Dawn Block - Realtor

10/22/2026

Would you rather: move before the holidays, or wait until spring? 🏡

Both are real strategies, and they trade off in opposite directions.

Move now — less competition for the homes that are out there, sellers who are motivated rather than testing the market, and more room to negotiate. The tradeoff is a shorter runway and a move squeezed into a busy season.

Wait for spring — more listings, more choice, and better weather for everything from photos to moving day. The tradeoff is more buyers competing for the same homes, and prices that tend to firm up when they do.

There's no universally right answer here. It mostly comes down to whether your priority is selection or leverage.

Which way are you leaning? Let us know in the comments.

10/20/2026

October gives sellers less useful evening light every week. 🌇

Once the clocks change in most places, a 5:30 showing that felt bright and open in September can become a walkthrough in the dark. It's a small shift that changes a lot: buyers can't see the yard, the natural light you're selling doesn't show up, and rooms photograph — and feel — smaller.

A few things that help:

- Get your exterior photos taken on the next bright afternoon

- Turn on every light before a showing, and replace any bulbs that don't match the others

- Open the blinds before a daytime showing so the remaining natural light can do its job

- Light the walkway and the entry — the first ten seconds happen outside

- Add a lamp to any room that only has an overhead light

None of it costs much. The point is to adjust before the first dark showing catches you by surprise.

Call/text/email us at (847) 630-2121 or [email protected] if you have questions

10/17/2026

Dawn does her 10,000 steps!! DONE!

10/15/2026

If you've been weighing whether to keep the house and rent it out, it's worth hearing the other side: plenty of the time, selling is the clearer call.

You need equity. If the down payment on the next home depends on this one's proceeds, that usually settles it. Stretching to carry two mortgages is where this decision goes wrong most often.

The numbers don't work. Rent that doesn't cover the carrying costs, with no strong case for appreciation, is a monthly subsidy to a house you no longer live in.

The house needs work. Deferred maintenance, an aging roof, old systems. Tenants don't defer those costs — they surface them.

Your home sells well right now. A softer headline market doesn't mean your specific house is sitting.

You don't want the job. Being a landlord is ongoing work, not a one-time decision. Plenty of owners run the numbers, see a decent hold on paper, and sell anyway because they'd rather have a clean break and a simpler life.

Keeping the house isn't a free option. It just doesn't come with a monthly bill that makes the cost obvious.

Read the full article: https://dawnblock.myagent.site/sell-it-or-rent-it-out-how-to-decide-what-to-do-with-your-home-when-you-move/

10/15/2026

Even haunted houses deserve a little TLC! 👻🏡 A fresh coat of paint is one of the simplest ways to breathe new life into a space, boost curb appeal, and make a home feel a little less creepy and a lot more cozy. After all, the only thing that should be haunting your home this Halloween is the decor! 🎃

10/13/2026

Most owners weighing "sell it or rent it out" start with two numbers: what the house would sell for, and what it would rent for.

Those two numbers don't answer the question.

What matters is what each path nets you over the years you'd actually hold it. On the sell side, that's the proceeds after commission, closing costs, and whatever it takes to get the deal done — and then what that equity goes on to do next. On the rent side, it's the mortgage plus property taxes, insurance, a maintenance reserve, a vacancy allowance, and management fees if you won't be handling it yourself.

And a rental pays you in three ways that arrive at different speeds: monthly cash flow, the principal your tenant is quietly paying down, and appreciation over time. A house that barely breaks even each month can still be a strong hold. One that cash-flows can still be the wrong call if you need that equity for the next place.

Run it with real local numbers for your specific house. Rent, taxes, and appreciation vary enough from one neighborhood to the next to flip the answer.

Read the full article: https://dawnblock.myagent.site/sell-it-or-rent-it-out-how-to-decide-what-to-do-with-your-home-when-you-move/

10/12/2026

A little fall scenery with a whole lot of summer warmth! ☀️🍂

Taking advantage of this unseasonably beautiful day at Volkening Heritage Farm at Spring Valley. What a wonderful place to slow down, enjoy the outdoors, and appreciate what Schaumburg has to offer! ❤️

Sometimes the best afternoon is spent exploring right in your own community.

What’s your favorite Schaumburg spot to enjoy on a day like this? 👇


Dawn Block Century 21 Integra - Illinois
Village of Schaumburg, Illinois Government

10/09/2026

🎉 OUR NEXT TINBP-POWERED COMMUNITY NIGHT IS COMING! 🎉

We're bringing our community together again, and we couldn't be more excited!
Join The Ill Noise Business Playbook and Eastside Café - Coffee & W**e Bar on Friday, November 6, for an evening of connection, collaboration, and community! 💜

One of the things we love most about building TINBP is seeing the relationships that develop when people come together, support one another, and discover new opportunities.
And this Community Night is all about that! 🙌

✨ MEET OUR PARTICIPATING VENDORS!
📚 Lori Kirchheimer — Author
🦋 Lindsey Frank — The Butterfly Within, LLC
🎈 Blessed Events Parties-The Gift Of Giving
❤️ HomeWell Care Services - Crystal Lake, IL
🧘 Yin Yang Pilates & Yoga
🧁 All Sweets Catering
🌸 Ari's Nature Inspired

These incredible businesses and individuals are part of the community we're continuing to build, and we can't wait for you to meet them!

📅 Friday, November 6, 2026
🕔 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Eastside Café Coffee & W**e Bar
311 Barrington Ave., East Dundee, IL

Whether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, community supporter, or simply someone who enjoys meeting great people, YOU ARE WELCOME!

Come connect. Come discover. Come support one another.
Because when we build relationships, we create opportunities. 💙
Who's joining us November 6? 👇

10/09/2026

10/08/2026

Keeping your old house and renting it out sounds simple. It's manageable — but five things change the day a tenant moves in, and every one of them is easier to handle before than after.

🏦 Your lender — most primary-residence mortgages require you to move in and live there for a set period first. Confirm where you stand before you plan around it.

🛡️ Your insurance — a standard homeowner's policy doesn't cover a home rented out long-term, and a landlord policy generally runs about 25% more.

📋 Your HOA — rental caps, minimum lease terms, and approval processes are the reason some owners can't take this path at all.

🔑 Your tenant — screening, a proper lease, security deposit rules, and your state's and city's landlord-tenant law. This is the part that goes wrong when it's rushed.

⏰ Your time — a few hours a month in a quiet stretch, and whole days when something breaks or someone moves out. The 2 a.m. water heater call is real.

Nothing on that list is a reason not to do it. All of it is a reason to do it on purpose.

Read the full article: https://dawnblock.myagent.site/sell-it-or-rent-it-out-how-to-decide-what-to-do-with-your-home-when-you-move/