Jonathan Osman

2021 Guide to Preparing Your Home For Sale

Welcome to our 2021 Home Preparation Guide. The follow tips are a combination of improvements and repair items that are the most common found during a home inspection.

We highly recommend every property owner invest in a Pre-Listing Home Inspection, which will help uncover any serious issues that could kill a transaction later on down the road. If items are found, they can be addressed and corrected prior to the home being listed for sale or disclosed to prospective Buyers and addressed either by offering a concession or by selling “As-Is”.

Exterior

A good first impression is everything. Prospective Buyers will spend time at your front door while their Realtor fumbles with the lockbox and unlocks the door. In that time, they will begin to scrutinize the exterior of the home so taking time here to unsure that everything looks its best will set the tone for the rest of the showing.

Additionally:

Make sure water drains from the house when it rains. Simple splash blocks or down spout extensions can help divert water away from the foundation.
Ensure your door locks work properly and without excessive sticking. A little WD-40 into your lock can do wonders, especially if you don’t use the lock often. If the handle or knob is broken or worn, replace it.
Paint the front door and the related trim if it shows any signs of fading, peeling paint and repair any wood rot around the base of the door. Their home inspector will find it eventually.
Clean any gutters filled with debris from the fall.
If you have an older roof, it may be worthwhile to have a roofer make repairs to torn and broken shingles as well as nail pops and worn exhaust boots.
Replace any rotted or broken wood on the deck.
Video doorbells have become almost expected. Consider adding even a basic one as a selling feature.
- In North Carolina, smart home features must convey with the house unless excluded. That would include any hubs that are required for the smart devices to work (i.e. Smart Speaker with built-in Hub).

General Interior

Your prospective Buyer has already toured your home online before ever stepping foot into the house physically. It’s important that their visit should meet or exceed their online expectations. Consider having your home professionally deep cleaned prior to showings and do avoid any strong incense smells.

Pre-pack much of your house. When it comes to clothes, remove the clothing that is out of season from your closet and pack them away in the garage or storage unit.

Also:

If you have any double pane windows with clouded glass or rust in the between the glass, you may have a broken thermal seal. If you are the original owner of either the windows or the home, your windows can be replaced, sometimes for free or little cost.
Carpet only lasts 5-7 years, less if you have pets or it’s in a high-traffic area. At a minimum, have your carpets cleaned. At most, have them replaced prior to the home being listed for sale.
Paint is the best return on investment improvement you can make to your home. Consider a neutral color but it’s okay to leave accent walls with a little color. Don’t ignore the ceiling. ALWAYS PAINT THE CEILING!
Replace any burned out light bulbs
Smoke detectors have an expiration date. When in doubt, replace.
If you home has a fireplace, gas appliance and / or an attached garage, a CO2 detector is needed.
Secure any loose electrical outlets and replace any broken wall plates.
If your windows struggle to stay open, they may need a new spring. Replacement parts are available online relatively inexpensively and some even have Youtube instructions on how to make repairs.
Install an overflow pan under the Washing Machine.
Replace your furnace air filters and clean any dusty debris from the registers around your home (including the bathroom vents).

Kitchen

Kitchen and Baths are the two areas that are judged the hardest by prospective Buyers so these are two areas I tend to pay the most attention. If your home has worn out kitchen appliances, replacing them with a new matching set can be worthwhile if it’s within your budget. If not, price your home accordingly.

A thorough cleaning or a fresh coat of paint with new hardware can give even the most outdated kitchen a new lease on life. Your pantry should be 1/2 to 3/4 full and your counter tops should have no more than your absolute essential appliances for daily use (coffee maker, blender, toaster). Everything else is packed away.

Should you invest in solid-surface countertops like granite or quartz? If it is within your budget, absolutely. The cost of granite counters have fallen considerably in recent years, leading to their universal appeal.

Check under all sinks, drains, and faucets for leaks.
If you have a flexible drain line under your sink, it will show as a repair item on your Buyer’s home inspection report. Consider replacing.
Check the garbage disposal for leaks or cracks.
Ensure that your dishwasher is secured either to the countertop above or the cabinet to the side.
If you have a burner that isn’t working or a cracked cooktop, they can be replaced by an appliance repair company.

Bathrooms

Your bathroom should be limited to the essentials. Remove any hanging baskets of soap or freshen up the space by adding new light bulbs, a fresh shower curtain, and clean white towels.

