6 repairs you should make before you list
Getting your home ready to sell can feel overwhelming. How much do you repair? When do you stop? Which repairs give you the biggest bang for your buck? Trust me, these are questions I spend hours thinking about on a weekly basis because I get it--the stakes are high! You want to make sure you are putting your best foot forward before you have dozens of buyers traipsing through your home checking under every rug! And you also have the inspector to consider. The truth here is that every inspector is going to find something different. It’s your job to make sure their list is as small and inconsequential as possible.
To sort of cut to the chase, I’ve put together my go-to list of the repairs I think every seller should at least consider, and more likely go ahead and make. These are the super basic, no brainer-type repairs, so…take note!
Water stains: You should not have ANY water stains anywhere throughout your home. Many times you will fix a leak, and then leave the stain. This is totally fine if you’re not selling your home. If you are selling, then every water stain should be reassessed to make sure it is still dry, and then patched/painted so it is clear there is not active water.
HVAC: My tip here is to have your HVAC serviced just before your list your home. It gives the notion that your home is well-maintained--which it is--even if your unit is old. Inspector always love to see a recently-serviced unit!
Gas fireplace: Make sure it is in working condition and you have the gas key accessible.
Garage: Make sure the garage door works and you have the garage door keys accessible.
Lighting: Make sure all lightbulbs throughout the home are functioning. This may sound silly, but a buyer and/or inspector might think there is a major electrical problem when a light bulb is just burnt out. So, don’t even let that notion cross their minds. Plus, you always want your home to be as bright as possible. While I love mood lighting when entertaining, for showing property, buyers want to see the home as bright as possible. It makes them feel like there is a lot of natural light. The newer LEDs can sometimes be considerably dimmer, and also take a few minutes to get to full strength brightness so I recommend going with incandescents. Definitely go back to LEDs for everyday life though--the environment thanks you!
Plumbing: Leaking sinks and constantly running toilets should be fixed by a plumber prior to an inspection.
A note on accessibility: Make sure your mechanicals room has a clear walkway and that all the mechanicals are easily accessed without storage/boxes in the way. This is a good idea to address for showings and inspections since buyers like to see that there is sufficient storage space without having to store things in random boxes.
At the end of the day, I always tell my sellers to think of the inspection like their most important showing. You want your buyers to walk into your home and think, “Yes, this is why I bought this home!” Cue feelings like this with clean floors and counters, vacuumed rugs and a generally tidy home. I will also say that without fail, all of my best inspections are at the cleaner homes.
Jane got her real estate license! A fun Q&A with all the details.
We have some exciting news here at BG! Our incredible Director of Operations, Jane, just got her real estate license! We are so proud of her and excited for all the new skills she will share with clients—though the license itself is really just an added bonus since she already does ALL THE THINGS here at BG! To celebrate the news, we did a quick, fun interview with Jane to get the full down low on the past, the present, and all that’s in store.
You have major foodie tendencies, and had a big career in hospitality prior to starting in real estate. Where did you work?
I graduated from Kendall College with a degree in Food & Beverage Management. From there, I worked for Boka Restaurant Group at Girl & the Goat, Boka and for Boka Catering. I was doing a combination of event planning, on-site management, hosting, and administrative work. I loved seeing Boka grow so rapidly and learned a ton, but really wanted to dip my toes into hotels. I ended up getting a concierge position at the Four Seasons in the city and it was such an amazing opportunity. To work in a five star, five diamond hotel was definitely a learning experience. I was handling requests of all types, and it was also a way for me to learn more about what Chicago has to offer on a very specific level.
You must have had some pretty interesting requests while working as the concierge at the Four Seasons. What was the funniest request you ever got from a guest?
Oh man! Yes, I definitely got some requests that blew my mind – but of course, accommodated to the best of my ability! A good one I got was someone asking to take a cupcake tour of the city entirely by horse. I thought he was joking when he first asked me to help, but I quickly realized he wasn’t. I had to explain to him that he could only take a horse so far…because it’s a horse. He didn’t love that answer, but I ended up meeting him in the middle with a cupcake tour (on a bus!), and then a carriage ride by horse at sunset. It ended up being a great night for them, and I was so happy I could make it work!
Why did you decide to make the switch to real estate?
