Lemont Home Sellers Guide

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LEMONT Home Sellers Guide

CHRISTINE WILCZEK JASON BACZA ELITE

LEMONT’S #1 REALTORS®

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Who is CHRISTINE WILCZEK? BROKER PROFILES

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n accomplished Real Estate Broker, Christine Wilczek calls upon more than 16 years of full time experience in the Chicago and suburban marketplace to help her clients make wise decisions regarding how to best protect and enjoy their real estate investments. From a first time buyer to an experienced seller, Christine’s clients know that her reputation for quality service is earned. Beyond Christine’s extensive residential and commercial real estate background, it is her passion for the job that is perhaps her most valuable asset. In addition to praise from thousands of loyal clients, Christine’s success is further demonstrated by the industry recognition she has achieved. Christine has been the #1 REALTOR at Realty Executives Elite for the last 12 years, she is Lemont’s #1 REALTOR, she has been featured in Metro Chicago Real Estate Magazine as one of the Top 40 under 40, she is the #1 REALTOR in the Great Lakes region in the Realty Executives organization and she ranks in the top 1% of all REALTORS in the country. Christine has been featured in numerous articles in the Chicago Tribune, Daily Southtown, Elite Magazine and Chicago Magazine. She is considered to be an expert in the real estate industry and has been called to testify in several real estate related court cases up to the U.S. District Court level.

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Who is JASON BACZA?

ason is recognized as an exceptional Real Estate Broker whose sales volume rates in the top 1% of all REALTORS nationwide. As a Broker, Jason knows every facet of the industry.

Jason is best known for his integrity, professionalism, boundless energy, excellent negotiating skills, impressive marketing and knowledge of the real estate market. Residential clients, developers and investors look to Jason for advice regarding market trends, product feasibility, floor plans, finishes, amenities, cost analysis and pricing. Jason prides himself on his knowledge of current real estate transactions, school districts, neighborhood information and related services, including mortgage, insurance, and inspection information. Jason is an expert in consulting and negotiating with the utmost integrity on behalf of his clients. Representing hundreds of satisfied clients during the course of his career, Jason has the knowledge, experience and dedication necessary to overcome any challenge that may arise during the buying or selling process. Respected by his peers, Jason has been asked to sit on Real Estate panels and share his marketing strategies, negotiating techniques and market knowledge. Even in the most challenging market conditions, Jason remains a multi-million dollar top producer.

ELITE

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WHAT IS YOUR Property WORTH? Call for a FREE,

Christine Wilczek - Jason Bacza

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Two of America’s Top Real Estate Brokers Lemont’s #1 Realtors Licensed Brokers Fluent in Polish Full time, honest and professional service Strong internet and print advertising presence Competitive commission rates Comprehensive marketing plan Builder/Developer volume discounts available Complimentary staging consultation

www.LEMONTONLINE.com

BROKER PROFILES

no obligation, market analysis today!

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All REALTORS® are Please utilize this chart to help determine the most qualified

REALTOR COMPARISON

QUESTIONS

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CHRISTINE WILCZEK’S & JASON BACZA’S RESPONSES

Are you full time Realtors?

Yes, we focus on real estate as our only career.

How many years of full time experience do you have?

Christine - 16 Years Jason - 10 Years

What is your ranking in Lemont?

#1 REALTORS® in Lemont.

What are your personal websites?

www.CHRISTINEWILCZEK.com www.JASONBACZA.com www.LEMONTONLINE.com

What are your career sales volume? High sales volume can translate into synergistic opportunities for you.

Over $550,000,000 in combined career sales.

Do you have an aggressive marketing plan?

We have an aggressive and comprehensive marketing plan.

What is your annual marketing budget?

$145,000.00+

How many referrals do you receive?

68% of our business is generated from referrals from past clients and other REALTORS®.

COMPETING REALTOR RESPONSES

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not created equal.

REALTOR® to represent you in the sale of your property.

How often do you sell a home?

We average one transaction every 3 days.

Do you have testimonials I can read and references I can call?

Yes, information will be provided during the listing appointment.

Are you bilingual?

Christine is fluent in Polish.

Do you believe in staging a home?

Yes, we offer a complimentary staging consultation.

Do you utilize the services of professional photographers?

