Located in the heart of Lincoln Park, the walk includes gardens within the Sheffield neighborhood, which extends from Halsted west to the Chicago River and from Armitage north to Fullerton.

Taking place on July 17^th and 18^th, this year’s garden walk offers the chance to visit more than 100 exquisite residential gardens on a self-guided tour. Other activities include guided garden tours given by a landscape professional; live music from national/regional headline groups; a kids’ corner with a petting zoo, pony rides, hands-on activities and food service; and several wonderful dining options.

The gardens are open from noon to 5:30 p.m., and admission is a donation of $7 before 3:00 p.m. and $10 afterward (proceeds support neighborhood schools, institutions and community projects). Tickets and guidebooks can be purchased outside St. Vincent de Paul Church at 1010 W. Webster by Sheffield.  For full details, visit www.sheffieldgardenwalk.com.

While in the area, you might also consider signing up for one of four free architectural tours. Much of the Sheffield neighborhood is a National Historic District and includes Victorian-era Italianate, Romanesque, and Queen Anne architectural styles dating to 1875. Sign up when you buy your garden walk tickets.

While you’re on the walk, we hope you will also pass by some of the neighborhood homes we have listed for sale including  2029 N. Seminary (one of the few homes in the area left standing after the Chicago Fire), 2132 N. Kenmore and 2216 N. Magnolia. Just last month, we sold 2140 N. Fremont, which was the first-place winner at the 2008 Sheffield Garden Walk.

Photo from www.sheffieldgardenwalk.com

While our city home has limited us largely to container gardening, for those who are more ambitious and want a true taste of what it’s like to work the land and turn a crop, hobby farms are one option.

As a residential agent specializing mostly in Chicago’s North Side, I never thought I would have a chance to list such a property. So, imagine my delight when I was approached to represent Salute! Farm and Vineyard in Woodstock, Illinois.

The ideal country property for a city dweller, this secluded 41-acre country estate is little more than an hour’s drive from downtown and is set in a charming historic community (made famous by the film Groundhog Day) easily accessible via the Metra. It is located on one of the highest elevations in the area, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and wetlands, the majority of which is a dedicated conservation district.

As you could imagine, I gladly accepted the offer to take on Salute! (Italian for “To your health!”) as one of my listings.

A key feature of this property is the highly fertile soil that has not been exposed to any pesticides or fertilizers for over six years. Five acres are planted in organic vegetables, and another five acres are host to 1,580 trellised grape vines used in the production of award-winning red wine. In addition, there are blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, as well as bee hives.

The infrastructure on the farm includes a farmhouse, two barns, an automated greenhouse, a business office with cooler designed to hold produce, a mobile trailer, and a John Deere tractor and other essential equipment. The current owners are willing to provide transitional support to a buyer who is interested in continuing to maintain the vegetable business and/or grape vines.

If you’ve been thinking about a country retreat or are interested in getting involved in locally grown organic produce, I invite you to visit Salute! Farm and Vineyard. While in Woodstock, consider spending the night in town at the Town Square Inn and dining in one of the fantastic restaurants that downtown Woodstock has to offer.

For more information about this special opportunity, call me on my cell phone at (773) 908-3632.

Dyeing of the Chicago River

Chicago River at Columbus Drive - 399 N. Columbus Drive
Saturday, March 13 at 10:45 a.m.

If you haven’t seen it before, you won’t want to miss this famed tradition of dying the Chicago River fluorescent green. You can view the spectacle along the banks of the Chicago River between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive or by boat while dining on a traditional Irish buffet. St. Patrick’s Day Cruises will be offered at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

55th Annual Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade

On Columbus Drive in Grant Park
Saturday, March 13 starting at noon

After viewing the emerald green river (don’t worry… it’s temporary and eco-friendly), walk south through Millennium Park to Grant Park to catch Chicago’s 55^th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Highlights include floats, Irish step dancers, bands, Clydesdale horses and more. The parade starts at Columbus and Balbo Drive (300 south), proceeding north on Columbus Drive to Monroe Street (100 south). It ends next to the Art Institute’s new Modern Wing.

St. Patty’s at the Gage

Between the river and the parade, you might be tempted to stop in for brunch at The Gage, owned by the Lawless Family from Galway, Ireland. Located at 24 S. Michigan Avenue just north of The Art Institute of Chicago, their March 13 - 17 St. Patty’s Day menu includes Irish offerings such as rabbit sausage, corned beef and cabbage, pepper and salt corned Irish salmon, fried egg and white pudding, toasted oatmeal cake, and apple parfait.

