Sell Your Home for Top Dollar
Get expert guidance, strategic marketing, and a proven track record of success.
Ready To Sell?
Whether you're selling your first home or your fifth, we've created a smarter, more strategic approach to marketing and maximizing your sale in today's competitive market.
With my exclusive Home Marketing System, your property gets priority exposure to serious buyers before your competition. Skip the tire-kickers, avoid months of uncertainty, and attract only buyers who are ready, qualified, and excited about your home.
I will also provide you with a Free Home Valuation which shows what buyers are willing to pay in today’s market. A Market Analysis will give you a solid foundation for the realistic pricing of your property.
The Selling Experience by Christy
My 8 Proven Steps to Getting Your Home SOLD
Understand the Current Market
We help you evaluate and understand what is happening in YOUR market and to know if you are entering a Buyer’s Market, Seller’s Market, or a Balanced Market and what that means for you.
Assess the Value of Your Property
We complete a thorough Market Analysis, considering the value of recently sold properties and the properties currently for sale with which your home will be competing in order to arrive at the market value of your property in the current market.
Set the Right Price
It is important to price your property competitively so it is not rejected by buyers. We help you set the right price that will help you achieve the highest sale price for the property.
Prepare the Property for Sale
How a property shows is important to attracting buyers. We advise you about things that you can do so the property is most appealing to buyers.
Advertise and Market Your Home
This is an area in which we excel. We target our marketing and advertising efforts to the sources where National Association of REALTORS® research shows buyers find their homes.
Manage and Broker the Transaction
We are by your side every step of the way, guiding you through the process, skillfully handling negotiations of offers and of issues that may arise at home inspections. We are your fiduciary throughout the process.
Coordinate a Successful Closing
We oversee the inspections necessary for closing, any final readings (e.g., water/sewer), and any repairs you may agree to make, and help obtain any other documents needed.
Help You Get Settled in Your New Home
We will provide you with resources to help your move go as smoothly as possible.
Free Home Seller's Guide
A complete guide to selling your home, from pricing it right to prepping, showings, and understanding today's market.
Here are some inexpensive ways to maximize your home’s appeal:
Exterior
Keep the grass freshly cut.
Remove all yard clutter.
Apply fresh paint to wooden fences.
Paint the front door.
Weed and apply fresh mulch to garden beds.
Clean windows inside and out.
Wash or paint the home’s exterior.
Tighten and clean all door handles.
Ensure gutters and downspouts are firmly attached.
Interior
Remove excessive wall hangings, furniture, and knickknacks (consider a temporary self-storage unit).
Clean or paint walls and ceilings.
Shampoo carpets or replace flooring.
Clean and organize cabinets and closets.
Repair all plumbing leaks, including faucets and drain traps.
Clean all light fixtures.
Install higher-wattage light bulbs.
For Showings
Turn on all the lights.
Open drapes in the daytime.
Keep pets secured outdoors.
Play quiet background music.
Light the fireplace (if seasonally appropriate).
Infuse the home with a comforting scent like apple spice or vanilla.
Vacate the property while it is being shown.
How to Prepare to Sell a Home Filled with Decades of Belongings
Have you inherited your parents’ home and all their stuff but don’t know where to begin?
Call me to discuss the process of clearing out estate houses and selling a home currently filled with belongings.
I can help guide you through the steps to:
● Hire a removal service or someone to empty the contents of the house for a fixed price.
● Work with an estate sale company or estate liquidator for a percentage.
● Auction the items on eBay, Etsy, or Facebook yourself and donate the rest.
● Sell the house with some of the items inside.
● Use a combination of some of the above.
● CASH SALE – AS IS
Selling an empty house is usually easier than selling one with junk, and it may bring in a higher price.
Download your Ultimate Home Selling Checklist
Everything you need to prep, show, and close on your home sale, all in one place. From your first walkthrough to handing over the keys, this checklist has you covered every step of the way.
What's included:
● Home Prep Checklist
● Documents to Gather
● Downsizing & 55+ Seller Checklist
● 9 Easy Curb Appeal Tips
● Return on Investment Projects
● Photos & Showings Checklist
● Pet Prep for Showings and Photos
● Home Inspection Checklist
● FHA Appraisal Checklist
● Moving Checklist
● Cleared to Close
Facing Foreclosure? You have options.
If you're behind on your mortgage or worried about foreclosure, you're not alone, and there's more than one way forward. I can walk you through what's realistic for your situation, whether that's working something out with your lender or moving toward a sale.
My Recently Sold
Proof of results in your neighborhood.
Seller FAQs
How much is my home worth?
I provide a free, personalized home valuation based on recent sales, current market conditions, and your home's unique features. Request yours above!
How long does it take to sell?
My average is just 7 days on market. Of course, this varies by price point and season, but my marketing strategy is designed to attract buyers quickly.
What commission do you charge?
Commission is negotiable and depends on services provided. We'll discuss this during our listing appointment. My goal is to net you the most money possible.
Do I need to make repairs before listing?
It depends! Some repairs have high ROI, others don't. I'll walk through your home and advise on what's worth fixing and what to skip.
What Every Home Seller Should Know
Short Sales Are on the Rise. Here's What That Means If You're Behind on Your Mortgage
Short Sales Are on the Rise. Here's What That Means If You're Behind on Your Mortgage
If you're behind on your mortgage, or you can see it coming, you've probably heard the terms "short sale" and "foreclosure" thrown around like they're interchangeable. They're not, and lately, more sellers nationwide are ending up in a short sale than you might expect. Here's what's actually happening, and how the two compare.
What's changing, nationally
According to a Realtor.com report, short sale transactions were up 4% from 2023 to 2024, nearly 10% the year after that, and about 16% year over year in the first quarter of 2026. That's a national trend and it's worth understanding because it means more homeowners are working through this process and more information exists about how to do it well.
Short sales are still a small portion of the overall market. This isn't the new normal. It's a shift worth paying attention to, not a wave that's already happened.
What a short sale actually is
A short sale means your lender agrees to let your home sell for less than what you owe, and forgives or defers the difference. It's not a shortcut, and it's not fast.
Short sales aren't fast sales. Once we receive an offer, the lender could take 30 to 120 days or longer to approve it. From listing through closing, I'd prepare for roughly three to six months, although every lender and situation is different.
A couple of things worth knowing going in:
You'll want a written deficiency waiver from your lender, so a debt collector can't come back later for the difference.
Forgiven debt can be considered taxable income by the IRS, so that's a conversation for your tax professional too.
What foreclosure actually is
Foreclosure is when the lender forces the sale of the home to recover what's owed. Illinois requires lenders to go through the court system before a foreclosure is finalized, and that process takes time.
Here's the honest tradeoff. Foreclosure lets you stay in the home longer before it's final, an average of nearly 600 days according to that same report. That's a real reason people choose it, or end up there by not acting sooner. A short sale, on the other hand, requires you to act before the bank forces the decision for you.
There's also a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure option, where you voluntarily hand the title to your lender in exchange for the rest of your mortgage debt being cancelled. It's a way to leave without going through the full foreclosure process.
How they compare
Neither option is automatically the "right" one. It depends on your timeline, your finances, and what matters most to you. A few honest differences worth knowing:
Homes tend to fetch roughly 9% more of their value as a short sale than as a foreclosure
Owners who go through foreclosure typically face a longer wait before they can qualify for a mortgage again down the road
Foreclosure gives you more time in the home before it's final
A short sale requires earlier action and more paperwork, but can protect more of your equity and your credit standing
Even with the advantages of a short sale, foreclosures still outpace them by more than two to one nationally. There's no wrong choice here, just different tradeoffs depending on your situation.
You don't have to figure this out alone
A Real Estate Agent can help you understand your options and connect you with people who've helped others through this, attorneys, housing counselors, short-sale negotiators. HUD-certified housing counselors also offer free or low-cost guidance. Find a counselor at 800-569-4287.
One more thing, because it matters. If anyone asks you for money upfront to "guarantee" they can stop your foreclosure, or asks for you to sign over your deed, or pressures you to sell immediately, that's a scam. Real help never starts with a payment from you.
FAQ
Is a short sale always better than foreclosure?
Not necessarily. Foreclosure lets you stay in the home longer before it's final. A short sale requires earlier action but tends to protect more equity and do less damage to your credit long term. It depends on your situation.
How long does a short sale actually take?
Plan for roughly three to six months from listing to closing. Lender approval on an offer alone can take 30 to 120 days or longer.
Do I have to pay taxes on forgiven mortgage debt?
Possibly. The IRS can consider cancelled debt taxable income, so it's worth a conversation with your tax professional before you move forward.
If you're weighing your options and you're not sure which way to go, reach out. Let's connect or send me a message anytime or or call/text me at 815-693-5757. Our conversation stays between us, and there's no judgment in it.
If you want the full breakdown of what to do the moment you fall behind, things like forbearance, loan modification, and repayment plans, I've already written about that here: Behind on Your Mortgage in Illinois? Read This Before You Panic.
I work with homeowners across Grundy, Will, Kendall, and LaSalle Counties, and I'd rather help you understand your options early than watch you run out of time to use them.
– Christy Schmaedeke 🐾
Ready to Sell?
Let's discuss your goals and create a customized selling strategy for your home.
Christy Schmaedeke, REALTOR®
Keller Williams Infinity
Your trusted Grundy County real estate expert. Helping families find their perfect homes for over 20 years.
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