Get that Spring To Do List Ready!

Really, can it be that spring is almost here? Yes indeed, won't be long and the birds will be chirping, the Canadian geese will be making their way back and the trees and bushes will end their season of hibernation and begin to bud. I don't know about you but I am done with Winter bring on the warmer weather already !

Recently I spoke about what the spring market means to buyers and sellers but today I'm going to share tips on what to do with your home to prepare for Spring. These tips are just a handful of some popular to do's that I've compiled that are sure to help you start the season off right.

There are both indoor and outdoor checklists but we'll start with OUTDOOR:

• Take a walk around the home and look for any damage specifically to the roof. Are there any missing shingles or damage done from snow or ice that may have built up on the gutters?


• Clean the gutters from all debris


• Now is the perfect time to trim back trees or bushes as they are easiest to manage without leaves. Be sure to trim anything that is directly in contact with the home or roof to provide for a gap to protect your home and siding.


• Pressure wash your deck if you've got one. Once the weather improves you'll want to put a sealer on it to protect against water and sun damage.


• Wash Windows


• Caulk Windows and seal any areas that could use it


• Be sure to check your garden hoses for cracks and turn on the exterior water valves that you may have shut off prior to winter


• Clean the grill


• Rake the yard and clean up any leaves from the fall/winter season in the yard

That is a great start to your Spring Cleaning List! Once you've managed that part of the list, its time to focus on the INTERIOR:

• Wash interior windows in addition to the exterior


• Replace and check furnace filter


• Caulk the windows inside your home as well to repair any damage that may have been done by ice and snow during a brutal winter. This will help maintain your heat/cool of the home and also prevent mold or other damage


• Deep Clean the carpets


• Clean and store your humidifiers that you would have made use of for fall/winter


• Dust your home and be sure to pay special attention to the fans in your home. Clean them well so they are good to use once warmer weather arrives and you'll need the circulation they offer for the home.


• Test your A/C. When its 105 this summer and you turn it on for the 1st time, that is not the time to find out it needs service. However, it is best to wait until the temperature is 65 to do this.


• Test all your smoke and fire alarms in the house to ensure they are working


• Did you use the fireplace quite often this winter? Now may be a great time to get this cleaned

I hope the tips I've provided can start you off on the right path to great home maintenance for the year and a wonderful spring!

As always, if you know anyone that may benefit from my blog please forward my articles on to them and be sure to follow future blogs :-) Thank you, Ben.

Positive News for Chicago Area

Fewer Homes Underwater! For those of you not privy to our real estate terms, this means that fewer home owners now owe more, than the home that they own is worth.

For the Third Quarter of 2010, the number and percent of homeowners in the Chicago area who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth fell. This was the third straight decline, according to a report from CoreLogic. However, the report may be due to homes going into foreclosure rather than price gains but we see this as positive news regardless.

The the third quarter 22.3 percent of home in the Chicago area or 324,741 homes were underwater which was down from 22.7 percent.

What does this mean for the big picture? It may not signal any real breaking news that will catapult the real estate market or build much optimism to help us rebound from 2000 prices but we'll take it! Simply put, any news like this is better than the alternative and we need to keep our heads up and realize that despite tough times, the sky is not falling and things will improve.

I read in a book written from Dale Carnegie last night this quote from Marcus Aurelius...."The happiness of your life, depends upon the quality of your thoughts."

I love this quote and it can be summarized that if you think happy thoughts, you are more inclined to be happy. If you think negative thoughts or fearful thoughts, you most likely are living your life patterning those thoughts.

Keep this in mind as you look towards a great 2011 and success and happiness for the year ahead!

Why Fall is a Great Time to Buy a Home!

Everyone knows that the spring market can be hectic and often seen as the peak of the real estate in terms of annual activity. Buyers are chasing to find a great home to purchase and close during the summer, get acclimated to the new home in time for a new school year to start in the fall.

What most don't realize is that Fall isn't far behind in terms of activity and is a great time for buyers and for sellers. For many agents, this is the second busiest time of the year and its a great time for buyers to purchase and for sellers to move a home prior to winter.

Summer has passed an so has what appears to be a perfect time to have sold your home. Now Fall is here and if you won't sell your home in the next few months then old man winter is here with the prospect of selling your home greatly dimished. What does this mean? For many sellers it means lowering the price and doing their best to meet the demand of any buyers that are in the market.

For a buyer, this means that competition is heating up! If you find a home that your interested in buying, don't wait to make an offer, but do so quickly! Sellers are often willing to move more heading into a long winter on price as their motivation may be at an all time high during the selling process. As a buyer, make sure your agent keeps you abreast of all hot buys and when you find the one that fits your needs, act on it! Multiple offers are not extinct and are common place on homes when they are listed aggressively this time of year. This however is not an open suggestion to overpay for any home during this buyer's market. Don't let emotion cloud better judgement if you do find yourself in a mutliple bid situation. There will always be another home that will come on the market and fit your needs.

If you are in the market to purchase, contact an agent today and you'll find some amazing opportunities await! If your a seller, now is the time to put your home up for sale, not a few months from now when fewer buyers are available, demand is down and competition is high amongst all others that couldn't sell.