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the anderson group - September 2016

 

Whether you are looking to buy or sell, we offer concierge-level of care throughout the entire process, while making it FUN for you too! Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or to have us help guide you through your next real estate transaction.  Or do you know of someone looking to buy or sell? Check out our testimonials below and refer us with absolute confidence!

The Anderson Group - JP & Sarah Anderson
Real Estate Brokers
agentteam@example.com   |   630-746-5730
http://www.theandersongrouprealty.com

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HOME IMPROVEMENT TIP

Home Design: Front to Back Porches

Beautiful sunsets, soft breezes, greeting the neighbors while you rock in your porch swing…you can enjoy all these pleasures right on your front porch. If you want to enjoy the outdoors more, here are four easy ways to create the porch of your dreams.

  1. Find a paint color that compliments your home’s exterior and shouts “I’ve been updated!” Have fun with colors on the floorboards, columns, shutters, front door, and trim, and don’t forget that a blue ceiling keeps mosquitos away, or at least it did 100 years ago.
  2. Refinish or replace your old porch furniture. Depending on the look you want and how much space you have, think about scale and function. Choose furniture to suit your activities, to read and relax, or entertain friends with refreshing summer drinks, or watch the children play.
  3. Decorate with flowers and plants to add a splash of color and style. Check with your local nursery to learn which plants do well potted, whether the porch gets direct sun or shade, and how large the plants will grow.
  4. Decorate for character. Each home has a personality, just like its owners. Search online or the local flea market for treasures like chimes and garden stools. Try the new “living room” style, complete with curtains on a rod and an outdoor rug.

A porch is like a perch – you can use it to enjoy your place in the world, and it has the added benefit of bringing more curb appeal to your home.

FINANCIAL TIP

Quick Fixes for FICO® Scores

With mortgage interest rates near record lows, you may want to buy a home before rates go higher. Can you qualify for a purchase loan? Your FICO® scores may be the key.

Over 50 years ago, The Fair Isaac Company created credit scoring so that lenders can understand at a glance how much risk you pose as a borrower. “FICO” scores are determined by a software algorithm that analyzes your job, credit, income-to-debt ratios, spending habits and payment history. Base scores range between 300 and 850, and borrowers with the highest scores get the best credit terms.

Each credit reporting bureau, Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, calculates its own score, so review all your credit reports for errors and get them resolved as quickly as possible. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com to get free one-time copies of your credit reports. Credit scores aren’t free, but you can get scores from all three bureaus at www.myfico.com for under $60.

FICO scores change with new information. Prevent lower scores by doing the following:

  • Pay all bills on time.
  • Pay more than the minimum payment required.
  • Reduce credit card debt to improve income-to-debt ratios.
  • Don’t open new accounts to consolidate debt or close credit card accounts.
  • Use no more than 30% of your available credit on any card.
  • Don’t change jobs immediately before applying for a mortgage loan.

Mortgage lenders are most interested in your ability to repay the loan. Long-term employment in the same field and on-time credit payments are the best ways to build and protect your credit scores.

HOMESELLING TIP

The Four D’s

Keeping your home in show-ready condition can be challenging, especially if you have a houseful of kids and pets. What to do? Follow the Four D’s.

Declutter: Most listing agents would agree that clutter confuses buyers. They can’t see the home’s “bones” for all the furniture, toys, and other things. You have to pack up to move, so start dividing your things into three categories - keep, donate, and throw away. For things you want to keep, get a storage unit for out-of-season clothes and holiday dishes that you won’t need for a while.

Depersonalize: While you’re decluttering, store personal items such as photos, albums, figurines and collectibles. Accidents happen, so pack up and store as many breakable items as you can.

Detail: Just as you detail your car to help it hold its beauty and value, you should detail your home with the most vigorous cleaning it’s ever had. When you know you’re home is being shown or to get it ready for an open house, get your helpers to grab a basket and pick up anything that doesn’t belong out, like dirty clothes, wet towels, and tablets and smartphones.

