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
100 Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent Before You Buy or Sell in Morris, IL
There’s No Such Thing as a Stupid Question When You’re Buying or Selling a Home
“I know this is probably a stupid question, but...”
I hear this ALL the time. From first-time buyers in Morris, from sellers who’ve lived in their Minooka home for 30 years, from families helping Mom downsize. And my answer is always the same.
You’re about to make one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. Ask away.
Why the “small” questions matter
Most buyers and sellers don’t ask everything they’re wondering about. They don’t want to feel silly, or they worry they’re bugging their agent. So they sit on it. And sometimes that one question they didn’t ask is the thing that would have saved them stress, money, or a sleepless night before closing.
Whether you’re scrolling listings for your first home, already under contract, or counting down the days until closing, you’re going to have questions. Lots of them. That’s normal. It means you’re paying attention.
What I want for every client
You should never feel embarrassed to ask me something or worry you’re asking too much. I’ve been helping families in Grundy County since 2004, and the clients who ask the most questions are usually the ones who feel the most confident at the closing table.
My goal is simple. I want you to:
→ Understand what’s happening at every step
→ Feel comfortable with the decisions you’re making
→ Know what to expect before it happens, not after
The hard part: knowing what to ask
Here’s the thing. Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. It’s hard to ask a good question about inspections or offers or pricing if you’ve never been through it before (or if it’s been 20 years since you last did).
So I put together something to help.
50 Questions to Ask Your Buyer’s Agent
If you’re buying in Morris, Coal City, Channahon, or anywhere around Grundy County, this list walks you from your first conversation with an agent all the way to getting the keys. It covers the questions my buyers ask me most, plus a few I wish more people asked.
50 Questions to Ask Your Listing Agent
Thinking about selling? Before you sign a listing agreement with anyone (me included!), these are the questions worth asking. Pricing, prep, showings, offers, and what happens after you accept one.
Keep it handy
Download whichever list fits where you are right now (or both, if you’re buying and selling at the same time). Save it to your phone, print it out, bring it to your first meeting with an agent. And if a question pops up that’s not on the list, ask it anyway.
If you’re thinking about making a move in Morris or anywhere in Grundy County, I’d love to help. Call or text me at 815-693-5757, or reach out here anytime.
– 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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