Other Festivities

Of course, the Northwest Side Irish Parade and countless pub bashes, dinners, and Irish-themed events are planned for throughout the city and suburbs on March 13. Check out this page on Metromix for all the details. Have a specific event you recommend? Leave a comment!

Valentine’s Day Dinner and Treats

Take your pick from across the city of romance-themed multi-course dinners (often complete with wine, champagne and dessert) over at Metromix’s list of Valentine’s Day dinner events. Book your reservations early as restaurants tend to fill up. Then, think outside the (heart-shaped) box with the selections from these Chicago sweet shops, wine cellars, and bakeries.

V-Day Massages for Two

Do the gray days of winter have you down, dinner is not enough, or you are simply feeling stressed? In that case, a Swedish couples massage with aromatherapy oil, Valentine’s Day cupcakes, and a bottle of red wine might be the perfect romantic retreat. That’s just what you’ll find at Lincoln Park Massage with their three separate holiday massage packages priced from $225 to $300, running from February 12th through 15th.

A Night (or Day) at the Museum

Valentine’s Day festivities are not just limited to restaurants. Chicago’s newest romantic hot spot, at the Art Institute of Chicago, is getting into the act! Enjoy light appetizers, drinks and dancing from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the Modern Wing’s Griffin Court on Valentine’s Day. Tickets are $35 per person and include a cash bar. Want to make an evening of it? For $75 a person, enjoy the party in Griffin Court plus a three-course prix fixe dinner in the museum’s new award-winning restaurant, Terzo Piano. Reservations can be made by calling (312) 443-8650.

Prefer a museum experience with some ancient mystique instead? Head on over to the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute, and walk among the hieroglyphics and relics of Egyptian and Persian empires past. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $7 per adult.

Strolling Chicago’s Conservatories and Gardens

Why settle on a single bouquet of overpriced roses when you can enjoy a quiet stroll through climate-controlled green houses lush with exotic plants and flowers? That’s the experience offered year-round and free of admission at Chicago’s fantastic Garfield Park and Lincoln Park conservatories. February 13 at the Garfield Park Conservatory is “Sweet Saturday” where visitors can sample natural flavors like the vanilla, cinnamon, and chocolate grown there. And, if you’re open to venturing north of the city, the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe (free admission, $20 parking) boasts even more natural beauty, both indoors and out.

Romance on Lake Michigan

Another option is to get away from the city altogether with an afternoon or evening cruise. Enjoy a view of Chicago’s magnificent skyline as you dine in comfort on The Odyssey or The Spirit of Chicago. Both are offering Valentine’s Day brunch cruises at $55 a person and dinner cruises starting at $100.

Get Close in the Winter Chill

Finally, if you’re willing to brave the winter cold, nothing says old school romance like ice skating for two at an outdoor rink or taking a ride in a horse-drawn carriage down Michigan Avenue. Skate rentals go for $10 a person at the Millennium Park and Wrigley Field rinks, while buggy rides are $40 per half hour.

Romantic Retreat

Looking for a more permanent way to get away with your loved one? Ask our team how we can help you find a pied-à-terre or city residence of your own in one of Chicago’s charming neighborhoods. That would be a Valentine’s Day gift your sweetheart would never forget!

Regardless of how you celebrate, Valentine’s Day offers an important opportunity to tell the people you love how you feel about them. Over the weekend, I ran over to Walgreens and picked up cards to send to my out-of-town parents and in-laws. Last night, I wrote notes thanking them for all the wonderful things they do for me and my family. I also found a couple of cute cards for my husband. (After seven years of marriage and three kids, the tone is predictably more humorous than romantic!) The bottom-line is that time passes far too quickly and we are all very busy, but we should never be too busy on Valentine’s Day or throughout the year to take a few minutes to offer a hug, a kiss, an “I love you” or a thank you to those special people who are a part of our lives.

The following article originally appeared in our Chicago real estate magazine,

We all know that you can’t judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to selling your home, buyers will definitely be judging your property on its presentation.

With that in mind, taking some time to ensure that your home shows well before putting it on the market can really pay off - both in terms of a better price and a quicker sale. Best of all, you can see these benefits without the need to remodel bathrooms or pursue major renovations.

Here are a few of the simple, inexpensive tips our Team gives clients when preparing their homes for sale:

Closets

Most sellers don’t realize the importance of organizing all of their closets. Buyers care about having sufficient storage, and overstuffed closets can give the impression that your storage is anything but “sufficient.” Before you put up the “for sale” sign, thoroughly clean out your closets and get rid of everything you no longer need.

