Some sales quietly change what a neighborhood expects. In Orchard Brook, Downers Grove’s pool and clubhouse community, 1101 Barberry Court became one of those defining moments. This home achieved the highest sale price in the subdivision, selling for $954,001 and $55,001 dollars over list price, with 20 showings in 3 days, 3 offers, and an accepted contract in 5 days. On paper, the numbers look impressive. In reality, they were the result of months of thoughtful planning, careful preparation, strategic open house events, and a very intentional marketing plan designed specifically for Orchard Brook buyers and Orchard Brook home sellers who expect strong results.
This was the exclusive listing of Downers Grove real estate agent Shanon Tully, Lead Agent for The Tully Team at Platinum Partners Realtors.
Starting With a Conversation, Not Just a Price
When I first met the owners of 1101 Barberry Court, our conversation did not begin with a listing price. It began with their story. They had lived in Orchard Brook for many years. This house had seen children and grandchildren come and go, a well-loved family dog and other pets over the years, and countless holidays and everyday moments. The home had also seen thoughtful investments, including a dramatic kitchen renovation with high-end Wolf and Viking appliances and new maple flooring that elevated the main level.
Like many Orchard Brook homes that have served a families well, 1101 Barberry Court showed the gentle signs of years of love and daily life. The core was strong and the finishes were significant, but the house needed to be translated for today’s buyers. Walls needed fresh paint. Several minor repairs needed attention. Closets and rooms were full of personal possessions that would need to be edited and donated. A deep cleaning, window washing, and a reset of every room would be required to make the home feel fresh, bright, and ready for showings.
The owners were very clear about what they wanted. They wanted to move thoughtfully, not in a rush. They wanted to honor their years in the home while still taking full advantage of the Orchard Brook real estate market. They also wanted a guide who understood both the emotional and practical sides of selling a home in this community. My role as their Realtor and Orchard Brook listing agent, was to listen closely, create a plan that respected their goals, and then manage the details so they did not have to carry the burden alone.
An Orchard Brook Listing Begins with a Careful Walk Through
Every successful Orchard Brook listing starts with an honest assessment. I walked through 1101 Barberry Court with the owners, room by room, listening to how they used each space and what they loved most. At the same time, I viewed the home through the eyes of Orchard Brook buyers who were currently shopping in the area and comparing homes in this pool and clubhouse community.
Because I lived in Orchard Brook for ten years and am still in the neighborhood frequently, I understand how buyers talk about this subdivision. They care about the pool and clubhouse, the feel of the streets, the walking paths, the nearby parks, and the convenience to everything that makes Downers Grove so livable. They also care about how a home feels when they enter and how easily they can picture their own lives unfolding there.
During that first visit, we did not judge the condition of the home as it was. Instead, we talked about what buyers would notice first in photos and at showings. We talked about where the high-end upgrades already gave the home a major advantage, such as the kitchen and flooring, and where years of everyday life might distract buyers from seeing all that value. That conversation set the tone. We were not simply listing an Orchard Brook home. We were shaping a complete Orchard Brook real estate strategy for this specific address.
Creating a Six-Month Roadmap from Orchard Brook Home to Orchard Brook Listing
Once we had a shared understanding of the home’s strengths and the areas that needed attention, we turned that into a plan. The timeline for this Orchard Brook sale ended up being about six months from the very first meeting to the closing table. That time frame included planning, preparation, staging, marketing, showings, contract, and closing. Not every home sale in Orchard Brook will take six months, but this one shows how a thoughtful, concierge style approach can create space for better decisions and better results.
We began by breaking the work into phases, so it felt manageable. The first phase focused on editing and donating belongings, packing items the sellers wanted to keep, and removing anything that would crowd photos or distract buyers. The second phase focused on minor repairs, painting, and addressing items that would either show up in an inspection or make a room feel tired on first impression. The third phase focused on deep cleaning, including floors, surfaces, and windows so that the house would look and feel freshly maintained.
To support this plan, I referred the sellers to trusted vendors I work with regularly. This included painters, cleaners, and window washers, as well as professional stagers and a real estate attorney who understood the neighborhood and the expectations of Orchard Brook buyers and home sellers. The owners did not have to guess who to call or how to coordinate everyone. The Tully Team helped them line up the right people in the right order so the plan could move forward without constant worry.
We also looked carefully at the Orchard Brook and Downers Grove real estate market calendar. Many Orchard Brook sellers think of spring as the prime time to list, but serious buyers are already active by late winter. In many years, the true spring market in Downers Grove feels like it starts at the end of February, sometimes when there is still snow on the ground. That means a seller who wants a strong spring result needs to begin planning months in advance. For 1101 Barberry Court, that advance work is what allowed us to pace the process and avoid a last-minute scramble.
