437 Grant Street SE

We’re so happy for our client, Cody Lanser! He purchased his first house last week!

We beat out 8 other offers on the house, and Cody now owns an amazing home with two, yes two, front porches to relax on! He is also walking to distance to historic Grant Park.

What a perfect home for a first time home buyer! We can’t wait to see how Cody makes the house his own. Thank you for sharing your experience with us! Congrats, Cody!

Check out his new home!

Here are 10 secrets to help you sell your home quickly and for top dollar:

Secret #1 Price it right

Pricing your home accurately is the most effective way to ensure a successful sale. Many sellers are tempted to list their home with the agent who quotes the highest price, but no amount of marketing can sell an overpriced home.

It’s extremely important to remember, that the agent doesn’t set the price, the seller doesn’t set the price – the market will determine the price for your home based on recent similar sales.

If you price your home too high, it will sit on the market & grow stale. If you price it too low, you’ll leave money on the table. We’re happy to provide you with a comparative market analysis so you know your home’s current value, just let us know if you’d like one.

Secret #2 You only get 1 first impression!

And, first impressions are lasting. No matter how good your home looks on the inside, buyers will judge it before they walk through the door, & you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

It’s important that buyers feel welcome as they approach your home. Keep your lawn maintained to enhance your curb appeal, power wash the driveway & clean the gutters. Entryways are also important. Make sure they are fresh & clean.

Secret #3 Brighten it up

After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer wants in a home. Clean your windows. Open drapes, blinds & curtains prior to showings, & make sure all light bulbs are working & bright. Let potential buyers see how cheerful your home can be.

Secret #4 Organize closets & storage

Your entire home matters. Seriously, it really does. Remove unnecessary clutter from your closets, attic, basement, garage & other storage space. Every buyer wants storage, & the more organized the storage space is, the larger it will appear.

Buyers will open all doors, especially the master closet, so be sure to keep all closets & cabinets clean. You can make closets appear larger by packing excess clothing or linens & keeping clutter off the floor.

Secret #5 Choose the right agent

A secret sale killer is hiring the wrong agent. Make sure you have an agent who is knowledgeable, trustworthy & has your best interests in mind at all times.

You want an agent who consistently monitors the multiple listing service, knows which homes in your neighborhood are on the market & the price the comparable homes are selling for in your area.You also want an agent who is tech-savvy & uses the most up-to-date tools to sell your home quickly & at top dollar.

Hint, hint! The MacDonald Team does all this for our clients!

Secret #6 Kitchens & bathrooms sell houses!

You’re basically selling your kitchen – that’s how important it is when selling your home. Make sure all appliances work properly & are sparkling.

Remodeling your kitchen offers endless benefits & you’ll typically get 85% of your money back. It might be a few thousand dollars to replace countertops, but a buyer will knock about $10,000 off the asking price if a kitchen is not up-to-date. A fast & inexpensive kitchen update is new cabinet hardware.

Secret #7 Remove pets during showings

Don’t get us wrong, we’re total dog lovers, but not everybody loves dogs, cats or other pets as much as we do. Buyers don’t want to walk in your home & smell the kitty litter box or leave with pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the impression your home is not clean.

If possible, take your pets with you when you leave for showings. If that’s not possible, keep them in a special location & let your listing agent know where the pet will be so he or she can inform buyers & their agents.

Secret #8 Don’t over upgrade

Focus on updates that will get you top dollar for your home. You’ll get your money back for simple fixes, but a mammoth makeover, not so much.

What can you do? Fresh paint goes a long way. Also, make sure doors don’t stick & that you don’t have any leaking faucets.

Secret #7 Take the home out of your house

One word: de-personalize – really, this should be #2 on our list, because it’s basically the most important thing you can do when selling your home other than pricing it right.

Remove family photos & personal items. It’s very difficult for buyers to imagine themselves living in your home if they see you & your family everywhere.

Also, consider hiring a home stager to maximize your home’s potential. Staged homes photograph better, show better & sell faster than non-staged homes. According to an AOL Money & Finance Pool, 87% of buyers responded that home presentation makes the difference in most sales.

