Rob Gow - Real Estate and Shoreline Lifestyle

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

How to Throw an Eco-Friendly Holiday Party in Your Evanston Home!

Now that Thanksgiving is only a week away, we’re sure that many of you are getting your Evanston home ready to host friends and family for the celebration. It’s a great time of year to enjoy living in Evanston and remember all that we have for which to be thankful.

In our line of work as Evanston Real Estate agents and property advisors, we believe in providing well rounded service to our clients. That means, we’re not just giving advice on buying or selling a home, but also tips for how to enjoy the home in which you live.

Your community is also a big part of your lifestyle and, for those of you living in Evanston, we’re sure you already have a list of reasons you love to call this great city “home.” One of the highlights for us is that Evanston is committed to preserving its’ environment and takes a pro active approach to educating and providing opportunities for the community to get involved in its’ eco friendly endeavors!

As you open up your Evanston home to friends and family, why not think through some of the ways you can contribute to Evanston’s green environment by hosting an eco-friendly holiday party! Here are a few ideas to help you get started!

1. Buy Local- Shopping locally from farmers and other various growers for ingredients for your holiday party (or any time!) is a great way to cut down on our carbon footprint as well as help support sustainable growing in Evanston and surrounding areas.

2. Reusable Towels- When cleaning up after your holiday party; be sure to use reusable towels instead of paper towels. Microfiber towels will hold on to dust, dirt and food particles since the fibers act like a magnet. After cleanup, throw them in the wash and you’ll be able to reuse them over and over!

3. Switch to Convection- Now, we don’t expect that you’ll run out and buy a new oven before your holiday party, but this is something to consider for the very near future! Switch from a conventional oven to a convection oven. The difference? A convection oven continually circulates heated air, which means food cooks more quickly and reduces energy usage by 20%! Imagine being able to prepare food faster and save on energy- all from one appliance!

4. Cloth Napkins- These “things of the past” are making a comeback! The average American will use around 2,200 paper napkins per year- which are never recycled! Using cloth napkins will cut down drastically on waste and will make any event feel more special.

5. Chill Out- Be sure to put a pitcher of water in your fridge at least an hour before your party to ensure it’s completely chilled. Those that prefer water won’t have to stand at your sink and let the water run until it gets cold. The average kitchen faucet flows at a gallon per minute! Thinking ahead can help to chill water before will reduce the waste that a running faucet will produce!

6. Nix the Microwave- As much as possible, reheat or cook items in the oven or on the stove. Certain plastics can produce harmful fumes when put in the microwave and, while not overtly harmful, microwaves do leak radiation. It’s just better for your health and for the environment to use other options as often as you can!

7. Glass Containers- Storing leftovers or dried foods in glass containers with lids are much safer than the plastic alternative. When heated, certain plastics can break down and put chemicals into your food. Learn more about harmful and safe plastics.

8. No-Cook Dishes- Save energy and give your oven a rest by preparing dishes that don’t have to be cooked. Think: salads, fruit dishes, veggie dips, yogurts and much more! You’ll find yourself being more creative and spending less time in the kitchen!

9. Fill the Dishwasher- To avoid wasting water and energy, be sure to have a full load each time you use your dishwasher. Surprisingly, new energy efficient dishwasher can be more eco-friendly than washing dishes by hand! Be sure to air dry and skip the pre-rinse cycle as most newer models are effective enough to get your dishes clean without the added step!

With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to hosting an environmentally conscious holiday party that you and your guests will be sure to appreciate. In fact, you can put these into practice all year long to cultivate a “green” environment in your Evanston home!

If you don’t currently live in Evanston, but have been considering moving to this charming city just north of Chicago, please let us know! We would be happy to answer your questions regarding the Evanston Real Estate market and lifestyle.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

How To Streamline Buying a Home in Chicago This Holiday Season

Last week, we looked at selling your home and how pricing your home correctly from the beginning can be a key factor in getting your home sold. This week, we wanted to focus on those looking to buy a home in Chicago this holiday season.

For whatever reason, whether due to a job transfer or extenuating circumstances, you may find yourself in the market to buy a home in one of Chicago’s vibrant neighborhoods. And, while you may be excited about the opportunity to own a piece of the Windy City, you may not be too excited about the timing.

You understand that the home buying process can take some time, yet you’d ideally like to be settled into you new home in time for the Christmas season. Is there a way to speed up the process?

