Buy Owner Blog

There’s never been a better time to buy a new home, especially when you buy one through Buy Owner, meaning no commissions and much more control! If you’re in the market and looking for a way to stay updated on new properties that come available, we’ve got the tool for you: the Buy Owner eCatalog!

Our popular magazine is now available online for many regions. In these issues, you can flip through and zoom into pages of information-packed home advertisements. Feel like a hard copy? You can also print individual pages within the eCatalog.

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It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again, with kids back in school, Labor Day over and the prospect of cooler weather and changing leaves on the horizon, but here we are halfway through September.

And whether you’re a long-time Chicago resident, a suburban home owner or someone looking to make a move before December, you’ll want to check out this list of events, activities and ideas for making the most of the autumn in Chicago!

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As a homebuyer, you’re currently in luck. It’s a buyer’s market. You may have the power to bring down an asking price and score a deal that better suits your financial abilities.

However, you shouldn’t plan on only presenting a really low offer that a seller most likely won’t consider unless they are desperate to move in a hurry. And if a seller has other offers, they’ll deny yours in no time. With research and intelligent consideration, you can offer a reasonable price in a professional manner.

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Any commitment carries with it risks, and that may never be more true than in the case of home ownership, which demands a hefty chunk of money, usually years of time and responsibilities that are unique and demanding. What are the risks involved?

Possible depreciation: After you purchase a home, its value could go down, based on factors out of your control such as the economy or the neighborhood or a surplus of properties for sale.

One of the most important aspects of buying a home is choosing a location. Do you want to live in the heart of an urban community near public transportation, close to everything imaginable? Or would you prefer to be tucked away in a quiet country setting, with big-city amenities located within 20-30 minutes driving distance? Before making a decision, let Buy Owner be your guide to city and country living and inform you of the benefits and drawbacks of each lifestyle.

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Even if you’ve never moved before, you probably know it’s a lot of work. And with that work comes stress, which is about the last thing you need when your life is already in the midst of change and relocation. So, if you are planning a move, do yourself a favor and plan ahead to make the process as efficient and simple as possible!

1. Change your address – Notify the post office, the IRS and any applicable government agencies about your new location. Contact anyone who would need to send you bills, such as credit card companies, insurance providers and medical centers. Also, get in touch with utility and phone/cable/Internet providers to discontinue service at your old location and schedule it for your new one.

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Sellers, are you wishing you could replace your appliances but can’t afford the cost? There’s another answer. With a few simple materials, a little time and a lot of elbow grease, you can turn your old appliances into like-new showpieces, designed to make your kitchen instantly more impressive to potential buyers. Want to know how?

Step One: Cleaning
This step may seem unnecessary, in which case you’ll be tempted to skip it—but don’t. Thoroughly scrubbing and sanitizing your appliances lays the groundwork for any improvement.

Step Two: Choose Replacement Materials
There are several options to choose from when it comes to updating your appliances. While these options may not last the next 20 years, they do extend the life of your outdated appliances temporarily, which is especially valuable when your home is for sale!
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Thinking of buying a property to cash-flow as a rental? Great idea! The only problem: you have to find someone to rent it from you.

At first glance, this process seems easy: put an ad in the paper or online, show the property and start collecting payments. But, as anyone who’s been a landlord can tell you, finding a responsible tenant takes either a lot of luck or some savvy know-how. Horror stories abound, from tenants who refuse to pay rent to those who trash the building and/or get arrested. Rent your place to an unreliable person, and you could face all kinds of legal fees trying to evict them, not to mention the costs of fixing up your unit afterwards.

So what should you do? How can you screen potential renters and find someone who you can count on to pay each month, along with taking good care of your property?

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Sunny days and mild nights make summers in Orlando and Jacksonville most enjoyable. With temperatures reaching the low 90s in the afternoon and descending into the low 70s by the early evening, you will be able to participate in tons of Central Florida events all day and night. Here are a few stand-out activities we think you might enjoy:

• SUMMER EVENTS near the Atlantic Coast of Florida attract many visitors from around the globe. Here are some of the best events taking place this season:
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Chicago summers can get pretty hot, but the Windy City has seen its fair share of cooler afternoons during the 2009 season. The balmy days allow you to swim and play under a warm sun or prompt you to retreat into an air-conditioned museum or shop. The milder nights bring almost every Chicago native and Second City visitor out into the open for festivals, sporting events, concerts and more. Summer may almost be over, but there is still plenty to do in and around Chicago.

• SUMMER EVENTS are drawing to a close, as summer ends in a little over a month. However, there is still plenty of time to see some spectacular things going on out there in Chicagoland:

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