Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: Realty segment with 1st Choice Realty Pros: 10 Tips for home sellers

Summary

In this conversation, Chris and Kaitlin welcome back Lisa and Lydia from 1st Choice Realty Pros to discuss essential tips for home sellers in the mid-Illinois area. They cover various topics, including the importance of first impressions, decluttering, minor repairs, staging, and understanding market conditions. The discussion emphasizes the need for sellers to prepare their homes effectively to attract potential buyers and achieve the best sale price. They share practical advice on how to enhance curb appeal, depersonalize spaces, and gather necessary documents, ultimately guiding sellers on when and how to contact a realtor for maximum advantage.

Takeaways

• First impressions are crucial when selling a home.
• Curb appeal can significantly impact buyer perception.
• Decluttering should include both the inside and outside of the home.
• Minor repairs can prevent issues during inspections.
• Neutral colors are more appealing to potential buyers.
• Staging can enhance the attractiveness of key rooms.
• Gathering documents about the home can reassure buyers.
• Timing the market can influence selling success.
• A well-researched pricing strategy is essential for sellers.
• Contacting a realtor early can provide valuable guidance.

https://1stchoicerealtypros.com/

www.bigdogcc.com

Produced by Big Dog Media group with Big Dog Business Coaching

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:00

Welcome to Design and Building Mid-Ellinois, one home at a time with Big Dog Construction.

SPEAKER_09 0:04

The podcast you didn't know you needed.

SPEAKER_05 0:06

It's Chris Hartzuck and Caitlin Morgini. Join us as we explore the stories, expertise, and projects shaping the future right here in Mid-Ellinois.

SPEAKER_09 0:14

Whether you're planning to build, curious about the latest trends, or just love innovative ideas, we've got insights and inspiration coming your way.

SPEAKER_07 0:22

And some laughs too.

SPEAKER_05 0:23

Let's go.

unknown 0:24

Big dog!

SPEAKER_07 0:25

Hey there, I'm Lisa Miller, managing broker and owner of First Choice Realty Pros. We don't just help you find a house, we help you discover home. My team and I are passionate about taking care of your needs, making the process smooth, and ensuring you get the personalized attention you deserve. Ready for the next step? Call us at 217-825-3999. With First Choice Realty Pros, you've got a team that's got your back.

SPEAKER_05 0:56

Hey, welcome back to Designing Building Mid-Illinois One Home at a Time, the podcast where we talk practical reminding tips, construction insights, and do-it-yourself projects that make your homework better for you. I'm your host, Chris with Caitlin for Janie Trader. And today's episode, Lisa Miller, owner of First Choice Realty Pros. She's now our 10x partner for the realtor segment of Designing Building Middle. Selling and buying houses one house at a time.

SPEAKER_09 1:23

Oh let's go.

SPEAKER_05 1:24

So today, with her, with Lisa, we also have Lydia on today's segment. And this is what I'm excited about partnering with you guys, having you in here, because we are going to educate everyone in the Mid-Illinois area and be honest. So even if they're outside of our range and they're listening to us, which we know they do, they can take the nuggets of advice that we're going to get from you two and put it in their day-to-day applications and selling or buying their home in their area. Right. That's the plan. So today we're going to talk about something that's near and dear to Lisa's heart, which is how a seller can get ready to sell their home, get it on the market. We've got 10 10 little nuggets that we're going to go through today on this. So, and on that, so one of the first things that I know is first impression is everything. Oh yeah. Lydia, do you ever have that? Like if you pull up to a house and it's like overgrown and the yard's shaggy. 100%.

SPEAKER_08 2:19

Your landscaping isn't good, then that's that's the first thing you see. The curb appeal. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 2:24

Curb appeal. Exactly. Thank you. So the curb appeal is that first impression, mate. So what are a couple things that a somebody who's wanting to sell their home can do to improve their curb appeal but not break the bank?

SPEAKER_09 2:35

Well, people think that they declutter it's only on the inside. You got to declutter on the outside.

SPEAKER_05 2:42

I mean, we can't have that lawnmower sitting out there with the tablecloth draped over it with cinder blocks sitting on top of it.

SPEAKER_09 2:47

No.

SPEAKER_05 2:48

We've seen a few of those. Lydia's face. Yeah. For the people listening, yeah, Lydia's face was set at all.

SPEAKER_09 2:54

Yeah. No. You gotta have fresh paint on the steps. Paint your door. Easy. It doesn't take much. Clean the threshold. People don't think about that. I look at that.

SPEAKER_06 3:07

Yes. Yes. You see how it's the details.

SPEAKER_09 3:09

Now you can come to my house and mine's dirty, but I'm not trying to sell my house.

SPEAKER_06 3:13

Amen. I love you.

SPEAKER_09 3:14

Not yet. So but when I go, because somebody's trying to sell their house, I want that threshold clean. I want the door fresh. I want something pretty on the door. Because that's how you're opening into maybe what you're seeing for the first impression. What do you I want it to be home? Right. I want them to feel at home. Yes. When they when they pull up, I can see myself living there. So that's what you want them to.

SPEAKER_05 3:41

Well, would it would it also be too that if if someone sees a home that's overgrown or bushes aren't trimmed or a branch that's rubbing on the roof and stuff.

SPEAKER_08 3:49

It's not taken care of.

