Stage YOUR home TO SELL!

Staging your home to SELL!

The home improvement projects that make the house sell fastest is when you paint, update the flooring, and replace light fixtures.

Paint can instantly update a tired old space and make it look, feel, and smell like new again – especially if the walls were covered in wallpaper.

The same goes for flooring, wood flooring that’s scratched can be refinished with a top coat for an instant shine and if you have outdated, stained carpet it’s best to get rid of it and replace with a more affordable material. For details on those check out this video: https://youtu.be/rEf2s9ftM9E

Light fixtures are an easy way to tell if the home has been maintained throughout the years and can show the home’s actual age. So, if you have older fixtures, spend some money on replacing them.

It’s important to stick to neutral tones on your walls Neutral tones are not just the “blah” real estate beige — here are some of the go-to colors:

Halo, it’s from Benjamin Moore’s off white collection and it’s not only sophisticated but has endless possibilities when it comes to playing up other colors. Benjamin Moore Silver Fox – it’s not really silver, but actually lo

oks more like a gray-beige which is a good color combination to use in a room that you want to feel warm and cozy. When you put this color on your walls it’s almost as if you’re wrapping a blanket around you, so get comfy.

The next color is a blue gray and its called Eternity from Benjamin Moore. I absolutely love this color and Its one of my GO TO for my own house It’s a great color for southern facing rooms.

Buyers like to envision themselves in the space and are really looking for how they’ll utilize it. Overall consider the buyer. Would the buyer want to step over your mess on the floor to see the bathroom? Or see your dirty dishes? Be considerate of their time and have clean, organized spaces that they can actually consider living in and that will instantly put them in a better mood as they tour your home.

First impressions can make or break a sale, and curb appeal is the first impression being made with the buyer so it is extremely important.

Curb Appeal

•  Stay on top of your front landscaping, mow the lawn and trim bushes.

•  Power wash the home and sidewalks.

•  Add a welcome mat and potted plants around doorway.

•  Paint your door to update the look of your home, update the hardware.

•  Place a wreath or arrangement on your door.

•  Remove all toys, figurines from the front yard.

•  Clean all your windows.

•  Update lighting and house numbers. Make sure they match.

•  Repair the roof, gutters and update exterior paint if peeling.   

One of the first things buyers look for in a home is space, especially more storage space. It’s ideal to go through all your closets, kitchen cabinets or any cabinets that are provided in built-ins. Buyers are nosey and they want to know what they’re buying so focus on organizing and packing up items you won’t need while on the market.

Today’s home buyers are looking for move-in ready homes and that’s what home staging does. It gets the home prepared for sale and the next homeowners. Home staging will help you stand out amongst your competition if you live in a competitive market. It also makes the home easier to market because it will provide amazing photos to show online, which is where most buyers go to search for their next home. Home staging can also get you more offers and can increase the price of the home or, at the very least, justify the price the home seller is looking for. Contact me today for my list of approved by me stagers!

 803-517-8400 NC/SC Realtor®

TOP REASONS SELLERS LIST WITH ME!

Top reasons People list their homes with me and buy homes with me.

I am professional, ethical, and a trusted person.

I will provide you with excellent service.

I am a good listener and problem solver, and I like to work fast.

I will offer guidance in determining the listing price so your home can sell for the best market price and in the least amount of time.

I know the real estate business well.

I will simplify and help you with the process of accepting contracts, especially those involving financing contingencies.

I will develop the ideal marketing plan to list your property, using the latest technology available.

I strive to build long-lasting business relationships with my clients.

I will always be available to answer your calls, even after closing.

I will keep you advised of the last market trends and conditions in your area.

I pay for all your advertising. I advertise in Wall street journal, on line advertising, FB advertising, Homes and land and the Realtor Book. I want your home to POP to be the first home buyers are thinking of.

We go thru your home and discuss any possible needed repairs or cosmetic work.  We will then determine with you, if professional staging is needed or offer our suggestions on what you can do to "stage" your home.

Since 90% of buyers use the internet to search for a home, you want to list your home with the agent that has the best internet presence. We also place your home on all the other top sites, including Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, etc.

The language of real estate is photography.

Photographs speak volumes of your house and generate the traffic in your home. I will arrange for professional photographs of your home.  The photos are used in the MLS, on our websites, on the weblog, and in print advertising.

I am CEO CFO and owner of my business. I care if your house sells. I care if you purchase a house from me.

