Brian Sells Chicago · Condo, Townhouse, or Single Family Home?

Or other…? Last night at the First Time Home Buyers Seminar we hosted, we reviewed a lot of great information. My main goal of the evening was to emphasize the need to do all the groundwork (Initial Consultation and Loan Pre-Approval) and to start the “Elimination” process. After all it is much easier to eliminate homes from your home search than it is to try to select “The One.” I like to take questions from the attendees as much as possible. One attendee asked me if it is better to buy a townhouse or a single family home. How do we begin to answer that question? First we should make sure we know what we are talking about. Some of these definitions vary slightly by region. In the Chicago market a condominium (abbreviated to condo) is a type of fractional ownership of a building. The individual owner holds title to a portion of the building, basically between four walls, and use of all of the common areas. There is a shared entrance (or several) into the building. In a townhouse, you still only own a porti
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Brian Sells Chicago · Staging Tip #3 – Move or Float Furniture

Once you’ve moved out the clutter, turn to the remaining furniture. Furniture doesn’t need to be pushed up against walls. Moving and floating pieces can help rooms look and feel bigger. Try moving pieces around, even from other rooms, but remember to keep the perimeters clear with clear pathways. These sliders work great for moving heavy pieces around. If you can’t find them please let me know. Uncategorized
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Brian Sells Chicago · Clean Out Clutter

Staging Tip #2 The majority of us have too much stuff, and clutter is a huge killer for potential buyers. Be ruthless when it comes to clutter — if you haven’t used it in three months, box it up. If you haven’t used it in a year, sell or donate it. Go one room at a time. It’s ok to have empty space. If you can’t part with something, get creative on how to store it. Rolling bins that fit under beds are perfect for hiding items and getting things out of the way. Too much furniture will also make a home look cluttered and smaller than it is. You want to create space – ask what you can live without. Every square foot is prime real estate. If you’re serious about selling, feel free to start packing. Store the boxes in the garage or somewhere out of sight. When moving day comes around you’ll be way ahead of the game. If you need boxes to get started just let me know. Uncategorized
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Brian Sells Chicago · Enhance Your Entry

Staging Tip #1 It’s the first thing buyers see, and most likely serves as the first impression of your house. Utilize the entry by updating the front door color, change out the door hardware (or clean and polish the current hardware). Make potential buyers welcome with a nice mat and some potted plants or flowers. Make sure the locks and handle are functioning correctly. As a showing agent as well, I can tell you how embarrassing it is to try and show a property and I can’t even get the door open. It makes a really bad first impression and leaves a buyer wondering what other things they will find wrong with the house when (IF!) they finally get inside. Uncategorized

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Brian Sells Chicago · How to Avoid Household Pests

Most home pests can be avoided by doing simple, everyday things. As a homeowner, make sure your doors and windows are closed, as these are the most common ways for pests to enter a home. Make sure window and door screens are in good repair or working order. By eliminating moisture buildup in small areas and basements you reduce the risk of creating hospitable environments for pests. Sealing openings in a home’s foundation will help reduce access to your home. Trees harbor pests — by keeping tree branches trimmed and away from the home you deter pests (especially spiders) from having easy access to your home’s roof. Moisture attracts pests — direct rain water away from the home and foundation to prevent possible moisture buildup. If you have fire wood, store it at least 20 feet away from the house. Flies and other pests are attracted to garbage, so ensuring that garbage cans are sealed tight and all animal deposits are picked up will help reduce the risks of attracting pests into your home. The best deterrent

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Brian Sells Chicago · Have Mice Been Experimenting on US all this Time?

According to “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” mice are actually beings from another dimension, on Earth to perform experiments on humans. Clearly that’s a work of fiction, but they sure do seem to have a power over us when people jump up on chairs and scream when they find one! But they’re so cute… Rodents are warm-blooded and are found throughout the U.S. The most common types of rodents are mice and rats. Both rapidly breed and are capable of squeezing through spaces that appear smaller than their bodies. Rodents seek warm shelter in the cold months, particularly mice, who seek food, water and warmth within homes. Generally, if one rodent is found, many more are hiding nearby. Do you use the humane traps? I personally can’t stand to harm these little guys, unless you say putting them outside is harmful… Uncategorized

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Brian Sells Chicago · What did the judge say when the stinkbug entered the courtroom?

“Odor in the court!” Stink bugs are found throughout the U.S., and most of the time homeowners don’t know they have an issue until early fall, when stink bugs turn up on the sunny side of homes where they can warm themselves. During the summer months stink bugs live outside, feeding on fruits, grains and other crops. During the colder months, stink bugs will hide inside walls or in attics and crawl spaces. These bugs get their name from the unpleasant odor they produce when they feel threatened Uncategorized

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