7 Ways to Get Your House Ready to Sell in Charlotte, NC
Are you thinking about selling your house in Charlotte, NC? If so, we’ve got 7 ways to prepare your house for sale. We’ll cover everything from staging and decluttering to tidying the yard and home interior. Our goal is to get you into that new place as quickly as possible!
7 ways to get your house ready to sell in Charlotte include connecting with a licensed real estate agent, deep cleaning and decluttering, fixing wear-and-tear on the exterior of your house, fixing wear-and-tear in the interior of your house, filling out property disclosures and paperwork, professional photography/videography and a floor plan sketch, devising a listing timeline.
Keep reading to learn about working with a real estate agent, sprucing up your interior and exterior, property disclosures, and everything in between.
Step 1: Connect with a licensed real estate agent
First things first, you’ll want to reach out to a licensed real estate agent.
They can help guide you on pricing your home competitively and how best to show off its features. They do more than just list your home; they advise on home repairs, coordinate open houses, ensure that your home and belongings are safe during showings, prepare all documentation, and keep everything on track for a smooth selling process. Plus, they know the ins and outs of selling houses in Charlotte better than anyone else.
Ensure that your agent is a good fit for you by checking their online reviews, visiting their website, and asking friends and family for recommendations.
Locking in a great real estate agent to help you through the process will make selling your home that much easier when the time comes!
STEP 2: DEEP CLEANING AND DECLUTTERING
Once you’ve connected with your agent, it’s time to deep clean and declutter. You’ll want to get every nook and cranny in the house sparkling so potential buyers can picture themselves living there.
Start by cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms, making sure they’re spotless and clutter-free. Donate or sell items that haven’t been used in a while and give everything else a good dusting!
Work your way around the house- removing items from the bedroom, living room, and other areas that buyers will see. A good rule of thumb is to make it look like a second home that’s used only part of the year, with some memorabilia but no full-blown photography collages. Keep it tasteful and clean.
Something else to consider is staging. If you either have moved some of your things out or your furniture doesn’t reflect the space’s potential, it may be time to call a stager. Your agent can recommend some companies to you.
Obviously, if you still live in the home, SOME of your belongings will have to remain, so there is no need to make it a completely sterile environment.
STEP 3: FIXING WEAR-AND-TEAR ON THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOUSE
After you’ve gotten your house deep cleaned and decluttered, prepare the exterior of your home for sale.
This means trimming bushes, mowing the lawn (and making sure it’s green), cleaning out gutters, fixing any cracks in concrete or brickwork, repainting shutters/doors/trim if they need it, power washing, and giving the exterior of your home a fresh coat of paint.
Visitors will judge your house on first impressions, so make sure it looks its best before showing off to potential buyers! Your agent can help you determine which of these fixes are necessary for getting top dollar and which ones you can skip.
STEP 4: FIXING WEAR-AND-TEAR IN THE INTERIOR OF YOUR HOUSE
Now it’s time to turn your attention inward and get the interior of your house ready for sale.
This means deep cleaning all floors (carpet, tile, hardwood), giving them a fresh coat of paint or stain if necessary. Make sure that any appliances are in working order- and light fixtures are in good condition. You’ll also want to make sure that all of your windows are clean, any drapery is in good shape, and you’re ready for the next step!
Check out this checklist for a more detailed list of ways to get your home ready.
STEP 5: FILLING OUT PROPERTY DISCLOSURES AND PAPERWORK
This is one of the last steps in your selling process, and it’s extremely important!
Property disclosures (if you live in a state like North Carolina where this is required) should be filled out as soon as possible after choosing an agent. They will walk you through how to complete each form. Pulling details from the closing documents when you purchased the home will be helpful during this step.
These forms will tell buyers about known problems with your house, such as structural issues or past damage, and give them an option to request repairs if necessary. Although sellers may be wary of revealing any issues, it will ensure that there are no surprises during inspection that may result in a buyer backing out at the last minute.
Additionally, sellers have the option to have their own inspections for mechanical and structural stability, radon, and roof integrity and have a third-party appraisal done. This may not always be necessary but might be recommended by your agent in some instances.
STEP 6: PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEOGRAPHY AND A FLOOR PLAN SKETCH
Now that you’ve done all of the work, it’s time to capture the final product!
Your agent should be able to provide resources for a great photographer and videographer. Having professional photos taken is kind of like an instant makeover- people looking at your house online will get a much better idea about its appearance after seeing professional pictures.
Doing a video walkthrough is optional, but many people with larger homes opt to include this marketing strategy to help potential buyers get a cohesive idea of the space.
Floor plans are also a great idea to include with online listings! They show potential buyers what the layout of your home is like and will give them accurate room measurements and you a precise square footage number.
STEP 7: DEVISING A LISTING TIMELINE
Finally, it’s time for you to sit down with your agent and determine the best timeline for selling.
They will take into account factors like market demand in your area, how long houses are typically sitting on the market before being sold (this is called Days On Market or DOM), as well as other local events and holidays that may affect buyer’s availability.
Another thing to consider is whether or not to list your property for sale right away on the MLS or to opt for a “Coming Soon” listing to create buzz. Your choice will be strictly circumstantial.
Your agent should be able to provide you with a ballpark figure for how long your house will likely take to sell and will communicate this timeline with potential buyers before they set up showings of the property. This will help you determine when it’s time to start looking for a new place to live.
THE BOTTOM LINE
It’s never too early to start prepping your home to hit the market!
If you’re ready to sell your home in Charlotte, NC and want it to be seen by as many potential buyers as possible, we can help. Reach out today for a free consultation with one of our experts at Daniels Real Estate Group, who will get you on the right track to sell your home for the best price, with the quickest closing.
What steps have you taken so far towards getting your house ready to sell?
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