Julie's Blog

You haven't had a showing, well... EVER, and you refuse to reduce the price. Maybe it's time to rethink this situation?

No amount of marketing I can provide will undo the damage of over-pricing your listing.  Yes, I'm talking to YOU!  The homeowner who insists that the custom painted interior will eek out the $$$ you paid for it.  (Personally I'm a do-it-yourself-er.  Home Depot, Baby.  Your custom paint job wouldn't mean a thing to me at all.  It's just paint! )  Or the homeowner who has the highest priced house in the neighborhood who refuses to part with their decade old appliances...  really?!

If you want to sell in this market, you've gotta be smart about how you do it:

• Listen to your Realtor.  We know what we are talking about.
• Make any improvements that they suggest which you can comfortably afford to do. 
  
• Neutral is the new black.  DO NOT assume that your buyer will love your wild and bold taste in decorating...
• If your carpet looks like a herd of wild elephants have trampled on it, REPLACE IT!!!  It will cost you more money on the final sale.  TRUST ME!!!
  
• NO, in this market people won't just make and offer and give you the opportunity to negotiate.  If you are overpriced, they will take you off of their list.  The homeowners listening to their agents are the only ones SELLING their homes in this market!
• The longer your homes sits on the market unsold, the bigger the stigma that is placed on it.  If you change Realtors and relist your property on the MLS, you still have a history on the MLS.  Good agents will show their buyers these things.  They REEK of desperation, and you will get an offer well below asking price, GUARANTEED!.
• Check out the latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens... or visit Open Houses for sale in your area.  It's the only way you will know what you are competing against.  You have to think like a buyer in this market

I know you don't want to make major improvements to sell your house in this market, but if that's the case, you WILL have to make concessions to keep up with the competition.  I have seen multiple homes for sale on one street here in Plainfield.  I can only imagine that's exactly what is happening all over the country. 

If you are anything like the buyer I mentioned above, you are probably the only person on Earth that loves your home enough to pay that much for it. Congratulations... it looks like you have yourself a house!

In this market, if your house won't sell... it all comes down to price.  Buyers can be very picky in this market. If you really want to sell your house in this market, you will follow the closed comps in your neighborhood weekly.  They will tell you exactly what your house will sell for!

Not using a Plainfield or Naperville Realtor to purchase your next home never crossed your mind probably for good reason... you don't have to pay for your representation, the seller does it for you!

Having buyers representation provided at the cost of the seller is a wonderful thing.  You are protected by the laws and regulations set forth by the state of Illinois in accordance with my licensing, and I get paid at the closing table for my time, knowledge and experience, in maintaining the transaction.  Win-win, right!?

Well... almost.  There isn't a single moment in a buyers transaction that I am guaranteed to be paid for my time and effort.  My services are rendered in advance on the assumption that you will be purchasing a home sometime in the near future using me for your buyers representation or as your Plainfield or Naperville real estate agent.

Not everyone understands the crazy way in which a Realtor actually gets paid, or in some cases, doesn't.  There are many people in the general population who think that agents merely "show people houses", but the truth is, that is only the beginning.

Depending on the buyer, the "showing houses" part of the transaction can be a tedious and time consuming part of the transaction, as it should be.  Finding the perfect home for some people can take weeks or months; for others it can be the very first house they see. 

The time involved in this process goes well beyond opening the doors of the houses my client chooses to preview.  It takes time to search for specific criteria, pre-view neighborhoods, map out showings, call listing agents, and drive to and from the appointments.

After you've found the perfect house, it's my job to provide you with closed comps for you to base your offer on.  Making sure that you know the market in neighborhood you are making an offer on, is my responsibility in representing you.  Alerting you to a great find is equally important if you are concerned about missing out on a great deal. 

Writing the contract and negotiating the transaction are also time consuming and necessary components to my profession.  My phone rings at the grocery store, the dentist, and even at 2:00 AM!!! 

Once the sale is pending there's still work to be done.  Getting in contact with the loan officer or mortgage broker and attorneys are necessity.  Keeping in constant contact with both of these individuals throughout the remainder of the sale is key to a successful closing.  Unexpected requirements, or changes to dates and mortgage criteria, can have devastating effects on a transaction if they are not discovered until the last minute.  It's my job to intercept these situations.

The end result will be that approximately 4-6 weeks after your offer is accepted you'll be carrying cardboard boxes over the threshold of your new home.

