From the category archives:

Home Selling Tips

Worst exterior home for sale photo I’ve seen!

Thumbnail image for Worst exterior home for sale photo I’ve seen! February 26, 2010

This morning I was searching for a house for sale on the north side of Chicago for some clients who want to move up to a larger home. Shown left is the exterior photo for one of the houses I came across. The home has a nice new sidewalk, but I do think the house [...]

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Should you view homes above your price range, if they’re on market 30 days or less?

Thumbnail image for Should you view homes above your price range, if they’re on market 30 days or less? February 19, 2010

This week I received a great question. Michael M. asked, “Is it wise to see a home that only recently came on the market (let’s say less than 30 days) and is $25-50K out of your price range? Or should you wait until there is a price reduction that brings it closer to your [...]

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Home sellers should insist on electronic lockboxes

Thumbnail image for Home sellers should insist on electronic lockboxes January 17, 2010

Yesterday when I tried to schedule a second showing for a house in Park Ridge I was informed that showings were canceled since the key was lost. I recall from the first showing that the house only had a manual lockbox. Such lockboxes invite problems. There’s no record of who opened the lockbox and when. [...]

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The master bath was perfect except for…

Thumbnail image for The master bath was perfect except for… December 26, 2009

My buyers, Lisa and John, and I were curious to see a duplex condo that looked great online. The photo of the master bath showed dual sinks and a huge, tiled shower. However, the “spa bathroom” (as the listing agent described it) lost a little of its luster when we spied the toilet paper roll [...]

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How not to sell a home – ugly marketing materials

Thumbnail image for How not to sell a home – ugly marketing materials November 29, 2009

Friends passed along to me a flyer they picked up in front of a home for sale in Arlington Heights. Shown left is part of it. With color printers priced less than $100, there’s no excuse for such an ugly flyer. Marketing materials not only provide information about a home. They give the reader an [...]

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Time to clean the gutters

Thumbnail image for Time to clean the gutters November 22, 2009

Here’s a photo of the front gutters on a house I showed yesterday. To be full of debris is one thing, but to be sprouting new growth is another!
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How NOT [...]

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Homebuyer tax credit extended and expanded to include current homeowners!

Thumbnail image for Homebuyer tax credit extended and expanded to include current homeowners! November 7, 2009

Yesterday President Obama signed into law an extension and expansion of the homebuyer tax credit. The new legislation benefits both first time homebuyers and current homeowners who sell their current home and buy another home. Buyers must sign a contract before April 30, 2010 and close by June 30, 2010 to qualify for the tax [...]

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Paint fumes are a great way to drive away home buyers

September 24, 2009

I showed several houses in Naperville on Tuesday evening. My buyers quickly ruled out the first home which as shown left clearly wasn’t ready for market. Not only did it not show well, the drying paint fumes were horrible!
Can you imagine car dealers selling cars that smell like exhaust fumes inside?
A fresh coat of paint [...]

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1st time home buyers who procrastinated are making some home sellers very happy!

September 20, 2009

Home sellers in the starter home price range are enjoying a brief sellers market as first time home buyers who waited until the last minute to make offers on homes now find themselves bidding against other first time home buyers who also waited thinking home prices would continue to decline.
First time home buyers must [...]

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FHA 203(K) loans great for marketing homes that need work

September 16, 2009

Yesterday I attended a seminar on FHA 203(K) rehab loans. I wrote about these from the buyers perspective back in August in my blog post “FHA 203(K) loans great for buying homes that need work“.
FHA 203(K) rehab loans should also be considered by sellers with homes that need work. By paying up front for [...]

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