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3 Holiday Secrets to Selling a North Carolina Home

It’s late November, and the holiday season is in full swing. Thanksgiving has arrived and all of the holiday favorites line the end caps at the grocery stores. Holiday music serenades the most harried of shoppers. Even our street lamps are starting to get into the holiday spirit; many of the lamp posts are already dressed in green pine with festive red bows. While many of us across the Carolinas look forward to the holidays, we also can be intimidating by the thought of relocation and home selling. Fortunately, at Flat Fee Realty, our agents have experience with selling homes in the Triangle, Wilmington, Charlotte, and Lake Norman this holiday season and all year long.  

Let Flat Fee Realty take the stress out of sell and buying homes during the holidays with three helpful “almost secret” common sense tips:  

  • Don’t neglect holiday curb appeal: As the bright colors of summer and fall foliage fade to wintery browns, a home’s exterior may be less vibrant than it is in spring and summer. Maintain curb appeal and attract buyers by keeping a neat lawn. Rake the leaves and keep bushes and grass trimmed. Additionally, there is less daylight at this time of year. For buyers looking at houses after dark, homes without sufficient exterior lighting may look less appealing. Make sure prospective buyers see sufficient outdoor lighting for that perfect view. Finally, don’t overcrowd the home’s exterior with too many decorations and holiday lights; use just enough to enhance the beauty of the home, especially at night.  

  • Keep seasonal decorations simple and unique: Outdoor holiday décor is important this time of year, and indoor decorations should be planned as well. Too many decorations can clutter featured rooms like the den and the dining room. When in doubt, check with our experienced Flat Fee Realty agent to ensure the decorations are adding to the home’s appeal.

  • Work with an experienced Flat Fee Realty Agent: Working with our team will ensure every home is listed at a price that will attract buyers (without sacrificing the value of a seller’s house). Our professionals utilize MLS and other online resources which makes it easier for buyers to find a seller’s listing.

While Christmas and New Year may be intimidating times to list a home, there are several ways in which sellers can maximize the potential of their listing, especially during a time when there is less competition. Ready to list a home? Contact one of our experienced Flat Fee Realty agents to get started.

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This post on selling and buying a home during the holiday season in the Triangle, Wilmington, Charlotte, and Lake Norman is brought to you by the team at Flat Fee Realty and is intended for informational purposes only.

The Future of Real Estate! 

Flat Fee Realty of the LKN, Raleigh and Wilmington

919 342 5230 (Main Number) 

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Contact Us 

Terry@FlatFeeNC.com 

Photo: Annalise1988, Pixabay

 

 

5 Holiday Home Improvements to Make Before Selling

Always have a game plan before putting your North Carolina home on the market; Flat Fee Realty offers five suggestions that will help boost curb appeal and possibly increase the selling price as we head through the Holiday Season.

Working with an experienced Flat Fee Realty agent in Lake Norman, Raleigh, the Triangle and Wilmington is a great way to get input on what improvements can be made. From suggestions about lawn care to how to stage furniture, our team is adept at preparing a home to sell.

5 home improvements to consider before listing your home for sale are:

  • Spruce up the landscape: Curb appeal with be the first attraction to catch a buyer’s eye. Make sure the mailbox is visible and not overgrown, replace faded or missing house numbers. Clean the yard of fall debris and add some color to the entrance way for great first impressions.
  • Replace or clean carpets: Unless the carpets are already new, they are likely holding lots of dirt and odor. A thorough clean or a fresh carpet throughout the house will revamp the entire space and impress potential buyers.
  • Small or partial renovations: Instead of investing in complete overhauls, consider taking on smaller projects such as replacing appliances in the kitchen or updating countertops in the bathrooms.
  • Fresh coat of paint: Many homes are bound to see scruffs and paint chips on the walls, so fresh layers of paint will do wonders to brighten up a space. Also, consider painting neutral colors (builder beige for example) over all existing walls to further appeal to buyers.
  • Update lights and plumbing fixtures: New faucets and sinks will dramatically change the feel of a space, so consider that for a simple project. Updating light fixtures is also a less intensive way to increase home value and buyer appeal.

For more insight regarding home improvements to increase home value, contact our agents at Flat Fee Realty today. We’re happy to help during each step of the listing, selling, and buying processes!

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This post on selling and buying a home in North Carolina is brought to you by the team at Flat Fee Realty LLC and is intended for informational purposes only.

Look for our new locations in Wilmington and Lake Norman/ Charlotte

Find us on Instagram!

The Future of Real Estate!

Flat Fee Realty

Triangle: 919 342 5230 

Lake Norman/ Charlotte: 704 659 3560

Wilmington: 910 225 7721

Find and like us on Facebook!

