SEPARATION ANXIETY: HOW IT CAN HURT THE SALE OF YOUR HOME

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 […]

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950 North Michigan Ave Unit 2604 - Dining Room

THE “OOH AAH FACTOR”

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 […]

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Bathroom Redux - updating to a modern bathroom, before and after project

BATHROOM REDUX: FROM DREADFUL TO DIVINE

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 […]

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HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

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. […]

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