Anne Thompson, Elmhurst Real Estate

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Elmhurst, IL
Anne Thompson, Elmhurst Real Estate

Your Realtor in the Western Suburbs of Chicago Anne Thompson is a Broker Associate with .

Anne recognizes the changing market trends and adapts her business strategies to maximize her client's success. With her strong market knowledge and marketing expertise, Anne enjoys a high level of customer satisfaction.

03/30/2022

Picture this: your home is on the market and in the first 24 hours, we have 10 showing requests for the next day -- super exciting!

So, you spend the morning cleaning and decluttering, pack up the family and the dog, and get everyone out of the house for an afternoon packed with back-to-back showings.

By 5:00 p.m., you're wondering what's going on and if your home has sold yet!

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

➡️ I'll always keep you updated, even if we don't have any feedback. Because if we don't hear anything back from the agent who brought in your buyer, that *is* feedback. That means the buyer is probably going to pass -- or maybe they'll resurface in the future, but no news in this case is not necessarily good news.

➡️ If the buyers fell in love with your property and planned to make an offer, we'd hear from their agent asap. The truth is that some buyers just don't provide feedback, some agents don't provide feedback, and I won't always be able to close the loop.

➡️ Showing feedback isn't always instantaneous. Buyers usually book multiple showings in one day and it's a lot to digest. You're probably not going to get same-day feedback, unless a buyer is super interested and has a lot of questions.

If you've sold a home, did you have to wait to get feedback? Or did you hear from your buyers right away?

03/28/2022

Want to add instant value to your kitchen?

(I swear, this is an easy tip!)

Update your cabinet hardware. No, it's not going to add thousands of dollars to your sale price, but what it will do is give your kitchen a fresh and updated look and feel...and that might prevent the buyer from asking for a credit to update the space.

You can find simple, stylish cabinet hardware at Home Depot or Amazon, without spending an arm and a leg.

Tap the bookmark icon to save this post for later or share it with a friend who needs it! 💕

03/25/2022

MYTH: "It's a seller's market so I don't have to do that."

TRUTH: Although sellers might have the advantage right now with low inventory and high demand, if you want to get the best price for your home and make the most return on your investment, you are still going to have to check a few boxes to get your home ready for market.

Here are the five biggest turn-offs to buyers (and how to avoid them!):

🚩 Poor photography.

We live in a digital world, where most buyers' are experiencing your home for the first time online. Your first showings happen before anyone even sets foot in your home. Professional photography is a non-negotiable if you want to attract the right kind of buyers and generate real demand for your home.

🚩 Overpricing for the market.
Even if you think a buyer will pay $50k over asking price for your home (and it very well could happen, anything is possible!) pricing your home at market value is going to expose your property to the widest pool of buyers. In fact, setting a competitive price might even result in multiple offers, and a bidding war that helps you fetch more than asking price.

🚩 Weird smells.

One of the first things a buyer will notice when they step into your home is the way it smells. If you forget to take out the trash, or if your buyers are greeted with pet odors, they'll immediately move on. Although I do like a scented candle for ambiance, they can only hide so much! Keep windows open to let fresh air in and be sure to clean and take out the garbage regularly while your house is on the market.

🚩 Too much clutter.

I know you've heard this one before, but here's my tip: make your closets and cabinets look more spacious by taking half of everything inside them and pre-packing or putting them in storage. Your home will look roomier and buyers will be willing to pay more for all that

03/23/2022

Six home design finds that you can buy on Amazon:

As much as I love shopping local, there are times when the convenience of "add to cart" wins me over.

One of the perks of being a real estate agent is that when I'm staging my clients' homes, I have a lot of good excuses to shop for home decor.

Today, I'm sharing five of my favorite finds with you:

-Area rugs
-Cabinet hardware
-Bookshelf decor (vases, books, etc).
-Accent furniture (lamps, stools, side tables)
-Linens (cozy throw blankets, cloth napkins, dish towels)

What are your favorite home design finds from Amazon?

03/21/2022

📣 Home buyers, this one's for you.

Today I'm talking about what *not* to pay attention to next time you're at a home showing. It's easy to fall in love with a home when the living room that looks like a Pottery Barn catalog, but in competitive home buying market, we sometimes have to get creative to find your dream home.

During home showings, I advise my clients to focus on issues regarding structure, safety, and location -- and to overlook the following:

-Furniture and decor: the seller is taking it with them! It's fine to get ideas and inspiration, but homes always looks different when they're empty than they do when they're staged for sale.
-Paint colors: it's so easy to change the entire vibe of a room with a coat of paint. Don't be deterred by the seller's design preferences.
-Flooring: as long as the floor isn't buckling or warping (signs of water damage) this is another area that's easy to change.
-Outdated kitchens or bathrooms: some sellers skip renovations prior to sale because buyers want to come in and make their own updates. Don't be deterred by cabinet color or old appliances. You can make updates and choose your own favorite fixtures and finishes.
-Light fixtures: Pay attention to how much natural light a home gets -- but don't worry about dated light fixtures. You can easily upgrade these!

Questions about buying a home that needs a little TLC? I love to help my clients spot the hidden potential in a home. Drop me a DM or call me and I'd love to assist you!
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03/18/2022

Things no one tells you about homeownership part 3747: it's really hard to buy a couch! 🛋

Once you buy a new home, buying a sofa is going to feel like your second biggest decision.

