SELLER TIPS: Charlotte Homes for Sale Q and A
Thinking of putting you home on the market and have some questions? Debe Maxwell of Charlotte NC has some excellent tips for you to read:
SELLER TIPS: Charlotte Homes for Sale Q&A
Oftentimes thought provoking questions come in from readers in other cities across the nation as well as from Charlotte home sellers. I thought I’d answer a few of the questions I’ve recently received. You may very well have some of these same questions if you're a Charlotte home seller.
My budget is really tight. I’ve read about home staging, but I can’t afford it. Is it absolutely necessary to sell a home?
Absolutely not. Realtors® often talk about that “extra touch.” Home staging is one of those extra touches. If your budget is severely limited, don’t break the bank to have a professional stage your home. Although I do suggest staging your home, a cheaper alternative is to borrow a book on home staging from your local library (free), or buying a book on home staging ($40 at the most). Much can be done by you once you have the right information. Or, hire a real estate agent, like me, who not only has a knack for staging but, also has a relationship with a professional stager. All stagers are NOT incredibly expensive and their cost can help you sell your home faster so that you don’t have the carry costs of keeping your home on the market for months. It’s an up-front investment, well-spent!
Is a mural considered a selling point or a ‘personal touch’?
This is a difficult question to answer. It truly depends on the mural, the room it’s in, and if it could be considered part of the décor. For instance, would a rooster painted on the wall of a country-style kitchen add or detract?
If you have a Realtor®, ask his or her opinion as this may vary from area to area. If you don’t have an agent, I strongly suggest you hire one to walk through and give you suggestions. For most Charlotte homes for sale, the answer would absolutely be “paint over it.” However, you never really know when an image might be that extra touch that makes the room special. So, get a professional opinion from someone who can actually go to your home and see it. You may love the mural and think there is nothing more beautiful than the rooster painted on your kitchen wall but, buyers may not want to hurt your feelings and paint over it, making this a negative on buyers’ pros and cons lists!
Some murals can add to the room, such as whimsical rabbit murals in a child’s bedroom. Others can severely detract from a room, such as a large mural of Elvis on the bathroom wall. Tons of people like Elvis, but I’m not so sure they’d all like an image of him in my bathroom!
I’m getting ready to put my home on the market and am trying to make sure all the repairs are done. Should I hire a home inspector before I put my home on the market?
YES! Hire a home inspector first. The inspection report will include an overview of needed repairs that you can either address in one fell swoop or begin to chip away, one-by-one, as you’re preparing to market your home. A pre-inspected home has a better chance of selling quicker than one that has not been checked out--at the very least, it has a better chance of getting to the Closing table! Pre-inspected homes can help you pave the way for a smooth transaction ahead!
Keep those questions coming! Where Charlotte homes for sale are concerned, the most important advice I can give is to remember that no two homes are exactly alike. Everything has a unique selling point and unique selling detractor. Finding out which is which can make all the difference.
Have questions of your own? You can add them as a comment here, email them to me or call me.
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