It actually kind of fell in my lap. I was at the Four Seasons and got a call from a recruiter for a position on a large real estate team at Coldwell Banker. The job was handling all the scheduling requests for the listed properties. I interviewed with my now best friend, Micheal, and it seemed like a nice change of pace from what I was doing at the hotel. I decided to take the leap and see what would happen. I was able to rotate into a few different roles during my 2+ years with that team, and realized that real estate is my niche! About two years ago I joined Julie, and helped build what Busby Group is today.
What commonalities do you see between your hospitality experience and working in real estate?
Too many! Ultimately, the goal is the same: get the client what they want by using my skills, resources and experience. Another big aspect is the emotional similarities. Buying or selling a home can bring up a basket of emotions whether it’s sadness, excitement or nervousness. The same goes when someone checks into a hotel or sits down for dinner. I never know what someone may be going through at that time, so I need to adjust my communication to match the client’s situation.
What were you doing at BRG prior to getting your license and what is a typical day for you now?
I am so excited I got my license after working in real estate for the past few years, but my day-to-day job is staying pretty much the same. Right now, I am the Director of Operations for our team of six. I do a bit of everything, including helping to list properties, and make sure we never miss a detail or deadline throughout the sales process. I also help the team with trainings and ongoing projects so that we are always moving forward. I wanted to get my license so that I can help my friends and family when they are ready to sell or buy. My team is more than capable and willing to help my referrals, but I wanted the opportunity to be there first hand, and really assist with the process from beginning to end.
What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
I really enjoy seeing people’s homes. Where you live can reveal a lot about a person and I like having the opportunity to see so many different sized and priced homes in so many of Chicago’s neighborhoods. I have learned over time to never assume what a home looks like inside from the outside, and I love that about real estate. A home is literally a blank canvas to make it your own, and it’s always interesting to me to see what people do with the space. I like walking through a home during an inspection with the buyers and hearing about all that they plan on doing and then being able to see it a year later to see how it all turned out—it makes the job really fun!
LIGHTENING ROUND!
So many foodie questions for you and for your husband James, Chef at The Chicago Club!
1) What is your favorite restaurant in Chicago?
This is honestly the hardest question! I am the type of person who has different favorites depending on what I am looking for in a particular meal. My favorites also couldn’t be more different from one another. I love Gibson’s – classic Chicago steakhouse, perfect for a steak and martini. I also love Kai Zan, a modern take on Japanese food with a focus on sushi. It’s really unassuming from the outside, but inside it’s warm and inviting, and we always like to sit at the sushi bar and interact with the chefs. It’s also where we went on our first “fancy date” and then later got engaged, so it definitely holds a place in our hearts.
2) What is the best thing James makes for you?
I get this question a lot! We love cooking together, and I often call him MY sous chef in the kitchen! There is one dish that he doesn’t let me help him make though, and it’s his version of Pad See Ew. It’s crispy chow fun noodles with tons of fresh veggies. He goes to the Vietnamese markets in Uptown to get fresh, hand-cut noodles with an array of vegetables. It’s sweet, spicy and sour and is perfect no matter what the weather is outside.
3) What's your favorite baby-friendly restaurant in Chicago?
We discovered a great place in Uptown called 3 Squares Diner about a year ago and have since been a bit obsessed. We started going there when I was pregnant with Harper and it was actually the first restaurant we took her to after she was born. It has a cool history to it, as it was actually a diner back in the 1920’s in the same building – the Lawrence House. It’s super art deco meets modern, and same goes with the food. They make literally everything from scratch in house, and it’s beyond delicious. Whenever we go in there, they are always super accommodating with Harper and they love watching her grow. There is always a nice mix of people in there, ranging from singles at the counter, to families stuffed into the vintage looking booths – I highly recommend!
Favorite Chicago neighborhood:
Andersonville! I love how it feels like a suburb within the city. It’s nice all year round and definitely has that community vibe. In the summer especially, we always find ourselves in the neighborhood walking around and checking out the antique stores and locally owned businesses. Plus, there are some awesome restaurants lined up along Clark that are perfect for an afternoon snack on the patio (awesome people watching!).
Fastest close:
Cash transactions are always the fastest! We did one where it went from active to closed in just about 10 days!