You’ll be glad to hear our answer! Yes, there are things you can do to help the process run more smoothly and efficiently, resulting in a quicker home buying experience. As property advisors and Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents working along the Lake Michigan Shoreline, our goal is to provide you with the information and guidance you need to navigate through your real estate needs. Here are eight things you can to do streamline the Chicago home buying process this holiday season!

1. Start Your Search Online- Instead of spending your time searching for open houses or for sale signs, get online to streamline your search. There are many great homes in Chicago that you can view online.

2. Get Pre-Approved- Finding the home of your dreams and then shopping for a loan is a risky move, as most home sellers won’t even look at an offer that’s not accompanied by a pre-approval letter. Getting pre-approved ensures you know your exact budget and can save you from a bidding war if many are vying for the same home.

3. Look for Motivated Sellers- Again, this shouldn’t be hard to find motivated sellers in the fall since they’re more than likely wanting to sell before the holidays. Don’t settle for sellers who aren’t willing to budge on a home at the top of your price range; there are too many other great Chicago homes out there that will have motivated sellers.

4. Prioritize Your Housing Needs- Finding a home fast means being flexible. The longer the list of requirements, the harder it will be to find a home. Keep your list short and to the point. Focus on the key elements you’re looking for and let the extras fall as they may.

5. Find a Great Agent- This may seem easy, but finding an agent that truly knows the Chicago Real Estate agent and can show your properties that are right in your price range and meet your style and needs can be challenging. Of course, I’d love to help you in your home search and know that my experience and proven success will make the home buying process an easy one. Bottom line? Do your homework and really research local Chicago Real Estate agents.

6. Negotiate Repairs- If an inspection reveals that the home you want to buy requires repairs, taking the responsibility off the seller can help you close the deal quicker. After obtaining estimates, ask the seller for a credit rather than asking them to complete the repairs themselves.

7. Have Cash Ready for Closing- You don’t want to be scrambling for funds at the last minute, so be prepared for this important date. A day or two before closing on your Chicago home, you’ll get the final settlement statement, detailing the terms of your loan and all the closing costs. Be sure to get a certified or cashier’s check made out for the total amount you owe at closing, including the down payment since you can’t use a personal check.

8. Have a Plan B- Because not every transaction goes smoothly, be sure you have a property or two as a backup; you don’t want to have to start from scratch!

We hope these tips give you the confidence needed to take the next step forward in buying a home in Chicago. You’ll find there are a number of stunning homes currently on the Chicago Real Estate market from which to choose!

If you are ready to begin your Chicago home search or would like to sit down and talk with us about your home buying needs; please contact us today! We would be happy to answer your questions and work with you to help you be settled in your new home to host family and friends this holiday season!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

4 Tips for Correctly Pricing Your New Buffalo Home

As we find our way into November and near the holiday season you may be wishing you could simply sit back and settle in to the warmth of your New Buffalo home. But, whether due to extenuating circumstances or not, you know that you need to sell your home.

Here at Shoreline Property Advisors, our team of New Buffalo Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents understand that selling your home during the holidays can be a stressful time. While there are buyers who will be looking for a home this time of year in New Buffalo; it’s important to hone in on one of the key components of selling your home: listing price.

Now, we know it can be hard when you’ve put a lot of time, energy and funds into making your home exactly how you want it; so selling can become really personal. Yet, it’s important to keep in mind the current New Buffalo Real Estate market and be willing to talk through realistic numbers with your New Buffalo Real Estate agent. Here are four factors that will play into pricing your home correctly.

1. Location- You can't get away from this one. If your New Buffalo home is lakefront or has stunning lake views, you will be able to get a higher price than you can for the same house that’s inland.

2. Condition- A New Buffalo home that is well maintained and shows better will always sell for more than one that has had deferred maintenance and needs work.

3. Desirable Amenities- If a house has amenities that are popular in New Buffalo homes such as outdoor living space, open floor plan or porches with sweeping views, it will sell more quickly.

4. Calculate the price per square foot- The average price per square foot for homes in New Buffalo shouldn't be the sole determinant of the asking price for your home, but it can be a useful starting point.

Having these four criteria in mind can give you a better understanding of how your New Buffalo Real Estate agent is guiding the price. Of course they want to ensure you get a fair price for your home that you feel comfortable with, but they’ll also make sure your home is competitively priced to sell in a timely manner on the current New Buffalo Real Estate market.

As always, we are here to help you in any way we can! Our team of experienced advisors and Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents will guide you through the entire process to help things run smoothly and efficiently.

Please feel free to contact us today to get started!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff