Real Estate Information Archive

Many times we hear from buyers and sellers complaining about their last realtor.  Many clients say, "I never heard from him again once we listed", or, "He showed us properties outside of our area and price range".  But how often do buyers and sellers really screen their real estate professionals?  Do they ask them the right questions before hiring them to help them buy or sell a  home?

Since the year 2000, over 600,000 newcomers have joined the National Association of Realtors, nearly doubling the groups size in membership.  That means there are literally hundreds of thousands of realtors who haven't sold a home, or if so, it's only been a few here and there.  Just because you have a real estate license, doesn't mean that you've done a lot of business or even know your local real estate market.  It's more important now than ever to find that "Super Star" Realtor who has a proven track record of success for their clients.  If they have a proven track record for them, the odds are they will help you succeed in all your real estate needs.  Whether you're buying or selling, finding the right realtor can mean thousands of dollars in your pocket.  We often say, anyone can help you sell your home.  But "how" they sell it and for how much can make the biggest difference for you and your pocket book.  If you don't think researching to find a realtor is important when buying a home, then you're wrong!  A good realtor will not only help you find the right home for you, but they should also think "outside" the box and listen to your needs.  Many times we have been able to show clients homes that better fit their needs in areas they never even thought of.  If they were to never use us to find their new home, they would have been stuck in a lesser home in an area they "thought" they wanted.  It's all about listening to your clients needs and filling those needs.  Also, when working with a buyers agent, a good one can help negotiate the best price for you.  Seasoned and very experienced realtors who are used to negotiating transactions each week can many times negotiate a better deal for you than someone who isn't used to negotiations.  This can mean a lot more money for you.

So how do you find the "Super Star" Realtor in your area?  There are many ways, here are some examples below.

1. Referrals:  Always ask those who have recently bought or sold a home if they were happy with their realtor.  If they were, get a personal referral from them and call the realtor yourself.  See if they specialize in your area and describe in detail to them your real estate needs.
2.  Research Online:  Many times the TOP Realtors in your area have a personal website.  Go and do some research on their personal page and call a few and interview them.  
3. Drive By's:  Know an area you're interested in?  Drive through the area and take note of the realtor who's listing the most homes there.  Those few realtors will know that area better than anyone else.
4. Information:  Do you get information from a local realtor in the mail or through email?  If you're getting direct information mail on a regular basis, that means that realtor specializes in your area.  Take note and see if they are listing homes in your neighborhood and give them a call.
5. Websites:  There are websites that help you find the right realtor.  Sites such as www.AgentMachine.com or www.HomeGain.com will help you find the right realtor for your area.  You can actually choose from multiple proposals sent to you from local experts.

Now you've had a chance to find a few realtors to interview.  What 8 questions should you ask before hiring the right realtor for you?

1. May I see your Resume?  Wouldn't you typically ask for someone's resume if you're looking to hire them to do a job for you?  There are over 2.6 Million realtors in the U.S alone and it's important to ask how they are different from others in the industry. 
2. What is your Commission?  There are a wide range of commissions out there and this should only be one factor when choosing a realtor, not the only factor.  Find out what the realtor will do for that commission.  Is their commission more, but they do more marketing to sell my home?  Are they paying more to the buyers agent than other realtors?  Remember, you can't get the BEST local realtor by paying him/her a low commission.  Simply put, you can't get Nordstrom quality at a Walmart price.
3. What makes you special?  Every realtor will advertise your home, but how much is the question.  Find out what sets the realtor apart from others in your local market?  Are they the area expert?  Do they understand the areas schools, parks, transit situations?  The more knowledgeable a realtor is about your neighborhood, the better he/she will be at getting your home sold.
4. How often will I hear from you?  You may be one of those clients that don't want to hear from your realtor every week.  Or, you may be one who demands it.  Let your realtor know and see how well they communicate.  The realtor you hire should have the tools to respond to you the same day when you call.  They won't always be available to answer when you call, but be sure they will at least call you back.  Find out if email is easier or if they get weekly or monthly reports.  Let them know your expectations and make sure you're both on the same page.
5. What's your marketing plan for my home?  This is very important and can't stress this enough.  Typically only 2% of realtors are considered "listing agents".  The reason??  Listing agents have a budget and plan to market your home.  It takes time, skill, knowledge, experience and yes... money to market a home successfully.  Make sure they are doing this for you.  Since 92% of homebuyers are searching online.  Make sure they have a good website and web presence.  Make sure your home will be on not only the TOP sites like Realtor.com, Homes.com, Trulia and more, but also their own personal site as well, not a Broker site.
6. What do you know about the Neighborhoods I want to live in?  A super salesperson is no good to you if she isn't doing an active business in your target neighborhoods, so ask how many of the homes she sold last year were located where you want to buy and how many listings she has there now.
   Really great professionals specialize in one — or maybe two — communities. Nellis says he declined a friend's request to help her find a home in a nearby city because he didn't know the place and could not help her unearth the particulars she needed — everything from planned airport flight paths to zoning-regulation changes to freeway expansions — that determine a property's true value.
   Agents have a wealth of data at their disposal from local multiple listing services. Good ones will share it, educating you about the median income and educational level of a neighborhood's residents, for example, or telling you what proportion of residents work close to home or suffer long commutes. They can't discuss school performance or crime — that would violate fair-housing laws. But they should point you to Web sites where statistics on crime and school performance are listed, one of which is Sperling's Best Places.
7. How many Transactions did you complete last year?  Some Realtors track their success in dollars saying, "I sold over $15 Million Last Year".  But depending on their price point, that may only be 20-30 homes.  Find out how many they Sold in volume, not dollars.  You can have a realtor who is considered the TOP realtor in the area because of dollar volume, while there is another realtor who actually does more business than them in sales volume.  I prefer the realtor with sales volume.  This means he/she has been doing more transactions on a regular basis than the other guy/gal.
8. Are you a Team or are you Solo?  There's no right answer to this question. Teams are growing in popularity. They're good for engaging several individuals' expertise at once and for allowing high-powered salespeople to concentrate on what they do best, off loading to associates tasks like filing and tracking documents, dogging details and showing houses. Being part of a team lets a salesperson handle more listings.  But a team is only as good as its players. You can have a team with a crummy Web site and no designations, but you have a solo agent who just sparkles, and then that's your answer for you -- go with the solo agent.
   When you get right down to it, it's that sparkle that distinguishes the superstar agents, and there's no way to find it without sitting down with a few of them and asking questions.

Finding the right realtor is just as important, if not more, than finding the right home.  A "Superstar" Realtor can make the difference between a good experience and a bad one.  Our Team is aware of what makes a good realtor.  We do our homework daily and stay on the pulse of the local real estate market in and around Naperville IL.  

If you or anyone you know needs a real estate professional, have them visit our site and learn more about us at www.DickersonTeam.com.  

Thank you for reading our blog and we look forward to hearing from you.

Isn't it something how we tend to make our lives more difficult?  With today's technology geared to make our lives easier, we find that we have less time to do the things we would really love to be doing, such as taking a walk, playing with our kids, reading a good book or just simply enjoying doing what you really love to do.

The same goes for real estate.  When we work with buyers in today's market, we try to streamline their search and find them exactly what they're looking for.  But often times, the buyer continues to go on websites searching for the "perfect" home, only to find that the data online is old or simply out of date.  Even though we continue to let them know that we are sending them ONLY the active listings that match their search criteria (i.e.: City, Bedrooms, Baths, Age, Style etc), they tend to make it harder on themselves.  Searching for a home online is a great start and helps you determine where you would like to live and gives you easy access to school and transit information.  But once you're serious about purchasing a home, why don't many homebuyers do the next piece of necessary research online and find a good realtor to help?  Is it because they feel that they're going to be "sold" something?  Or pushed into buying a home like some shady used car salesman (no disrespect to any used car salesman out there).  :)

