Barbecue and Fire Pit Safety for the Summer Throughout the United States, the summer months are those months where millions of Americans find themselves enjoying the outdoors or chilling in the backyard. With summer comes barbecues and evenings outside, sitting beside the fire pit. It's important to remember that barbecues and fire pits require a certain amount of safety when in use. To help you in your summer celebrations, keep these safety tips close by when using a barbecue or fire pit this summer.   Barbecue TipsGrilled food is a true treat, especially when you don't want to cook inside during the warm summer months. Grills should always be used outside, in a well ventilated area. To ensure safety, grills should be stationed away from the home, deck railings and away from any low ha... 06/28/2015

  My good Friend Loan Officer Vincent Redd was sharing with me how we as professionals serving Consumers Buying, Selling, and Financing the purchase of real estate strive to establish great lasting business relationships, and trust lasting a lifetime.  We Elect to not be content with average! We both agree it is most important we don’t allow ourselves to become complacent.  We ask our valued Clients lots of questions to insure we focus on what is most important to them, always determined to give extraordinary service. We Dedicate Ourselves to Being true professionals! Daily, we place ourselves in the Consumer’s shoes, putting our best foot forward being the resource for reliable goal accomplishing service.  We’re dedicated to helping our valued Clients achieve their relocating goals and... 06/21/2015

 Why watching “Celebrity Wife Swap” and Selling Homes are complimentary to each other? I really like watching the television show “Celebrity Wipe Swap” because the Realtor in me loves to see the Celebrity Owned Homes.  I enjoy a glimpse of how they live in their homes, the size of their home, the amenities they enjoy, and of course the lifestyle they experience in their wealthy communities. Watching the show keeps me reminded of why I love Selling Homes. No matter the budget all Buyers have a common wish to live in a home accommodating their needs, and experience a lifestyle in a community they look forward to returning to after a hard day commuting to and from and on their J O B.   When touring homes with Buyers, I like to treat them like Celebrities.  First, before touring I like to a... 06/17/2015

 Why posting photos of the home you’re purchasing before you close on Social Media is not good for your transaction? Buyers, in a transaction you can expect four negotiations.  The first negotiation takes place when you inform me you want to make an offer.  I immediately provide you with three reports about the neighborhood.  An Area Market Survey, A Market Statistics, and a Market Trends reports shows you what Relevant Homes have been listed for, have sold for, and the average negotiation range, to help you to make an informed offer the Seller will respect, when I include the research about their subdivision with the offer you make.  Including your Pre-Approval Letter when financing the purchase, or Proof-Of-Funds Letter when paying cash, helps me to make you irresistible to the Seller... 06/17/2015

 Sellers  Sellers  Sellers   Please  Please  Please  allow me to conduct the showing of your home.  Why?  Because I know my Buyer.  I know what turns them on about a home.  I know how to make them comfortable enough to start seeing themselves in the home.  You can’t do that when you’re in the Buyer’s face during the tour of your home. Yesterday, while showing homes in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, and neighboring communities of Evergreen Park, and Oak Lawn, at one of the showings we were greeted by the Seller at the Front door.  Upon entering I ask the Seller to allow me to conduct the showing.  The Seller said well their Realtor is normally there for most showings, but was not available to be there to host the tour.  I said I understand and appreciate your hospitality,... 06/14/2015

The message my good friend Loan Officer Vincent Redd sent me reminded me to share the difference between a market evaluation and an appraisal. Appraisals can be done before procuring a Buyer to help a Seller to determine the value of  a home, but they won't be accepted by a Buyer's Lender if paid for by the Seller.  Realtors are well trained to provide market evaluations to Sellers as they are thinking about how to price their home to attract a motivated, willing, ready, and able Buyer.  Realtors present the most relevant homes primarily deal-pending, and sold within the last 6 months, very similar to the subject property, within a 1 square mile. The report includes all the details about each property, including what the Sellers asked and what the Buyers actually paid.  The most vital ... 05/23/2015