One thing that any real estate agent hopes is that you'll treat us with the same respect and honesty we give to you.  Using more than one agent is misleading and time consuming for the agent who won't be getting paid...  I don't know of many people who work for free, but this happens every single day in the world of real estate when buyers fail to disclose that they are already working with another agent when asked. 

If you are unhappy for any reason with the service the agent you have chosen, just be kind and release them of their duty.  Using two agents when you can only purchase one house isn't really honest or fair when one of them won't be paid for the time and effort.

I'm not exactly sure that everyone completely understands what an agent really does to earn their commission, but I hope that this information is a good resource for anyone in the market for buyers representation in Plainfield or Naperville, IL. 

If you want to more about what my representation can do for you, call me at 630-673-6233.

As you may have noticed I recently transferred real estate offices.  I joined RE/MAX Professionals South in Plainfield, IL this week, and I know that it was not only the best choice for me, but also for my clients.

RE/MAX is the industry leader in real estate and they also hold the market share in the Plainfield, Naperville and Shorewood, IL.  I chose RE/MAX because of the brand recognition, and technology and support that they offer to their agents.  I was not only impressed with the office, but also by the brokers and staff the operate the office.  Rich Conte, Lisa Mulcahy, and Dan Persico welcomed me with open arms.  They were not only professional, but fun to be around.  I believe that energy is contagious and I wanted to be part of this from the second I set foot in the office on Renwick Rd.

There are 3 offices affiliated with our brokers: RE/MAX Professionals Select in Naperville, IL, RE/MAX Professionals South in Plainfield, IL, and RE/MAX Pinnacle in Shorewood, IL. 

RE/MAXnot only offers the exposure that my clients expect, they also offers the professional service my clients deserve.  I have met many agents in the field over the years and I have always had a great experiences with all of the RE/MAX agents in Plainfield that I have worked with in past transactions.

This is a smart move for me, and I know that my clients will continue to benefit from my relationship with RE/MAX Professionals South for years to come! 

Now you can find me at:

RE/MAX Professionals South
24014 W. Renwick Rd.
Plainfield, IL 60544
815-609-0100 Office
630-673-6233 Direct

The Farmstone Ridge neighborhood is located just off of Naperville/Plainfield Rd. and 127th St. in Plainfield, IL. Each home was custom built on a premium lot by local area builders. Construction in Farmstone Ridge began in 2003, and the subdivision neighbors the private nearby gated Lakelands Community.

The students of Farmstone Ridge attend Liberty Elementary, John F. Kennedy Middle School, and Plainfield North High School, although Plainfield East High School will be opening as Plainfield's 4th high school this year. I've driven past the new school quite a few times over the last few weeks and it's coming along quite nicely!!!

When I was still working at Zen Salon in the plaza at the corner about 5 years ago, I met a lot of clients who lived in the neighborhood, which was nice because I know what a great neighborhood Farmstone Ridge really is.  The ladies of the neighborhood get together quite often and I often wished I lived there so that I could be part of all of the festivities too!

The yearly assessment for Farmstone Ridge is $380 per year. As of today there are currently 5 homes actively listed for sale, and 4 properties have closed in the last 9 months.  I usually only like to go 6 months out on comps,  but in this sluggish real estate economy, we have to take what we can get!

Active Listings in Farmstone Ridge:

Closed Listing In Farmstone Ridge in the Last 9 Months:

Of the closed listings over the last 9 months, it should be noted that both 12751 Pintail Rd. and 12812 Stellar Ln. were bank owned or pre-foreclosure sales, which means that because of the urgency of liquidating the assets that the true value of the property was not captured in the sale of the property.

In this market, no community is immune to the effects that foreclosure brings to the table.  While bank owned properties (REO's) usually do not affect the appraised value of regular residential property, short sales often times can, and do, bring down the closed comparable values for a neighborhood.  This is due mainly to the fact that the bank never actually took repossession of the home and they are not truly considered "foreclosed" properties.

Despite all that has happened in the housing market over the last 2 years, Plainfield home values are still holding strong, not only against major cities all across the United States, but against neighboring communities in the northwest suburbs. Since 2005 Plainfield has still seen a 2% appreciation in real estate which is almost unheard of in real estate today!

Farmstone Ridge is just minutes from some really great shopping and dining.  I know I help the Target at the corner of Rt. 59 and 127th street in business, and our favorite family restaurant is Red Robin right across the street!  (Seriously, those are some really tasty burgers!) 