Contact me See how I work. Look at my listings on line, read my reviews.

COST OF SELLING Your HOME FOR SALE by owner VS REALTOR .

“Homeowners obviously know their homes better than anyone, but that doesn’t mean they’re the best salespersons for their properties.

Some sellers are tempted to try a For Sale by Owner (FSBO) transaction because their local community is in the midst of a sellers’ market and they think they can sell easily without help. Others try the FSBO route because they want to maximize their profits and avoid paying a commission to a Realtor.

However, statistics show that selling your home with the assistance of a professional real estate agent will garner you a higher profit, enough to cover the commission as well as put more money in your pocket. According to the National Association of Realtor’s 2013 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the average FSBO sales price was $174,900, while the average price for a home represented by an agent was $215,000, a difference of $40,100.

Why to Sell With a Realtor

Choosing to sell with a professional rather than on your own makes sense for a variety of reasons:

• A Realtor has access to market data about recent sales and other homes on the market that can be used to price your home appropriately. Studies show that homes priced right when they’re first listed sell more quickly and for a higher price than those that linger on the market.

• A Realtor can show your home when you aren’t available, can respond to inquiries from potential buyers and their agents, and can get valuable feedback from visitors – all things that save you time.

• A Realtor can look at your home objectively and suggest ways to improve its appearance – by staging and minor repairs – so it appeals to more buyers.

• Buyers typically prefer to look at a home without the seller present so they can feel more comfortable exploring the rooms and visualizing themselves in the property. At an FSBO sale, the seller must be present.

• A Realtor can screen visitors to your home, which provides a measure of safety that FSBO sellers don’t have. In addition, by checking to see if the buyers are legitimate and can afford to purchase your home, a Realtor can help you avoid wasting time showing your home to unrealistic buyers.

• Realtors have professional marketing expertise, contacts with other Realtors who work with buyers, and the support of a brokerage that can market your home more widely than you can as an individual.

• A Realtor can help you negotiate a contract that not only garners you an appropriate price for your home, but that meets your needs for a settlement date and perhaps includes a period when you rent back your home from your buyer. In addition, a Realtor can make sure your contract is in compliance with all local regulations.

Most buyers today work with a buyers’ agent to represent their interests. If you choose to sell your home on your own, you’ll be negotiating with a professional and relying on your own skill to finalize a contract. Not only could you end up selling your home for less money, you could leave yourself open to potential legal problems unless you have the contract vetted by an experienced real estate attorney.

FSBO transactions can be successful, of course, but 90 percent of homeowners prefer to work with a professional rather than risk an unsatisfactory home selling experience.” directly from realtor.com 

LETS BREAK IT DOWN !

Cost  on sale of  250,000 home 

For Sale by Owner

PROFESSIONAL Photography: $250-700

sign, directionals: $50-300

Professional flyers $75 mailers $150

advertising on line: Just FB advertising $500 a month For Sale by owner $250 per month. Google ad $30-1000 per month. people are on line looking for homes.

3% buyer agent commission: 7,500

time off work to show property: 14 an hour. based on 4 people coming in 1 hour per visitor $56

Screening buyers: $500.00 each visitor in your home background checks, making sure they are pre-approved to buy your home and not just “checking it out for when you are not home”

Website:$ 400-$1200

Ads in Realtor magazines and books to reach potential buyers $200-$1000

So what if all this doesn't work at the minimum you are out $2500, and of course taxes, mortgage payments. 

That is a big gamble to me.  Real Estate agents are professionals.  I spend the money up front to market your property.  If your property is not placed on line where buyers and agents that have access to other buyers cant see it you are waisting time, energy and $$$$$.

1. There Are Too Many People to Negotiate With

Here is a list of some of the people with whom you must be prepared to negotiate if you decide to FSBO.

The buyer who wants the best deal possible

The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer

The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)

The home inspection companies which work for the buyer and will almost always find some problems with the house

The appraiser if there is a question of value

Your bank in the case of a short sale

2. Exposure to Prospective Purchasers

Recent studies have shown that 92% of buyers search online for a home. That is in comparison to only 28% looking at print newspaper ads. Most real estate agents have an internet strategy to promote the sale of your home. Do you?

3.  Results Come from the Internet

Where do buyers find the home they actually purchased?

43% on the internet

9% from a yard sign

1% from newspapers

The days of selling your house by just putting up a sign and putting it in the paper are long gone. Having a strong internet strategy is crucial.

