REAL ESTATE LOCAL | Where to Start for the Spring Market by Penny O'Brien, Baird & Warner

GETTING READY FOR THE SPRING MARKET: WHERE TO START

The festivities of the holidays are over & you don't know where to start on getting your home ready for the spring market. You need to start now! Spring Market in Chicagoland starts right after the Superbowl. We have less than 2 months supply of inventory. It would benefit sellers to get their home on the market as soon as possible because of historically low inventory.

1. Consult with your local real estate expert! They are a source of information & vendors to help prepare your home.

2. You need to declutter starting now! It takes time to go through your items. Make 3 piles, trash, donate & keep. If you are not going to move the item to your new house, get rid of it before you list. Make arrangements for charity items to be picked up.

3. The most inexpensive improvement you can make is paint & it has the highest return on investment. Your home will feel clean, fresh & a blank slate for your buyers.

4. Does your home need new carpet? Old worn carpet speaks to the condition of the entire home. New carpet refreshes the home & improves the condition of the house. It also removes one of the buyers' objections.

5. My next favorite improvement would be light fixtures. They are the jewelry of the home. If your light fixtures are 15 years old or older, it's time! They are inexpensive & add style.

6. Stage your home! Staged homes sell 76% faster. Stagers do a consult at the beginning to give direction especially about removing furniture & decluttering. Then they come back before listing to stage with staging props.

List it sooner than later! There will be more competition in April & May–Happy selling!

Penny O’Brien is among the top 1% of all Chicagoland Brokers serving buyers and sellers throughout the western suburbs. Her track record of success has helped her build a solid repeat and referral client base.

• Sold $53 Million in 2021

• #1 Realtor Baird & Warner Naperville 2021

• Top 1% of all Chicagoland realtors

• Glancer Magazine Reader’s Choice Award 2022, 2021,2020

• Chicago Agent Magazine Who’s Who 2021,2020, 2019

ABOUT PENNY O'BRIEN

BAIRD & WARNER – One word that consistently comes to clients’ minds when they think of Penny O’Brien is “hustle.” As a Seller Representative Specialist, she loves meeting with sellers to discuss pre-market home improvements and guide them to make their home “showtime ready” when it hits the market. She strongly believes in professional staging and offers it as a complimentary service. With a reputation for “good-looking listings,” she helps clients realize a higher return and quicker sale. Penny says “Staging transforms a home from average to amazing”.

Penny O'Brien Broker, Relocation Specialist and Negotiation Expert (630) 207-7001 • penny.obrien@bairdwarner.com