Showing Your Home for Sale

Showing your home in its best light is crucial – it’s SHOWTIME!  Your South Charlotte NC home is now on the market and ready for interested buyers to come and take a look.  After years of showing homes to buyers interested in South Charlotte NC homes for sale, I have found that buyers often make a decision on your home before they even enter your home, or just after they step inside the foyer.  It is crucial to make a GREAT first impression that will evoke an emotional response from the buyers!

Showing Your Home for Sale – Great Curb Appeal

South Charlotte home buyers are looking for homes that have been well-maintained and look great, both inside and out!  The exterior look of your home is often as important as the interior, so make sure to pay attention to the details – your buyers surely will!  When showing your home, be sure to:

• Keep the lawn mowed, fertilized, edged and watered.
• Trim trees and shrubs, edge, weed and mulch flower beds.
• Keep driveway and sidewalks free of leaves, snow and debris.
• Check to make sure the exterior house paint looks fresh and is not in immediate need of repair, especially the front door.
• Remove all personal items, such as children’s toys, lawn equipment, trash cans.
• Inspect your roof to make sure no shingles are loose/missing.
• Make sure all door locks work easily and don’t get stuck.
• Check all exterior lighting and replace any burned-out light bulbs.
• Consider adding appealing planters with seasonal flowers at your front door.

Showing Your Home for Sale – Let the Interior Shine

• Clean your entire South Charlotte NC home so that it nearly sparkles!
• Check walls and clean any marks; a fresh coat of neutral paint doesn’t cost much but will return a lot.
• Clean your windows inside and out – buyers DO notice!
• Eliminate any odors caused by pets, cooking, cigarette smoke.
• Make sure all tubs, showers and sinks are clean, stain-free and caulked.
• Check your plumbing – no leaks, drips or running toilets.
• De-clutter all rooms and remove any unnecessary furniture.  You want your home to feel open and spacious!
• De-clutter and tidy up all closets, basement, attic and other storage areas.  Buyers will look!
• Make sure all light bulbs and fixtures are in good working order, and turn them on for showings.
• Clean your carpets and clean/buff any hardwood floors.
• Replace all HVAC filters.
• Open draperies and blinds to let the natural sunlight in.
• Remove all valuables and store them in a safe place.
• Listen to your Realtor® if he/she recommends professional staging for your home!

Showing your Home for Sale – What to Expect When Buyers Come Through

• Realtors with South Charlotte NC home buyers will make appointments with Centralized Showing Service, a call service that manages showings and coordinates feedback
• Make it easy to show your home!  It’s an imposition, we know, but crucial in the sales process.
• Remove all pets for showings if possible – some buyers are afraid of or allergic to pets.
• Leave your home during showings!  This is critical – buyers will not feel comfortable looking at your home if you are there!
• Understand that some Realtors may run late, cancel the appointment, or be a no-show.  Sometimes agents run late because their buyers spend too much time looking at another home, traffic, etc.  Be as accommodating as possible!
• When you can, turn on the lights and adjust the temperature for showings to make your home feel inviting.
• Realtors who have shown your South Charlotte home for sale  will provide buyer/agent feedback.  This is a great opportunity to listen to what buyers are saying about your home and adjust accordingly.