Selling Your Home: Do This First

Thinking of selling your home? It can be an overwhelming thing to even consider, but breaking the process down into simpler steps can help.

Step 1: Set Your Timeline


The first step is basic but critical. Determine if you are really ready to move, and what your timeframe is for doing so. If your move is being determined by a job transfer to another state, for example, this could be fairly straightforward. But, if you are looking for a bigger home in the same neighborhood, looking to move closer to family, or ready to downsize for retirement, your timeline may be more flexible.


In cases like these, you may want to consider the current market conditions before making a decision. Now is a great time to sell. Homes are still moving quickly, especially when they’re move-in ready. With the impact of inflation and inventory remaining tight, homes are still appreciating in value, and sellers are making great gains. With proper staging and marketing, you can really make your home stand out.


If you decide 2024 is the year for your move, give some thought to whether you want to try to time your move around any specific dates, such as the new school year or winter holidays.

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Step 2: Find a Mainstreet REALTOR®


You may be wondering if you ought to do more before you seek out a REALTOR®, such as making home improvements to up the value of your house. But here's the thing: your REALTOR® will be your best advisor as you make choices like this one.


Not all home renovations pay off when you sell your home, and a local REALTOR® is going to be the best resource for understanding what upgrades are worth it in your neighborhood. What people are looking for varies by location and price point, so generalized online advice isn't going to cut it. A Mainstreet REALTOR® will know a variety of local contractors and can connect you with the best person for the job.


From there, your Mainstreet REALTOR® will help you navigate the ins and outs of listing your home, setting up showings and more. Once you have this advisor by your side, you'll have a guide through all stages of the home selling process.

Step 3: Start Preparing Your Home


With your Mainstreet REALTOR® by your side, you can start to take intentional, focused steps to prepare your home to go on the market. Your REALTOR® will help you make necessary improvements without wasting time or money, so you can have your home on the market as fast as you’d like.

Is It Time to Downsize? How to Know and What to Do Next

By Amy Robey • May 11, 2026
Let's review the signs that it might be time to downsize as well as the signs that it's not. If you determine now is the time, we'll also share some considerations as well as some steps you can take

Chicagoland Housing Market Hits its Spring Sprint

By Amy Robey • April 22, 2026
Spring arrived in Chicagoland suburbs and so did homebuyers. The sales of detached, single-family homes were up 7.5% year over year in March, with 2,134 homes sold compared to 1,985 a year ago. Homes spent an average of 53 days on market, down slightly from 54 days last year. Median prices were up nearly 5%, from $385,000 in March 2025 to $403,250 last month. Months' supply for housing inventory was just 1.5 months across the entire Chicagoland PMSA, well below the five to six months that signals a balanced market. To put that in perspective, Bloomingdale currently has just 8 homes for sale, while a comparable community in Florida has roughly 2,000. "Inventory is still severely constrained and so we are seeing extreme competition for quality listings," said Kinga Korpacz, President of Mainstreet REALTORS®. "Buyers are waiving attorney review and inspections and coming in with significant earnest money." Buyers may find more options in Kane County, where new listings were up 14.5% last month, compared to the same time last year. Even in the attached home segment, where 1,086 homes sold compared to 1,094 a year ago and market time increased from 42 to 54 days, median prices climbed 5.6%, from $270,000 to $285,000. "Even though prices are on an upward path in the Chicagoland suburbs, the market feels predictable," said John Gormley, CEO of Mainstreet REALTORS®. "When things are moving this fast, local expertise from a Mainstreet REALTOR® isn't optional, it's essential. They're going to know the community inside and out, meaning where you have to move quickly and where you may have a day or two to make a decision." Aurora led the region in detached home sales during March with 100 homes sold, followed by Naperville and Arlington Heights. While detached homes across the region sold in an average of 53 days in March, several suburban communities saw average market time fall compared to a year ago: Arlington Heights (70 days to 25 days) Downers Grove (59 to 36) Geneva (35 to 25) Lombard (48 to 25) Streamwood (49 to 30) Tinley Park (107 to 37) Wheaton (24 to 10) Feeling squeezed out of the market? Look for pockets where you might have a little more room like Kane County. And if you're open to it, attached homes, which are condos and townhomes, are moving a bit slower right now, which could mean more time to make a decision and more options at a competitive price point.
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