Contact Us

Terry@FlatFeeNC.com

Photo: Tim Hill, Pixabay

3 Big Differences with Flat Fee Realty NC Agents

It’s Thanksgiving! And Flat Fee Realty NC is expanding. We are grateful because we are growing not only in the Triangle NC, but in coastal Wilmington and Lake Norman as well. Regardless of where we have growing presence, we are committed to our buyers and sellers! It is important to share that many first time home buyers and sellers think that all real estate agents are about the same, with similar qualities and duties. Yet there is a difference between our FFR agents and others across the Tar Heel State. Our top goal is the client’s best interest.

Now, how do buyers and sellers in the Triangle find and choose the right agent? We only ask potential clients to do a little homework. Our real estate experts at Flat Fee Realty know just what to look for and we want to share the most important factors to consider when choosing an agent.

Flat Fee Realty NC agents offer three big differences in the North Carolina regions we serve:

  • Open Communication: Agents are required by law to have a client’s best interests in mind, and to put them first. Every agent who values open communication is sure to embrace this important principle; our team clearly and fully explains pricing, strategies, and market trends. Flat Fee Realty agents are always upfront with any hurdles or challenges that may arise. Also, since buyers and sellers will be working closely with our agents, it’s best to have an established relationship built on trust formed through open communication.
  • Key regions Flat Fee Realty NC covers: Buyers and sellers interested in residential real estate likely won’t find much value in an agent who does not know residential markets. The internet has also given our agents more access to larger territories, and we have the valuable knowledge of neighborhoods and popular areas that our potential clients want and need.
  • Quality references: Our team offers client testimonials and other references available for review. Buyers and sellers should take advantage of our references when possible because no one can attest to an agent’s quality as well as a previous client. Be sure to ask specific questions when conversing with references so they will provide adequate details.

It might take some patience, but the best real estate agent is in the Flat Fee Realty NC team. Call and meet us to ensure a great fit. Want more about us? Click Flat Fee Realty today!

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This real estate blog post on selling and buying a home in North Carolina is brought to you by the team at Flat Fee Realty LLC and is intended for informational purposes only.

Look for our new locations in Wilmington and Lake Norman/ Charlotte

Find us on Instagram!

The Future of Real Estate!

Flat Fee Realty

Triangle: 919 342 5230 

Lake Norman/ Charlotte: 704 659 3560

Wilmington: 910 225 7721

Find and like us on Facebook!

Contact Us

Terry@FlatFeeNC.com

 

3 Important Reasons Why Ringing in the New Year with Flat Fee Realty Makes Cents!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! Selling a home can be a stressful endeavor for Triangle homeowners during the Holiday Season and into the New Year. The housing market in Raleigh and the surrounding area has many prospective buyers looking for homes in the Capital City, Apex, Cary, Morrisville, and Holly Springs among others.

Listing a house “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO) might seems like a good idea for home sellers who think they will be saving and making money when the sign goes up. It is not as easy as it is in theory; often the reliance on a real estate agent knowledgeable in local and the Triangle market will be an advantage.

Our real estate market experts at Flat Fee Realty explain three reasons why FSBO is as much of a challenge as it is a risk for home sellers and buyers:  

  • The FSBO market is often a challenge: A fairly recent study by the National Association of Realtors reports that sales of homes listed as FSBO accounted for only 9% of all home sales; the FSBO market peaked at 14% in 2004. Smaller numbers mean more challenge.
  • Marketing is never easy: A local Flat Fee Realty professional knows the market and the listings. Yard signs, Facebook postings, and newspaper ads may seem like the current methodology for selling a home, but relying on these strategies can place a novice seller at a disadvantage. Plus, working with Flat Fee Realty can boost the chances of a qualified sale; listing the home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is a great factor.
  • Limited availability for potential buyers: Many potential buyers can place multiple demands demand on the seller, and at a moment’s notice. For Triangle working professionals and parents, this can be a problem both with schedule and time. Having an expert Flat Fee Realty agent can minimize stress and manage the showings.

Listing as home “For Sale by Owner” can have considerable drawbacks that can affect selling success.  For those looking to sell a home across the Triangle, please contact our expert agents at Flat Fee Realty for exceptional service and insight into the Triangle housing market.

May everyone have the most wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year! 

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This post on selling and buying a home in the Triangle is brought to you by the team at Flat Fee Realty and is intended for informational purposes only.

The Future of Real Estate!

Flat Fee Realty

919 342 5230

Find and like us on Facebook!

Contact Us

Terry@FlatFeeNC.com

Photo: Flat Fee Realty in Morrisville

 

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