Here are some easy ways to make your closets feel more spacious and inviting:

- Remove all dry cleaner plastic.

- Group your clothes by type and then by color.

- Toss out your old hangers and replace them with new, matching hangers. Bed Bath & Beyond sells ultra-slim, non-slip velvet covered hangers that are attractive and inexpensive. Generally, avoid wood hangers (they are expensive and bulky), except for with men’s suits.

- Use matching clear plastic boxes to organize your accessories.

- Move everything off the floor and onto shoe racks, shelving or hangers.

Bedding

Upgrading your bedding is a great way to help your home feel new and fresh, and you can use the items in your new home! Simply get rid of your old linens and start from scratch. Before shopping, look online at the bedding collections at Restoration Hardware. Note how they furnish their beds with well-pressed sheets, a stylish blanket tucked in tight around the mattress, lots of pillows, and comforters folded down at the top of the bed. Regardless of where you shop, your objective should be for your beds to present a similar look of refinement and coordination.

Bathrooms

Imagine the most luxurious of hotel baths. A set of fluffy new white towels and a crisp new cotton or linen shower curtain can go a long way toward creating that feeling in your own home. Also, consider displaying extra towels rolled in baskets or neatly folded. Move all of your shampoo bottles and personal care products out of sight. Cutting out and replacing old caulk and upgrading bath hardware or lighting can also make a significant difference. Finally, look at your colors. Out-of-date finishes like cultured marble are less noticeable when you put an appealing, contemporary color on the walls. Again, Restoration Hardware - and Pottery Barn - are good sources for design ideas.

Lighting

Most sellers don’t give much thought to their lighting, yet it is critical to a home’s presentation. A dull, poorly lit home is much harder to sell than a crisp, brightly lit one.

Easy suggestions to improve illumination include:

- Put away all of your new fluorescent and low-energy light bulbs and save them for your next home.

- Install halogen floodlights in all your recessed ceiling fixtures. Halogen gives off a brighter, cooler light and is used to illuminate the merchandise in upscale retail stores.

- Install clear incandescent bulbs in light fixtures where you see the bulb, like bath sconces.

- Do not rely solely on overhead lighting, and especially not on a single overhead source like a ceiling fan or center fixture. Lamps are a must in bedrooms, your home office, etc.

- Make sure all your bulbs in a single fixture, like a chandelier or bath strip light, are of the same wattage.

If your bath fan and light are on the same switch, consider getting an electrician to “split” the switch so they can be controlled separately. There is nothing worse than showing a bath to a potential buyer and having to speak up over the sound of a noisy exhaust fan.

If you have questions about preparing your home for sale, feel free to call us at (312) 440-7525. We always provide a complimentary evaluation for our clients. More often than not, our clients have just one complaint after they finish staging their home for sale - they regret not doing it sooner.

Best of luck!

Lincoln Park Zoo Conservation Camp 2010

What: Weeklong, full or half-day camp sessions introducing children to the Lincoln Park Zoo, its animals and habitats, and various conservation topics. My oldest son went there for two weeks last summer and loved it.

Where: The Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago

Who: Four and five-year-olds through eighth graders

When: Sessions running from June through August

How: Registration open February 23, 2010. Priority and early registration is available to zoo members and supporters of the Donors Club. Prices range from $150 to $300 a week depending on the program. Visit here for more information.

Nature Museum Summer Camp

What: Camp that connects children to the wonders of nature through a combination of art, music, movement, hands-on science activities, and live animal encounters led by Nature Museum staff

Where: The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago

Who: Children aged four through ten

When: Two-week, 4-6 hour per day sessions running in June, July and August

How: Registration for returning families began on December 4, 2009. General registration begins on February 1, 2010. Prices range from $375 to $525 depending on the session selected. Discounts are available for museum members.

Summer at Latin

What: A variety of education and recreational programs ranging from nature hikes, arts and crafts, and swim lessons for younger children to digital video production, upper level mathematics, and SAT prep for middle and high school students

Where: The Latin School of Chicago

Who: Three-year-olds through twelfth graders. Participants need not be Latin School students

When: Various summer dates

How: Online registration is now open. Tuition ranges from $255 to over $2,000 depending on the program selected.