Moving Out to Make Preparation Easier
As the plan took shape, the owners made an important decision. They chose to move out of the home before it went on the market. This choice is not right for every Orchard Brook homeowner, but in this case, it made the preparation phase smoother and less stressful.
By moving out, the owners no longer had to worry about living through repairs, painting, and deep cleaning. Vendors had full access to the home without needing to work around daily schedules. There was no pressure to keep the house in showing condition while also packing and planning their next home. Instead, their own lives and the home preparation process could unfold in parallel, not on top of each other.
Once the home was vacant, the refresh work accelerated. Painters were able to repaint the interior so that the home felt cohesive and updated. Minor repairs were taken care of quietly in the background. Cleaners tackled every room and every surface, and window washing helped bring in as much natural light as possible. By the end of this phase, 1101 Barberry Court felt like a clean, bright canvas that was ready for staging and photography.
Professional Staging Designed for Orchard Brook Buyers
With the house refreshed and empty, it was time to turn that blank canvas into a carefully styled Orchard Brook listing that would photograph and show beautifully. For this, I brought in Chicagoland Home Staging, led by Margaret Gehr and Kathy Hill. They are well known in the Chicagoland real estate community for creating the kind of spaces that today’s buyers expect and that Orchard Brook home sellers need when they want their listing to compete at the top of the market.
The goal for staging 1101 Barberry Court was not simply to fill rooms with furniture. The goal was to create an effortless flow through the home that would feel comfortable in person and translate well on camera. Margaret, Kathy, and their team used soft, neutral colors on the larger pieces and introduced similar accent colors throughout the house, so every space felt connected to the next. The styling was intentionally designed to echo the HGTV look that so many buyers grew up with. Whether buyers had watched countless renovation shows or followed design accounts online, they were used to seeing homes presented in a certain way. We wanted this Orchard Brook home to feel familiar to that standard but still unique and true to itself.
The staging highlighted the upgraded kitchen with Wolf and Viking appliances, showcased the maple flooring, and framed each room so that buyers could instantly understand how the home could live day to day. Even after the professional staging was complete, I added a few final touches myself to further enhance the space. A bowl of bright yellow lemons on the kitchen counter and orchids in the primary bedroom were small details, but they helped bring extra life and warmth into the photos and showings. These finishing touches were part of the concierge approach The Tully Team brings to every listing we market, including our Orchard Brook homes.
Creating Buzz with an Exclusive Orchard Brook Neighbor Only Open House
Before the listing went live to the full market, we wanted to create genuine buzz inside Orchard Brook and gather trusted feedback from people who already knew and loved the community. To do this, we planned an exclusive neighbor only open house for 1101 Barberry Court.
In the days leading up to the event, we walked the neighborhood and personally knocked on doors to invite Orchard Brook residents. There is something powerful about a face-to-face invitation, especially in a close knit pool and clubhouse community like this one. Neighbors had a chance to ask questions, share their memories of the home, and feel included in the process.
For the event itself, we catered food from Carnivore and The Queen, a fabulous restaurant in Downers Grove which helped create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The turnout was excellent, and we had a steady stream of people circulating through the home. Many guests were curious about the updates, the staging, and the upcoming Orchard Brook listing.
This neighbor’s only open house served several purposes. It gave us early feedback from people who understood how 1101 Barberry Court compared to other Orchard Brook homes. It allowed us to confirm that the flow of the staging felt natural. It also gave us a chance to notice any small final adjustments that might make the home show even better before the official launch, whether that meant moving a piece of furniture, tweaking decor, or adjusting how certain features were highlighted. By the time we were ready to go live, the home had already been previewed by a trusted group of local eyes.
Media, Video, and a Property Website Built For Orchard Brook Real Estate
Once staging and the neighbor’s open house were complete, it was time to capture the home for the screen. In today’s Orchard Brook and Downers Grove real estate market, the first showing happens online. This makes media assets a critical part of the strategy, not a side note.
We brought in a professional photographer and videographer not once but twice so that we could capture the exterior when the grass was green, the trees were full, and the sky was bright, clear, and blue. That timing allowed us to show off the oversized lot, yard, and curb appeal at their best without the worry of unpredictable weather. Interior photos and video were then taken after professional staging so buyers could see both the layout and the design potential of each room at a level that matched what they are used to seeing online. to capture 1101 Barberry Court while everything was styled and ready. Because the home was empty of personal belongings and fully staged, there was no need to rush around hiding items or making last second changes. Each room was photographed from angles that showed its size, flow, and connection to the rest of the home. The video was planned to follow a logical path, giving buyers the feeling of walking through the home themselves.
