Beware of Being Fooled By Home Staging

According to a report just out, it is too easy to be fooled by home staging. Home staging is a term that we are gradually becoming familiar with. It is the idea that we try to create the best impression of our home when selling the house. It used to be just run the vacuum over it and do the dishes but nowadays there is a whole set of rules to follow!

The idea is, that a staged home stands out from all the others and therefore gets sold more quickly. It certainly can be carried to extremes with reports of sellers hiring storage units to cart their junk off to. Larger items of furniture are encouraged to be put into storage by professional 'home stagers' so that the house looks bigger and more spacious

Another instruction is to remove anything personal like photographs, so that the prospective buyer can visualize the house as their own. Closets are de-cluttered so that they look more spacious and all bathroom paraphernalia is supposed to be gone from the counter top! Garbage bins are even removed and hidden from sight.

However it has been suggested that home staging can also be deliberately used to hide a multitude of sins!

The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA, who solely represent buyers in the realty business) has suggested that as much as 82% of buyers are sidetracked from the important issues by a well-staged house. This organization also concedes that home staging nets more cash and faster sales - so it works!

Some of the underhand tricks used in staging can include using smaller furniture to make a room look larger, placing rugs over damaged parts of the floor, or using curtains to hide rotting sills. Also specified is the practice of putting a cheap paint job on to cover defects. Your realtor is legally obligated to let you know of any defects, but only if he actually knows about them!

Buyers are urged by the NAEBA to be cautious and to remember that when the house is sold, the stage is taken away. The tricks of home staging do not improve the floor plan, or the square footage of the home or the quality of the neighborhood, and these are the qualities that you will be re-selling at a later date.

Chicago Properties - Title Insurance Tips

If you plan to buy a Chicago property, the sooner you learn about title insurance, the better. For many first time Chicago real estate buyers, the first time they hear about title insurance at the closing of their Chicago property. This article presents the basics of title insurance for protecting your new Chicago real estate acquisition.

What is Chicago Properties Title Insurance?

When you buy a new car, do you insure your car? Of course! When you apply for car insurance, does the agent ask to see your title? Of course! That’s the basic idea behind Chicago Properties title insurance - to protect your Chicago real estate investment , The mortgage lender requires proof you own the Chicago property and no one else has a lien on your property. The chances or securing a Chicago real estate mortgage without title insurance are like the Chicago Cubs winning the pennant this year –only better!

Title Insurance - NOT Casualty Insurance

Casualty Insurance such as car insurance assumes risks for damage to your car or other property. When you have a covered accident or loss, they pay you. Title insurers earn their money by finding and eliminating risks to your Chicago property BEFORE you sign the contract. The amount of money involved is so LARGE, there is no room for mistakes. The Chicago real estate buyer and Chicago real estate seller both want the deal for the Chicago property to go through and title Insurance is the vehicle to close the deal.

Title Insurance Benefits Chicago Properties

First you should be healthy and live to a ripe old age in your new Chicago property… Because the problems that could befall you without title insurance could endanger your health such as investing your life savings in a Chicago property only to find you don’t have a clean title to it and wind up in court. The lawyer fees alone will set up back a small fortune or a big one depending how long and costly the fight to secure title to your Chicago property.

Chicago Properties Title Insurance Policies

Title insurance policies come in two types of policies: An "owner's" policy which insures you, the homebuyer and your heirs. The other type is a "lender's" policy to protect their security interest in your Chicago real estate acquisition. As opposed to car insurance, the title insurance premium is a one time payment based on the size of your Chicago property purchase. Also, shop around for title insurance to save money better spend on your new Chicago property. Happy Home Hunting!