Realty Executives Midwest
This could be the year to sell your house – and here’s why. According to a recent NerdWallet survey, 15% of people are planning to buy a home this year. That’s actually a record high for this survey (see graph below):
Here’s why this is such a big deal. The percentage has been hovering between 9-11% since 2020. This recent increase shows buyer demand hasn’t disappeared – if anything, it indicates there’s pent-up demand ready to come back to the market.
That doesn’t mean the floodgates are opening and that there’s going to be a huge wave of buyers like we saw a few years ago. But this does signal there’ll be more activity this year than last.
At least some of the buyers who put their plans on hold over the past few years will jump back in. Whether they’re feeling more confident about moving, they’ve finally saved up enough to buy, or they simply can’t wait any longer – this is the year they’re aiming to take the plunge.
And, according to that same NerdWallet survey, more than half (54%) of those potential buyers have already started looking at homes online.
That’s a good indicator that a number of these buyers will be looking during the peak homebuying season this spring. So, if you find the right agent to make sure your house is prepped, priced, and marketed well, you can get your house in front of them.
More people are going to move this year and with the right strategy, you can make sure your house is one of the first they look at.
Source: Keeping Current Matters
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
If you want to sell your house, having the right strategies and expectations is key. But some sellers haven’t adjusted to where the market is today. They’re not factoring in that there are more homes for sale or that buyers are being more selective with their budgets. And those sellers are making some costly mistakes.
Here’s a quick rundown of the 3 most common missteps sellers are making, and how partnering with an expert agent can help you avoid every single one of them.
According to a survey by John Burns Real Estate Consulting (JBREC) and Keeping Current Matters (KCM), real estate agents agree the #1 thing sellers struggle with right now is setting the right price for their house (see graph below):
And more often than not, homeowners tend to overprice their listings. If you aren’t up to speed on what’s happening in your local market, you may give in to the temptation to price high so you can have as much wiggle room as possible to negotiate. You don’t want to do this.
Today’s buyers are more cautious due to higher rates and tight budgets, and a price that feels out of reach will scare them off. And if no one’s looking at your house, how’s it going to sell? This is exactly why more sellers are having to do price cuts.
To avoid this headache, trust your agent’s expertise from day 1. A great agent will be able to tell you what your neighbor’s house just sold for and how that impacts the value of your home.
Another common mistake is trying to avoid doing work on your house. That leaky faucet or squeaky door might not bother you, but to buyers, small maintenance issues can be red flags. They may assume those little flaws are signs of bigger problems — and it could cost you when offers come in lower or buyers ask for concessions. As Investopedia says:
“Sellers who do not clean and stage their homes throw money down the drain. . . Failing to do these things can reduce your sales price and may also prevent you from getting a sale at all. If you haven’t attended to minor issues, such as a broken doorknob or dripping faucet, a potential buyer may wonder whether the house has larger, costlier issues that haven’t been addressed either.”
The solution? Work with your agent to prioritize anything you’ll need to tackle before the photographer comes in. These minor upgrades can pay off big when it’s time to sell.
Buyers today are feeling the pinch of high home prices and mortgage rates. With affordability that tight, they may come in with an offer that’s lower than you want to see. Don’t take it personally. Instead, focus on the end goal: selling your house. Your agent can help you negotiate confidently without letting emotions cloud your judgment.
At the same time, with more homes on the market, buyers have options — and with that comes more negotiating power. They may ask for repairs, closing cost assistance, or other concessions. Be prepared to have these conversations. Again, lean on your agent to guide you. Sometimes a small compromise can seal the deal without derailing your bottom line. As U.S. News Real Estate explains:
“If you’ve received an offer for your house that isn’t quite what you’d hoped it would be, expect to negotiate . . . the only way to come to a successful deal is to make sure the buyer also feels like he or she benefits . . . consider offering to cover some of the buyer’s closing costs or agree to a credit for a minor repair the inspector found.”
Notice anything? For each of these mistakes, partnering with an agent helps prevent them from happening in the first place. That makes trying to sell your house without an agent’s help the biggest mistake of all.
Avoid these common mistakes by starting with the right plan — and the right agent. Connect with an agent so you don’t fall into any of these traps.
Source: Keeping Current Matters
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
Your furnace needs to be working throughout the winter so that you can stay warm. There will occasionally be a sign that you could need furnace work. Read on to learn more.
Your furnace makes noises when it runs. Most of the time, these will be normal humming or whirring sounds. There are, however, several sounds that could mean trouble for both your furnace and your whole HVAC system.
When your furnace thumps, it could mean that your blower motor is either out of alignment or has a piece broken off within it. In either case, you’ll need the help of a professional HVAC technician for repairs. If you hear this kind of heavy thumping coming from your furnace, be sure to turn the furnace off right away and call for help.
Not all furnaces have belts in their blower motors, but if yours does, then a loud shrieking noise can mean that the belt needs replacing. Once again, this is not a DIY project, and you will need the skills of a pro to accomplish the project safely and quickly.
Furnaces create water from condensation as part of their normal operation. There will be a hose, pipe, or both for shunting water out of the furnace to someplace else. A lot of the time, these drainage conduits lead outside, but it is also possible for them to lead to a drain or sink inside your home.
One reason that you could see water on the floor is that one or more of these drains have developed a clog. When that happens, the water backs up through the pipe and can leak. Many furnaces have drain pans instead, and if the drain pan cracks or likewise develops a clog, then it can leak water too. Finally, if your furnace has a condensate pump, then it could leak from that device if it is faulty.
