooms: How many? Are they updated?
Living and Dining Areas: A traditional, formal layout, or a more open, contemporary plan?
Stories: How many?
Square feet: How much space?
Ceilings: How high?
Kitchen: How big? Recently updated? Open to other living areas?
Storage: Big closets, a shed, an extra-large garage?
Parking: A garage or carport? Room for how many cars?
Extras: Attic or basement?
Amenities:
Office
Play/exercise room
Security system
Sprinkler system
Workshop/Studio
In-law suite
Fireplace
Pool
Hot tub
Sidewalk
Wooded lot
Patio, deck, or porch
Laundry room
Learn more about the Buying process and Contact Gail today to discuss your home buying needs for Charlotte, North Carolina, or its surrounding areas.
Remember the 60-second rule: That’s all the time you have to create a winning first impression. Here are some simple to significant ways to maximize your home’s appeal.
Exterior
Keep the grass cut and remove all yard clutter.
Weed and apply fresh mulch to flower beds.
Apply fresh paint to wooden fences.
Tighten and clean all door handles.
Clean windows inside and out.
Powerwash home’s exterior.
Ensure all gutters and downspouts are firmly attached and functioning.
Paint the front door.
Buy a new welcome mat.
Place potted flowers near the front door.
Interior
Evaluate the furniture in each room and remove anything that interrupts “the flow” or makes the room appear smaller. Consider renting a storage unit to move items off-site.
Clean and organize cabinets, closets and bookshelves.
Clean all light fixtures and ceiling fans.
Shampoo carpets.
Remove excessive wall hangings and knick-knacks.
Repair all plumbing leaks, including faucets and drain traps.
Make minor repairs (torn screens, sticking doors, cracked caulking).
Clean or paint walls and ceilings.
Replace worn cabinet and door knobs.
Fix or replace discolored grout.
Replace broken tiles.
Replace worn countertops.
Special details for showings
Turn on all the lights.
Open all drapes and shutters in the daytime.
Keep pets secured outdoors.
Buy new towels for bathrooms.
Buy new bedding for bedrooms.
Replace old lamps or lampshades.
Play quiet background music.
Light the fireplace or clean out the ashes and light a candelabrum.
Infuse home with a comforting scent, such as apple spice or vanilla.
Set the dining room table for a fancy dinner party.
Vacate the property while it is being shown.
Learn more about the selling process and then Contact Gail to discuss putting your home up for sale in Charlotte.
Qualifications are important. However, finding a solid, professional agent means getting beyond the resume, and into what makes an agent effective. Use the following questions as your starting point in hiring your licensed, professional real estate agent:
Why did you become a real estate agent?
Why should I work with you?
What do you do better than other real estate agents?
What process will you use to help me find the right home for my particular wants and needs?
What are the most common things that go wrong in a transaction and how would you handle them?
What are some mistakes that you think people make when buying their first home?
What other professionals do you suggest we work with and what are their credentials?
Can you provide me with references or testimonials from past clients?
Learn more about the Buying process and Contact Gail today to discuss your home buying needs for Charlotte, North Carolina, or its surrounding areas.
As the seller, you can control three factors that will affect the sale of your home:
The home’s condition
Asking price
Marketing strategy
However, it’s important to note that there are numerous other factors that influence a buyer, and you need to understand these consumer trends when you enter the sellers’ market. The more your home matches these qualifications, the more competitive it will be in the marketplace. Your real estate agent can advise you on how to best position and market your home to overcome any perceived downsides.
Location
Unfortunately, the most influential factor in determining your home’s appeal to buyers is something you can’t control: its location. According to the National Association of REALTORS(r), neighborhood quality is the No. 1 reason buyers choose certain homes. The second most influential factor is commute times to work and school.
Size
While some buyers want to simplify their lives and downsize to a smaller home, home sizes in general have continued to increase over the decades, nearly doubling in size since the 1950s. Smaller homes typically appeal to first-time home buyers and “empty nesters,” or couples whose children have grown up and moved out.
Amenities
Preferences in floor plans and amenities go in and out of fashion, and your real estate agent can inform you of the “hot ticket” items that are selling homes in your market. If your home lacks certain features, you can renovate to increase its appeal, but be forewarned: That’s not always the right move. Using market conditions and activity in your neighborhood as a gauge, your agent can help you determine whether the investment is likely to help or hinder your profit margin and time on the market.
Learn more about the selling process and then Contact Gail to discuss putting your home up for sale in Charlotte.
Let’s face it: When your house goes on the market, you’re not only opening the door to prospective buyers, but also sometimes to unknown vendors and naïve or unqualified buyers. As with any business transaction, there is an expected protocol to how sellers, buyers and their respective agents interact. Should you find yourself in a sticky situation, alert your agent so he or she can address and remedy the problem.
