Truly a Home of Reclaimed Chicago Art 1660 N Hudson, Resident #1F, Chicago, IL 60614 By: Annie Alexander, (Updated) August 24, 2019 CHICAGO HISTORY – RECLAIMED! Create unforgettable gatherings at this truly beautiful one-of-a-kind home! History abounds in this big, (nearly 2600 ASF) bold, iconic two bedroom–two bath home in the former St. Michael’s Central […]
By Annie Alexander Chicago is in a construction roar with numerous completed projects and yet oodles of new cranes operating throughout the city. The downtown skyline continues to be ever-changing with high-rises. Residential condominiums, office towers, hotels, and educational buildings are among the 40-plus new developments currently under construction. The downtown plans to deliver 4,000-plus […]
By Annie Alexander One of the hardest things to do is to get sellers out of the mindset of using their aesthetic preferences and into the mindset of the buyers’ first impression when a buyer sees the home in person or on the Internet. What is the difference between staging a home and virtual staging? […]
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 […]
Staged properties sell 72% faster and at a higher price accordingly to The National Association of Realtors. With years of experience in decorating and staging, Annie Alexander is able to transform spaces and sell homes efficiently and for an average of 95% of the listing price. See the power of staging a home. Click the […]
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 If you’re thinking of selling your home or condo this Spring, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is what price to place on your property. As you do, keep in mind that the largest number of potential buyers see your home within days of it […]
By Barbara Laken and Annie Alexander Lately, many Chicago homeowners have been inundated with a variety of solicitations like this one: “Inventory of existing homes for sale has dropped to the lowest level since 2000. That means greater demand! Economists are expecting that more people will be ready to buy in 2017, due to steady […]
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 When deciding to renovate or rehab your kitchen, it bears noting which color choices are likely to have the most impact on your home’s overall value. According to Ideal Home, “Choosing a white kitchen could be the best decision you’ll ever make… White cabinetry is always a best-seller.” Most […]
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 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 […]
By Barbara Laken and Annie Alexander It’s hard to miss the citywide boom in new construction condos. From shimmering glass high rises in the Gold Coast and River North to Jeanne Gang’s Vista Tower, which grossed over 200 million dollars in sales before breaking ground, new construction condos are dominating the market in many Chicago […]