15 Life-Changing Summer Storage Ideas for the Kitchen in 2019 – Chicago North Shore

The 2019 summer continues with award-winning top tier real estate service, high ranking, top producing, optimally performing results; all done with a personalized approach at making North Shore real estate dreams a reality. Look to Gloria Matlin and partner/son Zack Matlin for seasoned experience that spans 25+ years, and a broad grasp of Northern Shore real estate trends within communities such as Glencoe, Winnetka, Wilmette, Northbrook, and Highland Park and Chicago. Her home base office can be found at the coveted Coldwell Banker Residential real estate office of Glencoe, Illinois-640 Vernon Avenue, 60022.

If you’re lacking on kitchen storage space but aren’t feeling a huge reno, it’s time to trick out the cabinets, drawers, and island with a few space-saving ideas. Rethink the little nooks and niches and you’ll have counter space for days. No demo day required! See the demo HERE

 

 

Sarah Sitar Remodeling and Interior Design

If you’ve perused Pinterest lately in search of kitchen storage ideas, you know there are thousands of space-saving tricks floating around. Here are 15 of our favorite ideas (we’re filing them away for any future kitchen remodels). Read more

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Your Homes’ Honey-Do List for July 2019

This summer-2019, let top producing, high ranking, optimally performing real estate professionals, guide you through the sought after North Shore area of Chicago. Gloria Matlin and partner Zack Matlin have been assisting with North

Shore real estate dreams for over 25 years. They pride themselves on being consummate professionals with a stellar reputation for thorough, sincere, friendly, and tenacious service. Located in the award-winning Coldwell Banker residential real estate office of Glencoe Illinois – 640 Vernon Avenue, 60022. more information HERE and HERE

Contact Info:

• Address: 640 Vernon, Glencoe, IL 60022
• Website: gloriamatlin.com
• Phone: 847-951-4040
• Email: gloriamatlin@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/GloriaMatlin
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/Glo360Topagent?ref src=twscr%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp7%Ctwgr%5Eauthor
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/gloria-matlin-glencoe

We proudly serve Chicago, Chicago’s north suburban area including Glencoe, HighlandPark, Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Northbrook, Deerfield, Northfield, Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Skokie, Evanston, and Glenview.

 

Tri-Valley Real Estate Buzz

With summer around the corner, the days are getting longer…and so is the honey-do list. To help you out, we’ll be featuring a “Honey-Do List” at the beginning of each month to make sure you stay ahead of those around-the-house projects.

Here is your to-do list for the month of June:

1.  Prep your guest room for summer visitors.  

Summertime means vacation time, which sometimes means you run a bed & breakfast from your spare bedroom. When creating a serene retreat for out-of-town guests, it’s all about the little touches. Stock a bookshelf with great reads, leave a water pitcher and glasses on the nightstand, and add fresh flowers to brighten up the space. An extra blanket and a set of hotel-size toiletries make any visitor feel at home. Want to make sure your house guests don’t extend their stay? Start enlisting their help on the chores on your…

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Thinking of Selling in Summer-2019? Top 5 Musts Before Listing: North Shore Real Estate

North Shore real estate is well within the 2019 spring buying and selling season, but summer will be here before you know it! Are you ready?  North Shore realtors may often advise clients of five basic principles to get your home in top “list ready” condition. Buyers and sellers alike are out right now (on-line and in-person) perusing real estate options on places like Zillow and Trulia. Using these tips can promote a competitive standing in the market and make buyers appreciate the thoughtful preparation.

1. Go crazy on the curb appeal. Spring and summer mean getting out and enjoying the weather. It also means every detail of the outside of your home is far more noticeable.  Just put yourself in a potential buyers shoes and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly displayed? Is the address clearly visible from where you are? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrances? Is the walkway free from debris and impediments?

2. Clean and Organize. Eliminate any clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large pictures or photos, out-of-season clothes, non-used kitchen items, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or even the basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, flooring, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house sparkle.

3. Collect needed replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn out, out dated, or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace those things, even if you don’t plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be a helpful guide for both parties when negotiations begin.

4. Know where to find your warranties. Collect the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other appliances or equipment that will remain with the house after it’s sold.

