Addison Realtor Bob Rizza Discusses the Ins-and-Outs of Home Inspection

As a realtor in Addison, I thought it was important for me to clarify some of the ins and outs and the importance of home inspection. Home inspections involves a certified inspector coming into the home, conducting a complete survey of the home and then compiling a report for the potential buyer. Some of the things inspected include structural fixtures like the foundation, ceilings, walls, and floors; external components like patios, decks, the driveway, roofing, siding, gutters, landscaping; heating, ventilation and air condition; electricity; pipes; possible infestations. I am often asked if a home inspection is required by law. There are some places that require the inspection of a home before sale but, in most cases, it is optional. I recommend asking a realtor in Addison for the answer appropriate to your specific situation. As your realtor in Addison, I would highly recommend getting the home inspected before purchase, because it is best to know what kind of potential problems you are looking at in a home. The home inspector will provide you with a detailed report of their findings, including anything that needs repair or replacement. It will then be the buyers’ decision, with the guidance of their Addison realtor, whether the home has passed or failed the inspection. Based on the findings of the inspection, the buyer will often have the choice to opt out of the purchase completely, ask the sellers to complete all repairs, or to accept the home “as-is.” I do not know many realtors that would not recommend their client having a home inspection, and often times, if the buyer decides to forego the inspection, the realtor would ask them to sign a disclosure form and waiver. This waiver would release the realtor from any liability in the event that major problems were found in the home after purchase. Nine out of 10 realtors would recommend a home inspection be completed, as would I.

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Moving with Children: A Smoother Transition

You have made the decision to move and the decision has been finalized. Whether your moving for promotional reasons, finding better school systems, or ready for a change, moving is always a stressful situation. The hardest part - Planning and telling your children. First things first, you want to find a reliable Chicagoland realtor  who can help make the transition for you and your family less stressful. 

Moving to a new location is typically not on the top of your children's wishlist. During childhood and adolescence, the stress of finding new friends and activities can have a large impact on your children's happiness. With the help of a knowledgable Chicagoland realtor who is very familiar with the community and can help you take steps to ease the transition is extremely important. 

By letting your children be a part of your home shopping experience, it can greatly influence their feelings. Not only will it give them time to accept the fact that they are moving, but it will also bring your family closer together. Here are some steps you can follow to make your family move more convenient. 

-Plan a time to tell the whole family.  If you have a favorite place to dine together or even have a nice dinner planned at your home, you can sit down with your children and express your feelings and concerns about moving to another home. You can share your own moving experiences as a way to break the ice and ease your children into the conversation.

-Hear their feedback and their ideas. If you involve your children in the home selection process, they more than likely will become excited about it. You can make a list of the things they like and dislike about each home and once you make a decision you should keep them posted about what is currently happening in the process. 

-Have a garage or yard sale. Getting rid of old items and de-cluttering makes for more space in your new home. You can have your children help organize the event and explain that you can use the funds for something for the family, like a pool, etc. 

-Research. Here is where you can contact your Chicagoland realtor who can share with you all the information about the new neighborhood and community. Robert Rizza has been a local Chicagoland realtor for the past 15 years and is very familiar with the Chicagoland area and helping your family adjust to a new lifestyle. 

Now that you have informed and included the entire family on your endeavor, it's time to move! Robert Rizza will help you and your family find the home that best suits your needs and can act as your guide to exploring your new community. I encourage you to connect with Robert Rizza as your Chicagoland realtor. Not only is he great at what he does, he can give you very useful information regarding your community, school systems, and help your family become familiar with your new environment. 

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Selling Your Home: Tips for A Desirable Outcome

When preparing to sell your home there are a few key elements to keep in mind. Every homeowner wants to sell their home quickly and make a profit in doing so. Finding the right Chicagoland realtor can truly make the process much smoother. How does that sound? Luck is not what sells your home, it is thorough planning and having the right Chicagoland realtor at your side to make the selling process more enjoyable. 

Your ultimate goal in selling your home is to get potential buyers sprinting for their checkbooks. A list has been put together for you to help transform your home into a desirable and sellable home. 

