Professional help matters when it comes to real estate transactions. Although you can opt to offer your home “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO), hiring me as your listing agent, who understands the market in Chicago and surrounding suburbs, will help significantly. 

You do not want to have an open-ended timeline, so create a schedule for things like in-depth cleaning and repairs and an ideal timeframe to close. This is something we will do together and partly you on your own depending on your available time.

The entire plan should include:

• Decluttering and removing personal belongings from the property
• Professional cleaning and yard work
• Fixing problems and making repairs
• Scheduling an inspection (ask me about reliable, good home inspectors)
• Staging rooms for maximum impact (let’s work on this together) 
• Open house scheduling (let me take care of this fully)
• Choosing a Title company and closing attorney (I can always suggest a few)

Although optional, an independent home inspection can give potential buyers peace of mind and may even increase the amount you can ask for your property in the Chicago Suburbs. This is one smart investment during the home selling process. Not only will you receive a clear report of the property’s overall condition, but you will also get advance notice of issues that need to be repaired before you start showing the home.

When you sell a residential property in an affluent area like the Chicago Northwest, buyers will expect a certain level of style and modernity in the homes they look at. Invest in all quality-of-life repairs necessary for the new owner to move in right away. You may also spend money on upgrades with the highest level of potential to increase the final sale price. These frequently include neutral paint colors, improved bathrooms and kitchens, sleeker cabinetry, and fixtures.

As your realtor, I will engage a professional photographer’s services, who will take sufficient photos of every room, the overall house, and the outside area to display it to maximum effect. I will also use Multiple Listing Services and a number of other online platforms to get the word out about the home. But before even listing the property I will make sure that hundreds of other realtors, who are working with potential pre approved buyers in your area are aware of your home for sale first. Some extra services like virtual online tours, overhead drone photography, and video walk-throughs are available if you are interested in such.

One of the steps in the home selling process also includes hiring a title company and real estate attorney. But most title companies have real estate lawyers as part of their team, so if you already have a lawyer in mind he most likely has a title company you can choose to work with and vise versa. 

The reason you need a title company is before you can sell your house, you must “clear the title.” Having a clear title before the sale of your home is complete will help guarantee that no one else can claim the property you’re trying to sell as their own. Some other things the title company will be responsible for are: search of the public records, outstanding taxes, divorce decrees, check out the history of the property (i.e., looking for liens on the house or any other issues that could potentially pop up to delay closing). In case any issues like these arise, you must clear them up before selling your home. 

Where it comes to hiring a real estate attorney, there are numerous benefits and a number of essential services, such as: review the contract and supplemental documents, offer advice and negotiation regarding inspection issues, monitor critical dates, review and clear title, prepare conveyance documents and of course to attend closing to review and explain all necessary documents with the client in person or via virtual meeting.

Once everything is set up correctly, it is time to interact with potential buyers. For best results, leave this process to me. I will show your home at open houses and private showings. With your agreement, I will install a lockbox with the code, access to which will be available exclusively to licensed realtors working with potential buyers. I will discuss price negotiations and timelines and handle everything but the final acceptance or rejection of an offer. After agreeing on the price and signing a contract, the buyer will have to go through a home inspection and financing process, but don’t worry, I will keep you updated on each and every step. 

The most important thing you can do during this process is to stay in contact and available for communication as much as possible. Also, keep your property in tip-top shape, uncluttered, and clean so you are ready to step out and potential buyers can step in.

Follow this essential process for success in selling a home in the Chicago Northwest region or any other Illinois residential area. You will come to the closing date without undue stress. The time has come to sign the final paperwork and hand over the keys to the next individual or family who will enjoy your old home for many years to come.