Selling your home is a huge undertaking, especially if this is your first time. Happily, if you intend to sell your house right now, the housing market is in your favor.

According to Zillow, houses in the state of North Carolina are selling at 25.2% more than the previous year due to high demand.

There are many details you’ll have to take into consideration, such as whether to hire a real estate agent or sell the property yourself, how to stage it, and what your motivation is for selling in the first place.

If you’re preparing to market your house in North Carolina but aren’t sure where to start, we’re here to provide five essential tips for beginners. Dive in!

• Hire a Professional Real Estate Broker

If you’re a first-time seller, we don’t recommend trying to sell the place on your own. Though it’s entirely possible, you might find yourself overwhelmed by the effort and potentially failing to get the highest possible value for your property.

We highly recommend that you work with a professional brokerage firm. Make sure you’ve performed the appropriate research to ensure the broker you select has undergone all the necessary training, coursework, and licensing procedures.

North Carolina requires all brokers to take a pre-license brokers course before they’re cleared to take the state exam. If they’re not willing to present their credentials, they’re probably not a smart choice.

• Research the Best Time to Sell

Every region of the United States has an ideal time to sell. Because we’re in a seller’s market generally, you’re already off to a good start.

Most often, the best time of year to sell is around the second half of May. The conditions are most likely to minimize the amount of time your house will be on the market while maximizing your profit.

Now that we’re rapidly approaching that window, you’re in a seller’s market with not a lot of time to prep your house for sale in the summer.

• Make Any Home Renovations and Repairs

Before listing your home, you’ll want to take care of all the necessary repairs and renovations. Anything from replacing the roof to enhancing the landscape in your backyard can all help to boost the value of your property.

The best places in a residence to renovate so as to increase the home’s value are the kitchen and the bathroom. These are the two spaces buyers are likely to show most interest, and become persuaded to make the purchase.

Industry standards currently show you can recoup around 50% to 60% of your budget in a standard kitchen and bathroom remodel. Look into energy-efficient appliances or update the cabinetry. As for the bathroom, you might put in a new coat of paint and upgrade the sinks. 

• Solidify Sale Price

Your real estate agent or broker will be able to help you come up with a competitive price point for your house. An appraisal should be done so you’ll have a general idea what to expect.

It’s also useful to know what similar homes in your area are selling for. You don’t want to aim too high, because you won’t be able to attract any buyers within the area’s demographics. Too low, and you’re setting yourself up not to realize a profit.

• Stage Your Home

This is one of the most crucial elements of selling a home that too many people fail to accomplish. Staging refers to how you arrange the furniture and decor before people drop by to view the house. Some homeowners hire a professional staging company to handle this.

Start by decluttering. Remove or store unnecessary furniture and miscellaneous items. Presumably you’ll already be starting to move, so this is a great time to downsize and get an early start with packing.

It’s also crucial to depersonalize the house by removing any family photos or items that tie the space to you directly. Prospective buyers will be hoping to see themselves living in the house, so you want to make that easier for them.

If all they see when they look around is you, they’ll have a more difficult time trying to envision a future for themselves anywhere in the home.

Selling your house for the first time might seem like a lot of work. But if you get a solid brokerage firm on your team, you’ll be able to get your home ready to go on and off the market in no time.