SPEAKER_05 3:50

It's not taken care of. And or they see it like if I buy this, I've got to do that. I have to immediately work on it to make my home be what I want it to be, my home. So is it something also that it's really, I mean, even if you don't own a pressure washer, can you pressure wash sidewalks? Absolutely. Get that if they're on the north side of the house and they're all like black and not people don't know how bad they look until they fresh wash pressure wash that first swipe.

SPEAKER_09 4:17

It's very satisfying. Very satisfying. You live there every day and you drive in and out and you're not paying one of the item attention. We've said it so many times, haven't we? You're not looking at that, but the first time home buyer or a home buyer, yeah, they're gonna pull up and then just they're gonna be like, look at this. They didn't dig near the outside, it probably didn't dig into the inside. That's what I'm saying. They're not digging during the outside once the inside.

SPEAKER_05 4:44

Yeah. Or let me ask you this, and we're not talking about buyers, but if if a buyer sees that, potential buyer sees that, do they feel like, hmm, I can five grand off my offering. Oh, absolutely.

SPEAKER_09 4:57

I didn't think about that. That's it.

SPEAKER_05 4:58

So sellers, sellers, beware. Beware that if you don't take a little bit of pride in the beginning of even even if, and we know what happens, someone has the shaggy yard all the time, or the bushes aren't trim, or the branch on the roof, they're gonna sell it, take care of it. Do it then. Even if you haven't done it for years, do it then. And just to that's a good advice for a seller.

SPEAKER_09 5:18

Well, it's do it. You're hiring the real estate agent, and if they're going in and they're saying, which we would, have that grass mode, plant flowers, paint the door, put outlet covers on if you don't have GFCIs. We go through. We're not just doing that to to be natty. We are doing it to get top price. Top price. Because a buyer, like you said, will walk through and say, What can I get reduced? Because what are they trying to do? Get the best deal for them. Correct. And what's the seller trying to do? Give the best deal. Yeah, they want the most for their house.

SPEAKER_06 5:59

Sure.

SPEAKER_09 6:00

We can help with that if they will listen and they will do those things.

SPEAKER_05 6:05

Well, that's good because moving on to number two, we're gonna kind of shift inside a little bit, decluttering and the depersonalizing. Someone wants to depersonalize their home that they've been living in maybe their whole life. Lydia?

SPEAKER_08 6:18

I want to go on this with you because I just went to a house the other day and we're gonna put it on the market. And the first thing she said is, Do I have to take down all my family pictures? I don't think so, in my mind, because whenever someone's whenever you're walking into a house to see, like, I'm gonna let you have my family pictures up, like this is what it's gonna look like. Somebody like that.

SPEAKER_03 6:40

Sure.

SPEAKER_08 6:40

Now, if you don't want a million pictures that you have all over the walls, that's different. But I don't think they need to take down every single family picture that they have up because they're still living there. They've lived there. It is a lived-in home. But I think you disagree. No, I I disagree. You do disagree.

SPEAKER_05 6:57

I'm gonna tell you what I see. What I see when I walk in and have a whole wall full of pictures is I see all those nail holes I have to fill. That's what I mean.

SPEAKER_08 7:06

I mean they don't need to leave up that much. But like she was asking about like all the little pictures she has on her like a shelf or something. Yes. Now she had two pictures hanging up on the wall. She I she asked why I need to take those down. I said, you need to see what what it looks like behind.

SPEAKER_05 7:20

If it's not bad, fresh, bright paint and everything else is faded. Yeah, I'll leave them up.

SPEAKER_09 7:24

That's different. But HGTV says declutter and get all these family pictures off because you want that buyer to walk in and you want them to see themselves in the home else and not go, oh, this is your home.

SPEAKER_05 7:41

I don't want to feel creepy walking into your family pictures and seeing like it's like, oh my gosh, there's the kitchen that you had whatever here. I but the flip is well, I want my memories like that here. Exactly.

SPEAKER_08 7:52

It goes back and forth. I've got it.

SPEAKER_05 7:54

You don't know.

SPEAKER_08 7:54

I think it depends on the body.

SPEAKER_09 7:58

Because if I'm going now, my house, you walk in, it's messy, okay? For kids you live there, okay? But if I'm going to look at a house, I don't want to see that there's kids living there. Okay, like because I want it to look even if there is pristine. Yes. Yeah. And I know that's weird and doesn't make sense. I don't know why I'm like that. But I know that Pride Chris, my Chris, would be more like he. Yeah. Yeah. Everybody's different.

SPEAKER_05 8:26

But at first choice Realty Pros, you guys are getting to know your buyers and what they're wanting and what their vibe is, what their feel is, what they're looking for. And if they're first-time home buyers, they may not know what a home should feel like. So you, Lydia, would go in and say, leave up the pictures. But Lisa may come and say, Hey, I've got a buyer that's looking for let's take these down, put them away for this walkthrough. Is that yeah? Yeah, a fair assessment.

SPEAKER_08 8:55

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 8:56

And so again, just another reason why people need to go with first choice reality pros because you are going to get to know your buyers. So for the sellers that we're talking about today, you guys are going to have their best interest in mind when you're bringing potential buyers through. And trust you, let them trust you when you say, take these down.

SPEAKER_09 9:15

But I do like some of their like when I bought my house from these people, they I loved how they had it set up and loved it.

SPEAKER_03 9:24

Was it staged?