-Remove all personal items. It's very important to remove all personal items throughout your home so that potential   buyers can envision their own personal belongings within the home. Think about it, wouldn't you find it more difficult to picture your family over the fireplace when someone else's family portrait is displayed? You want buyers to feel like they can imagine themselves living there. 

-Rearrange furniture, closet space, and kitchen items. Chances are you will have buyers looking through your closets and kitchen cabinets, etc. It is just a natural tendency when home shopping. If everything is arranged neatly and simply it makes buyers believe you have taken care of the home and makes it more appealing. This also includes getting rid of any clutter that sends a negative message to buyers. 

-Repairs and/or improvements. You always want to make sure that everything is working properly. Re-painting rooms with questionable palettes is also very important. Neutral colors are most appealing. You don't want your home to be overlooked because of the bright fire engine red bathroom walls. 

-The exterior. You want to make sure your lawn is neatly mowed and bushes/trees are trimmed. All pathways and driveways should be cleared and looking great. You could plant flowers or new trees to make an overall welcoming appearance. If a potential buyer absolutely hates the outside of the home, there is a large chance they might not even want to give your home a chance.

-Clean, clean, clean. Probably one of the most important aspect of prepping your home for selling is making sure your home is clean. You can hire a cleaning service if your cleaning skills aren't up to par but just make sure your home sparkles. 

These are just a few simple steps you can take prior to finding your realtor in Chicagoland to assist in the home selling process. Robert Rizza has been a realtor in Chicagoland for over 15 years and can make your home selling experience advantageous. So what are you waiting for? Choose a realtor in Chicagoland who can make your home irresistable to the housing market.

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Addison Realtor Bob Rizza Discusses the Usefulness, or Uselessness, of Open Houses

Addison Realtor Bob Rizza Discusses the Usefulness, or Uselessness, of Open Houses

When marketing a home for sale, one of the first techniques that homeowners ask about is the potential of holding an open house, but there are no two Chicagoland realtors that view the usefulness, or uselessness, of open houses in the same light. From some colleagues, I have heard the number “1 in 5” of their listings are sold through open houses, but in the very next conversation I may be told that a fellow realtor has not had nearly as much success with them. I try to be open minded and, more importantly, work with my clients to close their home quickly, and, again, more importantly, efficiently.

Some reasons realtors may not favor open houses include:

·      Apathy

·      The house will not “show” well

·      The house is in a difficult location and/or hard to find

If, however, an open house is something about which you feel strongly, there some helpful tips that you could follow:

·      Advertise. It will be impossible for an open house to be successful if no one can find your home. Find a busy, often-traveled location and place large signage with the address and an arrow pointing in the right direction (Ask your Chicagoland realtor for great suggestions on prime locations to post signage). Then, lead potential buyers to your home by placing additional signage along the way. If the directions to your open house are detailed and clearly mapped, it shows that you are “on top of your game”--which implies that the home has also been cared for with the same meticulous attention to detail.

·      Clean, clean, clean!  Clean your home from top to bottom, even the long-forgotten places you may never expect viewers to look. These locations include the outside and inside of cabinets, the inside of dishwashers, laundry machines, walls, baseboards and ceiling fans.

·      Reduce all clutter. This is an important and often-underrated tip for home sale. It is imperative that all unnecessary items are removed from view and that all necessary items are put in their proper place. When selling your home, the goal becomes for the home to “sell itself”; this is only possible if you bring attention to all the great amenities the house has to offer. You also want viewers to envision the potential of the space—you want viewers to see what their life could be like living there. In the kitchen, remove all unnecessary items from the counter, but leave out a bowl of fruit and a cookbook. Decorative items are important and the cookbook illustrates a loving family that has shared many meals around the family table. Many people are looking for a place to raise their family, or enjoy their grandkids, and would prefer to live in a house where love and the values of family have long been associated with the home.

So, there are many pieces of advice from Chicagoland realtors floating around, but if you choose to hold an open house, remember the goal is to help the house “sell itself” and to highlight that which makes the house different from others on the market. To iterate: advertise, simplify and clean! Create an atmosphere in which others could imagine themselves living, and help potential buyers conceive the love, friendship and adventures they could experience in their new home.

