The median home price in Chicago has jumped to $400,000! What’s driving this surge? Well, the city’s strong job market leads the charge. Add top-notch education and healthcare to the mix. Voila, you’ve got the perfect recipe for a homebuyer magnet!
If you want to get in on the action, this is the time to make your move! Summer is here, and selling a house in the Windy City now can be as smooth as a stroll down the Lakefront Trail.
7 Easy Steps to Selling a House in Chicago
Wondering how to go about selling your house? Worry no more! Whether you live in the heart of Downtown Chicago or the surrounding suburbs, just follow these 7 steps to sell your home in Chicago quickly:
Step 1: Prep Your Home for Sale
First impressions matter—especially in Chicago’s competitive market with charming greystones and classic Chicago bungalows. So, focus on your home’s curb appeal to make it look more presentable. Here are 3 tips to make homes for sale in Chicago stand out:
- Redo the Landscaping: Design your home’s garden strip or front stoop using local greens. Go for plants like hostas, coneflowers, and daylilies to make it look vibrant.
- Repaint the House: A fresh coat of paint can change the whole look of your home. Try classic colors that complements Chicago’s historic charm like charcoal grey, deep green, and taupe.
- Highlight Outdoor Spaces: City buyers love homes with a cozy nook. If your home has a rooftop deck, patio, or a balcony, use cozy furniture and stylish decor to stage it.
Step 2: Stage Your Home and Click Photos
A well-staged home can turn heads like the murals in the Wabash Arts Corridor. While traditional home staging is always an option, you can try virtual home staging too. Here are some tips to make your house shine:
- Declutter and Clean the House: A clean home looks more inviting. Clear out the front stoops, sweep the porches, and tidy the yard to make your home look appealing.
- Showcase Practical Features: Buyers appreciate smart, energy-efficient upgrades. Show off modern HVAC systems, smart thermostats, and green home features, if any.
- Focus on Spacious Living Spaces: Buyers love homes that look cozy and well-lit. If your home has a snug living room with a fireplace or a bright kitchen perfect for gatherings, flaunt it!
- Include a Home Tour Video: Home listings with videos get 403% more views than those without it. So, make a video that shows your property in the best light!
Step 3: Decide How to List Your House
If you’re wondering how to list your house on the MLS in Chicago, you have multiple options! Here are 4 choices most sellers opt for:
- Full-Service Realtors – Up to 6%: These Realtors provide various services from list to close, but charge a hefty 5% to 6% real estate commission in Illinois.
- Flat Fee MLS – $249: If you want to sell your home yourself, you can list on MLS in Illinois for a flat fee. With Houzeo, your home can be on the MLS for just $249.
- Discount Real Estate Brokers: These brokers charge a lower fee than traditional agents and offer services like contract reviews and negotiation assistance. Discount real estate brokers in Chicago, IL, charge between 0.5% and 2% as commission.
- Cash Buyers: They help you sell your home fast for cash. With cash buyers, you can get competitive all-cash offers and close on your terms.
Step 4: Price Your Home Competitively
Inaccurate pricing forces properties to stay longer on the market. In fact, 15.6% of homes in Chicago sold with price drops in April, 2025. Here’s how you can avoid this mistake and learn how to price your home right:
- Check the Local Market Trends: Overprice your home and it’ll sit there like traffic on the Kennedy Expressway—longer than you’d expect. So, study the Illinois housing market to set a competitive listing price.
- Use Online Home Valuation Tools: Use a free home value estimator to calculate your home’s Fair Market Value (FMV). Price your home slightly above its FMV to attract buyers and have a profitable home sale.
- Get a CMA: If you choose a traditional sale, your agent creates a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). The CMA compares your home to similar nearby ones to determine your home’s value. It helps you set the right price.
Step 5: Handle Showings and Review Offers
Once your home listing is active on your local MLS in Chicago, buyers and agents will visit it and make offers. Here’s what to do next:
- Actively Manage Showings: Always accept and confirm showing requests quickly to make a good impression. Never cancel last minute, and if a clash happens, communicate clearly and promptly.
- Host an Open House: Even a beautifully-staged home can fade in like a greystone on a block full of lookalikes. Consult your agent and announce an open house to attract buyers.
- Review and Counter Offers: If you get only one offer, you might have to reduce your asking price. But if you’ve got multiple offers, it’s time to negotiate and find the best one.
Step 6: Ensure Your Home Is Inspection-Ready
Usually, buyers will schedule a home inspection to check for any issues, while the lender orders a home appraisal to figure out the market value. So, fix up any small repairs ahead of time—no one likes nasty surprises!
Being ready for both keeps things smooth and your home’s value strong. It’s all about making sure the buyer feels good and the lender feels confident, so your sale stays on track.
Step 7: Prepare for Closing Day
Closing day can be emotional, but don’t overlook the formalities. Just follow these final steps, and you’ll be good to go:
- Gather All Documents: Before you sell a home in Chicago, keep the paperwork for selling a house by owner ready. This includes the affidavit of title, deed, purchase agreement, tax records, settlement statement, 1099-S tax form, etc.
- Transfer Ownership: You have to sign the escrow paperwork, title deed, and other documents to transfer ownership to the buyer. Then, the title company or escrow transfers its funds to you.
- Closing Costs: The cost of selling a house in Chicago includes taxes on selling a house, like Transfer Tax and Property Tax. It also consists of HOA, real estate attorney, and home warranty fees.
What Is the Process of Selling a House? Quick Summary📝
Whether you are tucked away in the Chicago suburbs or in the heart of Downtown, the best way to sell your house in Chi-Town starts with the right planning. To begin, prepare your home for sale, and click stunning photos. Then, decide how to list your home.
Price your home after checking the local trends. When your listing is live, you start getting showing requests. Remember, the buyer will conduct your home’s inspection before you can finally close the deal.
