Posts with tag 'home security'

If you have plans to go away for summer vacation this year, then it's essential to take some home security measures before you depart. You'll enjoy your days of fun and sun even more if you know your home back in Chicago is safe and secure. Our real estate agents are here to share some easy tips for summer home security.

• Stay away from social media.
  Excited to share all your vacation photos with the world? Instead of doing it in real time, wait until you get back to share all those Insta-worthy snapshots. Announcing your vacation and sharing its progress on social media essentially lets the whole world know that you're away from home, which could be seen as an invitation for the wrong kind of house guest.
  
  
• Hit 'pause' on deliveries.
  Junk mail and Amazon boxes piling up on your...

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Homes in Chicagoland don't always emerge from winter looking their best, but with spring flowers blooming and lawns rapidly greening back up, spring is quick to set things right. Spring is also the most popular season to list homes for sale, and if you're planning on selling your Chicago home this season, curb appeal is essential.

Fortunately, boosting your curb appeal doesn't have to involve costly and time-consuming renovations. Our real estate agents are here to offer some simple and cost-effective tips for improving curb appeal, whether you're selling your home or simply want it to look its best. 

• Install flower boxes
  Flower boxes beneath your front-facing windows are a classic touch that can really amp up your curb appeal, especially during the warmer months. A...

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As the chilly winds blow across Chicagoland, our real estate agents can see the writing on the wall: winter is coming. As much as we enjoy frosty mornings and the promise of snowy days ahead, we also want to ensure you stay cozy and warm in your Chicago home this season. 

It starts with making sure you're well-insulated. These simple DIY insulation tips are easy, fast and affordable. Best of all, they'll keep you warm this winter and help shave a few dollars off your utility bills. 

1. Put Weather Stripping Around Doors and Windows
   Drafty windows and doors are among the leading sources of heat loss in an average home. Luckily, gaps and cracks are easy to find around window and door frames and just as easy to fix. Finding them is often as simple as using your bare hands to detect incoming d...

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Updated February 2025

When the rainy days of spring arrive it's a safe bet that some homeowners will have to deal with damp conditions. 

Our brokers are here to offer some helpful advice for preventing and dealing with flooded basements. Here's what you need to do when the rain falls in Chicagoland neighborhoods. 

Before the Storm

Let's start with an ounce of prevention. Before the spring rains arrive, it's best to take some precautions to prevent basement flooding and to minimize the damage in case flooding does occur. 

• Inspect basement walls. Check your foundation and basement walls for cracks, indicating a possible leak. Small cracks are relatively easy to fix with hydraulic cement or epoxy, but larger cracks should...

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