The aggressive agent
When your agent puts your house on the market, typically all promotional materials state clearly that your agent is the primary contact for buyers and buyers’ agents. However, sometimes a buyer’s agent will contact a seller directly to try to either win over their business or cut the seller’s agent out of the deal. This is not reputable behavior and you should report it to your agent immediately if it happens to you.
The unscrupulous vendor
Have you ever started a business or moved into a new house and suddenly found your mailbox full of junk mail? Unfortunately, this also can happen when you put your house on the market. When you sell your home, it necessitates all kinds of new purchasing decisions and less-than-ethical vendors are keenly aware of this. Though MLS organizations enforce rules on how posted information is used, some companies have found ways to cull information from various sources to produce mass mailing lists. If you find yourself regularly emptying your mailbox of junk, let your agent know. He or she can tap the appropriate sources to prompt an investigation into the matter.
The naïve buyer
Yard signs, Internet listings and other advertisements can generate a lot of buzz for your home. Some prospective buyers – particularly first-timers – will be so buzzed to see your home that they’ll simply drop by. If this happens, no matter how nice these unexpected visitors are, it’s best not to humor their enthusiasm by discussing your home or giving an impromptu tour. Instead, politely let them know that your real estate agent is in charge of scheduling tours and provide them with the agent’s contact information. If you attempt to handle these surprise visits on your own, you might inadvertently disclose information that could hurt you during negotiations down the road.
Learn more about the selling process and then Contact Gail to discuss putting your home up for sale in Charlotte.
Whether to buy an existing home or have one built is yet another decision to make during the home-buying process. If you decide to go with new construction, a real estate agent can be a powerful advocate in your corner as you negotiate upgrades, a move-in date and other terms with the home builder. Below are some basic pointers to prepare you for the journey ahead.
Selecting a builder
Shopping for a large production or custom home builder can be a daunting task. Start by defining what architectural styles appeal to you and then seek out the builders in your area who offer those styles. Due diligence is essential. Ask friends for referrals to get firsthand accounts; verify the builder’s state license status, if applicable; and check whether they’re certified by the National Association of Home Builders.
The builder representative and your real estate agent
A builder representative’s ultimate goal is to sell you a home. His or her role is to provide a wide range of information to help you in your decision-making, from building restrictions, roads and easements to inspections, warranties, rebates and upgrades. A real estate agent knowledgeable in new-home construction will be able to help you wade through all the data and point out the downsides and upsides of each line item. Your agent also can look out for your interests in reviewing the builder’s contract, which often contains more legal jargon than consumer-friendly language.
It’s all about timing
Market conditions greatly dictate a builder’s incentive to make a deal you cannot refuse. When a builder has inventory on his hands, his carrying costs start adding up. When this happens, a builder might be more amenable to strike a favorable deal, whether it’s throwing in upgrades or taking a bit off the asking price. A real estate agent can help you know when market conditions are right for these benefits. Also, watch for builder close-out sales. Builders promote these special events when a new subdivision is near completion but empty inventory still remains.
A word about paying up
While there are always exceptions, most builders require a deposit when a purchase agreement is signed. They also require that the buyer pay for any upgrades prior to closing. If you back out prior to closing, unless the agreement states otherwise, you will lose that money. Make sure you understand every detail in the builder’s contract before signing it.
Learn more about the Buying process and Contact Gail today to discuss your home buying needs for Charlotte, North Carolina, or its surrounding areas.
The asking price you set for your home significantly affects whether you will profit in the sale, how much you will profit and how long your home will sit on the market. Your real estate agent’s knowledge of the overall market and what’s selling – or not selling – will be invaluable in helping you determine the price. The objective is to find a price that the market will bear but won’t leave money on the table.
Here are some points to consider: Time. Time is not on your side when it comes to real estate. Although many factors influence the outcome, perhaps time is the biggest determinant in whether or not you see a profit and how much you profit. Studies show that the longer a house stays on the market, the less likely it is to sell for the original asking price. Therefore, if your goal is to make money, think about a price that will encourage buyer activity (read: fair market value).
Value vs. Cost. Pricing your home to sell in a timely fashion requires some objectivity. It’s important that you not confuse value with cost – in other words, how much you value your home versus what buyers are willing to pay for it. Don’t place too much emphasis on home improvements when calculating your price, because buyers may not share your taste. For instance, not everyone wants hardwood floors or granite countertops.
Keep it simple. Because time is of the essence, make it easy for the buyers. Remain flexible on when your agent can schedule showings. Also, avoid putting contingencies on the sale. Though a desirable move-in date makes for a smoother transition between homes, it could cause you to lose the sale altogether.
Learn more about the selling process and then Contact Gail to discuss putting your home up for sale in Charlotte.