Tips for Creating a Great First Impression of Your North Shore Home This Holiday Season!

Now that we’re in the month of December, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is well underway!  It’s a beautiful time of year on the North Shore as Winnetka, Deerfield, Northbrook, Highland Park, Glencoe and the surrounding towns decorate for the season and host fun holiday events.

But, what if your attention is divided between the holidays and selling your North Shore home?  You may be worried that your home won’t sell before the end of the year, but as a North Shore Real Estate agent, I can assure you that there are buyers out there!  In fact, showing your home during the holiday season can be very appealing to buyers who will be able to easily envision hosting their own holidays in your home.

One of the key aspects that will make your home stand out this holiday season to buyers is the first impression they’ll have of your North Shore home.  First impressions make lasting impressions and you want to be sure your home is ready to wow!  Here are seven simple tips for making a great first impression this holiday season with your North Shore home!

1. Safety- You may have open houses or showings soon, so you’ll want to put safety first! Be sure your driveway, sidewalk and front porch are cleared of debris or any snow. It’s always better to be on the cautious side and put down salt, as even rain can freeze and make walking up to your home dangerous.

2. Fresh Paint- Your North Shore home is more visible in the winter months as trees are free from their leaves and your home’s condition is more exposed. Touching up chipped or faded paint is a great way to help your North Shore home look refreshed.

3. Tasteful Decorations- While you can have fun with the season’s bright lights and characters of Christmas, it can be easy for some to get carried away. Try small white lights around your homes’ bushes or front porch post, a simple wreath and garland to enhance your home’s appearance without being too distracting. 

4. A Neat Lawn- Whether there is snow covering your lawn or not; be sure to keep your lawn free from any leaves, twigs, etc… that may have blown through with the harsher winds. Just because your lawn is not expected to be as lush as the summer months, doesn’t mean to ignore the state of your lawn. Keeping it cleaned up will show that you care.

5. Clean Gutters- It’s not too late to make sure your gutters are free from leaves and other debris. You’ll want these cleared so that melting snow or rain can easily run through the gutters and not cause damage.

6. Lighting- The use of lights can really make your home stand out with the shorter winter days. Since there is more time without the suns light, using a variety of lighting can give your home a warm glow. Indoor window lights in each room provides a nice appeal, while lights along the pathway up to your home, a bright porch light and tasteful Christmas lights are all ways in which to enhance your North Shore homes’ curb appeal.

7. Cold Weather Plants- Hearty plants and Evergreen trees can withstand the winter months while adding visual appeal to the outside of your home. Evergreen Holly will add a splash of color with its red berries and can stand up to the cold weather.

Following these tips will help take the curb appeal of your home to the next level and give your North Shore home that boost that will set it a part from other homes on the North Shore Real Estate market.

If you have questions about selling your North Shore home or are ready to put your home on the market; please contact me today! 

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

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Tips for Beautiful Holiday Curb Appeal for Your North Shore Home!

I hope you enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family here on Chicago’s North Shore!  With the largest feast of the year and the busiest shopping day behind us, many of us are beginning to decorate our North Shore homes for the holidays to make our homes as warm, inviting and as full of holiday cheer as possible.

Many of you who are planning on hosting parties and guests during the next month may be wondering how to make sure the exterior of your home is just as inviting as the interior.  With the possibility of a blanket of snow, along with grey skies and bare trees as a backdrop; it’s important to not forget about your homes’ winter curb appeal.  

In fact, for those of you trying to sell your North Shore home this winter; creating great curb appeal is especially important for that lasting first impression.  Whether you’re hosting friends and family, or hoping to get your North Shore home sold this winter; here are a few tips for making your home feel well maintained and welcoming from the moment people drive up to your North Shore home!

1. Safety- You may have friends and family planning to visit soon, so you’ll want to put safety first! Be sure your driveway, sidewalk and front porch are cleared of debris or any snow. It’s always better to be on the cautious side and put down salt, as even rain can freeze and make walking up to your home dangerous.

2. Tasteful Decorations- While you can have fun with the season’s bright lights and characters of Christmas, it can be easy for some to get carried away. Try small white lights around your homes’ bushes or front porch post, a simple wreath and garland to enhance your home’s appearance without being too distracting.

3. Fresh Paint- Your North Shore home is more visible in the winter months as trees are free from their leaves and your home’s condition is more exposed. Touching up chipped or faded paint is a great way to help your North Shore home look refreshed.

