richmmgmt

07/24/2026

The Dream Team Listing – How updating a vintage Englewood home added $167,000 vs. the wholesale offer on the table.

The property: A 1920s-era Englewood greystone. 23 years of ownership, deferred maintenance, original mechanical systems. Two wholesale cash offers in hand: $145,000.

The homeowner made one more call.

What our integrated team delivered:

Agent analysis: Pre-renovation comparable sales showed market potential of $270,000-$310,000 with strategic updates. Identified architectural features — original crown molding, hardwood floors, exposed brick — as premium marketing assets that wholesale buyers systematically discount.

General Contractor scope: $38,000 targeted renovation. Updated kitchen and bathrooms, exterior tuckpointing, new windows, full interior and exterior paint. Budget disciplined to avoid over-improvement beyond neighborhood comps.

HVAC upgrade: Failed R-410A system replaced with high-efficiency heat pump. $9,800 investment. Projected monthly utility savings of $190 disclosed to buyers. Converted from a liability into a featured selling point.

Results: Listed at $279,000. Final sale price: $312,000. Cash difference vs. wholesale offer: $167,000.

The RICHM Experience is not just a transaction. It is a wealth-building strategy.

If you have a vintage Chicago property and want to understand your true market potential before accepting any offer — contact us first.

Free consultation at www.richmmgmt.com
Richard Moody
"Let's Find Your Home"

07/23/2026

Structural Integrity – Why smart renovations beat DIY in Chicago's unpredictable climate.

Chicago's built environment presents specific challenges that most DIY guides and YouTube tutorials simply don't address. After years of working on Chicago's brick bungalows, greystones, and two-flats, here's what every homeowner and investor needs to understand.

Chicago-specific structural risks that DIY often misses:

Freeze-thaw cycle damage: Chicago experiences dozens of freeze-thaw cycles each winter. Improperly tuckpointed masonry absorbs moisture, freezes, expands, and causes progressive structural damage invisible to untrained eyes.

Soil movement: Chicago's clay-heavy soil shifts seasonally, causing foundation settlement that requires engineered solutions — not patchwork repairs.

Moisture infiltration: Chicago's combination of lake-effect humidity and extreme temperature variation demands specific v***r barrier and waterproofing solutions that differ from national standards.

Structural sequencing: Chicago two-flats and greystones have load-bearing configurations that require professional assessment before any wall removal or structural modification.

The pattern we see: DIY renovation errors in Chicago consistently cost 2-3x more to correct than the original professional quote.

RICHM MGMT includes experienced general contractors with deep Chicago residential renovation expertise. We protect your investment before, during, and after the transaction.

Free consultation at www.richmmgmt.com
Richard Moody
"Let's Find Your Home"

07/22/2026

Neighborhood Spotlight – Chicago's hottest micro-markets and what they mean for Englewood buyers and sellers.

The Chicago real estate market does not move uniformly. Understanding micro-market data is the difference between a good purchase and a wealth-building decision.

Current Chicago micro-market snapshot (2026):

Pilsen: $375K median home price, up 14% over 18 months. 18th Street corridor investment, expanded transit access, and sustained demand from South Loop migration are driving appreciation.

Logan Square: $465K median, consistent demand from multiple buyer demographics. Milwaukee Avenue commercial corridor continues to attract development capital.

Englewood: Active appreciation phase. New construction permits up 22% year-over-year. Community Development Corporations and institutional investors are increasing activity. Comparable trajectory to Pilsen's pre-appreciation window from 2018-2020.

Our analysis: Buyers entering the Englewood market in 2026 are positioned similarly to buyers who entered Pilsen in 2019. The capital migration pattern is consistent.

RICHM MGMT's community-first approach means we understand these trends at the street level — not just the data level.

Free market consultation at www.richmmgmt.com
Richard Moody
"Let's Find Your Home"

07/21/2026

The Perfect Fixer-Upper Playbook – How our real estate, contracting, and HVAC team turns a distressed property into maximum value.

Here's a real scenario from the Chicago market.

