lake zurich...and beyond

Simply put, when I am working with a seller (listing and marketing their home) I am representing my client as a "seller's agent." When I am working with a buyer I am representing my client as a "buyer's agent." For many of my clients I am their seller's agent during the sale of their home and their buyer's agent during their purchase of their new home. At all times I am representing them, and only them, in the transaction and always acting in their best interest.

But what if I had a listing (where I am representing the seller) and you (where I am representing you as a buyer) wanted to purchase that particular seller's home? You can see that there is a potential for conflict because it is difficult to represent both the seller and the buyer in the same transaction. As a Realtor®, I am allowed by law to act as a "dual agent" and represent both parties during the transaction, so long as all parties are comfortable in that situation, have received and signed a Disclosure of Dual Agency Notice and agree to this type of representation. There are specific guidelines that must be followed if I am to undertake this type of representation, which would be explained to you in detail should the situation ever arise.

The most important aspect of agency is to know who is representing you during the transaction. If you have questions about agency and representation, please feel free to contact me!

In our local market, Tuesdays are agent "open house" or "tour" days. That means that new homes on the market are open for area real estate agents to tour and/or preview for their clients. Typically, the listing agent (or his or her assistant) will be in the home between 10-2 to welcome area agents and discuss the special features of the house.

As both a buyer's agent and seller's agent, I am active on Tuesdays! I feel that it is extremely important to be kept up-to-date on the happenings in our market. It allows me easy access (no appointment necessary) to see the new listings, which will help me price your home correctly when the time comes. If I am representing you as a buyer who is interested in our area, it lets me preview the home before bringing you to see it.

As a member of the public, you may be allowed access to view the home during the agent open house. Or you may not. If the listing agent is not present but has instead chosen to have an unlicensed assistant present at the open house, the public cannot be admitted. Only licensed agents can have contact with the public, or answer questions about the house. Please don't be offended if you are denied access, it's the law!

If you are a buyer, it is better for you to forego the agent open houses and the weekend public open houses in favor of working with a dedicated buyer's agent. A buyer's agent such as myself will work diligently on your behalf and in your best interest every step of the way and will be happy to schedule a private showing of any home you are interested in.

The concept of agency is important to understand. It is important for the protection of both the buyer and seller during the home buying and selling process. Please contact me if you would like to discuss the various forms of agency allowed in Illinois so you can decide for yourself what is in your best interest.

Make it a great day!

There are just some agents out there that believe that they are expert negoiators, when in fact, they are deal killers. I'm talking about those agents that feel the need to "win" when negotiating.

Let's say I'm representing the seller and the buyer's agent presents a contract. Now, tell me, why in the world would the buyer's agent present a contract, then proceed to tell me everything their buyer hates about the house? Isn't the point of the offer that the buyer likes the house and wants to buy it? I understand that as an agent, we all want to get the best price for our buyers. Some agents must believe that the seller will just throw up their hands and say, "you're right, my house sucks, I should just give it away." I believe that keeping the negotiations on a positive note and focusing on what the buyer loves vs. hates will keep the negotiations heading in the right direction, towards a "win-win". I've had agents request that I tell the seller that..."my buyer says that the reason this offer is so low is because...[insert some negative comment that would offend a seller]"

I always keep things positive with my sellers and try to gently remind the buyer's agent that we will get much further if she would encourage her buyers to focus on what they love vs. what they don't love (Ever wonder why so many buyers have buyers remorse? Their agents focused on the negative while negotiating! Now the buyers don't know if they even like the house anymore! I wonder why???). Oops I got off track. Anyway, instead of saying to your seller, "well, they came in $40,000 under list" why not say, "they came in at 95% to list!". Just a subtle change but so much more positive...and puts your sellers in a better frame of mind. It is our responsibility as REALTORs to guide the transaction to a positive outcome, don't you think?

Before I became a REALTOR in 2003, I was a real estate paralegal. I closed over 500 transaction per year in that capacity. The main thing that I learned (that I brought into my real estate career) was that the deals that were "killed" were most often the result of bad communication and negative feelings that were cultivated during negotiations. Then came the home inspection...and if you've already gone off track during negotiations, now you have sellers that are totally unwilling to compromise during the home inspection. Once you set a negative tone, it carries through until the end.

