Realty Executives Midwest
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
Wondering what’s in store for the housing market this year? And more specifically, what it all means for you if you plan to buy or sell a home? The best way to get that information is to lean on the pros.
Experts are constantly updating and revising their forecasts, so here’s the latest on two of the biggest factors expected to shape the year ahead: mortgage rates and home prices.
Everyone’s keeping an eye on mortgage rates and waiting for them to come down. So, the question is really: how far and how fast? The good news is they’re projected to ease a bit in 2025. But that doesn’t mean you should expect to see a return of 3-4% mortgage rates. As Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says:
“Are we going to go back to 4%? Per my forecast, unfortunately, we will not. It’s more likely that we’ll go back to 6%.”
And the other experts agree. They’re forecasting rates could settle in the mid-to-low 6% range by the end of the year (see chart below):
But you should remember, this will continue to change as new information becomes available. Expert forecasts are based on what they know right now. And since everything from inflation to economic drivers have an impact on where rates go from here, some ups and downs are still very likely. So, don’t get caught up in the exact numbers here and try to time the market. Instead, focus on the overall trend and on what you can actually control.
A trusted lender and an agent partner will make sure you’ve always got the latest data and the context on what it really means for you and your bottom line. With their help, you’ll see even a small decline can help bring down your future mortgage payment.
The short answer? Not likely. While mortgage rates are expected to ease, home prices are projected to keep climbing in most areas – just at a slower, more normal pace. If you average the expert forecasts together, you’ll see prices are expected to go up roughly 3% next year, with most of them hitting somewhere in the 3 to 4% range. And that’s a much more typical and sustainable rise in prices (see graph below):
So don’t expect a sudden drop that’ll score you a big deal if you’re thinking of buying this year. While that may sound disappointing if you’re hoping prices will come down, refocus on this. It means you won’t have to deal with the steep increases we saw in recent years, and you’ll also likely see any home you do buy go up in value after you get the keys in hand. And that’s actually a good thing.
And if you’re wondering how it’s even possible prices are still rising, here’s your answer. It all comes down to supply and demand. Even though there are more homes for sale now than there were a year ago, it’s still not enough to keep up with all the buyers out there. As Redfin explains:
“Prices will rise at a pace similar to that of the second half of 2024 because we don’t expect there to be enough new inventory to meet demand.”
Keep in mind, though, the housing market is hyper-local. So, this will vary by area. Some markets will see even higher prices. And some may see prices level off or even dip a little if inventory is up in that area. In most places though, prices will continue to rise (as they usually do).
If you want to find out what’s happening where you live, you need to lean on an agent who can explain the latest trends and what they mean for your plans.
The housing market is always shifting, and 2025 will be no different. With rates likely to ease a bit and prices rising at a more normal and sustainable pace, it’s all about staying informed and making a plan that works for you.
Reach out to a local real estate pro to get the scoop on what’s happening in your area and advice on how to make your next move a smart one.
Source: Keeping Current Matters
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
Source: Keeping Current Matters
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.
