How to Make your Older Charlotte Home Out-Show the Newbies

August 6th, 2010 categories: Selling your home

Show off your older Charlotte home

It’s no secret that we’re currently in a buyer’s market.  And with that, many home owners are wondering if their older Charlotte home for sale has a chance in today’s competitive housing market.  And this is certainly a valid concern.  The good news is that making your older Charlotte real estate area home out-show newer homes is not as hopeless as you might think.  And that is where your Charlotte REALTOR can lend you a solid helping hand.  Here are three methods for ensuring a quick and smooth sale of your older home.

Older Charlotte homes for sale typically come with mature trees, and this is a feature that you will never find in newer neighborhoods.  Why not create a no-kidding, show-stopping landscape. The yard doesn’t have to be a gardener’s dream, but should complement the lifestyle of potential buyers.  Family-oriented Charlotte neighborhoods should have lush, expansive lawn spaces where kids can play.  And older, retirement real estate areas should have mostly low maintenance landscaping with a small area for gardening.  Bottom-line, if buyers love the outside curb appeal, they will already be prepared to fall in love with the inside too!  Our Charlotte REALTORS are trained to know the landscaping elements that are most attractive to potential buyers for all Charlotte real estate areas.

The biggest concern for home buyers considering older Charlotte homes for sale is maintenance.  Ensuring big-ticket items such as roofing, heating and cooling systems are in good condition is essential to selling an older home.  If it’s just about time to replace these items, try to replace them before putting your home on the market.  It’s tempting to “leave them for the next person”, but in reality, there may not be someone else if you are unable to sell your Charlotte real estate area home.  And an older home that is advertised as having new energy efficient upgrades will certainly grab the attention of not only earth-conscious buyers, but also money-conscious buyers.  Our Charlotte REALTORS help all our sellers identify which upgrades will grab the most attention from potential buyers.

Professional renovations do come with a price tag, but if your goal is to sell your home quickly and efficiently, there is no better solution.  And if you’re handy with a power drill, that’s even better.  But a word of warning, if your own handy work doesn’t produce “model home” results, it’s best to leave the home as it is.  Nothing will turn off Charlotte real estate buyers more than “do-it-yourself” quality.  Keep in mind that the money spent on a professionally installed renovation could save you much more in wasted mortgage payments if the home sits empty for even a month longer than it needs to.

Think BIG when making renovation plans for Charlotte homes for sale.  Open floor plans and tall ceilings are trends that will linger for years.  Many older homes, however, are the exact opposite, with low ceilings and closed floor plans that focus on creating distinctly separate rooms.  Taking walls out of a home can be a daunting project, however, a licensed contractor can help you with this project in a matter of days for minimal cost.  You’ll be amazed how this slight floor plan change can distinguish your home from others in the Charlotte neighborhood.  And while there’s not much you can do to raise a ceiling, there are certainly decorating techniques that can make rooms appear taller.  We offer all our sellers tips for renovation possibilities that will lead to big returns at the closing table!

And most importantly, use a Charlotte REALTOR with experience in marketing older homes!  Our Sellers have the peace of mind that their home will sell quickly and for a fair value.  If you want to make sure the sale of your older Charlotte real estate area home is both successful and rewarding, Contact Us and we will ensure that you sell your Charlotte home for Top Dollar!

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: 2 Comments »

(You) CAN

August 6th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Living, Selling your home

You know how you just begin to feel overwhelmed? Burned out on keeping your house for sale looking like its the next Architectural Digest feature! Tired of traipsing through house after house looking for “the one”? Weary of closing costs, contracts, upgrades….ever want to just give up?

This video won’t cure those ills but it just might make you stop and breathe. Selling or finding the right home has a way of working out and we love to help…and we listen!

There are only two kinds of people:

1) people who have not yet watched this video
2) people who will never forget it

Had you heard about the Hoyt’s — we’d like to know what do you think?

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: 2 Comments »

Can’t Sell That Charlotte House? 3 great tips

July 21st, 2008 categories: Selling your home

Maybe it needs more color and light?  I found this great article in the July 08 issue of Realtor Reflections.  On page 58 the article gives you tips on what you can do to make your home show better.

• 1.) Color can be a seller’s friend but not too much color: A little color can make the home memorable and maintained. Just be careful and have your Charlotte Realtor help you choose which one to use.
• 2.) How to detail a home: We all should know clutter kills the sale. It will make your house look dirty and smaller. Less is more with furnishings. Lose the heavy drapes for a clean window, hang just a few pictures, not family portraits.
• 3.)Consult a professional house stager. If you need someone’s name for this, contact me at Donna@TalkCharlotte.com. They charge from $65-100 per hour and make such a difference; I have had clients actually decide not to sell their Charlotte house once the decorator gave them tips.

What other tips have you done that have worked?

Don’t have your home look like this! Loose the wallpaper! No dishes! No clutter on refrigerator…etc.

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: Your Comments Please »

Charlotte A Sign(s) You Need a Great Realtor!

July 7th, 2008 categories: Buying your Home, Great Neighborhoods, Our Charlotte Realtors

Out and about this weekend, I think its a record 30 plus neighborhood signs on one corner in the growing Blakeney / Ballantyne and Union County area.

No doubt some really great new Charlotte homes in some quality builder communities here…

• Lennar Demere
• Shea Homes Barrington
• Orleans Bridle Path
• Toll Brothers Marvin Creek
• M/I Homes Cureton
• Centex Edenmoor
• Pulte the Chimneys at Marvin
• Cunnane Ardrey
• K. Hovnanian

So who’s good? who’s best? what’s right for you? We are showing homes in these neighborhoods everyday ~ and while signs can get you there what’s most important is who will look out for you once you’re there! We’ll give you the scoop and help you find the perfect home for you at one of these or many other neighborhoods in the South Charlotte and Union County area….so make sure you look for this sign (a great Charlotte Realtor) first!

Click on our sign to search Now for homes in South Charlotte and Union County!

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: Your Comments Please »

What if I want to talk to a Charlotte Realtor, now? Here’s a secret!

June 23rd, 2008 categories: Buying your Home, Our Charlotte Realtors

We’ve all been there voice mail prompt hell…If you’d like to sell your house please press 1, if you’d like to just listen to more of this great music please press blah…blah…blah…

Well what about the 10th call to your real estate agent? You already know who you’re calling — I JUST WANT TO LEAVE A MESSAGE!!!!

Well there is a better way thanks to the Charlotte Observer’s Rob Pegoraro for these secret tips to help cut through those “Hello my name is…” prompts.

“The total time wasted by these instructions, which play after a person’s recorded greeting, could add up to millions of hours a year. Has anybody ever done anything after hearing the leave-me-a-message greeting but, you know, leave a message?” But if you want to skip the welcome and message options….“If you’re calling an AT&T subscriber, pressing “0” will usually let you start recording your message right away;with a Sprint customer, press “1”; for a Verizon user, use the asterisk key; and when phoning a T-Mobile subscriber, hit the number key.”

So when you want to reach the Charlotte Premier Realty team (a little quicker) here ya’ go — when you’re ready to talk, we’ll listen!

Rhonda Gibbons 704-651-6551 skip the greeting (press * once – Verizon)

Jackie Stutts 704-517-2594

Blake Garvin 704-763-0907

Betsy Mayer 704-840-7948

Donna Johnston 704-517-3925 (Skype her instantly at Donna.Forrest)

and check out this BONUS link for more tips on getting to speak to a human at Bank Of America, Capital One Visa, the Social Security Administration and others!

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: Your Comments Please »