Rob Gow - Real Estate and Shoreline Lifestyle

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

10 Tips for Selling Your Lake Michigan Shoreline Home this Fall!

Last week we talked about how to deal with offers on your Lake Michigan Shoreline home that are less than favorable, and we hope this information was helpful for those of you who are in the midst of selling your home in the Chicago North Shore, Evanston, the Indiana shoreline or Harbor Country!

But what if you’ve only been considering selling your home and haven’t taken the leap into the Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate market? As the Shoreline Property Advisors team, we want to be sure that you’re fully prepared to enter the market to ensure a successful home sale.

Selling in today’s buyers market can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible! We’ve gathered ten key tips that will help you navigate through the Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate market and get your home sold!

1. Focus on curb appeal- Selling your Lake Michigan Shoreline home during the fall certainly comes with one advantage: the season's beautiful foliage which can automatically make your home more attractive for showings. However, you still need to do your part to keep your home looking its best. Start by sprucing up your lawn, keep falling leaves at bay with frequent raking and patch up any brown spots in the grass.

2. Appeal to the senses- As the weather cools down along the Lake Michigan Shoreline, make your home a warm, welcoming space where buyers will want to stick around. If you encourage them to stay awhile during showings, you give them more time to admire your home's best features.

3. Flaunt your fireplace- A warm, inviting fireplace is a great selling point as the weather gets cooler. Highlight this fall-friendly feature by arranging your furniture to make your fireplace a focal point. Place a mirror, artwork, vases or other tasteful decor on top of the mantel to make it even more prominent.

4. Update your listing photos- If your Lake Michigan Shoreline home was listed last winter or spring and then taken off the market, talk with your Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate agent about updating your home’s marketing with brand new fall shots. Pictures from the previous season make your listing seem dated.

5. Think like a buyer- Fall house hunters are looking for great deals on homes along Lake Michigan’s shoreline, so be prepared for lowball offers and possible non-serious buyers. Manage your expectations and negotiate accordingly, depending on your motivation.

6. Hire a reliable real estate professional- As if selling your home isn't stressful enough, you're probably thinking ahead for the holidays or helping the kids ease into a new school year. During this hectic season, you definitely want a great Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate agent to take some of the pressure of selling your home off your shoulders. If you are still searching for an agent; we’d love to help you sell your Lake Michigan Shoreline home!

7. Price it right- If you want to grab the attention of Lake Michigan Shoreline buyers in this competitive market, you need to price your home correctly from the start - possibly slightly lower than comparable homes in your neighborhood. Setting your listing price just right could lead to a bidding war, resulting in a higher sales price for you. Work with your Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate agent to price your home correctly.

8. Watch your timing- Put your Lake Michigan Shoreline home on the market well in advance of looking for a new home. And don't place an offer on your next home until you have solid offers on the one you have to sell now. The last thing you want to do is juggle two mortgage payments.

9. Beware of TMI (too much information)- Buyers think most sellers these days are in dire straits, so don't do anything to add to that perceived advantage and lower your potential selling price. For instance, if you are moving from the area due to a job transfer, it's best not to offer up that information or at the very least, downplay the urgency. While you are obligated to disclose everything about the property's condition, you aren't obligated to disclose your personal situation.

10. Be flexible- We are currently in a buyers market, so be willing to work with buyers to help your chances of making a quick sale. Offer to pay for closing costs or repairs, and be adaptable when it comes to showing your home and holding open houses. If you really need to sell your Lake Michigan Shoreline home, you need to accommodate buyers' busy schedules as well. This might mean opening your home on weeknights and weekends. Be flexible!

These ten key tips will give you a good foundation and insight into getting your Lake Michigan Shoreline home sold. As always, we’re here to help! Our knowledgeable Shoreline Property Advisors team and our Prudential Rubloff Real Esate agents have the experience and tools to sell your home in today’s market.

We’d love to answer any questions you have or begin walking with you through the home selling process! Feel free to contact us today! We look forward to working with you!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

6 Tips for Dealing with a Low-Ball Offer on Your Lake Michigan Shoreline Home

Selling your Lake Michigan Shoreline home can be an emotional and sometimes overwhelming process. Just when you get a few interested buyers, they find another property or your home has been sitting on the Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate market for a while without any interest.

While we are currently experiencing a buyers market, finding the right Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate agent can make a huge difference in getting buyers interested in your property. Whether your home is in Chicago, Evanston, the Indiana shoreline or Harbor Country; you want an agent who’s willing to walk with you through each step and drive traffic to your home.

