The housing market in Charlotte is still recovering, but we see signs of positive movement in the new builds of both homes and commercial space. In Indian Land, SC, ground was broken this past month for a new shopping center with a Publix grocery store and the Edenmoor development was bought and will resume its build-out soon. Additional building from Ballantyne to Fort Mill is sprouting up and things look very positive for the spring.

What that does mean for sellers is that the market is more competitive than ever. New builds combined with a saturated inventory including short-sells and foreclosures make selling a home in the Charlotte area more difficult than in recent years.

There are several things that you can do as a seller to make your home more attractive to potential buyers. The first is to make sure it is properly priced. Work with your Realtor to determine where your house should be priced. The biggest mistake we see is sellers making is wanting to "get their money out" of their homes. The sad truth is that many people in Charlotte bought at the height of the market and financed their homes. Today, those same properties are worth considerably less. Depending on your situation, you may have to take a loss if you are selling. The good news here is if you are buying, you will essentially recover that loss.

Secondly, remember that homebuyers have a lot of choices right now, and that means that they have the luxury of being picky. So remember that home presentation is important. This may mean having the siding pressure-washed and some fresh paint on the inside, or it may mean a full-on home staging by a professional stager. Consult your Realtor for their advice on this subject as all markets, price-ranges, and situations will vary. However, for the competitive advantage, remember that doing more to completely un-clutter and spruce up a home will give you a leg-up on the competition and speed up your time on the market.