This dining room at 800 Clinton in Oak Park got me thinking…

Dining doesn’t alway need to be fine but in my book it should always be together.  Nutritionists, sociologists, teachers, chefs, and of course Grandma, extol the benefits of family meal time, yet fewer and fewer families eat together.

Houses in my community were built for sharing meals with separate formal dining rooms set off from the kitchen.  However, more and more home renovations combine the kitchen, dining room, and family rooms fracturing the ritual of a shared meal.

Over a Memorial Day meal with friends we asked why their daughter decided to get a JD after getting her BS in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics.  “With both of us being lawyers, she grew up talking about law around the dinner table.  Go figure!”  She’ll make a great patent attorney.  I’ll bet when she has children she’ll gather them around the family table nightly. ​

Let me be your real estate Sherpa and I'll do all the heavy lifting for you.  Contact me.

Week 3, post 2:

It's all about the details.  Especially when you're restoring an older home.  This owner  of 321 S. Euclid, Oak Park got it absolutely correct right down to the stenciled ceilings to the embossed wainscoating.  Oh yes, and even the second floor tin ceiling!

When selling or buying a home, details are hugely important.  Buyers love information about what they're seeing.  Sellers need information to list their property and qualify potential buyers. 

That's why you need a good Real Estate Sherpa!

Interested in learning more?  Contact me!

Dateline:  Oak Park, River Forest
Title:  Broker's Tour #3:
Date:  Tuesday, 22 May

I've been through about 60 OPRF homes in the past 3 weeks and here's one thing I've learned:

• Today's young buyers want a turn-key house and will trade-off location, room size, convenience, schools, and nearly anything to avoid having to invest some sweat equity.
• To the contrary, home flippers are buying cheap, doing the work, and selling dear.

33 years ago I bought a fixer-upper, did the work and doubled my money in 3 years, invested that into a better home did it again, then moved into my "forever-home" 10 years later. 

This River Forest home at 1251 Ashland is beyond doubt a fixer-upper and it's priced to sell.  It's quite live-able, although it does need a serious cleaning, airing-out, and modernizing!  In time, this will be a great family home for someone who is patient and can afford to stage the work.

Here's what this house has going for it:

• It's probably the worst house on a quiet street of wonderful homes. (Yep, that's good!)
• It's directly across from Willard Elementary School (Dist. 90).
• It's got good bones!  3 good sized bedrooms, 2 baths.
• Attached garage
• HUGE lot

What it doesn't have just yet is a lot of charm.  For someone who's willing to kiss this frog-of-a-house there's definitely a prince underneath!

Interested?  Contact me before it's gone...