Thursday, December 28, 2017

Your Winter Checklist for Your North Shore Chicago Home

In a past blog post, I shared How to Brighten Your Glencoe, Winnetka Home in the Winter, but that is just one of many tasks to tackle during this time of year! There are dozens of steps to take to ensure your North Shore home is protected for the cold season ahead and I've listed the top must-dos below!

Inspect your chimney
The last thing you want during the winter months is a chimney fire! If you use your fireplace often in your North Shore home, it is key to have the chimney inspected and creosote build up removed. A good rule of thumb is to have a professional clean and inspect after every 70 fires.

Replace smoke detector batteries
Especially if you like to have fires roaring and keep the place cozy by cranking the heat, you will need to make sure smoke detector batteries are fresh. Take care to place a smoke detector in every bedroom and on every floor of your home to be safe.

Keep ice melt handy
Don't risk slips and falls outside of your North Shore home this winter! Keep a bucket of ice melt or salt handy by the front door or garage and sprinkle it if you suspect snow or the temperatures have dropped. You won't be sorry!

Cover the air conditioner
Excess moisture from snow and wet debris can take a toll on your air conditioning unit. Use a breathable cover to shield the unit from winter conditions and you will eliminate the risk of rust!

Install weatherstripping
If your home feels colder than it should, you might be losing warm air through gaps around windows and doors. Apply weatherstripping around these points of entry to keep the heat indoors where it belongs!

Bring in floor mats
The winter months make it easy to track snow and dirt all over your North Shore home. Use floor mats both indoors and out to protect your flooring and keep the wetness contained on a waterproof mat for boots and shoes.

Insulate pipes
Burst pipes can wreak havoc on your Glencoe, Northbrook, Winnetka, Highland Park, Evanston, and Deerfield area home. Insulate any exposed piping with heat tape or foam rubber to protect against freezing.

Create an emergency kit
Should you lose power or your furnace go out, you will want to have a winter emergency kit handy! Pull together shelf stable food, batteries, flashlights, first aid supplies, blankets, and bottled water just in case!

As your North Shore real estate expert, I will be your guide to preparing your home for sale, finding the right buyer, and moving on to your next dream home! Give me a call today for more information about the real estate market in Glencoe, Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Winnetka, and beyond!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


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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, December 20, 2017

How to Brighten Your Glencoe, Winnetka Home in the Winter

It's no secret that winter shortens our hours of daylight on Chicago's North Shore and while it may make for cozy (earlier!) evenings, it can have your home feeling a bit darker than usual. But not to worry! There are dozens of ways to brighten up your Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Deerfield or Northbrook home and allow it to feel just as fresh and welcoming as it does in the spring!

Below are five ways to brighten your North Shore home:

Take off the screens
If you have screens on your windows, it's time to take them off and allow more light inside! Without them, you'll let 30 percent more sunlight in and warm your home at the same time! But don't let them go too far, you'll want to put them back up in a few months to avoid running your cooling system too much.

Refresh the paint
Darker paint colors can really emphasize the long, cold nights on Chicago's North Shore in the winter. Opt for a paint refresh with brighter, neutral colors like beige, gray, or of course, white. Especially in your living spaces, you will instantly feel as though the room is more airy and open.

Replace light bulbs
There is nothing like a dim light bulb to make your Winnetka, Glencoe, Evanston, Northbrook, Deerfield IL home feel dark and drab. Replace your light bulbs with energy-efficient models in a cool, white hue.

Bring in mirrors
Did you know that mirrors can make your home feel larger? What's more, they help to reflect any light that comes inside! If your home is lacking mirrors or feeling small and cave-like, it's time to bring in a few! You can bounce the winter light all over your home with even just one.

Trim landscaping
Outdoors you may have overgrown landscaping or trees that could be blocking precious light from streaming inside. Take a weekend to trim back any hedges or bushes in front of entryways and windows and remove branches that might be making your home darker than it needs to be.

Ready to get a jump on the new year with a new North Shore home? Give me a call today! I'm here to  help you find the perfect property to start 2018 in style!

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. 

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Winnetka Real Estate Market Stats for November 2017

City Active Listings: There are a total of 118 properties actively on the market with the average price of $2,005,127 in Winnetka.

City Sold Listings: 11 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $1,463,954. The average time on market for these properties was 86 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
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Northbrook Real Estate Market Stats for November 2017

City Active Listings: There are a total of 239 properties actively on the market with the average price of $766,867 in Northbrook.

City Sold Listings: 61 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $489,665. 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 Northbrook market statistics

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!

Highland Park Real Estate Market Stats for November 2017

City Active Listings: There are a total of 295 properties actively on the market with the average price of $978,862 in Highland Park.

City Sold Listings: 49 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $460,528. The average time on market for these properties was 72 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
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Local Expert... with National Connections!

Glencoe Real Estate Market Stats for November 2017

City Active Listings: There are a total of 91 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,478,596 in Glencoe.

City Sold Listings: 9 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $877,878. The average time on market for these properties was 107 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!

Deerfield Real Estate Market Stats for November 2017

City Active Listings: There are a total of 145 properties actively on the market with the average price of $665,458 in Deerfield.

City Sold Listings: 22 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $397,608. The average time on market for these properties was 66 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
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Local Expert... with National Connections!

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

5 Things Not to Do During the Holidays If You Plan to Sell Your North Shore Home

My recent blog posts have had a major focus on the holiday season— For instance, Should You Buy a Home During the Holidays?, Should You Sell Your Home During the Holidays?, and even How to Protect Your North Shore Home During the Holidays. This week, I'm continuing in the holiday spirit with a few tips on what not to do if you plan to sell your North Shore home in the coming year.

Below are five things to avoid as a North Shore home seller this holiday season:

1. Avoid damaging decorations
Before you climb up to the roof with your holiday lights and staple gun in tow, you'll want to remember not to do any damage during your decorating spree. Avoid any decorations that might put holes in the walls, marks on the ceiling or floors, or damage the siding of your North Shore home. While it is nice to add a festive edge to the neighborhood, home buyers will take note of these mishaps when you're ready to sell.

2. Don't display large gifts
The holiday season is indeed filled with gift-giving, but if you plan to give (or happen to receive) any large gifts, it's best to put them away while your home is for sale. Just as you wouldn't want your closets to be filled to the brim, creating the illusion that there isn't ample space, you don't want your home to be cluttered with large presents, including children's toys.

3. Avoid holiday debt
If you plan to buy a new home in the new year, it is important to avoid acquiring any holiday debt. Your chances of being approved for a new mortgage are much better when you haven't made any large purchases or racked up your credit card bills.

4. Don't buy for your current home
You may be tempted to buy appliances or decor that fits with your current home, but if you plan to sell and move in 2018, these items will have nowhere to go. As you check off your holiday shopping list, remember to think of your new home and not just the one you are living in now.

5. Don't buy a new pet
While many would love to get a puppy for the holidays, home sellers would be wise to wait until after their home sale to take in a new pet. The excitement of a new furry friend roaming about, plus house-training, and curious paws on carpet, walls, you name it, can easily make more work for sellers and turn away some buyers.

Ready to start the new year in a new home in Glencoe, Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook, or Deerfield? Need to sell your property to be able to start fresh? Give me a call today!

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.