Thursday, June 25, 2009

Come See Us!

The Parade of Homes is on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00. You can find us at these listings.

2602 W Carrington, Dunlap
Don’t miss this 5 bedroom 3 ½ bath “Signature Home” located in Dunlap’s Wynncrest Subdivision. This home offers granite countertops in the kitchen with hardwood floors, carried through to the foyer and pass-through from the garage. A large 2 story foyer with a loft welcomes your guests into the home. Upstairs are 4 bedrooms with 2 full baths. The master suite offers a walk-in closet and a large bathroom. The partially finished basement offers a bedroom, full bathroom and a rec room for all your entertaining. $327,400 Check-out the listing for more details.

2604 Sydney Place, Pekin
Quality built 3 bedroom 2 bath home by E.O. Reed Construction. Located in Marigold Estates in Pekin this 1490 sqft ranch offers a large open floor plan with plaster walls, carpet and ceramic tile floors, Andersen windows, and a full basement. The kitchen has Corian ® Countertops and a breakfast bar. The living room has a gas log fireplace with electric and cable hook-ups above it for a flat screen TV. The split bedroom floor plan offers some privacy for the master suite. A 2 stall attached garage and patio off the dining room finish off this completed new construction. $224,900 Check-out the listing for more details.

We are also having an Open House on Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00.

13627 N Wild Spruce, Chillicothe
This stunning 5 bedroom 3 and a half bath 2 story in Cedar Hills Estates is a must see! The main floor offers a kitchen with granite countertops, hardwood floors, a family room with gas log fireplace, a formal living room, a formal dining room, an informal dining room, mf laundry and a half bath. 4 bedrooms are upstairs including the Master Bedroom w Master Bath and WIC and another full bath. The basement is finished with a 5th bedroom and a Rec Room, a Bar Room and a third full bath. The yard is beautifully landscaped complete with an irrigation system and a stamped concrete patio. This is truly a magnificent home! $289,900 Check out the listing for more details.

Email or call us at 309-657-0063 if you have any questions.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

New Listings

147 Sheffield, Groveland
Great 3 bedroom 2 bath ranch located in Groveland. This house sits on a corner lot, with a fenced back yard for privacy and a deck for grilling. There is a great room on the main level with a gas fireplace, and a family room and rec area in the finished basement. The basement offers room for storage and a gas fireplace. There is also an area stubbed for a bathroom. Do not miss out on this great home. $169,900 See the listing for more details.

4900 N Knoxville Unit 109A, Peoria
2 Bedroom 2 Full Bath Condo with many updates. The kitchen has been completely remodeled with new cabinets, countertops, ceramic tile floor, and stainless appliances. The furnace and A/C have been updated within the last 2 years. The formal dining room has newer hardwood floors. There is newer carpet throughout the entire condo. The living room has a marble fireplace and sliders that lead to the concrete patio. Laundry room is in unit. There is a heated pool on site. This unit comes with 2 parking spaces in the heated garage, and 2 storage units in attic area. Water and Cable are included in HOA fee. $119,000 See the listing for more details.

Email or call us at 309-657-0063 if you have any questions.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Tips for Finding the Right Home for Your Family

When beginning the process of finding a new home, it is often difficult to know where to begin. Before researching the market or analyzing housing options, home buyers may want to start by prioritizing their family’s needs, determining what are “need-to-haves” and what are “nice-to-haves.” Below are some factors you may want to consider when trying to find the right home for your family.

When you begin searching for the right home for your family, you may first want to determine what would be the best location. One of the best ways to find a home location that suits your family is to assess your needs and determine how much your family can compromise. For instance, do you have small children or pets that require a large backyard to play in? Or would you be equally happy taking your kids and dog to the local park? Do you need quiet surroundings, like a dead-end street, or do you prefer the hustle and bustle of metropolitan areas? These are the types of general assessments which may help you determine an ideal location for your family.

Though it may be easy to determine what type of environment your family wants to reside in, you will want to spend more time analyzing the details of the neighborhoods you are considering. As you try to determine which neighborhoods are best for your family, you may want to take into account such factors as the quality of nearby schools and the proximity to shopping or your workplace. After seeing what different neighborhoods have to offer, compare the pros and cons of each area you are considering to determine the best location for your family.