4. FSBOing has Become More and More Difficult

The paperwork involved in selling and buying a home has increased dramatically as industry disclosures and regulations have become mandatory. This is one of the reasons that the percentage of people FSBOing has dropped from 19% to 9% over the last 20+ years.

5. You Net More Money when Using an Agent

Many homeowners believe that they will save the real estate commission by selling on their own. Realize that the main reason buyers look at FSBOs is because they also believe they can save the real commission. The seller and buyer can’t both save the commission.

Studies have shown that the typical house sold by the homeowner sells for $184,000 while the typical house sold by an agent sells for $230,000.   This doesn’t mean that an agent can get $46,000 more for your home as studies have shown that people are more likely to FSBO in markets with lower price points. However, it does show that selling on your own might not make sense.

Bottom Line

Before you decide to take on the challenges of selling your house on your own, sit with a real estate professional in your marketplace and see what they have to offer.

First time home buyer neighborhoods in and around Charlotte NC

1. Rock Hill, SC minutes from uptown Charlotte (30 in good traffic) Low taxes, numerous outdoor sports home to the  velodrome and soon to be  
2. http://riderockhill.com/bmx/. Outdoor sports abound in Rock Hill. Home prices average home price : 190,000
3. 
   
4. Fort Mill, SC close to uptown and Ballantyne area. Swimming, hiking and trail riding are just some of the out door sports Fort Mill offers.  Average home price:250,000
5. 
   
6. Madison park| Your classic ranch neighborhood with lots of brick, this hood is in a prime location. Madison Park is the proud first neighborhood for many first time home buyers. 
   • Average Price: $222,000
   • Distance to Uptown: 15 minutes
   • Park Road shopping center. , renovated brick ranches, character, and parks. 
   • 
     
7. Noda  – NoDa, short for North Davidson, is an old mill town that is being transformed into an urbanite haven.  NODA YMCA is walking distance. 
   • Average Price: $219,000
   • Distance to Uptown: 10 minutes
   • Known For: Great breweries, trendy restaurants, lots of dogs, and fun nightlife
8. • 
     
9. Chantily  – This Historic District is the classic “up and coming neighborhood.” Homes are being purchased by investors, rebuilt or remodeled, with the intention to sell them to owner occupants. The finishes on the homes are pristine and the views of the Charlotte Skyline are hard to beat.
   • Average Price: $181,000
   • Distance to Uptown: 6 minutes
   • Known For: Views of Skyline, adorable renovated bungalows. 

Hip trendy area, thrift stores, eclectic area home to many amazing restaurants

Call me today to view some Amazing homes. 

TIME TO STAGE YOUR HOUSE!

"Think cleaning up or fixing up your place is an all-day - or all-weekend - effort? Well, you might be right depending on how long it's been since you spruced it up. But if you've let a few things get away from you and are feeling overwhelmed by the whole thing, take a beat, and a breath. By cutting the overall effort into smaller pieces, you can make a serious effort seem, well, effortless.

Whether your house needs a top-to-bottom cleaning or you are just looking for a clever way to attack the little things that bother you, this list of "20 Quick Fixes You Can Do In Five Minutes or Less" can help turn you around.

1. Call an "Electricity Drill." Everyone in the family is assigned rooms to check for lights, TVs, and unattended computers left on.

2. Sweep your front steps and shake out your welcome mat. Unless you don't want to be welcoming, in which case you can let it get as crusty as you want.

3. Clean out a junk drawer. Do one a day and you'll have a cleaner, more organized kitchen in no time. If it's a job that'll take more than a few minutes per drawer, break it up into steps: 1) toss the trash; 2) file the papers; 3) split up the rest by family member and make them do the dirty work. Check out Real Simple for more junk drawer clean-out ideas.

4. Take a look at your filters. Dirty and disgusting? Put "Trip to Home Depot" on your "To do" list. And actually do it.

5. Cut up some lemons and grind them up in your garbage disposal. It'll give your kitchen a fresh smell.

6. Do a quick fridge clean out. Take quick inventory of any dairy that's past its "good by" date and toss spoiled produce. And don't forget to check the door for mayo that's been there since the turn of the century.

7. Take a duster to your ceiling fans. They're nasty.

8. Play "Pick It Up" with your kids. Set the timer on your oven or phone for 60 seconds and race them to see who can pick up and put away more things. Inner Child Fun has some more ideas to inspire kids to clean.

