Get Your Home Ready To Sell
In preparing your house to sell, ask yourself over and over if your house looks like someone else's dream house. Houses in move-in condition tend to be inviting to buyers; houses that are like new typically sell the fastest and procure the best price.
With that in mind, here are a few things to consider when getting ready to sell:
Exterior
Remember the 60-second rule: that's all the time you have to create a good first impression! Mow the lawn, rake leaves, trim trees and shrubs that keep light out of the house and remove dead plants. Pick up tools, garbage cans, hoses, toys, and building materials and store them neatly in a storage area. Replace broken or missing roof shingles and straighten and clean the gutters and downspouts. Clean all windows and mend torn screens. Painting your house helps improve curb appeal more than any other fix-up! If you decide against painting the entire house, consider painting the front door, window frames and shutters. Seal or resurface the driveway and repair broken steps and walkways. Paint or replace your mailbox and post. Dress up the front yard with some simple landscaping.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Step back for a moment and look at your home as if you were seeing it for the first time. Every room should be spotlessly clean, dusted and uncluttered. Steam clean the carpets and wax the floors. Wash the walls, windows and light fixtures. Tighten loose stair railings and clean all woodwork. In the event that you feel a project of this magnitude is better left to a professional, ask your real estate agent to recommend a cleaning service.
Entryway
Use bright light bulbs in the foyer and throughout the house. Fill the house with a pleasant aroma, such as berries in the summer or cinnamon in the winter.
Living Room
Replace the carpet if it's worn. It costs money, but you may find that you will more than recoup that cost when the home sells. Patch cracks and nail holes in the walls, and repaint walls in neutral colors, such as white or ivory. Nail down creaking boards and stair treads. Lubricate any sticking or squeaking doors. Open all curtains, and replace them if they are getting old. Add lamps and lighting if the house is dark. Set out fresh flowers.
Furniture
Rearrange or remove furniture to make your rooms look more spacious. Too much furniture and too many knick-knacks make rooms look cluttered and small. One or two decorative items per surface are plenty, so pack the rest away.
Kitchen and Baths
These rooms should sparkle! Clear off counters, and clean all appliances and fixtures. Scrub the floors and walls. Re-caulk tubs and showers. Clean these rooms thoroughly, and be sure they smell fresh.
Closets
Take those things to Goodwill that you'll have to discard anyway when you move. Organize shelves and straighten shoes. Be sure that sliding doors operate smoothly and knobs on drawers are secure.
Utility Room
Dust and wash the washer, dryer and water heater.
Light and Bright
Do everything you can to brighten the interior. Replace wallpaper with white or off-white paint, and repaint shabby or dark walls. Open the blinds, and replace broken windows and window seals. Always maintain a comfortable temperature inside the house, even if you are away for an extended period of time.
About the author:
Cheryl Bowers is a Chicagoland Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Plainfield, Naperville, Aurora Illinois or any place in the country. Cheryl has created a team of professionals throughout the Chicago suburbs to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit www.cherylbowers.com for your real estate needs. Please give me a call if you have questions about the Plainfield, Naperville, and Aurora real estate market.
Cheryl Bowers, REALTOR® (630) 712-1921
(Copyright © 2008 By Cheryl Bowers, Realtor. All Rights Reserved.)
Deciding how much house you can afford
Before you start house hunting, you need to determine how much house you can afford, which will entail getting either prequalified or preapproved for a home loan. A real estate agent can help you find a mortgage broker to begin the process. While getting preapproved is a more in-depth process, a preapproval letter lets both real estate agents and sellers know that you're a serious shopper who means business.
What do I do to get prequalified?
A prequalification can be done online or over the phone and does not require your submitting financial documents. You will be asked to provide basic information about your finances - for instance, your household income versus your debt load. With this information, the lender will estimate what your maximum loan amount could be if you were to apply.
What about getting preapproved?
A preapproval is more involved and a real estate agent can help you prepare your documentation. The lender will perform an extensive review of your finances, requiring pay stubs, tax records, credit accounts, bank statements and more. This figure will not only be a more reliable estimate of what you can afford, but your preapproval also indicates that a lender is willing to do business with you, pending the purchase price, market appraisal and the underwriting process.
What should I ask when shopping for a lender?
Your real estate agent should have a mortgage broker they are willing to put you in contact with - this lender will be someone they have done business with in the past, and feel comfortable recommending. However, if you decide to do a little comparison shopping and look for a lender on your own, here are a few important questions to ask.
About the author:
Cheryl Bowers is a Chicagoland Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Plainfield, Naperville, Aurora Illinois or any place in the country. Cheryl has created a team of professionals throughout the Chicago suburbs to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit www.cherylbowers.com for your real estate needs. Please give me a call if you have questions about the Plainfield, Naperville, and Aurora real estate market.
Cheryl Bowers, REALTOR® (630) 712-1921
(Copyright © 2008 By Cheryl Bowers, Realtor. All Rights Reserved.)
Negotiation is back in style, and is likely to remain a necessary part of buying or selling a home in today's residential housing market.