Another frustration some sellers are facing is that, since buyers know the market is leaning in their favor, they tend to make low offers that aren’t anywhere near the asking price. So, what’s the best way to deal with these low-ball offers? These six guidelines should help you navigate through this oftentimes tricky situation.

1. Consider the terms- Price is paramount for most Lake Michigan Shoreline buyers and sellers, but it’s not the only deal point. A low purchase offer might make sense if the contingencies are reasonable, the closing date meets your needs, and the buyer is preapproved for a mortgage. Consider what terms you might change in a counteroffer to make the deal work.

2. Counter the purchase offer- Unless you’ve received multiple purchase offers on your home along Lake Michigan’s Shoreline, the best response is to counter the low offer with a price and terms you’re willing to accept. Some buyers make a low offer because they think that’s customary, they’re afraid they’ll overpay, or they want to test your limits.

A counteroffer signals that you’re willing to negotiate. One strategy for your counteroffer is to lower your price, but remove any concessions such as seller assistance with closing costs, or features such as kitchen appliances that you’d like to take with you.

3. Get the agents together- If the purchase offer is too low to counter, but you don’t have a better option, ask your Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate agent to call the buyer’s agent and try to narrow the price gap so that a counteroffer would make sense. Also, ask your agent whether the buyer (or buyer’s agent) has a reputation for lowball purchase offers. If that’s the case, you might feel freer to reject the offer.

4. Review your comps- Ask your Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate agent whether any homes that are comparable to yours (known as “comps”) have been sold or put on the market since your home was listed for sale. If those new comps are at lower prices, you might have to lower your price to match them if you want to sell.

5. Consider the buyer’s comps- Buyers sometimes attach comps to a low offer to try to convince the seller to accept a lower purchase offer. Take a look at those comparables. Are the homes similar to yours? If so, your asking price might be unrealistic. If not, you might want to include in your counteroffer information about those homes and your own comps that your Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate agent provided for you when you first decided your asking price. If the buyers don’t include comps to justify their low purchase offer, have your real estate agent ask the buyers’ agent for those comps.

6. Don’t signal desperation-Buyers are sensitive to signs that a seller may be receptive to a low purchase offer. If your home is vacant or your home’s listing describes you as a “motivated” seller, you’re signaling you’re open to a low offer. If you can remedy the situation, maybe by renting furniture or asking your Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate agent not to mention in your home listing that you’re motivated, the next purchase offer you get might be more to your liking.

We hope these tips help you prepare for how to deal with this issue when it arises, because chances are; it will! As the Shoreline Property Advisors Team, we enjoy advising clients in every aspect of real estate. We know it can get confusing at times, and want to be sure you know exactly what’s going on throughout the entire home buying or selling process.

If you’re hoping to sell your Lake Michigan Shoreline home and aren’t quite sure what the next step is to take, feel free to contact us! We can answer your questions and the Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents on our team can ensure your home gets sold!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

How To Choose Your Ideal Chicago Neighborhood!

Buying a home in Chicago is so much more than the home itself! We’re all familiar with the saying, “location, location, location!” and it’s true when finding a place that you can call home. The neighborhood you choose is the backdrop, or welcome mat, for your home which means that choosing the neighborhood is the very first step in finding your next home.

We know that determining which neighborhood is right for you can be difficult, especially given all of the charming Chicago neighborhoods! Below are key tips for figuring out which Chicago neighborhood will enhance the lifestyle you want.

1. Figure out Your Ideal- It’s easier to find that perfect neighborhood when you have a strong sense of what you want. Make a list of those “must haves” and “would like to haves” to start to narrow down your search. Some points to consider would be: Is this a good area for children? How far you’re willing to commute? The type of home you want? Do you prefer a new or historic neighborhood? Remember to also note what you don’t want in a neighborhood such as homes that are too close, proximity to train or busy roads, etc….

2. Narrow Down the Area- If you’re moving to Chicago, you’ll have to do a little more research, but starting with closer proximity to your job may be a good idea. If you already live in the city, you’ll have a good idea of what area of town you’d like to live. Either way, narrow your search down to an area of town that really plays into your interests and lifestyle.

3. Round Up The Neighborhoods- Begin doing research on the neighborhoods in the area of town you’ve chosen. There are unlimited resources online for finding great neighborhoods, but asking friends or real estate agents for their opinion is a good idea too, especially if you’re from out of town. Be sure to gather information on: local attractions, schools, crime statistics, neighborhood associations, attractions, parks and recreation, along with any other points of interest for you.

