How to Sell a House in Charlotte, NC?

May 20, 2024

By jcobey23

Imagine you’ve just sold your house in North Carolina and feel relieved and excited as you start a new chapter. It sounds awesome, right? Whether you’re a first-time seller or a pro, selling a house in North Carolina can be a rewarding experience. Right now, the North Carolina housing market is balanced. It means there’s an even playing field between buyers and sellers compared to the past few years. So, our guide will help you every step of the way. Are you new to selling? Or maybe you own a luxury home and need special marketing tips? Let’s start by helping you get ready to sell your North Carolina house with confidence.

Benefits of Selling House in North Carolina

The North Carolina housing market is currently balanced. A balanced market means it is a great time for sellers. You can use your investment while dealing with a more predictable market. Here are the key benefits of selling your house in North Carolina now:

1. Appreciation and return on investment

North Carolina’s housing market has been growing steadily. Even though the rapid price increases have slowed down a bit, home values are still rising. This means you can sell your house for a good price and use the profit to make your next step.

2. Smooth selling process

A balanced market offers a more predictable selling environment than a hot seller’s market. There are fewer bidding wars, but plenty of buyer interest remains. This means you get a smoother selling process with fewer issues and a quicker timeline from listing to closing.

3. Increased inventory and good pricing

There are more houses for buyers to choose from now. But that doesn’t mean you have to drop your price. With the help of a good real estate agent or a company like Carolina Home Cash Offer, you can price your home competitively and get a fair market value.

4. Faster sales compared to a buyer’s market

Even though sales are not as fast as in a hot market, houses in North Carolina still sell quickly. Averaging close to three months on the market, this means you won’t have to wait too long to sell your house in about 86 days and move on.

5. Opportunity to showcase your property

A balanced market gives you more time to prepare your house for sale. You can work with a stager or realtor to highlight your home’s best features. This will attract serious buyers who are willing to pay top dollar. You can also work on home repairs and make your property presentable for the buyers.

Here’s the data for 2023 of home repairs with the highest resale value in the South Atlantic region. 

6. Get help from experienced real estate agents.

Experienced real estate agents really shine in a balanced market. They know how to navigate current market trends, price your home right, and create a marketing plan to reach the best buyers. With their help, you can ensure a smooth and successful selling experience.

7. Freedom and Flexibility

Selling your house opens up new opportunities. You might want to downsize, move for a job or family, or unlock the equity in your home. So, selling in a balanced market gives you more flexibility and control.

Getting ready to sell your house in North Carolina

The first step in selling your house in North Carolina is to prepare your home for the market. You must gather useful information, plan your finances, and make your house look great for potential buyers. Let’s break down and understand these concepts in detail.

Market intel

You must understand the state’s housing market to better understand whether to sell your house or not. Look at recent reports to see if prices are rising or stable and what the forecasts are for the coming months. Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is vital when you sell your house. Getting market information is a great starting point; you must go deeper by analyzing your city and neighborhood. Check out recently sold homes similar to yours to set a competitive asking price. Websites like Zillow or Realtor can be helpful for this.

Financial planning

There are some selling costs that you must keep in mind when selling your house in North Carolina. It includes realtor commission (if you use one), closing costs (like escrow fees and title insurance), and possible repair costs. Your house may need some work for a great presentation for buyers. Moreover, when you have enough market knowledge, an asking price that balances your goals with the current market value.  For this, your financial situation must be kept in mind.

Here’s some data from March 2024 regarding median North Carolina house value based on reports from Zillow and Realtor. 

Getting ready to show your house

You must remember that first impressions always count. So, it makes a great impact when you spruce up your home’s outdoor appearance with simple landscaping touches. It could be colorful flower beds or a clean driveway that makes a big difference. A well-kept exterior sets a positive tone for potential buyers immediately.

Moreover, deep cleaning throughout your home also matters. Don’t forget about staging, which involves arranging furniture and decorations to make your space feel inviting and spacious. Take care of any small repairs, such as fixing leaky faucets or touching up chipped paint. Also, think about smart upgrades that offer a good return on investment. It could be replacing outdated fixtures or giving rooms a fresh coat of paint. These will make your house market-ready and give buyers an awesome first impression.

Choosing your selling path

It means making a smart choice if you want to sell your North Carolina house. You need to pick the best way to sell it. Let’s check out the three main ways to help you decide which way suits you best for you.