Yes, all of our listings include professional photography and virtual tours.

Do you provide brochures for your listings?

Yes, we provide comprehensive brochures which include professional photography, property features and neighborhood information.

Can you provide copies of CURRENT advertising?

Yes, samples will be provided during the listing appointment.

What have you sold on Lemont recently?

COMPETING REALTOR RESPONSES

REALTOR COMPARISON

QUESTIONS

CHRISTINE WILCZEK’S & JASON BACZA’S RESPONSES

We can provide a complete list of hundreds of properties sold in Lemont upon request.

www.LEMONTONLINE.com

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The WILCZEK A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO SHOWCASING YOUR PROPERTY TO THE ENTIRE WORLD

MARKETING

Christine Wilczek & Jason Bacza employ a broad spectrum of advertising to assure your property has maximum exposure in the market place which may include: • Multiple Listing Service (MLS) - Approximately 40,000 Real Estate Professionals will have access to your listing via this site.

• Professional photography - Your property will have a photo shoot done by a professional photographer. The photographs will be used for all marketing including brochures, websites, MLS and mailings.

• Brochures - High quality, professional brochures will be created for your listing. These brochures are extremely detailed and include professional photography and property features.

• For sale sign - A professional sign on a white post will be installed by a sign installation company. This sign will include a brochure box filled with high quality professionally designed brochures that highlight your property.

• Email campaigns - Property highlight sheets are sent via email to all REALTORS® in the state of Illinois.

• REALTOR® Open House - REALTORS® are invited to a catered event at your property for an opportunity to preview your listing.

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BACZA

Advantage

• Christine Wilczek & Jason Bacza’s Home Tour Magazine - Approximately 10,000 issues of this custom magazine are distributed quarterly.

• Real Estate Book - 14,000 issues of this magazine are distributed monthly.

• Facebook - Christine Wilczek - Broker • Chicago Tribune newspaper • Lemont Reporter newspaper • Crain’s Chicago Business Magazine • Windy City Live Television show

MARKETING

• Direct mail campaigns - Including oversized postcards.

• Chicago Magazine • Dziennik Zwiazkowy - Polish Daily Newspaper • Daily Southtown Newspaper

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The WILCZEK Christine Wilczek & Jason Bacza believe in the importance of professional photography and hire a professional photographer to photograph EVERY one of their listings. Their philosophy is simple: you only get one chance to make a first impression and typically, only a few seconds on the internet.

PHOTOGRAPHY

SAMPLES OF CHRISTINE & JASON’s listing photography:

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BACZA

Advantage PHOTOGRAPHY

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Ensure that your property shows at its very best...

HOME SELLERS GUIDE

Curb Appeal

• Mow lawn and trim shrubs • Edge gardens and walkways • Weed and mulch • Sweep walkways and driveway, remove branches, litter or toys • Add color and fill in bare spots with plantings • Remove mildew or moss from walls or walks with bleach and water or other cleaner • Take stains off your driveway with cleanser or kitty litter • Stack woodpile neatly • Clean and repair patio and deck area • Remove any outdoor furniture that is not in good condition • Make sure pool or spa sparkles • Replace old storm doors • Check for flat-fitting roof shingles • Repair broken windows and shutters, replace torn screens, make sure frames and seams have solid caulking • Hose off exterior wood and trim, replace damaged bricks or wood • Touch up exterior paint, repair gutters and eaves • Add a new front door mat and consider a seasonal door decoration • Shine brass hardware on front door, outside lighting fixtures, etc.

• Make sure doorbell is in good working order

General Interior Tips

• Add a fresh coat of interior paint in light, neutral colors • Shampoo carpeting, replace if necessary • Clean and wax hardwood floors, refinish if necessary • Clean and wash kitchen/bathroom floors • Wash all windows, vacuum blinds, wash window sills • Clean the fireplace • Clean out and organize closets, add extra space by packing clothes and items you will not need until later • Remove extra furniture, worn rugs, and items you do not use; keep papers, toys, etc. picked up especially on stairways • Repair problems such as loose doorknobs, cracked molding, leaking taps and toilets, squeaky doors, closets or screen doors which are off their tracks * Install higher wattage light bulbs throughout

