Saturday, May 24, 2014

4 Tips to Prepare Your North Shore Home to Sell!

As a seasoned North Shore real estate professional, I have worked with many sellers to prepare their homes for listing. The first impression your home leaves on buyers is so important!  While thoroughly cleaning your home is the obvious place to start, buyers will see beyond dirty floors and windows.  Here are 4 tips to help make your North Shore home ready for the eyes of buyers.

Start with your exterior.  If buyers like what they see on the outside, they’ll be excited to see the insideWhat impression is the exterior of your home giving?  Is your landscaping fresh?  Is your lawn healthy?  Is your paint or siding showing wear?  Look at your North Shore real estate with a critical eye because buyers most certainly will.  Don’t overspend on your exterior unless necessary, but definitely repair obvious issues.

Organize, organize, organize.  When buyers are viewing your home, they will want to see inside closets, cabinets, and possibly even drawers.  Storage space is important to many buyers, and they're going to want to see how much of it your North Shore home has to offer.  Clean and organize all storage areas.  This may be a good time to purge those items that you’ve been meaning to donate to free up some closet space.  Ensure that your basement and garage are neat and orderly as well.  

Appeal to the Senses:  Bad smells can hinder the sale of a home.  If there is anything in your North Shore home that is creating an unappealing scent, determine the cause and truly eliminate it.  While air fresheners and candles can enhance the buyer experience, don’t use them to simply cover bad smells.  “Floral Litter Box” isn’t a candle scent for a reason.  Common culprits can be water leaks, pets and cooking.   

Your agent knows best:  If your North Shore real estate agent recommends that there are certain belongings you should consider removing prior to showing your home, he or she is trying to make your home appealing to as many buyers as possible.  Depersonalizing your home allows buyers to envision their own belongings in the space.  The more buyers can imagine your North Shore home as their own, the more likely they are to make an offer! 

Taking the time to ready your North Shore real estate for showing can have a definite impact how quickly it sells.  With years of experience, I have developed an eye for what makes a home move in Chicago’s North Shore market.  If you would like assistance in selling or buying in the area, please contact me.  Let my expertise go to work for you! 

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
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Local Expert... with National Connections!

Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Celebrating Memorial Day on Chicago's North Shore

Memorial Day is right around the corner!  In typical fashion, Chicago’s North Shore has a variety of events from which to choose.  That is one of the things that I truly love about the North Shore.  No matter which community you call home, there is always so much going on around you.  Everywhere you turn this Memorial Day there will be an opportunity to show your appreciation for our nation’s heroes.  Here are just some of your many options.

Glenview Memorial Day Parade
May 26th, 9:00am

The annual parade starts east of the railroad tracks on Pine St. and continues to Glenview Rd. The ceremony will be held at the Veteran’s Memorial at Glenview Rd. and River Dr. and will include a color guard, remarks by Joseph Sesterhenn of the American Legion and an address by Village President, Kerry Cummings.

Deerfield Memorial Day Picnic
May 26th, 12:00pm
A Memorial Day BBQ will be held at the Weinburg Community for Senior Living.  Come out and enjoy food and live music by the Bourbon Street Strummers.  Children will be entertained with balloon sculpting by Holly Nagel. Come out and kick your summer off right!

86th Annual Memorial Day Celebration 
May 26th, 10:00am

Join in the Village’s 86th annual Memorial Day celebration with a parade from the corner of Glendale and Elm Streets and heads east to the Village Green. A ceremony honoring those who have served will immediately follow on the Village Green.

God Bless America
May 25th, 4:00pm
Glenview
Honor our nation’s veterans at the 7th Annual God Bless America Memorial Day concert.  The concert will take place at the Glenview Community Church and will be featuring The Navy Band Great Lakes Wind Ensemble.  If you’re a local veteran, you are invited to partake in the event.  Anyone interested in participating should contact American Legion Post 166's Vice Commander, Lloyd Kuehn at 847-965-5210 to get details.

Whether it’s a holiday or just another Friday night, there is always something happening on Chicago’s North Shore.  That is one of the many reasons that so many people choose to call the North Shore home.  If you have been considering a move to Chicago’s North Shore, now is a great time to explore your options.  As an experienced North Shore realtor, I help numerous people both buy and sell their North Shore real estate every year.  Please contact me if you would like an experienced professional to assist you with your needs.