Selling your house with a real estate agent

86% of home sales involve buyer agents, so this strategy can greatly help you.  If you want to work with an agent, we recommend talking to different agents: Meet a few real estate agents to see who’s the best fit for selling your house. See how experienced they are, what kind of person they are, and how they plan to sell your property. Selling your house with a real estate agent has its upsides and downsides.

Here are some pros of taking real estate agents’ help

1. A good real estate agent has tons of experience. They can help you with everything from setting the right price to negotiating with buyers.
2. Agents have access to great marketing tools and networks. They can show your property to many potential buyers online and through the MLS.
3. Experienced agents are expert negotiators. When offers start coming in, they’ll work to get you the best deal possible.
4. Selling a house in North Carolina can be time-consuming. Agents handle much of the work so that you can focus on other things.

Here are some cons of taking real estate agents’ help

1. Real estate agents usually cut the sale price to pay for their services.
2. Working with an agent means giving up some control. However, a good agent will keep you in the loop and consider your opinions throughout the process.

Selling your house in North Carolina yourself (FSBO)

For Sale by Owner (FSBO) is a great strategy, but you must not be limited to it. You must also try MLS platforms because houses listed on MLS sell for 13% higher prices.

Figuring out the right price for your house in North Carolina is super important. Asking too much could scare off buyers, but asking too little means you might lose out on money. So,  look at similar sales and be honest about what your house is worth. You must plan to let people know your house is for sale. Use websites, social media, and signs in your yard.

In North Carolina, you must tell buyers about any major problems with your house. It’s a good idea to talk to a lawyer to ensure you follow all the rules. Selling your house this way has some pros and cons.

Here are the pros of selling your house in North Carolina yourself

1. Selling your home yourself (FSBO) means you don’t pay a realtor, which could save you a lot of money.
2. You’re in charge of everything, like deciding the price and showing the house.

Here are the cons of selling your house in North Carolina yourself

1. You’ll need to work hard to promote your house. This means making attractive ads, managing online listings, and doing your own advertising.
2. Understanding all the legal stuff about selling a house can be tricky and takes time. Talking to a real estate lawyer for help might be a good idea.
3. Talking money with potential buyers can be challenging, especially if this is your first time. You’ll need to know what your house is worth and be ready to stand up for your price.

Selling your house in North Carolina to cash offer companies

Have you heard about cash home buyers? They’re online companies that give speedy cash offers for homes. It’s great if you want to sell your house in North Carolina. They swoop in with cash offers faster than a speeding bullet. If you’re in a hurry to sell your home, cash home buyers could be your ticket to a swift sale.

If you want to sell your house quickly in North Carolina, the Carolina Home Cash Offer is the perfect fit. Explore our website, fill out a form, get a cash offer, and close the deal on your desired day.

Marketing and selling your home in North Carolina

Now that you’ve picked how to sell and spruce up your North Carolina house, it’s time to get noticed. You need to reach the right buyers to get the best price for your house. So, this part involves making a listing that stands out, using smart marketing tactics, and handling exciting showings.

Make an awesome listing.

Your online listing is like the digital storefront for your North Carolina house. You need to make it shine to attract the right buyers. Get professional photos taken to show off your home’s best bits. Professionally photographed houses sell 32% faster. You can also consider adding a virtual tour so people can explore even if they can’t visit in person.

Moreover, you must write descriptions that grab attention. Highlight what makes your house special and talk up the neighborhood perks. Use words that people might type when searching for homes like yours. Do some research to find out what’s popular, then sprinkle those keywords into your listing naturally. You can also get help from any copywriter for an awesome listing in exchange for some bucks.

Your marketing strategies

Once your listing is complete, it’s time to promote your sale. Use a multi-pronged marketing approach to reach many potential buyers. Here are some methods you can try.

1. Put your home on websites like the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), Zillow, and Realtor. These sites reach many people and can attract many buyers.

2. Get the word out on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Share great photos and videos of your home, and aim your ads at people who want to buy in your area.

3. Hold open houses strategically so buyers can see your home in person. To attract local buyers, put up a sign in your yard with clear contact info.

Negotiation process and closing the deal

You’ve got people interested, shown them around, and now comes the exciting (and sometimes stressful) part: getting offers. Let’s help you handle negotiations, understand the home inspection, and confidently close your North Carolina house sale deal.

