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

Buying a Home? Here's What to Figure Out Before You Start Scrolling Zillow | Christy Schmaedeke, Realtor

Buying a Home? Here's What to Figure Out Before You Start Scrolling Zillow

August 20, 20264 min read

Buying a Home? Here's What to Figure Out Before You Start Scrolling Zillow

If you're planning to buy a home in Morris, IL or anywhere around Grundy County, Will County, LaSalle County & Kendall County this year, I want to save you some scrolling. Most people think the home search starts on Zillow. I think it starts somewhere else entirely, and skipping that step is the number one thing that makes house hunting feel exhausting.

Here's the thing. You don't need to see every house on the market. You need to know what actually matters to you before you ever walk into one.


Get Clear on What "The One" Actually Means

The easier you can define what you're looking for, the easier it is to recognize it when it shows up. Vague wishlists lead to endless showings. Specific ones lead to faster decisions.

That's true whether you're buying in Morris, Channahon, Minooka, or anywhere else across Grundy, Will, Kendall, or LaSalle County. The homes look different from town to town. The process of getting clear on what you want doesn't change.

Separate Your Must-Haves From Your Nice-to-Haves

There's a big difference between "we'd love a pool" and "we need a huge yard or this won't work." If every feature feels equally important, it gets a lot harder to know which home is actually the right fit once you're standing in it.

Before we tour anything together, I ask buyers to sort their list into two columns. What's a dealbreaker, and what's just a bonus. It sounds simple. It changes everything about how a showing feels.

What's Your Real Budget, Not Just Your Approved Budget

Your lender will tell you what you're approved for. That number and the number you're actually comfortable spending every month aren't always the same thing.

Just because you can spend a certain amount doesn't mean you should. I want you to love your home and still love your life after you move in. That means being honest about your real budget before we start looking, not after you've fallen for a house that stretches you too thin.

Know Your Timeline and Your Dealbreakers

How fast can you actually move? If the perfect house hit the market in Coal City or Ottawa tomorrow, would you be ready to write an offer, or are there a few things you need to get in place first? Knowing that answer before we start looking saves a lot of stress later.

Same goes for dealbreakers. Not your wishlist. The things that would make you walk away no matter how nice the kitchen is. It's a lot easier to stay objective before you've fallen in love with a house than after.

Figure Out Where You Can Be Flexible

Maybe it's the commute. Maybe it's the lot size. Maybe it's the cosmetic updates you're willing to take on yourself. Knowing where you can be flexible before we start touring usually saves my clients from a lot of frustration down the road.

And Remember, It's Okay Not to Settle

Sometimes a house is obviously wrong for you. Other times it checks almost every box, but that feeling of "this is the one" just isn't there. Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you'll make, and the right one might take a little more time to find. I'd rather help you find a home that fits your actual life than a house that just looks good on paper.


Ready to Build Your Home Buying Plan?

Buying a home is a big decision no matter where you're searching, and having a clear plan before you start touring homes makes the whole process feel a lot less overwhelming. Whether you're looking at homes for sale in Morris, IL, house hunting in Channahon or Minooka, or exploring your options anywhere across Grundy County, Will County, Kendall County, or LaSalle County, getting clear on your budget, must-haves, dealbreakers, and timeline before you start scrolling listings is the single biggest thing that sets buyers up for a smoother search.

If you're planning to buy a home in the next 6 to 12 months, I put together a free Home Buyer's Guide that walks you through the entire process. It covers what to expect at every step, checklists to keep you organized, and the same questions I ask every buyer before we ever step foot in a home together. Grab your free Home Buyer's Guide here and let's start building your plan.

Already have a sense of what you're looking for? Browse current homes for sale in Morris, IL and Grundy County here. If something catches your eye, reach out and let me know. I'd love to hear what you're drawn to. It tells me a lot about what to look for next.

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Let's connect or send me a message anytime or or call/text me at 815-693-5757.

I work with buyers and sellers across Morris, Plainfield, Minooka, Channahon, Coal City, Oswego and all of Grundy County and surrounding areas.

– Christy Schmaedeke 🐾


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Christy Schmaedeke

Christy Schmaedeke is a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Infinity serving Morris, IL and Grundy County since 2004. She specializes in helping first-time buyers, sellers, and 55+ clients navigate the home buying and selling process across Grundy, Will, Kendall, and LaSalle Counties. She's a Morris resident of 20+ years with 500+ homes sold and a genuine love for this community.

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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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