I believe that spot-on pricing is an essential factor to successfully selling your home. My years of experience and in-depth knowledge of the market allow me to recommend a strategic price range that positions your home competitively and effectively. I do this by conducting a detailed Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) of comparable Sold, Pending and Active properties in your area. With careful consideration of your specific needs and timeline, I make my best professional recommendation as to your home’s current fair market value, what it will sell for, and how to get you the best price within your desired timeframe. To get started, visit my Home Value Tool.

I have a comprehensive collection of marketing tools available. Beginning with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) your home will be visible by all real estate professionals in the state and syndicated on MLS-based real estate search websites including Redfin, Zillow, Trulia & Realtor.com. In addition to these sites, my in-house marketing efforts include targeted web ads via Adwerks® and online presence via social media sites including Instagram and Facebook. Professional photos, listing videos and property brochures are a staple of every listing as well as access to a broad range of print media. Learn more in the About Me section of my site under Our Global Reach.

Receiving an offer is the goal when listing your home for sale. Potential buyers will draw up an offer in the form of a buyer-signed contract with their desired terms. The price is perhaps the most essential component of the offer; other negotiable terms include closing date, earnest money, attorney/inspection timing, tax proration and financing details. I help you navigate the negotiation process with the end goal of reaching full agreement on all terms which results in an accepted offer.

Once we have an accepted offer, both parties initial and sign the offer which results in an executed contract. The buyer then turns in initial earnest money which is held by an escrow agent (generally, my Engel & Völkers Chicago office). The attorney review and inspection periods run concurrently and begin the day after full execution of the contract. This is when the buyer will conduct a home inspection and any other inspections needed to educate themselves on your home’s condition.

The buyer shares the results of the inspection with their attorney and discusses any concerns and potential items for credit and/or repair. The buyer’s attorney then sends out a formal letter (called an attorney modification letter) requesting any modifications to the contract deemed necessary by the buyer’s attorney and also any credit/repair requests to remedy inspection findings. Your attorney will consult with you and send a response letter. There are generally at least a few (and sometimes several) letters back and forth between the attorneys until all details of the transaction are finalized.

Once full agreement is reached, the attorneys “sign off” on the final, accepted attorney modification letter and the review period is considered closed. At this point, the buyer deposits an additional sum of money called the balance earnest money. It is held in the same escrow account as the initial earnest money and held until the closing.

If the buyer has a mortgage contingency, additional documents and an appraisal are processed by their lender. Once everything has been approved, the lender issues a full approval of the mortgage and a “clear to close.” A final walk through of the property by the buyer takes place just before closing and then the closing takes place at a title company designated by the seller’s attorney.

The process of selling your home can vary greatly depending on your individual needs and your specific property. Some clients need to sell quickly, others have a more relaxed timeline. Some homes will be more desirable to a wider group of buyers while others will only appeal to a needle-in-a-haystack buyer. I will do everything I can to help you determine your objectives and accomplish them within your desired timeframe. I will work to manage your expectations by being transparent as to your home’s value and the temperature of the market – I closely monitor activity and buyer feedback to ensure we are on target as markets fluctuate. My goal is always to educate you to the best of my abilities and to set clear and reasonable goals that we can accomplish by working together.

There are many costs to consider when selling your home. In Illinois, you (the seller) are responsible for paying the list-side brokerage commission. You have the option to offer a buy-side commission to the buyer’s agent as additional compensation. Commissions are a percentage of the final sales price and are detailed in the listing and marketing agreement signed at the outset of our partnership. Beyond commission, other costs to consider include (but are not limited to): any updates or repairs your home will need in advance of listing, the hiring of a real estate attorney, title company closing fees, transfer tax stamps, pro-rated tax credits and any additional closing credits agreed to during the attorney review period after contract acceptance.