Ten Ways to a High Price, Quick Sale, Easy – #1 thru #5 - 03/31/11 05:50 PM
How many sellers want a LOW price or a SLOW sale or a big HASSLE? No, what most sellers say they want is to: 1) net the highest possible price, 2) get their property sold in the shortest possible time, and 3) have it happen with ease and convenience.
And, oh, by the way, some would add #4: "and with little or no commission paid." Now, think about it-how easy is it to COMBINE those four points? The fact is, it's not. Like the old song says, "You can't always get what you want"-the good news is: I know what you … (0 comments)

A Favorite Area for Armchair Investors: North Lawndale - 03/30/11 03:16 PM
"Arm-Chair" Investors are those who do NOT want to live in the property they buy (a more precise term for this would be "NON-owner occupied"). The question we ask here is: Where have ‘arm-chair' investors like that been concentrating their investments?
Our work with arm-chair investors has led us to believe that SEVEN Chicago neighborhoods are particularly popular for those buying non-owner occupied, cash-flow property. For instance, Bill Bein, Chicagoland2to4Flats.info's founder, owns property in Grand Crossing (a south side neighborhood)-and he has now helped many different buyers buy in all of these areas.
The west side neighborhoods are: Humboldt Park (census … (0 comments)

Seven Moving Tips for Pets - 03/29/11 08:49 PM
1.  Do what you can to take your pet with you - he/she has bonded with you, beloved owner and is a part of the family.
2.  Purchase a sturdy pet carrier that your pet can't chew through.  Keep an eye on your pet when he/she is in the pet carrier as some animals will hurt themselves trying to claw or chew their way out.  The last thing you need is a trip to the veterinarian while you're trying to settle into your new home!
3.  Limit the amount of food that you feed your pet in case he/she gets sick … (3 comments)

Nine Security Tips for Sellers - 03/28/11 07:27 PM
When you put a home on the market, it's important to practice some common-sense security tips:
1.  For your own safety, never set an appointment with anyone to see your home unless they have given you their name and number and you have called back to verify that number. An easy way to do this is to say. "Let me check with my husband/wife for the best time and I will call you back." Use this method even if you are not married.
2.  Never let potential buyers know your schedule. Don't ever tell them when you won't be at home, … (8 comments)

Fifteen Moving Tips for Children – #12 thru #15 - 03/26/11 05:29 PM
•12.  When packing, give them their own boxes that they can decorate.
•13.  Invite their new friends over.
•14.  Let them choose a new family restaurant.
•15.  Reward them for coping with the move.
 
And this is just the start of what you'll find at www.Chicagoland2to4Flats.info!!!
… (2 comments)

Fifteen Moving Tips for Children – #9 thru #11 - 03/25/11 06:59 PM
•9.     Give each of your children a notebook and an inexpensive camera so they can document the move - deputize them as "Family Reporters."
•10.  Do not throw, sell or give away their things.  Let them decide what they want to get rid of.
•11.  Let them select and price the items they want to sell at a yard sale.  Give them their own table for their goods and let them help at the cash table.
And this is just the start of what you'll find at www.Chicagoland2to4Flats.info!!!
… (4 comments)

Fifteen Moving Tips for Children – #5 thru #8 - 03/22/11 07:36 PM
•5.     Show them the home you've purchased.  If this cannot be done, ask for a video or photographs.
•6.     Keep talking to them about what's going on.  Young children and busy teenagers are not always paying attention when you tell them important information.
•7.     Assure them that you won't forget their friends.  Have a good-bye party where their friends autograph a t-shirt and write their addresses on index cards.  Have your children hand out goodbye notes with their new address.
•8.     Make a scrapbook of photographs of the old home, neighborhood, school, church, friends, family and going away parties.
 
And … (0 comments)

Fifteen Moving Tips for Children – #1 thru #4 - 03/21/11 05:11 PM
•1.     Do not put children, even teenagers, in charge of preparing, moving, or keeping track of pets.
•2.     Remember that even though you have lived in a home for a few years, for a young child it is nearly a lifetime!
•3.     Avoid moving during school.  Ideally, move 1-3 months before a new school year begins.
•4.     Involve your children to communicate your expectations, goals, wants and needs.
 
