5 Proper Tips for Painting Your Home on Chicago's North Shore

Summer is typically the season that North Shore homeowners decide to tackle all of the necessary home improvement projects. Whether they include landscaping, cleaning out the garage or renovating the kitchen, each project has a proper way to achieve the look you want.

Painting is no exception either! If the rooms in your North Shore home could use a fresh coat of paint this summer, keep the following in mind to achieve great results and impress your guests (and if you're planning to sell, homebuyers!).

Clean the ceiling and walls
Before you can start rolling on a fresh coat of paint, it's important to clean the surfaces you intend to makeover. Remove any dust, dirt or grease spots as they can ruin the look of a smooth finish. You can clean these spots with water, a mild dishwashing detergent and a sponge. After, simply rinse with water to remove residue.

Cut in around the edges
Using a two inch trim brush, "cut in" with about three inches of paint along the edges where the ceiling meets the wall. Alternate between cutting in and painting the ceiling to keep a wet edge and prevent any lines from showing.

Paint the ceiling width-wise
Remove any excess paint on your roller by rolling it back and forth on the paint tray. Make sure you're painting across the width of the ceiling, instead of length-wise, and roll across your body instead of along your body. Start near the corner of the room and always blend the paint into the ceiling line painted prior.

Next, the walls
Once the ceiling has dried, "cut in" once again with a trim brush in the corner of the room where you started. Cut in about two to three inches from doors, windows and moldings and then use your roller to fill in the rest of the field.

Paint the trim
You can begin painting the trim when the walls have dried, using painter's tape to tape along the where the trim meets the wall. Start by painting the tops of the doors and windows first and then work your way down so you can remove drips as you go. The baseboards should be the last thing you paint.

Giving your home in Glencoe, Winnetka, Deerfield, Northbrook, Highland Park a fresh coat of paint is just one of many ways to impress homebuyers on the North Shore this summer. If you have questions about the real estate market or how you can go about selling your home, do not hesitate to contact me!

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. 

North Shore Homebuyers: What Not to Do Before Buying a Home

Buying a home on the North Shore is such an exciting time that many get swept up in the thought of moving, decorating and settling into life in a new community. Oftentimes, potential buyers start by browsing properties and moving right into the purchasing process without realizing that there is much preparation involved— months in advance!

Before you meet with a lender and begin shopping for a mortgage, it's time to consider what not to do before you buy a home on Chicago's North Shore. Keep these in mind and your home buying process, coupled with my years of experience, should move along swimmingly this summer:

Keep your credit calm
One of the worst things you can do before buying a home is go credit crazy. Don't purchase all of your furniture until after the closing, do not buy a new car or even boat this summer. Anything being purchased on credit should wait until after your loan closes as these expenses will raise red flags for local lenders.

Keep a paper trail
If you plan to move money around for your down payment, you'll need to keep a paper trail for lenders. The pre-approval process will require them to look deep into your bank statements and accounts and any unusual deposits or withdrawals will require an explanation. Being able to back these up will keep the process moving along.

Do not co-sign on a loan
Even if you'll be pushing off those furniture purchases until after the new home purchase, think twice about co-signing for others. Adding another debt to your credit profile could cause lenders to pause which may not be a risk you want to take this summer. Going to help your child purchase a new car? Just wait until after you buy that new home.

Don't get behind on bills
Of course this is a general rule of thumb, but especially while you're being approved for a mortgage on the North Shore. Just one late payment can tip your credit score in the wrong direction— knocking it as much as 60 points! If that late payment is a mortgage, some lenders will pass altogether!

As your real estate expert in Winnetka, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glencoe and Northbrook, I can share the many ways to prepare yourself for the home buying process this summer. There are many beautiful homes for sale that could be just what you're looking for— let's explore your options together!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

North Shore Real Estate
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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. 

3 Things to Do Before You Start House Hunting on the North Shore

Summer is typically a busy season for local real estate markets— the kids are out of school, the weather is warm, there is more time for house hunting and later, more time for moving. You may have already even visited a few open houses on the North Shore or scheduled showings at homes in Winnetka, Glencoe, Deerfield, Highland Park, Northbrook. 

But before you can move into more serious house-hunting and preparing to buy a new home on the North Shore, it's important to address the following:

Prepare your taxes

Tax season is behind us, so you can already cross this one off of your list! However, if you filed an extension or are making payments, be prepared to show your lender additional documents, as well as your past tax returns. The bank will want to see your returns as proof of income before you buy a home.

The more assets you can show, the better! Lenders on the North Shore will want to know you have funds to cover at least two months of mortgage payments, plus insurance.

Research your credit score

A recent report showed that most homebuyers do not know their credit score when house hunting. If you fall into that category, it's time to change that! Look into your report now and be careful to correct any errors you find as they can take months to update. For this reason, it's always wise to start well before your serious home buying timeline. 

Get to know the market

Before you can start falling in love with homes on the North Shore, get to know the communities! Tour neighborhoods to find which ones may suit you best, look into the local schools, talk with your Realtor about what areas fit your needs. With my expertise in the local market, we can peg exactly the community in which you're likely to find your dream home!

Buying a home is a wise decision this summer in Glencoe, Deerfield, Highland Park, Winnetka and Northbrook as mortgage rates are still low! As your local North Shore real estate agent, I'm happy to walk you through the home buying process and show you available homes in the area— just give me a call!

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. 

How to Prepare Your Home for Storm Season on Chicago's North Shore

Whether you've just moved into a new home on Chicago's North Shore, are planning to stay put this summer or have just started house-hunting, one thing is certain— summer tends to add a little more chaos to the mix!

Not only are North Shore residents ready to take on busier schedules, but the warmer weather always brings a storm or two to our area that can put a damper on plans. Homeowners would do well to prep for storm season now to avoid surprises down the road and of course, added stress and hassle that we could all do without!

Take the weekend to secure your home in Winnetka, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glencoe, Northbrook and you'll be ready to take on the summer with no worries:

• Prepare an emergency plan for your family and designate a room in your North Shore home in which all of you will meet during a storm.

• Cut and haul away any loose or hanging tree limbs that could cause damage during a storm.

• Check all shutters and gutters on your home to ensure they are properly secured. If not, reattach.

• Install surge protectors for expensive or sensitive electronics and appliances in your North Shore home.

• Compile an emergency kit for storms, including batteries, flashlights, first aid kit, snacks, a weather radio and bottled water.

• Take photos of your home (both inside and out), your cars, boat and valuables. You could need them later for insurance claims.

• Store or secure your outdoor furniture as heavy winds can blow these into your home, causing serious damage.

• Move all potted plants and outdoor items like bicycles, motorcycles and toys indoors or, if necessary, carefully secure them. 

Summer is a wonderful time on Chicago's North Shore, with fun events, warm temperatures and time for outdoor recreational activities. Don't let storms get in the way of your enjoying the season! 

As your real estate expert in Winnetka, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glencoe and Northbrook, I am happy to walk you through the home buying and home selling processes. Summer is perfect for making a move to your dream home! Have questions? Do not hesitate to give me a call!

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 2015

City Active Listings: There are a total of 139 properties actively on the market with the average price of $723,535 in Deerfield.

City Sold Listings: 26 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $411,009. 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 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.

Northbrook Market Stats for April 2015

City Active Listings: There are a total of 246 properties actively on the market with the average price of $706,509 in Northbrook.

City Sold Listings: 52 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $504,095. The average time on market for these properties was 77 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 2015

City Active Listings: There are a total of 87 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,506,905 in Glencoe.

City Sold Listings: 12 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $1,123,333. The average time on market for these properties was 92 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.