Evaluate all the offers for a house in North Carolina

The tricky part is done once you receive offers on your North Carolina house. Now, it’s time to evaluate each offer carefully. There is no need to rush into accepting the first one you receive. Here are the three things you must think about while evaluating an offer. :

1. The first one is proof, and that’s super important. Compare the offered price with your minimum acceptable price and what similar homes are selling for in the current market.

2. Secondly, you need to look closely at the terms of the offer. Check out the closing schedule and any conditions that need to be met before finalizing the sale. These could include inspections or repairs and how the buyer plans to pay.

3. The third essential element to focus on is the buyer’s financial situation. Are they pre-approved for a mortgage? A buyer with solid pre-approval is less likely to have issues with financing falling through.

These factors help you decide which offer is best for selling your North Carolina house. If the first offer differs from what you hoped for, feel free to make a counteroffer. You can negotiate on things like price or when the deal will close.

The Home Inspection

After you agree on the price of a particular offer, the buyer usually arranges for a home inspection. A professional inspector checks your house for problems like structural, electrical, or leaks. After the inspection, the buyer gets a report listing any problems found. Based on the report, you need to negotiate again. This means fixing issues, reducing prices, or dealing with concerns before closing. It’s smart to fix minor problems before this stage because that helps you negotiate better.

The Closing Process

It’s the final step in selling your North Carolina house, and it’s crucial. You must remember a few things regarding this step.

1. You’ll sign several legal closing papers about the sale, like the sales agreement, deed transfer, and closing disclosure. Don’t hesitate to ask questions if anything is unclear in the closing documents.

2. You can expect to pay certain closing costs, which cover different fees linked to the sale, such as realtor fees, title insurance, and a portion of property taxes. You’ll also need a valid government-issued ID to close.

3. Once everything is signed and costs are settled, the money from the sale will be sent to you.

5 things to avoid while selling your house in North Carolina

Selling your house in North Carolina is a satisfying experience. However, there are some things you need to watch out for to make sure everything goes smoothly. Let’s go through some common mistakes to avoid a successful sale of your house.

1. Pricing risks

Asking for too much money can scare off buyers and make your house sit on the market for a long time. You must thoroughly research the market and get a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) report for a fair price. Look at what other similar houses are selling for and pick a fair price. Additionally, you must be ready to talk about offers and negotiate. If someone offers less than you want, you can say no or suggest a different price. But don’t be too stubborn about it.

2. Mistakes in marketing

Remember how your home looks from the outside because first impressions count. You need to make your home’s outside look better by adding nice plants and making it look inviting. Moreover, you also need to ensure your online listing looks good. Bad pictures and boring descriptions won’t make people interested. So, we suggest spending money on good photos and maybe even virtual tours if possible.

Furthermore, you must not just rely on telling friends and family about your house in North Carolina being for sale. Put it up on websites where people look for homes and use social media to spread the word. You can even put up signs in your yard to get more people interested.

3. Showing shortcomings

Try to adjust your schedule to fit potential buyers’ times. It helps you attract more interest, and before showing your house, tidy up, fix small things, and ensure your home is well-lit. It leaves a good impression. You must be prepared to answer questions about your house and the area. You want to have a quick talk ready highlighting the best parts of your house in North Carolina.

4. Issues in negotiations

It’s natural to feel attached to your house when selling. However, it’s crucial to keep emotions in check during negotiations. You must take your time with the selling process. Don’t rush into accepting the first offer. Evaluate all your options and negotiate for the best deal possible.

Selling a home means dealing with legal stuff too. Make sure you understand all the paperwork involved. If you’re unsure, it’s wise to talk to a real estate attorney to make sure you’re following all the rules correctly.

5. Closing problems

When selling your house in North Carolina, you must not forget about closing costs. They’re part of the deal, so make sure you include them in your financial plans. Take a good look at all the closing documents. Don’t rush through them, and if you’re unsure about something, ask questions until you’re clear. Fix any small repairs before the home inspection. It’ll save time and help you avoid any unexpected issues during negotiations later.

Final Thoughts

At this point, we are sure you have all the information you want about selling your house in North Carolina. You have to experience the entire selling journey from the beginning to closing the deal. Now, if you want to sell your house in North Carolina without any hassle, you can contact Carolina Home Cash Offer to sell quickly.