SPEAKER_09 9:25

No, I mean they but they lived there. But they were like artists, so they're really it looked really awesome. But I would have never thought to set my house up that way had I not gone and seen how they had it. So I agree with you. Like you said, there's both on each other. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_05 9:42

And you guys will know when you're when you're bringing someone through.

SPEAKER_09 9:45

When I brought a buyer through the one in Lichfield and their family pictures were all up the steps. And there was military in the family. The guy that bought was from the military. And oh, now he's connected with the sellers he's never met. And and now there's, I have a connection with them. And I like this and I like that. And it it helps.

SPEAKER_05 10:09

Positive note to go through. I like that.

SPEAKER_09 10:11

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 10:12

What about in closets? What should sellers do with their closets?

SPEAKER_09 10:16

Declutter. Hide their shoes.

SPEAKER_05 10:18

Yeah, if it's Caitlin walking the shoes. Right there. She's walking out with a new cloud. I'll take this house. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 10:24

Now for not buying the house from buying the shoes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 10:26

That's right. That's right. Well, would they also to be able to, like you said, Lydia, declutter them so that they'll show really the size of those closets and how much ample storage can be in those spaces. Yes. Because closets can kind of sometimes be deceiving.

SPEAKER_09 10:40

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 10:40

Or people will use the closets to shiver them again.

SPEAKER_09 10:45

And please don't open this door. There's a cycle.

SPEAKER_05 10:47

Don't close it. Do not open it up.

SPEAKER_09 10:48

I've never done that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 10:50

Or the stove, put all the dirty dishes in the stove and close it. I used to do that on dates.

SPEAKER_09 10:54

Okay, that's a really good idea. I've never thought about that. I've never thought about that in my life.

SPEAKER_05 10:59

So that's me. When I used to date and I bring girls back to my house, I would have all the dirty dishes in the oven. I came clean to my first life home.

SPEAKER_09 11:06

Oh my Chris, that's smart. I could have done that. I don't mean years. But note to sellers. Don't turn on turn on the oven.

SPEAKER_05 11:14

Don't open.

SPEAKER_09 11:15

No.

SPEAKER_05 11:15

Oh.

SPEAKER_09 11:16

Sorry. Joe, do that. Yeah, don't do it. Because the buyer's gonna open every drawer, every door, every closet. Yeah. So if you don't want them looking at your mess, they don't have a mess.

SPEAKER_05 11:31

That's right. Exactly. That's good advice for sellers. Yeah. What about number three on our list of 10 would be minor repairs and maintenance. What would you guys recommend would be good minor repairs and maintenance for a seller to do?

SPEAKER_09 11:45

Go through the house and find anything that's electrical.

SPEAKER_05 11:49

Well, it's the covers, yeah.

SPEAKER_09 11:50

Covers and any wires that it's exposed. They might have the wire nuts on them, but they gotta be in a box and they gotta have a cover. Yep. And those are like 79 cent fixes. Doesn't add to the list of things on an inspection report. Yeah, it's who can minimize that inspection report to only have 10 things instead of 25 things because most of them are GFCIs or a cover plate.

SPEAKER_06 12:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_09 12:15

Oh my, doesn't the list look less scary?

SPEAKER_05 12:18

Or you you two are out there helping the potential sellers to like, hey, you will kind of do a pre-list. Hey, if you do this, this, this, and this, it'll look so much better on the inspection list.

SPEAKER_06 12:29

Yep.

SPEAKER_05 12:29

Or and look better to potential buyers coming through and not have to worry about that. Yep. Leaking faucets, running toilets.

SPEAKER_09 12:35

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 12:35

Don't you don't be walking through and the the buyer hears, shh, shh, which is the water in the toilet filling up the tank.

SPEAKER_09 12:41

They're like, oh, we got a problem right here. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What's their water bill? Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 12:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 12:45

What about that's all yeah. Yeah. I didn't even think of that. They're gonna immediately be thinking of that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 12:50

Yeah. Patching holes in walls or just yeah, scuff marks.

SPEAKER_09 12:56

Because people will say, Do I need to repaint everything? Do I need to put in new carpet? Only if it is terribly scuffed up do you need new paint. And only if it's pet stained carpets, just destroyed floors. Because if you put carpet, they want hardwood. You have hardwood, they want carpet. So don't do it just to do it. You can always give a carpet allowance. You can things.

SPEAKER_05 13:22

Carpet allowance. Expand upon that.

SPEAKER_09 13:24

Carpet allowance is they can they say, well, well, we know that this needs to have new carpet, so we will give you $1,000 or whatever, just the size of the room to side.

SPEAKER_05 13:35

You mean at closing? Yes.

SPEAKER_09 13:36

At closing. Yep. Okay. They'll give it back to them. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 13:39

So if the house is listed at $100,000, the buyer offers $100,000 and they have a $1,000 carpet allowance at closing, that that buyer is going to get $1,000 at closing to apply for which carpet.

SPEAKER_09 13:52

Yes. If the lender will approve. Yeah. Depending on the loan.

SPEAKER_05 13:56

Well, as I say, yeah. Some if it's FHA or stuff like that, sometimes it may the lender may be like, okay, you need to have a signed contract with a flooring company that this flooring is going in upon closing.

SPEAKER_09 14:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 14:07

And they have 30 days to get the flooring.

SPEAKER_09 14:09

Yes. It could be escrowed until the time.

SPEAKER_05 14:12

Exactly.