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First Time Home Ownership: Tools of the Trade

Are you ready to purchase your first home? The key to successful real estate agreements stem from knowledge and experience. Amongst the best, Robert Rizza is a real estate agent in Addison, IL and can be the key to your fortune in purchasing your first home.

With the combination of expertise and extended training, this Chicagoland realtor can make your home-buying process much easier.  The first and foremost important aspect of this process is planning. When you are selecting a Chicagoland realtor you want someone you can trust and who is capable of helping you find the home that matches your every need. Robert Rizza will help you form a plan to discover the essentials in your journey to home ownership.

The more knowledge you obtain as a prospective homeowner, the better chance you have of reaching your goal: owning a home. Robert Rizza has had extensive experience in the real estate field and will help you understand the many aspects of first time home ownership.

There are plenty of new and used homes being sold and the challenge of choosing a home can become quite frustrating. To narrow your housing options, a list of some essential home selecting tips has been created for you.

• ·      Create a budget, this cannot be stressed enough. Many will find themselves setting unrealistic goals by purchasing a home in which they cannot afford. Instead of setting yourself up for future disappointment, make sure you have a reasonable budget and stick to that.
• ·      Map out a list of wants and needs. Let’s face it, once you have made a budget you may need to compromise. Once you know what you really need based on your budget you can slim down your selection and make your choices much easier.
• ·      Find the right mortgage option for you. By shopping around, you will be given many different options and then you may choose the best deal for you.
• ·      Get pre-approved. This will help you to know how much you can expect to receive from your bank of choice.

With all that being said, any questions or concerns can be taken up with your Chicagoland Realtor, Robert Rizza.  Expect nothing but the best in customer satisfaction and successful home ownership with Robert Rizza. Choose a Chicagoland realtor who will help enable you to hold the key to your new home and unlock your future.

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Addison Realtor Bob Rizza--Customized Service for the Unique Client

“Addison Realtor Bob Rizza—Customized Service for the Unique Client”

Robert “Bob” Rizza, real estateagent in Addison, IL, is known in the industry for his ability to market a diverse range of homes for sale to a remarkably wide range of clientele. While many Chicagoland realtors specialize in selling homes for and to a particular demographic, Bob Rizza realizes the value of helping his neighbors own their own home and achieve the American dream. Recently, Bob has closed listings between the range of $85,000–$412,000. He has consistently demonstrated and proven his ability to customize service to each client, and he understands that each client is unique and comes with a distinct set of needs and desires. In an economy where homebuyers/sellers are increasingly dissatisfied with realtors, this Addison realtor understands the importance of providing professional service with a personal touch and fostering the relationships with his clients. In regards to Bob, one client said, “[H]e has helped us sell our home, helped close an intricate and challenging deal on my sisters home, and successfully sold my brother-in-law's home. He also found my brother-in-law a GREAT new home at a fantastic price.” Bob Rizza values new and longtime clients alike, and he works hard to ensure that the professional relationships he forms are maintained and well-provided for.

            By his clients, Bob is considered to be “driven” and the “consummate professional…always exhibiting a high degree of honesty, integrity and knowledge”; yet, he is “patient,” “part of the family,” and “a close personal friend.” When Bob takes on the sale of a home, he does simply list it and hope it sells; rather, he creates innovative strategies to bring attention to the listing and dedicates himself to each client. Understanding that each client is different, Bob is “dedicated, consistent and resilient,” yet he is respectful of each family dynamic and the parameters of each unique listing. Because each family and listing is different, Bob strives to find innovative solutions to the complications that are so common during the process of selling a home. Bob has an unprecedented knowledge of “what it takes” to put you and your home at an advantage in an unpredictable economy and housing market; while many realtors in the Chicagoland area struggle to market listings effectively, Bob will aggressively market your home and will advocate for you until the job is complete. With Bob Rizza as your Chicagoland realtor, you are never alone.

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How Rising Gas Prices are Affecting the Real Estate Purchasing Process

Gas prices have been rising, and everyone who is strapped for cash has certainly noticed. What does this have to do with the housing market; one might ask. Well as you already know, the commute to work these days seems longer and longer when you start to consider the cost of gas. Everyone on a budget dreads the day they have to fill up, so if you are one of these people; you are most likely NOT in the market to buy.

