Laurie Borden Seller's Guide

First Class

YOU WON’T FIND ANOTHER REAL ESTATE BROKER WHO WILL WORK AS HARD FOR YOU AS LAURIE.

Sara B. (Wicker Park)

Laurie is great to work with. She was detail-oriented when preparing my condo for photos and open houses. She was always responsive to me and potential buyer’s agents and was very helpful and supportive along the way, giving good advice. My condo sold for over-asking.

Mariela D. (South Loop)

I had a terrific experience working with Laurie Borden to sell my condo in Chicago. I needed to put my condo on the market while I was living on the West Coast. I communicated with Laurie, who went to see the property right away (arrang ing times with not collaborative tenants). She provided me with a detailed report and suggested fixes to the apartment before putting it on the market. She also recommended con tractors to work with and took care of supervising the work after I left town. I traveled for a week to Chicago and got the apartment ready, and met her personally. Everything worked out perfectly. Laurie excels at communicating clearly and advising on pricing and marketing strategies. She had an excellent eye for preparing, listing, and showing the condo. While there were other units on sale in the building, mine sold in less than a week. The prospective buyer saw the property in Laurie’s open house and made an offer. If you are looking for an agent, I can’t recommend Laurie enough. She made the ordeal of selling property across states easy and fast.

Table of Contents

SHAPING THE EXPERIENCE

TO SELLING

312 350 5222

laurie@listedbylaurie.com

There are lots of Realtors in Chicago. Why should you choose Laurie? Because while some Realtors tell you what they think you want to hear, Laurie tells you what you need to know! Laurie is hardworking, conscien tious, and genuine. Her attention to detail and discerning eye will keep you one step ahead and help you avoid unwelcome surprises. She gets the job done! Prior to entering real estate, Laurie enjoyed a career in retail and fashion. She was a buyer for the iconic Chicago retailer, Mark Shale, and was the buyer for the boutique at the East Bank Club. Laurie infuses her

style, taste, and vision into everything she does. Laurie has experience navigating the Chicago public and private school systems and can help families under stand the complicated process. Laurie volunteers at the Ark, Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, Honeycomb Project and Share Our Spare. She plays tennis, practices Pilates, loves to travel and is an avid runner, who has run marathons. Laurie and her family live in West Town. Laurie holds a B.S. from Indiana University, where she graduated with honors.

Real Estate Broker

Laurie Borden

Real estate is complex.

That’s where Laurie comes in.

Keller Williams

THE #1 BROKERAGE IN THE U.S.

We are powered by the #1 brokerage in the United States, with offices in over 50 countries. Keller Williams has developed a commanding pres ence in the real estate industry.

#1 IN REAL ESTATE UNITS SOLD, SALES VOLUME & AGENT COUNT

1 MILLION + TRANSACTIONS

#1 IN SERVICE Newsweek

$332 BILLION IN VOLUME

ONE OF THE WORLDS BEST EMPLOYERS FOR WOMEN. Indeed

#1 MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANY Inman #1 HAPPIEST PLACES TO WORK Forbes

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE TOP 10 Training Magazine

WHY KELLER WILLIAMS

Great Values

We hang our professional license with Keller Williams because they align with our values - integrity, honesty, and due diligence. It’s these values that allow us to provide a quality transaction. It also reinforces that our success is determined by the satisfaction of the clients we serve.

Quality Outcomes

Besides being the number one brokerage for units sold, sales volume, agent count, and customer service, Keller Williams is the #1 brokerage in real estate education. We stay apprised of all new real estate laws and ahead of the ever changing real estate market so our clients are empowered to make a great home buying decision.

Community Outreach

Since May of 2009 our entire company – from the U.S. and Canada to our family abroad – we set aside the second Thursday of the month to Renew, Energize, and Donate within the communities we serve - RED Day.

A CUSTOMIZED EXPERIENCE Boutique Approach

Dedicated To You

The dedication to providing you a professional, seamless, and well managed home sale begins now. You can expect clear communication, relevant market data, and high-end marketing along the way. If you have a question beyond what this book provides, just ask. You have a real estate advocate and ally by your side.

Made To Fit

That’s why we customize a strategy tailored to each client’s specific needs, including marketing and social media, pricing, and negotiation tactics.

REFERRAL BASED BUSINESS

Pricing your home competitively from the start is important in today’s market. In fact, it’s the quickest way to sell a home for the most amount of money. That’s because the closer a home is priced to the realistic market value, the more buyers are willing to consider making an offer.

Interest in a home is the highest the first 3 weeks on the market.

During

4 - 7, buyers’

agents’ interests decrease.

PRICE IT HIGH

- Fewer showing requests

- Exposure is reduced

- Excitement diminishes

- Price often not justified by appraiser

- Lengthens market time & sells for less

- Encourages prompter sale

PRICE IT COMPETITIVELY

- Generates maximum exposure

- Relies on an expert to interpret market data

- Maximize interest immediately upon listing

- Attracts more potential buyers

PRICE IT LOW

- More likely to attract higher offers

- More likely to achieve a swifter sale

What happens when a home is priced too low or too high?

