The Real Estate Book of Chicago West & Far Suburbs - Vol 8#2

HERE ARE 10 RESOURCES YOU NEED WHEN SELLING A HOME

MORTGAGE LENDER - Getting preapproved by a lender for a mortgage helps you shop for homes within your means and shows you’re a serious buyer. A lender can estimate how much mortgage you’ll likely qualify for and preliminary loan terms.

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

-Homes that use a professional photographer sell faster than homes with standard photos. Homebuyers judge whether or not to walk through a property by first seeing the listing photos online.

HOME STAGER - Home staging helps to prepare your home to sell so it appeals to the most potential buyers who will pay the highest possible price. They will give you advice on decluttering and can provide furniture and accessories if needed.

HOME INSPECTOR - Having a Home Inspection prior to selling lets you know of any issues and what repairs you should make to help improve the buyer’s confidence. There is also less likelihood of price negotiations.

HOME WARRANTY - Offering a home warranty will give your buyers comfort knowing that issues that may arise, such as appliance malfunction, HVAC, plumbing etc are covered by just a small service fee (some restrictions may apply).

INSURANCE - If you are purchasing another home Mortgage lenders require homeowners insurance. You also deserve peace of mind knowing that your most expensive purchase is protected.

TITLE COMPANY - Title companies do a title search which is an examination of public records to determine and confirm a property’s legal ownership, and to find out whether there are any liens or claims on the property.

ATTORNEY - Real estate att orneys help oversee home sales, from t he moment the contract is signed through the negotiating period to closing. A seller’s attorney reviews sales contracts, communicates terms in a professional manner and attends closings to prevent mishaps.

MOVING & STORAGE - Hiring professional movers offloads the stresses of packing, heavy-lifting, and transporting and is well worth the money spent. For others, saving that money through a doit-yourself move is the way to go. There are also ways to mix-andmatch your services to get the help you really need

HOME SERVICES - You may need t o freshen up your home with minor repairs, paint, flooring or landscaping before selling your home. It is good to have some resources before selling. Your REALTOR can usually give you some home services referrals.

5 FACTS ABOUT SELLING A HOME IN THE WINTER

BY DIXIE SOMERS

Can’t wait until spring to sell your home? Winter can be a tough time to attract buyers, particularly if you live in a region where there’s going to be ice and snow all around. Your home may not show as well in bad weather; however, it is possible. Here are some winter real estate facts to keep in mind:

Everyone Appreciates Mood

Create a cozy feel by adding extra pillows or afghans to the sofa and beds, or some plush throw rugs on the floor. Leave the dining room table set for dinner, along with a champagne bucket and a couple of glasses. Add some extra-flu y towels or robes in the bathrooms. In short, make everything look comfortable and inviting.

Bright Light Is Cheery

There’s nothing that makes a house cheerier than sunlight. Wash the windows inside and out so they sparkle. Pull up the blinds and throw back the drapes for some warming illumination. In darker corners and niches where the sun won’t reach, place a lamp and keep it on. You could also use spotlighting to illuminate major features of the kitchen, living room or bathroom.

Warmth Is Comfort

People coming in from the cold will be pleased to find your home is warm and toasty. As a retreat from winter cold, your buyers will have more of a reason to feel comfortable and take their time. You might consider lighting a small fire in the fireplace or wood stove to keep things toasty. Try to keep indoor humidity between 40-60 percent to avoid that dry, stu y feeling.

People Like an Orderly Property

In the winter, all visitors may see is a blanket of snow (depending on where you live). Do your best to keep the driveway and walkways neatly cleared and free of ice. Even if there’s just a light dusting of snow, sweep it away. Spread some sand over walkways to avoid slips and falls. Try to keep the roof clear of snow, as well, as a good roof is important to selling any home. You can always call in a roofing company if yours isn’t up to par.

Winter Can Be the Ideal Season

You’re more likely to get bids faster in the wintertime because you’re dealing with motivated buyers. They need to move, and soon, or they’d be waiting for the balmier temperatures of spring. You may get fewer visitors, but they’ll be serious buyers, not just frivolous house-shoppers. Stage your home well for the season and you may very well sell faster, and for a higher price, than you expected.

