Charlotte’s spring real estate market is poised to be more balanced than recent years, according to the real estate pros at Helen Adams Realty.
“Real estate continues to be a significant investment in Charlotte, particularly in locations that are still growing, and of course, in established areas that traditionally appreciate,” Ellen Kelly says.
Buyers have more options this spring, but well-priced and presented homes are moving quickly.
- “Buyers are more discerning now, carefully evaluating value and lifestyle fit. For sellers, that means preparation and pricing precision matter more than ever,” Marcia Folnsbee tells Scoop.
“When a home checks both the logical and emotional boxes, Charlotte buyers act quickly,” Marcia says.
- Strategic pricing, move-in-ready condition and lifestyle appeal like flexible spaces and outdoor living help eliminate hesitation and drive urgency, according to Marcia.
To prep for those discerning buyers, Robin Woods recommends boosting curb appeal. Power washing, window cleaning, clean gutters and fresh mulch go a long way, she says.
- If you really want to make your listing photos pop, plant seasonal flowers and festoon the front porch.
Location, charm and price are key, Ellen says. “Whatever a seller can do to make their house appear light, bright, and move-in ready gives a buyer the vision they need to picture themselves living there.”
Don’t underestimate the power of lighting, either, Sarah Alvidrez says. “Buyers’ eyes are drawn right to it, kind of like the effect that beautiful jewelry has when dressing up a great outfit, but for a house…it adds that extra something!!”
- Good news: It’s easy to swap and you don’t have to spend a fortune to reap the benefits.
And, of course, a good deep cleaning, fresh paint and updated carpet/flooring make a massive difference in how the home shows—and how quickly it sells.
- Buyers don’t want to inherit a laundry list of basic updates.
Ellen has a great example of this. She recently had a listing in a prime Plaza Midwood location. The house needed major decluttering, a paint refresh, front door restaining and some carpet cleaning. After tackling all of this, and some lighting updates, the home was in parade-ready condition.
- “Some walkers in the neighborhood saw I was holding the house open for brokers, and they poked their heads in to ask if they could look.
- They immediately wanted to make an offer that would shut anybody else’s offer down. I told them what the sellers were looking for, and they stepped up,” she tells Scoop.
Marcia recently helped one of those discerning Charlotte buyers. They searched for months to find the right fit. A cluttered house with obvious deferred maintenance wasn’t going to win them over.
- When they walked into “the one,” it was nicely updated and well taken care of, and the seller had a three-ring binder with all of their maintenance records, receipts and manuals.
- “Having all of the information at the buyer’s fingertips was the extra touch that ultimately sealed the deal,” Marcia says.
In many instances, staging might be worth investing in, too, especially if the house is vacant or not selling. “Staging helps buyers emotionally connect with a home and better understand how the space can be used,” Robin says.
- She took over a luxury listing that was not selling with another brokerage. She updated the interiors with more neutral colors, made a few small updates, refreshed the landscaping and staged key areas. The house sold in five days.
Those sellers took advantage of Helen Adams Realty’s Market Ready Program, which allows sellers to borrow up to $30,000 from the firm to make necessary updates before putting their home on the market.
- Helen Adams Realty fronts the funds for the updates, and the sellers reimburse the firm out of their net proceeds at closing.
“What I have observed is that most buyers want a house that is *more* than move-in ready these days,” Sarah tells Scoop. “Gone are the days when you could just repaint the kitchen, and it sells in a day.”
- Today’s buyers are savvy, and they know a good house when they see it, she says. The extra mile never goes unnoticed.
Ready to see what your home’s worth? Connect with an expert at Helen Adams Realty today.