Summer Programs at Parker

What: A variety of multi-week summer camps offering activities such as arts and crafts, sports, beach visits, scavenger hunts or chess

Where: The Francis W. Parker School

Who: Junior kindergarteners through twelfth graders

When: Multi-week sessions throughout the summer

How: Registration is open now online, prices range from several hundred dollars to over a thousand depending on the program and length

Summer at Sacred Heart

What: A number of day camps and programs offering a variety of educational, recreational, athletic, and fine arts activities

Where: Sacred Heart’s facility at 6250 N. Sheridan Road in Edgewater, Chicago

Who: Children aged three to fifteen

When: Various summer dates

How: Registration is open now. Prices range from less than $100 for day sessions to over $300 for multi-day sessions

Chicago Park District Summer Camps

What: Various camp programs (day, morning and extended afternoon) at over 190 Chicago parks offering water fun, field trips, athletic activities, and cultural experiences

Who: Details available starting April 5

When: Length of camp programs vary, but most begin the week of June 28 and run for six weeks

How: Online registration opens on April 19. Fees vary by camp, but most are affordable at between $1 and $3 per hour. Full details will be available online starting April 5

Camp at Lakeview

What: Multiple programs (including day and overnight camping) featuring activities such as swimming, canoeing, hiking, rope climbing, singing, and arts and crafts

Where: The JCYS George W. Lutz Family Center, JCYS Camp Henry Horner (an hour from Lakeview) and other Chicagoland locations

Who: Two-year-olds through tenth graders

When: Various summer dates

How: Registration is available online here. Prices range from the low hundreds for one-week sessions to the mid thousands for six-week sessions

Language Stars Center Summer 2010

What: Themed language lessons in Spanish, French, Italian, German and Mandarin Chinese

Where: Language Stars’ center in Lincoln Park

Who: Twelve-month through ten-year-olds

When: Flexible dates and hours from June 14 through August 21

How: Registration is available online here (.pdf). Prices range from just over $100 to over $1,000 depending on the hours of instruction

Fred’s Camp

What: Four or eight-week day camp programs encouraging campers to participate and challenge themselves through activities such as field trips, swimming, and bowling.

Where: The DePaul University Athletic Training Center and Ray Mayer Fitness and Recreation Center

Who: Four-year-olds through eighth-graders

When: June 21 - July 16 and July 19 - August 13

How: Registration forms are available online here. Tuition ranges from $1,900 to $3,615 depending on the age group and program length.

Emerald City Theatre Summer Camp

What: Various one or two-week theatre programs with themes ranging from fairy tales and Doctor Seuss for younger children to CSI and Wicked for older campers.

Where: The Emerald City Theatre School and Theatre Building Chicago in Lakeview

Who: Three-and-a-half through twelve-year-olds

When: Various dates from June through July

How: Registration is available online. Tuition ranges from $255 to $750 depending on the age group and program length.

Paul Green School of Rock Music Summer Boot Camp

What: A two-week-long music camp focused on all things rock including music lessons, daily band rehearsal, rock history, and a studio recording culminating in a rock show.

Where: The Paul Green School of Rock Music in Highwood, Illinois

Who: Eight to seventeen­-year-olds who have basic proficiency with an instrument or vocal work

When: June 14 through 25

How: Tuition is $1,100 before April 1. Visit www.schoolofrock.com for more information.

You can find even more Chicagoland summer camps at this list on About.com. It’s from 2009, but many of the camp programs listed are ongoing.

Know a great Chicago-area summer camp but don’t see it above? Post a link in the comments section and share it with our other readers!

Live & Play Chicago was designed as an extension of this blog. The goal was to elevate the homes we sell beyond their bricks and mortar and show how they are a part of a larger, dynamic community. After all, your home is more than just an investment. It’s the place where you spend your free time, celebrate holidays, hang out with your family, unwind after work, and generally enjoy your life.

Unless you plan to stay home all the time (not likely), your decision to buy a home should include an understanding of the surrounding community and all that it has to offer. When we work with buyers, we encourage our clients to take a few minutes to assess which amenities matter most in the community. Would you like to be able to walk to neighborhood restaurants? Do you have kids and need access to parks, schools and a library? How do you get to work? If you don’t drive, which public transit routes would be most convenient? Is it important to have a gym close by?

Each of the homes featured in our magazine includes additional information about the architect, the location or a special aspect of the neighborhood. We had a lot of fun putting this section together, and we welcome your suggestions for our next edition.

On that note, if you are considering selling your home anytime soon, we still have openings for our Spring/Summer 2010 edition! For more information, contact me at jenny@jenniferames.com.