Enhance Your Home MAXIMIZE PROFITABILITY

DID YOU KNOW?

The condition of a home must be met with the right price and appropriate marketing strategy to sell quickly for top dollar.

GENERAL BATHROOM

F Storage unit

F Declutter and minimize space

KITCHEN

F Remove small appliances from your counters

LIVING AREAS

F Have all walls freshly painted

F Check ceilings for leak stains

F Use light and neutral colors if painting and redecorating

F Clean fireplace and service if necessary

F Wash windows and replace any cracked or broken seals

F All windows should be able to open and close.

F Keep draperies open and window shades up

F Replace burned out light bulbs with soft incandescent bulbs

F Be sure every light switch works

F Discard items now that will be disposed of when moving

F Straighten up the closets and minimize

F Keep pets away during showings and tuck pet items away

F Lubricate any sticking or squeaking doors

F Repair any dripping faucets / leaks

F Keep fresh white towels in the bathroom

F Keep sinks and mirrors shining

F Unclog sinks and bathtubs

F Replace old caulking around the bathtubs / showers / floor tile

BASEMENT, ATTIC, GARAGE, COMMON AREAS

F Clean out the clutter

F Keep stairways and entryways well lit

F Keep basement bright with new paint or lighting

F Ventilate or dehumidify

F Repair cracked floors and walls.

F HVAC servicing

OUTDOORS

F Invest in landscaping where it can be seen at first sight

F Cut back overgrown shrubbery.

F Paint your house if necessary, and applicable

F In winter, walkways should be free of snow and ice

F Inspect roof and gutters for needed repairs

F Place flowers outside of the front door, deck and patio

Marketing Professionals

MAXIMIZING EXPOSURE

Custom marketing tailored to fit each home selling situation. Every home sale is different. That’s why we keep a wide range of marketing tools by our side. Here are some of the most recent marketing tools used to lessen the time on market and increase profitability.

CONNECTIONS

A vast network of real estate connections will get your home in front of agents who have buy ers looking

SOCIAL MEDIA

We place eye-catching posts highlighting your property.

FLOOR PLANS

Professional floor plans allow buyers to gain a greater understanding of the layout and livabili ty of a home.

PHOTOS

Professional interior and exterior photos help buyers imagine how they can utilize the space.

VIDEOS

Creative & elegant. Our videos are fashioned to highlight the best aspects of your home.

FLYERS / POSTCARDS

Sometimes a professionally designed postcard or flyer can capture the attention of the right buyer.

SIGNS

Professional ‘For Sale’ and ‘Open House’ signs are provided.

SHOWINGS / OPEN HOUSES

Whether virtually or in person, we host open houses to attract buyers looking for a home like yours.

The best marketing strategy includes pricing.

Service beyond the sale.

Continued Service

You have a real estate expert, ally, and advocate by your side through the entire selling process. But, what happens after the sale? Let’s keep in touch. As a way of checking in to see how you are, you can expect a phone call, an email, or the occasional notecard from me to you. If you find yourself needing a plumber, contractor, etc down the line, pick up the phone and simply ask. That’s the kind of service we provide, beyond the sale.

Transaction Costs

WHO PAYS FOR WHAT

Seller Pays (on average):

F Commission to Real Estate Agents

F Title Insurance For Buyer

F Recording Fees

F Chicago City, Illinois State and Cook County Transfer Tax –Total $2.25 per $500 Seller Costs for Transfer Tax. ($1.50 per $500 of purchase price for City of Chicago; $0.25 per $500 for Cook or DuPage County; $.50 per $500 for Illinois State).

F Attorney’s Fee – Averages $500-$700.

F Escrow Charges – Only if the escrow is established.

Buyer Pays (on average):

F Closing Points to Lender (if applicable)

F Document Preparation & Recording Fees – To prepare the mortgage and record the deed $500.

F Application & Appraisal Fee – Charged by the lender; depends on the lender $400.

F Chicago Transfer Stamps – $3.75 per $500 of the purchase price.

F Lender Title Insurance – $550.

F Attorney’s Fee – $500-$700.

F Tax Reserve Fund – Equal to two months of taxes [only if required by the lender].

F Homeowners Insurance Policy – A paid receipt may be requested at the closing (if applicable).

F Closing Fees - $1,500-$2,000

Unparalleled Support

THE DIFFERENCE MAKER

Every measure is applied to ensure you are completely satisfied with the service and the outcome of your home sale. From the very first step to the closing table and beyond, you can expect unparalleled support. Yes, selling a home is a complex undertaking, especially in Chicago. That’s why having Laurie, a trusted and proven real estate expert, is invaluable to meeting your real estate goals. So sit back and watch as Laurie manages a seamless and worry free home sale, just for you. You aren’t alone. We’re making this move together!

With an advanced understanding of the city of Chicago and backed by the #1 brokerage for real estate education, Laurie has the experience and skill to sell homes quickly for top dollar.

Professional and timely communication is provided at every phase of the transaction. We give you accurate information so you can make the best decisions. We work with you to accomplish your objectives.to accomplish your objectives.

We live real estate - from data, to market ing, to negotiations - but what we do is help sellers get the most money on their terms.