Let's end the negative talk, whether during negotiations or about the condition of the market in general. In Illinois, 2006 was the third best year ever...now how is that a bad thing? I tell people who ask me about the market, "I'm doing great...Did you know that 2006 was the third best year ever? And 2007 is looking good so far!"

Make it a great day!

Spring has sprung here in Lake Zurich! The temperature is a balmy 78 degrees as I write this! If you want an easy and convenient link to the weather in the Lake Zurich area, check out the National Weather Service Website. It's one of my favorites for a complete, easy to read forecast. Of course, you can enter in your zip code in case it happens to be outside of the Lake Zurich area.

With warmer weather underway, my thoughts now turn to GARAGE SALES. This is the perfect time of year to get started on your spring cleaning, de-clutter your basement and garage, and make a little money as well. This year, I am sponsoring the Chestnut Corners and Hunter's Creek garage sale. This year promises to be bigger and better than ever because both neighborhoods will be participating. More homes = more visitors = more good stuff to buy and sell! In a few weeks, I will have more information about this event on my website at www.ChestnutAndHunters.com. Whether you are a resident of these neighborhoods or just looking for a few bargains of your own, be sure to check it out. While you are out searching for bargains, come by my house! I have a few good items I'm going to be selling and will also be handing out free notepads to every visitor! You can't miss me...I'm one of those REALTORs that actually looks like my picture!! LOL!

Once your home is free of all that extra stuff, let's get it on the market! Spring is the perfect time to list your home and search for a new home. More buyers will be in the market than at any other time of the year. Please contact me for a comprehensive market analysis of your home. I can help you decide if it makes sense to sell your current home and buy that move-up home. Maybe you are a first time homebuyer and now would be the perfect time to get into your first home! Maybe you are downsizing...I can help you with that as well. Whatever your needs, it requires careful analysis to determine if the time is right for you to make a move. I will help provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision.

Enjoy the sunshine & make it a great day!

Kelly

If you are considering a move to Lake Zurich or a nearby community, you should know that there are some fabulous restaurants to choose from that are very close by. Here are two of my favorites.

Stoney River http://www.stoneyriver-steaks.com/ at 20504 N. Rand Road, Deer Park, IL

I love, love, love their bread! It is served with a honey (I think) butter that is to die for. Literally, I could make a meal of this bread. Probably not good for the waistline....but who cares! Sometimes I order the mixed greens salad and just have that and the bread. If I'm with the family, I usually share an entree with my 17 year old son. His favorite is the filet of pork, served on a bed of sauteed spinach, marsala sauce and garlic mashed potatoes. The portions are so large that he and I can't finish the whole meal! So bring a friend! My husband is partial to the lodge filet. Also large, he usually brings some home and enjoys steak and eggs the morning after. I like the atmosphere as well, because it is cozy and comfortable, in a word, like a lodge. The bar is nice to hang out in and have a few cocktails while you wait for your table. Call first and get on the waiting list...it's a popular place! Open M-TH 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm, Fri-Sat 12:00 pm - 11 pm, Sun 12:00 pm - 10 pm.

Biaggis http://www.biaggis.com/ at 20560 N. Rand Road, Deer Park, IL

I'm a pasta girl. So, I'm in heaven at Biaggis. I've tried several of their dishes and they are all wonderful. How does this sound? Lasagna Bolognese: pasta layered with a hearty bolognese and three-cheese cream sauce baked until golden? or Rigatoni Alla Bolognese: large tube pasta tossed with a hearty meat sauce, sweet italian sausage, a touch of cream and parmesan cheese? Don't dispair if you are looking for something lighter...they have plenty of salads, soups, fish dishes...basically something for everyone, including pizzas for the kids! You'll never be able to finish your whole meal so be prepared for leftovers. Don't forget to try the bruschetta (as Rachel Ray would say, yum-o!). They also have weekly specials and events (a week or so ago they were having a risotto special...my husband ordered the lobster risotto and was in heaven!) Whether you want to go for a quiet dinner or lunch with friends, you won't be disappointed. Reservations are accepted and on busy Friday or Saturday nights you'll appreciate the fact that you called ahead! Open M-TH 11:00 am - 10:00 pm, Fri-Sat 11:00 am - 11:00 pm, Sun 11:00 am - 9:00 pm.