                                                                                    Chicagoland realtor

People who are financially stable are the ones who may be looking for a new home, and you better believe they are thinking about the location. This is why more rural areas may be taking a hit; people want to be closer to their workplace, and with gas being at nearly five dollars a gallon it really does have a huge impact on peoples decisions.

                                                                                    Chicagoland realtor

On the other hand, it doesn’t necessarily have much of an impact on housing cost. The upturn in the market has been moving in the right direction for the first time in six years, so the rise in oil prices shouldn’t be a massive game changer. This doesn’t mean that people aren’t being cautious, because they are. It is in the back of people’s minds and it could make buyers a little more hesitant when considering a home.

                                                                                    Chicagoland realtor

The one market that has been doing well and is continuing to do well; is in the urban areas. These homes and apartments are much more appealing in an economy like ours. Your Chicagoland realtor can help you find a suitable home that will be beneficial as well as economical to you and your family.

                                                                                    Chicagoland realtor

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Know when to hold em’ and know when to SHOW em'

When was the last time anyone went house hunting in the dead of winter? Unless you are really desperate or you live in a tropical climate, its not going to happen. Finding a house is a pain by itself so why make it worse by adding cold to the equation?  When you decide to sell your home, it is wise to consider the weather. Your Chicagoland realtor is familiar with a homeowners demand to sell, but before you get your heart set on moving out and buying a new home, think about buyer desires.

Moving is a hastle, you have to rent a huge truck and get all your belongings packed away for the long haul. Is it ideal to do this in the wintertime?  I don’t think so. People have to worry enough about their belongings getting to a new place in one piece, let alone being destroyed in poor weather conditions. This alone gives most buyers enough reason to wait.

                                                                                                Realtor in Addison

Warm and cozy is how many people like to envision their home, not cold and damp. Showing your home in the winter makes it hard on your prospects, and also could potentially have an effect on the condition of your floors. The last thing you need is a big stain on the floor of a home you are trying to sell.

                                                                                                Realtor in Itasca

Spring into showing your home. When you see the flowers are blooming and hear the birds chirping, you know its time to show your home. Your Chicagoland realtor will tell you that the highest success rates for selling a home is undoubtedly in the springtime. This way people can really take in the home; they don’t feel rushed into the house, and can take a better look at the atmosphere.

The curb appeal really pops in the springtime so keeping up on yard work will drastically beautify your home. Most of the time the woman in the relationship has more say as to what house is “the one” so appealing to the female persuasion might give you a leg up in the sale.

In the market today, and always, the time at which you choose to show a home has a large impact on the sale. You have to know when to hold em’ and you have to know when to show em’. So talk to a Chicagoland realtor today, and make the right decision.

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The Homeowners Guide to Selling

1.     Find an agent

When it comes to selling your home, the first thing you should is find a real estate agent that knows your area and is familiar with buyer desires. Once you find a Realtor that is right for you, negotiate a contract and listing agreement.

2.     Prepare your home

Now is when you should start getting your home ready for sale. This includes tidying up your home and making the imperfections less noticeable, taking care of issues with plumbing and electric, and most importantly keep up appearences of the outside. Curb appeal is sometimes overlooked, but that is the first thing people see so making your home more inviting can often bring in a lot more perspective buyers.

3.     How much is your home really worth?

This is a huge step that many sellers have problems with. Though your home may be your idea of perfection, it isn’t always the case. Get your home appraised and find out what it is actually worth. A lot of times it will be less than expected, but overpricing your home will deter buyers and leave you with a home for sale and no prospects.

4.     Getting in the public eye

This stage of the process is also a very important one, but many times is put off and never gets done. Making sure people know your house is for sale has become much easier considering advantages of the Internet. Your Chicagoland realtor will draw up a marketing plan that is right for you, making your house available for buyers to see.

5.      Know when to hold em', and know when to SHOW em'

Showing your home will give buyers an inside look and give them a surreal feeling that this could potentially be their home. Timing is crucial, your realtor will tell you that. A home will have more interested buyers in the springtime. And who can blame them; nobody wants the go out in the blistering cold to see a house. The weather has an outstanding effect on people and choosing there right time to show your house can be critical.

