Tag Archives: Giuseppe Zerillo

Local realtor and Fra Noi website columnist Giuseppe Zerillo is moving up in the world. Just four years after going into business for himself, he outgrew his first office in Park Ridge, prompting a move last fall to larger quarters on Cumberland just north of Lawrence in Norridge. The new location contains offices for three leasing agents and five real estate brokers as well as a conference room where staff can meet with prospective buyers and sellers, with plenty of room for more agents down the road. A realtor since 2008, Zerillo is making a name for himself in his …

If your home hasn’t had a facelift in a while, you should take a long hard look at it before putting it on the market. Many times, homeowners will update their kitchen or bathroom as a way of breathing new life into your property and increasing its value. But there are a few steps you need to take before applying hammer to nail. First, take a step back and evaluate the spaces you have. Have a plan in place prior to starting: Draw or diagram out your room showing where everything will end up. Many times, your local big box …

That’s a huge question, especially for buyers who are looking to close at a specific time. Whether the end of your lease or the start of the school year is looming, this can be a time-sensitive issue that will need to be managed. Usually you can expect your home-buying process to take three to four months. With a timetable like that buying a home clearly should never be an impulse purchase. Here are some stages you can expect to pass through on your way to ownership. Your first step is to contact a lender regarding a pre-approval letter if you …

The end of the year is nearing and in the blink of an eye the spring real estate market will be here. If you tackle certain issues before the snows hit, you could prevent damage that results in costly repairs or a lower selling price when you’re ready to put your home up for sale. Let’s start on the outside with your siding and gutters. If you’re gutters are clogged, the winter ice and snow can accumulate and damage them. Many people are reluctant to get onto a long ladder and climb up just to check on the status of …

  Whenever you’re negotiating on a property, be careful to not alienate the other side. Sellers tend to avoid buyers who seem difficult to deal with. And if there are multiple offers on the table, this could easily move your offer to the bottom of the stack. So you’ve found the perfect property and you’re ready to make an offer on it. The old saying, “It never hurts to ask,” doesn’t always apply. For example, you may love the current owner’s living room set and ask the seller to leave it in the property. Even if the seller is planning …

Some homeowners are willing to go to great lengths to save the environment, installing costly solar panels to replace traditional sources of electricity. But going green at home doesn’t have to involve spending an arm and a leg. There are many little things that you can do to lend Mother Nature a helping hand, and you can often save money in the bargain. Older refrigerators can use 10 to 50 percent more energy than the energy-efficient models that are available on the market today. Making that simple change could reduce your electrical usage by up to $150 a year. According …

If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you may be a little thrown off when you receive the closing statement from your loan officer or attorney. You immediately ask, “What am I paying for and why is it so much?” Let me walk you through them. Your earnest money is a “good faith” deposit that is given to the seller’s representation or a mutually agreed upon title company once the sales contract is signed by all parties. This “up front” amount is usually subtracted from the bottom line due at the closing table. The bulk of your closing costs will be on …

Zerillo Realty Inc. has been selected for the 2017 Best of Park Ridge Award in the real estate brokerage category by the Park Ridge Award Program. Each year, the Park Ridge Award Program identifies companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their respective categories, and for enhancing the positive image of small businesses through service to their customers and community. Winners are determined based on information gathered internally by the program and data provided by third parties. Managing broker/owner Giuseppe Zerillo opened Zerillo Realty in 2014, only six years after earning his realtor’s license. Zerillo was honored by Top …

So you’re placing your home on the market. This can be an emotional time because your home is where your family memories were made. In your eyes, your home may be worth one number, but in the eyes of an appraiser, that number often differs. And that second number can have a powerful impact on the price your home actually sells for. One of the biggest misconceptions is that the appraiser works for the buyer. The truth of the matter is the appraiser is hired by and works for the mortgage company. They are sent out as an independent third …

  The sale of your home is one of the biggest transactions most of you will make and the outcome can have a huge impact on your financial wellbeing. Problems with your home can significantly drive down the price, so wouldn’t it be better to find and fix the problem BEFORE you list your house? A presale inspection can save you thousands of dollars in lost asking price while only costing a few hundred dollars to conduct. A home inspector will help you unearth pre-existing conditions, allowing you to resolve them before buyers set foot in the door. A presale …