Remember, if you are thinking about moving to Lake Zurich or the surrounding communities, give me a call! I'd love to help you find your dream home, and maybe point you in the direction of a few good places to grab a bite to eat!

I was listening to the radio this morning in the car (The Eric & Kathy Morning Show on WTMX 101.9 FM-The Mix) and heard the quote above and thought I'd share it with all of you.

Do you ever have one of those days when you are so bombarded with information from every direction that your brain simply freezes and can't absorb another detail? Have you driven half way out of the neighborhood and wondered "did I put the garage door down?" Now, I'm a pretty together, organized person, but sometimes I find myself standing in line at the grocery store after swiping my debit card and wondering, "what is my PIN?"

Most of us start the typical workday wading through tons of emails, checking our voice mail, running "hot sheets" to gather the latest listing & market information...then there's the actual showings, calls to make, meetings, errands and actual work to do. Information overload. And we do it several times a day. It is our business to keep up with all of this stuff and most of us manage it pretty darn well.

So where am I going with all of this? And what does this have to do with real estate?

It got me thinking that if we can be overwhelmed, so can our clients. Think about all of the information that we dump on our buyers and sellers during the the home selling and buying process. We are used to the terminology, used to the vast quantities of information, used to multi-tasking. But to them, it's all new and can be really overwhelming. The truth of the matter is that selling or buying a home is not an easy matter. That's why people hire REALTORS. We need to remember the key principle of KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid) to help our clients navigate this process.

Just my thought for the day! Have a good one!

As both a real estate agent and resident of the Lake Zurich area, I know what a great place this is to raise a family, spend quality time with loved ones and enjoy life in a "small town" atmosphere. I consider it a privilege to be able to help others achieve their goals when it comes to living here.

As a wife (20 years in May!!!) and mother of two sons, ages 17 and 14, I appreciate the convenience of living in Lake Zurich. We all do. With a busy career, it is nice to have easy access to everything...shopping, restaurants, parks, you name it and you can find it locally!

Lake Zurich is experiencing some positive press lately as well. Did you know that Lake Zurich was named by Frommer's as one of the top hundred "Best Places to Raise Your Family" and by U.S. News as one of the "Top Twenty-Five Affordable Places to Live in the Country"? Wow!

Lake Zurich is also undergoing some long-awaited changes downtown. You can find out more by visiting the downtown Lake Zurich website at www.downtownlakezurich.org.

If you are interested in moving to the Lake Zurich or the surrounding communities of Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Long Grove, Deer Park or Barrington...or others nearby...I hope you'll give me a call. I'd be happy to assist you find your new home or sell the one you currently have!

Happy Spring (finally!!)

If I wait to buy a home, won't prices go down even lower?

Many buyers have been asking themselves that very same question. But timing the market isn't a great idea.

All the market fundamentals show that now is a good time to buy - prices are down,  interest rates are affordable, there are lots of homes to choose from and you can bargain with sellers.

If you try to wait and time the market until it hits rock bottom, you are likely to lose out. Just as no one can accurately predict the peaks and valleys of the stock market (name one person who sold their tech portfolio in April of 2000), the same holds true for housing. If you sit on the fence and wait for the absolute best deal, you could end up literally waiting for years. And most likely, your guess on market timing would be wrong. But if you choose to buy now, you will not only be in the driver's seat during the buying process, you will also reap the gains of price appreciation once you become a home owner. Remember, those who purchased homes in the early 1990s during the last big economic and housing downturn came out as big winners.

Whether you are a first time buyer or a move up buyer, I would be happy to work with you. When you are ready to make a move...just let me know!