SPEAKER_09 14:13

A lot of moving parts.

SPEAKER_05 14:14

There is I think you guys are on top of it.

SPEAKER_09 14:16

I do too.

SPEAKER_05 14:17

You're on top of that moving part. So one other thing would be make sure everything works. Oh, yes. All the light fixtures, switches, that they're working.

SPEAKER_09 14:26

The plugins. One of the things I always say, if if there's a switch and it's not working, get it fixed. Anything that's not working, that's supposed to be or put a blank cover. Truly. Oh yeah. Truly.

SPEAKER_05 14:38

We'll switch out with a blank cover on it.

SPEAKER_09 14:39

Yeah. Because if you have a garbage disposal and it doesn't work and you know that it doesn't work and you say, hey, Lisa, we do because I'll ask this question. Do you have a garbage disposal? Yes. Does it work? No. Well, but you don't have a garbage disposal. Are you going to actually put one in or not? Because if they open up the cabinet and they see it, guess what? The buyer wants it. So if it's not there, they don't want it. Exactly. It needs to be working always.

SPEAKER_05 15:05

Well, you kind of you kind of touch on this a little bit, but neutralizing color schemes and decor. What's what's your advice on that?

SPEAKER_09 15:12

Just keep it bright and airy. Yes. I don't know. Not dark and drab.

SPEAKER_05 15:19

What if someone's got a very vibrant accent wall, like a bright red accent wall?

SPEAKER_09 15:27

I've sold houses with bright red carpet before. And and that is the talking point. Oh, it's the house with the red carpet.

SPEAKER_05 15:34

This this accent wall is not a talking point.

SPEAKER_09 15:36

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 15:36

No, it's tell your seller.

SPEAKER_09 15:40

Paint that.

SPEAKER_05 15:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_09 15:41

Please paint that.

SPEAKER_05 15:42

Gotcha. A neutral neutral color.

SPEAKER_09 15:44

Yes. Neutral color. Yeah. And they love and you have to be so careful because people hurt your feelings. They love that orange. Pink. They're like, I love that wall. Well, the buyer won't.

SPEAKER_05 15:58

Well, is it say how would you I'm I'm the seller, I'm the potential seller. How would you I love role-playing? I do too. How would you walk me through that? I have an obnoxiously orange with pink striped wall behind me.

SPEAKER_09 16:14

I am so glad, Chris, that you love that wall.

SPEAKER_05 16:17

Oh, I do. I love it.

SPEAKER_09 16:18

I am glad. But buyers are not going to love it.

SPEAKER_05 16:22

I love it. There's gonna be other people, Lisa, that love this wall. I know they will.

SPEAKER_09 16:26

One out of ten if we're lucky. But we definitely dice, go to Vegas. I can't even say that. Go to Vegas, baby. Best bang for your buck here. If you're wanting that first impression to be the first thing, then we gotta we gotta paint that wall.

SPEAKER_05 16:46

Okay, so I'm trusting you, Lisa, because I've I've I've heard your reputation. You've sold hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of houses in your short period of doing this. All right, I'll paint, I'll paint it. All right, thank you. I appreciate you walking through the show.

SPEAKER_09 16:59

And if they want a pink wall, I'll come back and paint it pink.

SPEAKER_05 17:02

Well, there you go. The buyer or or the buyer decides they want that wall painted, that color I'll be.

SPEAKER_09 17:08

But we've talked about it, and Tamra Day has talked about it about how colors affect your mood and what you think. So that's maybe something else you tell them. Like this is research thing, man. Like a pink and orange wall is gonna not produce the body. I've been enhanced every room you walked into had a vibrant color on the wall. And it was like every time you're gonna be able to do it. So it's an epileptic seizure, walk into a room to be like, whoa, this is overstimulating. This is red.

SPEAKER_05 17:41

So can so on the neutralizing color schemes and decor, what would you say about decor? It kind of goes back to the decluttering and depersonalizing the space, but what about decor? Can it be what would you recommend?

SPEAKER_09 17:54

Like oversized furniture, things like that. That's where my mind's going to be. Sure, sure. Oversized furniture is going to dwarf the room. So if you want somebody to think your room is bigger, then we need to do something. Get rid of some of your furniture, move some things into storage, and and just kind of downsize that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 18:19

I was just gonna say, yeah. Yeah, it's staging those key rooms, focusing on that living room or the kitchen and the primary bedroom.

SPEAKER_09 18:25

Yeah. When I stage, I put white curtains up everywhere.

SPEAKER_05 18:27

You know people are brighter.

SPEAKER_09 18:30

Why why are you taking down my curtains? Because I want whites. You want it to be bright. And you want to keep the windows open.

SPEAKER_05 18:36

So wait a minute, let's talk about this. So so you said you put white curtains up.

SPEAKER_09 18:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 18:39

So is that something that you do as a service? What how walk us through that?

SPEAKER_09 18:44

I have done staging. Okay. And I I just say it's low-key staging. I am not sure.

SPEAKER_05 18:49

You know what to look for, what buyers are looking for today.

SPEAKER_09 18:52

Yeah, this is not designer New York, okay? This is hometown Carlton Building.

SPEAKER_05 18:56

Tamor Day Bargain made it.