Favorite home decor store:
I love Home Goods! I always end up coming home with yet another basket or jar that we definitely don’t need, but somehow make it work in our condo. They also unexpectedly have a really big pet toy selection, so I usually grab a toy (or two…three) for Daisy.
Favorite part of working at BRG:
My team – 100%! We are definitely a tight knit crew. We have become super close over time and tend to hangout on nights and weekends as friends, not just coworkers. Julie has become one of my closest friends, and is always there for me whether I am calling about a client question at seven in the morning, or if it’s ten at night and I need advice on something having to do with Harper. I love that I work on a team of strong, independent women, and it definitely shows in our work ethic. I feel so blessed!
Favorite client -- kidding!
I plead the fifth on this one!
Cutest thing Harper is doing right now:
This is such a mom answer, but it’s smiling! She has these tiny two teeth along the bottom of her mouth that stick out every time she cracks a smile. I literally cannot get enough. I feel like a crazy person doing anything I can to get her to smile and I think she knows that, so she let’s me dance around and tickle her as much as I can until she finally gives in.
Thank you, Jane! Truthfully, Jane hit in on the head—our team is everything here at BRG. There is nothing better than watching our team grow and flourish as we work to be the best real estate brokers in Chicago!
What does ''good bones" mean anyway?
More and more, we find that buyers are looking for a perfect home requiring literally zero updates—countertops, light fixtures, flooring—all the exact types and colors of their dreams. Since this scenario is next to impossible (though I wish!), there are two ways we can go about recreating the dream: The first is buying a new development pre-construction. However, with new construction, there is a premium to pay as you are buying a home that has never been lived-in and has all new finishes.
The second option is for buyers with a knack for design and/or time to manage a project (whether big or small). We fondly call this option a “fixer upper.” Buying a fixer upper is usually a way to get more bang for your buck, because you are putting sweat equity into the home.
And, a “fixer upper” doesn’t always mean a gut-rehab, and doesn’t necessarily mean something old. A great option for many buyers could be a property built 10 years ago, so most the mechanicals are working well, and all you have to worry about is the finishes. These sometimes tend to be a win-win scenario as the remodel won’t be as extensive (more cosmetic than structural), won’t take as long, and the buyer still get the home exactly how they want it.
With buyers interested in some sort of fixer upper, we inevitably stumble onto the phrase that everyone kind of loves to hate: “good bones.” We throw it around all the time, but what does it actually mean? After putting a good deal of thought into it, I’ve written down the list that previously only existed in my head. It’s the checklist I always use when helping buyers vet fixer uppers, to make sure they make financial, logistical and practical sense. Here goes!
“Good bones,” definition by the Busby Group:
Location: If you are going to invest in a fixer upper, this is honestly the most important ingredient. If you are going to invest money into rehabbing a home, you want the best upside potential, so location is key. Things to consider are neighborhood schools and in the city, you absolutely should be within walking distance to the L. I would also recommend not being on a busy street. You will seriously hurt your resale potential if you over invest in a property that is not in a great area.
Age: Vintage is always going to be harder to update than something from the 90s on. This isn’t a deal breaker for all buyers, just know that if you buy something old, you are almost always going to be updating plumbing and mechanicals. Read: additional time, money, and logistical consternation. Also, more recent builds generally feature less walls, so if you are looking for open concept you have less to deal with here too.
Kitchen: The kitchen is a great place to invest, so I actually love finding properties with bad kitchens. You pay less upfront for the property, and then spend even $15-$20K to make it great.
Flooring: While hardwood floors are always my first choice, if you aren’t planning on living in the home forever, do what makes economic sense for you. Carpeting is easy and cost effective to replace, so gross carpeting is far from a deal breaker. If you end up installing new hardwoods, I usually recommend white oak as it is not a costly wood choice and it is versatile – it can be re-stained numerous times and also stained almost any color you want without any undesired undertone.
Windows: People always remember to check on the state of the roof, but sometimes forget the windows--don’t! Replacing windows can be a huge undertaking and expense, and should be factored into the sales price of a home. If you do end up buying a home that needs new windows, consider expanding the size when you replace. You will never regret the extra natural light, and big windows are great for resale too. Consider black frames on windows too, those can make a big impact.
Water: Last but not least, you and your inspector should be on your hands and knees checking for any potential water issues--stains, mold, moisture. Again, I’m not saying that if you find something it’s an automatic deal breaker, but you should know what you’re getting into and how your precious budget dollars will get allocated once you’re the proud owner.
