Your North Shore Home Summer Maintenance Checklist

Now that summer is here (at least the temperatures!) on Chicago's North Shore, we're all eager to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. But even if you plan to spend your time boating, gardening, swimming, or vacationing, there are a few tasks to check off of your home maintenance to-do list to ensure everything runs smoothly this season.

Protect your deck
When the weather warms up, your deck becomes a popular place! However, if you haven't sealed it properly, it can absorb all of the summer rain and excess moisture from your hose and watered plants, paving the way for wood rot. Test a patch by pouring a small amount of water and if the water beads up, it's ready for the season. If not, you'll want to purchase a sealant.

Clean your patio furniture
Months of being covered or—worse yet—standing out in the elements likely took a toll on your patio furniture. You might even find some resident cobwebs hanging around! Before you invite anyone over for summer gatherings, or lounge by yourself, give your furniture a good cleaning and spray down with the garden hose.

Inspect your AC
Did you AC unit have a cover over it this winter? If not, it may be covered with debris and dust. Now is the time to brush it off and replace your air filter before you run the machine all summer long.

Add mulch
Plants and flowers need to absorb as much moisture as possible in the summer heat to grow and thrive— which can be hard to do if you don't give them a little extra care. Consider adding mulch in your flower beds to allow the moisture to get to your plants and hydrate them without the sun interfering.

Ready to start your North Shore home search or sell your current home in Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Northbrook, or Deerfield? Give me a call today!

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. 

Winnetka Real Estate Market Stats for April 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 168 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,811,886 in Winnetka.

City Sold Listings: 24 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $1,620,625. The average time on market for these properties was 91 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!

Northbrook Real Estate Market Stats for April 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 307 properties actively on the market with the average price of $729,368 in Northbrook.

City Sold Listings: 63 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $478,057. 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 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 April 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 356 properties actively on the market with the average price of $902,248 in Highland Park.

City Sold Listings: 76 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $494,850. The average time on market for these properties was 76 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!

Glencoe Real Estate Market Stats for April 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 112 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,359,744 in Glencoe.

City Sold Listings: 17 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $1,037,456. The average time on market for these properties was 74 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 April 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 168 properties actively on the market with the average price of $654,312 in Deerfield.

City Sold Listings: 49 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $456,251. The average time on market for these properties was 46 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!

North Shore Home Selling Advice to Ignore

As a North Shore homeowner, you've probably heard dozens of real estate myths bouncing around from family and friends— running the gamut from when to sell your home to how much buyers are willing to pay. However, it's important to note that these should be taken with a grain of salt—unless they come from a trusted real estate expert—and in some cases, ignored entirely.

If you plan to sell your home on Chicago's North Shore this year, you will want to ignore the following home selling advice:

You will sell at the open house
Open houses can be beneficial for North Shore homeowners in that they attract many eyes to your property at once— but that doesn't mean it will always end in a sale. While many buyers may come through your home, don't expect all of them to make an offer. Private showings can be just as lucrative as open houses and may even signal a more serious buyer.

You should only sell in spring
With smartphones, online listing alerts, and home search websites galore, buyers are constantly searching for properties— no matter the season! You might be surprised by how motivated buyers are to secure their dream home in the beginning of the year, for instance. Be careful not to prioritize one season too much when it comes to listing.

Pricing high will make you the most money
You can only make a profit if you sell and pricing too high is a great way for your property to "sit" on the market for longer than necessary. In fact, if it sits too long, you could end up settling for less than you'd like. The key is to price your home according to supply and demand to allow for the most successful sale.

You can save money without a Realtor
While cutting out the commission factor may seem like a great way to save money, the opposite is actually true. Did you know that homes sold with a Realtor sell for more money than those without? Not to mention all of the correspondence involved in a single transaction that the Realtor handles on your behalf— including the buyer's agent, lender, title company, inspection company, and more!

Questions about selling your Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Deerfield, or Northbrook home this year? Give me a call today!

I'm here to help!

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.