lake zurich...and beyond

The long-awaited Hawthorn Woods outdoor Aquatic Center is now open at the corner of Midlothian and Marilyn Lane.

Whether you want to swim laps or enjoy the water slides, you and your family can beat the summer heat at this terrific facility! For more information, visit www.vhw.org. You can download forms to register for a season pass and/or view an online copy of the Hawthorn Woods Parks and Recreation Brochure to learn about swimming lessons being offered.

Enjoy your summer!

Do you need to find a REALTOR to help you buy a new home or sell your present one? GOOGLE me! Then GOOGLE the other agents you are considering.

As a Seller, your prospective REALTOR should have a very strong Internet presence since today's buyers use the Internet to search for a home more than any other media. This includes at least one personal website, plus posting listings on the multiple listing service and sites like chicagotribune.com, dailyherald.com, realtor.com, craigslist.com, postlets.com and dozens of other websites devoted to property searches and real estate information...sites like ACTIVE RAIN! By GOOGLING your prospective REALTOR, you can easily determine if he or she has what it takes to market your home to today's buyer.

You should also check out your prospective REALTOR's website. The website (ideally he or she will have more than one) should be easy to find, easy to use and contain useful information that will bring potential buyers back time and time again...not to mention featured listings on the home page! (Sellers: that's where you want your property to be, right?)

As a buyer, you want a REALTOR that has an easy to use website...one where you can upload your own search criteria and receive automatic email updates of new listing information. Preferably one where you can save "favorites" and easily communicate back and forth with your REALTOR. And definitely a website where you can search the entire MLS (not just that company's listings).

While you are at it, try GOOGLING the company itself. I bet you'll be surprised!

If you can't find your REALTOR...how will anyone else be able to find him or her? What kind of exposure will your home receive? What kind of representation will you receive as a buyer?

Bottom Line: When you are ready to move...GOOGLE me...then give me a call. I'll be happy to help!

Let me begin by saying that both approaches have equal merit, but I am an individual agent myself. As in everything in life, there are pluses and minuses to every approach. I'll explain how I work and also what you might expect from a team agent as well.

First of all, as an individual agent, I still have a support team. In fact, I have several support people within my office that are ready and willing to assist at a moment's notice. HOWEVER, in most instances you will always speak directly with me and I will handle most aspects of your transaction personally.

It is my belief that only the most organized and customer-service oriented agents have the skill and expertise to manage millions of dollars in sales as an individual agent. I am extremely organized and efficient and prefer a hands-on approach to my clients and my business. I feel like I can offer more personalized one-on-one service as an individual agent and prefer not to have an unlicensed person handle any part of your transaction.

Team agents have other licensed and unlicensed personnel working for (or with) them in specific functions, such as buyer brokerage, transaction coordination, photographer, etc. These teams of real estate professionals typically assist a greater number of buyers and sellers at one time than an individual agent. Teams may be small (two individuals) or large (5 or more individuals). If you have a question, you may not always be able to speak with "your" agent, but you will be able to reach someone who can assist you. It is simply a different approach to customer service.

As a home buyer or seller, it is important for you to decide whether or not you prefer to work with an individual agent or a team agent...if you even have a preference! Some people prefer the individual attention they receive from an individual agent while others enjoy the ease of access that a team provides. Neither approach is "right" or "wrong" and both offer tremendous advantages to the client.

It is a personal preference, but knowing which you prefer will help make your transaction smoother. Either way, your real estate agent will be on your team...and that is what is most important!

The truth is, homes are selling! However, there is more inventory and fewer buyers than in recent years. That means that in order to sell, your home needs to be priced, staged and marketed appropriately.

The reality of pricing is that all homes sell for fair market value, no matter what type of market we are experiencing. I will determine your home's fair market value, which enables me to develop a target market for your home, that, together with the right price, will generate the optimal number of prospects.

My 24/7 Marketing Plan is designed to meet the needs of today's buyer. But I don't stop there. By target marketing to other real estate agents as well as directly to potential buyers, I make certain that all the bases are covered. After all, over 85% of buyers consider a real estate agent their #1 source for finding a new home. The #2 source for finding a new home is the Internet. My explosive Internet Marketing Plan ensures that we will be wherever a buyer is searching.

Of course, all the marketing in the world and even the perfect price won't help if the home doesn't show nicely. I offer staging assistance to get your home in tip-top showing condition.

The bottom line is: my listings are selling! If you would like to experience the same success selling your home...give me a call. I'll be happy to meet with you and explain my marketing plan and commission structure in detail. However, I must warn you...the information contained in my marketing plan will cause your home to sell!

Lately I've been hearing (and/or reading) that some people think that all of the new technology that is available in the real estate world (and therefore ease of information gathering for buyers and sellers) will put Realtors out of business some day (like travel agents and bank tellers). I strongly disagree.

I believe that our job as Realtors is to facilitate the purchase, coach the buyers & sellers through the process, assist in staging, market/advertise the homes and ensure that the purchase or sale will be a smooth transaction in every way. I don't believe that Realtors are necessarily the keepers of information any longer. However, when we use the available technology to our advantage, we are more informed, our clients are more informed and we are able to do a much better job.

Through my websites, I'm now forming relationships with people I've never met. It is kind of like online dating...we get to know each other through a series of emails and hopefully will eventually meet! At the same time, the potential client can remain anonymous if they like, free to shop around for homes without being bothered. It's a win-win if you ask me.

Therefore, I embrace what technology has to offer! Better advertising that is quicker and more targeted, with listings on multiple websites and sites like Active Rain, informative websites offering clients and potential clients easy access to information and listings, transaction coordination, 24-7 open houses, email flyers, digital photography that is ready immediately, super-professional looking brochures and flyers...actually the list could go on forever. All of this enables me to spend more time on what really matters...providing excellent customer service! And that's what it is really all about, isn't it?

As you may know, more houses will be sold in the next few months than in the entire balance of the year. If you are thinking about buying or selling in Lake Zurich, Hawthorn Woods, Deer Park, Kildeer, Long Grove and any of the surrounding communities...please give me a call! I've been selling off my inventory and I'm looking to add a few new listings over the next few weeks. I'd love to sell your home and help you find your new one!

Reminder: School is almost out for summer, so be careful out there when driving through the neighborhoods (watch out for the kids!).

Note: Thanks to everyone who participated in the Chestnut Corners and Hunter's Creek garage sale...it was a resounding success! We will be having another garage sale in the fall, so if you missed this one you will be able to participate next time.

Have a great week!