So there you have it. It’s not a glamorous list, but hopefully a helpful one as you embark on some big decisions. Buying fixer upper is kind of like the opposite of making sausage: you want to know EXACTLY what is going in, so you know exactly what you will get!
Your next big real estate opportunity is calling
The recent investment and expansion of the Chicago Riverwalk has been fast and furious, and my proprietary “investment radar” is going off in a big way. I’m constantly asked what the next big real estate opportunity will be in Chicago, and I think the River is where it’s at. I dug a little deeper to see if my radar feeling could be backed up with data, and it was actually unbelievable to see all that is happening in and around the River. Take a look:
NEW ATTRACTIONS ALONG THE RIVER:
Dining: Thursdays and Fridays are now a scene along the river. Huge yachts will park so people can grab a drink, and enjoy happy hour aboard. City Winery also has beautiful views of the River. A full rundown of dining options is here--and it’s expansive!
Retail: Have you ever seen a more gorgeous Apple Store than the one on the River? Chicago retailers take note!
Programming: Art on theMART is possibly the coolest art installation in Chicago! Have you seen the giant digital art projected on the side of the Merchandise Mart? It’s truly amazing. Check out the website here.
There is also the potential for increased Water Taxi Service to accommodate the increase in usage of the River.
A new art installation called Weather Station is also in the works by Chicago-based artist Inigo Manglano Ovalle. The piece will feature seven 117-foot stainless steel poles with wind vanes and anemometers on top. It will be completed in fall 2020.
Events: The stone amphitheater adjacent to the Southbank park can host events and concerts. More here.
312 RiverRun: Expansion along the River is also happening further north in Roscoe Village, where construction on the 312 RiverRun just broke ground. The new project includes three parks connected by a path that stretches two miles along the River, from Belmont to Montrose. More info here.
NEW DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THE RIVER:
Some of these haven’t broken ground yet, and other opportunities are ready now.
Renelle on the River: New construction by Belgravia
Triangle Square: New construction in East Bucktown by Belgravia
Lincoln Yards: A huge new development by Sterling Bay with multiple types of housing options
The 78: Related’s new construction in the South Loop
Single family homes in West Lincoln Square: There are some very beautiful homes along the River further north in Lincoln Square. As the cache of the River increases, so will property values along the whole River.
Townhomes in west Lakeview: There are some great deals right around Diversey and Western Ave that would be great for first-time buyers or as investment properties.
Depending on what you are looking for, any of these opportunities would make a great investment. My prediction is that property values will continue to increase, especially over the next 7-10 years. When you see investment like all that is happening at the River right now, it is a good indicator that property values will follow--remember what happened with the 606? Same thing here. Contact us if you are interested in more information!
What we can learn from the 2019 market, halfway through the year
We’re halfway through 2019, and it’s already been a whirlwind. I sort of feel like I have whiplash given all that has changed in the marketplace, and just how fast we’ve seen the shakeup. In 2016 we couldn’t keep up with the market’s demand. Properties were flying off the shelf, into the hands of highly motivated buyers. Sellers could command upwards of 10% over market value, and bidding wars were a fact of life. Where are we today? The opposite situation in so many ways.
I put together the biggest trends we’ve seen thus far, and also an outline of what we’ve learned so that we can all take a minute to reflect and gear up for the rest of 2019. I guarantee it will be a wild ride!
Shifting to buyer’s market
Most notably, we are in a shifting market place and have landed squarely in a buyer’s market here in Chicago. As a result, market time has increased substantially. Usually when we see market time increase so much the market as a whole feels sluggish and stagnant. But, because interest rates have also remained so low, we’ve seen more of a plateau than a downward trend. Basically, the high market time has been equalized by the low interest rates and we are in a holding pattern.
The other symptom of the shifting marketplace is the lack of inventory we still see in Chicago, counterbalanced by buyer’s lack of motivation. We just don’t feel the shortage like we did, even this time last year, because of this new buyer mentality.
Buyers: don’t lose focus on the big picture
Buyers are pickier than ever in our new market. They are looking for a perfect fit, and most don’t want to do any work. From their perspective, properties should be pristine--painted, latest finishes, and up-to-date everything. Sometimes selling at market value is seen as over-paying to some buyers, especially given the mentality that anything less than up-to-date needs work.