 5. A pre-sale home inspection is Key. Be ahead of the game by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good outline of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you’ll be able to make needed repairs before an open house begins. The inspection may also be an additional guide for contact negotiation.

The top producing, high ranking  Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office located at 640 Vernon Ave in Glencoe, Illinois-60022; is home base for Gloria Matlin and partner/son Zack Matlin. Their office has been a top producing, sound performing real estate resource for the North Shore community for well over 4 decades.  Stop by today to discover how we can assist with home buying, home selling, home rentals, reports, or just to get info on Chicago’s North Shore area – things to do/ places to go or eat!

Top 4 Spring 2019 Prep Tips Before Listing: North Shore Real Estate

Chicago North Shore real estate is settling into the 2019 spring buying and selling season.  North Shore Realtors may often advise clients of four basic principles to get your home in top “list ready” condition. Buyers and sellers alike are out right now (on-line and in-person) perusing real estate options on places like Zillow and Trulia. Using these tips can promote a competitive standing in the market and make buyers appreciate the thoughtful preparation by doing the following:

1. Clean and Organize. Eliminate any clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large pictures or photos, out-of-season clothes, non-used kitchen items, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or even the basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, flooring, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house sparkle. Having a garage sale may even be an option if time permits.

2. Go crazy on the curb appeal. Spring and summer mean getting out and enjoying the weather. It also means every detail of the outside of your home is far more noticeable.  Just put yourself in a potential buyers shoes and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly displayed? Is the address clearly visible from where you are? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrances? Is the walkway free from debris and impediments?

3. Collect needed replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn out, out dated, or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace those things, even if you don’t plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be a helpful guide for both parties when negotiations begin.

4. Know where to find your warranties. Collect the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other appliances or equipment that will remain with the house after it’s sold.

 

Now for April 2019-The North Shore-Chicago Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office located at 640 Vernon Ave in Glencoe, Illinois-60022; is home  to Gloria Matlin and partner Zack Matlin. The office has been a high performing real estate resource for the North Shore area for well over 40 years.  Stop in today to discover how this elite team can assist with home buying, home selling, home rentals, market action reports, or just to get info on Chicago’s North Shore communities and things to do/places to go!

Spring 2019, Will be one of The Best Times to Buy….Know Why?

Glencoe – North Shore Market Conditions – PRESS THE IMAGE

With today’s 2019, Chicago North Shore market conditions NOW are one of the best times to find your perfect home at the price you want. If you wait, prices and interest rates will rise and you may find yourself on the outside looking in.

Choices are out there. In the past, the number of homes on the market was very low and the selection was poor. In today’s market, a buyer is able to find the right home without compromising any needs or wants.

Take your time in researching your new home. Shop around. Look at multiple homes and compare. In previous years, the seller’s market rushed buyers to make offers without thinking about their decision. Now; you can afford to give your decision the time and consideration it requires.

Make sure your home is in the best condition. Practice due diligence and schedule home inspections and appraisals on the property that you are interested in. No longer do you have to waive these contingencies with the fear that you may lose the home to another offer. Also, submit any repair requests that you may have to the seller before purchasing the home.

Reliable and trustworthy financing is available. The re-emergence of fixed-rate mortgages and the rapidly disappearing adjustable, sub-prime loans make this a great time to buy your new home!

Contact us today, we can effectively assist! Gloria and Zack Matlin…Matlin Residential Real Estate.

 

Real Estate Resolutions for Sellers and Buyers in 2019-Chicago North Shore Real Estate

When it comes to real estate, 2019 New Year’s resolutions may not immediately come to mind. But for prospective Chicago North Shore real estate sellers and/or buyers, this is the time as well as the year to generate ideas to put them on track for a change. Many times these ideas surface as a result of an oversight or misjudgment about the real estate market over the past 12 months.  The time to act is certainly NOW! Below are the top 4, 2019 resolutions to get you North Shore real estate market ready and prepared:

 

Sellers: Resolve to Think of Your Home as a Commodity

Start clearing out old stuff now. If there are things deep in your closets that you don’t think you’ll use between January and the time you move, consider a storage locker or making space in the garage. Does your real estate agent suggest that the basement needs a paint job? Get some painting bids now. Have you always hated how the bathroom vanity takes up so much space? Consider changing it now so buyers will perceive your bathroom as bigger. This will also help you spread out the costs of home repairs and changes over several months.

