Colorful costume jewelry was arrayed on a dining table in the kitchen, ready to be sorted. In the living room, there was a roll of bubble wrap and cardboard boxes, which soon will be packed and shipped to a faraway destination–Australia.
Fred Johnson, the owner of this two-bedroom, two-bath condominium in Arlington Heights, asked for a real estate agent who could see beyond the boxes, wrapping and other accoutrements of relocation to offer advice on improvements needed to prepare this condo for sale.
Johnson and his wife, Elizabeth, who live in Prospect Heights, bought this spacious, second-floor unit 10 years ago. Their daughter has lived there since.
“This was a place for my daughter to nest,” Johnson said. “But she’s leaving the country and getting married (in Australia).”
Although he had considered renting the unit, which has two full bathrooms, the condominium association prohibits renting to anyone other than a relative, Johnson explained.
For marketing tips, Selling Points turned to the father-and-son realty team of Richard and Tim Fulk of R.D. Fulk & Associates/Century 21 in Arlington Heights.
One of the unit’s best features is its skylights. There is one in the vaulted ceiling in the living room and one in the kitchen. Unfortunately, these windows also shed light on the floor coverings, which are original to the unit and are showing normal signs of wear and tear.
The kitchen flooring is a beige tile, which has some cracks. The Fulks suggested that Johnson retile it.
However, if Johnson does not want to go to the trouble of retiling, he could buy a neutral-colored rug and place it in the middle of the floor, just below the ceiling fan, Tim Fulk said.
“A rug would be relatively inexpensive,” Tim added. “And (the floor) would look brighter and newer (than the existing tile)–more eye appealing.”
In the other rooms of the condo, the carpeting is a light brown. The Fulks agreed that it needs to be replaced.
“Carpeting will make it more appealing.” Tim Fulk said.”(Home shoppers) won’t think, `Oh, we have to (replace the carpeting) if we buy it.’ “
The carpet should be in an understated, neutral shade to complement most any decorating scheme that a potential buyer might have, the Realtors agreed.
The Fulks were divided, however, on whether the condominium needs a fresh coat of paint. The last time it was painted was about three years ago, Johnson said.
New paint would make the unit look fresher, Tim Fulk said. However, a new coat would be even more crucial if Johnson were planning to show the condominium without any pictures on the walls or furnishings in it, Richard Fulk said.
The paint’s condition “is normal for 3 years old,” Richard Fulk said. “But if you take all the pictures down, you’ll see marks.”
That’s one reason why the Fulks strongly recommended showing the home with pictures and furniture in it. Having a lived-in look gives potential buyers a way to imagine how the unit would look with their own furniture.
Because shipping heavy furniture to Australia is expensive, Johnson said he plans to show the condominium with some of his daughter’s current furniture.
Walking into one of the bathrooms that adjoin the bedrooms, Johnson had another question. He asked whether he needed to reglaze a white bathtub/shower, which has some small chips in it.
Richard Fulk said reglazing the entire tub would likely not be necessary. Instead, he recommended that Johnson touch up the chips with white paint.
———-
If you would like to participate in our Selling Points feature, send us a letter telling where you live, what kind of house or condominium you live in and why you are thinking of moving. (Please include your phone number.) We will select some entries for evaluation by an area real estate agent and we’ll run articles describing what the agent suggests. You will have no obligation to the agent. If you are interested, write to Selling Points, Your Place section, 4th Floor, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611. No telephone calls will be accepted; we will contact you if your home is selected.
