Joe Lynn, Managing Broker, 847-452-9191, joelynn@grapevinerealtor.com

My Story

Joe Lynn

I love the educational part of real estate: giving buyers & sellers the information they need to make informed decisions. I offer my professional recommendations & walk clients through the process making it as smooth as possible. I am a member of the National Association of Realtors, a Managing Broker of the company and have been a Realtor in IL since 2004.

Designated Managing Broker

Why Use Grapevine Realty?

1. I give you an honest estimate of the value of your home. Some Realtors will give you an inflated estimate. This is called buying a listing. Studies have shown that consumers are much more likely to hire a Realtor who gives a higher value. I don’t buy listings. Doing so results in your house sitting on the market longer and ultimately selling for less money.

2. I communicate and help you throughout the selling process. From recommendations for repairs and remodeling to staging; from explaining contracts to preparing you for closing; from laying out your options to giving you my professional opinion. Some Realtors will get your listing and disappear. I communicate on regularly. I respond to your inquiries in a timely fashion. I work with you to get your home sold for the highest price possible.

3. I use a professional photographer and personally do open houses. Great pictures are key to getting people interested in your home. I hire a professional photographer who specialized in real estate photography. On the listing, I also put the pictures in an order that walks the viewer through the house—making it easy for viewers to get a feel for the house. Unlike many Realtors, I host the open house and promote it with the knowledge have about your home and Rob Roy. Open houses are another way to get buyers interested in your home. Many people don’t have a Realtor, or don’t want to bother their Realtor, so they visit open houses. Even neighbors who attend an open house are good word of mouth advertising.

4. I save you money. Most Realtors ask for 2.5% to 3.5%. I aim to save you money with a low 1.75% listing commission. I recommend offering 2.5% to the buyer’s agent (the same as most brokers) so there is the same incentive for Realtors to show your property; I just take less of a commission. On a $500,000 house, that would mean a savings of $3,750-$8,750

Buyer's Checklist

1. Figure out what you can afford.

A. In order to figure out an estimate, note two rules of thumb:

1. Your monthly cost of buying a home, including principle, interest, taxes and insurance (PITI), should not exceed 28% of your gross (pretax) monthly income.

2. Your payments on all long-term debts combined with your house payment should not exceed 36% of gross monthly income.

Use an online mortgage calculator to figure out P (principle) and I (interest). Be sure to add T (taxes) and I (insurance) to that calculation to come up with the monthly cost of buying a home (PITI).

B. Use The Rule of Three and seek out rates and services with three mortgage companies/mortgage brokers. This gives you a good sense of what a good rate really is.

I highly recommend using a mortgage broker. A bank has a few loan options, all from itself (one lender). Brokers have access to many lenders and loan options and oftentimes have better rates and lower closing costs.

C. Ask the mortgage companies/brokers what you can afford. This gives you a much more accurate picture than the rough estimate you did in letter A above.

D. Choose a mortgage company/mortgage broker and have them prepare a loan pre-approval letter. This letter will be very helpful in making your offer to buy a home very attractive to a seller and will help speed up the loan process.

2. Figure out what you want.

A. Create a list of “must haves.” Some features to think about: eat-in kitchen, dining room, move-in condition, basement, garage, cities, schools, dishwasher, house style, updated kitchen and baths, master bathroom, yard and number of bedrooms and baths.

B. Create a list of “nice to haves.” What would be nice to have, but isn’t essential? Features may include: dishwasher, master bath, walk-in closet, attached garage, basement, hardwood floors, fireplace, laundry chute, eat-in kitchen and deck/patio.

C. Create a list of “don’t wants.” Some issues to think about: busy street, flood plain, power lines, monthly assessment and rehab.

3. Find a Realtor.

A. Find one who is going to be honest—tell you the good and bad about each property. A Realtor sets up showings, establishes a home’s value, and leads you through the buying process. Before seeing properties, it is required that buyers sign a contract with Realtor. Check out my feedback on Google and YELP!

B. Questions to ask potential brokers:

1. How many clients are you working with now? The fewer, the more likely you will get the attention you deserve.

2. What do you offer me as a client? You want someone who will be responsive to you. Do you offer any incentives to work with you?

4. Choose a lawyer.

A. Expect to pay ~$500-$800 as a buyer.

B. Once you have a contract to purchase, I will forward the contract to your attorney immediately. There is a five day attorney review period once the contract is signed.

5. Choose a home inspector.

A. Choose an ASHI certified inspector. Expect to pay ~$450-$700. There is a five day inspection period after the contract is signed.

B. Order a radon test through your inspector (expect to pay ~$200-$300). If there are elevated radon levels, the buyer pays for a radon mitigation system (~$2,000-$3,500). Also consider a sewer inspection—if there are issues, seller usually pays to fix them.

6. Search for homes, make an offer, buy one, move.

A good Realtor will go over your three lists with you (see #2 above), set up showings to look at homes, keep in touch with you regarding the process and new homes on the market, help you make an offer on a home you love, and guide you through the closing.

7. Relax.

A. Tackle one item at a time. Cross it off the list once it is done.

B. I will do everything I can to make this process a smooth one. My goal is to help you find a home you love while putting more money in your pocket.

SELLER'S MARKETING PLAN

1. Prepare a Comparative Market Analysis to establish fair market value. I look at similar homes in your area that have sold and compare their features, updates, etc., and make a recommendation to you. Commission is 1.75% (most charge 2.5%-3.5%). I still recommend offering 2.5% to the buyer’s broker—the same as most Realtors.

2. Provide you with suggestions for remodeling, decluttering and staging your home so that you get a quicker sale at top dollar.

3. Hire a professional photographer and include 25-50 photos and comprehensive listing details on the Multiple Listing Service listing. Photos taken by Realtors are rarely great.

4. Send your listing to targeted buyers who are looking for your home’s location, size, price and features on an ongoing basis.

5. Feature your home on the MLS and dozens of websites with 25-50 pictures and a detailed description of your property. Your home will appear on websites such as Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia and Redfin, as well as the sites of all the major brokerage franchises (Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Berkshire Hathaway, ReMax, Keller Williams, @properties, etc.). All MLS listings go to all these sites.

6. I will place a professionally designed “For Sale” sign in your front yard. I will also place highlight cards around your home to direct attention of buyers to its best features.

7. Host open houses. The more ways I can market your home, the better. Many Realtors don’t do open houses, or have other agents do them. I do them myself.

8. Place a SentriLock electronic lock box on your property for easy showing access for Realtors, as well as security for you. I will know all the Realtors who enter your home, including their arrival and departure times. Combo locks are not safe.

9. Arrange showings for other agents and their prospective buyers.

10. Contact you weekly with progress reports and showing feedback as well as send statistical reports on the interest in your home.

11. Present and discuss all offers with you. Negotiate the transaction and schedule the inspection. Finalize the closing details with your lawyer.

CONTACT ME

CONTACT

847-452-9191 (cell)

joelynn@grapevinerealtor.com