Buyers: Resolve to Get Your Financial House in Order

Planning a home purchase takes time and effort, so you should consider meeting with a mortgage professional early in the year. Know your credit score and understand what your financial situation looks like from a lender’s perspective. If you have credit issues, identify what they are and the necessary steps to correct them. An experienced North Shore real estate agent can recommend local mortgage professional. Local is always important, because many real estate deals are made on relationships, and being able to meet face-to-face with your mortgage professional can be a big plus.

Sellers: Resolve to Understand Your Timing and Exit Strategy

One of the biggest stresses on a seller is trying to plan a purchase and a sale at the same time. Can you afford to close on the new home before selling? If so, for how long? Do you need to sell the property first? If so, will the potential sale price support a home purchase in the neighborhood you want to be in? If not, what other areas should you be looking in? Selling and buying at the same time brings up all kinds of questions. A seasoned North Shore Realtor should be able to guide you through these and other related matters with ease.

Are you relocating to the North Shore Area of Chicago? Uprooting yourself from your home is not easy. What if you have to go into short-term housing? How will you get that set up and how long would you need to commit for? If you can afford to purchase and then sell, do they need to happen quickly? Are there things you can be doing in your current home so that once your new home closes, you’ll be ready to list? It’s a lot to think about and plan for, and it helps to have a strategy in place well before you have to take action and use your North Shore real estate professional as a guide.

Buyers: Resolve to Start Feeling Out the North Shore Market Early

You may think you only need to go to open houses once you’re ready to buy. But in reality, a buyer needs a couple of months learning the market, understanding home values, the prices per neighborhood and the areas in general. Going to open houses in the neighborhoods where you want to buy will allow you to start feeling out the market.

Once you engage a North Shore agent, you may make several offers before you get into your dream home. Having your North Shore agent along for the ride will allow you to compare and contrast homes you’ve visited to the home you eventually buy. The homes you see and your experience feeling out the market will serve as the building blocks toward becoming an informed buyer and making your best offer.

Gloria Matlin….Committed to optimal, top performing, client focused real estate service; Gloria Matlin will strive to maintain her consummate dedication to North Shore real estate in 2019. Nationally and locally recognized as a high ranking, top performing luxury real estate resource, she and partner Zack Matlin are trusted professionals with over 30+ years of North Shore Real Estate insight and experience. Look to them for help with relocation, downsizing, up-sizing, buying, selling, investing, renting or to obtain additional detail on real estate data, reports, outcomes and/or history within the Chicago North Shore areas of Glencoe, Winnetka, Wilmette, Glenview, Deerfield, Northbrook, Lincolnshire, Lake Forest, and Highland Park. More information HERE and HERE on this dynamic real estate team.

2019 Market Outlook-Chicago North Shore Real Estate

2019 First-time buyers who stayed out of the market – either for demographic reasons or because they just couldn’t find the right Chicago North Shore home – will find less competition as more buyers are priced out, but feel an increased sense of urgency to close before it gets even more expensive. Their largest struggle next year will be reconciling wants, needs, and budget versus the heavy competition of 2018. Although the number of homes for sale is increasing, which is an improvement for buyers, the majority of new inventory is focused in the mid-to-higher-end price tier, not entry-level. Rising mortgage rates and prices will keep a lot of new inventory out of their budget and make it especially tough for first time home buyers.

2019 predictions are based on housing data that shows rents continuing to skyrocket while the for-sale market levels off. That economic reality increased inventory, and millennials getting married and having children after delaying those choices, are forecasted to give North Shore buyers and sellers more negotiating power. In fact, a recent study predicts the millennial generation will overtake Generation X as the biggest group of Chicago-North Shore home buyers in 2019.

In light of these trends, Realtor.com took a look at income data, home-value growth and the number of entry-level homes-for-sale to rank the best markets for first-time home buyers in 2019. More information HERE.