SPEAKER_09 18:57

No, no, not that. But I can bring, I've got furniture and I've got curtains and pictures and things that can help emphasize a room. And have clients say, or are just people, they'll say, Lisa, I have seen your listing and I always know that it's yours because of the way that it's staged. And I'll say, is that a good thing? Oh, yes, it is a good thing. Real too good. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 19:20

They like what about like adding fresh cut flowers and little cozy elements and stuff.

SPEAKER_09 19:25

I do the flowers and I'm just going to do that. Excellent.

SPEAKER_05 19:28

Well, that that kind of go now that we've got it staged and so forth, we've we've touched on it about the odor control and the ambiance. Not ambience. That's what you write into the hospital. The ambiance.

SPEAKER_09 19:39

Or it's it is also medication. I was gonna say ambience is that's ambient. Oh, ambient.

SPEAKER_05 19:43

Ambiance or ambient ambient that helps you sleep.

SPEAKER_09 19:47

I'm joking. I know you don't.

SPEAKER_05 19:49

So yeah, we we touched about on this, but odor control what and the ambiance. What that's that could turn a buyer off.

SPEAKER_08 19:56

Oh I just walked into the house before we came here. And pine salt. All I could smell was cleaner. And then as we kept walking, I'm like, no, I I don't just smell cleaner. I smell like animal pee.

SPEAKER_06 20:10

Gotcha.

SPEAKER_08 20:11

All I could smell. And you don't want to cover it up because it's gonna be it's going to come out. Buyers are going to be able to smell it whenever they walk in. And when they keep walking in, they're gonna smell it somewhere. You don't want to cover up the smells. You want to make sure you get the smell out. Like for real, clean it. Yes. Yeah. Odaban is good for that.

SPEAKER_09 20:29

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 20:29

Odoman is a good cleaner deodorizer.

unknown 20:32

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 20:33

Not just an odor cover-up.

SPEAKER_09 20:34

Yes. Yeah. Yeah. People are allergic to animals. I am one of those. I have I'm allergic to dander.

SPEAKER_05 20:42

But she's sitting here in the big dog showroom.

SPEAKER_09 20:44

I am. And my nose is running. No.

SPEAKER_05 20:47

So Kleenex snob crags over cheer.

SPEAKER_09 20:52

So if they see the cat, it is kind of a turn off fire. Yes. Because or it or dog. Because what do they think? I've got to change out the carpeting. Pee and poop all in the house, scratch marks on the doors. Yeah. The spells. Scratch marks. That's a big one. I've been through a lot of all this carpet. If it's full of carpet, I gotta change out all this or I'm gonna be in allergic mess. Then they start calculating, and then you wonder why your offer isn't for what you thought, because they've already calculated what they're gonna have to do. So that's a big deal. And and I know people love their pets, and I'm glad they love their pets.

SPEAKER_06 21:29

Yes.

SPEAKER_09 21:30

Other people don't love their pets. That's very, very true. Yeah. Well, and and so I say that sincerely. I I Oh I know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 21:37

So we've we've walked, it's just Caitlin's phone going off. Everyone else has their silent.

SPEAKER_09 21:42

Because the cat owner speaks.

SPEAKER_08 21:46

Probably in trouble.

SPEAKER_05 21:47

Yeah. So we've we've gone through one through six, which is really having the seller get their home ready and what they can do, small things to get it going. But another thing, number seven, would be gathering documents. What type of documents would a seller want to have? Have for a potential buyer, Lydia?

SPEAKER_08 22:02

Uh biggest thing is the ages of everything. As soon as a buyer walks into the house, they're gonna want to know what's the age of the roof, age fact, the appliances, everything they want to know because they want to know if they have to replace that. If they've got to put on a new roof in a year, that's gonna change the pr price of what they're offering. 100%. Dungeons on all of that.

SPEAKER_05 22:21

Records of re renovations and remodeling or new windows they installed. Yeah, exactly. My Hawaii house or yes, Oklahoma, anyway.

SPEAKER_09 22:30

Their dining room table was full of booklets. They had a a big book that had everything they had done to the house 25 years that they've lived there.

SPEAKER_06 22:41

Love it.

SPEAKER_09 22:41

Who did it, what kind of wood was put down, what kind of flooring, what kind of carpet, what kind of paint was used on the walls, where they got it. Take note settlers. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_05 22:50

This is gold right here.

SPEAKER_09 22:51

If a buyer walks in and they see that, they're like This home's taken care of. This home is. Oh, I don't want to do that 100%. I can't.

SPEAKER_05 22:58

And like buying a used car. If you see the oil change record that they've got every time the oil was changed to maintenance, then you're like, Absolutely, that's a good car. I want to invest in that same way.

SPEAKER_09 23:06

And they didn't stop there. They had another booklet that had every plant, every flower, every bush, every tree that they planted out in the yard. What kind of fertilizer that they used. Oh, CZ. Oh no. That we sold in six days. So I mean and why is because did everything the way it was supposed to be. It was supposed to be done that way.

SPEAKER_05 23:30

Would would sellers, would it help buyers if sellers would pull together like utility cost?

SPEAKER_08 23:36

Absolutely. Utility cost is a big one.

SPEAKER_05 23:38

Okay. Water bills are pretty stable. That's basically.

SPEAKER_09 23:41

Well it depends on do you have a family of 10 or a family of two?

