So you now own your first home, or are looking for your first home – naturally you are doing research for that perfect property. However, the purchase price is just the beginning. Maintaining a home and running a home is more than that.

Useful information such as the recent article I posted on Water Rates in the Chicagoland area are helpful in giving potential homeowners in the area a guide or base to what to expect – however true data only occurs by trial! Therefore even though you may do a ton of research, experiencing it first hand is the only way to go!

One topic which is getting a lot of attention this year is winter lawn care. After all if your home purchase include a yard with some lawn then you need to know how to care for it – particularly in the winter months. Courtesy of Realty Times for inspiration, we have come up with a few tips to help you look after your yard this winter and beyond!

A well looked after green lawn is the ideal image that every homeowner strives for. The perfect picture of Americana!

However, in the real world it takes work to get to that stage! The months of winter are hard on your lawn – snow, ice, rain etc all take its toll leaving a brown, soggy, dead mess – a far cry from that carpet of perfection you are looking for!

However, spring is a great time of year to start to get ahead with your lawn and boost curb appeal down the line.

Simple pointers such as:

1. At the end of winter DO NOT WALK ON YOUR LAWN – Particularly after ice and snow has melted – give your lawn time to dry out.

2. Consider aeration – using spiked shoes or a garden fork, poking holes into the dirt is both fun, and can be great for your grass health! Post aeration, ensure to add a sprinkling of compost to help things along.

3. Mow your lawn – ONLY after it is dry and no longer risks freeze. Ensure to collect dead grass clippings and not let them rot in the lawn itself.

4. Adding Fertilizer – early spring can work best – adding fertilizer now will ensure that your grass will be ready for summer!

More detailed tips can often be found at your local home improvement store – along with soil testing kits etc.

Enjoy your home and your homeownership journey and hopefully these tips will help you get a great lawn in the process!

Whether you are a first time buyer trying to determine how much you can afford, or an experienced buyer who is selling your current property and ready to buy your next home I can help you with all your real estate needs in the Chicagoland Northwest Suburbs Area.

Finding your dream home or finding a buyer is only part of the challenge of a successful transaction. Click here to search Bartlett IL, Schaumburg IL and the Hoffman Estates using our complimentary MLS Search service. You can also view our fantastic range of featured properties!

Alternatively please contact me today if you need more specific assistance in your real estate needs. You can call the office on: 847-874-6731 or Cell phone on: 847-913-2606 or of course email me at: Joe@JoeStacy.com

My expertise, experience and dedication to you and your specific needs are anything but average – it’s why this office is number one in the Northwest Suburbs year after year!

Joe Stacy
2570 W. Schaumburg Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60194

Well, winter is still here and I am not sure about you, but it is hard not just on us but on our homes!

This year you could choose to get on top of that “honey-do” list and save some money in the short and long term!

If you are selling your home keeping on top of those small repairs is of utmost importance! Even if your home is not on the market you need to look after your home to save money on future potential repairs.

However, lets be honest here, most of those little nagging jobs you never get around to until its time to sell! Even then sometimes sellers complain about the cost of doing these repairs. Therefore here is an idea – repair little and often!

Spending a $100 here and there on those little repairs – the leaky faucet, the weather proofing and caulking can not only save a bigger job down the line it can also give you that added advantage when it comes time to sell!

These days with foreclosures and short sales many repairs are not carried out, so by spending a little money on the smaller jobs can reap rewards in making your home stand out when it comes to selling!

Things which shouldn’t be overlooked include: changing your furnace air filters regularly, fixing leaky faucets/toilets, repairing caulking issues in the bathroom and defective electrical outlets/wiring – these may seem insignificant but they can make a big difference!

Whether you are a first time buyer trying to determine how much you can afford, or an experienced buyer who is selling your current property and ready to buy your next home I can help you with all your real estate needs in the Chicagoland Northwest Suburbs Area.

Finding your dream home or finding a buyer is only part of the challenge of a successful transaction. Click here to search Bartlett IL, Schaumburg IL and the Hoffman Estates using our complimentary MLS Search service. You can also view our fantastic range of featured properties!

Alternatively please contact me today if you need more specific assistance in your real estate needs. You can call the office on: 847-874-6731 or Cell phone on: 847-913-2606 or of course email me at: Joe@JoeStacy.com

My expertise, experience and dedication to you and your specific needs are anything but average – it’s why this office is number one in the Northwest Suburbs year after year!

Joe Stacy
2570 W. Schaumburg Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60194

Definitely exciting times ahead for Chicagoland real estate!

Despite the cold the market is moving and the interest by first time homebuyers is at its peak. Yet, there are often alot of unanswered questions by people when it comes to the homebuying process, the tax credit as well as where the market is going and if now is the time to buy!

Well, last year as we mentioned at the previous “Schaumburg FREE First Time Homebuyer Seminar“ that real estate prices were at 2003 levels and interest rates were at historic lows, the question on whether it’s the time to buy is a no brainer!

Of course rates are still low and the market still offers a great range of fantastic properties for sale – from standard sales, to short sales and foreclosures.