Needless to say, you need to work with the best real estate professionals you can find in your area. In most cases, it takes a team effort to put a home-sale transaction together and see it through to fruition.
HOUSE HUNTING TIP: Successful negotiations usually require give and take by both parties. It has been said that the sign of a successful negotiation is one where both parties walk away feeling they have won. It has also been said that the key to a mutually acceptable agreement is that both sides feel a little wounded.
A must in this market is a commitment to exhaust all possible ways to put and keep a deal together before calling it quits. Recently, it looked like a purchase contract was about to fall apart. The buyers had originally offered a price that seemed insultingly low to the seller.
The seller set his personal feelings about the price aside and countered the buyers' offer at a price he felt was reasonable. The buyers accepted. As it turned out, the price was one that was halfway between the seller's list price and the price the buyers offered. Splitting the difference is often a winning strategy.
About the author:
Cheryl Bowers is a Chicagoland Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Plainfield, Naperville, Aurora Illinois or any place in the country. Cheryl has created a team of professionals throughout the Chicago suburbs to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit http://www.cherylbowers.com/ for your real estate needs. Please give me a call if you have questions about the Plainfield, Naperville, and Aurora real estate market.
Cheryl Bowers, REALTOR® (630) 712-1921
(Copyright © 2008 By Cheryl Bowers, Realtor. All Rights Reserved.)
Overcoming the misconceptions about the "credit crisis"
You've watched the news and read about it in the papers. You know, the "credit crisis" and how buyers need 20 percent down in order to buy a home? And even if you found a buyer with 20 percent down, lenders aren't making loans anyway. So, why bother, right? Wrong!
We're right smack in the middle of what just might be the biggest disservice ever perpetrated on potential home buyers. It seems the press just can't get enough of all the gloom and doom in the housing industry. The fact is that mortgage money is as available today as it was a year ago and loans are being made this very moment with little or no money down. And, no, platinum credit isn't required. You just need to know where to look. Who are these lenders? They're right down the street.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are exploding onto the mortgage scene; recent estimates are that one out of five mortgages are FHA loans. FHA loans never went away, their reemergence is a result of the collapse of the sub-prime market. FHA doesn't technically have a minimum credit score, although, in practice, lenders won't approve an FHA loan with a credit score below 500. But that's a far cry from the notion that an 800 score is the only thing lenders care about.
The best part? FHA only requires 3 percent down. 3 percent. And that 3 percent can come in the form of a gift or grant. FHA borrowers only need to have $500 in a transaction. All the while, FHA mortgage rates are as good or better than their conventional counterparts.
Low or no down payment, extremely competitive rates and easier qualifying. No wonder FHA is moving up the charts!
Please contact me if you would like more information about getting into your first home. 630-712-1921
About the author:
Cheryl Bowers is a Chicagoland Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Plainfield, Naperville, Aurora Illinois or any place in the country. Cheryl has created a team of professionals throughout the Chicago suburbs to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit http://www.cherylbowers.com/ for your real estate needs. Please give me a call if you have questions about the Plainfield, Naperville, and Aurora real estate market.
Cheryl Bowers, REALTOR® (630) 712-1921
(Copyright © 2008 By Cheryl Bowers, Realtor. All Rights Reserved.)
Mold is a potential health danger for any family and also a legal liability for sellers. Because of the fear over mold contamination there are so many lawsuits flying around today that sales of resale homes are in jeopardy -- and insurance companies are scrambling to avoid liability, with some U.S. insurers refusing to write any new homeowner policies. So what do you need to know about mold .....
1. Molds are everywhere and have been around forever. Many people have the impression that this is a new problem -- think, "Attack of the killer molds!" -- and that we now must arm ourselves against the impending invasion. Nothing has changed, however, but the awareness of the presence of mold. Instead of fear -- we need to focus on total elimination, prevention and control. This is easy: Sunlight and ventilation are key.
2. Use common sense in your approach to mold. Examples of common sense? Reduce indoor humidity 30 to 60 percent by venting bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; use air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increase ventilation; use exhaust fans for cooking, dishwashing, cleaning. Also, reduce condensation on cold surfaces by adding insulation (windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, floors, etc.). Excessive exposure can cause symptoms in anyone. Asthmatics and other people with sensitivities (such as infants and the elderly) will be particularly prone to increased asthma attacks, even with moderate exposure to molds. In particular, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders should be particularly wary of molds. Be aware of their conditions and take the necessary precautions.
3. You cannot spot the feared "Toxic" or "Black" mold simply by looking at it. Most molds are black or dark green in color and the only way to determine its type is through laboratory testing. This type of mold is also known by its technical names of Stachybotrys Chartarum, or Stachybotrys atra.
4. Most of the media attention surrounding Stachybotrys is overblown. In statements surrounding mold in residential construction, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not believe that there is not any difference between Stachybotrys and any other mold. It just so happens that since this mold may grow more commonly on building materials, it is the one that happens to be most present in most homes. It's not any more toxic than other molds and the steps taken to remediate Stachybotrys should be the same as that for any other mold presence.