Start 2019 off with trusted, top producing North Shore Chicago real estate guidance from Gloria and/or Zack Matlin. With over 25 years of steadfast expertise, Gloria Matlin has been helping her clients realize their real estate dreams with enthusiastic, sincere, confident, graceful, tenacious, attentive and personalized top-tier service.

 

Top 8 Reasons to Buy or Sell in Winter 2018-North Shore Real Estate Trends

Chances are, 2018 buyers looking for a Chicago North Shore home during the late fall into winter season are serious about buying and not simply shopping around. Showing off some of the home’s finer features isn’t easily covered in a potential blanket of snow, but there are a number of things sellers can do to attract buyers:

 1. Less competition. In the winter season, there are fewer homes on the market, so your home will have less competition. Encourage buyers by offering attractive pricing and incentives.

2. Interior focus. Providing photographs from the summer months is important, but now is the time to highlight the inside of your home. North Shore realtors know, furnished homes and those that are organized have more appeal, so make sure the beds are made, the furniture is well placed, and the countertops and closets are clear of any clutter.

3. Exterior demands. Snow can alter the look of the overall property. Shovel and de-ice all paths and doorways. The driveway should be plowed, along with the sidewalks. Make sure that all outside lights and doorbells work. Consider more lights that could be installed to effectively highlight the best areas of the house.

4. Winter warmth. The colder months can create times at home enjoying family. You can stage your home to showcase winter warmth with such sights and smells as crackling fires, scented candles and eye-catching, but tasteful wreaths to appeal to buyers and make them feel like your home could be their own. The key–don’t overdo it though!

 FOR BUYERS

1. Lenders also usually have fewer loans to process and less paperwork to deal with (though this can change quickly if rates fluctuate). With lenders less hassled, you can expect a smoother process to get approved for a mortgage.

2. Winter may have fewer buyers in the market. Fewer buyers could mean less North Shore real estate property competition.

3. The winter season has fewer units on the market, and sellers tend to need to move from their property. You can use that to your advantage to get a favorable deal.

4. The negatives that turn off both buyers and sellers in winter can create a savvy real estate hunter’s dream. For the clued-in home buyer, such negatives can lead to a real gem of a deal. The motto that could put some serious money in your pocket between now and spring, remember this: Imagine the future, and don’t let winter pull your strings! More INFO

For a view of homes available on the North Shore, or to get market status/housing reports, analysis, trends, or open house lists, feel free to stop by our North Shore Office at 640 Vernon Ave, Glencoe, Illinois.  Gloria Matlin works out of one of the Chicago North Shore’s top-ranked realtor offices. Son/partner Zack Matlin, works both in suburban and Chicago area Coldwell Banker locations. 847-835-0236 or direct at 847-835-6058

www.gloriamatlin.com

Top 3 Perks to Buying a Home During Autumn 2018-North Shore Real Estate

New Luxury Construction – 854 Bluff Avenue in Glencoe

Yes, it’s common to hear people talk about Chicago North Shore real estate trends for the fall season. The cyclical nature of real estate is usually associated with fluctuating interest rates, changing incentive packages, and other economic factors. But were you aware that the real estate market is also influenced by the time of year, also known as the seasons?

A close second to spring, fall is the busiest North Shore real estate selling and buying time of the year. Although you can buy and sell houses at any time, the North Suburban Shores’ fall real estate market offers certain benefits to home buyers, including year-end tax breaks, pleasant weather conditions for moving, often a wider selection of houses, to name a few benefits.

To give you an idea of the home-buying advantages you can enjoy during the beautiful Chicago North Shore months, here is a more detailed look into the perks of buying a home during this time-frame:

1. Getting ahead of nature

Buying a house before the deep freeze of winter sets in is very appealing to most home buyers. Low temperatures and poor weather conditions may make moving a little more difficult. Furthermore, by wintertime, most kids have settled into school, established friendships, and become involved in extra-curricular activities. By moving in early autumn, not only do you avoid interrupting your children’s schooling (or higher educational pursuits in the case of teen and adult family members), but you gain the added benefit of eluding the summer temps.

