Multiple Offers Over Asking: How We Sold a Vacant 1880s Family Home in Newark, IL

This wasn't just another house

If you're thinking about selling an older home, especially one that's sitting empty, this story is for you.

I recently listed 306 N. Canal in Newark, IL. On paper, it was a vacant house that needed some work. To my sellers, it was so much more than that. It had been their family's home for more than 50 years. It's the house they grew up in.

The original house dates back to the 1880s, with an addition built around 1980. So you've got this really interesting mix of history and updates under one roof. And when a family has that many years in a home, selling it is a big deal. They wanted it done right.

They reached out to 6 different agents

The sellers found me on Google, and I was one of six agents they contacted. I happened to be busy when they first called. But within about 30 minutes, I had gotten back to them by text, phone, and email. I was genuinely excited to see this house.

A day or two later, I sat down at the property with the seller, her husband, and her brother. I took my time. I walked them through my evaluation of the home, what I thought we could do with it, and my marketing plan. That included everything I do beyond putting a listing in the MLS and waiting for a buyer to show up.

When we were done, she basically said, "Let's do it. Where do I sign?" I loved that. She knew what she wanted, and she trusted me to make it happen.

Once I had the listing, I knew we had a challenge

The house was completely empty. There was no flooring or carpet in a number of the rooms. And like a lot of older homes that have been lived in for decades, it just didn't show well vacant.

Walking through it, it was hard to see how charming this house could actually be. But I kept thinking, this could be the cutest little cottage. Buyers just need to be able to SEE it.

Here's the thing about vacant homes. Most buyers see a house online before they ever see it in person. If the photos show empty rooms and bare subfloors, a lot of people scroll right past. They never make it to the showing.

I really felt that if we put this house on the market exactly as it sat, we'd be leaving money on the table for my sellers.

Then came the staging

So I decided we needed to stage the house before the professional photos, and before buyers ever saw it online.

I called Tammy, our stager, over the weekend. She dropped everything for us. She walked the house Sunday night, came up with a plan, and gave me a price. I'll admit my jaw dropped a little when I saw the cost. Looking back, she was worth every penny. She was setting up on Monday, because our photos were scheduled for 8:00 Tuesday morning.

The transformation was incredible. Instead of noticing the missing flooring, the empty rooms, and the age of the house, buyers could finally see the vision. You could picture someone putting in fresh flooring, bringing in their own furniture, and hanging things on the walls. You could picture someone sitting by the fireplace and enjoying the porches and the yard.

Honestly, I still get goosebumps thinking about the difference. She made it feel like a home again.

Every detail was intentional

Staging got a lot of attention, but it was just one piece. Here's what went into getting this house sold:

• Strategic pricing and market analysis so we came out at a number that would draw buyers in

• Staging and professional photography so the house looked its best the very first time buyers saw it

• A marketing plan that went beyond the MLS so we weren't just waiting for someone to stumble onto it

• Social media, online, and email marketing to get it in front of as many of the right buyers as possible

• An open house so people could walk through and feel it for themselves

None of these things is magic on its own. Together, they give a house its best shot.

The result: multiple offers over asking

Once it hit the market, buyers showed up. We had strong showing activity and a very busy open house with a ton of people coming through. And ultimately, we got multiple offers OVER asking price.

This is the part I really want sellers to hear. I don't believe we would have gotten the same response, or the same over-asking offers, if we had photographed this house empty and put it in the MLS as is.

My sellers invested money in presenting their home the right way. The extra money they walked away with was far more than what they spent on staging. They trusted the process, put in the effort, and it paid off.

What this means if you're thinking about selling

A successful sale starts long before the offer. It starts with understanding the property, creating the right strategy, getting it in front of the right buyers, and staying on top of the process from start to finish.

Sometimes the best thing I can do for a seller is figure out how to position their house so buyers see what it CAN be. Then we create enough interest that the market responds.

Every home has a different story. Yours might be a family home you grew up in, an older house that needs a little vision, or a place that's sitting empty while you figure out next steps. Whatever it is, I'd love to help you figure out the right plan for it.

Questions sellers ask me

Is staging worth it for a vacant home? Not every house needs it. But for an empty home that's hard to picture living in, staging can make a big difference in how buyers respond. For this Newark home, it paid for itself and then some.

Do I have to fix everything before I sell an older home? Not always. In this case, rooms without flooring stayed that way. Staging helped buyers see past it and picture what they'd do with the space. We'll walk through your home together and talk about what's worth doing and what isn't.

How do I choose a listing agent? Talk to a few. Ask each one how they plan to market your home beyond the MLS, and pay attention to how quickly they get back to you. That tells you a lot about how they'll handle your sale.

Thinking About Selling?

Let's talk!

If you're thinking about selling a home in Morris, Newark, Lisbon, Minooka, Channahon, or anywhere in Grundy and Kendall County, call or text me at 815-693-5757. I'm always happy to talk through what a sale could look like for your home.

Reach out anytime at 815-693-5757 or [email protected] or send me a message anytime.

– Christy Schmaedeke 🐾