However, in order to make sense of all of these different types of sales and what your options may be, again this year I am hosting another FREE First Time Homebuyer Seminar (click for PDF Flyer) – in addition to a host of other seminars! The first time homebuyer seminar will encompass a wide range of topics, such as:

• Do I Qualify For the $8,000 Tax Credit?
  How To Buy A Foreclosure?
  New Homes Vs. Existing Homes
  How important is Credit When Buying A Home?
  What Mortgage Program Is Best For Me?
  Tax Advantages of Home Ownership
  What Are The Top 10 Home Defects
  Do I Do an Inspection Before Making an Offer?
  Important Contract Contingencies
  What Is An Attorney’s Role In a Real Estate Sale? 

As a courtesy I am holding the seminar on two dates to ensure that everyone has the best chance of being able to attend. They are as follows;

Thursday January 21, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m OR Saturday January 30, 2010 at 12:00 p.m – 2:00p.m.

Register online today for the seminar – seating is limited and the deadline for registration is January 18th 2010. Click here for the registration page.

The location of the seminar is at The Schaumburg CRC, 505 N Springinsguth Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60194 (click for Google Map of location and to get directions!)

This is definitely something which I would recommend that a first time homebuyer thinking of purchasing a home in Bartlett IL, Schaumburg IL and the Hoffman Estates or any other area attends to see if purchasing a home right for them and allow them to connect with professionals who know the business in the Northwest Chicagoland area.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Whether you are a first time buyer trying to determine how much you can afford, or an experienced buyer who is selling your current property and ready to buy your next home I can help you with all your real estate needs in the Chicagoland Northwest Suburbs Area.

Finding your dream home or finding a buyer is only part of the challenge of a successful transaction. Click here to search Bartlett IL, Schaumburg IL and the Hoffman Estates using our complimentary MLS Search service. You can also view our fantastic range of featured properties!

Alternatively please contact me today if you need more specific assistance in your real estate needs. You can call the office on: 847-874-6731 or Cell phone on: 847-913-2606 or of course email me at: Joe@JoeStacy.com

My expertise, experience and dedication to you and your specific needs are anything but average – it’s why this office is number one in the Northwest Suburbs year after year!

In Illinois, anyone planning on an outdoor project that requires any type of digging regardless of the depth or project size needs to call JULIE before they start digging. JULIE stands for Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators which is a not-for-profit corporation that provides homeowners and professional excavators with FREE locating and marking of underground utilities.

Planning a project for this spring that requires digging? Call JULIE at 800-892-0123 or if in the city limits of Chicago call 312-744-7000. You now may also dial 811. You must call at least 48 hours or 2 working days (excluding holidays) in advance of the start of your excavation. When you call, be prepared to provide the operator your name, address, a phone number at which you can be reached and a fax number if available. You must also provide the county, city and address of where the excavation is to take place (if different than your contact information) and the start date and time for the planned excavation. It is recommended that you property identify your project area by marking the area with white paint and/or flags.

Within 2 working days, a representative from each utility company will mark the location of their underground utility with paint and/or flags at the excavation site. Each utility locator uses a different color paint or flag to mark their buried utility. Gas is yellow, electric is red, water is blue, TV or phone is orange and sewer is green. Work must be completed in 14 days.

Respect the marks and dig with care.

Keep it clean. Even though you have thoroughly cleaned and prepped the home to put it on the market, you must still live in it between showings. Be prepared to tidy up and vacate your home at a moment’s notice so it can be shown. Make up beds first thing in the morning so that they are not forgotten. Keep disposable floor wipes handy to be able to quickly mop floors as well as freshen up bathrooms and kitchen sinks.

Open all window coverings to let in as much light as possible. Turn on lights in smaller rooms, such as bathrooms and the laundry room, to help them appear larger. You want to create a lighted environment without overdoing it. If the weather is nice, open a couple of windows to create a breeze and get some fresh air into the house. If you have ceiling fans, turn them on to help circulate air. In winter, think about turning the heat up slightly to make it cozy feeling to potential buyers who walk in from the nippy outside.

You will also want to create a pleasant mood as the house is being shown. One way to create this mood is to is to play soft music while the buyer is there. You may also wish to place fresh flowers around the house to create a cheery atmosphere. You may wish to create visual ambiance by turning on key lights such as chandeliers or scones.

Finally, make sure the home is vacant as it is being shown. You and your family should take a walk or otherwise do something outside of the house. Make sure the pets are gone too; put them in cages or take them to a neighbor.

If you have any questions about preparing your home for a quicker sale, consider attending my free home selling seminar on February 19 at the Bartlett Community Center from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Seating is limited so be sure to register if you want to secure your spot!

With temperatures below zero lately, the cost of heating your home has more of an impact on your budget than ever before. Follow these tips to keep your heating bill reasonable:

1. For a 5% decrease on your energy bill, remember to lower the thermostat as you leave the house and also before you go to bed. This costs you nothing and the savings will really add up once you make it a daily routine.
2. Keep the doors inside your house open to increase the airflow and prevent the need for your heating system to work harder.
3. Keep your drapes closed at night to trap heat inside, and open them in the morning to allow the sunlight to naturally warm your house.
4. Seal your windows with vinyl weatherstrip to save up to $100 per year.
5. Replace your furnace filter every three months if needed. A clean filter is a cheap way to save big bucks in the long run.
6. Insulate your attic. This can save you a bundle on your energy bill!  Attic insulation should be around 18 inches thick and standing walls can be filled with blow-in foam for around $1.00 per square foot.