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Ask the Expert: How Should I Prepare a Home to Sell in the Fall?

Today’s Ask the Expert column features Dan Steward, president of Pillar To Post Home Inspectors.

Q: What are your top tips for preparing to sell a home in the fall?

A: First and foremost, use the beauty of the season. If you’re lucky enough to live in a region that experiences changing seasons, take advantage of everything the season has to offer by incorporating autumnal flowers, plants and floral arrangements into the mix. Whether it’s colorful mums or adding intense color and drama to the home’s exterior with perennials, feature a variety of fall floral arrangements both inside and outside the home.

Next, be sure to check the roof and gutters. While a roof’s drainage system diverts thousands of gallons of water from a home’s exterior and foundation walls, it’s important to keep the process moving in order to avoid water damage. In addition to taking the time to unclog and clean the gutters, now is also a good time to inspect the roof from top to bottom. In addition to looking for damage to metal flashing in and around vents and chimneys, check ridge shingles for cracks and wind damage.

While outside, take the time to check driveways, walkways and steps for any noticeable damage. Fixing any problem areas during the fall is critical in order to prevent little problems from becoming expensive headaches down the line. Look for cracks that are more than 1/8-inch wide, uneven sections and loose railings on steps.

Before the bitter temperatures of the winter season move in, take the necessary steps to ensure that outside faucets and in-ground irrigation systems don’t freeze and burst. Close any shut-off valves serving outside faucets, then open the outside faucet to the drain line. If you don’t have shut-off valves, or freeze-proof faucets, you can buy faucet covers at your local home improvement store.

Moving inside, check the home for air leaks, as gaps in caulk and weather-stripping can account for 10 percent of a home’s heating bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. While weather-stripping is the most cost-effective way to control heating and cooling costs, it should be checked and replaced as needed every six months.

And last, but not least, bring in a professional to inspect the home’s heating system to ensure it’s working properly before the cold weather arrives.

For more information, please visit www.pillartopost.com.

For the latest real estate news and trends, bookmark RISMedia.com.

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Spotlight: Estates at Oakhaven

If you are looking for new construction homes in Ballantyne, Estates at Oakhaven might be just what you have been waiting for. There are 46 elegant full-brick homes in the project close to all of the amenities Ballantyne has to offer, from golf to dining, to shopping, entertainment, parks and more.

Construction is currently underway in Estates at Oakhaven. There are six floorplans available to build. Here are some of the details. Remember, these are starting points, they can be customized in numerous ways to make them perfect for you and your family.

  • Waverly – starting from $472,990, 3,054 square feet, 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2 garage, 2 story
  • Oakwood – starting from $480,990, 3,323 square feet, 5 beds, 3.5-4 baths, 2 garage, 2 story
  • Ellington – starting from $484,990, 3,014 square feet, 4 bed, 3 bath, 2 garage, 2 story
  • Drake – starting from $498,990, 3,329 square feet, 4 bed, 3.5-4 bath, 2 garage, 2 story
  • Chatsworth – starting from $503,990, 3,383 square feet, 5 bed, 4.5 bath, 2 garage, 2 story

If you don’t have the time or the ability to start from the ground up, there are 5 quick move in homes, two ready now, and three ready in December.

One of the major draws to the entire Ballantyne area are the schools. Estates at Oakhaven is currently zoned for top rated schools. There are two different elementary schools, Hawk Ridge and Elon that children in Estates in Oakhaven could attend. They would then feed to Community House Middle and Ardrey Kell High Schools. Please verify school assignments as they are subject to change.

Estates at Oakhaven is truly a community within a community. If you are interested in a home in this great area, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view current listings on our website here.

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Last Two Homes Available in Arbor Way II

Now is your last chance to get in on the ground floor in Arbor Way II. There are only two homes left where you can be the original owner. These energy efficient homes are nestled along Sardis Road just across the street from James Boyce Park and Charlotte Christian School. Don’t miss the opportunity to own one of these amazing homes.