While you’re enjoying winter in the city, though, don’t forget some of these practical seasonal considerations.

Winter Street Parking Restrictions

Chicago’s Winter Overnight Parking Ban is back in effect. This yearly ban restricts parking between 3:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on 107 miles of Chicago’s most critical streets regardless of snowfall. Those violating the ban risk having their vehicles ticketed and towed, incurring as much as $250 in fines. And don’t think the city isn’t serious about this - 398 cars were towed on the first two nights of December.

While waking up to a sparkling blanket of virgin snow is part of the Chicago winter experience, it can mean trouble for area residents who park on another 500 miles of city streets. If more than two inches of snow falls at any time (day or night) and your car is parked in an affected location, it will be ticketed and relocated.

You can learn which streets are restricted by clicking here. Otherwise, keep a sharp eye out for winter weather restriction signs when parking your car on the street.

Frozen, Inoperable Parking Meters

With the recent drop in temperatures, Chicago’s new computerized parking meter kiosks have been freezing up - literally. Apparently the cold snap caused buttons to jam, rendering the machines unable to accept payment from parkers. The city and LAZ Parking, which manages the parking scheme, claim only 2% of meters have been affected, but The Expired Meter blog claims 60% of the 40 meters they surveyed had frozen components. I myself was recently unable to operate a frozen kiosk on North Clark Street and had to walk a block in freezing temperatures with my four-year-old son to pay for my spot.

Should you happen to park in a space with an inoperable meter, you are advised to contact LAZ and inform them of the problem. If you get ticketed, use the reference number on your ticket to dispute the fine.

Protect your Home

It is important to remember to follow common sense cold weather precautions and protect one of your most valuable assets, your home. This is especially applicable to the growing number of vacant homes that are on the market for rent and for sale. As a Chicago area real estate agent, I have seen a number of homes suffer damage when temperatures fall. During last week’s single-digit chill, we went to check on each of the vacant homes we have on the market. We discovered that one of our clients forgot to put the gas bill into their name after their tenants moved out, prompting the gas company to disconnect service. Their home was dangerously cold inside. Another day or two and the water pipes would have frozen and burst. If your home is vacant, don’t forget to obtain vacant home insurance so you are covered if there is a problem.

Speaking of protecting your home, keep in mind that the holiday season is a time when your home may be more vulnerable to burglary. Last year at this time, I wrote about precautions you can take to protect against this, and my advice still applies.

Conclusion

So relax and enjoy all that Chicago has to offer this winter season, but be aware and be safe.

Photo by yuan2003

There are many factors that may cause a contract to unravel. Understanding what they are and how some can be avoided can help prevent disappointment down the road.

Change in Buyer’s Circumstances

Unfortunately, in this economy, people are taking pay cuts and losing their jobs on a regular basis. A thoroughly researched pre-approval letter cannot anticipate this possibility. A change in job status can disrupt a buyer’s desire to buy and their ability to obtain a loan. The stress of the economy has taken its toll in other ways, including causing marital problems and exacerbating mental health issues, which our team has seen firsthand can prompt buyers to back out of their purchases.

Inspection Issues

Buyers in today’s market are more skittish than ever, and with more properties on the market, they have no reason to “settle.” Therefore it is critical that sellers make sure their home is in top condition before their buyer brings their home inspector through. It is much more difficult to get a buyer back to the negotiating table after they have lost confidence in the home they are buying. In the case of a problematic inspection, buyers are as likely to cancel their contract and keep looking as they are to negotiate. For that reason, sellers should consider investing in a pre-listing home inspection. The cost of the inspector’s fee (and making necessary repairs in advance) is minor relative to the cost of losing your buyer and needing to start over again.

Condo Association Issues

If you are selling a condo or a co-op apartment, it pays to work with your property manager or association president to obtain all the documentation your buyer and their lender will require in advance of putting your home on the market. This includes more detailed information than ever, and sometimes it can take weeks to put together. If you wait to collect this information until after you are under contract, there is a good chance you will delay your ability to satisfy your contingencies and get your buyer’s loan approved. Delays can be toxic as they may cause buyers to lose confidence in the building and the quality of its management. Worse yet, you and your buyer may find a surprise weeks after you are under contract that kills your deal but could have been managed with notice.

Below is a list of information you should provide to your agent:

-        Condo declaration and by-laws (and any amendments)

-        Association Rules and Regulations

-        Move-in and move-out protocol (if separate from Rules and Regulations)

-        Buyer’s Sales Package (application, transfer fees, etc.)

