Residential Real Estate Legal Services in Illinois

Please remember that in Illinois, you pay property taxes the year after you live in the property. Therefore the tax bill for the previous year will not come out until the Spring. Therefore per the contract, you will give a credit for any unpaid portion of the previous year, and the portion of 2020 that you own the property.

Once the buyer has completed the inspection, we will receive a letter that relates to the items the buyer would like to see addressed and any defects that are disclosed in the report.

You will need to decide:

• What you are willing to repair and if you, or a professional will make the repair
• Or if you are offering some sort of credit
• Or if it will be "respectfully declined"

Keep in mind that any repairs that are agreed to must meet the buyer’s reasonable satisfaction at the walkthrough. Please remember this is a negotiation and try not to take anything too personally.

Please make sure to leave intact any attached items during marketing as well as upon closing unless Buyer and Seller otherwise agree in writing. Lately, there have been issues related to the removal of wall mounts for televisions. Technically if the mount is attached to the wall it is a fixture and should be left attached to the wall. IF you absolutely have to remove it you need to have your agent "exclude it" from the personal property section (paragraph 3) of the contract; AND, be sure to patch and touch up paint any/all damage to the drywall resulting from the removal. Remove any personal property not included in the sale by the Closing Date or date of the walkthrough, whichever is earlier; and: Remove all debris and leave the Property in broom-clean condition.