Jimmy Grappone's Charlotte Area Real Estate Blog: May 2018

Five Tips to Prepare Your Home For Market

When it comes to selling your home, there are several things you can do to prepare your home for the market. Image title

The specifics will depend upon your home's overall condition, age, and level of updates.

We also recommend using the services of a professional home stager — CG Group at Skyecroft Realtyoffers a consultation with a professional stager for the majority of our listings — to help optimize your home's presentation.

We believe every property will sell for the right price, but our goal as real estate professionals is to help our clients sell their house for the highest price in the shortest amount of time. We can help you reach that goal by positioning your home to outperform every other home you are competing with on the market.

Before getting into the specifics about your house, here are a handful of guidelines that almost any home seller will find useful.

1. First Impressions Matter Most. Focus on your home’s curb appeal. That means power washing your house—driveway and sidewalks included. Spruce up the outside with fresh flowers and landscaping. Paint the front door and update exterior fixtures. Repair wood rot, windows, and damaged roofs.

2. Start Packing Now. Don’t wait to clear out clutter. If you don’t use it on a daily basis, you should pack it up or throw it away. Don’t put it in the garage, get a storage unit. Your Realtor® will be impressed that you are already on top of your game!

3. Light & Bright Sells. Paint interior walls in warm, neutral colors. Let in natural light. Heavy curtains, valances and drapes are out. Replace or remove tattered blinds. Use light fixtures that warm and brighten the space. Cut back trees and shrubbery that block out natural light.

4. Don’t Over Upgrade. Today’s buyers know what they want. They expect hardwood floors, granite countertops, and updated fixtures. They want an open floor plan and usable space like drop areas, butler pantries, etc. But be careful when you upgrade to not over-improve compared to your neighbors unless you plan to stay awhile. Expect 3-5 years to earn your money back.

5. The Kitchen Comes First. If you are going to upgrade your home, focus on the areas where you’ll get the best bang for the buck. A major kitchen renovation could get you 80% or more immediate return on your investment and make your home more saleable.

For more tips on how to optimize your home's presentation for the market or to schedule a home valuation or listing consultation, reach out to your local real estate expert.

And if you are in the Charlotte area, contact the author (see below) today!

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About the Author

Jimmy Grappone

CG Group, Simplifying Real Estate

NC & SC Broker / REALTOR

101 Waxhaw Professional Park Drive, Suite C

Waxhaw, NC 28173

(F) (704)-412-3233(E) jgrappone@skyecroftrealtygroup.com

Click Here to Access NC's Working With Real Estate Agents Brochure:

http://www.ncrec.gov/Brochures/Print/WorkingWith.pdf

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http://jimmy.cggrouprealestate.com/m/app.php

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"At the end of the day, this is a people business. It's not just about how many houses you sell, but how you impact the lives of those you serve. My job is not just about selling...it's about being a trusted advisor and guide through what can be a treacherous process if you don't know what you're doing."

Jimmy Grappone

I am a husband, a dog owner, a recreational golfer, an on-again / off-again workout warrior, a lover and connoisseur of barbecue and local craft IPAs, an older brother and self-professed mama’s (and mama-in-law’s) boy, and an all-around sports junkie. I love being on the golf course and on the water, but hopefully not at the same time. Relaxation is on a boat with a fishing pole in hand and The Avett Brothers playing in the background.

My motivation and inspiration begin at home. Home is more than just four walls and a roof. It’s where we live with our spouses, our families, where we forge relationships and create memories that last a lifetime. It’s my “why” for being in real estate. Home is not only shelter, but all of the dreams and aspirations that come along with it, including what it is now and what it will become. Nothing beats helping others find that special place they will call home and create dreams and experiences and memories of their own. I am blessed to be in the “business of home.”

To read the rest of Grappone's profile, click here.

Grappone is licensed to sell real estate in North Carolina & South Carolina and frequently refers clients to real estate agents from coast to coast and around the globe.