If you smell formaldehyde, then it is not good news. That generally indicates a cracked heat exchanger, which cannot be repaired and will need replacement. This will necessitate calling in a pro to do the work.
Another unpleasant smell would be old socks. Normally, this means that there is biological growth somewhere inside your system. It could be in the body of the furnace itself or inside the ducts. If the growths are inside the ducts, never try to clean them out yourself. You could cause extensive damage and/or hurt yourself.
The worst smell would be rotten eggs. That smell means that you have a gas leak, which is an emergency situation. Shut your furnace off immediately and then open all the windows in your home. Go outside, and call for help.
Source: Realty Executives
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
In today’s digital age, it’s tempting to rely on automated tools for everything — including figuring out how much your house is worth. But be careful. The automated estimates you’re seeing online often miss key details that affect the true market value of your home.
Before you toss a for sale sign in your yard and expect to bring in the number you saw for your house online, you need to understand why these tools generally aren’t spot-on and why working with an expert real estate agent is the best way to get an accurate picture of what your house is really worth.
Online home valuation tools give you an approximate value for your house based on the data that’s publicly available for your home. While this can give you a rough starting point, the keyword here is rough. As an article from Ramsey Solutions says:
“Online Home Value Estimators Aren’t 100% Accurate . . . The estimates are only as reliable as the amount of public record data the real estate websites can access. The less data gathered for your particular neighborhood, county and state, the less you can depend on this number.”
Here’s the biggest issue with online estimates: they don’t take into account the unique aspects of your home or your local market. And that’s why an agent’s expertise can make such a difference when figuring out what your house is really worth. Here’s an example. A real estate agent will also factor in:
Agents have a deep understanding of the local market, and they can provide insights that automated tools simply can’t match. As Bankrate explains:
“Online estimation tools determine pricing using algorithms that rely on publicly available information. These algorithms can vary widely from one tool to the next and typically don’t account for a home’s current condition or any upgrades or renovations that are not reflected in public records. So they are not as accurate as in-person methods, like a real estate agent’s comparative market analysis . . .”
While online home value estimates can be a helpful tool to get a rough idea of what your home is worth, they aren’t foolproof. The true value of your home depends on a range of factors that automated tools just can’t account for.
To get the most accurate estimate, work with a local real estate agent. That way you have expert guidance and up-to-date market insights to set the best possible price for your home.
Source: Keeping Current Matters
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
Selling your home in today’s competitive real estate market goes beyond location and price, it is about creating an environment that captures buyers’ attention and evokes a sense of home. Interior design and color choices are key to creating a welcoming atmosphere that makes an impression. This year, staying ahead of the trends shaping buyer preferences is essential. Read on for tips from the experts on the top interior design and color trends in 2025.
Colors have a substantial impact on perceived value. In a recent report, 85% of experts agreed that soft or warm whites in a home’s main living area add the most value while also creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. If a soft or warm white is not the best fit for your home, 28% of experts recommend greige to add value and 24% say beige. These neutral options are modern and subtle.
Feelings of coziness and relaxation are sought after by buyers when first viewing bedroom areas. Most experts (76%) suggest painting the main bedroom with a warm neutral color to add home value. Soft or warm whites are also a good option, suggested by 42% of experts.
Theresa Bouchard, Owner of TS Staging and Design, emphasizes the importance of staying current with color trends when selling a home. She advises, “If selling your home, it is important to use colors that are trending to attract buyers.” By incorporating these popular hues, sellers can create a fresh, inviting, and updated look that appeals to potential buyers.
The exterior of a home is as important in first impressions as the interior. Off-white siding is recommended by 45% of pros as a versatile color to improve your home’s curb appeal and value. It works well with all home styles and combines well with accent colors. It is also less harsh than plain white, which will help to create an inviting atmosphere.
If off-white is not the right option for your home, natural wood siding may be an excellent choice with 36% of experts believing that natural wood siding will be a sought-after choice for homebuyers in 2025. Dark gray will also be a popular choice and 24% of experts selected it for its qualities of helping to hide imperfections, making trim pop, and giving a modern and elegant look.
Avoiding colors that potential homebuyers may find off-putting is just as important, if not more, as choosing colors that appeal to buyers. If your home features any lime green throughout, it is worth taking the time to paint over with a more palatable color. A majority (76%) of experts say that lime green is the most off-putting color to homebuyers, and it is neither on trend nor neutral. It is best to avoid it.
It is also advised by 42% of design experts to avoid bold pink colors when trying to sell your home. Like lime green, homebuyers may have trouble seeing past these bold color schemes and envisioning themselves and their own tastes in the space.
Implementing on-trend interior design concepts to your home can positively impact the process of selling. By creating an updated and appealing aesthetic, your home will be set apart from others on the market.
Biophilic design is predicted to be favored this year with 60% of experts saying a top trend will be to integrate nature into interior design. Adding plants to interior design can help break barriers between the indoors and outdoors.
As homeowners begin moving away from more rigid furniture and features, 36% of industry experts expect curves to become more common. Curves create fluidity in the home, helping to tie into nature and give a more organic feel, aligning with the biophilic design trend.
Multi-functional spaces will continue as a prominent trend according to 31% of experts. Including multi-functional space in a home lets owners personalize a space to suit their preferences and needs and allows for more freedom and flexibility.
Selling a home is all about appealing to potential homebuyers. Choosing colors that are on trend or create an inviting feeling is important to add value and have a successful sale. Soft, warm whites, warm neutrals, off-whites, and earthy greens are experts’ top recommended colors while biophilic design, a move towards curves, and more multi-functional spaces are expected to be the design highlights of 2025.
Source: Realty Executives
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.
