naperville: Does Staging work? - 04/19/07 11:34 AM
My friend Craig Schiller, the staging genuis, just emailed me this:
Kewl and congrats!BLOG ABOUT THAT and post it in Stage It Forward!
What Craig is talking about is that I listed a condo/townhome property around April 3rd which had been listed previously and just sat on the market.
When I met with the … (2 comments)
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naperville: Where do my blog ideas come from? - 03/29/07 03:26 PM
If you're like me when you drive your mind goes into a trance state. It's automatic. And, this morning on my long drive up to the Kosher deli (about 50 miles from me), I passed a street which was named Brier something.
And, that started a chain of ideas:
1) Why was the street … (2 comments)
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naperville: How to find Your Buyer's Agent - 03/28/07 05:51 PM
You could be a first-time buyer, a relocating buyer or a move-up buyer. Doesn't matter. And how do you choose an agent to represent you?
There are several things that you can do:
1) Look over the agent's website. Read all the information. Is the site strong? Does it have valuble information? Is there information … (2 comments)
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naperville: Multi-Tasking - 03/26/07 11:36 AM
A research paper was just published which disputes our ability to multi-task. Amen!!
I learned first-hand many years ago that multi-tasking was dangerous. I was driving my car on Route 59 (a very busy, commercial street) in Naperville, and the SUV next to me started veering into my lane. I braked quickly … (2 comments)
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naperville: It's Not My Imagination! - 03/24/07 09:58 AM
You know when you 'get that feeling?' I've had it for several months. Our market is SLOW.
And, this morning's Tribune confirmed it.
County Sales Decrease
DuPage -15%
Lake -15%
McHenry -27%
Kane -14%
Will … (3 comments)
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naperville: Reverse Mortgage - 03/23/07 02:42 PM
Are you a senior? Defined here as over 62.
Are you living on a fixed income? Or just making it?
Then you should investigate what a reverse mortgage can do for you.
I have a client who had been ill and unable to work and collected social security at age 62. Soon, she discovered … (0 comments)
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naperville: Previewing Properties - 03/22/07 01:37 PM
When I first started in real estate, we were taught to preview listed homes every week. Can you imagine? We'd pile into a car after our office meeting and take off.
I've noticed in the past 5 to 8 years that previews and even attendance at Broker Open Houses are way, way … (3 comments)
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naperville: Naperville First-Time Buyers - 03/16/07 04:14 PM
If you're currently renting and thinking about buying your first property, I have some advice. And, you may not like it...but, you need to know that times have changed.
The Federal Housing Administration or FHA is a governmental organization which underwrites loans to buyers. They require that the buyer put down 3% of … (0 comments)
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naperville: Naperville Utilities - 02/28/07 06:59 PM
(Here's the information that you need to switch utilities. Some may require a deposit for service.)
… (0 comments)
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naperville: Closings from Hell #3 - 02/28/07 06:50 PM
For many years all I did was list, list and list. I was in a new, small office (15 people, more or less) with a new manager and almost everyone in the office was a real estate newbie.
I listed a condo and we received an offer from one of the agents … (4 comments)
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naperville: Naperville will get you - 02/27/07 06:30 PM
You'd best be wearing a smile as you go thru that red light! After much heming and hawing, the City has decided to set up cameras to catch those drivers who go thru a red light without stopping when making a right hand turn.
The first installations will be at several of … (3 comments)
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naperville: Ashwood Park and Ashwood Creek - 02/23/07 04:08 PM
Ashwood Creek and Ashwood Park are new sub-divisions in the south west side of Naperville.
Ashwood Creek has more moderately priced homes: Starting around $600,000 going up to $900,000. These homes have all the bells and whistles. Brick fronts; landscaped yards; 3 car garages; full deep basements; 9 and 10 foot ceilings … (0 comments)
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naperville: Believe you won't make any money... - 02/20/07 08:31 PM
Rory Wilfong & Dave Conklin the founders of GetMyHomesValue.com were recently interviewed by RISMEDIA.
I found this particular statement very interesting. "If Rory & I were to become active agents again, we would subscribe to a lead generation service," adds Conklin, "but we wouldn't expect to make any money for six months." … (1 comments)
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naperville: What have I learned this week? - 02/16/07 06:21 PM
Odds and ends...so here's a round-up.
1) Can't do a radon test if there's NO heat. Never knew that. We tried to do an inspection on a property with the temperature at 10 degrees. But, with NO heat, according to the radon specialist, it won't work.
2) Selling real estate in below zero … (9 comments)
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naperville: What's a Transfer Tax? - 01/30/07 03:09 PM
In our neck of the woods, each city can choose to impose a transfer tax on the close of a property.
Transfer taxes started around 1980 with the Village of Woodridge explaining that it needed more revenue and what better way than to collect $2.50 per thousand from sellers. When homes were … (2 comments)
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naperville: Naperville January 27, 2007 single family Stats - 01/27/07 02:15 PM
As of 1/27/07, there was a total of 948 single family homes on the market. Average list price: $733,873 Average days on market: 196
The breakdown:
There are 157 3 bedroom homes on the market; average price: $428,703. Market time: 158 days
There are 654 4 bedroom homes on the market; average price: … (0 comments)
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naperville: Baby Boomers - 01/11/07 10:23 AM
Ok, I admit it. I'm a card carrying Baby Boomer!
And, I'm starting to look at ways to make living in in my 2-story home easier. In fact, I had my handyman change all my door knobs to levers.
But, the big problem as we age are those darn stairs. Going up and … (3 comments)
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naperville: December Naperville Market Stats - 12/15/06 02:00 PM
Single Family Naperville detached homes
as of December 15, 2006
Currently there are 157 3 bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $416,041 and a market time of 144 days.
