Wednesday, July 27, 2016

How to Keep Your North Shore Chicago Home Safe While on Vacation

Summer is a popular time for North Shore residents to head out on vacation— in fact, August is one of the busiest months for travel! But leaving home for any given amount of time means taking extra precautions to keep the property secure while you're away.

As your North Shore real estate expert, I've included several tips below to help keep your home in Winnetka, Glencoe, Deerfield, Highland Park, Northbrook and the surrounding areas safe and sound during your travels:

Take inventory of your home
Also a wise idea for insurance purposes, taking inventory of your North Shore home is helpful when you return from a trip to ensure everything is accounted for in the case of theft. Take note of your belongings, their value, how much you paid for them and store the list in a safe place away from your home, like a safety deposit box or safe.

Have your mail picked up or stopped
A common tip off that you are not at home is a pile of mail or packages by the front door. Enlist the help of a neighbor, friend or family member to pick up any mail that arrives and hold it for you until you return. You can also choose to have your mail stopped by the Post Office.

Let your neighbors know you're leaving
Fill your neighbors in on your plans and consider giving them a spare key. If you have pets, they may be willing to watch them and keep a closer eye on the place.

Be careful on social media
You may want to think twice about posting your whereabouts and travel plans on social media. Your blog or Twitter account are not the best place to announce you'll be away from home for weeks on end. It may be wise to hold off on posting pictures of your trip until you return.

Upgrade your lighting
Installing motion detectors on your garage and home can be one easy way to deter potential burglars from letting themselves inside. Putting your lights on timers is also a great way to create the illusion that someone is home, even while you're away enjoying fun in the sun.

I have decades of experience in helping North Shore homeowners and home buyers with their real estate goals. Give me a call today with any questions you have about selling your property or finding your dream home.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
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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. 

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Preparing Your North Shore Chicago Home for an Appraisal

Before you move ahead with selling your home on Chicago's North Shore, the property will be appraised to find its current value. This can be a stressful experience for many North Shore homeowners, with all of your handiwork on display for the appraiser, but don't worry too much!

As your real estate expert, I've included a few tips below to help you prepare your home for an appraisal in Glencoe, Deerfield, Winnetka, Highland Park and Northbrook:

Do the research
Just as you would with any other expert in the area, it's important to research their client base, and especially their knowledge of the area. And remember, your real estate agent is a hub of suggestions! If you need a recommendation for an appraiser, I can help!

Inspect your own home
Walk around your home and pay close attention to anything in need of repair— you will want to fix before the appraiser arrives. Any work that still needs to be completed can hurt your home value! You will also want to have a master list of what you have already repaired or upgraded, in addition to how much you have put into the home, money wise.

Check appliances
Do all of your appliances work? Or do you have a washing machine or refrigerator that are not as efficient as they used to be? With major appliances not in the best shape, your home value could take a hit.

Keep your neighborhood in mind
As you wait for your appraiser to get back with your home value, it's essential to keep in mind your neighborhood and what other homes are selling for. This can help you get a rough idea of what your North Shore home might be worth.

Selling your home on Chicago's North Shore is a big step to take this summer— but a lucrative one! Give me a call today with any questions about what it takes to list, how to prepare and what your home could sell for this year!

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. 

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Winnetka Real Estate Market Stats for June 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 209 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,887,104 in Northbrook.

City Sold Listings: 33 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $1,403,913. The average time on market for these properties was 51 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 Real Estate Market Stats for June 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 293 properties actively on the market with the average price of $774,033 in Northbrook.

City Sold Listings: 89 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $557,392. The average time on market for these properties was 46 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. 

Highland Park Real Estate Market Stats for June 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 349 properties actively on the market with the average price of $989,491 in Highland Park.

City Sold Listings: 62 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $599,452. The average time on market for these properties was 70 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. 

Glencoe Real Estate Market Stats for June 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 116 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,498,094 in Glencoe.

City Sold Listings: 22 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $1,075,000. The average time on market for these properties was 58 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. 

Deerfield Real Estate Market Stats for June 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 184 properties actively on the market with the average price of $718,101 in Deerfield.

City Sold Listings: 44 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $449,645. The average time on market for these properties was 47 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. 

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Red Flags When Shopping for Homes on Chicago's North Shore

There are many features that can be easily changed in homes on Chicago's North Shore— paint colors, flooring and fixtures, to name a few. However, there are also a set of home features that can be more costly than you think and should be reason enough to keep moving with your home search.

Below are three elements that should raise red flags when house hunting in Glencoe, Deerfield, Winnetka, Northbrook, Highland Park and the surrounding areas. And when in doubt, it is always best to defer to your real estate agent with any questions!

Location
There's a reason the real estate phrase location, location, location is so popular. Homes located near busy intersections, major highways, noisy areas or across from shopping centers tend to have lower values than similar properties away from the chaos. Be aware of the location of the home as you are house-hunting as even if you love everything about it, this is not something you can change and will greatly affect your resale value.

Lot placement
Older homes are notorious for being placed close to the street or on busy roads simply due to the fact that walking to one's destination was commonplace. Newer homes are often set back on a lot for more privacy and even afford North Shore buyers with more yard space both in front and back of a home. Consider the placement of the property on the lot in your home search and if it does not grant you the privacy you desire, keep looking.

Floor plan
You have likely seen many reality television shows that make knocking down any wall inside a home look easy, but the truth is, it can be costly and much more of a project than you realize. Depending on how you'd like to rework the floor plan, you may be required to install overhead beams to distribute some of the load. If the floor plan of the home in Glencoe, Deerfield, Winnetka, Northbrook, Highland Park is not ideal for your needs, it may be best to move on with your search.

Give me a call today with any questions about buying a home on the North Shore, information about available homes or what to look for when considering a property.

I look forward to hearing from you!

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.