We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: setting the right listing price (the first time!) is one of the keys to faster market times and higher selling prices.

The proof is in the numbers. In 2017, Chicagoland homes that required one or more price changes sold on average for 89.7% of original list price in 138 days, whereas homes that did not require a price change sold for 97.5% of original list price in just 58 days, according to BrokerMetrics, LLC.

So, if you’re getting ready to put your home on the market, how can you be sure to land on the right asking price? That’s where a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) comes into play. Continue reading

Tax season is on the horizon and big changes are ahead – the new tax bill will go into effect on January 1, 2018. Depending on your individual situation, there may be a few things you can do now to prepare for those changes, including maximizing your 2017 tax deductions. Continue reading

1039 W. Altgeld

Have you ever walked into a store like Walmart and wondered why just about everything is priced ending in .99 instead of rounding up to the nearest dollar?

Of course, you have. It’s a strategy known as psychological pricing.

To most consumers, an item priced at $2.99 is more appealing than an item priced at $3.00. Even though there’s just a one cent difference, the brain processes them as much different values, and perceives $2.99 as the better deal.

A similar strategy has been used in the real estate industry for decades.

Why price a home at $500,000 when you can price it at a more attractive number like $499,900, or even $499,999, and potentially generate more interest from buyers?

But we’re not selling toothpaste here. Continue reading