SPEAKER_05 23:44

Or a big one about out outside, but between the meter and the house. Yes. Or maybe a small leak. Yes. Yeah, and and exactly the gas and electric, what's what's the what's the heating cost in this? That helps the potential buyer know how the insulation is in that home. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 23:57

And what we tell buyers when they buy a house and get their inspections, take that inspection. This is what I told your son. Yes. Take that inspection book. Keep it. And when you're doing things to the house, write it in there. If there's something that was flagged in that inspection, write the date that it was done. And then keep adding to that and then have that in the next five to ten years and have that link. Then you'll like the realtor mom thing there. Yeah, it is. That's a realtor mom thing. Well, it makes my job easier when you call me again.

SPEAKER_05 24:28

Yeah, that's right. Yeah. Well, number eight on that would be timing, timing and market conditions. What should a seller be looking at for timing and market conditions? I mean, how would you advise someone on that, a seller, a potential seller?

SPEAKER_08 24:43

Do you have anything? Are you mean you go? Okay. Because there's certain times of the year that to buy. Like, I mean, it's coming. It's coming up.

SPEAKER_05 24:51

Has an to sell or not sell?

SPEAKER_08 24:53

Spring to sell. I feel like spring is a very big time to sell. Do you agree or disagree?

SPEAKER_09 24:59

Oh no, I agree. It was funny when 2020 hit, COVID. Yeah. All that.

SPEAKER_06 25:03

Changed everything.

SPEAKER_09 25:03

Well, and what did it have to do with the house? I I don't know, being sick and selling houses. So I don't know. But anyway, it was like November, December, January would be your soul months. Yeah. Not during 20, 21, 22, 23. I mean winter, everything is a good time to sell. It's a good time to sell.

SPEAKER_05 25:25

And that's that 10x mindset. Every time's a good time to sell.

SPEAKER_09 25:29

If you are prepared as a seller, anytime is a good time to sell.

SPEAKER_05 25:34

That's that's good. That's good advice to know. Yeah. Definitely. But market conditions, like 2008 was the crash. Yeah, yes. No one knew it was coming. Well, there's five people that knew it was coming. But and you can't predict those things. But as as listing agents and owning the the agency, are there market conditions that you kind of are attuned to? Like, uh let's let's wait, let's happen in this war in Iran. Let's see what happened with this. Do you do you does that play anything affect here?

SPEAKER_09 26:04

I personally try not to let that interfere with how I'm going to interact with your sellers.

SPEAKER_05 26:11

Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_09 26:12

I I'm not going to say, oh my goodness, this is not no. I look at what the interest rates are doing, but I don't let that set me either because we can always refi. So we're not going to be able to do that. We're going to stay. Yes. I'm going to find a positive service above selling. That's right.

SPEAKER_05 26:28

That's right. Always. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_09 26:30

So a seller who's getting ready to sell and says, hey, what's the market doing? What what are the prices doing? We're we're kind of we're kind of plateauing here. We're not at everybody's going after everything. It's taking a little more. The seller has to put in a little more of prepare. Of what we were just talking about.

SPEAKER_05 26:49

I've heard you have a seller's market and a buyer's market.

SPEAKER_09 26:52

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 26:52

And it flip-flops.

SPEAKER_09 26:54

Yep. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 26:54

Where are we at right now?

SPEAKER_09 26:56

It's pretty even.

SPEAKER_05 26:58

Which is which is good. Yeah. But your inventory gets lower.

SPEAKER_09 27:01

Inventory is for the state of Illinois. Imagery is so.

SPEAKER_05 27:04

Oh sorry. Same. Did I say Illinois sucks out loud?

SPEAKER_09 27:12

It's not like it's a good idea. Keep that in, Ryan, please. Not a lot of houses out there. Yeah. Right now we've got more buyers. I got buyers looking for houses. For sellers. Some it's a little bit maybe different. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 27:24

In our area, maybe it's more to the seller's market. Absolutely. Okay.

SPEAKER_09 27:29

Yeah. We need more houses. We need more houses. But but buyers are being more picky. Yeah. So is it is it the seller's market? Is it because they're younger than original? It's because interest it is higher. Yes. Okay. To me and you, probably. Now I'm not saying your age or my age, but interest is pretty much normal. But stack it back in 21, 22, it was two to six percent. People were like, oh my gosh, you could get more time.

SPEAKER_05 27:59

Yeah, they were stimulating the market.

SPEAKER_09 28:00

Yeah, they were. And so we're not there.

SPEAKER_05 28:03

But there is they raised it to stabilize the the the market. Yes.

SPEAKER_09 28:09

Well, how can we get any interest on our money in the bank if we're not making any interest on when you're selling stuff?

SPEAKER_05 28:15

So invest in card-owned capital. I said it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 28:19

Yeah. So it's like you just have to don't get caught up in all of the details. Let us walk you through those details.

SPEAKER_05 28:29

Do you worry about competing listings in the area? When a seller, when you're when someone's talking about selling their home, do you worry about a home that's on the market down the block? Do you worry about that?

SPEAKER_08 28:40

What do you mean, worry about it? Like that home's gonna sell before. Well, I'd have to do that. Well, we compare. We do a CMA. Okay. And we compare.

SPEAKER_05 28:58

Right. Yeah. All right. I'm I'm anger. Tell me what I we need the acronyms called out. What is it?

SPEAKER_08 29:03

You said CMA. Oh, comparative market analysis. Okay. Comparative market analysis. Okay.