Not only does your sofa shape the aesthetic of your living room, in a lot of cases it's a focal point that ties your space together.

Here are a few quick tips from apartmenttherapy.com for purchasing the best sofa for your space:

🛋 Pick the type of sofa you want: traditional, sectional, sleeper or loveseat.
🛋 Consider your lifestyle: how much time do you spend on your sofa? Is it primarily for relaxing or for hosting guests?
🛋 Know your budget: set a price range and stick to it -- don't forget to think about shipping and in-home delivery fees (and always ask about return policies!).
🛋 Select a sofa style and fabric: there are so many options, order plenty of fabric samples and understand the different styles to find the best fit for your space.
🛋 Measure your space....and (this is important) your entryway. You'd be surprised how many homes have tight stairways, narrow doors and low ceilings. Remember the infamous "PIVOT!" scene from Friends? Be sure either the depth or width of the sofa is smaller than the width of your doorway.

Tell me in the comments: where is your favorite place to shop for a sofa?

03/16/2022

Real talk: real estate can be unpredictable...for agents, for home buyers, and for home sellers.

If you're selling your home, last-minute showing requests can throw your schedule into chaos if you're unprepared.

Here are my three tips to make your life easier while your home is for sale.

1) Keep your home in showing-ready shape all the time.
It's harder than it sounds! At the end of each day, do a quick sweep through your home and make sure clothes and toys are hung up or put away, the sink is free of dishes and wipe down countertops and mirrors throughout your house.

2) Use woven or decorative baskets to hide clutter.
Stash throw blankets, unfolded laundry or kids' toys in decorative baskets and place them in closets or strategically throughout the house to resemble home decor.

3) Keep all of your "staging" props in one place.
Keep a plastic bin with staging props to help us highlight your home's best features. For example: if you have a huge fireplace, set out two wine glasses and a bottle of your favorite red on a tray on the coffee table. If you have a reading nook with a gorgeous view, use throw pillows and a cozy blanket to help the buyer picture their lifestyle in your home.

Here's a bonus tip: if you have nowhere to hide your clutter, use the washer or dryer to stash that clothes pile on your floor or the toys your kids didn't put away. It's unlikely that they're going to go through your laundry!

03/14/2022

It's hard to believe it's been two years since we all learned the word "pandemic" and had to set up virtual offices and classrooms in our homes!

The real estate market has certainly had some twists and turns since then, but as life returns to pre-pandemic normalcy a lot of people are wondering what to do with the pandemic amenities in their homes — from Zoom rooms to bulky exercise equipment.

With 69% of buyers prioritizing home offices in their home searches, it's safe to say that those Zoom backdrops are still important to homeowners.

Did you make any updates to your home during the pandemic? If so, what are you keeping around and what are you getting rid of?

03/11/2022

Spring is (almost!) in the air and I don't know about you, but I'm pretty over hibernating for the winter. Here are a few activities if you're looking to get out and enjoy this weekend!!

What's on your agenda this weekend? Tell me something you're looking forward to in the comments below!

03/09/2022

Read this before attending your home showings! ⬇️

DO: Take off your shoes!
If the seller provides protective booties, you can wear those instead.

DO: Arrive on time.
The market is competitive right now and you are probably not the only person scheduled to view a property. Arriving on time can give you a competitive advantage.

DO: Ask questions!
A showing is your time to get to know everything you need to know about a home. Write down your questions in advance of a showing (and I'll be prepared with a list of questions about the condition of the home, too).

DON'T: Talk about the home during the showing.
These days, you should assume that the sellers have cameras everywhere and can hear what you're saying. Keep a poker face and wait to discuss thoughts until you get in your car or leave the property.

DON'T: Use the bathroom.
Unless it's a true emergency, it's best not to use the bathroom while showing a home. Some sellers may not be comfortable with this, especially if it's vacant and has already been cleaned for new buyers.

DON'T: Bring kids, pets or extended family to showings.
It's best to limit initial showings only to the primary decision-makers. While kids should certainly be involved in the house-hunting process, bringing a crowd to showings can be distracting and chaotic -- especially in today's competitive market.

Comment below: did any of these tips surprise you?

03/07/2022

The most common mistake I see as a real estate agent:

Buyers confusing their home "wants" vs. home "needs."

Look, the market is competitive right now. Home buying is challenging, which is why it's so crucial to have an experienced agent by your side to serve as your advocate.

Some homeowners tend to confuse the amenities that they need in a home with the amenities that they want to have and as a result, have a much harder time finding a property.

So how do you know what is a want vs. need as you make your home wish list?

NEEDS are items you cannot live without under any circumstance. Of course, obvious items like plumbing and electricity fall under this category, but anything related to safety, accessibility and location should too. Also on the needs list? Things that are foundational, structural and cannot be altered or added. For example, certain number of bedrooms, a garage and proximity to public transportation would fall under "needs."

WANTS are the things you'd prefer to have in a home but would be willing to compromise on or get creative. For example: you might love high ceilings, exposed brick and a hot tub but would be willing to forgo them if you found a property that checked all of the other boxes.

Before you buy a home, consider whether you can remodel, or get creative to turn your new home into your dream home.

Questions? Drop me a message or call me anytime!

Address

Elmhurst, IL
60126

Website

https://www.chicagolandhomepro.com/

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