If you are working with out of town buyers or buyers that are not familiar with Chicago, these two new tools are here to help. We all know how difficult it can be to work with clients that do not know where they would like to live. They rely heavily on us to be the expert on Chicago but we can't know everything about every neighborhood, right? There are also subjects that we aren't allowed to talk about with our clients.
Here are two new ways to add value to your out of town clients:
Walkscore and Relocate.org.
I'm sure you're all familiar with walkscore, but now it is linked to the MLS so buyers and agents can click on the "Walkscore" link directly from the MLS listing sheet. It is located at the bottom of the third column of information. The "score" of the property and description of walkability is shown right on the listing sheet. For example, a listing with a score of 95 is deemed "Walkers' Paradise" and one that scored 88 is deemed "Very Walkable". My favorite feature about Walkscore is that you can type in any address and it will tell you how to get to that destination by foot, car, bus, train or bike along with the estimated commute times. This is essential information for people with a work commute.
The other site that I have recently come across is relocate.org. This website serves communities all over the country and provides short videos showcasing each neighborhood. It would be a good site for buyers to consult if they are looking for visuals on an area. It also provides links to local schools and other helpful neighborhood websites.
Both sites can be useful to your clients and to agents who may be working with a client in an area where we are not quite an expert.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Virtual Staging
First impressions are vital in the world of real estate. In today's market, the buyer almost always begins his or her home search online which means that the first impression begins with homes' interior photos. Many buyers will skim over listings without interior photos because they want to see what the home looks like before they take the time to visit the property.
As agent's we know the importance of a home that "shows well". One way to achieve this is for the seller to hire a professional stager. The role of the stager is to advise the seller on ways to improve the look and feel of their home through decor. The goal is for a buyer to walk into the home and imagine themselves living in the space. Vacant homes are perfect candidates for staging as statistics show that staged homes sell faster and higher in price.
It sounds like a great idea and many sellers see the value in this but what happens when money is tight and the seller cannot afford to hire a professional stager? Enter the "Virtual Stager". According to Sara Hoffman-Lines, owner of Semblance Staging, virtual staging is an affordable and convenient alternative to traditional staging that allows the photographer to de-clutter homes or add furniture to vacant homes all with the click of a mouse. They can work with photos you have already taken or take the photos for you. They will also measure the space so they can accurately add the appropriate furnishings. The designer will add furniture to vacant room photos or eliminate the pile of dirty clothes next to the bed. This is a perfect option for units with tenants or vacant spaces. It allows the buyers to see the home photographed at its best and gets the phone ringing for agents.
You can see examples of before and after photos on www.semblancestaging.com
As agent's we know the importance of a home that "shows well". One way to achieve this is for the seller to hire a professional stager. The role of the stager is to advise the seller on ways to improve the look and feel of their home through decor. The goal is for a buyer to walk into the home and imagine themselves living in the space. Vacant homes are perfect candidates for staging as statistics show that staged homes sell faster and higher in price.
It sounds like a great idea and many sellers see the value in this but what happens when money is tight and the seller cannot afford to hire a professional stager? Enter the "Virtual Stager". According to Sara Hoffman-Lines, owner of Semblance Staging, virtual staging is an affordable and convenient alternative to traditional staging that allows the photographer to de-clutter homes or add furniture to vacant homes all with the click of a mouse. They can work with photos you have already taken or take the photos for you. They will also measure the space so they can accurately add the appropriate furnishings. The designer will add furniture to vacant room photos or eliminate the pile of dirty clothes next to the bed. This is a perfect option for units with tenants or vacant spaces. It allows the buyers to see the home photographed at its best and gets the phone ringing for agents.
You can see examples of before and after photos on www.semblancestaging.com
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Beware School Zone Speeders
Quinn signs Emanuel speed cameras bill into law
Agents: Watch Out!
On February 6th, Governor Quinn signed a law that allows Mayor Emanuel to install and utilize red-light cameras to fine speeding drivers in school zones and parks. According to a Chicago Tribune article, the city generated $69 million in 2010 from red light cameras alone. I would assume that this number would grow exponentially with the addition of these school zone and park cameras.
The cameras would be rolling on all school days Monday through Thursday from 6am to 830pm and Fridays from 6am to 9pm. For parks, they're on one hour before and after parks close. The law takes effect on July 1st.
What does this mean for us? We'd better slow down across the board. This past week while I've been driving to and from showings, I've started to take notice of where these school zone signs are. They are everywhere. It's one thing to drive 20 mph down a side street where there are speed humps, but quite another driving down Western Avenue past Lane Tech. How on earth is this going to work?!
I'll tell you. If you are caught on camera traveling between 6 to 10 mph, you'll be facing a $50 ticket. Anything over 11 mph in these zones, you'll be donating $100 to our fine city.
My only advice to you is to start noticing where these signs are, use alternate routes or find an app that alerts you to these cameras.
Agents: Watch Out!
On February 6th, Governor Quinn signed a law that allows Mayor Emanuel to install and utilize red-light cameras to fine speeding drivers in school zones and parks. According to a Chicago Tribune article, the city generated $69 million in 2010 from red light cameras alone. I would assume that this number would grow exponentially with the addition of these school zone and park cameras.
The cameras would be rolling on all school days Monday through Thursday from 6am to 830pm and Fridays from 6am to 9pm. For parks, they're on one hour before and after parks close. The law takes effect on July 1st.
What does this mean for us? We'd better slow down across the board. This past week while I've been driving to and from showings, I've started to take notice of where these school zone signs are. They are everywhere. It's one thing to drive 20 mph down a side street where there are speed humps, but quite another driving down Western Avenue past Lane Tech. How on earth is this going to work?!
I'll tell you. If you are caught on camera traveling between 6 to 10 mph, you'll be facing a $50 ticket. Anything over 11 mph in these zones, you'll be donating $100 to our fine city.
My only advice to you is to start noticing where these signs are, use alternate routes or find an app that alerts you to these cameras.
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