10 Things That Get You the Most Money When Selling a Home in Illinois

Spring is a hot time for selling homes in Illinois, and if you're thinking about putting your house on the market soon, real estate experts say these 10 things will help make it sell fast and for top dollar.

Selling Homes in Illinois

I've only sold one home in my life, and I learned a two important things very quickly before we officially put our house on the market.

1. Choosing a great realtor is the key to success.
2. You don't have to spend a ton of money on upgrades to get the most money for your home...in fact you shouldn't.

As we get ready to enter into the Spring season, which is typically the busiest time of year for selling homes in Illinois, now is the perfect time to do some simple but super effective home upgrades to net you top dollar in Illinois' real estate market.

Home Features Illinois Buyers Search for Most

They say kitchens and bathrooms sell homes, so if you only have a small upgrade budget, it's always smart to focus your efforts in those two areas. But what other things to Illinois home buyers value most?

Real estate experts from Agent Advice say these are the 10 keywords potential home buyers in Illinois Google most during the months of March through April...

1. Kitchen Island

Illinois buyers seem to prefer open-kitchen floor plans, and a kitchen island is a big draw for the additional storage and preparation space.

2. Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans help to regulate and maintain home temperatures, which is a very desirable feature as we head into the warmer spring and summer months.

3. Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl floors are highly customizable, more cost effective, easy to maintain, and water resistant which make them a huge draw for Illinois home buyers.

4. Quartz Countertops

Quartz countertops look great and are way harder to scratch, dent, or chip than granite countertops.

5. Solar Panels

Installing solar panels will decrease home energy costs while increasing the value. While installing solar panels may be a huge investment to make just to sell your home now, if you plan on putting your home on the market in a few years, the investment now will pay off.

6. Stackable Washer & Dryer

If you need to upgrade your washer and dryer, the smartest choice is stackable units, especially if you plan on selling your home in the near future and will be leaving the appliances behind.

7. Hardwood Flooring

Illinois home buyers still appreciate hardwood flooring, but if you're upgrading flooring just to sell the home, think vinyl before hardwood.

8. Framed TV

I'm not sure exactly what Illinois home buyers are looking for when it comes to "framed TV's", but I'm assuming they are drawn to TV's that aren't just hanging on a wall with wires hanging down. Hang your TV in an eye-catching place like above a brick or stone fireplace that looks like it was designed to be there.

9. Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are beautiful and still a draw for Illinois home buyers, but spending the extra cash for granite before listing your home is not always necessary.

10. Disco Ball (this one made me LOL!)

I have no idea why Illinois home buyers are searching for "disco ball" more than something like "finished basement", but if you've got a rec area WITH a disco ball, your home might just be a huge hit!

Most Important Thing to Remember When Selling a Home in Illinois

If selling your home in Illinois is priority #1 right now, you don't need to spend a lot of money to make your house more appealing to home buyers.

Here's some helpful advice from Chris Heller, Co-founder of Agent Advice;

desirable upgrades that shouldn't prove too intensive yet relate to the popular farmhouse aesthetic include adding hanging plants, thrifting vintage or antique accent pieces, and opting for a neutral color palette.

Basically, you want potential buyers to see themselves in your home and the potential to make it their own.