SPEAKER_05 29:07

That's and that's what, again, we do that. We educate. If you haven't figured out yet, we educate our listeners on anything that we want to talk about. We don't want to leave them oblivious to what Yeah, what's CMA? I don't know. I don't know.

SPEAKER_09 29:20

Well, I had a lady, she wanted to put her house on the market and she was looking and because this other house, but it was in a subdivision, was listed at a certain amount. She was like, Well, I know my house is better than that house. And but it's not in a it's not in a subdivision. So you've got that. But where's your house located? You can't do apples to apples. You can't you can't look at something and say, Well, that's just like mine when it's not because it's not located in the same way. It's not in the same location. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 29:55

So we'll roll it, rolling right into the CMA. Number nine is talking about pricing strategy. So Lydia, you want to talk about that a little bit about pricing strategy. When a seller comes to you, what can I list my home for?

SPEAKER_08 30:07

I just did one the other day. So CMA, I mean, that's a big thing that we do. We walk through, kind of see how many bed, bath they have, what their kitchen looks like. Kitchen is a big deal. Square footage, how big it is, what their yard's like, how many uh spots do they have in their garage? Do they have a shed? What all comes with their house? And then once I'm done doing a walkthrough, we compare. We compare to other houses in the neighborhood. How many bedrooms, how many baths, sure what it's compared to and what they have it listed as. And like you said, what's out there? They might have a fence and the other house might not. And what's out there, what has sold in the past six months, what the price was, it was listed at.

SPEAKER_09 30:45

How far out do I have to go to look? Yeah. Maybe there hasn't been anything sell in that area for a while. And I have to go farther out, which that hurt. I mean, it hurts a little bit because appraisers don't they only go so far when they're looking for those.

SPEAKER_05 31:00

I know, especially in rural rural mid-Illinois, right or any rural area, it's hard to find the comps, the comparables, to be able to get that to. Yeah. I mean, I I went through this, I did a refi, I don't know how many years ago, but I'm in a 4,400 square foot home building 1887 sitting on 41 acres of land. Five bedrooms of two and a half. Yeah. Well, no, it's it's five bedroom, three bath. The the appraiser literally had to go way and beyond to get comparables to get the appraisal knife.

SPEAKER_09 31:30

Because like, oh, if you have a cabin, if you're an hour away, a wood cabin house. Right. I know we're several arcs we've got to be. You gotta go to Abe Blinken's. Yeah. I mean, well, then you get an appraiser and he's like, oh my gosh, this is I gotta go really far out to try to find.

SPEAKER_05 31:45

So now I gotta go with square footage and the underwriters have to feel confident in no one, all right. I'll take that comparable. Or no, I don't take your valuation you did on this. Yes.

SPEAKER_09 31:56

And then you gotta start over.

SPEAKER_05 31:57

So the last thing in that pricing strategy, yeah, then delays time and closing and all that, or you guys had to scramble quicker is to hold that closing time, but also discussing realistic pricing. So have you ever had a seller say, I want $200,000 for my house. Absolutely. Do you have that conversation with them? Yes.

SPEAKER_09 32:21

And it's a hard one. I feel like it is because they're sending them.

SPEAKER_08 32:25

Because they want, I mean, they think their house is worth that. Yeah. And like you said, because they know $180 on it. That's right.

SPEAKER_09 32:31

Are you upside down? Because and that's what with the thing with the whole 20 market.

SPEAKER_05 32:35

Market went upside down.

SPEAKER_09 32:36

Please don't pay more than what asking price when people were doing 20 and 30. And I'd say, are you gonna die there?

SPEAKER_05 32:42

Because you know, you're never gonna get it.

SPEAKER_09 32:44

Yeah, I'm a little worried. Well, because you're gonna be mad at the realtor and the appraiser and the lender because you're not gonna get this when you go to the city.

SPEAKER_05 32:51

Definitely new cars, market going as soon as you drive off the lot. If you just lost ten thousand dollar value in your vehicle. Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 32:57

So it it changes everything. Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 32:59

Well, number 10 on your list for the seller is when and how to contact a realtor for maximum advantage, right? When when is the right time to reach out to a listing agent?

SPEAKER_09 33:13

Now. Now right this minute. Yeah. My phone's vibrating in my pocket right now.

SPEAKER_05 33:18

Yeah. I just thought you were happy to see me, Lisa.

SPEAKER_09 33:20

I love it. I love it.

SPEAKER_05 33:24

And you so so that makes sense, okay? And and I Lisa gave me here, so I literally have it. It's photo ready checklist. So this is for a seller that you would hand them. Somebody else is vibrating. See?

SPEAKER_09 33:37

They're calling us now.

SPEAKER_05 33:40

Having a baby or doing a podcast. I'm selling, baby. I'm selling. No, I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_09 33:43

Our phones are ringing, folks.

SPEAKER_05 33:45

See how this podcast works? It's instant. It's not even air and update. CEC's ringing out. So any photo ready checklist, kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, living areas, outside, all that with a little thank you note here. Removing clutter helps make your home look larger and helps a potential buyer to picture their own belongings in your home, right? So it's not just lip service, it's printed. It's black and white, folks. It's right here.

SPEAKER_09 34:06

And it has actual check boxes, guys.

SPEAKER_05 34:08

So you can be really satisfied with that. Me as a potential seller, I get this from you.

SPEAKER_09 34:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 34:14

You're gonna walk me through this. Say this is this is what you need to do.