5. Mold can be cleaned and corrected. If you find mold on a hard, non-porous surface, it can be cleaned with a 1:16 bleach to water solution (only after first opening a window and wearing non-porous gloves and protective eyewear) as long as the area is less than 10 ft 2 in. If more than 10 ft 2 in needs to be cleaned, consult the EPA's guide titled, "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings" (You can also get it free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318). If the affected material is porous, it should be removed and thrown away. If the porous material mold is extensive, you should contact professionals to gather and remove. Lastly, NEVER and I mean NEVER mix household cleaners. Mixed chemicals can make toxic combinations.
6. Always get the home professionally inspected. While the information in this article is good and it's always smart to arm yourself with enough information to properly handle any situation, you are not to be mistaken as the mold expert. A professional home inspector will bear the responsibility of the mechanical, structural, and in most cases the environmental conditions of the home once they are hired by the client, releasing you from that burden. The inspector will assess the situation and put it into the proper prospective (believe it or not, I have seen a big deal made from some mold on a wall because some water was spilled from a fish tank when the home was vacated) for both you and your clients and make the call to refer it to the professionals if a "Red Flag" is discovered. So there you have it ... the nuts & bolts to mold within our homes.
Further information on mold can be found on the EPA website, by clicking here.
About the author:
Cheryl Bowers is a Chicagoland Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Plainfield, Naperville, Aurora Illinois or any place in the country. Cheryl has created a team of professionals throughout the Chicago suburbs to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit http://www.cherylbowers.com/ for your real estate needs. Please give me a call if you have questions about the Plainfield, Naperville, and Aurora real estate market.
Cheryl Bowers, REALTOR® (630) 712-1921
(Copyright © 2008 By Cheryl Bowers, Realtor. All Rights Reserved.)
Cheryl is an innovative realtor for todays innovative real estate market. Visit me at http://www.CherylBowers.com or Call Now 630-712-1921
Cheryl grew up in Naperville, Illinois. Her parents lived in Ashbury subdivision located in South Naperville and she attended Waubonsie Valley High School. Cheryl met her husband while working at her first job, McDonald's. (The one off Weber and Boughton in Bolingbrook.) She and her husband rented an apartment in Naperville for about a year before buying their first home in North Plainfield. Cheryl and her husband, Bruce welcomed their first child in the winter of 2007.
Cheryl truly enjoys being a realtor. She believes:
"WHEN YOU DO WHAT YOU LOVE...
...PEOPLE LOVE WHAT YOU DO"
Cheryl Bowers is a real estate professional who brings buyers and sellers together to achieve their ultimate dreams. A few areas she excels in are:
Whatever your real estate need, you will be happy Cheryl assisted.
Patricia C. - Aurora, Illinois In April of this year I had the opportunity to receive a promotion at work which would take me to the ChicagoLand area. Having never been to the area I was as you can imagine a bit nervous and anxious about finding a place to live. Prior to coming for my house hunting trip I had been on the internet looking at homes with my children when we saw a few we liked in the Aurora area. We sent severeal emails to different realtors listed and Cheryl was the first and I might add only one to contact us very quickly. She asked us very specific questions spending quality time over the phone with us about what we needed and said she would be ready to meet us when we arrived. When we arrive from Florida Cheryl had prepared a wonderful packet which she had left for me at the hotel detailing information about the area including medium income, school district info, things to do, articles from publications about the area etc. The next day we met Cheryl and she spent all day with us taking us to visit homes which would fill our needs. Every single home was exactly what I had been looking for and after just one day of looking we were able to identify a home we would want to purchase. Cheryl very quickly took care of our contract, put me in contact with someone locally who could be of assistance for the morgage loan, and stayed in constant communication with me on where we were with the process. All of this was done via e-mail, phone and fax as I was in Florida which was extremely kind and thoughtful. I was able to purchase the home I wanted and am happy to say I am enjoying the area immensely. Cheryl not only assisted with the process but has kept communication also offering help and sharing information about the local market. Her professional attitude, local knowledge and communication skills were outstanding and I would recommend her to anyone and or of course use her myself some day if needed. Hope you enjoy her services as much as I did. Jamie and Michelle N. - Aurora, Illinois We just wanted to thank you for your help in selling our home. You were recommended to us by a friend and we were amazed by the results you produced. We called you in the middle of winter, told you we needed to sell our home, and that we wanted it done as quickly as possible. 30 days was the goal. You did it and exceeded all of our expectations!! You were professional, organized, knowledeable, and fun. You always answered our phone calls and made a very stressful time in our life a breeze. You gave us weekly recaps, provided us with prospective buyer comments, and helped us remain patient. At our initial meeting you actually talked us into increasing our listing price. In retrospect, the decision saved us an additional $5,000. Thanks again for everything, Cheryl. You are more than just a realtor to us, you're a friend. If we ever move back to Chicago, you will be our first phone call. Joyce M. - Rockford, Illinois
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