2. Important first time buyer tip

Given that fall is the second busiest season of the year for buying and selling houses, you may be tempted to put a bid on a home that is out of your price range for fear that another buyer will better your offer or snatch it before you. Carefully assess your financial situation ahead of time and before your feet hit the pavement, know what your ceiling is and stick to it like glue. Remember: Just as there are many fish in the sea, there are many houses in the real estate market now and certainly in the future.

 3. Year-end tax breaks to keep in mind

Come September and October, people are already starting to think about what year-end tax breaks they may be eligible for. Fortunately for homebuyers, owning a home can yield great dividends in tax returns. For example, both mortgage interest and property taxes are deductible from gross income. Furthermore, if you have prepaid some interest before the due date of your first payment and you close your loan before the year’s end, that amount will also be deducted. Don’t miss out on finding your dream house; it’s a good idea to examine the classified ads more often since the listings are updated more frequently. More info HERE…

With top ranking results and personalized service no matter the season, Gloria Matlin along with partner Zack Matlin are ahead of market trends and understand the benefits of selling, buying or both during this season. Over 2 decades of high sales/production results and exceptional client-centered performance, Gloria Matlin is a consummate expert within the Chicago North Shore real estate profession.  She calls Glencoe’s Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate office home-640 Vernon Avenue, 60022….The center of the downtown district.

Top 5 Winter Renovations That Pay Off Big-North Shore Real Estate Trends

There is always something that can be improved upon. Now in 2018…When you spend a little time in your Chicago North Shore home on vacation or on the weekends, you are bound to find a improvement project or two that can keep you busy. And that’s usually what happens during the winter especially right at the start of a new year, people want their houses to look their best, and any indoor project that doesn’t require windows to be open or walls to be taken down are good ones to think about. More importantly it’s vital to think of the projects that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but will also get a big bang for your North Shore real estate investment buck in the long-term.

While doors and floors fit that category, be warned that any door that’s hung in the winter might be a bit of a tight fit in the summer, when humidity can expand the wood. So, be cautious of starting wood projects.

There are plenty of other home improvement projects that can keep you busy during the winter months. Here are the top 5 suggestions for high REO (return on investment) this season:

1. Install a programmable thermostat: It’s always a bit of a shock when you get that first utility bill in the colder months. If you haven’t already taken steps to save energy, an easy project, is installing a thermostat that allows you to automatically set the temperature for different times of the day. By having the heat programmed to go on when you get up in the morning, then off when you leave for the day, then back on when you arrive home, you can keep the temperature of your home constant. This type of project is an easy do-it-yourself project. It’s just a couple of low-voltage wires, so it’s really something anyone can handle, and some of them cost as low as $25. It can pay for itself in a month or two.

2. Insulate your water heater: Another way to save energy is to lower the temperature of your water heater, and insulate it. The ideal temperature is 120 degrees. It doesn’t cost you anything to turn it down, and by wrapping it in insulation, you can ensure that the water stays hot when it is not being used. You can buy insulation kits at your local North Shore-Glencoe hardware store.

3. Paint a room: This is the greatest winter project, it’s a great cure for the midwinter blues. And a $50 investment in paint can dramatically transform a room. When you are spending more time inside, you have more time to look at what needs to be refreshed. This is a quick, do-it-yourself project and a small investment can make a big difference.

4. Refinish the basement: Need a contractor for a project? Find one in the winter, contractors are slower in the winter, and one project that’s especially popular is refinishing the basement — you can often find someone to take this on. Of course, the ever-popular bathroom and kitchen remodels, are seasonless, and sometimes endless, can also be started in winter (as long as a wall doesn’t need to be knocked out).

5. Get organized: So many people resolve to get organized at the New Year and winter is a great time to actually take action on that resolution. There are so many great modular closet-organizing systems, a project like this is a great antidote to North Shore cabin fever. You can clear up the clutter in a room or a closet, and make it look like you have twice the space you did to begin with; a sure-fire way to attract potential buyers, a total sellers edge…MORE IDEAS

With sustained top producing, high ranking, client focused results, Gloria Matlin looks forward to making 2018 even better! Over 25 years of devoted service, and now partnering with son Zack Matlin, this team is sure to make Chicago North Shore real estate dreams come true once again.