Joliet, IL

Is that the smell of sweet success in your home ...

Or ???

I'm an advocate of staging services when selling homes. I think, especially in the present challenging housing market, that sellers often-times need every advantage possible to gain the sale they seek.

I'm also the husband to a chronic migraine sufferer. And to anyone that knows and loves someone that deals with this horrendous affliction ... you know that many things can prove to be a "trigger" for a headache. And that includes smells.

It has been said that nothing is more memorable than a smell. And that can be good ... or bad ...

It only stands to reason, that if a home smells like animals, litter box, stale, musty, or of cigarettes ... many potential buyers are going to balk at buying. If those odors are bad enough, carpeting, window treatments, and even drywall may have to be replaced. And that means extra expenditures for buyers.

Uh-oh. Can you say "peeeee-uuuuuuu"?? Compare that home with odors to a similarily-priced home without ... and there's not much of a guess as to which home is going to sell more quickly.

That's a simple comparison. But it's been my experience as someone that has lived with a migraine sufferer for 35 years, that smells that are typically thought of as pleasant to most ... can be unpleasant or toxic to someone that gets severe headaches.

ANY smell can be someone's "trigger". The reaction can be immediate, with the mere whiff of the "trigger" smell enough to start a long and painful migraine episode requiring medications ... or a retreat to bed or a bathroom. (Be aware, that this can also be the reaction for someone with respiratory problems, as well.)

So as strongly as I advocate finding the "sweet smell of success" through the talents of staging professionals and the use of their staging techniques during the sale of properties ... I also advocate and urge all professional Stagers, real estate agents/brokers, and home sellers themselves ... to NOT place scents, perfumes, candles, potporri, air fresheners, herbs, flowers, i.e. ANY odor-producing items in properties while they are actively being shown for sale.

Should they be utilized,you may be innocently and inadvertently placing a potential buyer at health risk ... and the view/sale of the home in jeopardy.

Remember, a potential buyer will never buy a home that they cannot enter or cannot view ...

* Smell the "sweet success" of selling your home ... or buying a new one. With over 35 years of successful mortgage business behind me, I can offer you referrals to real estate's finest home staging and agent/broker professionals ... besides my own mortgage services. Should you need answers to your questions or assistance, please contact me. I'll be happy to hear from you and put my experience and expertise to work for you.

Contact me at any of the following:

Direct: 815.277.4036 Cell/Text: 708.921.6331

Email: gmundt@thefederalsavingsbank.com

Website: www.genemundt.com

Skype: 630.219.1316

Click here 4 a: NO Cost NO Obligation Mortgage Consultation

Twenty-nine single family homes sold during the week of February 20-24, 2012. Of the 29 homes, 15 were foreclosures and 6 were short sales leaving only 8 homes as "regular sales."

The average home listed at $113,107 and selling at an average of $110,570. Average market time was 163 days.

Joliet IL is a city in Will and Kendall Counties, located 40 miles southwest of Chicago and is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city of Joliet was the fourth-most populated in Illinois with a population of 147,433.

Yesterday, I wrote Part 1 to this post. In that portion of this blog, I covered WHY it's important to Plan and Prepare for your home buying/mortgage financing well in advance to actually seeking your mortgage pre-approval or home search.

• Always Remember: Call/Contact your Mortgage Lender, if you need ANY advice. If considering a purchase in the next 90 days, or in the next year (if you have credit issues especially,) contact me/your mortgage lender for a FREE tri-merge credit report. Find out just what/where you stand credit-wise, then take action!
  
• Manage your credit cards, making sure ALL balances are kept BELOW the maximum credit available (at worst), and below 10% of the limit (ideally).
• Know the ABC's of your TOTAL debt, from the following criteria:

1. Mortgages (Know the name and address of the Lender, Amount Still Owed, and Your Monthly Payment Amount)
2. Home Equity Lines (Again, Know the name and address of the Lender(s), Amount(s) Still Owed, and Your Monthly Payment Amount(s).
3. Student Loans (Again, Know the name and address of the Lender(s), Amount(s) Still Owed, and Your Monthly Payment Amount(s).
4. Auto Loans (And finally, the same as above. Name, Address(es), Amounts Owed, and Monthly Payments)
5. Installment Loans (Meaning: Boat financing, Recreation Vehicles, Motorcycles, Secured Loans, etc.)
6. Credit Cards of ALL Types (Know who holds/offers the Card, Account Number(s), What is the Outstanding Balance on Each, and the Minimum Monthly Payment of Each)

Click Here 4 a: NO Cost NO Obligation Mortgage Consultation

Dates: Mar. 5, 2012 - Mar. 5, 2012
Times: 8:00 pm
Category: Performing Arts
Location: Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432
Phone:815-726-6600

This live concert show combines the comedy and the hits from the original movie and pays homage to Chicagos rich history of blues, gospel and soul music. Performed with the passion and precision that is the trademark of the original Blues Brothers Band.

Featuring original Blues Bros. band members: Tom Bones Malone Matt Guitar Murphy Blue Lou Marini Plus special guest, Otis Day (Animal House)