After you have a chance to look at a few homes and research various neighborhoods, try to visualize the best home for your family. Though you have probably already thought about how many bedrooms and bathrooms your family needs, consider keeping a list of desired amenities – both essential and those that you could live without – as you continue the home buying process. You may also want to consider what type of home construction your family needs, from a standard single-family home to a condominium or even a multi-family home. Upon viewing particular homes, you may realize that your family needs a certain amount of storage space or more overall square footage than you realized. Add and subtract from this list as you look at more homes, always keeping track of where your family can compromise.

For instance, if you find a home that meets all of your family’s needs but has a smaller than desired garage, you could still be faced with an opportunity that is too good to pass up. Furthermore, you might find the perfect home in a neighborhood you never thought to consider, or in a specific type of construction that was initially ruled out of your search. Quite simply, try not to limit your family’s options too much and remain open-minded throughout the home buying process. You might even find a great home with special features you never thought your family could afford – like a pool, a spa or an extra fireplace.

When trying to find the best home for your family, try to stay organized and keep your priorities straight. As you look at different homes, try to consider how each property fits your family’s needs. After finding some homes that meet your family’s needs, you may then want to focus on each home’s desirable extras to help narrow down your search. By making such lists and assessing your family’s needs throughout the home buying process, you might be surprised how quickly you uncover the home of your dreams.

The staff at Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC writes select articles about important topics related to real estate. For more information about buying a home or selling your current property, visit ColdwellBanker.com today.

Visit the Buyers section of our website for more information. Email or call us at 309-657-0063 if you have questions.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Parade of Homes

Tara Gillespie, an Accredited Staging Professional with the Gillespie Group, recently staged 2604 Sydney in Pekin for the upcoming Parade of Homes. The Parade of Homes will be going on June 20, 21, 27, and 28th from 1:00 to 5:00.

Staging sets the scene throughout the house to create immediate buyer interest, resulting in fast sales and greater profit for you! Here are a few before and after pictures so you can see for yourself.


To learn more about home staging visit Staging Your Home at www.richgillespie.com. Email or call us at 309-657-0063 with your questions.

For more information on the Parade of Homes, visit the Peoria Home Builders website .

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Great New Chillicothe Listing!

13627 N Wild Spruce, Chillicothe
This stunning 5 bedroom 3 and a half bath 2 story in Cedar Hills Estates is a must see! The main floor offers a kitchen with granite countertops, hardwood floors, a family room with gas log fireplace, a formal living room, a formal dining room, an informal dining room, mf laundry and a half bath. 4 bedrooms are upstairs including the Master Bedroom w Master Bath and WIC and another full bath. The basement is finished with a 5th bedroom and a Rec Room, a Bar Room and a third full bath. The yard is beautifully landscaped complete with an irrigation system and a stamped concrete patio. This is truly a magnificent home! $289,900 Check out the listing for more details. Email or call us at 309-657-0063 if you have any questions.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

New Listings!

308 Westfield, Dunlap
Professionally landscaped yard for outdoor entertaining and features deck, large brick patio and attractive Hohulin fence. Just blocks about from Dunlap schools, Rock Island Trail and new high tech library. Incredible storage, hardwood floors, charming baby windows, vaulted and tray ceilings, sky lights and two kitchens. Low real estate tax rate. Immediate possession and easy to show! Just minutes from Grand Prairie mall. $319,900 Check-out the listing for more details. Email or call us at 309-657-0063 if you have any questions.

1624 W Columbia Terrace, Peoria
This charming turn of the century home is on a corner lot in historic Uplands. Relax on the inviting front porch. Spacious rooms with hardwood floors, natural woodwork, pocket doors, stained glass and built-in china cabinets. Main staircase or back service stairs lead to 2nd floor with 4 bedrooms, full bath with double sinks and original subway tile. 3rd floor features separate HVAC, hot water heater, full bath, bedroom and living area. This home is waiting for you to experience a part of Peoria’s history. $179,900 Check-out the listing for more details. Email or call us at 309-657-0063 if you have any questions.

1423 E Valley Shore, Peoria
Check out this 3 bedroom home located in Mossville and IVC school district. This very well maintained home offers 3 bedrooms on the main floor with a full bath and a large kitchen dining area. There is an attached garage and a full finished basement. The sliding glass door from the dining area leads to the fenced backyard. The basement has a large laundry area, storage area, office and a rec room. Do not miss this opportunity. $97,500 Check-out the listing for more details. Email or call us at 309-657-0063 if you have any questions.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Selling a House with Pets

You love you pets and so does the rest of the neighborhood. However, when it comes time to sell your home, you shouldn’t expect the same of those interested in your property. While it is difficult for some homeowners to understand the negative perceptions about pets held by some prospective buyers, you should try to make your home as appealing as possible to everyone who walks through the door. Before showing your home, consider some of these steps to minimize the impact of pets and potentially maximize interest from prospective buyers.