6.     Negotiate existing offers

If someone makes you an offer, don’t jump the gun and sell right away. Your Chicagoland realtor is aware of the tactics that buyers may use when making an offer. The lowball approach is a popular one which slows the process drastically. If the buyer doesn’t give you a realistic offer it is best to just wait for a serious buyer that is willing to work with the listing price.

7.     Open escrow time!

After finding a price that works for both parties there is a hold put on the finalization of the sale. There is a neutral third party that holds the purchasing funds on behalf of the buyer, and makes sure everything is in order before any exchange is made.  The realtor you choose will guide you through the process and help you understand why it is important.

                                                                                                      Realtor in Addison

8.     Be Prepared for inspection

Your Chicagoland realtor will provide you with a checklist prior to inspection. It is ultimately up to you as far as fixing problems goes. The smoother the inspection the faster you can sell, so making your home up to code is before your forced to is definitely a good idea. Also keep in mind that the buyer is given all the information about the house.

9.     Disclose all necessary information

The buyer must be informed on all manufacturing and material facts. For instance, all homes are subject to lead-base paint disclosures. There are also restrictions the homeowner must obey. These are non-negotiable regulations that will be provided in the CC&R’s.

10.   Have the buyer release contingencies

Once everything is properly covered, all inspections are passed, and all the information is disclosed, yourwill advise you to ask the buyer if the would release the contingencies. If they do not provide a release, then there is no obligation to buy. Meaning the buyer can back out at any time, and you will have gone through all that work for nothing.

                                                                                                       Realtor in Itasca

11.   Sign the title and close the escrow

This is the final stage of the selling process. You will normally sign the deed to a title company who then sends the information to escrow. If everything goes accordingly, the house should be able to close soon after. If you are not familiar with this process, your Chicagoland realtor sure is, and he will help you get everything in order to help close your house.

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5 things to keep in mind when buying a new home

1. Commit

A knowledgeable buyer makes a conscious decision and commitment to buy, dealing with finance issues first, taking time off from work to look, but at the same time keeping emotions in check, while listening to their chicagoland realtor for advice along the way.

2. Who Represents You

Today, home buyers can and certainly should be represented by their own agent – Chicagoland real estate agent - who is bound by contract to do everything possible to protect the buyer's interests, getting the best service and counseling thorough out the buying process.

3. Neighborhood

Most buyers should consider neighborhood factors like schools, distance from work, distance from hospitals, general appearance and relative affordability before running out to look at various homes for sale.  It is disappointing when you like a home but ends up being unsuitable or in an unaffordable area. A chicagoland realtor can help you to not make that mistake.

4. Right Offers

· Make an offer once your chicagoland real estate agent is hired, loan is approved, neighborhood is determined. It needs to be the right offer. To be successful the buyer should listen closely to your agent’s advice. 
Among other factors, a low ball offer puts the seller on the defensive, and an offer that is too high can also send the wrong signal, especially if the home was just put on the market.

5. Home Inspection

· Most home buyers, even those who have bought and sold many times, are not experts in construction issues, building codes, safety issues and many other items. Your chicagoland realtor will know what steps you need to take in order to get the home inspected. This is likely to be the largest purchase of your life, so a few hundred dollars on a home inspection is definitely money well spent.

Seniors and the Housing Market

Seniors are demanding housing, but are also contributing to an important and growing quantity of housing in supply. Younger buyers are beginning to purchase houses that older homeowners are seeking to sell. An experienced chicagoland real estate agent can help make taking these steps move much smoother. The household closures are continuing to exceed that of household building, meaning that the market releases more housing units into the supply than it sells. The high number of people from the baby boom era will expand the number of seniors in the next two or so decades, and this will also expand the number of homes being released into the market over the next four or so decades. This will create new challenges as well as new opportunities for housing policies in years to come. The increase is likely to hit the hardest in the Northeast and Midwest housing markets. It is important to have a chicagoland realtor that knows what is to come so he can guide you through the buying/selling process.