Selling Secret #10 Always be ready to show

We know selling your home can be a little inconvenient & exhausting, but it will all be worth it when your house sells quickly & at the price you want.

When your home is on the market, you must be ready to show at all times, because you never know when a buyer will want to see it. Make sure dishes are not left in the sink, dust bunnies are not in the corners & bathrooms are clean.

Here are 10 secrets to help you purchase the perfect home:

Secret #1 Get pre-approved for your loan

Getting pre-approved means a lender has looked at your financial information & they’ve let you know how much you can afford & how much they will lend you. It’s #1 on our list, because it’s simply that important.

Being pre-approved will save you so much time & energy, because you won’t run around town looking at houses outside your budget. It also lets sellers know that you are serious & qualified to purchase their home.

Secret #2 You don’t have to do everything on your own

Purchasing a home is usually the biggest financial commitment you’ll make in your lifetime. With such a serious transaction, you don’t want to make a mistake trying to do everything on your own.

A real estate agent’s role isn’t just finding you properties to see. It’s more about acting as your resource, providing you with information about the market, letting you know if a home is priced well & guiding you through the process.

Get a real estate agent to represent you. As a buyer, it actually costs you nothing to work with an agent, because the seller’s agent will pay your agent’s commission.

Secret #3 Don’t try to time the market

Don’t stress with trying to time the market to figure out when is the best time to buy. It’s the best time to buy when you have found the right house within your budget.

Real estate is always changing; it goes up, down & back up again. If you try to wait for the perfect time, you’ll probably miss out.

Secret #4 It’s never too early to start

It can take months to find the right home, & even after an offer is accepted, it can be another 30-45 days to close. Plus the earlier you start, the less stressed you’ll be throughout the entire process.

Secret #5 You’re buying a home – not dating it

Buying a house based on emotions might lead to some pretty bad financial decisions. Make your decisions based on the market & follow your instincts. By doing so, you’ll get a great house for a good value.

Secret #6 Bigger isn’t always better

We have a saying in real estate that goes, “don’t buy the biggest, best house on the block.” Your home will only increase in value as much as the other houses in your area. If you’re the biggest house, your value will be pulled down.

Secret #7 Offer what you can afford & what the home is worth

Your offer should be based on what you can afford & what you really believe the property is worth. Offers should be fair & reasonable. Many buyers believe they should always offer a lower price, but it depends on the market & if the home is priced well.

If a home is priced well, it can sell quickly & at full ask. Just because you pay the listing price, doesn’t mean you’re getting a bad deal. It simply means you’re lucky enough to be working with reasonable sellers. Plus, you’re getting a good value for your new home without all the negotiating.

Always make sure you offer something you are comfortable with in the beginning. Although an inspection or an appraisal may allow for more negotiating later, that’s not always the case & you should not rely on it.

Lastly, before making any offers, look at what other homes have sold for in the area & don’t be scared to offer an oddball number. It will stand out from all the other offers out there. When you get more specific, the seller’s will think you’ve given it careful thought, which we know you will!

Secret #8 Don’t skip the inspection

Home inspections aren’t required, but if you skip an inspection, you’re financially responsible for any issues. An inspection will cost you about $200-$300, but it could end up saving you thousands in the long run. If the inspector finds any issues, you’ll be able to negotiate with the seller for a lower price to allow you to make repairs.

Secret #9 Don’t make any big purchases

You should avoid making any big purchases about 3-6 months before buying a new home. A lender needs to see that you’re reliable & they need to see a complete paper trail so that they can get you the best possible loan.

You need to be especially cautious after going under contract. Don’t open any new credit cards, acquire too much debt or buy a new car. You should also wait to buy all your new furniture until after you close on your home.

Secret #10 Be a stalker

It’s the one & only time, we will say it’s OK to be stalker! Before you purchase a home, drive through your neighborhood at different times to scope it out. It’s also smart to do your regular commute from the house to work to make sure it’s something you can handle.

Research the nearest restaurants, parks & schools – not only do these things influence you, but they also influence your home’s value when it comes time to resell.