As I mentioned before I used to be a stylist at the Zen Salon in the plaza at that intersection and a former client of mine who actually lives in Farmstone Ridge, owns the Dinners by Design franchise in Plainfield, just a few doors down from the salon!  If you've never tried Dinners by Design I highly recommend it.  Think of it as making 2 weeks of dinners in advance and not having to rush home to cook!   This is priceless when the kids are in school and after school activities are at their peak...

Anyway, I think Farmstone Ridge in Plainfield is a great place to live, and I'd eagerly take a client there to show them any of the homes available for sale.  Heck, I'd want to live there myself if I didn't already have a home of my own :)  Want to check it out the houses for sale?  Call me at 630-673-6233...  I want to see them too!

I'm sure there are lots of reasons why Plainfield and Naperville homeowners find it more appealing to try to sell their homes for sale by owner, and I'm sure the 4-7% commission that a Plainfield or Naperville Realtor would charge them for their service tops the list... but did you know that according to NAR, homes for sale by owner sell for 32% less than homes listed with a Realtor, on average?

Wow, even if you figure in a 5% commission from a Plainfield Realtor, homeowners are still losing about 27% of their homes equity anually by chosing to eliminate the professional services of an Illinois Realtor. Yikes, 27% is a lot of money on a $250,000 house! 

The median FSBO selling price in 2006 was $187,200, compared with $247,000 for agent-assisted transactions and in a faster amount of time.  That pretty much makes hiring a Realtor look like a pretty sweet bargain!

Here are some of the reasons For Sale By Owner homes sell for less money, in a longer amount of time:

• Sellers do not know the true value of their home.
  
• Limited exposure to Internet and tech-savvy buyers.
• Inexperience with negotiating the terms of a contract.
• Limited access to the price of competing home values.
• Limited access to closed home price comparables.
• Most buyers use a Realtor represent them when purchasing real estate and FSBO's are often over-looked because the limited amount of information available about the homes statistics.

If you are on the fence about whether or not to hire a Realtor to represent you in the sale of your home, interview a few Plainfield or Naperville real estate agents and then decide if you have the time, effort, and energy to provide the same level of service for yourself than your Plainfield or Naperville Realtor will provide for you!

If you are a Plainfield or Naperville homeowner thinking about "For Sale By Owner" or have a property you are currently marketing on your own, it would be my pleasure to answer any questions you may have about the process.  Just give me a call at 630-673-6233.

Read also:

What Kind of Improvements Do I Need To Make My Plainfield or Naperville Home Sell?
Plainfield Home Values and How They Comparea Against the Housing Bubble
Testing the Market With A High Asking Price

Just over a year ago, it was nearly impossible to imagine buying a Plainfield single family home under $200,000; but right now there are currently 10 properties on the market below $199,900 which is great news for first time home buyers looking for Plainfield real estate.

Due to MLS photo cloning rules I can't include the MLS photos of these properties, but you can search for them by address by clicking on the Property Search link at the top of this page or contact me for more information on any of the following homes: (I promise not to stalk you :)

Knowing that homes are finally becoming more affordable, especially for first time home buyers, makes me feel good about being a Plainfield and Naperville Realtor.  I know how important and exciting it was for us to own our first home, and I love helping other people achieve the same outcome.  If you'd like more information about any of these homes, please contact me and I'd be happy to e-mail you MLS list sheet for the property. 

Plainfield Real Estate | Mayfair subdivision

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Mayfair by Leach Homes in Plainfield, IL began construction in 1993 and was completed in 1999. The neighborhood consists of a almost 1,000 homes located near Caton Farm Rd. between River Rd and County Line Rd. across from the Ashford Place subdivision and bordering the Clearwater Springs/Aspen Falls neighborhood.

Mayfair includes about 10 different floor plans ranging between 3 and 4 bedrooms, all of which include basements. There are several ranch style homes available in the neighborhood as well as bi-level, tri-level and quad-level homes.

Closed house prices in Mayfair from January through June 1 2008:

The closed comps from the last 6 months are about what you can expect to pay for Plainfield homes in the Mayfair subdivision. Prices will vary on the condition and amenities of each individual property.

Mayfair does have a neighborhood park and is within walking distance to the elementary school in many areas of the neighborhood.

The schools that are part of the Mayfair neighborhood are Meadow View Elementary, Aux Sable Middle School and Plainfield South High School which are part of the Plainfield Consolidated School #204 District.

The Plainfield Chamber of Commerce has information on many of the local area businesses, as well as Plainfield community information available on their website.

If your still not sure where to find your next home in Plainfield, give me call at 630-673-6233 or sign up for free access to Plainfield property searches.