Decamp: It’s harder for buyers to imagine themselves in your home if you’re still there, so take the kids and the dog to the park while your home is being shown. Buyers need to feel free to speak their minds and weigh possibilities.

Get everyone on board to keep things clean and neat, and your showings are much more likely to result in your home being sold.

HOMEBUYING TIP

What Buyers Should Know About Home Inspections

Many buyers hope to find a home in perfect condition so they can avoid dealing with maintenance issues. The problem is – no perfect home exists, so as a buyer, you should rely on home inspections to tell you what you need to know about the condition of the home you’re buying.

Be prepared to hire and schedule several types of inspectors to look at structural, pests, and environmental elements, depending on requirements in your state.

A structural home inspection should take several hours and cover all built-in appliances, all mechanical, electrical, gas and plumbing systems, the roof, foundation, gutters, exterior skins, windows and doors.

Home inspections may only cover the main house. This is significant for specialty inspections such as termites, because termites are more likely to be found in outbuildings. Make sure any inspection covers all buildings on the property including guest houses, detached garages, barns, stables and other buildings that will convey with the property, even if you have to pay more.

Attend every inspection and stay with the inspectors. Seeing problems for yourself will help you understand what’s serious, what needs replacement now or later, and what’s not significant. While home inspections point out problems, they also show you what’s working well so you can make your final decision about the home.

You can ask the seller to make repairs, or you can offer a little less. If you’re getting a VA or FHA-guaranteed loan, some items aren’t negotiable and the seller must address them, but otherwise ask your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices sales professional for advice.

Testimonials

What Our Clients Think of Us...

"We cannot begin to thank Sarah and JP enough for helping us find our dream home! Being first time home buyers, we were really uncertain as to the home-buying process. We had an idea as to what we were looking for and the area, but really we did not know much past that. Immediately upon meeting Sarah and JP, we knew we were in good hands! During our first meeting, we spent well over an hour just getting to know each other. And as they began to ask us questions, to get a better understanding of what we were looking for, we could tell they were really listening to us. From the beginning, Sarah and JP only brought us homes that were truly options that might work for us. They never wasted our time - and with both of us in careers that take up a lot of our time, we really appreciated that!

From our first meeting, Sarah and JP also learned that we did not have a mortgage broker, home inspector or home attorney - and immediately we were given incredible referrals! Each person we worked with, referred by Sarah and JP, were professional, understanding, patient with us being first time home buyers, attentive and quick to respond! Having that guidance was invaluable to us!

As we began to visit homes we were interested in, it was incredible to see how knowledgeable they both were when it came to the home buying market. They were quick to discuss the pros (and sometimes cons) of each home and they never said what we wanted to hear - they said that we needed to hear. They were understanding of all our questions - and they never made us feel like any of our questions were dumb.

When the perfect home for us was listed on the market Sarah and JP got us in for a showing the very next day. By that evening we had an offer submitted and negotiations started. They were partners with us through the entire negotiation process and always had our best interests in mind. Because of their hard work and follow through we are able to write this referral from our brand new home and couldn't be happier!  Thank you Sarah and JP!" -- Sarah & Jake

 

“Derrick and I could not be happier with our experience with the Anderson Group, more specifically, JP and Sarah. Being a first-time homebuyer, we initially found the process daunting and overwhelming. Not knowing where to begin, Derrick received JP and Sarah’s information from colleagues who also purchased homes with their help. From our first meeting, we were immediately put at-ease. JP and Sarah walked us through the process, let us know what to expect, referred us to excellent mortgage representatives, and re-assured us that our anxieties are not uncommon and they would be with us every step of the way. Searching for a house with first-time buyers, I’m sure is exhausting as we were really unsure of exactly what we wanted, but Sarah and JP’s patience paid off when they helped us find the perfect little starter home. The negation process was not easy and involved a lot of back-and-forth with the home’s sellers. Getting to the closing seemed impossible more than once. Regardless of the challenges and frustrations, JP and Sarah stuck by us every step of the way. Now, just a few weeks into homeownership, we are enjoying the renovation process and we cannot wait to truly enjoy our new home. We cannot thank Sarah and JP enough for making this process seamless and incredibly enjoyable. We will not hesitate to reach out to Sarah and JP in the future and we will certainly be referring them to friends and family in the Chicago area!” –Ellen & Derrick

