Foreclosure: How to take possession (Cook county, Illinois)

[James B.]

Hi everyone,

I've recently purchased a house via judicial sale. It was a reverse mortgage - the previous owner passed away two years ago. The house is vacant and it is registered as vacant by the lender (has vacancy certificate). In addition, the house has been winterised by a property management company that works for the mortgage lender. The thirty days "transitionary period" after the approval of the sale by a judge is now over and I am legally allowed to take possession. I've called the property management company in order to get keys for the house and they told me that I am free to change the locks. They've said that they don't keep the keys anymore since the mortgage lender called them to terminate the contract for the house right after the approval of the sale by the judge.

I do have the following question:

1) Is it legal to call a locksmith and to change the locks of the house and thus to enter the house? If not, shall I reach out to the Sheriff to do an "eviction" (of the empty house)?

Thank you in advance for your help! It is much appreciated!

p,s.For the record, there are no signs of life in the house. Now with all the snow it is easy to tell whether someone is getting in and out. Also we've drove by the house numerous times during the day/night and it looks like there is no one there.  Plus all utilities were stopped months ago.