Plainfield, IL is located approximately 45 minutes southwest of downtown Chicago, on the border of the neighboring communities of Naperville, Romeoville, Joliet, Shorewood, Bolingbrook and Aurora. 

Real estate in Plainfield exploded in the mid to early 90's as a new generation of home buyers sought affordable housing in the suburbs of the Chicago.  Easy access to interstate I-55, the highly publicized Plainfield school district, and low county real estate taxes made Plainfield a top choice for buyers looking for affordable new construction. Plainfield became an alternative to the older communities in the northwest suburbs.

Approximately 18 years after the buzz that made Plainfield one of the top 5 fastest growing cities in the nation, it is still going strong.  As a 9 year resident of the community, I have personally seen the landscape changes that appeared to occur on a weekly basis. 

A number of builders have moved in and out of Plainfield over the years like, Pulte, Neuman Homes, Lennar, Leach Homes, Phoenix Builders, Cambridge Homes, Lakewood Homes, Montalbano; not to mention the countless individual Plainfield custom home builders. 

Plainfield is home to the Plainfield Community Consolidated School District #202 which serves not only Plainfield, but areas of Joliet, Bolingbrook and Romeoville.  With 16 Elementary Schools, 7 Middle Schools, and 4 High Schools, it is one of the largest schools in the area. 

The Plainfield Park district is especially large as well, and is quick to keep up with the needs of it's growing community.  The Plainfield Park district offers programs for both the young and old. 

Shopping and dining is convenient from every neighborhood in Plainfield. Two new open air shopping centers are beginning construction this summer which are scheduled to open in 2009.  The Louis Joliet Mall is conveniently located near I-55 and Route 30, and nearby Fox Valley Mall and Bolingbrook's new Promenade are also close alternatives. My other site, Living In Plainfield, profiles individual establishments to give newcomers to Plainfield a little bit of a directory to the community.

The restaurant industry quickly realized the need for family dining in Plainfield, and now there's an amazing selection of both independent and national restaurants in the area like Bacci's, Moe Joe's, Chesdan's, Gunthers, Buffalo Wild Wings, Applebee's, Lonestar, Outback, TGI Fridays, Red Robbin, Steak and Shake, Chuck E Cheese... oh, the list goes on and on

Plainfield has become a well established community with an eclectic mix of neighborhoods within it.  Here is a list of subdivisions in Plainfield which I will be profiling individually in subsequent posts.  Brace yourself... Plainfield is one BIG place!  Here they are in order of price progression:

Riverbrook Estates                 Pheasant Landing
Lakewood Falls                      Lily Cache
Wesmere                                Carillon
Aspen Meadows                     Eagle Ridge
Caton Ridge                           Cumberland
Mayfair                                   Clearwater Springs
Apsen Falls                            Kendall Ridge
Sunset Ridge (South)             Prairie Trails
Clublands                               Riverside
Peerless Estates                    Liberty Grove
Hampton Grove                     Caton Crossing
Aspen Falls                            Lakewood On Caton
Pheasant Chase                     Arbor Creek
Champion Creek                    Brighton Lakes
Heritage Meadows                 Golden Meadows
Leawood                                 Prairie Knoll
Auburn Lakes                         Summerfield
Wedgewood                           Ashbury Farms
Riverwalk                                Tuttle Estates
Harvest Glen                          Walker's Grove
Indian Oaks                            Woodlands of the ReservesThe Ponds
The Streams of Plainfield       Parkview Meadows
Brookside                               Nature's Crossing
Fairfield Ridge                        Kensington Club
Crossings at Wolf Creek        Autumn Fields
Cantebury Woods                  Wilding Pointe
Spangler's Farm                    The Enclave
River Ridge                            Riviera Estates
Wallin Woods                         Grande Park
Vintage Harvest                     Springbank
Shennandoah                        Century Trace
Springhill                                Prairie Ponds
King's Crossing                      Hidden River
Dunmore Estates                   Dayfield
Williamsburg                          The Lakeland's
White Ash Farms                   Mc Kenna Woods
The Lake                          

If you are interested in learning more about any of the communities profiled on this page, please contact me at 630-673-6233 to learn more about the neighborhood or the community!    

Search for Plainfield homes by clicking here! 

I just launched my Century 21 Hometown website featuring news and information all about real estate in Plainfield and Naperville!  You can now search for Plainfield homes for sale from my site and get specific information regarding your favorite Plainfield and Naperville neighborhoods.