Rob Gow - Real Estate and Shoreline Lifestyle: Selling a Home in Evanston

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

8 Stress Free Ways to Enjoy the Holidays in Evanston!

We appreciate you taking the time to stop by our blog! Chances are you’re here because you’re considering buying or selling a home in Evanston or along the Lake Michigan Shoreline.

As Evanston Real Estate agents and property advisors we know that with the holiday season can be a busy time, especially if you’re looking to enter the Evanston Real Estate market! Today we thought we’d take a few minutes to highlight some great ideas for soaking in the holidays.

Once you’ve found a trusted and experienced Evanston Real Estate agent, you can rest assured that they’re taking care of all the details. While you spend time some time interacting with them and possibly viewing homes currently available in Evanston, or are getting your home ready for a showing; you can relax knowing that your agent will guide you through each step of buying or selling a home.

As your agent takes care of your real estate needs, here eight ways to slow down and enjoy this festive season.

1. Candlelight Night- There’s something very calming about candlelight. Why not get together with friends or family, light a few candles and have your fireplace glowing and take time to share your favorite Christmas memories!

2. Slow Down- Feel that you have a million thoughts running through your head and a long list of things to do before Christmas Eve? Sit down and just take a minute to relax. Find a quiet place in your home, enjoy the coziness of a fire in the fireplace in your Evanston home and just block out all the noise. Being able to take a few minutes to do this will help you to enjoy the holiday more as you feel relaxed and more focused on the true meaning of the holidays.

3. Potluck- Instead of trying to do it all and take on hosting a large Christmas dinner in your home in Evanston; have a potluck! Whether you’re gathering with your Evanston neighbors or are expecting a large group of family and friends; sharing the cooking will take the pressure off of you! This also gives others the opportunity to share their favorite holiday recipes!

4. Movie Night- Looking for something to do for a fun holiday event? Host a movie night with holiday treats and your favorite holiday movies! This inexpensive gathering will be fun for children and adults alike!

5. Cocktail Party- Try hosting a cocktail party in place of a sit down dinner. If you want to keep things simple, and don’t have an entire evening free- this can be a way to gather with friends over a little Christmas cheer. Have an under $10 gift exchange for added fun!

6. Hot Chocolate Tasting- This classic winter drink is loved by many and with all the new flavors out there, a hot chocolate tasting may be just the thing for a fun holiday idea! The tasting can take place for the children while the adults enjoy their cocktail party, or can become part of your Christmas Eve traditions!

7. Winter Walk- Evanston is beautiful this time of year! Even though the leaves on the trees are gone, the Pine trees offer that touch of green and holiday spirit. The fresh air will be invigorating and discovering your favorite shops and restaurants around Evanston is always a great idea!

8. Give Back- Whether it’s your time, money, or donations… give back this season! There are many who aren’t able to experience the holidays to the fullest due to illness, loneliness or lack of resources to buy gifts for loved ones. Why not take the time to give back in some way? Gather your Evanston neighbors or family and come up with creative ways to give back to the community surrounding Evanston! You’ll enjoy seeing the smiles on others faces!

By trying out even a few of these ideas, you’ll find yourself soaking in the spirit of the season even more!

If you are considering buying or selling an Evanston home and haven’t yet found an Evanston Real Estate agent; please let us know! We would love to meet with you to discuss how we can help you meet your goals!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

How to Choose the Right Listing Agent to Sell Your Evanston Home!

Selling your Evanston home may seem overwhelming at first, but entrusting your home to the right listing agent can make all the difference in the entire experience. When it comes to selling a home in today’s market, you need someone by your side who has a vast understanding of the ins and outs of the Evanston Real Estate market.

Yet, simply finding a knowledgeable Evanston Real Estate agent doesn’t mean they are the right agent to sell your home. Whether you live in a renovated condo or a sprawling home with Lake Michigan views; you need an agent who has experience with selling your type of home and with whom you feel completely comfortable.

In fact, interviewing potential Evanston Real Estate agents is a great way to ensure you’re getting the expertise you deserve! It may sound unconventional, but asking pertinent questions can help you hone in on choosing the right listing agent for you! Here are a few important questions to help you get started with your Evanston Real Estate agent interview!