The Living Room

• Make it cozy and inviting, discard chipped or worn furniture and frayed or worn rugs

The Dining Room

• Polish any visible silver and crystal • Set the table for a formal dinner to help viewers imagine entertaining here

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The Kitchen

Make sure appliances are spotless inside and out Make sure all appliances are in perfect working order Clean often forgotten spots -- top of the refrigerator and under sink Wax or sponge floor to brilliant shine, clean baseboards De-clutter all counter space, remove countertop appliances Organize items inside cabinets, pre-pack anything you will not be using before you move

The Bathrooms

Remove all rust and mildew Make sure tile, fixtures, shower doors, etc. are immaculate and shining Make sure all fixtures are in good repair Replace loose caulking or grout Make sure lighting is bright, but soft

The Master Bedroom

• Organize furniture to create a spacious look with well-defined sitting, sleeping, and dressing areas

The Garage

• Sell, give away, or throw out unnecessary items • Clean oily cement floor • Provide strong overhead light • Tidy storage or work areas

The Basement

• Sell, give away, or throw out unnecessary items • Organize and create more floor space by hanging tools and placing items on shelves • Clean water heater and drain sediment • Change furnace filter • Make inspection access easy • Clean and paint concrete floor and walls • Provide strong overhead light

HOME SELLERS GUIDE

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The Attic

• Tidy up by discarding or pre-packing • Make sure energy-saving insulation is apparent • Make sure air vent is in working order • Provide strong overhead light

www.LEMONTONLINE.com

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STAGING

‘Staging’ Helps Homes Sell Faster

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Realty Executives Elite in Lemont, specializes in the You know a thing or two about curb appeal. No ultra-competitive luxury home market. “You only one has to sit you down to explain the importance have 30 seconds to make an impression on a buyer. A of the “first impression.” You get it. After a home has to look its best in the first day it’s listed. As thorough cleaning and primping, your home has part of my services, I do a complete walkthrough of never looked better. You may just move your the home and determine what improvements or Realtor to tears of joy as they enter your listing. finessing need to be done, I give the homeowners my Later. Much later. So why isn’t your home suggestions and, if needed, recommend they work selling? with a home stager.... It’s a proactive measure to Sometimes even the most beautiful, ensure the property is ready from day one. In my well-appointed abodes need a little extra help that experience a staged home greatly increases the goes beyond another sweep of the broom or likelihood of a sale.” Wilczek noted. pillow fluffing. Many savvy Realtors are embracing One of the most common challenges Wilczek the concept of “home staging” to give their listing encounters with her listings is improper furniture a competitive edge in this aggressive market. placement. Too much furniture While it’s can make rooms appear smaller necessary for homeowners than they are and it can disrupt to due the due diligence the flow of the room. Conversely, involved with readying a furnished room can be home for market, “Sometimes a home will atoosparsely depersonalized, leaving a lot deconstructing the home or many of the owners’ be very décor specific and of guess work as to how a room can be arranged. personal elements of the “Sometimes a home will be home will greatly enhance we’ll work to neutralize it. very décor-specific and we’ll sales potential, according to Julea Joseph, home Or it can be as simple as work to neutralize it. Or it can be simple as repainting walls with stager, interior stylist and owner of Reinventing repainting walls with more more modern colors,” Wilczek said.

Space.

Ultimatley, what modern colors.”

Enter the home stager. buyers are looking for in Joseph works directly with your home (aside from Christine Wilczek, Broker Associate of Realtors as well as homeowners. décor, layout and She provides an initial evaluation amenities) is to be able to Realty Executives Elite and determines whether or not a see themselves in your complete or partial staging is home. required.

Oftentimes, instead “It really depends on the house of seeing the home for or marketplace. Sometimes I just what it is, buyers will get work with the public area of the home. In other mired in the elements of the home that reflect the instances I’ll go as far to stage the entire home - down owners’ personality. to the closets and medicine cabinets,” Joseph said.

“We are all proud of our collections and For instance, in older homes where closet we want to display them in our homes. But what space is is at a premium, complete staging is often starts to happen is those collections can become required to fully optimize and showcase limited very distracting to a buyer if they are overdone.” storage space.

Joseph said. “If there are excessive family If painting or repairs need to be done, Joseph photographs strewn throughout the home, guess works with a select group of vendors who can get the what a buyer is going to look at? They will fail to job done professionally and expediently. Otherwise notice all the lovely architectural and functional the homeowner can opt to do it themselves. elements unique to the home. It’s human nature.”

Then, if it’s adding décor. Joseph makes The last thing a seller wants is their home recommendations for accessories and can either shop décor leaving an impression on the buyer. Instead for her clients or rent them from her personal inventory. of your home being “the one with all the Lladros When furniture is needed, she works with a (figurines) or “the one with all the duck decoys,” furniture rental company. you want it to stand out on its own merits. You “I like to use a lot of what the homeowner want your home to be known as “the one with the already has. In many cases, it comes down to putting exquisite crown molding” or “the one with the things away or in storage and rearranging furniture to custom cherry wood flooring.” showcase a room’s focal point,” Joseph said.

Christine Wilczek, Broker Associate of

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Both Joseph and Wilczek said there is an emotional element that comes with depersonalizing your home. Although some homeowners are reluctant to do so, they ultimately see the bigger picture and are amazed by how quickly their homes can be transformed.

Costs of staging services vary. A designer with an assistant can be in the ballpark of $200 per hour, with a typical staging ranging from two to three hours. Extras such as painting, additional accessories and furniture rental are all ala carte. The stager lends their keen understanding of not only the marketplace, but their expertise on how to orchestrate the look and fluidity of a home.

“I provide this service to my clients at no additional charge because it’s a great tool that tremendously fosters sales,” Wilczek said.

By Jennifer Mifflin

After

STAGING

Before

Before After

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What People Are Saying About

TESTIMONIALS

................................. CHRISTINE WILCZEK

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What People Are Saying About ................................. CHRISTINE WILCZEK

Frank Fontana TV & Radio Host/Author DIY Designer Frank@frankfontana.net http://www.frankfontana.net

www.LEMONTONLINE.com

TESTIMONIALS

Buying or selling a home, is one of the most emotional and biggest decisions one makes in his or her lives. For me and my family finding the right Broker was all about finding someone we can trust and who can navigate the process with true professionalism and promptness. Christine was exactly that and more. In near record time, Christine sold our home using her creative approach to marketing and her ability to structure a winning deal! Everyone’s dream is to walk away from a home sale on top and with little to no stress for me and my family.

That’s what Christine did! And to me, thats worth every penny!

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What People Are Saying About ................................. CHRISTINE & JASON

TESTIMONIALS

To Whom It May Concern:

I want to express my graditude to Christine Wilczek. She is truly a gem in the real estate world that is crumbling as I’m writing this. Christine went above and beyond anything I ever expected a real estate agent to do. My family and I listed our home six months ago. We had an offer within a few weeks (because of the amazing advertising on our home) that ended up falling through, obviously due to reasons that were completely out of Christines control. She was patient, understanding and really made us feel at ease during that disappointing time. Fast forward five months and we have another offer. After agreeing on the price, things seemed to be going smoothly. The close was going relatively quick (about a month after the offer) but we had plenty of time to get everything taken care of. Less than two weeks before our scheduled closing date, we were informed that the buyer’s lender had done a “drive by” appraisal and we appraised for less than our sale price. Christine literally went above and beyond her call of duty. She was on the phone demanding a “real” appraisal. In this market, especially in the Lemont area, a drive by appraisal is just unacceptable and Christine made that very clear to the lender. They agreed to schedule a new appraisal but by now, we were only a week away from closing. Her relentless calling resulted in a “rush” appraisal being ordered. Bright and early Saturday morning (six days before we were scheduled to close), with a smile on her face, Christine was at our house ready to meet the appraiser. He told her the results would be in on Monday. Christine made eight phone calls on Monday trying to get the results. Christine knew that obviously me and my husband were nervous at this point seeing that the “drive by” appraisal came in lower than our agreed sale price.

Tuesday came along and Christine continued her pursuit by making eighteen phone calls. Finally, after several more phone calls on Wednesday, she received the results of the appraisal (which came in where it needed to). At this point the buyer had to file for an extension on the closing, which resulted in us filing an extension on our new home. By Friday of this week (the day we were originally scheduled to close), the buyer still didn’t have a clear to close and Christine never stopped making call after call after call on our behalf. Monday came around and her calls began once again. We are finally scheduled to close on Thursday and I honestly believe that without Christine, this would not be happening. Throughout this entire process, Christine has been absolutely amazing. She has never made me feel like I’m bothering her (and believe me…

I called her a lot!), she has been calm, reassuring, sympathetic (we have two very young children and living out of boxes is not pleasant), and just plain wonderful. She called me at eight- o- clock pm one night, with her kids in tow, to let me know she finally heard back regarding something we were waiting on. It’s as if her work day never ends! Her dedication to her clients is outstanding! She is a go- getter and WILL get the job done. I can’t imagine going through this process with anybody else. The real estate world is a mess right now but it does have a shining star in Christine. I cannot thank her enough for everything she has done for my family and I. Her commitment to her job, compassion for what she does and who she represents, and understanding of the fact that peoples lives are involved throughout this whole process just one piece of what makes Christine one of the top real estate agents in the country! I would recommend Christine in a heart beat and feel very lucky that we chose her to sell our home. Thank you Christine.

Sarah and Matt Eigel

Jason Bacza Thank you for all your help in getting us the Fieldstone townhouse.

Of all the many experiences that we have had in life with Realtors in several states and three countries, you were far and away the best we ever dealt with.

Bill

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What People Are Saying About ................................. CHRISTINE & JASON To Whom It May Concern:

A few months ago my husband and I met with Christine Wilczek about selling our home. We have known Christine for a few years and based on what we know and the reputation she has in the community, we felt like she was the best choice for a Realtor. Christine listed our home in mid January and we have been very pleased with the work she has done.

Although she has many listings, we have determined there is a reason for that - it is because she is extremely good at what she does. Any time we called her, she has returned our call almost immediately. She is on top of every detail of what is going on in the community and with the potential sale of our home. She is always honest and extremely professional. We had two offers on our home within the first two months of being listed and are still in negotiations with a potential buyer.

The advertising and marketing tools Christine offers are unsurpassed by none and have undoubtedly helped us receive steady traffic on our home which in the winter months and in these economic times is fantastic. We have had a very good experience with Christine and would highly recommend her as a Realtor. There is a reason she is number one in the area!

Scott and Julie Johnson

Pete Beechen

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing this letter as a referral for Christine. She handled the sale of my house in Lemont in what has been the worst real estate market I have experienced. We are scheduled to close on Wednesday of next week. During the time the house was on the market Christine advertised our property extensively, and was available to accommodate any realtor who wanted to show the property.

She also was personally present at every showing to make sure no question went unanswered and no opportunity was lost. She did everything she promised to do when we signed the listing agreement, and I am extremely satisfied with her professionalism and expertise, I will make one added comment that I think speaks highly of Christine. In this very lean market of buyers we had numerous offers. Some of these were either low in price or had other deficiencies in the structures of the deals. Christine always negotiated these with my best interests in mind. She truly lived up to a fiduciary relationship with me.

I hope you find this information helpful.

Jason,

I hope you are doing well and enjoyed a beautiful holiday season.

Our holidays were wonderful and the end of last year was a busy one for us. Though this is late, Matt and I just wanted to thank you, to both you and Christine, again for the amazing job you did in selling our home. We truly could not have asked for a more trustworthy agent, smooth listing process and quick sale with a selling price above anything we ever expected! Your professional yet genuine demeanor was always informative, honest, and calming (especially through such a hectic endeavor of selling a home with three small children).

Please know that we have already spoken nothing but praise in regards to your service to many friends and family in the area. And always rely that any person that asks us, “who was your agent, and were they good?” will be referred forward to you immediately without hesitation, and advised they couldn’t choose anyone more qualified.

Thank you again many times over.

TESTIMONIALS

Christine did a wonderful job marketing and selling our home in this very difficult market. Very few homes in our price range had sold in recent years and she helped negotiate a deal that we were extremely pleased with. Once she secured a contract on our home, she went to great lengths to keep the deal together even though at times it looked like it would fall apart.

