Becky Bauer is an expert realtor in the Bloomington, Normal, Illinois area. She has many years of experience delivering stellar service to home buyers and home sellers. Becky loves to share her knowledge with others so that they can make the best decisions. Please feel free to read and share these articles on your social media platforms.
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MY BLOG
How to Move Past Student Debt — and Into a Home
You’ve got options, like repayment help from your employer and coaching from a mortgage broker. You want to buy a house. But you’re worried you won’t qualify for a mortgage because of your student loan debt. You’re not alone. Half of non-homeowners (51%) say student...
14 Packing Hacks From the Pros That Make Moving Less Awful
Moving. Is. Exhausting. But you can make it as seamless as possible with these pro tips. New house: YAAAAY! Moving out of the old one: BOOOOO. Packing up, moving, and then unpacking an entire house is the worst. Moving may never be a great time, but it is possible to...
Consumer Guide to Written Buyer Agreements
If you’re a homebuyer working with an agent who is a REALTOR®, it means you are working with a professional ethically obligated to work in your best interest. As of August 17, 2024, you will be asked to sign a written buyer agreement after you’ve chosen the...
4 Things Proactive Homeowners Do in October
Fall’s cooler temps are perfect for deck and yard improvements. Ah, October. The weather is changing, and we're getting back to our post-summer routines. It's also a great time to give the house a little extra love and maintenance. Stain the Deck Help your deck field...
Fall Yard Cleanup: 8 Shortcuts for Easy Care
When you’re looking for your dream home, you might find that it comes with more yard than you've ever had — or had to maintain. These fall yard cleanup tips will help you set up (and enjoy) an easy-care yard year-round. #1 Design for Perennials with Different Blooming...
How to Hire a Contractor — and Avoid a Home Remodeling Nightmare
Learn from a homeowner’s experience and remodeling pros about what to do, and not do, in hiring a contractor. Jody Costello was eager to begin a two-story addition to her 1940s home, including a new owner’s suite and an upper deck with a view of the San Diego skyline...
Home Sellers: Here’s What the NAR Settlement Means for You
As a home seller, you have a wide range of choices when it comes to listing your home. Agents who are REALTORS® are a trusted source of advice and stand ready to help you navigate this complex process and make the choices that work best for you. NAR’s recent...
Your Dream Home Just Got Better! 10 Home-Altering Trends
When you buy a home, whether big or small, you want to put your design stamp on it and make it into something swoonworthy. Everyone wants to live in a comfortable place, and even a first home can be a dream home if you love it. There are so many things to consider...
Fix Wet Basement Problems
Fix wet basement problems and keep moisture from wrecking your new basement remodel. A wet basement remodel is worse than no basement remodel at all. So before you add livable space below where you live, be sure to fix wet basementproblems. What’s the Water...
8 Costly Missteps New Homeowners Make in Their First Year
The negotiations are over. Your mortgage is settled. The keys to your first home are in hand. Finally, you can install your dream patio. You can paint the walls without losing your security deposit. Heck, you could knock out a wall. You're soooo ready to be a...
Understanding Online Reviews: A Guide for Appliance Shoppers
Appliances are investments — now more than ever. They have big ticket price tags, and they need to last a while without needing costly repairs. So, it makes sense to read online reviews to narrow your search, even if you intend to buy the appliance from a store with a...
Cicada Defense 101: How to Protect Your Yard
It’s a cross between a sci-fi movie and a rare historical event. Two different and enormous broods of cicadas are poised to emerge simultaneously in various locations across the U.S. starting in late April. They'll mate, lay eggs, and die. Now for the history part....
How to Add Value and Beauty to Your Front Yard Landscape
If you're like most homeowners, you're squeezing more out of your outdoor space but overlooking a key area: the front yard. We've packed our backyards with outdoor kitchens, play and lounging areas, firepits, and gardens. In the process, we've unintentionally missed...
10 Steps to a Perfect Exterior Paint Job
Painting the exterior of your home costs thousands in the hands of a pro. But you can save money if you invest the time to do it yourself correctly. Old wood siding, fast becoming a dinosaur in new construction, regularly needs the protection of a new coat of paint. A...
How to Update Your Garage Floor
New garage flooring is an easy fix — pick the right option for how you’ll use the space. You can make your garage look a lot better by updating just the floors. Yes, garages deserve love, too. And new garage flooring is a relatively simple improvement that can make a...