One of the downsides to being a thoroughly knowledgeable, well seasoned, and perceived as a very successful Realtor, is potential Clients who know me well will use my expertise to help them in their decision making process to move, and use me as a gauge to keep the Realtor they intend to work with in-check to insure they serve them with the highest professional standard possible.This can happen when in the Buying process Buyers fear I may discover more personal information than they prefer me to know.  I easily remedy this concern by in our initial conversation, I assure them I would prefer they get pre-approved with a Lender I know and trust, and the only thing I really need to know is the target price range fitting within their budget.  In reality, I get to serve numerous diversity of... 05/14/2015

Prepping Your Home for a Vacation Vacations are a time to relax and escape from regular life. When you're miles from home, the last thing you want to worry about is the safety of your home. If you plan on taking a vacation this summer (or any time this year), here are some simple tips on prepping your home for a vacation.  Stop Your Newspaper and MailOne sure sign of being absent from your home is a pile of newspapers in the driveway. Contact your newspaper delivery person and stop service while you're gone. If you don't have a locked mailbox, contact the post office and have them hold your mail. You can also ask a trusted neighbor to collect mail, newspapers and deliveries and have him/her hold them for you until you're back.    Park Your Car in the GarageThe last thing you want is to ... 05/12/2015

Common Pests and Your Home   The list of new responsibilities can seem overwhelming when you buy a home or become a first-time homeowner. One responsibility that tends to get overlooked until it becomes a larger issue is that of household pests. A household pest is "a destructive insect or other animal that attacks" your home. Pests range throughout the U.S., but the most common pests are those that have become almost commonplace in our lives. Here are some of the most common pests encountered by homeowners throughout the U.S., and what you can do to help prevent pests in your home.   Most common Spring and Summer Pests:       Termites: Termites are generally grouped by their nesting and feeding habits: subterranean, soil-dwelling, dry wood, damp wood and grass-feeding. They feed on dea... 03/29/2015

When I am working with Buyers in the Chicago and its South-land marketplace in Illinois, who desire to make offers on foreclosed Condominiums, I have to have the important conversation with them defining what "AS-IS" really means? Condominium Associations find themselves powerless to collect assessments from the previous owners who have walked away from ownership of the condominium, resulting in them pursuing collection of past due assessments from the New Buyer.  Doesn't this just sound unethical and unfair?  It absolutely frustrates me to have to prepare my Valued Buyers, they will need to in addition to the price they pay for the Condominium, budget for all or a significant portion of the past due unpaid assessments, inherited from the previous delinquent owner. What makes this propo... 03/28/2015

Staging Tips for Sellers   Spring has arrived, which means real estate season is upon us. When selling your home or property, attracting full price offers is always top priority, and a properly staged home can be your number one asset in drawing as many offers as possible. Here are staging tips to help you prepare your home for the market.       Enhance Your Entry 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.       Clean Out Clutter The majority of us have too much stuff, and clutter is a huge killer for potential buyers. Be ruthless wh... 03/28/2015

Alternative Energy and Your Home   We all appreciate electricity -- each one of us uses it in some capacity every day. Heating and cooling our homes is one of our top priorities, not only for our comfort but also for our safety. In recent years more and more information about alternative and green energies has become available to consumers. Green or alternative energy is energy that is produced from renewable resources: wind, water, or sunlight. Here are some of the most-readily available options for alternative energy systems offered to home buyers right now:     Solar Power Solar power is "the power obtained by harnessing the energy of the sun's rays." This is done through solar panels and photo voltaic cells on the panels, which convert the sunlight into usable energy. Solar power is... 01/31/2015

  http://tour.illinoisproperty.com/tour/blaze/?tourId=1884030#.VK6NZZU5AqQ   “It was on the market so long because the House was waiting on me.” These, are words a Realtor loves to hear at the closing table from a Buyer.       I plan to attend every closing because it is an opportunity for me to give the ultimate in customer service.  It is a confirmation, I was there at the start, and saw you through all the way to the end.  I get learn so much about both Seller, Buyer, their Attorneys, and the Cooperating Agent.  One Attorney shared about his love of Boating, the other Attorney told us about the sports activities of his teenage sons, the Buyer informed us of his childhood fun discovering the Tunnels, Al Capone constructed throughout the Historic Chicago Chatam neighborhood, and the Bu... 01/08/2015

