When I walk around my Lake Zurich neighborhood, it's evident that there are many young families living here. There are skateboard ramps and sidewalk chalk on the driveways. I notice a bike, baseball bat, jump rope, or Barbie discarded by a child in pursuit of other fun things to do. Sometimes you can even see through the window that the living or dining room has been converted into a playroom by a young family. I love these signs of life; actually they make me a little nostalgic since my own boys have long outgrown the toys of their youth. But when you are selling your house? Not so much.
Staging your house for sale when you have children is difficult, especially in today's housing market when the house may take months to sell. You can't put everything away and expect that your children simply won't play for the next several months. In fact, you should do everything you can to ease the transition by keeping your family routine as normal as possible. 
That being said, you do need to convert the living or dining room from playroom back into well, a living or dining room. Your prospective buyer needs to see the intended purpose of the room. You need to organize the toy clutter and try to confine it to one or two places within the house. The skateboard ramp needs to be moved into the garage, and while sidewalk chalk is charming, it's not so charming in the photographs that are intended to showcase your home at its very best. Try to keep toys out of the front yard, off sidewalks and away from the front porch. Simply put, you need your home to appeal to every potential buyer. Your buyer may be single or married, young or older, with children or without. If your potential buyers can't envision themselves living in the house because they don't have children and there are toys on every available surface, they will likely move on to the organized, toy free house that feels more like home to them.
Moving is hard on grown-ups, so you can imagine how hard it can be for your children. If you have young children, I've created a Kid's Listing Book for you to share with them. It helps explain what happens when we list your home and what they can expect in an easy-to-understand manner. I also ask your children to help me sell your home by making their beds in the morning, picking up their toys, turning on the lights before a showing, helping Mom and Dad keep the house tidy, and letting me know if we run out of flyers. I let them know that if they help me sell their home, they will "earn" a special surprise to thank them for all of their "hard work." This helps to get them involved in the process and takes away some of the fear and anxiety they may experience. Plus, they (usually!) love to help keep the house tidy when they know they will get a special reward when the house sells.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where I discuss moving with children from an emotional standpoint and how you can help them transition to their new home.
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing your Lake Zurich area home is which 
school your child will attend. Although this information is usually provided on the listing sheet, it is my recommendation that all buyers independently verify this information before purchasing the home. This can be accomplished by visiting the Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 website and reviewing the boundary map and/or contacting the school district directly by telephone.
Currently, there are 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools and 1 high school in Lake Zurich District 95 as follows:
Elementary
Middle
High School
It is important to know that verifying the school your child will attend is now more difficult because the district is in the process of re-aligning the elementary and middle school attendance areas due to the decision to close Charles Quentin Elementary School. To help facilitate this process in an equitable manner and keep the community informed, the school district has formed a boundary study committee comprised of 20 residents from all areas of the district. As they work through this process to find the best solution for all students, you can keep updated on their progress through a new School Boundary Website.
Lake Zurich is a wonderful community and was named by Frommer's as one of the top hundred "Best Places to Raise Your Family" and by U.S. News as one of the "Top Twenty-Five Affordable Places to Live in the Country" in 2006. I know firsthand that Lake Zurich is a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family because it has been my home for over 7 years. If you are considering a move to the Lake Zurich area, please give me a call. I'd love to help you find your Lake Zurich dream home!
One of the things I've always tried to do as a real estate agent is to remain focused on the facts. I let the numbers speak for themselves. For example, when preparing a market analysis, I look at the data unemotionally and prepare a realistic opinion of the potential market value of the property. Sometimes sellers (and buyers) are able to look at the information I present and see it for what it is (an interpretation of available data), and other times they believe that the home is better (or worse) than the comparable properties I've selected.
Seller and buyer perception is always based on how well they are educated about the housing market as a whole. 
Therefore, it's extremely important for both buyers and sellers to be informed and educated about the ever-changing market conditions and how it applies to their situation. To this end, I do my best to educate my clients on the state of the housing market in Northern Illinois. They receive reports, graphs, charts, statistics, articles and other information - both the good news and the bad news; I don't paint an unrealistic rosy picture nor do I focus on the doom and gloom.
This market has many challenges and opportunities for both buyers and sellers.
Not surprisingly, most buyers and sellers tend feel that the information (particularly the negative information) doesn't apply to them. But it absolutely applies to them. It applies to all of us. While it is important to remain positive, it is also just as important to be realistic and react accordingly. I've seen too many buyers and sellers act like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, "I shan't think about that today, I'll think about that tomorrow." In essence, they don't do anything at all. When overwhelmed or unsure of what to do, this kind of procrastination becomes a coping strategy. Unfortunately, procrastination could cost them both time and money.
It is our job as real estate agents to help buyers and sellers interpret the information and guide them towards making an informed decision about what they should (or shouldn't) do in today's housing market.
Sellers who don't prepare their homes for sale, price correctly or reduce their prices when necessary are losing money each and every day in a declining market. The market is not going to turn around tomorrow, next week or next month. A quick look at this History of Home Values would indicate that the market has not hit bottom (this may vary region to region) so the time to react is NOW.
Buyers who wait to purchase may indeed be able to purchase at a lower price. The unknowns for a buyer include the ability to get a loan when the time comes, the interest rate and the availability of the type of house they are looking for. For many buyers, waiting makes sense, but for others, the time to react is NOW.
Decisions need to be made. Procrastination needs to be thrown out the window. Buyers and sellers need to understand that the information and market conditions apply to them and that one way or another, the time to react is NOW.
You hear these four little words, "you need reading glasses." 
I know, I know...we age, it happens, get over it. But I didn't think it would happen to me...so soon.
First of all, this September I sent my oldest son off to college. How can that be? And now I need reading glasses? Whatever happened to my youth and perfect vision? This just isn't fair at all.
I feel youthful. I act youthful. Some even say I still look youthful. But apparently I've now reached that magical age of 43 (gulp) where words on the page started getting a little fuzzy. Apparently it happens to a lot of us.
So, after a pathetic attempt to simply hold my book a little farther away, I went to the eye doctor and picked out a very stylish pair of glasses. If I have to get reading glasses they might as well be totally fun, right? I settled upon a pair of half frame green and brown glasses that are definitely a bit of a fashion statement. Now I'm actually a little excited for them to arrive! When life gives you lemons...you know how the saying goes.
So in the spirit of fun, you know you're getting older when...
How many of those statements can you relate to?
If you find yourself in the Lake Zurich area and need a new pair of glasses, visit The Eye Works, Ltd. at 820 W. Main (Rt. 22), Lake Zurich, IL 60047. Their phone number is (847)540-1144. They have some gorgeous and stylish glasses to choose from...who knows, you might just release the fashionista within!
A little more than a year ago, I wrote an article entitled, Success may mean NOT selling your home! This article is even more appropriate given today's market conditions. This market is challenging, but you do have options. Read on...
Success may mean NOT selling your home!
You've had your home on the market for months. You've done everything correctly:
But still it's not selling. What else can you do?
Here are some options to consider:
OPTION 1: If you don't HAVE to sell, take it off the market!
Many homes are currently on the market that don't need to be. The sellers would LIKE to sell, but they don't HAVE to sell. If you are one of those sellers, you may wish to consider removing your home from the market and re-listing it next year. Right now, inventory levels are very high and your motivation to sell may be very low. Why rack up market time (which eventually results in a lower sale price) if you don't have to? Finding a buyer right now is like finding a needle in a haystack. Re-list your home when there are less needles and more haystack.
When you do re-list the property...re-hire your current agent! He or she has worked very hard and spent a lot of money promoting your home. Plus, he or she knows your home and has all of the photos, tours and other marketing already in place to quickly and easily get your home back on the market when the time is right.
OPTION 2: Consider a contingency
When the market was hopping, sellers would not even consider taking an offer that was contingent upon 
the buyer selling his or her own home first. Now may be the time to reconsider contingencies. If you are a seller who does not have a specific time frame for selling, if you are flexible, then this may be an option for you. There are buyers out there who are looking for a seller who will accept a home sale contingency. You may get a higher offer because a buyer may want to make up for their contingency. In addition, there is nothing about a contingent offer that prevents you from entertaining other offers. This may be your ticket to moving up the property ladder!
Plus, imagine the impact on your advertising by being able to add these words to the listing remarks: "Seller will entertain home sale contingencies!" Wow.
Of course, you must be cautious about accepting an offer that is contingent. If it falls through, you could be back at square one. Your agent will thoroughly research the buyer's current home to help determine whether it is priced correctly and likely to sell in the time frame set forth in the offer. Carefully weigh the risks and rewards before making any decisions.
OPTION 3: Become a landlord
This is certainly not for everyone, but there are some circumstances where it may be a viable option. Perhaps you bought very recently and your home hasn't appreciated...but your company transferred you out of the area. With long market times and the inability to drastically reduce your price, you may be faced with double mortgage payments. A tenant will pay your mortgage for you! Sounds good, right?
Not so fast. Before determining if this is a good option for you, you must talk to your attorney about the fees you will incur with drawing up a lease and your legal obligations as a landlord. You should also consult your tax advisor to discuss the potential impact on your taxes due to rental income. Of course, the biggest concerns are whether your tenant will damage your home, refuse showings (should it be offered for rent and sale simultaneously at any time), "forget" to pay their rent, or refuse to move out and need to be evicted.
Did you know that your REALTOR may be able to offer your home for sale on the local Multiple Listing Service? For more information about renting your home, consult your agent. You will pay a commission for this service, but the exposure is well worth it.
Well, there you have it. Three options that you may not have thought of pursuing in this challenging real estate market. Remember, our job as real estate professionals is to help you navigate the real estate market. We want you to be successful. Sometimes that means delaying the sale of your home, or not selling at all!
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My take on the local real estate market, as well as my favorite people, places and things to do in Lake Zurich and the surrounding communities.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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