Builder Meritage Homes developed these homes to be energy efficient. This is especially important because these homes are large at over 3,000 square feet each. Heating and cooling a space this large can be costly, but with energy efficient heating and cooling, great insulation, upgraded windows, and more, costs are kept to a minimum saving you and your family thousands of dollars on utility costs.

The location of Arbor Way II is fantastic. Just minutes away from SouthPark, Ballantyne, and Uptown Charlotte you can get anywhere with ease. A night out is as easy as a trip to SouthPark for the pops in the park, a great restaurant, or a stroll past the shops. A trip to Uptown will have you ar sporting events, concerts, art museums, restaurants, nightlife and more.

There are great schools, literally across the street as well as zoned for the neighborhood. There are also private, preschool, mother’s day out, and preschool options close by. Please verify school assignments as they are subject to change.

Homes in Arbor Way II are grand. Many of them have 5 bedrooms and 4 and a half bathrooms. Open floor plans are common with large kitchen islands for gathering spaces. Great rooms typically have ten foot ceilings and fireplaces. Upstairs has flex space that can be a game room, home office or playroom. Many plans have formal and informal dining spaces. All have two car garages and are two story plans.

In the past year, homes in Arbor Way II have sold for between $560,000 and $649,034 with an average sale price of just under $600,000. The two currently listed homes are offered at $524,900 and $544,900 respectively.

If you are interested in owning one of the remaining homes in Arbor Way II, or any other home, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view current listings on our website here.

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How to Sell a Vacant Home in the Off-Season

Editor’s Note: This was originally published on RISMedia’s blog, Housecall. See what else is cookin’ now at blog.rismedia.com:

There’s a reason that spring and summer are the major seasons for selling houses. Most people want to move at a time that allows them to be settled by the fall, when kids go back to school and daylight shortens.

However, you might find yourself having to sell a vacant home in the off-season. The home might be empty because the seller had to move on for reasons of work or had to move into a house he or she was paying for.

There are really two issues here. The first is selling a vacant house. The second is selling a house in the off-season. Here are some tips on how to do both:

Selling a Vacant House

Keep Up Maintenance and Repair – Even with no one around, surfaces need to be dusted and kept clean. Once people move out, minor items needing repair, like a leaky faucet or a burned-out light bulb, might not be noticed. It’s your job to notice, though, because signs of even minor disrepair or lack of maintenance can quickly turn off prospective buyers.

Clean the house or hire someone to clean it at least once a month. Surfaces need to be dusted, for example, and floors mopped or vacuumed. Do a walkthrough looking for repairs once a month, or hire a property manager to do it.

Make Sure the House Doesn’t Look Vacant – A vacant property shouldn’t look vacant for two reasons: First, it’s uninviting to see an empty property. It’s less likely that a buyer will see themselves in the space; second, it’s an open invitation to thieves, vandals and even squatters. You don’t want to open the door one day and see that vandals spray-painted all over the walls.

Develop a plan. Pick up mail if the seller isn’t having it forwarded. Place lights on timers so that they go on automatically in the evening, just as they would if someone still lived there. Many have remote apps that make this easy.

Turn Heat or Air Conditioning on Regularly – Don’t leave the heat or air conditioning off for long periods of time. Lack of heat can cause pipes to freeze or burst. Lack of air conditioning may make it difficult to cool the house properly when it comes time to show it. In addition, lack of proper ventilation can make the house smell musty and unused.

It’s best to run the heat and air conditioning at regular intervals while the house is vacant.

Focus on Curb Appeal – Don’t skimp on curb appeal just because the house is vacant. If anything, making the house look inviting becomes even more critical if no one lives there. Keep the grounds and garden in the same pristine condition as the house. Paint the door a vibrant color. Place small trees on either side to frame it.

Stage the Interior – When prospective buyers come, they need to see an interior that looks welcoming, and that allows them to visualize themselves in the house. They may not be able to do that fully if the house is completely empty.

On the other hand, completely furnishing an empty house may not be practical. What you need to do is stage the interior. Put focal pieces in each room, for example. You don’t need to create a functional room; you just have to give clients a sense of how the room would look if they lived there. In other words: a fireplace with wood, a lamp and a sofa in the living room might be enough. No need for matching armchairs and two more lamps!

Selling in the Off-Season

Price to Sell – While you likely won’t attract the maximum number of buyers in the off-season, some people do look in the fall and winter. To move the house, the most prudent move is to price it to sell. If you’re in a hot market, that may be at a market price. If demand is a tad sluggish, price it slightly under. For most sellers, it’s better to sell at a price slightly under the asking price in October than to wait five more months, especially if they’re carrying the mortgage.

Sweeten the Offer – Sweetening the offer may also help sell the house in the off-season. Nicely enough, sweeteners abound, depending on the property. Does a patio look as if it may need replacement in the next five years? See if the seller will replace it as a sweetener. Do the same with any major appliance that may go in five years, such as water heaters.

The other sweetener strategy is to wait for buyers to suggest things. Some may want a reseeded lawn or pruned trees. Entertain these offers if they look likely to result in a sale.

It can be more challenging to sell a vacant home in the off-season, but by utilizing these tips, you’ll place yourself at a strategic advantage in moving a house in the off-season.

For the latest real estate news and trends, bookmark RISMedia.com.

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Limited Opportunities in Brentwood

If you want all of the amenities of Ballantyne, with low South Carolina taxes, Brentwood is your place. This exclusive enclave of 20 homes is under construction now and with 5 quick move-in homes could be yours as soon as you can close.

Located just North of the intersection of Harrisburg Road and Elmsbrook Road, Brentwood is technically in Indian Land and is zoned for Indian Land school system. Harrisburg Elementary School, Indian Land Middle School, and Indian Land High School service the neighborhood. There are also many private, daycare, mother’s day out, and preschool options close by. Please verify school assignments as they are subject to change.

Ballantyne is just 3.5 miles away from Brentwood. This means all of the shops, entertainment, fitness centers, parks, and more are at your fingertips. There is also easy access to I-485 which will get you quickly to Uptown Charlotte, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Scarowinds, SouthPark and many more locations.

Builder Essex Homes has 4 lots available to build from scratch. There are also 5 quick move in homes, and a number of other homes currently under construction where you can add your personal touches to make the home perfect for you and your family. Each lot in the neighborhood is at least half of an acre so you will have plenty of room to stretch out and play. This also helps accommodate outdoor living spaces that will remain private.

There are 8 plans to choose from in Brentwood. Essex has numerous options so you can customize a home to meet your needs.

  • Ballantyne – 3,431-3,947 square feet, 5-6 bedroom, 3-4 bathroom
  • Katherine – 4,135-4,697 square feet, 5-6 bedroom, 2.5-4.5 bathroom
  • Newberry – 3,489-4,240 square feet, 4-6 bedroom, 2.5-3.5 bathroom
  • Remington – 3,132-4,120 square feet, 5-6 bedroom, 2.5-3.5 bathroom
  • Scottsdale – 3,149-4,109 square feet, 3-4 bedroom, 2.5-3.5 bathroom
  • Springfield – 3,980-4,480 square feet, 5-6 bedroom, 3.5-4.5 bathroom
  • Summerlin – 2,689-3,973 square feet, 3-4 bedroom, 2.5-3.5 bathroom
  • Winchester – 2,512-3,685 square feet, 3-4 bedroom, 2.5-3.5 bathroom

Homes in Brentwood begin in the high $300,000’s. Current listings range from $463,500 – $554,900. Exteriors are 4-sides brick or cement siding. Each home has a side load 2 or 3 car garage. All streets in the neighborhood are cul-de-sac so there is no cut-through traffic.

If you are interested in learning more about Brentwood, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. Remember that the builder pays all Realtor fees so make sure you have representation. We can help guide you through the entire process of customization and will always advocate for you. You can also view current listings on our website here.