In addition, Christine found us the perfect home to buy once we found a buyer for our home. She asked us detailed questions about what we were looking for, listened to our answers, offered some excellent options, then negotiated a great deal on our new home. We closed on both homes last week. Last year, she sold my father’s home in Equestrian Estates and he had the exact same experience with Christine. Professional, knowledgeable, hard working - she is an excellent agent.

Sincerely, Christine Hare & Matthew Cunningham... and Family

Sincerely, Greg Farago

www.LEMONTONLINE.com

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What People Are Saying About ................................. CHRISTINE & JASON

Dear Christine,

I wanted to express our gratitude to you for selling our home so quickly in Hickory Hills, Illinois. Not only was it the highest selling house in years there, it was the most impressively marketed home. What you did to advertise our home (virtual tour, photography and brochures) really made our home stand out in a real estate market that has been stagnant in its price range for years! We owe it all to you! And thanks to the sale of our Illinois home, we are moments away from finalizing the purchase of our new home in North Carolina. We have had a wonderful selling experience which has now led us to a rewarding buying experience here. Let me say - they do things differently here! But, we walked into this market prepared because of you and your professional guidance when we were selling our home. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you - and cannot thank you enough for your professionalism, honesty, and guidance when selling our home.

TESTIMONIALS

Warmest Regards, Gregory and Judy Nikolich Hi Christine,

We wanted to reach out and thank you for helping us find a home we absolutely love. I know it was an emotional roller coaster ride, but in the end things worked out just the way they were planned. It seems like there was some unwritten script that took us through all the ups and downs and landed us right where we wanted to be. It’s amazing how things work out and everything seemed to happen for a reason. We absolutely love the house you got us and we thank you for your exceptional service and relaxing style. I know we’ll see you around and look forward to living in the community of Lemont.

We are moving into the new house this coming Saturday. Again thanks for everything. We plan on breaking open the vodka this weekend, unfortunately Lisa can’t join me as she is expecting our 4th child!

Sincerely, Ted, Lisa, and Potaczek Family Dear Christine,

Don and I just wanted to tell you how very much we appreciated all your effort in helping us with the purchase of our new home. When we embarked on our search a couple months ago, we knew our dream home was going to be a pretty tall order to fill.

But you quickly assessed our needs as well as our “likes and dislikes” and ensured that we were only viewing properties that would fill and appeal to those needs. Your knowledge of the market and expert advice were so very helpful and once it came time to make that “offer”, we couldn’t have asked for anyone more knowledgeable and capable. We’ve both had the opportunity to sell and purchase homes in the past, but we can say with absolute confidence, we have never worked with an agent so competent and generous in time, energy and spirit as you. So as we begin this new and exciting chapter in our lives, we wanted to extend a very special thank you for all you’ve done to help make our dream a reality and for helping us find this very special place we will now call “home”.

Jason

I just wanted to take the time to thank you for all the time & effort you put into selling my home. I have previously dealt with three real estate agents prior to being referred to you. You were the first agent to give me the true picture of the market. I appreciated your enthusiasm and dedication when showing my place, even Sunday mornings! I look forward to working with you in the future on my purchase and referring you to all my friends and family.

Regards, Mandy

Don and Bev Wesolowski

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What People Are Saying About ................................. CHRISTINE & JASON Dear Jason,

We would like to take this time to thank you for helping us find our dream home and for all the time and energy you put toward our house search. Your professionalism, expertise, dedication, and humor made our home buying experience enjoyable and less stressful than it could have been! We appreciate all the last- minute showings you were able to set up for us and your knowledge and advice that put us at ease. Moreover, we wouldn’t have been able to buy this amazing home without your help finding renters for our condo. We are forever grateful that you were able to rent our property in a timely manner which took a huge weight of our shoulders. Thank you again, for making our home buying experience such an enjoyable one. You actually made it fun! Your realty knowledge and expertise, along with your dedication to us, helped to make our dreams come true!

Steve & Sarah Rajki

Dear Christine & Jason,

Most Sincerely, Gedas and Birute Jodwalis

Christine,

Thank you for an outstanding job selling our home in the worst market. I will be the first to admit that I never expected someone as young and beautiful as you to be the Realtor who has achieved such a high level of success. I expected a 70 year old to come to my door! I know we can laugh about this now but my husband still says I would not have called you if your picture was on your website! All jokes aside, you are an amazing Realtor who thinks outside the box. Your marketing of our home was extremely thorough and well designed. You always returned calls in a timely fashion and even though you had numerous clients, you always made us feel like your top priority. Thank you for selling our home for $27,000 more than we expected! You truly are the best!

Tara Risley

If you are considering buying or selling your home the best thing you can do to help make this process easier on you and your family is to hire Christine Wilczek. I can say this with certainty having just completed the sale of our home with Christine as our agent. During the course of selling or buying your home you will encounter numerous experts who will have opinions regarding the value of your home or a potential home.

We certainly did our very complicated and stressful corporate relocation. We found that only one of these experts was 100% accurate - Christine Wilczek. In order to minimize the stress and maximize your value when selling or buying a home you must have an agent that you can trust - both personally and professionally. Christine is that agent for our family. I cannot endorse her enough.

TESTIMONIALS

After having our home on the market for over a year, with little success in showings or offers, we turned to you for assistance.

What a wise decision that was indeed. Following you professional guidance on staging our home, educating us with pertinent market data, producing a beautiful hard cover book and video coupled with your direct marketing skills you sold our home in THREE SHORT WEEKS! Further attesting to your professional talents, you located our new dream home within an unbelievable twenty- four hours after finding the buyer for our existing home. This has to be one for the record books! Truly, we couldn’t have done this without you. Obviously, this is why YOU ARE TWO OF AMERICA’S TOP REAL ESTATE BROKERS! We can’t begin to thank you enough for your professionalism guidance, recommendation and negotiations on our behalf! We think of you as our real estate brokers. Wishing you a new year filled with health, happiness, and continued prosperity.

Chris Kennedy

www.LEMONTONLINE.com

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Parmesan Mashed Potatoes ........................

Total Time: 45 min Prep: 5 min

BY CHRISTINE WILCZEK

Cook: 40 min

Indgredients 3 pounds red potatoes, unpeeled 1 tablespoon kosher salt plus 2 teaspoons 1 1/2 cups half- and- half 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter 1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground plack pepper

REALTY EXECUTIVES ELITE | 708-420-2424

Place the potatoes and 1 tablespoon of salt in a 4-quart saucepan wuth cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer covered for 25 to 35 minutes, until the potatoes are completely tender. Drain.

Directions

In a small saucepan, heat the half-and-half and butter. Transfer the potatoes to an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix them for a few seconds on low speed to break them up. Slowly add the hot cream and butter to the potatoes, mixing on the lowest speed (the last quarter of cream and butter should be folded in by hand). Fold the sour cream, Parmesan, the remaining salt, and pepper; season, to taste, and serve immediately. If the potatoes are too thick, add more hot cream and butter.

Keep the mashed potatoes hot in a heat proof bowl set over simmering water.

Pot Roast ............................................................

Prep: 20 min Cook: 4 hrs

Indgredients 1 whole (4 to 5 Pounds) Chuck Roast 2 tablespoons Olive Oil 2 whole Onions 6 whole Carrots Salt to taste Pepper to taste 1 cup Red Wine 2 to 3 cups Beef Stock 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme, or more to taste 4 sprigs Fresh Roesmary, or more to taste

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BY CHRISTINE WILCZEK

Directions

REALTY EXECUTIVES ELITE | 708-420-2424

Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Then add 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil (or you can do a butter/olive oil split).

Cut two onions in half and cut 6 carrots into 2-inch slives (you can peel them, but you dont have to).

When the oil in the pot is very hot (but not smoking), add in the halved onions, browning them on one side and then the other. Remove the onions to a plate.

Throw the carrots into the same very hot pan and toss them around a but until slightly browned, about a minute or so.

If needed, add a bit more olive oil to the very hot pan. Place the meat in the pan and sear it for about a minute on all sides until it is nice and brown all over. Remove the roast to a plate.

With the burner still on high, use either red wine or beef broth (about 1 cup) to deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom with a whisk to get all of that wonderful flavor up.

When the bottom of the pan is sufficiently deglazed, place the roast back into the pan and add enough beef stock to cover the meat halfway (about 2 to 3 cups). Add in the onion and carrots, as well as 3 or 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary and about 3 sprigs of fresh thyme.

Put the lid on, then roast in a 275F oven for 3 hours (for a 3-pound roast). For a 4 to 5-pound roast, plan on 4 hours.

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Caramel Turtle Brownies .................................

BY CHRISTINE WILCZEK REALTY EXECUTIVES ELITE | 708-420-2424 Prep: 15 min Inacttive: 3 hrs Cook: 35 min

Indgredients 1 stick butter, melted, plus more for greasing All- purpose flour, for dusting 1/3 plus 1/2 cup evaporated milk One 18.5- ounce box German chocolate cake mix 1 cup finely chopped pecans 60 caramels, unwrapped 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flout a 9x9 inch baking pan.

Begin by pouring 1/3 cup evaporated milk into a bowl with the cake mix. Add the melted butter and the chopped pecans. Mix the ingredients together; It’ll be pretty thick!

Divide the dough in half down the middle. Press half of it into the bottom of the prepared pan to make the first brownie layer.

Bake until slightly set, 8 to 10 minutes. Then remove from the oven and set aside.

While the brownie layer is baking, in a double boller (or glass bowl set over a bowl of simmering water) combine the caramels and the remaining 1/2 cup evaporated milk. Stir occasionally until the caramels are totally melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour the caramel mixture onto the first baked layer, spreading so it’s evenly distributed. Sprinkle the chocolate chips all over the top.

Next, on a clean surface or sheet of wax paper, press the remaining dough into a square shape slightly smaller than the baking pan. Carefully set it on top of the chocolate chips. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let the brownies cool to room temperature. Cover the pan and refrigerate the brownies for several hours to allow them to set.

When you’re ready to serve them, sprinkle generously with the powdered sugar and cut them into large rectangles before removing from the pan.

Mega Chocolate Chunk Cookies .......................

Prep: 30 min Cook: 10 min per batch

BY CHRISTINE WILCZEK REALTY EXECUTIVES ELITE | 708-420-2424

Directions Indgredients 1 cup (2 sticks) Salted Butter 1 cup Brown Sugar, Packed 1/2 cups Sugar 2 whole Large Eggs 1 1/2 tablespoons Vanilla 2 cups All- purpose Flour 2 tablespoons (additional) All- purpose Flour 2 teaspoons (heaping) Instant Coffee Granules 1 teaspoon Baking Soda 1 teaspoon Salt 8 ounces, weight Good Semi- sweet Chocolate, Chopped into Chunks 1/2 cups Finely Chopped Pecans

Add one stick of butter to a medium skillet over medium heat. Allow it to melt and bubble up for 3 to 4 minutes, swirling the pan to keep the butter moving around. When the butter is a medium golden brown, remove the pan from the heat (it will continue browning in the pan over the next 30 seconds or so!) Pour butter (and any solids in the bottom of the pan) into a heatproof bowl and allow it to cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, allow the other stick of butter to soften.

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Cream the softened butter together with the brown sugar and regular sugar until it’s nice and combined. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until smooth, scraping the bowl if necessary to make sure everything is incorporated.

With the mixer on medium-low, very slowly drizzle in the cooled melted butter, making sure to add all the darker brown solids. Scrape the bowl then mix again for 20-30 seconds, until everything is combined.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, coffee granules, baking soda and salf. Stir together, then add it in 1/3 increments, mixing on low, until it’s totally incorporated. Scrape the bowl and beat for a few more seconds. Stir in the chocolate chunks and nuts.

In batches, scoop by heaping teaspoon onto a baking sheet lined with a baking mat. Press extra chocolate chunks into the tops of each cookie, if desired. Refrigerate scooped cookies for 15 minutes, then bake for 9-10 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven, then transfer cookies to a cooling rack.

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LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER

ELITE 15400 127th Street Lemont, IL 60439

WHAT IS YOUR YOUR PROPERTY WORTH? PROPERTY WORTH?

Christine Wilczek & Jason Bacza l l a C 630-755-0600

Lemont’s #1 Realtors www.LemontOnline.com

Fact:

No one sells more Real Estate in Lemont than Christine Wilczek and Jason Bacza.

Please disregard if your property is listed, as it is not our intention to solicit another broker’s listing.