Property: Englewood brick bungalow, listed at $195K due to deferred maintenance and outdated systems. The neighborhood's 90-day comparable sales show ARV (After Repair Value) of $310,000-$340,000.

What each expert brought to the table:

The Real Estate Agent identified the under-market listing, ran comps, and structured the offer with inspection contingencies that protected the investment.

The General Contractor assessed the scope: tuckpointing, roof replacement, kitchen and bathroom updates, exterior refresh. Total: $42,000 strategic renovation budget. No over-improvement.

The HVAC Professional identified an original 1990s system running R-410A refrigerant. Full replacement with a high-efficiency heat pump: $9,500 investment. Estimated monthly savings for the future buyer: $180/month.

Combined result: $246,500 all-in investment against a $315,000-$340,000 resale or rental value.

This is the RICHM MGMT approach. We don't just find homes — we build wealth strategies.

Free consultation at www.richmmgmt.com
Richard Moody
"Let's Find Your Home"

07/20/2026

The 2026 Energy Shift – What Chicago homeowners need to know about the R-410A phase-out before listing.

If your Chicago home has an HVAC system installed before 2025, this directly affects your property's sale value and marketability.

The EPA's refrigerant transition is underway. R-410A refrigerant — the standard in most residential HVAC systems — is being phased out in favor of next-generation A2L refrigerants. What this means for Chicago sellers:

- Older R-410A systems are increasingly expensive to repair as refrigerant supply tightens
- Home inspectors and buyer agents are now flagging outdated HVAC systems during negotiations
- Chicago Energy Benchmarking requirements are expanding — energy efficiency matters more than ever

For buyers: An outdated HVAC system in a Chicago property is negotiating leverage. Ask for it before you close.

For sellers: Upgrading to a high-efficiency system before listing can increase your sale price by $8,000-$15,000 and reduce your days on market.

RICHM MGMT connects homeowners with licensed Chicago HVAC professionals as part of our pre-listing service. Let us help you maximize your home's value.

Free consultation at www.richmmgmt.com
Richard Moody
"Let's Find Your Home"

07/19/2026

ROI on Curb Appeal – What fixes actually sell Chicago greystones and bungalows.

In today's Chicago market, sellers who invest strategically in their home's exterior are seeing dramatic returns. Here's what our general contracting team recommends for maximum value before listing:

High-ROI improvements for Chicago homes:
- Exterior tuckpointing and masonry repair: 3-5x return on investment
- New front door replacement: Up to 188% ROI, immediate buyer appeal
- Professional landscaping and exterior lighting: 200%+ return
- New gutters, fascia, and soffit: Critical for Chicago inspection pass

What to avoid: Half-completed kitchen renovations or cosmetic bathroom updates without completing the full scope. These create more questions than value.

Our RICHM MGMT team includes experienced general contractors who specialize in Chicago brick homes. We assess your home before listing and tell you exactly what to fix — and what to leave alone.

Free consultation at www.richmmgmt.com
Richard Moody
"Let's Find Your Home"

07/19/2026

The "Healthy Rebalancing" market myth is costing Chicago buyers real equity.

Median home prices in Chicago are up 8.3% year-over-year. Available inventory in Englewood, Chatham, and Auburn Gresham is at a 10-year low. Buyers who entered the market 12 months ago are sitting on $40,000 or more in appreciation gains.

Waiting for prices to come down is not a strategy. Every month spent waiting is a month of equity building in someone else's name.

RICHM MGMT specializes in helping buyers move decisively in this market — especially first-time buyers and those navigating credit challenges. We offer free consultations with real answers in 24 hours, and we walk you through every step.

Learn more at www.richmmgmt.com
Richard Moody
"Let's Find Your Home"

09/30/2025

This is how I asked Britnee to marry me ...the 1st song

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/25/2022

Wallpaper has been used as early as 200 B.C. by the ancient Chinese, who glued rice paper to their walls.

These days though, wallpaper has mostly lost its popularity. Now a topic of contention among homeowners, it seems to be more of a negative than a positive for many, but it all comes down to personal taste. Do you like wallpaper or would you rather avoid it at all costs?
Richard Moody
www.richmmgmt.com
"Let's Find Your Home"