My advice to buyers is two fold: first, the market doesn’t really allow for deals. An under-market listing will generate a bidding war because there are still plenty of buyers out there. And second, because there are so many buyers, stand at the ready. There are still plenty of well-priced homes selling quickly, and you don’t want to let “the one” slip through your fingers because you weren’t ready.
Sellers: initial pricing strategy is crucial
This one is pretty simple: if you want to sell your house, you have to price it to sell, right out of the gate. There’s no room for experimentation or luck in this market. If you are motivated to sell your home, I recommend you price it at or below market value. This is literally the only way to generate the necessary sense of urgency. I know what you’re thinking, “But Julie, I’m scared to leave money on the table.” My response to this one is also simple: the market doesn’t allow for money left on the table. If a home is priced below market, buyers are going to take notice.
That is the other aspect of our current buyers to remember: they are well-educated. They’ve been bouncing around this market for months and have a very good sense of value at this point. If there’s a deal, buyers will come running and bid each other out. We just had this happen with a listing last month.
My last advice, for both buyers and sellers, is negotiate, people! I wrote this article a few months ago about this trend we are seeing with buyers and sellers not negotiating, and it is such a mistake. Read the whole thing here.
The rest of 2019: values will continue to decrease
So where do I see the rest of 2019 going? Honestly, I see more of the same. I think the buyer’s market will remain, and we will continue to see values decrease. So far this year we’ve seen values go down 1-1.5%, and by the end of the year I think we may be at 3-4%.
The hardest part of a shifting marketing is that values are a moving target. You HAVE to stay on top of the market to get anything done as a buyer or a seller. If you are serious about either, I would be looking at comparables on a regular basis to stay in the know.
Chicago's best restaurants and summer activities according to the BG team
Let’s get out there and enjoy the summer, shall we?! While I love everything about my team, one of my favorite parts of the little group we’ve put together is that we each happen to live in a different part of the city. I love how we each have a different perspective and experience, and truly believe that it makes us better real estate brokers. Between the six of us, we have nearly every square inch of the city covered! Today we’ve each put together our favorite local restaurants, outdoor activity and parks in our respective neighborhoods. Hopefully you can use our recos during the long weekend!
Julie Busby, Founder
BUCKTOWN
Restaurants: Las Palmas, Club Lucky
I love Las Palmas because the food is amazing! It’s Mexican fusion, and my favorite meal there is fish tacos with a coconut mojito. If you go, try to sit in the “glass room,” which is a room of all windows--perfect for a cold winter day since it always feels like summer in there!
Club Lucky is a local favorite, and has been around forever. We go as a family and have a great time, and for date night because it’s so versatile. I also love to go with friends for a martini!
Outdoor activity: Ravina, Millenium Park Summer Music Series
I love listening to music outside in the summer! I love that both of these venues are BYO food and wine!
Park: Holstein Park
We love to go to the pool and splash park, and they even have a baby pool area too.
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Liza Balistreri, Selling Partner
LAKEVIEW
Restaurant: PR Italian Bistro
There are so many reasons why we love this place! First: the owners. Such a lovely couple. Stefano, the Venetian-born chef, and his wife, Juliana, are always there running the kitchen and the front of the house. The home-made pizza crust is To. Die. For. And they have a delizioso wine list. Every time we go, there’s a mix of date night couples, groups of friends, and families with kiddos. On a side note, we will never forget walking by the restaurant with our daughter one day after a coooold Cubs game, and Stefano opened the doors for us before the restaurant was even open and offered us tea while we waited for an Uber!
Park: Gallagher Way at Wrigley
This isn’t actually a Park District park, but this newly developed open space is a hub for community activity. On any given day you can swing by and have an adventure with their action-packed calendar: farmers markets, live music, family movie nights, kids music classes, and workout classes… just to name a few! Even when there’s no official planned event, the splash pad is always full of kids and families spread out on the turf with picnics and games. It’s the perfect spot to grab a coffee (or a drink, if the beer tents are open!) and just hang out for the day.
