Our pets are important members of our family and spend most of their lives indoors with us. We need to take their safety and comfort seriously when purchasing or renovating any home.

Their Safety comes first:

• Look out for any cords, whether electrical or from curtains, that a pet can get entangled or electrocuted with.
• Medications and foods (many can be poisonous to our pets) should be inaccessible to them.
• Remove rubbish daily and ensure that your bin opens with a foot pedal and has a tight-fitting lid so as to eliminate odors. It should smell fresh all the time.
• Make sure that all indoor and outdoor plants are non-toxic.
• All housecleaning products, fertilizers and pesticides should be kept in a lock up room with no access to pets.
• Toilets lids should be down at all times to avoid accidental drowning or ingestion of toilet cleaners.
• Place screens on windows that are too high.

Give them their own space:

Choose a safe area of the home to place their bed and their water bowl. Ensure that they have a few pet friendly toys to play with. Exercise is important for them so if you can, have an accessible garden area available for play time. Litter boxes should not be near feeding areas. It is a good idea to have a cupboard for all pet supplies and a separate wash basin for their feeding and water bowls.

What about your space?

• Buy furniture that is covered in leather or stain resistant fabrics. They are easier to clean and are more resistant to wear.
• If you must have wall to wall carpeting, opt for a color similar to your pet’s coat.
• Hard flooring such as ceramic tiles, sealed hardwood or synthetic wood is best for heavier dogs. Lay out rugs on slippery floors for older animals.
• Keep your pet well-groomed and you will spend less time cleaning your home.
• Vacuum at least twice a week, but daily if your dog breed sheds a lot.
• If there is an accident, clean up immediately because most pet stains become more difficult to clean if left.
• Prevent ticks and fleas on your pets so that your home can also be pest free.

As a REALTOR® that specializing in representing sellers, I have learned from years of experience the key elements that can make, or break, a residential home sale. I serve my sellers with due diligence in the beginning, strong negotiating skills when needed, and constant communication throughout.

Let me share with you a few ways to make the most of your Chicago area home sale.

Planning and Discussion

Don’t wait till the last second to start planning your sale. When you first think about it, reach out to a pro you can ask questions of. I use this stage for considering financial and lifestyle decisions, as well as setting a timetable with my clients.  You won’t believe what a stress reliever it is to have a solid plan I place before your ‘for sale’ sign is in the yard.

Pricing and Terms

During the planning stage the condition of your home is reviewed, and that makes setting your asking price much easier. The asking price for your home must be realistic and based on current sale prices of homes near yours. Along with the price, a talk about the terms (length of time to close, whether you will accept contingencies, the preferred type of loan your buyer will have, and so much more) should be conducted.

Stage to Impress

Once you are actively selling your home, do these things:

• Have flexible viewing times to accommodate buyers.
• Reduce clutter to make your home look spacious.
• Put away personal items such as photographs and keep decorative ornaments to a minimum.
• Make the exterior shine and the front entrance warm and welcoming.
• Brighten the interior by adding color, open up blinds and curtains.
• Keep the temperature in your home at a comfortable level.

These are just highlights. There are many more details that make up a smooth and profitable home sale. My client-care plan and marketing approach are proven, thorough, and lead to success. I look forward to a face-to-face meeting when you are ready to transition out of your home. Contact me in the early stage, when you first think about selling! 

Baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, form nearly a quarter of our population. They may be getting older, but remain very active, and make a huge impact on the U.S. economy. Working longer in their lives than generations past, are not adhering to the traditional retirement patterns of their predecessors.

Wanting a change in lifestyle, boomers are divided into two groups when it comes to their housing needs, either wanting more space, or looking to downsize. Many want to renovate existing homes, but realize that the cost is prohibitive.  Both groups are discerning buyers and know exactly what their needs are.  Developers are doing their best to meet this challenge head on and are starting to construct smaller homes with amenities that suit those wishing to down-size.

The fact that boomers work past the age of 65 often means that they are working from home. They expect their homes to have an office, and need it to have more technical characteristics such as wireless home networks, remote lights etc. That said, they also prefer low maintenance homes and flexible living spaces. In anticipation of future needs, for instance the need of wheelchair assistance, they expect wider doors and hallways and single- story buildings with bigger bedrooms.

I keep my finger on the pulse of boomer housing demands and new developments and trends in the Chicagoland suburbs.  Speaking of new developments, there is a new town house development right here in nearby Palatine. It’s called Newberry Lane and will offer 16 spacious units, many with first-level master suites.

Contact me for more details about this development, or answers to any questions you may have about downsizing or making a housing change. I am here to help you make the very best decisions for the place you call home. 

CMA stands for Comparative Market Analysis; it’s a written report provided by a real estate agent that has information about homes similar to yours that have recently sold. Sometimes they will also include active, pending, expired and cancelled listings.

There is a difference between a CMA and an appraisal. The CMA is performed by a real estate agent who has knowledge of the market in the area that he/she serves. The appraiser is usually independent and works for a bank and even though experienced, he/she might not be aware of current trends in your neighborhood. Only a licensed appraiser can conduct an appraisal.

A CMA conducted by an experienced REALTOR® is a very reliable method to determine an estimated value of your home, and therefore what your list price should be.

Reasons to ask your REALTOR® for a CMA

• Knowledge is power
• You don’t want to sell your home for less than it is worth
• If you price too high you might not be able to sell

What I do when preparing a CMA

• Visit your home to assess its condition and features
• Take time to find truly ‘comparable’ homes
• Consider closings that have taken place most recently
• Look at current, pending and expired listings
• Note the time it takes homes to sell

As a REALTOR®, I prepare CMAs that are thorough, easy to understand, and include photos/details about the homes selected. I also walk through my findings with you so we are on the same page when it comes to selecting the optimal list price for your home.

Please keep me in mind for your next home sale. I specialize in Listing Representation!

Most homeowners are required to take out home insurance by the bank holding their mortgage. Before you can close on a property with a mortgage, you must have a policy in place. The amount specified is minimal and homeowners most often prefer to extend the coverage for more protection.

Readily available in the market, home insurance should be treated not as an expense but rather as an investment in a very important asset.

Homeowners insurance combines protection in two different ways. It insures against hazards and liability.

Hazard Insurance covers:

• Unintentional damage to your home and its contents caused by fire, storm, theft and vandalism.
• The cash value (the worth at that point in time) or replacement value(fully replaces what is damaged).
• Flooding or earthquakes in certain areas; your lender will require extra insurance.

Special Property Coverage: Cash, jewelry and other precious items will not be covered by your home insurance, so ensure that you get a supplemental policy as needed. Equipment linked to a home office also needs special coverage.

Liability covers:

• Personal liability for any accidents on your property after which a visitor might need medical treatment
• The policy will have a limit up to what it will pay

What factors affect your insurance premiums?

• Older homes and certain building materials often cost more to insure.
• Your home’s location, for example it could be in an area where floors occur frequently.
• If you have fire extinguishers, burglar alarms etc., expect a reduction.
• Personal factors like a good credit record or if you are a smoker will affect your premium.
• The more claims you make the more you must expect to pay.

Don’t forget to provide your insurer with a complete and up-to-date inventory to ensure that potential future claims are settled faster.

I offer referrals for reputable home insurance providers. Contact me for this info and more when you are ready to buy or sell a home.