On the face of it, selling your home during a global pandemic poses a challenge. With the social distancing and safety protocols in place, a lot of adjustments have to be made in your selling plans. But stay focused on your goal. There are ways to sell your home in Charlotte, Huntersville, Ballantyne, Fort Mills, Highland Creek, and Uptown in North Carolina.
Avoid the following mistakes that can derail the selling process.
Not embracing virtual marketing strategy
The current pandemic has accelerated the use of virtual technology in real estate.
Buyers are still searching online for Charlotte, NC real estate. Nowadays, however, buyers are opting for a safer alternative than an open house. Virtual tours, virtual open houses, and 3D home tours allow buyers to step inside a home at their convenience, while being socially distanced.
Your real estate agent can post the video on social media platforms, such as Facebook and YouTube, to reach more potential buyers. These virtual innovations create a good impression online and can make a difference in selling your home fast. In these challenging times, you’ll need to embrace technological strategies to sell your home.
Not staging your home
Despite the ongoing pandemic, staging is an important step to make your home appealing to prospective buyers. The National Association of Realtors 2019 report that staging makes a home sell faster and increases the dollar value of the property. A staged home stands out among houses for sale in Charlotte.
If buyers decide to do virtual tours, staging your home is essential to convey a clean, crisp look on video. For in-person showings, it is important that you impress upon buyers that you’re prioritizing their safety.
Staging during COVID-19 includes providing disposable gloves and masks, and hand sanitizers. Leave lights on and closet doors open to minimize touch points. Get rid of clutter and remove excess furniture, appliances, and personal items for better flow and to decrease high-touch opportunities. Prep the bathroom as buyers may want to wash their hands. Stage the bathroom to make a good first impression.
Ignoring pandemic etiquette
For most buyers, first impressions matter. While buyers can’t see the smile on your face because you’re wearing a mask, it gives an impression that you care for their safety. Observe social distancing, refrain from shaking hands, and disinfect your home before and after each potential buyer’s visit. Make a plan with your agent in handling house showings that adhere to the guidance of the National Association of Realtors.
Not allowing a virtual appraisal
Before the pandemic, home sellers had to allow buyer’s inspectors and mortgage appraisers into their homes before the deal goes forward. But during these times, inspections and appraisals have to be done with minimal contact.
Virtual appraisal has become an alternative. Usually home appraisers do their research online and consult with clients via video calls. During the call, the appraiser asks the client to walk around the house to get a better understanding of the value of the property.
Some lenders allow curbside/drive-by appraisal for single-family homes. The appraiser walks around the exterior and gets a good understanding of the property’s worth.
Lenders who insist on in-person appraisals may still do so, conducting their work with an abundance of caution. The same is true for home inspectors.
Not considering remote closing
Remote closings are being resorted to across in many states to limit face-to-face real estate interactions during the pandemic. Remote online notarization allows a notary and signer to legally execute electronic documents while in different locations.
The National Association of Realtors in its letter to Congress asked lawmakers to expand the policies nationally to make real estate transactions safer and easier during the pandemic. Managing a virtual closing takes a little work but it’s worth your peace of mind.
Technology has made accomplishing real estate transactions at a time of social distancing possible. You just need to meet the team of Valarie R. Brooks Real Estate/a> to understand how to sell your home in Charlotte, NC; Huntersville, NC; Ballantyne, NC; Fort Mills, SC; Highland Creek, NC; or Uptown in NC. Call us at 704.488.5458 or email Valarie(at)ValarieRBrooks(dotted)com and let’s discuss selling your home now.