advice: Nine Security Tips for Sellers — #4 - 06/16/09 08:19 AM
When you put a home on the market, it's important to practice some common-sense security tips:
4. Always have a back-up plan when you allow strangers into your home, especially if you have children. Have a neighbor look out for you until the lookers have gone.
There will be more tips in following posts.
Visit our website to read more about Chicago multi-family homes.  Click here if you are interested in selling or buying multi-units with two or more flats.
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advice: Nine Security Tips for Sellers — #3 - 06/15/09 05:42 AM
When you put a home on the market, it's important to practice some common-sense security tips:
3.  Never give a caller information about your home's security such as deadlock bolts, security systems, and so forth.
There will be more tips in following posts.
Visit our website to read more about Chicago multi-family homes.  Click here if you are interested in selling or buying multi-units with two or more flats.
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advice: Nine Security Tips for Sellers — #2 - 06/11/09 09:25 AM
When you put a home on the market, it's important to practice some common-sense security tips:
2.  Never let potential buyers know your schedule. Don't ever tell them when you won't be at home, when your spouse won't be home, when you pick up the kids, when you work, when you will be on vacation, etc.
There will be more tips in following posts.
Visit our website to read more about Chicago multi-family homes.  Click here if you are interested in selling or buying multi-units with two or more flats.
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advice: Nine Security Tips for Sellers — #1 - 06/10/09 02:49 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.
There will be more tips in following posts.
Visit our website to read more about Chicago multi-family homes. … (0 comments)

advice: Are you thinking of selling property yourself? 13 of 13 - 06/08/09 06:07 AM
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:
III,  A condo owner was promised, for a small flat fee, an MLS listing and marketing support. The trouble was two-fold: the firm he worked with by phone couldn't tell that his property was, in present condition, … (0 comments)

advice: Are you thinking of selling property yourself? 12 of 13 - 06/05/09 04:52 AM
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:
II,  There is an attorney who dabbles in development and then sells her own property, but she writes terrible listings, is too busy to accept all requests for showings, and, when she does a showing, it turns … (0 comments)

advice: Are you thinking of selling property yourself? 11 of 13 - 06/03/09 03:41 AM
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:
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).
More stories of people who … (0 comments)

advice: Are you thinking of selling property yourself? 10 of 13 - 06/02/09 06:50 AM
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:
10.  You must excel at contract-to-close. We can't promise a 100% close rate, but we think sellers who fail at ‘contract to close' may experience, at best, 75% success.
Some stories of people who became their own … (0 comments)

advice: Are you thinking of selling property yourself? 9 of 13 - 05/31/09 11:06 AM
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:
9.  You must know how to ‘broker' the deal. Especially in a Buyer's market or when the buyer knows you are representing yourself, you should expect many low-ball offers.
More requirements will be coming.
Visit our website … (0 comments)

advice: Are you thinking of selling property yourself? 8 of 13 - 05/29/09 11:54 AM
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:
8.  You must be able to track the market. We will set up a Market Watch for you that provides total insight to new listings, price cuts, and properties sold.
More requirements will be coming.
Visit our … (0 comments)

advice: Are you thinking of selling property yourself? 7 of 13 - 05/27/09 05:42 AM
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:
7.  You must be a GOOD showing agent. We don't just open the door and let the buyer in. We know how to position your property against the competition and show it well.
More requirements will be … (0 comments)

advice: Are you thinking of selling property yourself? 6 of 13 - 05/26/09 09:32 AM
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:
6.  You must have day, evening, and weekend showing availability. How many showing requests can you afford to turn down because you are at work or are busy?
More requirements will be coming.
Visit our website to … (0 comments)

advice: Are you thinking of selling property yourself? 5 of 13 - 05/23/09 05:55 AM
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:
5.  You must know the in's and out's of online marketing. For example, Realtor.com and Tribune.com don't just offer one level-we know how to work their enhanced level.
More requirements will be coming.
Visit our website to … (0 comments)

advice: Are you thinking of selling property yourself? 4 of 13 - 05/19/09 02:18 AM
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:
4.  You must be able to stage the property well. Putting a property on market ‘as is' often means a LOWER price, and good staging advice from friends is hard to get.
More requirements will be coming.
… (0 comments)

advice: Are you thinking of selling property yourself? 3 of 13 - 05/14/09 01:39 AM
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:
3.  You must know a good Virtual Tour artist. We think the average Virtual Tour fails to sparkle, and a below-average tour could actually hurt your property's value.
More requirements will be coming.
Visit our website to … (0 comments)

advice: Are you thinking of selling property yourself? 2 of 13 - 05/13/09 02:42 AM
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:
2.  You must be able to prepare professional listing materials. You may be surprised how hard it is to write good listing sheets and brochures aimed at the right audience.
More requirements will be coming.
Visit our … (1 comments)

advice: Are you thinking of selling property yourself? 1 of 13 - 05/12/09 01:40 AM
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.
More requirements will be coming.
Visit our website to read more … (0 comments)

advice: Ten Signs It’s Time to Move On – #10 of 10 - 05/06/09 02:47 AM
10. You have to take a number to use the bathroom.
If this is you, and you desire a FREE, NO OBLIGATION consultation on buying OR selling property in Chicago and ‘burbs, contact me.  By the way, if you know of anyone whose signs suggest it's time to move on, I'd be happy to consult with them too.  Just give me a call.
 
Visit our website to read more about Chicago multi-family homes.  Click here if you are interested in selling or buying multi-units with two or more flats.
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advice: Ten Signs It’s Time to Move On – #9 of 10 - 05/03/09 02:36 AM
9. The dog's house doubles as a guest room.
If this is you, and you desire a FREE, NO OBLIGATION consultation on buying OR selling property in Chicago and ‘burbs, contact me.  By the way, if you know of anyone whose signs suggest it's time to move on, I'd be happy to consult with them too.  Just give me a call.
 
Visit our website to read more about Chicago multi-family homes.  Click here if you are interested in selling or buying multi-units with two or more flats.
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advice: Ten Signs It’s Time to Move On – #8 of 10 - 04/30/09 01:45 AM
8. Grandpa Jed just struck oil while hunting in your back yard.
 
If this is you, and you desire a FREE, NO OBLIGATION consultation on buying OR selling property in Chicago and ‘burbs, contact me.  By the way, if you know of anyone whose signs suggest it's time to move on, I'd be happy to consult with them too.  Just give me a call.
 
Visit our website to read more about Chicago multi-family homes.  Click here if you are interested in selling or buying multi-units with two or more flats.
… (0 comments)