         Regardless of the economy and policy, Echo Boomers will account for up to 80 percent of the occupied housing bought by people under 65 before 2020. Resulting demand would help houses that are currently vacant or that are suspended  from the market. Having a chicagoland realtor who understands this demand will be a terrific asset while looking for a new home.

         In the chicagoland area, as people age, they tend to find themselves in retirement communities, but still have a home that they would either like to pass on to their family or even put on the market. A chicagoland realtor can help make these dreams a reality.

Robert Rizza has been a realtor in Addison for over 20 years and has good insight as to where the market is going, and how you can make the best of it.

Top Reasons Your Home Isn't Selling

Five reasons houses don't sell, and how to go about addressing these issues.

·      Buyer's Market


o   The number one problem is overpricing a home. A high price can quickly turn away buyers and prevent them from even taking a look at the property. It's the hardest thing you'll have to ever do but your Chicagoland realtor will help you find a reasonable asking price.

·      Poor Investment Choices

o   You've spent a lot of time and energy refurbishing your home, but did you use it in all the wrong places? The biggest sellers are kitchens and bathrooms. Other rooms may need a little help, but these two areas are very important to buyers. Something as simple as a few new appliances easily double the appeal of a room. Your Chicagoland realtor has seen a lot of houses and knows what works well and what doesn’t, so be sure to ask for a few suggestions.

·      Lighting Issues


o   Buyers want their future house to be inviting, so adding just a few brightening installations, such as lighter paint and opening the curtains, can help a small room become roomier. It is important to capitalize on lighting during the selling process.

                                                ChicagolandRealtor

·      Too Personal!

o   You've made your house a home. You gave it character, but remember that most people do not have the same taste in decor. Keep your home as neutral as possible so that the buyers can envision themselves there and not be overwhelmed by your particular style. This doesn't mean you have to go overboard and paint every wall white. Just eliminate anything that appears unusual to the rest of the general population.
                                                Chicagoland Realtor

·      Eyesores

o   The last thing people want to see when viewing a home is things they will have to fix or replace in the future. Have your Chicagoland Realtor take a look at what needs to be done in order to make your home more desirable to buyers. Even taking steps like covering an old couch, or placing a rug over a carpet stain can make a big difference. After that, be sure to enhance the selling points by cleaning the windows, making sure you have a well-manicured lawn, and something as simple as lighting candles in the bathroom can make the house more appealing. If you're already moved out, it isn’t a bad idea to rent some furniture for the open house: a furnished home always looks better than an empty space.

                                                                                    ChicagolandRealtor

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Chicagoland Realtor - How to Negotiate in a real estate transation

There are many things that are done in the negotiation process. The following is a list of common ways to negotiate. 

·      Make A Low Reasonable Offer

o   Simply make a lower offer than the Seller's price. Some Sellers may refuse to counter low offers, but a good Realtor in Chicagoland will convince them to counter if you are a qualified buyer.

·      Making the best offer Possible

o   Present the top price you are willing to pay, and try to avoid the negotiation process altogether. Your Chicagoland realtor can help find a price that works for you, so you can make a higher offer as a starting point in negotiations.

·      Fair Priced Home

o   If you find a desirable property that is fairly priced, make an offer near the asking price bringing about a quick and easy compromise. If the price is fair then others may also be interested, so don't get caught up in negotiating just to save a few dollars.

·      Homeowner Information

o   Your Realtor in Chicagoland will collect data that will give you a strategic edge in negotiations. Do they need to close sooner or later? Are they planning to keep certain fixtures or appliances? Is there work that still needs to be done on the house? These variables may give you an opportunity to offer a lower price simply to accommodate the seller.

·      Patience is Your Friend

o   When you find a home you really like, but the asking price is unfair, don’t be afraid to take it slow. Place a low bid, and only raise your bid in small increments. See whether they are interested in your offer. If the Seller is unsatisfied and you still want the home, communicate with your Chicagoland realtor to find a price that shows interest and convinces the Seller to settle.

·      Double Mortgage

o   If you need to sell your home, but don't want to or cannot carry two mortgages. You can offer to pay a lower price with no contingency on the sale, or a higher price with the contingency. An experienced realtor will help guide you through the decision process.

Chicagoland Realtor Bob Rizza 

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