3 More Great Homes On The Market!

4403 S Misty Isle, Mapleton
Step into this 1.5 story home located on Lake Camelot. This 5 bedroom and 3 full bath home with a large kitchen and a full finished basement gives you all the space you could need. You won’t be disappointed with the master suite which has vaulted ceilings, whirlpool tub and a walk-in closet. Go down to the lower level for a large family room with a great fireplace and a walk-out to the back yard. With the deck off the main level you won’t miss any of the sounds and views this house offers. 2 fire places and a 3 car garage finish this home off. Come and see what lake living feels like! Check out the listing for more information and contact us if you are interested.

528 Fondulac Drive, East Peoria
Truly beautiful 2 story, 4 bedroom home on the much desired Fondulac Drive. Sitting on ¾ of an acre with seasonal river views of the Peoria skyline. Wonderfully updated with hardwood and ceramic tile floors, fresh paint, new roof in 2005, new carpet in 2005, appliances in 2004, almost all new exterior Pella windows throughout, and 200 amp service in 2007. Both bathrooms have been remodeled in 2006 and 2007. New water heater in 2007. Reverse osmosis system in the kitchen. The home offers lots of original woodworking, crown molding and built-ins. There is plenty of storage and closet space. Sit back, relax, and enjoy nature fro the three-season sun porch. Check out the listing for more information and contact us if you are interested.

3827 Sunset, Pekin
Step into this 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath ranch located just outside of Pekin. This is a builder’s home with 3700 square feet of living space. Built in 2003, it has everything you could ever want! Expansive deck, 3 car garage, full finished basement with a wet bar and 2 bedrooms. The main floor gives you 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths with an open floor plan. The master bedroom has a large master bath and vaulted ceilings. Sitting on .73 acres, this house allows you to have access to shopping within 3 miles, but the peace of the country. Check out the listing for more information and contact us if you are interested.

Just Listed & Staged!

We recently listed and staged 322 N Kickapoo Terrace in Peoria's Madison Manor. It is an immaculate 3 bedroom, 1-1/2 bath home ready for you to move-in. This 1-1/2 story is loaded with character and charm throughout including hardwood floors, built-in cabinetry, crown molding, window seats, and more. The main floor offers a living room with a wood burning fireplace, a formal dining room with hardwood floors and a corner built in, an eat-in kitchen with ceramic tile, a remodeled half bath, a four season room, and a bedroom. The upper level includes the Master Bedroom, a full bath, and another bedroom. There have been numerous updates over the past few years that include paint, floor coverings, roof, furnace and air, and a patio. The backyard is fenced in. This home is located in a very inviting neighborhood with brick streets among very nice homes. Check out the listing for more information and contact us if you are interested.

Staging prepares your home for sale by accentuating its advantages and minimizing its flaws. We recommended several changes to this house. Here are just a few examples from 322 N Kickapoo Terrace, Peoria:

The "Eat-in Kitchen " now has a table and chairs. Buyers have a hard time envisioning the possibilities. You need to show them.

Before & After

Decorating and design are personalizing while staging is de-personalizing and preparing a house for the unknown buyer. This room was very pink. A little paint made it more appealing to a broader audience of buyers.

Before & After

Clutter eats equity and we all have it! It is hard to be objective in your own home. An unbiased independent expert opinion can ensure your house is staged and ready to market.

Before & After

These were just a few changes we recommended in the staging consultation. Staging sets the scene throughout the entire house to create immediate buyer interest, resulting in fast sales and greater profit for you. According to a recent study done by Stagedhomes.com®, staged homes sell 50% faster and for 6.9% more money. No matter what your home's age, price, or location, whether it is plain or professionally decorated, staging can work for you!

The Gillespie Group offers a FREE Home Staging® Consultation done by an Accredited Staging® Professional™ (ASP™) for all of our listings. The consultation starts with an ASP™ visiting the home to determine what changes will need to be made to Stage® the house and take pictures of each room. The ASP™ will document a detailed report of the changes for each room of the house. Then the ASP™ will meet with the homeowner to review the report and determine when the changes will be completed. The homeowner will be responsible for making the changes. (If desired, the ASP™ can make the changes for an additional fee.) After the homeowner has made the changes, the ASP™ will meet with them to complete any finishing touches, to certify the house as Staged®, and take new pictures to post on the MLS, Realtor.com, Coldwellbanker.com, Stagedhomes.com, Peoriastagedhomes.com, and many other websites.

Visit Staging Your Home on our website for more information or contact us any time! Our goal is to sell your home faster and for more money.

Why Use a REALTOR® When Selling a Home?

A real estate agent can help you understand everything you need to know about the home selling process.

Not all real estate licensees are the same; only those who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR "®" trademark on their business cards and other marketing and sales literature.

REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reported that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.

Real estate transactions are one of the biggest financial dealings of most people’s lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $250,000. If you had a $250,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a certified professional accountant? If you had a $250,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be wise to work with a professional REALTOR® when you are selling a home.

Learn more about the benefits of using a REALTOR® at REALTORS® for Sellers on our website.

Still Going Strong!

We hear concerns about the economy everyday on the news, but we are still busier than ever. Last week, we closed on 4 properties with a total of 6 transactions.

1. 10014 N Brompton, Peoria. $237,000 (Both sides)
2. 1425 Willow, Washington. $246,500 (Selling side)
3. 2621 Carlisle, Dunlap. $311,000 (Both sides)
4. 118 N Sterling, West Peoria. $125,000 (Listing side)

Now is a great time to get a deal on a home!

According to National City’s Mortgage Rates today a 30 Year Fixed Loan is at 5.875%. We don’t see rates below 6% very often. Now is a great time to get a deal on a home. We are heading into the winter months and sellers know that they need to sell soon or they will have to hang on to their home during the winter months. When the spring time arrives, the sellers will have the advantage again. Now is the best time for a buyer to be buying. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you.

Two New Chillicothe Listings!

We just listed two houses in Chillicothe. The details are below. You can see all of our listings under the Featured Properties section on our website anytime you want. You can search and view ALL the listing in our area that are in the MLS under the Listings section of our website.

200 N Hazel
Excellent location for this well maintained 3 bedroom, 1-1/2 bath home in Chillicothe. Fresh paint, newer carpet, and extensive landscaping are some of the updates that have been made recently. The large eat-in kitchen is fully applianced. The home offers a living room and a family room. The full bath has a dual vanity. There is also a whole house fan. Roof shingles were replaced approximately 8 years ago. The large 16 X 14 deck is great for cookouts and entertaining. The park like backyard is beautifully landscaped with stone walks, arbors, and a swing. There is also a 16 X 10 shed for storing lawn equipment. Move in ready. Immediate possession. Check out the listing for more information and contact us if you are interested.

13505 Riverbeach
What a view! You have to take a look at this amazing riverfront property. The inside has been redone to perfection. This 2 bedroom, 1 bath home is as neat as a pin! The interior offers a kitchen with a breakfast bar, dining room, living room, main floor laundry, and attic storage. Sit outside on the patio or the covered deck and watch the boats go by. What a great place to relax! The home stayed high and dry during the recent flood. This home is not in the flood plain. Check out the listing for more information and contact us if you are interested.

We are here to help you with all your real estate needs. Email or call us at 309-657-0063 anytime!

Mortgage Rates are Dropping!

Mortgage rates are dropping. A 30 year fixed rate is below 6% right now.