Are you thinking about selling your home? Do you know what you need to do prior to putting your house on the market? Most of us haven’t a clue. When the home projects seem overwhelming, where is your money  and time best spent? Scoop asked the professionals at COTTINGHAM CHALK HAYES to give us their top “to dos” and “not to dos” when preparing to sell your home. Here they are:
5 THINGS TO DO
1. Appearances count. Well-maintained landscaping is an absolute must!  Without good curb appeal, potential buyers may not even want to visit the home. You’ve got to have that wow factor when they arrive!
704.364.4400 x1321
704.625.2364 fax
704.763.0056 cell phone
rthomason@cchrealtors.com
2. Remove the clutter. One thing every seller MUST do – major decluttering and that includes garages and interior closets for sure.
704.364.4400 x1231
704.625.1841 fax
704.906.3467 cell phone
jlam@cchrealtors.com
3. Let the sunshine in. Literally, you will want your home to show in the best possible light. To create depth and make your home look as large as possible to potential buyers, turn on some lighting and making sure your curtains are open. A well-lit home just feels better.
704.364.4400 x1241
704.625.1832 fax
704.351.0118 cell phone
pelmore@cchrealtors.com
4. If it’s broken, fix it. Sellers know their home better than anyone else, so chances are you also know all the little things that are wrong with it. I recommend they fix anything defective; mechanical issues (ex. leaky faucets), structural (ex. trip hazards on walkway) cosmetics items (ex. caulk bathrooms).  A good home + in good condition + priced right = will sell.
704.364.4400 x1298
704.625.1846 fax
704.641.5513 cell phone
azimmerman@cchrealtors.com
5. Paint the front door and trim. So many times clients are standing there while we put the key in the door, which gives them time to notice details. Â First impressions are so important. Freshen up the front door with a new coat of paint.
704.364.4400 x1253
704.625.1830 fax
704.904.6777 cell phone
ldavis@cchrealtors.com
5 THINGS NOT TO DO
1. Overpricing is probably the biggest “don’t” in real estate. Â The best way to increase your odds of a quick sale is to price your home in line with comparable sales, and then allow for the appropriate price adjustments (ie – square footage, numbers of bedrooms and bathrooms, garage vs. no garage, lot size, amount of renovations, etc.). Â When priced right, your home will sell,
704.364.4400 x1208
704.625.2364 fax
704.904.6973 cell phone
skennerly@cchrealtors.com
2. Stage it yourself. Staging your home before it goes on the market is vital and who you use to help you in this process is just as important.Don’t hire someone to stage your home who does not stage homes for a living. Spend the extra money and hire a professional.
704.364.4400 x1417
704.625.2357 fax
704.975.6799 cell phone
jfagan@cchrealtors.com
3. It’s best not to complete projects that really don’t add top value to your home. Three projects I tend to advise against are; enclosing (glassing in) a screened porch, finishing off an attic in an already large home and refinishing hardwood floors. Instead offer a credit at closing or agree up front to have them done before closing but after you move out.
704.364.4400 x1255
704.625.1869 fax
704.904.6279 cell phone
ppeterson@cchrealtors.com
4. Do not go to the expense of granite counters if your kitchen is totally outdated. In older homes especially where renovations have been delayed and the kitchen would be best served with a total redo, save your money. The new owners will buy your house for all its other positive points and renovate the kitchen when they move in.
704-364-4400×1467
704.749.2362 fax
704.533.3489 cell phone
rhatfield@cchrealtors.com
5. Don’t replace it-clean it. One thing that home sellers shouldn’t worry about is replacing items that can be cleaned, painted or repaired. A little elbow grease goes a long way in cleaning shower tile, kitchen cabinets and appliances, not to mention baseboards, crown moldings and ceilings.  If scrubbing doesn’t do the trick, you should repaint.
Look at the walls in the  kids’ rooms and the hallways. Do they need a cleaning or would a fresh coat of paint make them look their best?  Are there places that need a dab of paint where it has chipped?  Walk around the house and have a critical eye, as a buyer would.
704.364.4400 x1490
704.625.2370 fax
704.451.2885 cell phone
dwhite@cchrealtors.com
Great advice from people who know real estate. If you are seriously considering putting your home on the market, contact one of the professionals at Cottingham Chalk  Hayes for more information and advice.
