Wednesday, July 25, 2018

5 Things in Your Glencoe, Winnetka Kitchen That Will Deter Buyers

When you're selling your home on Chicago's North Shore, you will want to take every precaution to ensure you are hooking buyers, not deterring them from putting in an offer. There are dozens of factors that come into play to keep buyers interested in your home. Pricing the property well and getting familiar with home staging are all important, but there's one place you will want to focus your attention on a little more prior to listing— the kitchen.

Below are five things in your Glencoe, Winnetka, Highland Park, Deerfield, or Northbrook kitchen that could be putting buyers off:

Household pests
Especially if you live in an older home, you will likely have an encounter or two with household pests like ants or flies. However, this is the last thing buyers want to see when they tour your home! Make sure you're rid of these bugs (or worse, mice!) before buyers arrive at the front door and at the very least, remove all traps from view.

Clutter
Kitchens are a major selling point for North Shore homes and you want to make sure yours looks as large and clean as possible. One way to do so? Remove all clutter from countertops. When you have small appliances, jars, plates, or knick knacks littering the counters, it can make the space feel smaller than it is.

Litter boxes
If you own a cat, make sure the litter box isn't housed in the kitchen. Of course you love your cat, but not all buyers are cat people. Leaving cat litter, litter boxes, or pet food bowls around can be a red flag to buyers and instantly turn them off.

Your trash 
We all have trash cans somewhere in our kitchen, but no one wants to focus on that when they're touring a North Shore home. If your trash can is out in the open, make sure the can is empty to avoid odors and ensure the space looks as clean as possible.

Dishes
Just as I mentioned that buyers could be turned off by your trash and kitchen clutter, the same goes for dirty dishes. Before buyers arrive, take care to do the dishes in the sink and leave the sink as fresh looking as you can. Dirty dishes give off the impression that you haven't kept up the rest of the property— even if you have.

Curious if your home is ready to sell on the North Shore? Give me a call today for more information and helpful tips to prepare your property for buyers!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
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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, July 18, 2018

Winnetka Real Estate Market Stats for June 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 167 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,908,936 in Winnetka.

City Sold Listings: 39 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $1,371,167. The average time on market for these properties was 44 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
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Local Expert... with National Connections!

Northbrook Real Estate Market Stats for June 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 365 properties actively on the market with the average price of $715,629 in Northbook.

City Sold Listings: 78 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $567,748. The average time on market for these properties was 38 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!

Highland Park Real Estate Market Stats for June 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 361 properties actively on the market with the average price of $912,686 in Highland Park.

City Sold Listings: 61 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $532,584. The average time on market for these properties was 53 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 June 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 114 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,362,487 in Glencoe.

City Sold Listings: 27 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $974,454. The average time on market for these properties was 55 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
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Local Expert... with National Connections!

Deerfield Real Estate Market Stats for June 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 165 properties actively on the market with the average price of $640,420 in Deerfield.

City Sold Listings: 45 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $542,937. The average time on market for these properties was 59 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!

Thursday, July 12, 2018

What is a Bump Clause in North Shore Chicago Real Estate?

Let's face it, every seller on the North Shore wants to get top dollar for their home. Even when you receive your first offer on your property, you might find yourself wondering if a better one will come along. But can you entertain other offers if you already accepted one? Is there a way to ensure you're maximizing your potential profit as a seller?

There is— and it's called the bump clause. This clause allows sellers to enter into a contract with a buyer while still marketing their property  to others. If a better offer comes along, you will essentially be able to "bump" the original offer you accepted.

These clauses are typically used when a buyer has a contingency attached to their offer. For instance, they need to sell their current home in order to purchase the property or have made the offer contingent upon the home inspection or appraisal. The bump clause will allow the seller to potentially move forward with another buyer who does not have such contingencies attached to their offer or one who would offer a higher price.

So how does it work? The bump clauses can only go into effect if the seller notifies the original buyer that they would like to take a "better" offer. The buyer has a specific number of days to respond, either letting the seller know they have sold their home (thus removing the sale contingency) or that they are removing the contingencies altogether. If they cannot remove the contingencies, their original contract is void. The seller is then able to enter into a new contract with the new buyer. However, if the buyer informs the seller that they did sell their home, their contract stands and the seller can no longer market the property to other buyers.

Bump clauses can be a wise choice for home sellers in today's fast-paced real estate market on Chicago's North Shore, offering a sense of security and control. As I mentioned above, every seller wants to maximize their home sale profits, and this is one way to do so.

As your North Shore real estate expert, I am here to walk you through the selling process from home prep to home closing and everything in between. Give me a call today for more information about selling your home in Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Northbrook, Deerfield and beyond.

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. 

Thursday, July 5, 2018

5 Ways to Celebrate Summer on Chicago's North Shore

Summer is here and there are dozens of ways to celebrate summer on Chicago's North Shore! From enjoying local outdoor spaces like parks and pools to fun, festive events like live music and festivals, there is something for everyone this season! As your local real estate expert, I am sharing five ways to celebrate summer below:

Movies in the Park
July 13, 2018
Hubbard Woods Park
Winnetka, IL

Once a month you can enjoy an outdoor movie at Hubbard Woods Park in Winnetka! An hour before showtime, there will be activities and shows that go along with the theme of the movie. Movies begin at dusk and there will be access to concessions.

Beethoven's 9th Symphony
July 14, 2018
Ravinia Festival
Highland Park, IL

The oldest outdoor music festival in the country, Ravinia Festival will be hosting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this next weekend! Listen to great music, pack a picnic, and enjoy these warm summer nights that will be gone all too soon!

Glencoe French Market
July 14, 2018
Wyman Green
Glencoe, IL

Saturday mornings through October 13, you can attend the outdoor Glencoe French Market with fresh produce, meats, cheeses, flowers, crafts, and more! What a great way to spend a summer weekend!

Water Carnival
July 14, 2018
Winnetka Park District
Winnetka, IL

Join in this year's 94th annual Water Carnival in Winnetka! With games and activities for the kids, plus free hot dogs to celebrate National Hot Dog Day, and a sandcastle building contest, you won't want to miss this all-day fun fest! Pre-registration is required on the Winnetka Park District website.

Chicago Botanic Garden Farmers Market
July 14-15, 2018
Chicago Botanic Garden
Glencoe, IL

Rain or shine, you can count on the Chicago Botanic Garden's 3rd annual market to bring together Chicagoland's best bakers, farmers, and crafters with their unique products, produce, flowers, wares, and more!

Questions about buying or selling a home in Glencoe, Winnetka, Highland Park, Deerfield, Northbrook or the surrounding areas? 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.