Things I Don't Care About As Your Realtor

Things I Don't Care About As Your Realtor

One of the things I hear most from clients, especially first-timers, is some version of

"I feel like I should already know how this works."

You don't. That's the whole reason you hire someone like me.

So here's a little list I like to keep in mind. Things that some people worry will make them look unprepared, but that honestly don't move the needle for me at all.

You've never bought a house before

That's literally the job. If you've never done this before, I'm not expecting you to. I'll walk you through every single step, from your first showing here in Morris to signing at closing. No question is too basic. If you don't know what earnest money is, why there's a home inspection AND an appraisal, or what "clear to close" even means, that's exactly what I'm here for.

Your Zestimate

I get it, it's the first thing most people check. But it's an algorithm guessing at your home's value from the outside, based on public data that's often outdated or missing what actually makes your home different. It doesn't know you redid the kitchen. It doesn't know your lot backs up to a corn field instead of a neighbor's fence. When we talk pricing, whether you're buying or selling, we're looking at real comps, actual recent sales in your neighborhood, current market data, and a strategy built around your specific home and this specific moment in the market. Not a number pulled from an app.

You have no idea what's going on

Good. That means you're paying attention to the fact that this is complicated, because it can be. My job is to translate it. If something doesn't make sense the first time I explain it, I'd genuinely rather go over it again than have you nodding along while feeling lost. That goes for the contract language, the timeline, the inspection report, all of it. Ask me twice. Ask me five times. I'll still answer the same way.

Your budget

Whether you're looking at a starter home in Coal City or something with more room to grow out toward Minooka or Channahon, you get the same attention, the same communication, and the same effort from me. That means the same number of showings if you need them, the same amount of time spent explaining an offer, and the same follow-up after closing. That doesn't change based on price point. Ever.

You're nervous

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will make. Feeling nervous isn't a red flag, it's a sign you're taking it seriously. You shouldn't have to carry that alone, and you shouldn't feel like you need to have a poker face through the whole process.

You're not ready yet

There's no clock running. Maybe you're thinking about a move next month. Maybe it's next year, or you're still just kicking the idea around while you figure out what's next. I'm still happy to answer questions, walk you through what your home might be worth today, or just talk through timing with no pressure to act on any of it. Some of my best client relationships started with a conversation a year or two before anything actually happened.

At the end of the day, none of these things change how I show up for you. You don't need to have it all figured out before you call me. That's the point of calling me.

If buying or selling has been on your mind, even loosely, send me a message or or call/text me at 815-693-5757. We can start with a conversation and go from there.

– Christy Schmaedeke 🐾