10 Things Every Local Knows About Waxhaw

Whether you live in Waxhaw, North Carolina or if you are planning to visit, there are several things you should know about the Town by the Tracks. Image title

First of all, Waxhaw doesn't do nicknames! Don't tell friends you are visiting "The Haw" too loudly while walking along Main Street or you just may get the stink eye from an offended local who is still pained by The Great Hee-Haw Controversy of 2017. Yes, that was a thing.

Also, there is no consensus whether the town's most iconic structure should be called the Water Tower or the Water Tank. Whichever name you prefer to use, everyone knows what - and where - you are talking about.

Finally, if you want to get around town quickly during rush hour, town events - see parades and festivals - or when a train is passing by, you'd better know the side roads like the back of your hand.

However, while these are all important items for Waxhawnians to know, and I'm not quite sure that's what locals are called but I think it will catch on, they didn't make the final cut.

So without further ado, I present to you, “10 Things Every Local Knows (or Should Know) About Waxhaw.”

If you want to eat at Maxwell's Tavern on Friday or Saturday, you better get there by 5 PM or be prepared to wait. Perhaps Waxhaw's most popular restaurant for its laid back atmosphere and quality fare - and there are many great ones to choose from - Maxwell's draws the crowds. Not to worry, they'll text you when your table is ready so you can do some window shopping or cross the railroad tracks and have a drink at Black Chicken or The Dreamchaser's Brewery while you wait.
Waxhaw loves to do parades. Especially the 4th of July and the Christmas parade. If you want to attend either, you'd better arrive early. And if you'd like to participate, the more the merrier!
And festivals. Kaleidoscope Fest celebrates the arts in May. Autumn Treasures is more food centered and is highlighted by a regional BBQ contest. Both two-day events have countless vendors and a street fair atmosphere.
The best time to stand on the walking bridge is when a train is coming through. Just please don't stand on the tracks. It's very dangerous and, might I add, illegal.
Wherever you go, you can find dessert. From Waxhaw Creamery to The Cupcake Queen, and from Pelican's Snoballs to Cookie Dough Bliss, there is no shortage of dessert-only establishments.
Waxhaw loves food trucks…at least for now. The town council recently voted down a policy that would have restricted areas where food trucks can operate, but that proposal was struck down 3-2.
Speaking of food - and there is a lot of that in this article -, no trip to downtown Waxhaw is complete without stopping by Provisions Market. They have local products of just about anything you can imagine, and they serve perhaps THE BEST Reuben sandwich ever made.
Waxhaw has an amazing Farmers Market held every Saturday of the year in the lot beside the Water Tower. Or is it the Water Tank? Summer hours are 9AM till noon beginning in early April and lasting till September or October when they open from 10AM till noon.
Waxhaw has its very own skate park. Don't bring your bikes to ride on these ramps. This park is strictly for skaters. Ollie, Ollie, Oxen Free!
Waxhaw is a mecca for cyclists. Live here long enough and you'll know to watch out for packs of avid cyclists in and around Waxhaw on the weekends. You might also get to know “Teelo,” Bike Depot's owner who is nearly as passionate and knowledgeable about bikes as he is about what's on tap at Mary O’Neill’s and Dreamchaser's! (Just kidding, my friend!)
BONUS: Up until about 8 years ago, Waxhaw was a dry town. Now it's known as a great place to wet your whistle. In fact, The Dreamchaser's Brewery was just named the top reason to leave the city for a drink by Charlotte Magazine. High praise for Neil & Anita Gimon’s establishment!

These are just a few of the many wonderful things (and people and places) to know about the Town of Waxhaw.

Thinking about visiting or moving to Waxhaw and want to know more? Just ask local Realtor, area resident, President of the Waxhaw Business Association, and author of this article, Jimmy Grappone.

He just might give you a tour and teach you where to find the best brisket tacos in town! Hint: It's not on the list!

Jimmy Grappone
CG Group, Simplifying Real Estate