Can you sell your Chicago home after you have already moved away? Yes. Many Chicago homes are sold by owners who live in another state or another country. With a local agent who handles the preparation, showings, and inspections, and a Chicago real estate attorney who arranges the closing documents, most sellers never need to fly back.
Maybe you took a new job, moved closer to family, or bought your next home before this one sold. Now the house or condo is sitting empty in Chicago, and every decision feels harder from a distance. Who checks on it after a storm? Who meets the painter? Who lets the appraiser in?
An empty home has different risks than one you live in. Before anything else, take care of these:
For my sellers who live out of town, I can be that person who checks on the home. One seller in Edgebrook wrote: "Many times Dee visited my home to coordinate with service providers and to check up on issues since I could not."
An empty home usually needs more preparation than a lived-in one, not less. Buyers see every scuff on the wall, and empty rooms look smaller in photos than they really are.
The work is the same as for any sale. The difference is who is there to coordinate it. When you live far away, we decide together what the home needs, and I handle it here. For one recent seller, I hired the flooring installer and the painter, and the trades who replaced the recessed lights, plumbing fixtures, door hardware, light fixtures, and fans. I met the contractors for quotes, let in the appliance delivery, booked the cleaners, and made sure each job was finished before the photographer arrived.
After the home is ready, the marketing does the selling. That means professional photos, video, drone footage, social media, and a website for the listing. In an empty home, I often recommend virtual staging, so buyers online can see how each room can be used. My post on whether to renovate or sell as-is in Chicago explains which updates are worth it and which are not.
Another seller moved to Ireland and decided to sell her condo on Hermitage Avenue in Ravenswood while she was there. We planned everything together over the phone, and the hands-on work happened here, including decluttering the entire home. For that one, I brought my whole crew: my family. This short video shows what that kind of work looks like:
One more video of getting a home ready for buyers: styling a bedroom before an open house.
Nicole lived out of state when she decided to sell her condo in Ravenswood. She needed the whole sale handled in Chicago without her.
In her own words: "Dee went above and beyond with coordinating the renovations, meeting with contractors and appliance delivery teams, and keeping everything moving smoothly without requiring me to be there. She created an impressive property tour video, arranged professional photography and a beautiful virtual staging." (read Nicole's full Google review)
The condo got multiple offers, and Nicole closed quickly without ever flying back to Chicago.
Mary sold her single-family home in Edgebrook while she was living out of state. She later wrote that the process "was especially difficult for me since I had to do it while I was out of town."
We picked the repair vendors together, the movers were coordinated here, and she was updated at every step. In her words: "In all my sale went very smoothly and we closed at a price that was well above my expectations." You can read more stories like this on my testimonials page.
When you live far away, you cannot watch what happens at your home. That is why it matters who is there.
Your home is never left alone with strangers. I personally show my listings instead of handing buyers a lockbox code. That keeps your home safe, and you hear what buyers really say in the room, so together we know what is working.
The inspector and the appraiser are let in for you, and the appraiser gets the comparable sales that support your price. When offers come in, you see every one side by side, with the financing, the appraisal risk, and the closing date, and we talk it through on a call before you decide.
In Chicago, home sales close with real estate attorneys. Your attorney can usually arrange for you to sign the closing documents ahead of time where you live, and handle the closing for you, so you do not need to travel. Plan this early, because some documents need a notary, and the timing depends on where you are. My post on whether you need a real estate attorney to sell a home in Chicago explains the attorney's role.
You will also want to plan for the things that only happen once the home is empty and sold: the final utility readings, the last condo assessment, canceling the insurance after closing, and getting the keys and garage openers to the buyer. I take care of the local pieces so nothing falls through the cracks.
Moving out does not automatically mean you lose the tax break on the sale of your home. According to IRS Publication 523, you can generally exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly, if you owned the home and lived in it as your main home for at least 2 of the 5 years before the sale.
In plain terms, if you lived in the home for at least two years, you usually have up to three years after you move out to sell it and still qualify. If you are getting close to that line, talk with a tax professional now, not after the sale. My posts on selling your home after 2 years and capital gains tax on Chicago home sales cover the rules in more detail.
This post is for general information only and is not tax or legal advice. Always confirm your situation with a tax professional and a real estate attorney.
When you choose an agent you cannot meet in person every week, look for numbers you can check. Here are mine:
You work with me directly from the first call to closing, even when you live hundreds of miles away.
Usually not. Your agent can handle the preparation, showings, inspections, and appraisal, and your real estate attorney can usually arrange for you to sign the closing documents where you live.
An empty home shows every flaw, and the rooms can look smaller in photos. Fresh paint, a deep clean, and staging, either real or virtual, help buyers see how the home can be used.
Yes. The listing agreement, disclosures, and offers are usually signed electronically, so you can review and sign them from wherever you live. Your real estate attorney handles the closing documents.
Your agent should check on the home regularly, especially in winter. For my out-of-town sellers, I visit the home, coordinate with service providers, and let you know right away if something needs attention.
About the same as any other sale once the home is listed. The difference is the time before listing, while repairs and preparation are coordinated. My post on how long it takes to sell a home in Chicago has the numbers.
Yes. One of my sellers sold her Ravenswood condo while she was living in Ireland. The steps are the same, but plan the closing documents early, because getting them notarized outside the U.S. can take extra time. Your attorney will tell you exactly what is needed.
You do not have to fly back to manage this. I can tell you what the home is worth today, what it needs before it is listed, and handle every local step until the keys are handed to the buyer.
Start with a free home value review, or schedule a complimentary consultation here. You can also start with my free Chicago Home Seller Course, or call or text me directly at 773.719.0989.
Dee Savic is a Chicago Realtor® with Baird & Warner, a 24+ year real estate professional, and a 27+ year Chicago resident with 300+ closed transactions. She helps buyers, sellers, downsizers, and relocation clients across Chicago, including Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, North Center, Roscoe Village, Andersonville, Uptown, Bucktown, Wicker Park, and the Gold Coast.
Dee Savic
Realtor® | Baird & Warner
4553 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
773.719.0989
[email protected]
deesavic.com
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I'm Dee Savic, your trusted Chicago real estate expert, and I'm here to guide you through your relocation journey. Discover why Chicago is the perfect city for you; from its diverse neighborhoods to its cultural vibrancy, Chicago offers an unmatched urban experience. Together, we'll find a community and home that fits your lifestyle and aspirations.