Before showing your home to buyers, you should try to remove all signs of your pets. Start by putting away any food and water bowls, pet toys and litter boxes. If your dogs use a doggie door to get in and out of your home, consider replacing or sealing up the door. If you keep photos of you and your pets on display, pack the images away when prospective buyers are in your home. Lastly, if you have any items that are too big to hide – like cages or dog carriers – find a discreet storage location in the garage or outside the home.

To ensure that you don’t offend the eyes (or noses) of prospective buyers, you may want to devote extra time to cleaning your home. If you have cats or dogs that roam freely in the home, start by vacuuming the entire house. Next, as most pet-loving homes have a carpet stain or two, consider hiring a professional cleaner to get rid of the offending spots. If you find any stains that cannot be removed, you may want to replace the carpet or flooring before showing your home. To remove the last whiffs of pet smell from your home, avoid air fresheners (some of your guests may have allergies) and try using a heavy-duty enzyme cleaner. When you are confident in your cleaning, ask a friend or extended family member to inspect for stains and smells before showing the home.

Ideally, homeowners may want to try relocating their pets while their home is on the market. Rather than keeping your four-legged loved ones locked up in the garage, consider asking your friends and family to help out. If you can’t find anyone with the ability to watch your pets, you may need to consider using a nearby kennel. While this might be incredibly difficult to do – for pet and pet owner alike – this step could go a long way towards helping prospective buyers feel comfortable in your home. By keeping your pets out of your home while it is on the market you will be able to minimize the impact they’ve had on the property and avoid any mishaps with prospective buyers. However, if you can’t bear to part with your pets while your home is on the market, you should still try to remove your furry friends during open houses and tours.

While there may be plenty of pet-friendly home buyers that visit your open house, it is important not to offend anyone who looks at your home. In fact, even some pet owners might be turned off by the presence of your pets. After all, plenty of pet owners believe their own animals to be cleaner and better behaved than anyone else’s. Hence, when it comes time to show your home to prospective home buyers, you should try your best to minimize your pets’ impact.

The staff at Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC writes select articles about important topics related to real estate. For more information about buying a home or selling your current property, visit ColdwellBanker.com today.

Visit the Sellers section of our website for more helpful tips. Email or call us at 309-657-0063 if you have any questions.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Open House! Open House! Open House!

We will be having an Open House at three locations on Sunday.

1606 Greystone Court, Chillicothe
Absolutely immaculate 4 bedroom, 3-1/2 bath Colonial style home in Chillicothe. This beauty was built by Plum Creek Builders in 2005. The main floor offers an open floor plan with a living room, fireplaced family room, informal dining room, laundry room, half bath, and a kitchen with granite tops, stainless appliances and an island/breakfast bar. All 4 bedrooms are up with a master suite offering a walk-in closet, dual sinks, and an extra large whirlpool tub. Approximately half of the basement is finished with a rec room, office area, and a full bath. The yard is meticulously maintained with beautiful landscaping and a patio and play area in the back. $259,900 See the listing for more details.

846 Thenius, Sparland
Do not miss this amazing 4 bedroom 2 full bath home located on over 16 acres of land. House was custom built in 1994, garage in 06, new roof was placed on the house in 2007 to match the garage. Home offers over 2500 sq ft of finished living space, large eat in kitchen and a wrap around deck. The lower level is a walk-out with new carpet. Prime hunting land with a stream, lots of timber, and an abundance of deer, turkey, and much more. $249,900 See the listing for more details.

620 Columbia, Washburn
If you are looking for peace and quiet, this is the place for you! Located off of Rt.26 just north of Spring Bay this home sits on 6.4 acres and is much larger than it appears. This 3 bedroom 2 full bath home is in move in condition. Updates include bathrooms remodeled, 90% efficient furnace, water heater, flooring, & paint. The 2 car garage was built approximately 5 years ago. The siding and roof have been replaced within the last 10 years. The septic system was new 3 years ago. Enjoy awesome river views and an abundance of wildlife including deer, turkey & much more! $149,900 See the listing for more details.

Email or call us at 309-657-0063 with any questions.