1. How Much? The question the price the listing agent will want to sell your home at can be very telling. If you’ve been told $500,00 by other agents and the agent you’re talking with says $600,000; you’ll want to be careful. Sometimes agents will make promises of a big sale on your home in order to “win” the listing. You’ll find that if your home is priced too high in the beginning, you’ll end up having to lower the price and your home will sit on the market longer than necessary. An agent who wants to price your Evanston home correctly from the beginning is one worth hiring!

2. What’s Your Specialty? Most Evanston Real Estate agents will have a niche market. If you’re attempting to sell your high end home, an agent who deals mostly with first time sellers won’t be your best choice. You’ll want to make sure your agent is a match for selling your Evanston home.

3. How Will You Market My Home? Marketing is one of the key aspects in getting your home sold! The more visibility your home receives, the better the opportunity for potential buyers to see it! Your Evanston Real Estate agent should be listing your home on multiple real estate websites, offer a visual tour of your home, and produce other online and offline marketing materials for your home.

4. What Do You Expect of Me? A good listing agent will be able to give you advice on what you can do to help your home sell. Unless your home is in perfect condition for current buyers; you’ll want to get feedback on paint color, appliances, curb appeal, etc...

5. How Many Homes Are You Currently Selling? An agent with a full marketing team may still be able to give you very personalized attention if they’re working on selling 15 homes, so you’ll want to know who they have working with them. If they’re on their own, chances are they’ll only be able to successfully handle a few homes at a time. On the other hand, if you’re they’re only selling client at the moment; you may want to consider their lack of connections and experience.

As Evanston Real Estate agents and advisors here at Shoreline Property Advisors, we want to make sure you have all the information you need to navigate through the home buying or selling process. We are always here to help answer questions and to guide you through any of your real estate goals!

Feel free to contact us today! We would be happy to be “interviewed” by you and to help you get your Evanston home sold!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Create an Ideal Outdoor Living Space for Your Evanston Home

This is a great time of year in Evanston as we anticipate the warm weather months ahead. Those living in Evanston find themselves seeking the outdoors whether venturing along biking or walking paths, swimming in Lake Michigan, frequenting downtown restaurants with outdoor seating in Evanston or meandering through a park. But what if you wanted to enjoy the long awaited summer in your own backyard?

Creating an outdoor living space will not only bring value to your Evanston home, but will be a great way to gather with family and friends while visually extending the square footage of your home. If you already have an outdoor living space; it may be a good idea to give the area a facelift with new furniture or a new feature!

Of course, not everyone has the resources to create a dream outdoor living space with an outdoor kitchen, fireplace or water feature, but using the budget you have an trying to incorporate the following three elements will ensure you create a space you’ll enjoy all season long!

1. Fire- According to a recent national survey, landscape designer Michael Glassman, noted that the #1 request for an outdoor space is a kitchen. While designing and installing an entire outdoor kitchen can be very costly, there are other ways to get this same feel. Make an outdoor fire-pit, purchase a potbelly stove, or just use your charcoal grill. On cooler evenings in Evanston, roast marshmallows or cozy up by candlelight and a hot cup of tea. No matter your budget or size of your outdoor space, you’ll be able to find a way to creatively incorporate fire!

2. Water- The sound of trickling water always seems to have a calming effect. If you’re not ready to invest in a backyard stream or pond; there are other options for creating the serene water effect. A simple tabletop fountain or a pond or stream beside your patio or deck will bring the essence of tranquility and quiet to your outdoor living area. Just be sure to utilize the water you want in your space and keep out the water you don’t! A rainy day can put a damper on your outdoor activities, but having an awning or gazebo with naturally growing vines can offer the protection you need from a passing shower.

3. Earth- Since this is an outdoor room, be sure to include as many earth tones and natural objects as possible in your design. You want to maintain that outdoor feel instead of simply mimicking an interior space. Use things like rocks, branches,wooden objects or natural furniture to add interest. Of course the changing seasons will be the backdrop of your outdoor room, so be sure to play off the colors and vibrancy of the Evanston season.

We hope this inspires you to take your outdoor living space to the next level! You’ll be sure to enjoy the investment and, if you’re ever in the market to sell your Evanston home; it will be a bonus for potential buyers!

If you have questions about living in Evanston, the current Evanston Real Estate market or are interested in buying or selling a home in Evanston, please feel free to contact us today! Our Shoreline Property Advisors team of trusted real estate advisors and Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents are here to help you navigate through the Evanston Real Estate market.

We look forward to talking with you!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff