Welcome to the most creatively challenging real estate market in years.

Though we're somewhat insulated from the national downturn here in the highly sought-out Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park and Berwyn communities, these days more thought, ingenuity and frankly, familiarity are required to continue to thrive. I became a realtor because I learned from years of buying, renovating and selling homes that I enjoy the entire experience and that there are reasons some homes seem somehow more immune than others to market exigencies.

Your reason for selling your home is critical to how to market and price it. Though it’s tempting to say “I want to make the most money possible in the shortest time on the market” in reality, we all fall somewhere within that spectrum. If for instance you’re looking to downsize, you might be prepared to keep your house on the market longer to receive the maximum return than if you have been transferred and every mortgage payment is doubling your overhead.

Having a clear idea of who your most likely buyer will be determines what you should and shouldn’t do. If your property is perfect for a first-time buyer, you might do better to attend to more reassuring practical issues than cosmetic, offering peace of mind to a risk-averse buyer whose resources may already be stretched. Instead of following the dictates of the cable decorating shows to appeal blandly to the largest possible population, appealing to your best buyer is your best strategy.

It takes smart people to execute a successful strategy in this demographic. Over the years, I have attracted and maintained relationships with a variety of professionals who bring their particular expertise on an as-needed basis to my clients. A cinematographer shoots the photography for sell sheets and web listings that distinguish themselves through careful lighting, architectural details and the occasional cat in a window. Unusually evocative descriptive copy for print and web usage is supplied by a Michigan Avenue advertising creative director who’s a friend and neighbor. In the areas of staging, construction, legal and financial services, I am able to offer professionals who are agile, reasonable and responsive to my clients’ specific circumstances and needs.

Who is the target buyer for your home, and what is your strategy? If you might like to partner in creating a meaningful plan, contact me.http://mcoffeyhomes.com/contact_me.asp