One of the necessary but essential jobs brokers dread is telling sellers that some things they love most about their home are the very things buyers will like the least. This uneasy, but unavoidable conversation can be hurtful to some sellers, who confuse a broker’s well-meaning marketing advice with criticism – ultimately hurting a quick […]
By Barbara Laken and Annie Alexander Of all the local neighborhood amenities that can influence a buyer’s decision to purchase a home, proximity to good quality schools is one of the most influential. According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 25% of home buyers listed school quality as […]
By Barbara Laken and Annie Alexander Anyone surfing Zillow, Home Snap or Houzz who has ever signed a lease, or negotiated an offer to purchase, knows that buying or selling real estate is not strictly a business decision. In fact, when it comes to just about any kind of transaction involving personal living space, we’re […]
By Barbara Laken and Annie Alexander Many buyers today prefer properties referred to as “turn-key;” new or fully re-modeled homes in perfect move-in condition. Inarguably, a “turn-key” residence offers the most stress free way to move into a new home. But convenience comes at a price – which in the case of the turn-key home, […]
By Barbara Laken and Annie Alexander The Problem: How to transform a small vintage bathroom into a sophisticated en-suite spa for guests in need of a bit of serenity and a good shower. When Linda Trilla DiDonato, a well-known Chicago interior designer and her husband, Peter DiDonato, purchased an elegant but well-worn vintage lakefront apartment […]
By Barbara Laken and Annie Alexander The problem: How to transform a 10 x 10 foot maids room into useful living space for an owner who frequently entertains out-of-town guests, but also needs a home office. The solution to this problem required ingenuity, vision and the impressive memory of Jan B, the apartment’s owner, who […]
By Barbara Laken and Annie Alexander According to the United States Bureau of Transportation, visiting friends and family is the single biggest reason Americans travel during the holiday period, with the average Thanksgiving trip logging in at 214 miles – and Christmas/New Year’s holiday travelers exceeding that number, with a whopping 275 miles per trip. […]
By Barbara Laken and Annie Alexander As we collectively shiver through another Chicago winter, there are some among us already thinking Spring. If, like many area residents, you find yourself contemplating a permanent change of scenery once the view outside turns green, now is the time to consider which pre-sale x-ups will give you the […]