From that session, we built a complete property website for this Orchard Brook listing. The site included a full image gallery so buyers could revisit every room. It included a map and lifestyle amenity information so they could understand exactly where the home sits within Orchard Brook and the broader Downers Grove area. It listed property details and floor plans so buyers could study the layout. It also embedded the YouTube video, giving visitors a simple way to press play and move through the home on their own time.
In the video, I appeared on camera so buyers could hear my voice and see my face. This was deliberate. Many buyers feel more comfortable reaching out when they feel they know who they are calling. By being present in the video, I could introduce the home and also demonstrate that there was a real, approachable person behind The Tully Team’s marketing. Buyers who had questions or wanted to schedule a showing already had a sense of who they would be working with.
Behind the scenes, every lead that came through the property website, calls, emails, and agent inquiries were followed up on promptly. Marketing only matters if there is consistent follow-up. For 1101 Barberry Court, The Tully Team treated each inquiry as an opportunity to provide information, answer questions, and make sure that qualified buyers had what they needed to consider the property seriously.
Launching 1101 Barberry Court in the Orchard Brook Market
With preparation, staging, the Orchard Brook neighbor’s open house, photography, video, and the property website in place, 1101 Barberry Court was ready to hit the Orchard Brook real estate market. Pricing was the next critical decision. We studied recent Orchard Brook sales, looked at trends in the Downers Grove real estate market, and considered how this home compared to others in the neighborhood.
The high-end kitchen, updated flooring, refreshed interior, and staging all supported strong value. At the same time, we wanted a price that would invite serious buyers to act quickly. The pricing strategy was designed to reflect the quality of the home and the strength of the Orchard Brook community while still encouraging multiple offers rather than waiting passively.
When the listing was launched, the response was immediate. Orchard Brook buyers and their agents recognized the quality of the presentation and the care that had gone into the home. In the first three days, the property had approximately 20 showings. The combination of high-quality media, a clear property website, a well-received neighbor open house, and a home that met or exceeded expectations in person created real momentum.
Within that window, the property received three offers. The details of those negotiations are private, but the outcome is part of the public record. The home went under contract in 5 days and ultimately sold for $55,001 dollars over list price. The highest sale in Orchard Brook to date. For the sellers, this result honored both the emotional weight of leaving a well-loved home and the financial value of their years of care and investment.
What Orchard Brook Home Sellers Can Learn from This Sale
Every Orchard Brook home is unique, and not every property will need six months of planning. Some homeowners have already updated and simplified their spaces. Others need more support with preparation. What this Orchard Brook case study shows is that a thoughtful, concierge approach can create space for better decisions and stronger outcomes.
The timeline at 1101 Barberry Court included many moving parts. There were conversations, a detailed plan, referrals to trusted painters, cleaners, stagers, window washers, and an attorney who understood the neighborhood. There was full repainting of much of the interior, minor repairs, donating and editing of belongings, deep cleaning, window washing, professional staging by Chicagoland Home Staging, an exclusive neighbor only open house, strategic media, a dedicated property website, and careful follow up with every lead. That entire arc took time, but it did not feel chaotic because it was guided and organized.
If you are an Orchard Brook homeowner thinking about selling, especially in the spring market, the most helpful step you can take is to start the conversation early. Early does not mean you are committing to a specific date. It simply means you are giving yourself the benefit of time and a clear roadmap. A home that has been lived in and loved for many years deserves that kind of care.
The Tully Team takes a concierge approach to Orchard Brook real estate. That means we tailor the plan to your home, your timeline, and your comfort level. Some properties require more work. Some require less. What remains consistent is the level of attention, the access to trusted vendors, and the commitment to presenting your home in a way that meets the expectations of today’s buyers in Orchard Brook and throughout Downers Grove.
Ready To Talk About Selling Your Home in Orchard Brook
If you live in Orchard Brook and are considering a move in the next six to twelve months, the time to begin planning for a spring sale is now. Spring activity in the Downers Grove real estate market often begins when there is still snow on the ground, and a strong result usually starts with a calm, thoughtful plan months in advance.
You do not need to figure out every step on your own. We would be happy to walk your home with you, talk through your goals, and outline a strategy that feels realistic and personalized. From there, The Tully Team can help you coordinate the right painters, cleaners, stagers, and other professionals, and we can guide you through pricing, marketing, open houses, and navigating offers when the time comes.
If you are curious about what your Orchard Brook home value might be or how to begin planning your own move, you can reach me directly at 630.435.3585 or visit www.soldbytully.com to get in touch.
I am Shanon Tully, Lead Agent for The Tully Team at Platinum Partners Realtors, and I would be honored to help you plan the next chapter for your Orchard Brook or Downers Grove home sale.