9. Spritz your mirrors. They probably need it.

10. Spritz your windows. They definitely need it.

11. Comb your rug - a tight weave throw rug doesn't always respond well to a vacuum cleaner. Get down on the floor with a wire dog brush. It'll fluff up the fibers and make it look brand new.

12. Wipe down your flat screen. If you don't have the appropriate tool, the dust-free wipe you use for your eyeglasses will work just fine.

13. Check your light bulbs. Have one (or more) that's out? Swap it out and brighten up the place.

14. Now put light bulbs on your grocery list. Add batteries and anything else you always need when you don't have.

15. Run a baby wipe over your baseboards. It's a surprisingly good trick for making them look newly painted.

16. Spray your kitchen counters and your cooktop, paying extra attention to any caked-on areas. If you're watching TV, go back and have a seat while the cleaner does its thing. Get up and wipe them down during the next set of commercials.

17. Do the same thing in your shower. And your toilet.

18. Survey your kitchen. If there are small appliances you haven't used for a month, put them up to create more workspace.

19. Run a broom into dark corners of bedrooms and hallways. You might be surprised by the cobwebs hiding up there.

20. Make your pooch a fur appointment. A good grooming will reduce that rampant dog hair problem."

 Original article on REALTOR.com 

Janice L. Nichols

Realtor

www.JaniceNichols.BHHSCarolinas.com

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Carolinas Realty

3420 Toringdon Way #200, Charlotte, NC 28277

Office: (704) 227-1093

Cell: (803) 517-8400

E-Fax (704) 936-2103

Download my Mobile App!!! Text BHHSC1G0 to 87778 and receive a link on your smartphone or Click Here http://app.bhhscarolinas.com/Bhhsc1g0 and enter you phone number.

Shopping for a HOME?

 Qualify for a mortgage

Shopping for a home is a long,  process and an emotional roller coaster. So don't go too far down this road until you're qualified for a mortgage. You can't house shop for real until you know how much house you can afford. And there's no point in getting attached to a home that's out of your price range.

Buying With Your Heart—Not Your Head

The biggest trap of all. A home is a huge investment of money, time, and labor. Consider every aspect of the purchase with a cold, hard eye. Be brutally honest with yourself.

DO YOUR INVESTIGATION   on the Neighborhood

You've investigated the school district in which your potential new home resides, looked up crime and other key statistics, and even strolled through the neighborhood, stopping to talk with people walking their dogs or working in the yard. 

 Understanding Closing Costs

You're not just paying for the house—nothing is ever simple when buying a home. Carefully read and understand the sheet provided to you that explains closing costs. 

Have Cash on Hand for Unexpected Expenses

Weird things will go wrong with your home, it is part of being a homeowner. So be sure to have enough cash to handle surprises.

Operational Costs

It sounds simple: You're the owner now, so you need to heat and cool the home, clean it, maintain it, cut the lawn, perhaps trim the trees. But with all the other costs associated with closing the deal on the house and paying for the mortgage, it can be easy to forget that these costs are going to be your responsibility from here on out. This is another reminder not to blow all your money on the cost of the home.  DO NOT Skip the Home Inspection An experienced and certified inspector is worth every penny. There are things you're going to miss when you look the home over. A home inspector JOB  is to perform a thorough mechanical investigation with an experienced eye. 

 Using a Buyer's Agent

Speaking of getting somebody knowledgeable on your side, it's great to have a buyer's agent because they represent only your interests.  There are real estate agents and brokerages that do double duty with home buyers and sellers. There are also exclusive buyer agents, who only represent buyers and never sell real estate. Either type of representation can work.

Remodeling

Take the home for a test drive and live in it for at least several months to one year—don't dive into a  remodel right away. Living in  the home for a while will show how much you can afford to spend on remodeling now that you're paying a mortgage, operational costs. You may often change your mind about adding a window, or putting a tree in a certain spot.  

 Cash In

Sure, everybody would like to make a killing by buying an inexpensive house in the little town that's on its way to becoming the next $$ big area! 

 Great Place to Live

First-time home buyers would do well to play it safe. Look at the areas  past and consider its future.   Areas Like Rock Hill, SC are growing.  Fort Mill is building new subdivisions almost every day. NODA and Midwood Plaza in Charlotte are HOT areas.  Make sure Your REALTOR knows the area they are showing you. DO they know the BEST restaurants in that area? Have they been to the parks near by?