Outdoor Activity: Montrose Bird Sanctuary
This is such a quiet, secluded part of Chicago that so many people don’t even know about. Just past the Montrose boat harbor and right next to Montrose Beach, the sanctuary is full of little trails for bird watchers but also a great spot for kids to explore or for photographers to grab great shots (I’ve personally done a shoot there and it was such a great location). Plus it’s right next to the best beach bar in the city, The Dock, which makes you feel like you are on vacation every time you are there!
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Jane Lintelmann, Director of Operations
BUENA PARK
Restaurant: Tac Quick
I love the super traditional thai food at Tac Quick. We always get the Crispy On-Choy salad along with a few other things, and of course a cheap beer or two--all for under $40!
Outdoor activity: Ribfest, Greek Fest
One of the best parts of summertime in Chicago is all the streets festivals! Rib Fest and Greek Fest are our favorites because of the food, duh!
Park: Buena Circle Park
I have a dog and a baby, so this park is perfect for me because the dog park and playground are right next to each other--a win win.
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Pamela Moran, Selling Partner
GOLD COAST
Restaurant: Avec
I love literally every single menu item at Avec, you cannot go wrong!
Outdoor activity:
There is nothing better in the summer than exploring the city by foot with my dog. I will grab a cold drink, and walk through the city streets for hours.
Park: Montgomery Ward Park
The new River Walk is such an amazing asset for the city, and Ward Park runs along a good portion of the River Walk so you get great water and green views. There’s also a great dog park area.
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Kenya Saldierna, Client Concierge and Marketing Manager
WICKER PARK
Restaurant: Toast, Quartino
BYOB for the win at Toast! Bring a bottle of vodka for brunch bloody mary’s and get the chorizo benedict. And though it’s not in my neighborhood, I can’t not mention the bolognese or penne alla vodka at Quartino because it is truly out of this world!
Outdoor activity: 606 Trail
I love to walk the 606 all the way to another neighborhood in the summer--such a fun way to see something new.
Park: Churchill Park
I love to spend time at Churchill Park, especially when they run their free movies in the park programming.
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Maggie Yandel, Selling Partner
LINCOLN PARK
Restaurant: The Lakefront Restaurant in the Theater on the lake building
I love the atmosphere and the great food! It’s a nice place to go for brunch, dinner with friends or a glass of wine to wrap up the work day with a beautiful view of the skyline and lake Michigan. I am stuck between their biscuits and gravy and their cereal milk French toast every time I go for brunch, and usually end up getting the French toast ,which is covered in maple butter, Fruity Pebble custard, and pebble dust. I have a bit of a sweet tooth. My favorite drink on the menu is the Undertow (Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Fernet Branca, Honey Syrup, Lemon, Bitters, Ardbeg Rinse), but there are so many good ones to choose from!
Favorite outdoor activity/ park: Running through Lincoln Park
I like to run on Lake Shore Drive and I get there on the paths through Lincoln Park. I also usually walk through Lincoln Park to get to my soccer games on the Lincoln Park South fields off of Lasalle and LSD. The games at the beginning of the season are always freezing cold with the wind off the lake! I also love walking to North Ave. beach and hanging out with friends in my free time!
3 easy ways to add curb appeal and value
When landscaping is done right, it can take the most vanilla home and instantly transform it to the most beautiful on the block. It’s like a new coat of neutral paint--never underestimate the power of landscaping and paint! With the nice weather finally here, let’s talk about quick and easy ways to add curb appeal (read value!)--whether you’re selling or not! Who doesn’t want their home to look its best?!
Think year round
It is easy to get distracted by all of the gorgeous flowers (which are usually annuals), but remember to use a mix of annuals and perennials, plus a good amount of evergreens. All three ingredients are important for different reasons: annuals are usually the most colorful flowers that are in the stores right now. These are important to add your points of interest in these earlier spring months.
Perennials are important because these will continue to grow in size and fill in your garden through the years--and also buyers love to hear about a garden full of perennials! And of course because you don’t have to constantly replace them, perennials are a good cost savings as well. Evergreens are important because we live in Chicago! Ha, but really, evergreens are really the only plants that can withstand our cold winters and still look green year round. My favorite evergreens are boxwoods and arborvitaes. We use boxwoods along the front of our house because they still allow a good amount of light to filter through the basement windows they cover.
Don’t forget your parkway!
