Happy Holidays!

We would like to wish you and your family every joy this holiday season and the best in the year to come!

Rich, Adam, and Tara

Just Listed!

315 Washington, Pekin
Absolute move-in condition! This three bedroom, two full bath home located in Pekin is a must see. The hand-crafted woodwork and trim throughout the house is beautiful. The huge kitchen has new cabinets, countertops, sink, and flooring. All appliances stay. Both bathrooms have been remodeled. The home offers a large formal dining room with built-ins. The three season sun porch has ceramic tile flooring and a built in bench. The backyard is completely fenced in. The full basement has a room that could be used as a den or a playroom for the kids. Immediate possession available. Check out the listing for more information and contact us if you are interested.

121 Apple, Creve Coeur
This is a hidden gem! A new three bedroom, one and a half bath ranch with a full basement located on a dead-end street. The house has hardwood floors in the living room with four inch trim throughout. Tile in the kitchen and laundry. Vaulted ceiling in the front bedroom. There is also a one stall attached garage with off the street parking. This home has a 95% efficient furnace and "I-beam" floor joists. Nothing was left out!!! Check out the listing for more information and contact us if you are interested.

Peoria Continues to Thrive

Peoria's good economic status was a topic at Bradley University and the news on WEEK Monday. Peoria is strong. People are buying and selling houses. Foreclosures are down. Interest rates are low. Now is a great time to be buying. Email or call us at 657-0063 for all your real estate needs!

If you missed the news Monday, you can see the full report here:
http://www.week.com/news/local/35779084.html

NBC News Reports on Peoria Prosperity

Lately the nightly news has been pretty negative. It was great to see Peoria's prosperity featured on the nightly news Thursday. It was great to hear "One place where consumers and companies are experiencing a boost despite the nationwide slow down is Peoria, Illinois."

If you missed it, you can view the entire report below

Thank You!

We want to take a moment to extend our sincere thanks and warmest wishes to our clients, family, and friends. We are truly grateful for all the wonderful people in our lives.

Rich Gillespie, Adam LaHood, and Tara Gillespie

The Best Remodeling Projects to Raise the Value of Your Home

If you are like most homeowners, you probably view your home as your most important investment. Diligent homeowners often treat their homes like stock portfolios or savings accounts and always try to add value to their properties. While there are many ways to increase the value of a home, one of the most utilized methods for homeowners is the remodeling project. However, despite the remodeling successes of many homeowners, remodeling a home is not always a guarantee of added value or increased interest from potential buyers. Hence, homeowners may want to take care in how they renovate their homes, especially when there is volatility in their local housing markets. With that in mind, there are few remodeling projects that are more likely to add value to a home and allow the homeowner to recoup the costs when selling.

Based on numerous studies of the real estate market, here are the best remodeling projects to increase the value of your home and generate the most interest from prospective buyers:

• Kitchen – As one of the most used rooms in any home, upgrades made to the kitchen are always appealing to prospective buyers. Studies show, however, that the homeowners earn the most value when performing modest upgrades including new cabinets, countertops, floors and well-priced appliances. Hence, homeowners often don’t need to worry about including luxury products when remodeling the kitchen.


• Bathroom – In many cases, remodeling an existing bathroom can raise the value of the home as much as any other project. As bathrooms can typically be remodeled very affordably, this has long been a favorite project of homeowners looking to increase the value of their homes. Though the eventual recouped value seems to be contingent on region, most homeowners who remodeled existing bathrooms experienced better return on their investment than those that added new bathrooms to their homes.


• Windows – Though not as visible as remodeled kitchens or bathrooms, there are few remodeling projects that improve the overall quality of a home better than new windows. For instance, smart home buyers will recognize that new windows will not only make the home more comfortable and attractive, but will also save on heating and cooling costs.


• Siding – Though new siding and other exterior improvements may not be possible or necessary for some homeowners, no other remodeling project generates a better response from prospective buyers. Nationwide, the value recouped by homeowners that installed new siding is matched only by successful kitchen remodeling projects.

On the other hand, there are also some remodeling projects that may not provide the best value for homeowners. Real estate experts typically point to expensive additions – such as home theatres, swimming pools and wine cellars – as the riskiest remodeling projects. The key to determining if such luxurious projects will add sufficient value to the home and allow the homeowner to recoup the value lies in assessing what is right for the neighborhood. For instance, a home with two bathrooms could gain significant value when a new bathroom is added if all the surrounding properties have three or more bathrooms. Likewise, if you reside in a region where swimming pools are an expected luxury – such as the desert southwest – prospective homebuyers probably won’t see your addition as an unnecessary liability.

Most importantly, keep in mind that renovations and remodeling projects may not be as simple as they seem. It is wise to weigh the risks and to consider what is best for the local market before starting any project. If you are unsure what types of remodeling projects would add value in your neighborhood, you may want to consult a real estate agent to get a better understanding of what local buyers are looking for.

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 our website or contact us anytime for more information on buying or selling your home. We are here to help!

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.