4. Use Your Senses- Once you’ve narrowed down the Chicago neighborhoods that are your top choices- visit them! Use your senses to get a good feel for the neighborhood. Look around at curb appeal, visit the area at different times of the day to see traffic patterns or how well lit it is, look around for signs of trouble such as empty buildings or vandalism, talk to people about why they like or dislike the neighborhood, note local restaurants or area grocery stores for convenience.

Another great tool that we discovered are the Chicago Neighborhood tours that take place throughout the year! These are a great way to get a professionally guided tour of various neighborhoods throughout Chicago and can help you make your final decision. Take a look at the Explore Chicago website for information on the Chicago Neighborhood tours as well as other great information and an interactive map about this thriving metropolis!

As always, we as the Prudential Rubloff Shoreline Property Advice team are here to provide you with the most current Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate information and a well-rounded approach to the Lake Michigan Shoreline lifestyle. If you have any questions about living in Chicago, or about any of the Chicago neighborhoods, we’d be happy to talk with you and show you around! It’s a great city and we want to make sure the home you buy is in your ideal location!

We hope to hear from you soon!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

www./business.evchamber.com/events/details/2010-evanston-business-mash-up

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

A Unique Evanston Event & 5 Tips for Buying a Home!

We don’t like to play favorites to any of the cities that we serve along Lake Michigan's Shoreline, but we do like to highlight unique events that are taking place and it seems that Evanston, IL has a variety of great events throughout the year. One of the reasons we love the charming North Shore city of Evanston is because of its committment to community.

The leadership in Evanston takes an active approach in building back into the lives of its’ residents while providing them with numerous ways to get involved. Whether it’s their Volunteer program, their efforts for a sustainable lifestyle, their focus on arts and culture, or their full calendar with a wide variety of events for everyone; Evanston is a great place to call home.

If you currently live in Evanston and are looking for a way to get to know your community while interacting and networking with other professionals, you won’t want to miss the 2nd Annual Mash Up event! This is just one more way Evanston is meeting the needs of their current residents. Take a look!

Evanston’s 2nd Annual Mash Up
Northwestern University Beachfront Tent

Tuesday, September 13 from 5:30pm-9pm

- This evening under the stars will allow you to mix and mingle with Evanston CEO’s, artists, business owners, city leaders and Northwestern students! Great music, food and drinks will be the backdrop of this beach party that is unique to Evanston. Make new friends, network for business or just enjoy the company of other Evanston residents who want to take part in the vibrant Evanston environment. Don’t miss out!

Not currently an Evanston resident? Now is a great time to buy a home in this Lake Michigan Shoreline community! Whether you’re buying a home for the first time, or are jumping back into the Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate market after being out of the loop for a time; there are five things you’ll want to know about buying a home in the current real estate market.

1. Think Long-Term- When buying a home in today’s market, you want to plan for the future. Consider your basic needs such as security, proximity to your job and other daily activities, the school system and room to grow if need be. You want to plan to be in a home for a minimum of three to five years.

2. Research and Take Advantage of Low Rates- Many lenders are encouraging buyers to lock in a long-term loan, such as a 30-year mortgage, to ensure taking full advantage of the historically low interest rates. An adjustable rate mortgage can work for some buyers, but you’ll want to discuss with your Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate agent about which option is best for you.

3. Be Prepared to Make an Offer- Before you even begin searching for a home in Evanston, you’ll want to get pre-approved for a loan. This not only helps you determine your home buying budget, but will make the process run much more quickly once you’re ready to make an offer. This will also force you to get your credit in order and gives you the opportunity to correct any credit issues before entering the Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate market.

4. Find a Recommended Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate Agent- Having the right agent journey with you through the home buying process will make all the difference. Conduct research online or talk with family and friends to get their recommendations. Many Lake Michigan Shoreline Real Estate agents have testimonials on their websites that will give you a good indication of other buyer’s and seller’s experience with that agent. You’ll want to find an agent who has experience in the Evanston Real Estate market and with whom you feel you can work with for however long it takes for you to find your Evanston home.

5. Live Within Your Means- This is a lesson that our country seems to be learning collectively. We’ve seen the damage that can come from buying homes we can’t afford and digging ourselves further into debt. Buying an Evanston home that fits your budget as it stands now will give the home a chance to appreciate. In the long run, your finances will be healthier and you’ll more than likely be able to afford your dream home next time around.

Again, we’re here to help in any way we can! As the Lake Michigan Shoreline Property Advisors team, we want to help you prepare and walk through the home buying experience and are here to answer any questions you have about buying a Lake Michigan Shoreline home.

If you’re an Evanston resident, we hope you’re able to take advantage of the upcoming Mash Up event! It was a great success last year and is a fun and unique way to get to know the Evanston community.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff