How to Sell Your House in Chicago in 2025: 7 Easy Steps 🏠

7 mins read Jun 18, 2025
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Edited By

Subarna Jana

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Editor
Edited By

Subarna Jana

Editor, Houzeo
About Subarna Jana has spent thousands of hours researching the U.S. residential real estate. She provides insightful information on topics for homeowners, like the best time to sell a property, how to choose the cash home buyer for maximum profit, and the dynamics of the US housing market. Find Subarna Here linkedin
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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
💡 Consider getting a home inspection done to fix hidden issues before buyers find them.

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Showcase Practical Features: Buyers appreciate smart, energy-efficient upgrades. Show off modern HVAC systems, smart thermostats, and green home features, if any.
  3. 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!
  4. 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!
💭 Do photos matter? Yes, in fact, 87% of online homebuyers find listing images the most useful!

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
☎️ Book a Free Call: Talk to Houzeo’s experts to get your home-selling doubts solved!
Houzeo exposure on local MLS
Houzeo makes your home listing visible on the MLS as well as on Chicago’s top FSBO websites.

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.
🪙 Houzeo’s Gold Plan offers pricing assistance to ease out selling experience!

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
👌 Quick Tip: Houzeo’s Platinum Plan allows you to manage showings, review offers, and compare them.

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

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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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to sell my house by owner in Chicago, IL?

Firstly, price your home competitively and make it market-ready. If you follow these and the next few steps to sell your house by owner in Chicago, IL correctly, you'll be good to go.

What are typical closing costs for sellers in Chicago, IL?

The closing costs for sellers in Chicago, IL​ range from 6.25% to 9%. They usually include HOA fees, escrow fees, real estate attorney fees, and home warranty fees.

Do I need to disclose past home damages if I sell my house in Chicago, IL?

Yes, you must disclose all known damages to your property. Some common issues that a seller's disclosure in Chicago, IL should include are structure or appliance-related issues, plumbing problems, environmental hazards, etc.

How to counter offers of home buyers in Chicago?

To counter offers, you must evaluate each offer carefully and consider competitive pricing as well as the closing timeline. You should negotiate to get the highest and best offer.

Which is the best way to sell my home in Chicago?

As a home seller, ensure that you follow the right process and use the best strategies. You can successfully sell a home in Chicago if you stage it well, choose to list for a flat fee, and price it right.