Does everyone know what a parkway is? It’s the space between the curb and the sidewalk that as a homeowner you don’t actually own, but have the pleasure of maintaining! This is a great space to clean up because so many parkways around the city left kind of forgotten--which I always think is so weird since this is the first thing people see when approaching your home. We recently reimagined our parkway space, and I love how it turned out. The main thing to remember here is dogs. To avoid dogs constantly turning our grass brown, we opted for planters along the perimeter of varying, asymmetrical sizes. The perfect spark of interest that is totally dog-friendly. We also added a bench so that Justin and I have a comfortable place to watch the girls ride bikes and play with chalk.
Texture is your friend
You know when you approach a house and it looks totally inviting, but you can’t put your finger on exactly how and why? The answer is usually texture. A mix of different materials and colors will add depth and a well-rounded look. In the front of our house we have wood, metal, concrete, rocks, and brass--it sounds like way too much, but you have to trust me that it works! A fence is a great opportunity to introduce a new material or two.
Because I know everyone will want to know, my two landscaping recommendations are Kemora and JW Landscapes.
Market trend: What happened to negotiating?
We are in uncharted territory with today’s market: post-recession but still recovering; interest rates are historically low; and our political climate is unstable on a day-to-date, even hour-to-hour basis. As a result, the market sometimes reacts with trends that I’ve never encountered before and it becomes a learning moment for everyone.
The trend I have seen emerge over the past several weeks is a near complete and utter rejection of negotiation on both sides--buyers and sellers. For me this behavior is unprecedented! I’m not entirely sure where it stems from, but I think it is a combination of the factors above in addition to the moderate amount of inventory we have currently--this at least explains buyer’s avoidance of the matter.
One of two situations has played out several times in the recent past. In the first scenario, I write a strong offer for buyers, and submit to sellers in hopes of making a deal. When we hear back from sellers, their offer is down just a few thousand dollars from list. My buyers, frustrated by the lack of real negotiation, walk away from the deal entirely.
In the second scenario, I receive an offer for one of my listings. I present the offer to my clients, and we respond with a strong counter-offer, again in the spirit of coming to a meeting of the minds. The buyers come back and reject our counter, retroactively claiming that their initial offer was their highest and best. What happened to old fashioned negotiating?!
My advice to buyers and sellers:
Buyers: Two pieces of advice here. First, properly label your offer. If it is indeed your highest and best, state that upfront so that sellers have solid footing on what they are reacting to, and also don’t waste time coming up with a counter offer. And second, unless sellers are actually calling for highest and best, this is not a good place to start. I always recommend leaving room for one round of negotiation at the very least. Most of the time when you submit an initial offer, you are doing so “blind.” You have no idea what is motivating the seller to sell--is it a fast close they are after, or no inspection? You have no idea. Give sellers a chance to tell you what they want, so you can decide whether or not you are willing to agree.
Sellers: Our market right now is filled with very price-sensitive buyers. They know their budget, and have blinders on to anything higher. So, when you are listing your home, price to the market--do NOT over price. The price-sensitive buyer would sooner not look at an overpriced home than negotiate. There is a general lack of urgency to the market right now, so the only way to stir up activity is to price conservatively. And, you have to stay on top of your price. If you live in a condo building and other units are listing under your’s, unfortunately this means you need to quickly adjust.
At the end of the day, I totally get it--negotiating can be exhausting. But, it is also the means to an end in the truest sense, and it really shouldn’t be avoided as a matter of course.
Buyers: Are you considering all the neighborhoods you should be?
One of my favorite aspects of Chicago is our neighborhood-centric downtown, and just how vastly different each neighborhood is from the next. Of course, it’s the same formula that makes up each area--houses, streets, trees, rinse and repeat, but somehow the end result can feel entirely different even with half a mile difference. I think a lot of it stems from the age of our city, and the cultural background that each neighborhood stems from. Chicagoans are big on maintaining tradition and I think this has paid off in spades with the diversity of housing options.
As a real estate broker, I relish in the diversity, and think of “neighborhood education” as a big part of my job. A very short story that occurs nearly every weekend: Mr. and Mrs. Buyer are dead set on Lincoln Park, but after showing them five to ten properties within their price range, we are stuck. They want more square footage, but can’t afford the hefty price tag. I then swoop in with a number of options--Bucktown, Lincoln Square, Ukrainian Village are my current favorites--and they are all shock and amazement by how much further the dollar goes. Busby Group to the rescue!
