With its growing job market, beautiful green spaces, and international airport, Charlotte, North Carolina, has become one of the hottest areas in the country for home buyers looking to relocate.

"It's a destination city," says Rachel Alles, Director of Sales for Mark Spain Real Estate in Charlotte. That influx of buyers creates excellent opportunities for Charlotte homeowners, whether you're looking to capitalize on your home's increased value, relocating for a new job opportunity, downsizing after the kids have moved out, or simply ready to upgrade to a larger space. You may have inherited a property you'd prefer to convert to cash or need to sell quickly due to financial changes or family circumstances.

Whatever your motivation for selling, Charlotte's strong market means you have options. Below, we'll cover the nine basic steps for selling your home in Charlotte, giving you the knowledge to choose the path that best fits your unique situation.

Ready to sell your house fast? Get a strong cash offer today.

1. Decide how you want to sell

Today’s market offers two primary methods for selling your home: a traditional listing or getting a cash offer before your house ever goes on the market.

Get a cash offer and move on fast

If you want to sell your home fast and with minimal disruption to your day-to-day life, skipping the listing process and selling directly to a cash buyer off-market might be the path for you. These buyers are often investors who are looking to either flip the home for a profit or keep it as a rental property.

While cash offers generally come in a little lower than market value, the convenience may be worth it. Cash buyers typically purchase as-is homes that need a little extra TLC, so you don’t need to worry about renovations. It’s also more private, since there’s no public listing or showings.

With Mark Spain Real Estate’s Guaranteed Offer program, you don’t need to trade in your well-earned equity for the convenience of cash. We’ll get you multiple competitive offers from our network of pre-vetted institutional buyers, and you can close in as little as 21 days. If the cash offers don’t work for your needs, we’ll also get a listing ready at the same time. That way, if you decide to try the market instead, we’re ready to get started right away.

List on the open market to fetch a higher price

Listing requires a little more prep work, but it could also mean a higher offer. Since you’ll need to prepare your property for showings and attract potential buyers, the process can feel a little overwhelming at first. But your agent will be there to walk you through all the steps for listing your home while taking care of the market research, professional photography, and even taking measurements to create an accurate, enticing listing.

2. Know Charlotte’s key trends and what buyers want

It’s no secret that Charlotte attracts people moving from other states. “No one’s from here,” Alles jokes, acknowledging that the Charlotte lifestyle and job market are huge draws for out-of-towners. “We’re the second-largest banking capital in the U.S. behind New York. That brings a lot of jobs,” Alles adds.

Depending on their personal needs, these professionals may be looking to settle in fast-growing areas like South End, which offers an urban feel, or Ballantyne, a more family-centric area close to several corporate offices.

Buyers moving from more densely populated cities may also be interested in proximity to outdoor spaces, while frequent travelers may be looking for properties near the airport. The diverse needs of those moving to Charlotte mean ample opportunity for sellers to highlight what makes their home unique.

3. Consider Charlotte’s seasonality and timing

Spring is generally the best time of year to sell, and Charlotte is no exception. Early May into the summer season is often the best time for sellers to either get a price boost or sell quickly.

The market overall tends to be fairly balanced, “but it really depends on the area in Charlotte,” Alles explains. “Certain counties are leaning towards being more of a seller’s market, and then we have some that are more towards the buyer’s side. But Charlotte as a whole is trending a bit more toward the seller side,” she says.

Your agent will stay up-to-date with market research on your specific neighborhood so that when you’re ready to sell, you can move forward with a strategic plan.

4. Develop your pricing strategy

Getting pricing right could easily be the determining factor between whether your home sells in days or sits on the market for months. Prices vary pretty significantly across Charlotte. For instance, you likely wouldn’t price a home in Meyer’s Park, where the median listing price hovers around a million dollars, the same way you’d price one in Silverwood, where it’s closer to $300K to $400K.

To make sure you’re hitting the sweet spot, your agent will compare similar homes in your neighborhood and conduct a thorough market analysis. That way, you can determine the price point that balances your financial goals with your desired timeline.

5. Get the house ready for sale

Once you’ve chosen to list your house and at what price point, it’s time to get it ready for showings. That, however, doesn’t have to mean major renovations. While there are cost-effective home improvements you can make, the most impactful approach is to spruce up and highlight what you already have.

Alles says that Charlotte buyers are looking for what she calls “the jewelry of the home.” In other words, the touches that make a home shine, like hardwood floors, natural stone, or marble in kitchens. Buyers also frequently look for in-law apartments or suites to prepare for changing family needs.

No matter what features your home has, simply decluttering and taking down personal decor can go a long way. With a clean, blank slate, buyers are better able to imagine themselves in the home, which creates that all-important emotional connection that can drive a sale.

6. Stay ahead of common Charlotte inspection issues

Alles points out that since Charlotte is not a beach town, there isn’t the extreme weather that many coastal towns in North Carolina face, which means fewer inspection issues. She does, however, advise that “polybutylene piping and synthetic stucco tend to be things that people get a little nervous about.”

Other inspection issues across the state include roofing, ventilation, and electrical issues. In the event of any of these issues, Alles says, “We recommend to our sellers, if we have this situation, we either price it knowing that this is going to devalue the home to some extent or say to buyers, ‘hey, we went ahead and had these items inspected.’” In other words, transparency is the best approach.

7. Prepare disclosures required in Charlotte

If you do know of any property issues, “we have to disclose. North Carolina is a full disclosure state,” Alles says. Sellers need to make buyers aware of any known defects that could impact the sale price or livability of the property. To do so, you’ll need to fill out a Residential Property and Owners’ Association Disclosure Statement. Some exemptions exist, such as when a transfer is part of an inheritance or if the home has never been inhabited. Your agent will help you determine if any apply.

8. Market your home to bring in buyers

The Charlotte real estate market can be competitive. With many sellers vying for attention, comprehensive marketing is the key to getting your home noticed. One way is to leverage the “coming soon” listing status to generate interest before you’re ready for showings. Your agent will also use their network and social media channels to draw attention to your listing.

Brand recognition also helps. Mark Spain Real Estate fully embraces that approach with billboards, radio spots, and TV ads. “You can't escape us. We're everywhere,” Alles jokes. That’s intentional: “There is such a pull towards our branding that we tend to get more eyes on your property because of that omnichannel marketing,” Alles explains.

9. Navigate offers and closing

As exciting as it is when offers start coming in, it can also be overwhelming. Having an agent to comb through offers and break down which are best will save you time, energy, and stress. If you do receive multiple offers, you have the opportunity to negotiate for a better one. A skilled agent should do this, since it can result in a higher offer or scare off buyers who have already put a fair offer on the table.

Once you’ve accepted an offer, closing in North Carolina can take about four to six weeks. As the seller, you’ll be responsible for some closing costs, but in North Carolina, they’re a bit lower than the national average, usually a little over 1 percent of the sale price. North Carolina also collects an excise tax of $1 per $500 of the sale price.

Sell Your Home Your Way

Every step in the sales process matters, from choosing how you want to sell to timing, setting a price, and negotiating offers. When you work with a Mark Spain Real Estate agent, you get an advocate who will guide you through each decision and prioritize your goals.

Connect with a Mark Spain Charlotte agent today to start on the right selling path for you.

Need to sell now? Get a strong cash offer on your home today.