Hendrix Properties - South Charlotte

Hi Jill. No, we do not. We occasionally help buyer-clients look for a rental while searching for a home but we do not operate as property managers. Does this answer your question?

Absolutely not and that's important for you to know. Simply having a real estate license does not give agents the skill set necessary to help you achieve the best results when selling your home. Their work ethic, level of experience, amount of effort, understanding of the market and today's consumer, communication style, and marketing expertise can vary immensely. This can easily equate to tens of thousands of dollars difference in your pocket as well as the level of stress that you do (or do not) have during the process.

Yes, commissions are negotiable. While any individual firm or Realtor may or may not negotiate what they charge, fees and commissions are negotiable from an industry perspective. Trust me when I tell you that you should focus more on what the listing agent will actually do for you rather than putting all of your emphasis on saving half of a percent or so. A good Realtor is well worth their commission and then some. They are responsible for not only getting your home sold but also creating the demand, negotiating the best terms for you, and getting you to the finish line.

There's no question about it, staged homes show better, sell faster, and for more money than vacant homes, period. Staging will make your home stand out in photos, make it feel much more appealing in person, allow potential buyers to better visualize themselves living there, and will ultimately get you a better price and better terms for your home. With that being said, not every room of your home needs to be staged. In some cases, vignette staging (light staging and accessorizing) may be enough. In other cases, bringing in furniture for the more prominent areas (kitchen, living room, dining room, owner's bedroom, office & outdoor spaces) will work best. We've personally seen some of our sellers walk away with thousands (and for some, tens of thousands) of dollars more compared to other similar homes that were not staged. The decision to stage your home (fully or partially) should not be taken lightly.

It depends. In theory, it's a great idea for both parties. Having your home inspected prior to listing will give you time to make the necessary repairs that will likely be found during a buyer's inspection period. Some home sellers also like the peace of mind they have knowing there (likely) won't be any big surprises that arise that could be detrimental to the transaction. Just remember, should you decide to have your home pre-inspected, you'll want to be prepared to either remedy those items before listing or disclose them to future buyers (as those issues would then become 'material facts'). Now, if your home is fairly new, in good condition and you've been doing preventative maintenance on your home, it's probably okay to just wait for the buyers to do their own inspection and then take things from there. We can advise on what we feel would be best in your situation once we see your home.

This is a common question and I can tell by many of the homes I see on the MLS that many homeowners (and real estate agents) seem to live by this presumption. However, there's also the saying "If you're going to do something, do it well" and this is exactly how we like to work. We know for a fact that even the smallest things can make a big difference. This can amount to more money in your pocket and stronger, more qualified buyers. We don't just pop your home on the MLS and hope for the best. We put the extra time and effort into your listing to ensure we get you the best results possible...the best price, the most buyers, the strongest terms, and the best overall experience.

Ideally, go ahead and have us out for a visit so that we can walk through your home with you and give you customized suggestions (remember, you can't do this too soon). But, if you're not ready for that yet, I would do the following: De-clutter as much as possible; Sell or donate furniture or possessions that you won't need going forward; Pack up items you don't need now and neatly stack boxes in the garage or store offsite at a storage facility or in a POD delivered to your residence; Repaint, if needed, to freshen up the space or neutralize strong paint colors; Make any necessary repairs to the interior or exterior; Spruce up the landscaping (pruning, aerating and seeding, adding mulch, etc). This would be a heck of a start and something that you can be working on months in advance.

You'll often hear that spring is the best time to list your home. Spring is typically the start of the selling season and buyers become much more active. Others may say it's best to list in the summer, before the start of the new school year. Truth is, there are ALWAYS buyers out there regardless of the time of year. If you're thinking of listing in the spring or summer, there will be more competition in the market. If you waited later in the year to list, your results could be just as good, if not better, because there is typically less inventory. In a nutshell, the best time to sell is when it's right for YOU. We will help your home stand out no matter the time of year.

If you're even contemplating a sale, I would suggest having an experienced Realtor come out as soon as possible even if you're not planning on selling for months. Not only is this a good chance to meet/interview your possible future listing agent but it also gives you plenty of time to be working on any suggested repairs, improvements, and decluttering you'll want to do before listing. A top-notch listing agent can spot even the smallest things that may make a big impact on the way your home shows and feels to prospective buyers.

Pricing your home with a little buffer room is quite common but simply pricing it higher than it should be (in hopes of getting higher offers) can actually backfire. Overpricing your home could result in fewer home showings and extended days on market. More days on market (especially in a seller's market) could cause buyers to question if there is something wrong with your home. Another problem with overpricing your home is that you may go over the max threshold for some buyers that would have shown interest had you been priced correctly. Our opinion is that you will likely receive a better price when you price it reasonably from the very beginning and then allow the market (buyers) to drive the price up. There is a strategy to this that shouldn't be taken lightly.

You can estimate a good list price by taking into account what other similar homes in your neighborhood or surrounding areas are selling for and then comparing things such as price per square foot, condition, location, improvements and upgrades, and other factors such as the current market. An experienced Realtor can help counsel you on this as well as supply you with a CMA (comparative market analysis) to help you make the best decision.

A great listing agent will help you prepare and even help stage your home. They'll also hire a professional photographer or videographer so that your home is showcased in its best light. They'll help market your home in various ways whether it be direct mail, single property websites, social media advertising, and most importantly, via the MLS. Once listed on the MLS, your home's listing will be distributed to almost every online real estate portal out there. An experienced Realtor will properly guide you through all of the listing paperwork, seller disclosures and offer you advice on pricing your home strategically . And that's just the beginning. Once there is interest in your home, your listing agent will help you negotiate the best offer and terms, assist with all of the contracts and paperwork, guide you through the inspection and appraisal process, cross any hurdles, etc, so that you actually make it to the closing table.

It's possible. If you already have an unrepresented buyer lined up (one who is not already working with a real estate buyers agent) and they are in agreement with the terms you've proposed, you may be able to save some money selling it yourself. However, this is rare. In most cases, the staging and marketing abilities of an experienced listing agent can help you achieve far greater results than you would on your own. Not only can a great listing agent help you sell your home for more money but can also attract more activity, more qualified buyers, and stronger overall terms. Listing your home with an experienced Realtor can also help you prevent or easily navigate issues that may arise once the home is under contract. Trying to do this on your own could be detrimental to the contract you have in place if you are not fully educated on the process and legalities.