When using the services of a true real estate professional, you will find a wealth of free information based on their knowledge and experience in their chosen profession.  As a realtor representing you as a buyer, it doesn't cost you anything to use them to do all your leg work.  It's so much easier for a realtor to listen to your needs, narrow down your search based on your needs and inform you of brand new listings hitting the market.  The best part of hiring a realtor is that if they do become pushy, you can always fire the realtor.  It's just as important to find the right realtor to help you find a home, as it is to hire a realtor to sell your home.  Below are some keys to what a realtor can do to help make your home purchase an easier and less stressful process.

1. A buyers realtor can listen to your needs and then match your needs to the right home in the area of your choice.
2. The realtor can answer any questions you may have about current market conditions
3. A Realtor can preview listings ahead of time.  This will eliminate a lot of the wasted days driving from house to house to view homes that you would never be interested in.
4. Your realtor should know the market.  Once you describe what you're searching for, He/She should be able to suggest neighborhoods and cities that you may not even have thought of.
5. A good buyers agent should be able to provide you with a list of proven and experienced professionals to help you throughout the process.  Realtors have a list of some of the best and proven lenders, attorney's, inspectors, painters, contractors in the business.  Use their list of professionals, it makes it easier on everyone.
6. Negotiating the best price:  An experienced realtor should be able to show you comparables of homes in the area that have sold.  This will allow you to get a better understanding of what homes are selling for.  From there, you write an offer and try to get the best price possible for you.
7. Following the home sale transaction to close:  A realtor will help answer any questions from the time of contract, until the time of closing.  Many real estate transactions fall apart within those 4-6 weeks, so it's important to have a good realtor who is on top of the transaction making sure everything is being done on time and according to contract.

Buying a home doesn't have to be hard, matter of fact it should be fun!!  It's the largest investment most of us will ever make.  Work with a real estate professional with a good record of success and one that does a lot of business each year.  These realtors understand the market better than anyone else and their wealth of knowledge and experience is not only FREE to you as the buyer, but it's priceless information that will make everything go much smoother for you.  

If you're looking in and around Chicago Il for a new home, please consider us, the Dickerson Team with RE/MAX.  We're ranked in the TOP 1% in Illinois and have sold over $100 Million in career sales.  If you or anyone you know is looking for a home, give us a call at 888-777-1165 or visit us online at www.DickersonTeam.com, we're very happy to help.

The question that is most often asked by buyers today is, "Should I buy a Foreclosure"?  Well the answer is simple... maybe!  I'm sure that's not the answer you were hoping for, but it's a realistic one.  You have to first figure out what your needs are and see if buying a foreclosed home is best for you.

If you're thinking that buying a foreclosure is the best option to get a deal, then you're sadly mistaken.  There are many homes on the market that aren't distressed but are priced even better than a foreclosure.  When buying a distressed home, you have to remember, the home is being sold "AS IS" and they don't warrant anything to be in working condition.  In some cases, you can inherit a lot of work and in turn, have a lot of expense in the end.  So many buyers are focused on getting the "Best Deal" that they forget the long term cost of buying the wrong home.

Below is our list of the best overall purchases and the pro's and con's to each situation. 

1.  Foreclosures

• Pro:  Many foreclosures are at rock bottom prices and most of the time, banks can close quickly.  Be prepared to pay close to list price on a foreclosure especially if it's in good condition and newer on the market.
• Con:  Foreclosures are sold "AS IS" and don't disclose known defects to the home.  It's a buyer beware situation and for many first time home buyers, it can be a risky undertaking.  Sometimes as the buyer, you also have to incur the cost of unpaid association dues, utilities and taxes.  