11 Habits for a Totally Chill Home
Create a peaceful home with these best practices for eliminating stress Your home should be your refuge. It should clear away the day's distractions and help you feel organized, focused, and calm. Oooooom. So why does it feel less like a yoga studio and more like the...
The Most Common Spring Cleaning Mistake (Plus 8 Others)
Don’t open the windows. That spring breeze is no help at all. Once there's even a glimmer of spring, you're ready to throw open your windows and let the breeze blow away the winter funk. Well, you might want to rethink that spring cleaning ritual this year. If you're...
Filing Taxes After Divorce: Tips for Homeowners
If you’re getting divorced, your home may be the biggest asset you’ll have to divide with your soon-to-be ex. As you decide whether to sell it and split the proceeds or let one spouse live there until the last kid launches, remember this: A third party is sometimes...
How to Avoid Capital Gains Tax on a Home Sale
When your home value goes through the roof, you may end up with capital gains when you sell. Here are tips to limit tax liability. Most homeowners aim for a substantial increase in home value – and many are achieving it when they sell their primary home. But that...
Drawers Overfloweth? 7 Ideas to Solve the Problem Once and for All
Messy junk drawers. Unorganized spices. Your overflowing dresser. Drawers and cabinets are supposed to keep you organized, not hide what you need. Don't despair. Whether you choose a DIY solution, an inexpensive store-bought fix, or even a custom-made splurge, solving...
4 Things to Do in February to Avoid a Yucky Spring
A mud-remediation plan. That’s No. 1 on this short list. That dark time when winter just won't go is like that friend who can't take a hint to leave. Give a push with these four easy tasks that'll help usher in spring. #1 Deep-Clean Your Entryway Snow. Salt. Boots....
7 Things You Wish You Knew Before Building New Construction
Building a new home can be stressful. But my three-peat experience taught me some new-construction tips to ease my way to the finish line. Over 15 years, I’ve experienced the new-home process three times in three states — and I’d be tempted to do it again when I move...
The Ins and Outs in Interior Home Design for 2024
Out: Ordinary. In: Extraordinary. That’s how Krisztina Bell, a designer and home stager with No Vacancy Home Staging in Atlanta, sums up new home décor trends. Homes are morphing beyond all-white or gray interiors to highly personalized, colorful, and memorable...
A Handy Guide to Keep Your Home (and You!) Safe in a Winter Storm
Besides your blankie, you’ll need emergency food and water. And a shovel. When freezing temps seem to seep into the marrow of your bones, know that the same thing is happening to your home. And like you, it needs protection from the elements or the results will be,...
The 7 Worst Habits Homeowners Need to Break Now
Guilty of buying cheap stuff? Pack-ratting? Here’s how to change your ways Bad habits are so easy to fall into. But in the end, we know they only make us miserable. They're "the opposite of what makes you happy. They're what make you miserable," says M.J. Ryan, author...
The 16 Incredibly Useful Rules Every Organized House Follows
Homes don’t clean themselves. But these easy-peasy rules (wake and make!) will make you feel like they do Here's a thing you may have noticed about houses: They don't clean themselves. Which is unfortunate, because if houses cleaned themselves, you could spend less...
5 Holiday Cleaning Mistakes Experts Know to Avoid
When you’re cleaning for the holidays, you want to make every minute count. Home cleaning professionals see firsthand where mistakes are costing us nonpros. Debbie Sardone, owner of SpeedCleaning.com, shares hosting tips that will dodge some holiday prep missteps. 5...
6 Ways to Upgrade Your Walls You Didn’t Know Existed
A couple of these DIY-able projects even add precious storage There's a reason one-way conversations are called "talking to a wall." Walls rarely have anything interesting to say — even with a coat of paint on them. But your walls don't have to be straight out of a...
3 Handsome Solutions to Handle Outdoor Clutter
No need to stash it all in the garage. Here’s how to create tidy storage in your yard "That can go in the garage" is a common solution to just about anything outdoorsy that needs a home. Instead, think outside the garage. These ideas are great for decluttering your...
Putting a Fresh Face on Your Old Tub
If you think your tub is yucky or boring, it might be more cost effective to fix it than pitch it. If you think it’s a cinch to replace your dull or dingy bathtub, here’s a reality check: Although you can purchase a basic model for as little as $200, you'll need a...
8 Easy Ways to Seal Windows & Air Leaks Around the House
There’s a 10-second fix for the most surprising offender: recessed lights. Most homes in the U.S. have significant air leaks and not enough insulation. In fact, nine out of 10 of them are under-insulated, according to Energy Star. Those air leaks are expensive. Your...