 

"We had a great experience working with the Anderson Group to sell and buy our home. With busy lives where time is a premium, it was great to work with a team that was hyper responsive and experienced to navigate us through the process. Their unique and comprehensive knowledge of the area and market was an invaluable resource for us. They made us feel like we were more than just “clients”. For anyone looking to make a move, we highly recommend the Anderson Group!"  -- Andrew & Juli


“We sold our house –YEAH! ! ! Selling the house you have lived in for the last 25 years is a psychological journey and there are so many items for consideration. This is where JP and Sarah Anderson successfully guided and directed our journey. They injected the necessary energy, knowledge and experience to present the house for sale and did the work to get the job done. Open houses were held almost weekly and as JP said the ‘more potential buyers we get through the door, the more likely we will make a sale.’ And then there is the emotional vs. practical consideration on the price and they held our best interest in check during the process while getting the sale done. I would highly recommend their talent to anyone in need of real estate services." -- Carol & Larry



JP and Sarah Anderson did a great job representing us for both selling our home and buying a new one. Great communication, hard work and very knowledgeable on the local market. Would highly recommend both of them!"  -- Jason & Katie



“My husband’s job moves us about every two years. This time we were coming from Texas. I was lucky enough to meet Sarah at an open house. She was so pleasant and knowledgeable that I immediately called our relocation people and had them reach out to her. She contacted me and the house hunting began. Sarah was so attentive and observant of our needs and wants; any requests we had, she came through for us. Once we started narrowing down a few houses, JP became involved. His experience, honesty and expertise was a bonus. Through out the entire process, both of them, went out of their way to provide guidance and feedback to help us make the most informed decision. I particularly liked the fact that they stayed involved all the way through closing. I called and texted Sarah almost daily with one question or another. And if I didn’t contact her, she was checking in with me to make sure all was on track. Out of our many moves, this by far was the best experience we’ve had.
Thanks, again, Sarah and JP. You guys are the best.” -- Jill and Michael


J.P. and Sarah Anderson handled both the sale of our Aurora family house and the purchase of our downtown Wheaton home. Our experience with them was nothing but pleasant. Their extraordinary expertise, experience and professionalism is unmatched in the Chicagoland area. They are easy to deal with, calm under pressure, dependable, and all around great to work with. If you are buying or selling a home in the western suburbs you could never ask for more than what you will get from Sarah and J.P. We are clients of the Anderson's, but I also consider them our newest friends." -- Salina & Joshua


“Sarah and JP really helped my husband Kevin and I out in a pinch. When our tenant moved out of our rental condo suddenly, they worked nonstop and were total professionals finding us new renters. Their suggestions and advice were spot on. We will not hesitate to recommend Sarah and JP to all of our friends." -- Shannon & Kevin

“As a first time buyer, I had my doubts. Sarah and JP answered every single question I had since day one. I had a very tight time line to find a house and close and sure enough they were up for the challenge. I'm very pleased I met Sarah and JP as they made the process of buying a house very smooth. Doesn't matter what day or time it was, they were always there. Sarah learnt exactly what I was looking for, and personally went through every listing. I could not be happier with the experience and my new home. Thank you Sarah and JP."  -- Faras

 

