Follow These 7 Tips to Keep Your Vacant Listing Safe

Following these tips will deter burglars, keep your home in good shape, and prevent any potential issues from evolving into something more severe.

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When putting a vacant property on the market, there are certain additional considerations the seller must keep in mind during the listing process. Today we’ll cover seven such considerations, focusing specifically on home security: 

1. Have a security system in place. If you’re unable to keep an eye on your property, yourself, having a doorbell camera doing the job for you can be a good idea. 

2. Have a friend or neighbor drop in from time to time. Doing so will lower your risk of 
break-ins. 

3. Check the mail (or have someone do it for you)

To make sure the building is insured, you can ask for a copy of its insurance certificate.

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4. Turn off your newspaper delivery 

5. Make sure the landscaping is maintained. 

6.  Keep all of the blinds closed. 

7. Check on the property after storms.  

Following these tips will deter burglars, keep your home in good shape, and prevent any potential issues from evolving into something more severe. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

What to Know Before Buying a Condo

If you’re thinking of buying a condo, there are six things you need to know first.

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Did you know that between the South Loop, Downtown, Gold Coast, and the West Loop, there are almost 2,400 condos for sale? Before you buy one of these condos, here are six things you need to know:

1. How the condo association is being run. For example, who’s the president? Who’s the vice president? Who’s the treasurer?

2. How the condo association’s budget looks. It might look like it’s being run well, but you should ask to see a copy of the budget and its records for the past two years. You need to make sure they’re putting enough money away for reserves (normally, 10% of the budget should be cash reserves). If they don’t have enough, you have to pay a special assessment, which can be very expensive. 

3. What the delinquency rate is. How many of the owners are behind on their dues? How many of the condos have foreclosed? Hopefully that number is close to zero. 

To make sure the building is insured, you can ask for a copy of its insurance certificate.

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4. Whether the building is insured or not. To make sure the building is insured, you can ask for a copy of its insurance certificate. 

5. Whether there are a lot of absentee owners in the building. How many renters live in the building versus actual owners?

6. Whether there are any lawsuits against the condo association. 

If you have any other questions about this topic, don’t hesitate to call or email us anytime. We’d be glad to help you.