-        2 years of association budgets

-        12 months of board meeting minutes

-        Reserve fund balance. Lenders are looking for at least six months of operating costs in your association’s reserve account.

-        Statement of recent and planned capital projects and/or special assessments

-        Statement describing litigation, if any. If there is a lawsuit pending, the association must have reserves or insurance coverage available to manage the damages being requested. If the association is suing someone (e.g. the builder) and it involves repairs/improvements, the work must have been completed or the association must have the funds in reserves to cover the cost of the repairs.

-        % of units that are leased. Lenders don’t want to see more than 25-30% owned by investors.

-        % of units owned by a single entity. No individual can own more than 10% in any association unless the association is new construction/a new conversion where the developer has yet to sell the remaining units (in which case you should call your lender directly). The concern is that if the individual owning the units has financial difficulties, it will translate into difficulties for the association.

-        % of units that are delinquent in their monthly assessments. This should not exceed 15% of the total.

Even after providing this information to your potential buyer, you should expect that the buyer’s attorney will request an official “22.1 Disclosure” and that the buyer’s lender will have a separate questionnaire. Both forms will need to be completed by your building manager or condo association president.

By receiving and reviewing all the association information in advance, you can anticipate and potentially solve objections. For example, if more than 15% of the homeowners in your association are delinquent in paying their monthly assessments, your buyer may have trouble getting a mortgage. It would be in your best interest to work with your association to try to get more people current. It is in everyone’s best interest to cure this problem because if a buyer cannot finance their purchase, then it will narrow the pool of qualified prospects and reduce property values.

Communication Issues

In Illinois, buyers and sellers are represented by attorneys. Their job is to negotiate modifications to the contract as well as inspection items, to obtain and review title, reconcile closing costs, and handle other legal matters. It is very important that you use a local attorney who has expertise in residential real estate closings. We have seen sales fall apart because the buyer or seller’s relative who is a lawyer but who specializes in some other area of the law is handling the transaction “as a favor” and instead costs them the sale.

It is also critical that your attorney communicate regularly with your real estate agent.  I have a small number of attorneys who handle the majority of my team’s sales each year. The reason we highly recommend these attorneys is because we know we can rely on them to represent our client’s best interests in an intelligent and timely manner. We also have confidence that they will keep us “in the loop” so we can work together to solve potential problems before they escalate and cause a sale to fall apart.  In this day and age, that means an attorney who regularly uses email in his practice and knows how to quickly transmit documents.  As an agent, my worst nightmare is when my client engages an attorney who is not a team player, and I find out after the fact that the attorney has either dropped the ball and failed to communicate with the other side or communicated in a manner that caused the sale to break down.

Appraisal Issues

Gone are the days when appraisals automatically come in at the sale price. It is critically important that sellers and their real estate agents work together to make sure that the appraiser has as much information as possible to support the contract price.

Your real estate agent should meet your appraiser at your home and bring along property listings for recent closed sales and active competition that support your sales price.  In addition, they should have a written list of the improvements and features that distinguish your home, as well as a copy of your survey, floor plan, and any other recent appraisals (less than six months old) assuming they support your price. As the seller, you should prepare your home as you would for a showing so it looks its best. The goal is to provide all the evidence needed to “sell” your home to the buyer’s lender’s appraiser.

I have a friend who recently sold their apartment to a neighbor without a real estate agent. The seller did not understand the importance of the appraisal and did not prepare. They gave the appraiser access but did not provide any additional information about their home, their improvements, or the building.  Unfortunately the appraiser (who was not familiar with the city real estate market) valued the property at more than 10% below the contract price, the buyer lost confidence and the sale was called off.

Buyer’s Sale Blowing Up

Given all the ways that your sale can run into trouble, it is logical that your buyer (if they are already under contract to sell their current residence) may face the same challenges with their own sale. Should their sale contract blow up, it may spike the chances of your sale holding together. In this way, it’s possible for one blown up contract to undo one or more others in a chain reaction.

Conclusion

Pitfalls aside, buyers still need homes, and therefore sales continue to happen. The trick is simply doing what you can to keep your home sale’s odds stacked in your favor. Unfortunately, the journey has only become far more treacherous and complex. For that reason, it is more important than ever before that sellers are represented by an experienced real estate agent and residential attorney.

Thank you to real estate attorney Leo G. Aubel and mortgage broker Leslie Struthers of Guaranteed Rate for their assistance with this article. Feel free to contact any of us if you have follow up questions or require further assistance.