4. A Neat Lawn- Whether there is snow covering your lawn or not; be sure to keep your lawn free from any leaves, twigs, etc… that may have blown through with the harsher winds. Just because your lawn is not expected to be as lush as the summer months, doesn’t mean to ignore the state of your lawn. Keeping it cleaned up will show that you care.

5. Clean Gutters- It’s not too late to make sure your gutters are free from leaves and other debris. You’ll want these cleared so that melting snow or rain can easily run through the gutters and not cause damage.

6. Lighting- The use of lights can really make your home stand out with the shorter winter days. Since there is more time without the suns light, using a variety of lighting can give your home a warm glow. Indoor window lights in each room provides a nice appeal, while lights along the pathway up to your home, a bright porch light and tasteful Christmas lights are all ways in which to enhance your North Shore homes’ curb appeal.

7. Cold Weather Plants- Hearty plants and Evergreen trees can withstand the winter months while adding visual appeal to the outside of your home. Evergreen Holly will add a splash of color with its red berries and can stand up to the cold weather.

As a North Shore Real Estate agent, I want to help you make your home as inviting as possible for guests or buyers!  My job revolves around more than just the North Shore Real Estate market, but is about providing a full service approach to past, present and future clients!

If you are hoping to sell your North Shore home this winter season and would like to discuss your needs and what we can do to get your home sold; please contact me!  I would be happy to guide you through each step of preparing and selling your home.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

North Shore Real Estate
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Selling Your North Shore Home this Holiday Season? View 8 Great Tips for Staying Calm!

The holidays are quickly approaching as we begin to notice the days getting shorter and a chill in the air. And, while the holiday season offers endless joy of getting together with friends and family, you may not be looking forward to them quite yet. If you’re currently trying to sell your North Shore home; thinking of the holidays right now may begin to cause some panic!

Selling your home is a large undertaking and doing so during the holidays may cause additional stress. However, there are ways to make your home selling process a smooth one while still enjoying the holiday season to the fullest! Below are 8 ways to maintain a sense of calm while your home is on the North Shore Real Estate market during this busy time of year.

1. Prepare your home well in advance- If you know you're going to have to sell your North Shore home during the holidays, begin getting your home ready now. Start clearing out clutter and personal items such as family photos and knickknacks and begin cleaning your home from floor to ceiling. Getting these chores out of the way early will give your more time to enjoy the holidays.

2. Take care of holiday errands early- Don't procrastinate on your Christmas shopping. Selling your home is stressful enough, so you don't want to be stuck fighting traffic and long lines at the mall as well. Think ahead and get your errands done before everyone else enters holiday panic mode.

3. Hire someone to help with the cleaning- You'll need to keep your North Shore home immaculate for showings, which is easier said than done when friends and family are frequenting your home for holiday parties. Spending a little extra money on a housekeeper for this hectic season can pay off by saving you time and energy.

4. Look on the bright side- While maintaining your home's curb appeal is still important in the winter, just think of the things you don't have to do, like mowing the lawn or weeding flower beds.

5. Don't schedule showings when you have houseguests- Your friends and family won't be pleased if they have to vacate every time a North Shore buyer wants to take a look. If you plan on having holiday visitors, let your North Shore Real Estate agent know that these dates are off-limits for showings.

6. Keep the weekends open for showings- Homes show better when it's bright out, but as the days get shorter, buyers may have less time to squeeze in daytime visits during the workweek. Be prepared to open your home to North Shore buyers over the weekend.

7. Don't fret over a lack of lookers- Fewer people viewing your home doesn't necessarily mean fewer offers. When you sell a North Shore home in the spring, you're likely to get a lot of visits from people who are just casually looking to buy. You may not get as many visitors during the holidays, but the ones you do get will be serious about buying.

8. There's always next year- If you don't manage to sell your North Shore home during the holiday season, don't let it get you down. Sales should pick up as spring approaches, so you could have more luck then.

There are many great events, concerts, and things to experience in Chicago’s North Shore during the holiday season. Don’t let selling your North Shore home get in the way of enjoying the holidays! If you are just beginning the home selling process and are still looking for a North Shore Real Estate agent, please let me know! I’d be happy to answer any of your questions and to walk with you through each step of the way. My years of experience in the North Shore Real Estate market gives me an edge of knowing what North Shore buyers want in a home. Please contact me today; I look forward to hearing from you!


Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

North Shore Real Estate
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