Make sure that the toilets are not loose. Replace the wax ring if there is any sign of moisture around the base of the toilet.
If your toilet doesn’t flush properly every time, consider replacing the fill valve with new kit.
Caulk around the tub, shower pan, walls, and along the base to the floor.
Fix and replace any missing grout in a tile floor or a tiled shower wall.

Yard / Garden

Yard spaces are important to Buyers and the Spring is a great time to show off a beautiful green lawn. If your lawn was beat up during the previous Winter, consider overseeding it in the very early Spring to help fill in the bare areas. If your grass coverage isn’t your problem, apply fertilizer to green up your lawn and prevent weed growth.

Replace any worn or broken deck boards.
Add bright seasonal flowers in the landscape
Apply fresh mulch / pine straw
Replace any burned out exterior light bulbs
Power wash patio, driveway, sidewalks to remove any winter grime.

Final Thoughts

The most common question I receive is if you should spend money improving your home before it’s listed for sale.

Most Buyers today are looking for turn-key move-in ready properties that require minimal improvements so, for this group, a house that has fresh paint and updated fixtures really appeals. However, if your budget does not support spending additionally on improvements, a house that is very clean, appearing to be maintained, and priced appropriately can also appeal to another audience who are looking for a home they can add their personal style to. The key here is to price the home appropriately for the level of the improvements.

Charlotte Area Homes with Swimming Pools

bath clean holiday hotel — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

There are three groups when it comes to homes with swimming pools: those that absolutely want a pool, those firmly against and a small group that are interested in having a pool but are put off by the cost and maintenance required. It wasn’t too long ago that I recommended to a homeowner to fill in their pool because there was more resale value by not having a pool than by having one that was older and less desirable.

Well, thanks to Covid, having a house with a pool has become a lot more desirable. Sure, there are people who are still firmly against having one but, as we are spending more time at home, having a your own pool is an attractive option for exercise and entertainment. Like before, some of the same rules apply. Home buyers are still wanting a pool that is well-kept, preferring salt over chlorine and the hard scape around the pool is as important as the pool itself.

New pools are in such demand at the moment that local installers are busy through next Spring, which may give a slight edge to property owners with pools already installed and ready to enjoy.

Here are the current homes available for sale in the Charlotte area with Swimming Pools

The 25 Most Expensive Homes in Eastover

Conceived in the 1920’s, Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood was originally marketed as a neighborhood for car owners. The adjacent Myers Park and Dilworth had street car service (which is why the neighborhood has a wide boulevard and monuments which served as the original street car stops) but to set Eastover apart, the lots were larger and only two street car stops were added in the neighborhood.

Today, Eastover is still set apart as a neighborhood with estate-sized lots and the highest priced homes so close to Uptown.

25 Most Expensive Homes on Lake Norman

Summertime is here and there’s no better time to start dreaming about life out on the lake. The Charlotte area is home to Lake Norman, Lake Wylie, Mountain Island Lake and nearby, Lake Tillery, Badin Lake, and High Rock Lake. Lake Norman is the largest man-made lake in North Carolina, covering more than 32,000 acres and 34 miles of shoreline that borders Iredell, Mecklenburg and Lincoln counties.

The appeal of Lake Norman, aside from the sheer size, is the proximity to Charlotte and nearby Mooresville, which is home to many NASCAR teams and Lowes Home Improvement. This has enabled Lake Norman to become more than just a weekend getaway lake but a lake for year-round occupants to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and the lake lifestyle.

Here are the 25 most expensive homes currently available for sale on Lake Norman. View all homes for sale on Lake Norman.

Covid-19 Real Estate Response Plan

Covid-19 has created an additional set of challenges to the process of buying and selling real estate. Through careful consideration, due diligence and research, we have devised a strategy that we hope addresses some concerns about transacting real estate during this pandemic.

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I guess this is the reality of shopping for a home in 2020 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #Charlotte #RealEstate #realtor

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For All Clients

For over a decade, we have utilized e-signature programs and electronic transaction management and that will continue. The in-person aspect of client meetings are being moved to Zoom or Face time (whichever the preference of the client) to ensure that our clients needs are being met and there is full understand of the real estate transaction.

Listing consultations can take place either over an electronic means or in person, as the client feels comfortable. During any in-home visits, PPE and sanitizer will be utilized for the safety of all attendees.