SPEAKER_09 34:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 34:18

Gotcha. And then and then you also handed me a guide to a successful home sale. The checklist, the home seller pre-listing checklist, double checklist, seller's home preparation, triple checklist. Make sure you are photo ready. Holy cow, we are not Caitlin. It's not even a checklist. It's not double checklist. It's a triple effect uh.

SPEAKER_09 34:40

Yeah. And and what I'm telling you is you guys, you can't mess up if you have Lisa and Lydia in your corner.

SPEAKER_05 34:47

This is awesome.

SPEAKER_09 34:48

We try to make the whole process easy. Yeah. So amazing.

SPEAKER_05 34:51

That's an understatement.

SPEAKER_09 34:52

Above and beyond.

SPEAKER_05 34:53

That is an understatement for sure. And and by doing this segment, it's letting people know that if you're feeling overwhelmed by this process, Lisa, you and your team at First Choice Realty Pros are going to walk people through this step by step.

SPEAKER_06 35:09

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 35:10

So they need to just give you guys a call at 217-825-3999. And you guys will help them. Get an appointment now.

SPEAKER_09 35:18

Get an appointment next time.

SPEAKER_05 35:19

Anytime a day.

SPEAKER_09 35:20

Anytime a day.

SPEAKER_05 35:20

825-3999.

SPEAKER_09 35:22

We work pretty much all the time. I'm calling her. And I like how you can see that.

SPEAKER_05 35:26

Lydia's giving birth when she's doing it, right? I'm so glad that you guys have partnered with us. So glad. Get this information out to potential to sellers. And stay tuned because this partnership isn't just a one-time. We are we're going to bring information for buyers. We're going to bring new information out there. We're going to what's going on? What open houses are going on? Right. What you guys are seeing buyers are looking for. So sellers can tune in and go, oh, I have that. I've been thinking about moving or selling. It's my time.

SPEAKER_09 36:00

The trends they will be able to do. They will hear here. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 36:02

Exactly.

SPEAKER_09 36:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 36:03

You guys are trend setters.

SPEAKER_09 36:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 36:05

Your bookends. Your book ends in there. It's like oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_09 36:09

This is the Lydia show.

SPEAKER_05 36:11

This has been.

SPEAKER_09 36:12

And I love how it's Lisa and Lydia. I love too. Lisa and Lisa. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 36:17

L as the L. What?

SPEAKER_09 36:20

What's El Kudos? The K and the L? Oh no, you're a C.

SPEAKER_06 36:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 36:23

It's unfortunate for you. Yeah. So it's my Chris. You guys are both MSMS M S.

SPEAKER_05 36:29

Is she a C? Is he a C? Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 36:31

She, he's a C just like you.

SPEAKER_05 36:32

C. Just like me?

SPEAKER_09 36:33

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_05 36:34

No, no. We're different. We're just we're just Chris's. Chris's are special.

SPEAKER_09 36:37

He's starting to get the gray hair like you. Oh, that's right.

SPEAKER_05 36:40

That's because he's having to keep up with you.

SPEAKER_09 36:42

I know. They're in drama.

SPEAKER_05 36:44

Making him run in squirrel costumes and Santa Claus outfits and jumping over stuff.

SPEAKER_09 36:48

My grandkids love him.

SPEAKER_05 36:50

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_09 36:50

Whatever costume. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 36:52

Chris you're loved more than just by your wife. It's all cute.

SPEAKER_09 36:54

Yes. So sweet.

SPEAKER_05 36:56

It's Lisa with the friendly face. She likes it.

SPEAKER_09 36:58

I love Lisa with the friendly face. Oh, Lisa with the friendly face. There you go. I can see her. I can't wait to swing your video. That's right.

SPEAKER_05 37:07

That's right. This is going to be awesome. Well, hey, we appreciate everyone tuning in to our realtor segment. This has been great. And really, folks, we're going to make sure that in our show notes, you guys can check out the website, the first choicerealtypros.com. And that's the number one with an ST choicerealtypros.com. And get on there, give them a call at the 825-3999 number, and let's get you set. Lisa, that gets you right to Lisa, and Lisa will put you in touch with Lydia if need be. If Lisa's overloaded, but Lisa will be like, I'm good, but Lydia's getting better. Let's make this happen. That's right.

SPEAKER_09 37:41

That's right.

SPEAKER_05 37:42

Folks, I appreciate you guys being here today. I can't wait till we do it again. Same. Until next time, we'll see you later on Designing Building mid-Illinois, one home at a time.

SPEAKER_00 37:52

In the military, there's no such thing as good enough. You either do the job the right way or you don't do it at all. I'm Blake Middleton of Elite Roofing Professionals and Exteriors. I'm a veteran and I brought the same mission first mindset back to Illinois. While others talk about the way it's always been done, my team focuses on the technical precision of how a roof should be built. We use the best materials, the best technology, and a level of communication you won't find anywhere else. Your home isn't just a job, it's a commitment. Elite roofing, high standards, zero compromise, clear communication.

SPEAKER_02 38:25

Give us a call today.com.

SPEAKER_04 39:11

Until next time, keep designing and building.

SPEAKER_09 39:13

See you soon.

unknown 39:15

Big Dog.

SPEAKER_01 39:16

This episode was produced by Big Dog Media Group, delivering powerful creative for brands and creators everywhere. If you're looking to take your podcast to the next level or just get started, Big Dog Media Group has you covered. Thanks for listening.