You always want to keep your home clean and in good repair, but the trick to selling in winter is creating the e ect of a warm, sunny retreat from the elements.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group Oswego, IL 630-267-7564

Jenn

RE/MAX All Pro St. Charles, IL 630-313-0103

jennhenry01@gmail.com JennHenryRealtor.com

Adam

RE/MAX All Pro St. Charles, IL 773-348-7325

adamrullo@gmail.com TheRulloTeam.com

630-513-1771

rullos@rullos.com TheRulloTeam.com

Lake Holiday Homes

815-474-9292 | Sandwich, IL nikki@lakeholiday.com

LakeHoliday.com

IL 630-675-8157

margiethorgesen@yahoo.com

Beth

Kettley Realtors Sandwich, IL 815-258-5687 bswanson3788@gmail.com

Wheatland Realty Naperville, IL 630-506-0622

ewelina@wheatland-realty.com Wheatland-Realty.com

Janet

Kettley Realtors Yorkville, IL 630-253-0681

jseego@comcast.net

Henry

Alex & Vicky Rullo RE/MAX All Pro St. Charles, IL

Margie Thorgesen Kettley Realtors Batavia,

Ewelina Rafael

Nikki Lorenzen Managing Broker/Owner

Debbi Brinegar Kettley Realtors Yorkville, IL 630-618-8156 debbibrinegar@comcast.net

Rullo

Swanson

Seego

Joanne LaVia

EYE-CATCHING WAYS TO UPDATE YOUR HOME

Your home is a reflection of you, and your decor should match your tastes. With some simple home upgrades, you can create the perfect space for you and your family, even if your design preferences change over time.

1 2 3 4 5

Consider these ideas to get started:

ADD A FRESH COAT OF PAINT

One of the easiest home improvement projects, a fresh coat of paint can change the entire look of a room. Whether you choose to paint the entire space one new color, opt for an accent wall in a vibrant shade or simply freshen up the trim, paint can go a long way toward adding visual appeal and reflecting your personality. Patterned wallpaper, board and batten, stone and tile can also be added to create textured accents.

BRING WARMTH AND AMBIENCE WITH A FIREPLACE

More than 3 in 5 homeowners have a fireplace or other hearth product in their homes, according to the HPBA, and including a fireplace in your construction or renovation plans is a gift of warmth, comfort and ambiance you can give yourself. Whether it’s a centerpiece for your living room or family room, or an accent to your bedroom, bathroom or study, a fireplace can provide an artful design element for your home and a safe, reliable heat source in the event of unexpected weather.

UPDATE LIGHTING FIXTURES

Proper lighting can bring rooms to life and make spaces look larger and more welcoming. You can brighten up your home in a variety of ways, from strategically placing table and floor lamps that fit your design style to replacing older ceiling and wall-mounted fixtures with more modern styles.

GIVE CABINETS A FRESH LOOK

There are numerous easy ways to update your kitchen and bathroom cabinets to create a more updated look. One of the easiest is swapping out older cabinet pulls and knobs for more modern options. With a variety of finishes – stainless, bronze, brushed nickel, black, copper and more – and styles available, you can match your cabinets to nearly any design style in a matter of minutes. Adding a coat of stain or paint is also a relatively quick and easy way to update some of the most-used spaces in your home without completely replacing the cabinets.

UPCYCLE FURNITURE

You can breathe new life into your current furniture by making simple changes. The easiest would be simply rearranging your pieces and moving some to different rooms to create an updated look. You can also add decorative covers to sofas, chairs, throw pillows and more, or take your upcycling a step further and refinish a bookshelf, table or other wooden furniture with a fresh coat of paint or stain, or give it a more weathered look with some sandpaper.

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Patricia became a licensed REALTOR® in 2006. She is passionate about helping people. Patricia is an expert negotiator always working to help her buyers and sellers make the best decisions. Continuing education is a priority for Patricia. She has earned numerous industry designations and awards including PMN, C2EX, AHWD and CDPE.

Patricia is involved in several professional organizations. She is currently President Elect of The REALTOR® Association of Fox Valley and serves on numerous committees. She is past President of The Women’s Council of REALTORS® Fox Valley, and was awarded REALTOR of the Year in 2022. Patricia raised her 3 sons as a single mom and is the proud Grandma to 2 girls and 2 boys. She is married to her wonderful husband of 23 years and has 2 Labrador Retrievers. She recently adopted a cat because her client was unable to take him when she moved. Patricia keeps in touch with her past clients and has remained friends with many of them. In her free time she enjoys volunteering her time, being with friends and traveling.

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