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website
Local Expert... with National Connections!

Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States.

Friday, May 9, 2014

5 Things Your North Shore Homeowners Insurance May Not Cover

When you purchase North Shore real estate, your lender requires you to carry adequate homeowners insurance.  Adequate, however, does not mean that your policy will cover every possible scenario that could happen to or in your North Shore home.  Here are a few common exclusions in the average insurance policy.
  1. Certain Dog Breeds:  In the instance that your dog attacks someone in your North Shore home, insurance companies generally have a list of breeds that they will not cover.  Some breeds that frequently make the list are Pit Bull and Staffordshire Terriers, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Chows, Presa Canarios, Akitas and Wolf-hybrids.  Be sure to check with your company for its complete list before adopting or purchasing a dog.     
  2. Termites:  Termite damage is not covered by your policy because it is considered preventable.  This is why it's very important that you have your North Shore home inspected for termites before you purchase it and then regularly once you have moved in.  Termites can cause extensive structural damage that could cost you thousands of dollars out of pocket without early detection.
  3. Trampoline and Treehouse Injuries:  Kids love both but insurance companies do not because they are considered high-risk.  Be sure to ask your North Shore insurance agent if these two items are excluded in your policy.  Your health insurance will cover your own child, but you will be personally liable if a playmate gets injured while using an excluded trampoline or treehouse.
  4. Earthquakes and Floods:  Mosts acts of nature are covered by your insurance, but a standard policy does not cover damage from earthquakes or floods.  While Chicago’s North Shore does not lie on any major fault lines, heavy rain could definitely lead to flooding.  Beyond just flooding by nature, floods due to backup or overflow of your sewer, drains or sump pump are not covered either.  Earthquake and flood insurances must be purchased separately, and particularly flood insurance should definitely be considered.
  5. Expensive Jewelry:  Insurance policies tend to have a limit to the amount that will be paid out on personal property should it be damaged or stolen from your North Shore home.  If you have jewelry, watches or any other personal property of exceptionally high value, it is wise to take out a policy specific to the items to ensure that you will be fully reimbursed if lost, stolen or damaged.
While we all hope that the worst will never happen, it is best to be fully prepared so that an unfortunate event doesn’t become a financial burden as well.  When you are purchasing a home, your insurance agent will be your best resource to fully explain your coverage needs.  Much like the importance of understanding your homeowners insurance, it’s also important to understand the home buying or selling process as well.  If you’re looking for an experienced North Shore realtor to help you do so, please contact me!  I would me glad to assist you in buying or selling a home. 


Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website
Local Expert... with National Connections!
Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States.       

Monday, May 5, 2014

Winnetka Market Stats for April 2014

City Active Listings: There are a total of 132 properties actively on the market with the average price of $2,310,022 in Winnetka.
City Sold Listings: 16 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $1,376,156 the average time on market for these properties was 112 days. 
To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Winnetka market statistics!
Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website
Local Expert... with National Connections!
Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States.

Northbrook Market Stats for April 2014

City Active Listings: There are a total of 195 properties actively on the market with the average price of $797,745 in Northbrook.
City Sold Listings: 39 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $367,155, the average time on market for these properties was 64 days. 
 

To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Northbrook market statistics


Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website
Local Expert... with National Connections!

Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States.

Glencoe Market Stats for April 2014

City Active Listings: There are a total of 62 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,756,802 in Glencoe.

City Sold Listings: 14 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $1,032,979, the average time on market for these properties was 85 days.  
To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Glencoe market statistics

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website
Local Expert... with National Connections!

Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States.

Highland Park Market Stats for April 2014

City Active Listings: There are a total of 179 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,245,616 in Highland Park.
City Sold Listings: 36 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $497,503, the average time on market for these properties was 62 days.  
To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Highland Park market statistics
Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website
Local Expert... with National Connections!
Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States.

Deerfield Market Stats for April 2014

City Active Listings: There are a total of 100 properties actively on the market with the average price of $675,915 in Deerfield.
City Sold Listings: 127 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $416,718, the average time on market for these properties was 36 days.  

To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Deerfield market statistics!
Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website
Local Expert... with National Connections!
Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States.