Celebrate the Fall Season on Chicago's North Shore

The weather is changing, the leaves are turning color and even the local events are taking on a new theme— it's fall on the North Shore and a busy schedule is in store! The North Shore is beautiful no matter the season, but the fall is especially noteworthy.

As your local real estate expert in addition to a resident myself, I'm happy to share the many ways to enjoy our area! Mark your calendars for the following festive fall events in Glencoe, Winnetka, Deerfield, Northbrook, Highland Park and beyond:

Art and Big Fork Festival
When: September 18-20, 2015; Friday: 4 PM to 9 PM, Saturday: 10 AM to 9 PM, Sunday: 10 AM to 5 PM
Where: Downtown Evanston

Streets will be closed in downtown Evanston for this free fall festival including incredible artwork, live entertainment and dozens of art projects for the kids.

Winnetka Fall Fest
When: September 19, 2015; 4 PM to 10 PM
Where: Duke Childs Field
Winnetka

Winnetka's annual Fall Fest kicks off this weekend and gives attendees the opportunity to celebrate the community and explore local parks with food, drinks, friends and fun for the entire family. Activities planned include a hay ride, pumpkin patch, make your own scarecrow, pumpkin roll and more.

Shermerfest
When: September 20, 2015; 12 PM to 4 PM
Where: Village Green Park
Northbrook

Shermerfest features a collectible and antique car show, children's activities and local food vendors with everything from hot dogs to homemade sweets. This event presented by the Northbrook Historical Society is free to attend and is heralded as the community fall festival that transports attendees back in time.

Fall Bulb Festival
When: October 2-4, 2015; 10 AM to 4 PM
Where: Chicago Botanic Garden
Glencoe

With a harvest market, cider, live entertainment and more, the Fall Bulb Festival is the perfect seasonal event! The festival will host over 20 local vendors and their fresh herbs, vegetables, homemade baked goods and treats, in addition to over 225 varieties of bulbs. Varieties include daffodils, tulips, mums, peonies, asters, amaryllis and speciality bulbs, to name a few. There will also be gardening experts on hand to offer tips!

If you're interested in calling the North Shore your home this year, do not hesitate to give me a call! It is my top priority to walk you through the process of buying or selling a home, answering all of your questions along the way.

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. 

How to Secure Your North Shore IL Home for a Showing or Open House

Tis the season to sell your home on Chicago's North Shore! Motivated buyers are still present in the real estate market, home prices are rising and more importantly, properties are moving quicker than they have in past years. Listing your home is an excellent idea this fall as buyers may not have found "the one" on their search this summer and yours could be it!

So what comes next? Soon after listing your home in Northbrook, Deerfield, Glencoe, Highland Park or Winnetka, you may find buyers scheduling showings to take a tour or an open house planned and it's important to be prepared.

Follow these tips for securing your home for a showing or open house on the North Shore:

Take your remotes
You may not think about it as you head out the door prior to the showing, but take your remotes with you! Don't take the chance of an open house visitor slipping that garage door opener hanging on a hook in the garage into their pocket. Take all keys, remotes and key FOBs with you or lock them away while you're out of the house.

Secure important documents
If you have a file cabinet or safe in your North Shore home, use it to house birth certificates, financial statements and tax forms, legal, medical and personal documents. The cabinet should be locked during open houses and showings to keep your personal information safe.

Put away valuables 
You have likely heard this before, but it is a good rule of thumb to lock up all valuables when potential homebuyers are touring your home. Place jewelry and other expensive items into a safe or locked cabinet and take electronics—iPads, for instance—with you when you leave. Small electronics like these should not be left sitting on a nightstand.

Check all doors and windows
The real estate agent will walk through your North Shore home to make sure all lights are off and your home is in good condition, but it doesn't hurt to double check. Ensure every window and door is locked when you arrive back home, even those in the basement and on the second floor.

Opening your home to potential buyers is a big decision and as your North Shore real estate agent, it is my priority to ensure your home in the Northbrook, Deerfield, Glencoe, Highland Park and Winnetka areas is safe during a showing or open house. Contact me today to discuss how we can work together to sell your home this fall!

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. 

Winnetka Real Estate Market Stats for July 2015

City Active Listings: There are a total of 176 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,856,446 in Winnetka.

City Sold Listings: 29 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $1,237,034. The average time on market for these properties was 88 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. 

Highland Park Real Estate Market Stats for July 2015

City Active Listings: There are a total of 313 properties actively on the market with the average price of $920,930 in Highland Park.

City Sold Listings: 62 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $594,189. 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 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. 

Northbrook Real Estate Market Stats for July 2015

City Active Listings: There are a total of 303 properties actively on the market with the average price of $734,636 in Northbrook.

City Sold Listings: 66 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $496,203. The average time on market for these properties was 45 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. 

Deerfield Real Estate Market Stats for July 2015

City Active Listings: There are a total of 146 properties actively on the market with the average price of $663,134 in Deerfield.

City Sold Listings: 36 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $540,017. The average time on market for these properties was 43 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. 

Glencoe Real Estate Market Stats for July 2015

City Active Listings: There are a total of 105 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,437,539 in Glencoe.

City Sold Listings: 20 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $1,236,875. 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 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.