Posts with tag 'home care'

The holiday season is right around the corner in Chicagoland. Is your house ready? The approaching holidays are one reason fall is one of the most popular times of year for home improvement projects. Let our real estate agents be your guides to the best pre-holiday DIY projects. 

DIY projects before the holidays

These home improvements are all relatively easy, inexpensive, and DIY-ready. Best of all, they'll help you get ready to host guests and show off your festive side in time for the holidays!

Choose areas to repaint

Few things can completely transform a space like a fresh coat of paint. It's an affordable and easy way to add personality to your home while making it feel fresh and updated. And you don't have to repaint the whole house — just pick a key area or two that wi...

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These final days of summer offer a chance to get organized. Rather than succumb to the chaos of another school year, our real estate agents are here to share their best tips for organizing your home ahead of back-to-school season. 

• Start with decluttering.
  Chances are, your house has accumulated quite a bit of clutter throughout the summer months. Step one before the kids go back to school is to get the house in order, which means eliminating clutter wherever possible. Be sure to take special care to declutter the closets; eliminate old outfits that are worn-out or no longer fit to make room for new back-to-school clothes. Donate what you don't want, or set up an end-of-summer yard sale. 
  
  
• Organize your entryway.
  One of the most important places to create space and keep o...

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In addition to popular rooftop bars, restaurants, and event spaces, many homes in the metro area come with a rooftop space for outdoor relaxation — it's one of the best ways to maximize your greenspace in an urban setting. If your rooftop space could use a refresh, or has felt like more of an afterthought, our real estate agents are here to help with inspiration that's both stylish and budget-friendly.

• Install a hanging chair, swing, or hammock. 
  Capture that breezy, relaxing vibe by installing a modern hanging chair or swing. Look for models with self-supporting stands if your rooftop doesn't allow for ceiling mounts. It's an easy way to add a playful, lounge-ready touch to your rooftop setup.
  
  
• Add planters with tall greenery.
  Even if you don't have soil to dig into, you can still enjoy greenery above the city streets. After all, certain plants will enjoy the direct sunlight, can thrive in this rooftop envir...

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Nothing says "summer" quite like hosting a backyard barbecue. The smell of food cooking over hot coals captures the mood of summer in Chicago like nothing else, and if you're anything like our real estate agents, you're more than ready to get the grill going. 

That being said, you may also be ready to make a few improvements to your outdoor living space before inviting all your friends and family over. Here's how to level up your grill game and get your backyard ready for BBQ season in Chicagoland. 

• Upgrade your grill. 
  If you've been using the same small, cramped barbecue grill for multiple seasons, it may be time for an upgrade. Especially if you're planning on hosting a get-together with lots of hungry guests. Charcoal grills are ideal for smoking meats and slow-cooking ribs and brisket, but gas gril...

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• Replace heavy drapes with breezy curtains
  Gone are the dark winter months. Embrace the longer daylight hours by stashing heavy drapes for the season. In their place hang up some light, flowy curtains that let more sunlight in. It won't be long before the days are warm enough to open the windows. 
  
  
• Rearrange your bookshelves
  If your bookshelves have looked more or less the same for several years, now is a great time to liven them up! Instead of alphabetical order — or, more realistically, no order at all — try arranging your books by color, assigning a specific palette to each shelf. Thinning out your books and displaying just a select few...

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