New Year To Dos for Your Home   With the start of a new year, it's always a good idea to assess your home and its needs. Taking stock of appliances, home systems, and other items that make a house a home will help guide you to home improvements needed, appliances that may be near the end of their lives, and any other updates that can help to boost your home's worth. Listed below are major home systems to evaluate in the new year to help give you peace of mind.     HVAC In the winter and summer months a home's HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) systems are put to good use. January is the perfect month to replace disposable filters or wash permanent ones in your home's HVAC or humidifier systems. Filters should be regularly replaced or washed when use is high or during peak... 12/28/2014

Please allow me to multi-task for a minute.  I was just asked the following question by  Activerain Colleague, in which I have a very good answer to, in the Chicago-Southland:  http://sspads.org "How about the homeless?  There are still many Americans who are living on the streets and not sure where their next bed or meal will come from.  With winter approaching, these folks need blankets, coats, gloves and hats.  Of course, they also need a hot meal.  There are many local organizations who would love a food donation or some help at the stove preparing a hot meal for those less fortunate." This is the time of year when I get calls for volunteering on a specific Holiday.  Please know organizations like South Suburban Pads needs Volunteers every day of the year. Charitable organizations l... 12/02/2014

In a recent interview on "The Chew" show I heard Gladys Knight best define Gratitude.   When asked what were her preshow eating rituals, she explained them after sharing first, she never ever takes it for granted, after all these years of performing, when an audience shows up for her performance.  I have seen her concerts dozens of times, and even got the opportunity to spent a moment backstage with her when she performed with "The Mighty Dells," at the Taste of Chicago.  Gladys, faithfully leaves the stage with her audience wishing for her to not leave the stage.  She has created a very devoted Fan-base, because she gives them all of herself in every performance.This is the standard I give to every valued Client I serve.  I know, I was created to help valued Buyers and Sellers to succe... 11/01/2014

Red Flags for Homebuyers   Home buying season is upon us, and while some buyers get caught up in the emotions of finding their new home, an important part of buying a home is paying attention to red flags. Red flags are those items that could potentially cost you a lot in the future, or even in the beginning - essentially, warnings of a danger or a problem. According to HouseMaster, a major home inspection company with offices in the United States and Canada, 40 percent of previously owned homes have at least one serious defect (housemaster.com). Provided is a list of items and things to consider or avoid when looking for your next home.       1. You're also buying a neighborhood: Neighborhoods are a vital part of the home buying process - make sure you visit at different times of the d... 10/03/2014

IRS SCAM/FRAUD ALERT - I don't normally answer out of state calls when they show up in the caller-id.  If no name shows up, and only a phone number I usually wait for a message left, then I'll pick up if I recognize who is calling.  This is a good habit because I've answered fraud calls in the past.  Today, I saw a Washington, D.C. number in my caller-id land line phone.  I thought, since my daughter recently relocated to the D.C. area, I'd better answer.  I got a message from a 202-241-0211 directing me to call a Steve Madden 949-873-8412.  The message stated if I did not call him immediately, I would be flagged as avoiding a legal matter.  When I called this Steve, he spoke with a fairly strong Indian accent.  I introduce myself telling him about the message to call him.  He ask if he... 09/30/2014

Top 10 Home Styles in the U.S.   We've all had that moment -- driving down a street and we see a home we like specifically for the architecture and design elements. The United States is full of different home styles and architecture, and pinpointing a specific one can be difficult, especially when dominant home styles change from region to region. The homes below are examples of the most prevalent home styles found throughout the United States.     Victorian Victorian homes give off a certain air and possess a very stately feel. Victorians are more about beauty than functionality, with complex designs, ornate trim, and large wraparound porches. The Victorian exterior is seen as a medium for decoration. These homes generally have gables, bay windows, towers, overhangs and many are known ... 09/30/2014

10 Tips to Prepare for A Home Sale   We are in the middle of summer -- one of the busiest times for any real estate market -- with thousands of homes and properties going up for sale in every town and city throughout the United States. Getting the most for a home is always a seller's top priority; heeding these ten tips and tricks when considering putting your house on the market will help toward getting you top dollar.     1. Paint Color: When choosing an exterior paint color, stick with what's popular in the neighborhood, goes well with the surroundings of the area, or fits the style of the home. Picking a paint color that is not common or completely clashes with the rest of the neighborhood is a very risky decision, especially when thinking about listing a home. When it comes to pain... 07/31/2014