For Home Sellers

Some homeowners will make the decision to not transact real estate at this time, which is perfectly reasonable and understandable. However, some homeowners need to sell and for them and, as we are in a housing shortage in the Charlotte area, this market remains very favorable for most Sellers. We have modified our practices to ensure the safety of occupants (whether that’s homeowners or tenants) as follows:

Marketing

Our marketing plan has always been heavily online targeted as 95% of Buyers are searching online to buy a home (not sure who the other 5% are). To that end, our marketing plan has been expanded to include:

Detailed floor plans of each home with room measurements
Immersive 3-D tours to allow prospective Buyers to walk through the property before touring in person
Walk-through video tour of each property

In-Person Tours

In-person tours or showings will be limited only to prospective Buyers that are pre-approved for financing or are paying cash and have provided a proof of funds. This will limit the number of not-ready purchasers but will not turn off any qualified prospects.

Also, in-person tours will no longer overlap. Each tour will last for a maximum of 1 hour and there will be a gap between appointments. Most importantly, all touring persons (agents and their clients) are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the duration of their appointment. Masks are required and gloves are at the discretion of the owner / occupant.

All properties will be provided a bottle of sanitizer that occupants will be asked to use prior to entering if they elect not to wear gloves.

To limit the amount of contact within the home, owner / occupants should leave all of the interior lights on, blinds open, and closet doors slightly ajar prior to the in-person tour appointment.

Finally, we are requesting that only the Buyer(s) and their agent attend any in-person showings. This means no children, friends or pets (yes – some people to bring their pets) as a way to limit the number of people in and out of the property.

Home Inspections and Appraisals

At the guidance of the Mecklenburg County Health Director, we are asking that only the inspector attend the home inspection for the duration of the inspection. The agent may attend at the end to catch up on the findings but we are asking that the Buyer not attend during this step.

The Buyer and Seller can agree to allow the Buyer to attend at the Seller’s discretion but with keeping with the guidelines of allowing reasonable access as listed in the North Carolina Offer to Purchase and Contract and the South Carolina Agreement to Buy / Sell Real Estate.

Sellers are encouraged to perform a pre-home inspection prior to listing their home for sale, which would also help reduce the in-person traffic post-contract. Also, as some labor and materials are being delayed due to Covid-19, the pre-home inspection will help the Seller not miss any contract deadlines.

Appraisers are also asked to wear PPE during their in-person visit as well.

For those needing to sell but don’t wish to remain in their home while doing so…

For some, the idea of having prospective Buyers through their property, even protected, still is a difficult scenario to feel completely comfortable about. In these instances, we will work with our clients to find an alternative that is a win-win for all parties.

Vacant Homes

With vacant properties, we are providing sanitizer for use on-site and asking that the utilities are turned on so that agents and prospective Buyers can wash their hands. Also, once a week, during the on-site inspection, a member of our team will be wiping down the solid surfaces with disinfectant to limit the spread of any viruses.

For Home Buyers

For home purchasers, we are asking them to follow the same guidance as we are asking of others for our listings. This includes:

Use of mask and sanitizer during all in-person appointments
Limiting the attendees to only the immediate decision makers (no children or pets)
Consultation appointments will take place over Facetime or Zoom (client’s preference)
Inspections will be attended by the inspector only. If the Seller allows, the Buyer may attend in-person at the end. Alternatively, a Facetime or Zoom appointment will be setup with the Buyer and the Inspector to go over the findings.

25 Most Impressive Condos in Uptown Charlotte

What was once only a central business district, Uptown Charlotte is being transformed into a neighborhood that can support both work and play. Uptown is home to major corporations like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Ally, Regions, and NASCAR, among many others, as well as home to the Charlotte Hornets, Carolina Panthers and the Charlotte Knights (as well as an MLS team).

So what about living in Uptown? Uptown is home to more than a few incredible condos and even a few single family homes. Here are 25 of the most impressive homes (mostly condos but there is a single family home) available on the market right now in Uptown Charlotte for sale.

25 North Carolina Mountain Retreats You Must See

Hey there! Welcome to a new blog series that I will be compiling covering 25 interesting properties somewhere in the Carolinas. If you have a suggestion for a topic for a future blog post, leave the suggestion in the comment section below.

I’ve been in quarantine for nearly two months and as much as I enjoy my house here in Charlotte, I have been dreaming of a mountain getaway where I can escape the city and enjoy the chilly mornings and the occasional interactions with the local wildlife. Of course, since I’m dreaming, why not dream BIG instead of a more modest and obtainable goal (hey – I can win the lottery, you never know).

In my quest, I found 25 unbelievable mountain retreats that would make the next quarantine go by with ease. Enjoy the selections and comment below which one you would call home.