If you have never sold a house before and you’re looking to get into the seller’s market, you will need to learn about the home selling process. You will need to work with a real estate agent or consider pursuing a for-sale-by-owner option.
Either way, the home selling process remains mostly the same. You will likely need to declutter your home, complete home improvements, set an asking price, stage open houses, and sign a purchase agreement.
You’ll have to complete necessary repairs and get professional photos of your home taken for posting on Zillow, Redfin, and other real estate websites. If you’re looking to sell your home in North Carolina, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to learn all about the steps for selling a home in North Carolina. Let’s get started!
The Home Selling Process
If it’s the first time you are selling a home, you should get a listing agent or realtor who will work with the buyer’s agent to complete the home sale. Interview several listing agents before picking the one you want. Ask them about the commission fees, how quickly your home may get sold, and the contract agreement.
Homeowners will also need to determine the home value to avoid accidentally listing their house above market value. Keep track of the home values of properties previously sold in your neighborhood.
In particular, look at prices within the last year, as these will align with the market value of your place. Home buyers can get turned off by high real estate prices. Home sellers may need to look at a comparative market analysis report before setting the price of their house.
Now, declutter your place and improve curb appeal by adding more flowers and plants to your front yard. The first impression for buyers is vital to gaining a higher purchase price. You may also need to renovate and upgrade to list your home at a higher price.
Now, you will need to advertise your house with the help of your real estate agent and a strong marketing strategy. Your realtor can show off your home to potential buyers using a lockbox. Open houses may also help market your property and get you offers. Once the offers start rolling in, you can negotiate and move toward your closing date.
Step-By-Step Process of Selling a House
Selling your house in North Carolina may seem like a rather long and complex process, but it can be done with the help of a realtor. One of the biggest mistakes that a first-time home seller can make is to try to sell without hiring a real estate agent.
You will also want to sell your home at the right time of the year. Another major mistake is to try selling your place during the winter. Much fewer potential buyers are available in the winter, so you probably won’t see a buyer’s offer. Instead, the best time to put a house on the market is in the late spring and summer, which is when most people look to move.
The usual steps you will need to follow when selling a house in North Carolina include:
- Pick your listing agent and determine how you will sell your house
- Research the real estate market
- Pick the right asking price with the help of a home appraisal
- Complete renovations and repairs
- Start the home staging process
- Negotiate the offers to get a higher sale price
- Complete a home inspection report before the buyers get a property inspection done
- Cover the closing costs and sell the home on the closing date
Determine How You’re Going to Sell Your House
First, you will need to find a listing agent who will help you sell your house quickly at a good price. The right realtor will work to meet your requirements during the home sale. You can ask your friends, family, and acquaintances for recommendations when looking for a realtor.
Next, pick a few realtors to interview and find out which one will work the best for you. You will also need to figure out when to sell your home. Usually, the best times to sell are during the spring and the summer. You will also need to consider hiring a professional photographer and staging experts to ensure your home looks ready for sale.
Research the Market
The next step is to research the real estate market to see what price you could list your house. You will need to look at a comparative market analysis report to see the price homes are sold for in your area.
The report will include details on similar homes in your neighborhood and how much they were sold for. Work with your realtor to learn more about your local housing market. Doing so will help you figure out where to price your home once you’re ready to sell the place.
Pick a Competitive Listing Price
You will sell your home more quickly if you choose a competitive listing price. Homes that are more affordable for prospective buyers will get offers more quickly and you’ll complete the sale faster. You will want to list the price at around the market value of your house. That way, you’ll get a good price without waiting too long.
Your realtor can help you pick the right asking price. The real estate agent conducts market analysis to provide you with expert advice. Doing so will help you sell your home in a short period of time.
Make Repairs
You will need to make necessary repairs before putting your home on the market. Complete a walk-through with your realtor to check what needs fixing. You can also replace some old appliances and paint the rooms a neutral color.
Now, you don’t have to follow every piece of advice from your realtor, but you should conduct basic upgrades to get a good price for your home. Figure out the most reasonable home improvement projects you can complete before you need to put your home on the market.
In addition, you will need to clean your house and declutter. The next step is to stage your home.
Stage Your House
To stage a home, remove excess furniture and clean out your closets. The more space is available when buyers walk through the house, the more they will like what they see. Complete a deep cleaning to ensure that home is spotless during showings. Get a carpet cleaning service if your carpets have too many stains.
Add a fresh coat of paint to your bedrooms, kitchen, living room, and bathroom(s). Also, consider getting some landscaping work done, as curb appeal is imperative to boost the first impression among buyers.
Negotiate Prices
It’s important to negotiate once you start getting offers rolling in. If you are selling during a seller’s market, then you should have no problem negotiating. You might get multiple offers if your home is in a good location. Work with your realtor to get the best counteroffer.
Once you have accepted an offer, you will start filling out the paperwork and sign a purchase agreement. Now, you will have to get your home move-in ready and wait for the buyer to get their loan approved. The closing date is usually about one month or more after signing the purchase agreement.
Prepare for Property Inspection
Home buyers generally ask for a property inspection before they complete the sale. You will want to have your real estate agent provide you with a home inspection checklist. The checklist will include all the factors that a property inspector will check for. Now, you will want to get your home prepared for inspection.
Make sure your attic and basement are ready for inspection as well. You might get your roof inspected as well as request a sewer inspection. Make sure everything is up-to-date before the inspection takes place or else you will need to complete more renovations before the sale is final.
Closing Your House Sale
The last step involves attending the closing, filling out all of the final documentation, and giving the new owners the keys to the house. You will need to move and get all of your things out of the house on closing day or even earlier.
However, if you don’t want to go through all of these many steps and merely want to sell a house fast in North Carolina, you will want to seek out real estate investors and Charlotte cash home buyers.
The benefits of selling your house for cash include:
- The ability to complete the sale quickly
- Selling your place in its as-is state
- Avoiding realtor commission fees and other hidden costs
Conclusion
When looking to sell a property in North Carolina, you will need to follow the home selling process from the tutorial above. You will likely need to make upgrades and stage the home. However, if you prefer selling quickly and leaving the house in its current condition, you should look for cash home buyers.
Luckily, we buy houses in Salisbury residents are eager to sell. Contact us today for more information.