Realty Executives Midwest
Moving day, just imagine it: The sun is shining, the weather is just perfect, and you’re about to close one chapter and open a brand new one. There’s so much possibility ahead! Although it may be exciting and full of promise for you, moving can be a terrifying event for your pets, even if you’re just moving down the street. Fortunately, you can take a lot of steps to protect your furry, feathery and scaly pals in these high stress times.
Whether you’ve got a dog that you love, a cat that’s a handful or a flock of chickens, moving with animals takes patience and attention to detail in order to help them get through the process with the least amount of stress possible. Remember that your pet doesn’t understand what’s happening and that the noise, strangers and general chaos can be terrifying for them.
Before you so much as begin to pack, it’s important to consider what’s going to happen with your pets during your move. Here are some things you can do to keep them safer and happier during the whirlwind that’s to come:
Getting your pets used to being confined like this can help prevent injuries to them should they frantically scramble to escape, and can help you better see what kinds of things in those spaces may be potentially dangerous when they’re left unattended on moving day.
Not sure where to turn for a pet-friendly mover or a pet sitter who can help tend your favorite furry friend while you’re away? Look no further than HomeKeepr where you can find the perfect pet-friendly moving team that can help you start your new chapter with as little stress as possible.
Article Source: HomeKeepr
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) serves more than 45,000 real estate professionals in Chicagoland and the surrounding counties.
This week's market snapshot shows that homes under contract increased for the third week in a row, surging 17 percent from the first week of July. The data from across MRED's markets also show a 66.5% increase in contracts for the week ending July 27 versus the same week last year.
Median prices continue to show strength as well, with a 6.7% increase over the same week last year. This was the sixth straight week of year over year weekly median price gains, the data show.
Interested in more information? Contact us today!
On July 21st, 2020, the Darien Lions Club, in collaboration with the city of Darien, held a ceremony at city hall in honor of Deneen Ruffolo, recipient of the Darien organization's 'Humanitarian of the Year 2020' award.
Joe Marchese, Mayor of Darien, designated Friday, July 24th, 2020 as 'Deneen Ruffolo Day' in Darien, IL. Lions Club President, John Pearson, presented Deneen with a replica brick paver to be placed in Lions Patio at Darien Community Park.
The Humanitarian of the Year award is bestowed by Darien Lions to honor efforts of community members in delivering charitable services. Deneen's selfless efforts assisting Darien Lions programs earned her this prestigious award. Her invaluable assistance with Lions Food Baskets program, procuring & wrapping thousands of gifts ensuring a Merry Christmas to over 250 families & their 600 children, is priceless. She spearheads organizing and wrapping over 4,000 gifts every year for families in need, something she does so thanklessly and with a bright smile on her face, year after year.
Greg Ruffolo, her husband, comments "Deneen taught our children (and now grandchildren) how to properly treat others, to always be kind, not speak poorly of others but rather find good in them, and to help by assisting others. In the end, that is the real reward for her."
Congratulations, Deneen, for this wonderful accomplishment!
Here’s how to price your home to sell fast.
Your home is more than just a bunch of rooms under a roof. It’s the space where you watched your daughter take her first steps, hosted Super Bowl parties, and celebrated holidays. Those memories are priceless. But when sell your house, the warm and fuzzies can't factor into the question: What is the value of my home?
You aren’t selling your memories; you’re selling a house.
This is where an agent can help. You’re the one who will set your listing price, but your agent has the expertise and local knowledge to advise on how to price your house so it doesn't languish on the market.
You think your house is great. The problem is sellers often think their house is so great that they list at too high of a price and miss the window of sales opportunity that comes with a new listing.
“By listing too high, you lose your most important leverage and timing because it’s new,” says Ali Evans, an agent in Santa Barbara, Calif. “If you overprice it, you miss out on all those buyers.”
The longer your house sits on the market, the less likely you are to get your asking price. Because buyers expect there’s a deal to be made on a house that’s been on the market for months.
“If something doesn’t move in the first 30 days or so, then people start thinking that they’re not going to be paying full price any longer,” Evans says.
Bottom line: Listen to your real estate agent about home value, because she knows how to price your home to sell fast. She's looking at all of the comp prices and knows what the competition is like in your market.
You renovated your kitchen after you watched too many episodes of Property Brothers. You looooove the way your reno turned out, because your kitchen is now stunningly modern, as kitchens on HGTV are. Everyone else will love it too, right? So you want to push up the listing price.
Don’t be so sure everyone else will pay big bucks for it, Evans says.
“Upgrades that are done in very specific taste can be tricky. Updates that are neutral are going to appeal to a lot of people will see more value,” she says. “But upgrades don’t always equal value.”
In fact, research from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® shows you might recoup 59% of your costs, based on a national average, on a complete kitchen upgrade.
In other words, just because you put $65,000 into your kitchen renovation doesn’t mean you can list your home for an additional $65,000. Your agent can help you assess the market value of your upgrades and answer the big question, What is the value of my home?
Having an idea of what you want to earn from your house sale is fine, because you’re looking at your home as the giant investment that it is. But pricing your home so that you will make a certain amount of money is the wrong approach.
The number you have in your head may not be in line with the market. This is where doing research on the housing market comes in handy, as well as listening to your agent.
“Make sure you understand the logic behind the price your agent suggests,” Evans says “It’s important to not be frustrated that it’s $20,000 below where you want to price it, and understand the thought process.”
Your agent will research the market to see what other houses in your area are selling for. He also knows the market, the inventory of houses for sale, and how your home compares to others in the area.
If you’ve listed the home too high, and you’re not getting any bites, don’t be afraid to do a price correction, Evans says. Lowering the price shows buyers you’re realistic and motivated. Adjusting the price is a key part of knowing how to price your home.
For most people, selling a home is emotional. Whether you’ve lived in your house for four years or 40, you’re attached to it. But it’s important to not let your emotions drive you to price your house for more than it’s worth.
Listen to your agent on how to price your home. His cool-headed knowledge of the market and real estate inventory will be a wiser guide for pricing than your irrational love for the bay window in the living room, the restored hardwood floors, and the way the light shines in your beloved sunroom in the morning.
“Pricing can’t be an emotional thing,” Evans says. “It needs to be based on market analysis, which is why an outside perspective is important.”
When you ask yourself, 'what is the value of my home,' think with your head, more so than your heart.
Article Source: Houselogic by Realtors
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
Be the home on the block that bugs run from.
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A lush spot for outdoor entertaining? Great. Perfect. A constant swarm of insects that invade your patio and home? No, thank you. Here's how to keep bugs away from your patio and yard, and from getting inside your house.
Mosquitos may have a tough sting, but they're wimps when it comes to standing up to a breeze. Patio fans can keep your outdoor entertaining space free from mosquitoes (and other little flyers) with the flip of a switch.
And you'll get the benefit of a cool breeze.
While mulching is generally a good thing for curb appeal, overdoing it can cause problems.
It could give cockroaches and ants the ideal environment to nest and find their way into your home, says Brittany Campbell, an entomologist with the National Pest Management Association. As mulch decomposes, it generates heat while providing cover for brooding pests. It can even help mice tunnel into your home.
So keep mulch at least 12 inches away from the foundation — or use inorganic mulch, such as rock or gravel.
But don't go in the opposite direction and forgo mulching altogether, leaving the ground essentially bare. Yellow jackets make their nests by tunneling into bare dirt.
You probably know this one already. But did you know your gutters and downspouts may harbor multiple mosquito maternity wards?
Clean out gutters and downspouts regularly to prevent clogs that can trap water and give those nasty stingers a place to breed.
Also make sure to keep kiddie pools, buckets, and watering cans empty when not in use.
Even your beloved birdbath can be an issue. "Make sure you get one with running water, so you don't inadvertently create a mosquito breeding ground," says Kevin Esperitu, home landscaping expert and author.
Pull out that lawnmower regularly, and keep your garden shears sharpened.
"Ticks like to hide in tall grass and wait for a passing human or animal, while bushes or tree limbs touching the home can provide easy access for pests to get indoors," says Campbell.
Plus having a tidy yard makes for good curb appeal.
Bugs hate strong scents of mint or citrus. Mix plants with those scents into your landscaping, especially near the porch, patio, or deck for added beauty and functionality.
Here are some pest-repelling plants and the bugs that hate them:
Studies show that bugs see dark and bright colors more easily, which is why people are often advised to wear light-colored clothing to repel them. The same principle may work for your home.
Choose lighter shades of paint color for your home's siding, doors, trim, and other features such as fencing, patio, and decking to make it less attractive to mosquitoes.
And if pesky birds are a problem, avoid paint that is the same color as their favorite foods.
Just be sure the paint job fits into the neighborhood and enhances your home's beauty. Bugs are a pain, but hurting your home's value is more painful.
If you live in an area where bats are local, lucky you. Really. Harness their appetite for insects to control pests in your yard. You can invite them to be your permanent guests by building a bat house. According to Bat Conservation International, one small bat can consume up to 1,000 mosquitoes per hour!
Article Source: Houselogic by Realtors
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
Realty Executives agents are real estate experts. They have the education and expertise you need to navigate through the process of buying or selling a home. From listing at the right price to making the best offer, our Executives have witnessed the best - and most regrettable - decisions homeowners and homebuyers can make. Every day, they are immersed in every aspect of real estate that includes comparable home price analysis, property surveys, credit reports, open houses, HOA agreements, lenders, title companies, homeowners’ insurance, walk-throughs, terms of sale or purchase, repairs, concessions and closing documents. Let our accomplished Executives help navigate you through the process of buying or selling a home.
