Real EstateCharleston SC Competitive Housing Market: What To Do Before You Sell

Charleston SC continues to be one of the hottest real estate markets in the Southeast. This is due in part to the influx of manufacturing and tech sector industries to the Tri-County Area of Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. Charleston’s increasing popularity as a travel and vacation destination also plays a huge part in the increase in demand. Sales of existing homes in Charleston has out-paced that of previous years, and inventory of available homes is at an all time low.  But even in a proverbial “seller’s market ” it’s important to remember there are key factors to help sell your home quickly and for top dollar.  It starts with checking off this list of “8 Steps to Sell A Home In Charleston Quickly ” – and ends with finding a great listing agent who understands the importance of marketing.

1. Curb Appeal. This is the first impression for a buyer when viewing your house. Paint anything that needs to be painted, especially your front door. Make sure the yard looks great. Freshen landscape beds with mulch or pine straw and make sure to mow the grass.
2. Make Minor Upgrades. This isn’t the time to do major updates because you might not be able to recoup costly renovations.  Re-glaze your bathtub, update light fixtures & hardware, get a new kitchen sink, and re-paint where necessary.
3. De-personalize. Remove your family pictures, posters, and the bed for “Fido ” that stays next to the fireplace! Don’t take it personally, but you want the buyer to feel at home, not like a visitor at your home.
4. Clean. A day of cleaning or a cleaning crew will make a world of difference in making your home sparkle.  This goes a long way for buyers and Realtors leaving your home with a fresh, positive impression in their minds.
5. Declutter. Take out as many items as you can. The less there is inside of the house, the bigger it looks. 
6. Be Prepared. As the Boy Scout motto states, “be prepared.” Get ready to show your house at any time based on your buyer’s needs. Making your house accessible to showings will make both your listing agent and buyers happy. Buyers are often trying to view and evaluate many homes in a single day, so provide easy access to all areas of your home so that buyers can move quickly from room to room.  
7. Price it right. Sellers often like to set the price high at first, but those critical first days that the house is listed on the market are the busiest. If the price is too high, people will stay away from the very beginning. This is why it is critical to work with a qualified agent that understands the market and how to price your home competitively.
8. Know the Neighborhood. Don’t just highlight all the great things about your home. Remember to include all the great things about living in the area including schools, nearby amenities, restaurants and shopping.  

Pairing these eight steps with a qualified agent who is familiar with the marketplace, conditions and neighborhood will ultimately get your home sold quickly – which is the goal, right? Often a short list of inexpensive things can make a big difference to a potential buyer.

Note: We’ve included these tips and more in our  “Ultimate Guide to Selling your Home. ”  Download a copy for yourself and find out why it’s more important than ever to work with an experienced Realtor – let us know how we can help.