We’re not going to sugarcoat it - selling a home is a major undertaking. There are many different moving parts and considerations that go into listing, marketing, and selling a home. In fact, sometimes it’s easy for the “to-do” list to become so long that you end up overlooking some of the most essential steps, including basics like prepping your home for sale. 

That’s right. Sometimes, in the rush of getting the ball rolling and moving the process forward, homesellers can overlook some simple questions: Is your home actually ready for buyers to come take a look? And if it’s not, what can you do to help get it ready, and showcase it in the best possible light? 

These are important questions to ask, and crucial topics to discuss with your broker! Your real estate team can help offer some personalized recommendations and ideas, suited to the unique variables of your sale. For instance? Buyers in your market may be looking for specific home features, or even up-to-the-minute design and home staging choices. Your broker can help you get a sense of what buyers are looking for, based on local market trends and the unique conditions of your property. 

Read more ...

Each year, Five Star Professionals conducts a survey of real estate buyers and sellers to identify the top real estate agents in the Chicago market. They evaluate these real estate professionals based upon their integrity, communication, and customer service. In 2021, only 2% of the overall agent population was named a Five Star Real Estate agent. 

We’re thrilled to share that the entire Real Group team at Baird & Warner has been named Five Star Professional award winners again this year!  

We share Five Star’s passion for professional excellence, and we are honored to be acknowledged as “service professionals that other consumers say provide exceptional client satisfaction and service.” 

Read more ...

Chicago homeowners seeking to supplement their incomes, find a sustainable way to age in place, or simply contribute to the diversity of their neighborhoods will soon find themselves enjoying a new way to add value to their existing properties. As of May 1, new zoning regulations relating to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), granny flats, coach houses, and carriage houses will go into effect in specific areas around Chicago.

These new regulations will provide a unique opportunity, both for property owners seeking to add value to their properties and for housing seekers looking to live in neighborhoods closer to work, family, or cultural opportunities. ADUs on existing properties can provide “gentle density,” allowing new residents to move to existing neighborhoods without changing the look and feel residents have come to love about these places.

Read more ...

We don’t really go for the whole “home bidding war” language here at Real Group; it’s just a little too intense and angry for our taste. Instead, we prefer the term “multiple offer situation,” a better phrase that more accurately captures what competition for a listing really looks like in the Chicago market.

Because make no mistake: It can get very competitive. Our team was reminded of that quite recently, when our own Jason Finn listed for sale a popular bungalow-style home in a neighborhood where these classic Chicago properties rarely become available.

We’ll let Jason describe what happened next:

Read more ...