2.  Short Sales or Pre-Foreclosures

• Pro:  The home typically has been maintained and the seller is motivated to keep it in good condition to get the sale to avoid foreclosure.  Disclosures are provided and the end lender will typically take 10-15% of the market value.
• Con:  Short sales can take a long time to get approved by the end lender, anywhere from 3-8 months.  The end lender may not take your offered price, so be prepared to pay more when the lender comes back with their price.  Also be prepared not to get it at all.  The end lender isn't required to take any offer that comes in on the home.  Just remember, the bank is doing this voluntarily and doesn't have to do the short sale at all.

3.  Relocation Properties

• Pro:  These are my absolute favorites.  Homes that have been bought out by corporate relocation are priced incredibly well in order to sell them quickly.  Many times these homes are priced as well as foreclosures just to get them moved.  The corporation has already completed a full home inspection and has repaired anything wrong with the home.  You will often get special financing and a home warranty with the home as well. 
• Con:  There aren't many con's to this one.  But I would say the con would be that you will probably have to pay close, or over, list price to get this home.  Many buyers will see the value in a corporate relocation home and make an offer right away.

4.  Residential Sale

• Pro:  Ah, finally and typical sale, how refreshing.  Depending on how much the seller owes, depends on how good of a deal you're going to get.  Many times the homes have been well maintained, include disclosures and may offer a home warranty.  This is buying a home the 'ol fashioned way and is still the best way.
• Con:  If the homeowners are nearly upside down, they may not be able to sell at today's market value.  You may have to pay over today's market value so the seller has enough funds to close.

There are so many different kinds of homes to purchase today and everyone of them have their pro's and con's.  I would first ask myself, how comfortable am I buying a foreclosure?  Does my realtor do foreclosures and short sales?  Figure out the differences and make the best choice for you.  Not everyone is comfortable buying a foreclosure and not everyone has months to wait for a short sale.  Don't limit your options on your home search.  Consult your real estate professional and see what options are out there in your price range.

If you're looking in the Chicagoland area, look us up at www.DickersonTeam.com.  We would love to go over the list of options you have when buying a new home.  

Today's real estate market is a new frontier for both buyers and sellers.  With lending being so strict and home prices being so low, it's time for buyers to understand how the process works and be ready to jump on a home if it's the best fit for them and their needs.

As everyone knows by now, our current real estate market is considered a "Buyers Market".  In no time in history have we seen a combination of record low home prices and record low interest rates.  Even in 1965, interest rates were above 5% for a 30 year fix.  Right now, you can find many rates hovering at or below 4% for 30 years.  Even if you're bad at math, you can figure out that this is pretty much free money for you to purchase a home.  Even now, you're finding rental prices soaring and monthly payments higher than that of a similar home if you were to purchase it instead of rent it.

So how do you get into this incredible market?  Below are some key steps you must take in order to take advantage of owning a new home over renting a home and paying someone else's mortgage payment.

Step 1:  Contact a Real Estate professional.  Ask your friends or family members for a personal referral of a realtor they have used before.  An experienced realtor can walk you through the process and help ease the tensions of purchasing a new home.

Step 2:  Find a qualified lender.  I can't express how important it is to find a good lender in today's real estate market.  Many times the realtor you're working with has a list of professional lenders who have had an excellent history with the realtor.  Ask your realtor who they recommend and then give them a call to get pre-approved.

Step 3:  Have all your documents ready for the lender to get pre-approved.  Pay stubs, W2's and savings/checking account balances help the process.

Step 4:  Now that you're pre-approved, BE REALISTIC!  Don't make an unrealistic "Wish" list of items you demand in a home when you know good and well you'll never have those granite tops, S/S appliances and 3000 sq ft of living space for $125,000.  Listen to your realtor.  They'll be able to tell you if your "must have" items are realistic in your price range.

Step 5:  Narrow down and area and style of home you want.  In this market there are a ton of homes on the market.  Make it easier on yourself.  Don't cover a 15 mile radius of homes.  Find out what is most important to you and stick to it.  Is it school districts or is is convenience to work?  Is it newer homes or is it older more affordable homes?  Sit down with your realtor and make a plan and stick to it.  He/She will be able to let you know if that is feasible in your price range.

Step 6:  When you find the home you like, BUY IT..!!  I'll be honest with you, there are no perfect homes and there isn't a home out there that fits 100% of your needs. You need to figure out what is most important and see if the homes fits most (and I stress MOST) of your needs.  That will probably be the best home for you.  

Step 7:  Don't Delay!  More often than not, most buyers in todays market are waiting for the next best thing.  They hesitate on writing an offer on the home they loved, only to lose it to someone else.  Sometimes the next best thing isn't better than the one you loved.  So be prepared to buy even if it's early in the process.  Sometimes the right home comes along at exactly the right time.

Step 8: Write an offer based on the realtors knowledge.  If you're buying a short sale or foreclosure, most of the time they go for list price if not over list price.  If you continue "low ball" foreclosures and short sales, many times you won't get them.   If it isn't a short sale, find out what the seller owes and how long it's been on the market.   Many times this will dictate what the seller is willing to sell it for.  And always,,, always look at recent comparable homes that just sold in the area.  You'll find out right away if you're getting a "deal" or not.  Your realtor should be able to provide this information easily.

Step 9:  Hire a good inspector.  Even if the home is being sold "As Is", you should know what to expect before you close.  Always get a home inspection done to see exactly what you're buying.

Finally...  Step 10:  Keep all negotiations friendly throughout the process.  Many times buyers and sellers square off on many issues throughout the contract negotiations and the days leading up to closing.  This should be a happy and fun experience for you as the buyer, so remember what your goal was at the beginning and stick to it.  If you follow these 10 easy steps, you'll find that your home buying experience will be far less stressful and a lot more enjoyable.

If you're looking for a home in the Chicagoland area, be sure to visit our site at www.DickersonTeam.com  We will help guide you through the process of buying a home and make it our goal to make it fun, easy and an overall good experience. 

If you live in Naperville, you often wonder what your home is worth and what your market is currently doing.  As one of Naperville's leading real estate teams, we will help those in Naperville better understand their current market conditions compared to previous market conditions and try to detail the upcoming market in Naperville.

From February 2011 to January 2012, Naperville's Real Estate median home price was $320,750, down 4.3% compared to the previous year when it was $335,000.  To bring it all in perspective, Naperville's median home price in 2008 was as high as $375,000.  Home prices have declined due to increase inventory and rising market times.

So with median home prices falling, if priced right, what should you expect your market time to be?  Again, with more inventory, homes will simply take longer to sell as well.  Average market times in Naperville have increased as well.  This past year, market times increased 13% from the previous year.  Ready for some good news?  The average months of supply has actually dropped 10% to 6 months.  What does that mean for you?  It means that if home supply continues to drop, home prices can once again rise in 2012 and market times should trend to a lower number.

Depending on the value of your home, market times and competition does change a bit.  For example, closed homes under $250,000 was up 7.1% this past year.  Home prices from $250,000 to $372500 were up 3.4% while home priced from $373,000 to $540,500 were down 5% from the previous year.  Homes priced from $545,000 and up were down 14.5% from the previous year.

We keep track of these number to better serve our clients in Naperville.  It's our job to understand the market and help educate our clients on what to do in this tough market.

Look for our upcoming Naperville Real Estate blogs.  You can also get daily information by "Liking" us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DickersonTeam.  We post daily local and national real estate news that is important to you.  You can also visit us at www.DickersonTeam.com and learn more about us.

We see interest rates at record lows.  We see house prices at record lows.  We see a long line of shadow foreclosures and short sales for months to come.  With this much inventory still to be released, are there enough homebuyers to eliminate this problem?

As of today, unemployment has dropped to a 6 year low of 8.3% due to better than expected job growth in January of 2012.  Now many people will debate on whether it means more people have received new jobs, or whether people have lost unemployment benefits.  I'm not here to get into a political discussion, but from what we've seen in the past 6 months, there are more buyers today than a year ago.  With rising rent costs, read, able and approved buyers are now realizing that it is simply more cost effective to own a home than to lose thousands of dollars a month to rent.  This, along with realistic home prices and low rates have made more first time homebuyers eager to purchase again.  We're hoping that this creates that domino effect that we've all been waiting for.  Unfortunately we've also seen people downsizing their home purchase, making larger and expensive homes harder to sell.

So now we're back to our original question, can buyers keep pace with the housing market?  In my opinion I believe so.  In Illinois, we've seen the average days on the market hit under 10 months.  That is the best it has been in 5 years.  When homes start to sell quicker, we start seeing home prices increase.  Many real estate economists believe 2012 will be a stable year in real estate and that we'll start seeing significant increases in home prices by 2014.  I know 2014 seems far off, but compared to not seeing a light at the end of the tunnel for many years, it's a nice guiding light to look forward to.

What can we all do to help this market?  Encourage people to start buying homes once again.  Americans who have a stable job, low debt and high rent, should really be encouraged to get into this market.  Let's face it, we're never going to see this kind of market again in our lifetime.  The possibilities to buying a home for pennies on the dollar and then finance those pennies for less than 4% is incredible.  Tell everyone what you know and have read and do the numbers.  It makes sense more now than any time in history to buy a home.  Remember, owning a home is a big investment and is meant to be a longer term purchase.  And in the long term, it will now be the best investment you'll ever make.

If you're thinking of buying a new home or know someone who is.  We represent the Chicagoland area.  Please visit us at www.DickersonTeam.com for our information and we would be honored to help.

Well, the first month of 2012 has come to a close and so far, the market has shown that it's much better this year than last year.  But should we get too excited too soon?  As we all know, there are still a lot of foreclosures still to hit the market in 2012 which will keep home prices down.  But that brings us to another topic.  Are buyers still that interested in foreclosures?

Foreclosures were a HOT TOPIC among buyers the past few years.  But again, lenders and in my opinion, some realtors have spoiled it for many active buyers.  Banks have not distributed their foreclosure list among many realtors in the market, placing a lot of burden onto a few chosen realtors who have had a hard time catching up.  In turn, foreclosures come on the market with wrong information and very slow turnaround time, making buyers frustrated with the process.  Paperwork and lack of effort have turned very willing and able buyers into disgruntled and annoyed buyers.  Now are every bank and realtor causing this problem?  The answer is no.  But overall, the majority have made the process more difficult than it should be. 

The same can be said of short sales.  Short sales are sales in which the seller is trying to sell their home for less than what is owed on the property due to falling home prices.  This is sometime referred to as a "Distressed Sale".  Buyers have to remember, short sales are voluntary.  Both seller and lender are doing this voluntarily to help avoid foreclosure.  This doesn't mean the bank will accept your, or any, offer than comes on the home that's for sale.  It simply means, the bank will review the file after an offer comes in and from there, decide on whether they will approve, or not approve a short sale.  By not approving it, it doesn't mean the home will go into foreclosure anytime soon, but in time it will.

So getting back to 2012's market, will existing home sales do well?  In my opinion, the answer is yes.  We've talked to many realtors in the Chicagoland area and they feel as we do.  Buyers are now more focused on getting a pre-existing home that isn't a short sale or foreclosure.  And I must say, our buyers feel the same way.  With the Fed now saying they will keep interest rates low until 2014 coupled with rising Rent costs, I believe 2012 will be the year that the pent up demand for housing will finally break through.  Rent costs now are higher than owning a home, which simply doesn't make sense for the approved home buyer.  When your mortgage payment can be less than the home you're renting, it only makes sense to buy.

I may be looking at the glass half full, but I don't know about you, but I'm tired of looking at it half empty.  Here's to raising our half full glasses and toasting to a bigger and better real estate year.

If you're looking to buy or sell in the Chicagoland area, call the Dickerson Team at 888-777-1165 or go to our site at www.DickersonTeam.com.

Good luck in 2012 everyone!!

I'm sure everyone by now has seen the new reality show, X Factor  The show in which ordinary singers try their luck in a glorified talent show in front of millions of viewers and judged by professionals in the industry such as Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and L.A Reid to win the grand prize of a $5 Million music contract.  It's all very entertaining but it does raise the question.  What exactly IS the X Factor?  I'm not sure what it is in the music industry.  Maybe it's their style?  Their voice?  Looks?  Personality?  Or is it a combination of everything?

In Real Estate there is also an X Factor involved in selling your home.  Does a buyer want to see the same 'ol thing they've seen from house to house?  Or do they want to see something fresh?  Something different?  Something Unique?  Something that speaks to them and says, "This is the house for me".  Now will you get a $5 Million contract when you sell?  Only if you're home is worth $5 Million.  But for most of us the answer is no.  But you will raise the odds in selling your home quicker and for more money.

What do I believe the X Factors are to selling a home?  I give some ideas below that may help...

1. Try professional staging to get the home sold.  Staging can help your home look like a showroom and help the buyers imagine what their life would be in living in such a home.  It sets the stage for the buyers dream.
2. Curb appeal is key.  How the outside of your home looks will draw in the buyers.  Is your landscaping in great shape?  Does the grass need to be fertilized?  Does the home need to be painted?  Look at your home through a buyers eye and make it stand out.  Hardscape can add a special touch.  Updating outside coach lights can also jazz it up a bit.
3. How updated is the interior?  Ask your realtor what the HOT TOPICS are right now for buyers.  Is it granite counter tops?  Stainless Steel Appliances?  Deciding what to do to the interior can also come from the stager.  A good stager and give you inexpensive tips like painting the cabinets and trim that will help make your home seem more updated than others in your neighborhood.
4. Fresh and clean!!  Don't do this yourself, hire a professional to clean the carpets and deep clean the home.  From there it's about maintaining the home and keeping it looking and smelling fresh.  Buyers use all their senses and the sense of smell is just as important as what the home looks like.
5. De-Clutter..  no one wants to see your garbage.
6. The light touch of music.  We've already covered the eyes and nose, now it's time to appeal to the sense of hearing.  Make the music light and not overpowering.  If you have surround sound, show it off and make sure the system is on.
7. Pictures on display.  If you have beautiful pictures of the home through the seasons, make a scrap book and set it out for the buyers to see.  This gives them the sense of what THEIR home will look like.
8. Hire the right realtor.  Simon Cowell is an expert in his field, so why would you not want to hire an expert in the field of real estate?  Not that the realtor should be as rude as Simon, but a good realtor should be honest with you about price and what it should take to get the home sold.
9. Marketing!  Make sure the agent markets your home correctly.  Since 93% of all home buyers are online, make sure you're there too.  Make sure you have a virtual tour, good photo's and information and easy to access realtor information.  Make it easy for the buyer to choose your home FIRST!

Don't be in such a hurry!  Make sure you're home is ready before putting your home on the market.  Putting your best foot forward will help guarantee a home sale.  Yes, it cost's money to make money and when selling a home you'll have to reinvest in your investment.  But do you actually think these talented singers on X Factor don't invest in their future?  If you want to win the prize, you have to put in the time and yes, money.

Here's to hoping that the X Factor helps you sell your home.  Good luck and let us know what you think of our blog.  We would love to hear from you.

We often hear that purchasing a home is the largest investment we'll ever make.  In most cases, this is a true statement.  But unfortunately most home buyers don't look at the overall big picture.  How many times have you seen a newer home that backs to an expressway or a garbage dump?  In our business we see that a lot.  That is why when we represent a home buyer, we try to help them focus on not only their direct needs, but also the "end".  What is the "end"?  The end is the future sale of your largest investment.  Time after time when we do a market analysis for homeowners to sell their home, we find that the homeowners didn't take into account many aspects that will hurt their home sale when they initially purchased the home.

So what do you need to ask yourself when you purchase your new home?