Currently there are 629 4 bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $734,086 and a market time … (0 comments)
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naperville: Naperville School District 204, Indian Prairie, third high school - 11/29/06 08:30 PM
Naperville's school district #204 started buying land at the corner of 75th street and Route 59 for its third high school to be called Metea Valley High.
The district acquired 25 acres for a cost of $257,000 per acre. However, now the Illinois House Panel rejected the district's bid to acquire control … (5 comments)
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naperville: Decks, patios and pavers, oh my! - 11/24/06 05:25 PM
We used to think that having a nice, big deck off the family room or kitchen was a 'big thing.'
That's changing. Now, I've noticed that many of the newer homes have beautifully designed paver patios with landscaping adding that upscale element. Not to mention the designer lighting for nighttime entertaining.
Yes, decks … (6 comments)
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naperville: Frank Lloyd Wright's ghost haunts Naperville - 11/13/06 10:39 PM
It's interesting that in a recent Fine Homebuilding magazine, where they picked the 25 most important homes in America, Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater graced the cover. And, not only does the house sit over water, but there's water running inside which is causing damage.
Now, what does FLW have to do with Naperville … (5 comments)
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naperville: Do you have a Front Porch - 11/10/06 05:05 PM
According to NAR's online magazine, "Front porches are making a comeback - sort of.After porches practically disappeared in the last half of the 20th century, the number of new houses with porches has increased about 11 percent in the past decade, according to the National Association of Home Builders."
Interesting because … (7 comments)
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naperville: Naperville Sold Statistics - 11/10/06 11:00 AM
Naperville single family sold homes from January 1, to October 31, 2006
There were 8 2 bedroom single family homes sold with an average price of $312,175 and a market time of 46 days.
There were 152 3 bedroom single family homes sold with an average price of $348,800 and a market … (2 comments)
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naperville: My Winter Emergency Box - 11/02/06 12:10 PM
We're getting close to cold, snow and ice weather.
And, I thought that I'd share with you my emergency box which is in the trunk of my car.
I use a transfer box and put the following items in it:
A fleece blanket
A Roll of duct tape
A flashlight
A small portable radio
A plastic bag filled … (8 comments)
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naperville: Naperville Condo & Town home Statistics - 10/26/06 10:14 AM
Naperville Stats as of October 26, 2006 Condo & Town homes
Currently there are 295 2(or less) bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $248,024 and a market time of 105 days.
Currently there are 122 3 bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of … (0 comments)
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naperville: Naperville Single Family Statistics, October 23, 2006 - 10/23/06 06:07 PM
Naperville Stats as of October 23, 2006
Single Family detached homes
Currently there are 178 3 bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $426,881 and a market time of 118 days.
Currently there are 765 4 bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $699,566 and a … (0 comments)
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naperville: Vacant Homes for Sale - 10/16/06 05:20 PM
I had a newbie agent call me the other day for feedback. Unusual, no, not really. Until he asked me the following:
"Did I notice anything unusual in the bedrooms?" So, I asked him what he meant. And he told me this:
"I think that someone is living inside the house. The drapes are … (8 comments)
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naperville: I have a secret: I'm a list maker. - 10/04/06 10:16 AM
Ok...now the world knows! Out-of-box (is that similar to out-of-body?) chatting revealed my secret yesterday. So, I thought that I'd share with you my observations.
I started making listings back in school, to remind me of my homework assignments. Then, when I went into the adult world, I continued making listings. Only … (7 comments)
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naperville: We have radon! - 09/29/06 04:15 PM
In the Naperville-Plainfield area, we have high levels of radon.
What's radon? It's a colorless, ordorless gas that comes from decaying uranium that's in the soil. Why is it so dangerous? Because it causes lung cancer. And, if you smoke in a radon filed basement, you'll get lung cancer that much sooner. … (5 comments)
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naperville: The City of Chicago's Cultural Activities - 09/29/06 01:48 PM
For those of you either relocating to the Chicago Metro area, or coming to the "Windy City" for a vacation, we're now rocking and rolling with activities.
I thought about this yesterday as we attended Lyric Opera's Turandot, a grand opera with vivid costumes and bold staging. Currently, we have King Lear … (0 comments)
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naperville: Getting Your Property Sold - 09/24/06 06:09 PM
… (6 comments)
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naperville: Do you still read a newspaper? - 09/20/06 03:27 PM
I can remember in the olden days when the newspapers would publish both a morning edition and an evening edition. In fact, if I remember correctly, in Chicago, The Daily News (non-existant) used to publish several afternoon editions.
My Dad would come home around 5pm (he was a teacher) with the latest … (8 comments)
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naperville: Translating MLS-ese into English - 09/19/06 07:30 PM
So, we get comfortable with all the abbreviations that are on our MLS. Our buyers don't.
Here's an actual email from a confused buyer:
"What does 2.2 bathrooms mean?"
Hi Shontel,2.2 means 2 full bathrooms (shower or tub) 2 powder rooms (NO shower/tub)2.1 is what most homes haveI bet that the half bath is … (3 comments)
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naperville: Energy Costs and our real estate market - 09/18/06 05:22 PM
Back in the Spring, House Values released a survey that buyers said they wanted to live closer to their jobs as gasoline prices were so high. True. They still do. And, they want to be close to good schools.
Today, with gasoline prices moderating for the winter months, we're facing a decidely … (2 comments)
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naperville: Absorption Rate - 08/23/06 12:53 PM
When housing inventory increases, as it is currently, you need to determine the absorption rate.
In other words, how long will it take current inventory to sell, IF NO MORE PROPERTIES COME ON THE MARKET.
We're currently seeing 10 or more months in the higher priced properties.
178 Naperville homes over … (2 comments)
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