“I don't often go out of my way to write reviews - but after working with JP, I don't think my words can do him justice. JP, is by far the best Realtor we have worked with. Glad we ran into him at one of his open houses. From the beginning, after meeting JP, we knew we wanted to work with him. Sure enough JP came through. Everything was punctual, professional and warm. We turned to JP for advice on all fronts and he delivered time and again.  JP, wishing you and Sarah the best. You have us hooked and we won't hesitate to recommend you to all our friends! " -- Hisham & Maleeha 

JP was amazing!  We are first time homeowners who had gone through two different real estate agents before meeting JP at an open house.  First impressions, he seemed like a “go getter” with extensive knowledge of the market and houses in our targeted areas and after a few house tours he was our broker.  We set clear expectations on what we wanted and JP took the time combing through the MLS picking out each house that fit our needs instead of sending 100 listings that didn’t match our requirements.  He even scheduled a tour sick as a dog just to show us a house we were really excited to see.  After a few months of hunting we found the perfect home that matches all of our wants/ needs and couldn’t be happier with our experience.  If you are looking for someone who is patient, has attention to detail and is a strong negotiator, you found him.”--Joel & Ashley


“We weren't sure what to expect when contacting J.P. Anderson about being our broker to assist us in the purchase of our first home. We knew we had a lot of work ahead of us and had no idea where to really begin.

This all changed upon meeting with J.P. He was friendly and professional from our very first interaction, providing more than we had hoped for in terms of information, answers, and guidance on the entire process. We knew right away we wanted him on our side until the day we had the key to our new home in hand.

He was diligent in finding for us newly available houses to visit and review as we learned more and more about what we wanted out of our new home. Here again, we had answers to all of our questions, and he was ever faithful in his charge to assist us, making sure we understood every step along the way.

From the beginning all the way to closing, and beyond, J.P. Anderson exceeded our expectations for the responsibilities and services of a broker, performing every task with integrity and patience. We would recommend him without hesitation to those we know, and, in fact, we already have."--Jeff & Kathleen


“Sarah was incalculably helpful during our house-hunting process. She contacted elusive property managers, warned us of potential dangers, and made sure our applications were considered before others whenever possible. She also did her best to keep our spirits up when we were competing for properties in popular locations! I will be sure to reach out to Sarah again when I am looking to rent or buy in the future."- Jonathan, Jaime & Bradley


“We have been homeowners in Glen Ellyn since 1962, we know many people and many realtors in Glen Ellyn, Wheaton and Lombard.  When we recently decided to downsize and purchase our 5th home in the area, knowing so many realtors made our decision of which realtor to use somewhat difficult.  We were looking for a person with integrity, personality, approachability, enthusiasm, energy and motivation.  Not only did you fill these requirements, you never disappointed us.

Our house was sold and a new one selected within a month.  When the house we wanted turned out to have unforeseen problems on closing day, you worked many hours all week-end to find us just the right place in our time frame.  We were so impressed with your diligence on our behalf.

We just wanted you to know how much we appreciate your efforts on our behalf and wish you the very best as you continue with this career.  We will be recommending your services to anyone we know.”--Dianne & Jim


“We truly appreciated all your work and effort in selling our Glen Ellyn home.  We had total confidence in you throughout the whole process.  You gave us guidance on preparing our home for sale, were always available for questions and concerns, and went over and above to make sure our home was always presented in a positive manner through advertising, open houses and scheduled showings.  Even during the negotiations and inspections, alwsys the most nerve wracking part of the process, you kept the process moving along and calmed our nerves.  We would not hesitate to recommend you to anyone interested in buying or selling their home.”--Gary & Lisa


“We wanted to thank you for the dedication, guidance and professionalism you provided us while looking for our new home.  You were always available and ready to assist at a moments notice.

We had some very specific requirements that were nonnegotiable and you didn’t try to persuade us otherwise.  You were respectful of our needs and motivated to fulfill them.

You went above and beyond to ensure we found the right fit for our family.  Your recommendations were honest and in our best interest.  We truly appreciate all your efforts and wish you only great success moving forward.”
--Paul & Tina

 

 
 
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