1. Does the home have most of my needs in a new home?
2. Is it in the price range that I desire?
3. What are the negatives in this home?
4. Are these negatives something I can fix or am willing to fix?
5. How is the location?  Would this be easy to sell in the future?
6. Is the floor plan desirable for most people or is this something that could be a future problem?
7. Is the home located in an area of typically good resale values?
8. Am I the most expensive home in the neighborhood or the cheapest?
9. Does this home "fit" in the neighborhood that I'm purchasing in?
10. How long has it been on the market?  If a long time, then what were the issues?
11. Is the home priced correctly for the market or is it too high?
12. When you do a home inspection, are there major issues?
13. The lot, is it a typical lot or an "odd" lot?

When purchasing a new home you have to be part Psychic and look into the future.  If you're working with an experienced Realtor, don't be shy, be sure to ask them these questions.  An experienced Realtor should be able to give you honest and straightforward advice to the home you're looking to purchase.  Believe me, a Realtor does not want to sell you a home that will be an issue to sell in the future.  The Realtor doesn't want to have to tell you in the future the problems you'll have when selling the home.  The same problems they should have told you when you were buying the home.  We can't reiterate how important it is to work with knowledgeable and experienced Realtors when purchasing a new home.  Experienced agents should know possible future resale issues and tell you before you sign on the dotted line.  This is also critical when purchasing New Construction.  An agent can be pivotal in helping you choose the right lot, and upgraded in the home that will benefit your future sale.

Remember, for all your real estate needs, go to our personal Chicagoland Real Estate Website at www.DickersonTeam.com.

When we go out on a listing appointment we're often asked if staging a home actually works when trying to sell it.  I typically give two answers, Yes and No.  Staging can be an added benefit when selling a home but sometimes it isn't necessary.

What is staging?  Home staging is about illusions. It's how David Copperfield would sell a house. It's beyond decorating and cleaning. It's about perfecting the art of creating moods. Staging makes your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, more loving and, best of all, it makes home buyers want to buy it.

Contrary to what you might think, it's about more than preparing the house for sale. Staging is what you do after you've cleaned, decluttered, painted, made minor repairs; it's all about dressing the house for sale.  Remember, buying a home is an emotional purchase.  You have to create an environment that is appealling to most home buyers.  Once you've decided to list your home for sale, it simply isn't your home anymore.  It's a product that you're trying to sell to a large group of buyers who are willing and able to buy today.  So in order to do so, you have to creat the "illusion" of the perfect home that is right for the majority of buyers in the current market.

What accessories does a stager use?

• Mirrors
• Plants
• Silk Flowers
• Floor & Table Lamps,
• Area and Throw Rugs
• Small Love Seats
• Ottomans
• Afghans
• Pillows
• Inflatable Queen-Size Beds

What are some tricks of the trade?

• Apply orange oil to cabinets that appear dry, which will renew their original luster
• Put out large bowls of fruit such as polished apples, bright oranges, luscious grapes
• Arrange colorful and fun cookbooks on the counters

Other Tricks:

• Towels, tied with ribbons
• Scented soaps
• Creamy lotions
• Moisturizing & Facial jars

As I said, some homes need it more than others.  I've witnessed Million dollar listings that showed very poorly with bad furniture (or lack of) and bad decorating.  It doesn't matter about the price of the home, it matters about the style and taste of the seller.  Many homes we list simply need a little decluttering, paint and carpet.  While others need a total overhaul including: Paint, Carpet, Cleaning, Decluttering, furniture staging, new lighting and simple staging.

How much does staging cost?  Staging can run anywhere from $500 to $5,000, but in our opinion, it could be the BEST money ever spent when trying to sell your home.  Most professionally staged homes sell for more money and quicker than others on the market. 

Have you tried to use a stage when selling your home?  Did your realtor suggest staging the home when trying to sell?  Let us know what you think and join in on the discussion.  We're eager to hear from you and get your thoughts.

For more real estate information or to search listings online, go to our Chicagoland Real Estate Website at www.DickersonTeam.com