Are you in a similar situation? Education never hurt anyone, right? That’s why today I’m sharing my thoughts on these three neighborhood gems, and why they should be on your consideration list!
Bucktown: Ok yes, I may be totally biased because I live in Bucktown with my family, but it really is such a wonderful neighborhood. In terms of inventory, Bucktown has it all: condos, duplexes, and single family homes--and right now there is a decent selection in each category. Also, for those with more modern leaning tastes, most of the new construction here leans in this direction. The retail out this way is amazing, even rivaling Southport Corridor. And in lieu of the lake we have the 606 Trail, so there are still tons of outdoor activity options.
Lincoln Square: Lincoln Square is a small neighborhood north of the city that has it all--amazing local restaurants, the Brown Line and Metra, cute shops, good schools, a great library, and also close to the highway. The feel in Lincoln Square is very suburban-leaning, so a great compromise for those who want proximity to the city with more green space. For families, many of the city’s best child-oriented businesses also happen to be located in the area: Little Kickers soccer, Goldfish Swim School, and Old town School of Music. There are tons of single family homes in this area, but also a decent amount of condos.
Ukrainian Village: I’ve been watching as more and more single family homes go up in this area, and it’s very exciting. What is amazing about Ukrainian Village is the location. For those who need the highway, it is close, but not too close. There are also more and more parks and restaurants popping up along Chicago Ave. I love the diversity of housing options here too. Lots of exciting new construction, but also cute old cottages, and plenty of nice condos too.
If you are currently looking to buy, but things aren’t flowing like you hoped, sometimes I think the best thing you can do is take a step back and try a different way in. Maybe it is that your dream home is waiting for you, it is just in a different location than expected!
My typical day, and how this working mama keeps it all together!
As a working mom of two, my days are all about balance. The goal is to give 100% to my girls, and 100% to my clients. I know that math doesn’t add up, but goals are goals! My secret to success is making little moments count big. Over the past few years I’ve developed a few tricks that make all the difference, so hopefully they help you too. And if you have a tip for me, I am all ears! We are in this together, right?!
Starting the day
Our morning is driven by the start of school for my three-year-old, Siena. I actually get both girls ready earlier than necessary just so they have a few minutes to play together before school. I like them to have even 5-10 minutes to interact since they are going to be apart for most of the day. The girls have no concept of this morning time being just a few minutes, and they love it.
Tip: If I let her, Siena would spend an hour eating breakfast. She chews a few bites, then gets distracted with something, and the meal totally derails. To allow for that sister playtime, Siena eats breakfast in the car on the way to school. We pack a cereal bar and a piece of fruit, and then spend the 20 minute ride singing, looking for the Sears Tower and eating breakfast.
During the day
My days are crammed. Our client service model is very high touch, so my days are back-to-back phone calls, appointments and showings. I eat lunch in the car, and pack in as much as I can each day--and my team does the same.
When my schedule allows, I work from home. I will allot myself 5-10 minute breaks (I’ll sometimes even add them to my calendar!), to go check on baby Sloane and play for a few minutes. These breaks are like a breath of fresh air, and a good reminder of why I work so hard to provide for my family!
Tip: If I work late, I will pick Siena up from school early so that we still have time together. Siena’s favorite things are Starbucks scones or “squishy doughnuts,” so we might throw in a surprise trip to Starbucks, or even a manicure! It’s a fun 30 minutes together, and it brings her such great joy.
Dinner and bedtime
Ha, does anyone really have this time of day mastered with little kids? One thing I really love about our au pair is that she makes dinner for the girls on weekdays. It’s a little thing that makes a huge difference because it frees me up to actually spend time with the girls. We chat, play and decompress.
Tip: Now that baby Sloane can sit up on her own, the girls bathe together! This is a serious game changer because it saves time, and the girls love it so much. We put Sloane in this bath chair so that she’s safe, and we love it.
Sloane goes down after bath time, and Siena gets another hour of mommy/daddy time before bed. We love playing games as a family, and Siena’s current favorite is Curious George Matching.
It’s not a glamorous life, but I wouldn’t trade a thing. I’d love to hear how other working moms tackle their days--send me a note on Instagram and let’s help each other out!