And this is just the start of what you'll find at www.Chicagoland2to4Flats.info!!!
… (3 comments)

Selling Property Yourself – Some Examples - 03/18/11 05:14 PM
It's now possible to get property listed in the MLS for a low flat fee or perhaps even sell it on your own through Craig's List. But, without the help of a full-service agent, you would, in essence, be hiring yourself as your own agent. Here are some stories of people who did sell property for themselves:
•     I.        An owner in Roscoe Village listed on his own for 40K less than we would have. (The moral of the story: not surprisingly, given his fire-sale price, he sold it immediately).
•    II.        There is an attorney who dabbles in development and … (3 comments)

Selling Property Yourself – 10 Necessary Skills - 03/16/11 04:35 PM
It's now possible to get property listed in the MLS for a low flat fee or perhaps even sell it on your own through Craig's List. But, without the help of a full-service agent, you would, in essence, be hiring yourself as your own agent. And, for you to do that job well, we think you must be able to succeed at ten things:
1.  You must be able to properly price your property-and that can be hard to do without access to the CLOSED sale records of the MLS.
2.  You must be able to prepare professional listing materials. You … (3 comments)

Eleven General Moving Tips – #8 thru #11 - 03/15/11 11:49 AM
•8.     Place china in plastic bags and stack plates upright on their sides, not flat.
•9.     Label boxes that contain fragile items with large red lettering.
•10.  Number the boxes and keep a list of what's in them and which room the box goes into.  Pack by room - do not combine items from different rooms into one box.
•11.  Reinforce the bottom of boxes with heavier items for added strength.
And this is just the start of what you'll find at www.Chicagoland2to4Flats.info!!!
… (0 comments)

Eleven General Moving Tips – #5 thru #7 - 03/14/11 03:58 PM
•5.     Pack boxes to 50 pounds or less.
•6.     Pack heavy items into their own smaller boxes and put lighter items into larger boxes.  Do not pack all your books in one box!
•7.     Don't move flammable, corrosive, explosive items such as paint, gasoline, ammunition.
 
And this is just the start of what you'll find at www.Chicagoland2to4Flats.info!!!
… (3 comments)

Eleven General Moving Tips – #1 thru #4 - 03/11/11 07:04 PM
•1.     Save all receipts!  Some of your moving expenses are tax deductible.
•2.     Figure out how much your time, energy and mental health are worth - then consider hiring movers, house cleaners, carpet cleaners, so on.  Moving is stressful enough without adding other tasks and projects.
•3.     Don't be afraid to say "no" to social gatherings and meetings prior to and during your move.  You can get caught up with your social life after you have settled into your new home.
•4.     Look to the future as you decide what items to sell, give away, donate, throw, or recycle.  By being … (4 comments)

A Favorite Area for Armchair Investors: East Garfield Park - 03/08/11 08:10 PM
"Arm-Chair" Investors are those who do NOT want to live in the property they buy (a more precise term for this would be "NON-owner occupied"). The question we ask here is: Where have ‘arm-chair' investors like that been concentrating their investments?
Our work with arm-chair investors has led us to believe that SEVEN Chicago neighborhoods are particularly popular for those buying non-owner occupied, cash-flow property. For instance, Bill Bein, Chicagoland2to4Flats.info's founder, owns property in Grand Crossing (a south side neighborhood)-and he has now helped many different buyers buy in all of these areas.
The west side neighborhoods are: Humboldt Park (census … (0 comments)

What Is An ESCROW ACCOUNT? - 03/04/11 03:31 PM
An escrow account is a neutral depository held by your lender for funds that will be used to pay expenses incurred by the property, such as taxes, assessments, property insurance, or mortgage insurance premiums which fall due in the future. 
You will pay one-twelfth of the annual amount of these bills each month with your regular mortgage payment.  When the bills fall due, the lender pays them from the special account.  At closing, it may be necessary to pay enough into the account to cover these amounts for several months so that funds will be available to pay the bills as … (2 comments)

What Is a Real Estate Closing? - 03/01/11 09:00 PM
A "closing" is where you and I meet with some or all of the following individuals: the Seller, the Seller's agent, a representative from the lending institution and a representative from the title company, in order to transfer the property title to you.  The purchase agreement or contract you signed describes the property, states the purchase price and terms, sets forth the method of payment, and usually names the date and place where the closing or actual transfer of the property title and keys will occur. 
If financing the property, your lender will require you to sign a document, usually a … (3 comments)

 

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