At the age of 70, Benno Naderer is ready to retire from homeownership. He has had his fill of shoveling snow and mowing lawns. The idea of a small condominium, perhaps in Florida, appeals to him.
For the last several weeks he has offered his Downers Grove property for sale himself. His preference is to sell the three buildings and double lot as a package.
A trio of realty pros-Marshall Hampton, Bonnie Hampton and Don Vigenser, all of American Homes Real Estate in La Grange-recently toured the premises and offered advice for maximizing Naderer`s selling price and increasing his chances for a speedy sale.
The property is on a busy main street near shopping, schools and a community park. The three chalet-style buildings are mustard yellow with dark brown trim. The yard is landscaped with mature evergreens, flower beds and groundcover.
The main home measures about 950 square feet and features two bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, a sauna and a sundeck. The second building, with about 1,850 square feet, is a finished barn with three vehicle stalls on the first floor and an in-law apartment on the second. There is also a detached two-car garage. A U- shaped driveway loops behind the home.
Naderer has owned the property for 10 years. At one time it belonged to an area theater group, which stored costumes and built stage props here.
Hobby or work space
”It would be useful for the person with hobbies or business orientations,” he said. ”It would also be excellent as a studio for the artist or someone with in-laws.”
”The first thing you have to do is decide on a budget, whether you will put $500 or $5,000 into the property,” said Marshall Hampton.
”I have no budget,” said Naderer, noting that he lives on his Social Security income. He is, however, mechanically inclined, in good health, and willing to invest his labor.
”Anything you tell me to improve my property, I will do,” he said.
”Based on the size of the house, my opinion is to make it look cute and quaint, like a country cottage,” said Marshall Hampton. ”Make it look inviting to newlyweds, single persons and maybe someone who likes to work on cars.”
The Hamptons and Vigenser agreed the color combination of mustard and brown is dated. Naderer plans to do some painting anyway, so they suggested he do all the buildings. A scheme of off-white trimmed in forest green will match the green roofs and blend well with the landscaping, the real estate pros said.
”The wood (siding) doesn`t need painting,” objected Naderer.
”White will make the house look bigger, Ben,” said Vigenser.
Naderer conceded that ”white makes it look bigger, black makes it look smaller.”
Bonnie Hampton advised Naderer to weed the flower beds and to fill areas between plants and under trees with bark chips. Most villages give them away for free, she said.
”Do you have a dog?” she asked, referring to a warning sign in the front door.
No, Naderer admitted, he did not.
Forbidding sign
”Then I`d take the sign down,” she said. ”People will see it and have an automatic fear.”
The front entry opens to a small sitting room, where the walls are lined with particle board and blue molding. Here Bonnie Hamptom advised carrying through the new exterior paint colors.
”It looks a little unfinished but you could turn it into a cute sunroom or garden room,” she said.
Naderer already had selected his floor coverings, and the trio praised his choices. The kitchen, bath and utility areas have off-white vinyl flooring and the living room a beige low-pile carpeting. Half the kitchen is also covered with a dark blue area rug, which they suggested he remove.
Even though Naderer would rather not subdivide the property, he probably could get a higher price by doing so, the pros agreed. Many first-time buyers will not be able to afford the cost of a double lot, they added, suggesting he research whether the second lot is buildable and what the tax ramifications would be before he makes the final decision.
