House Hunting Tips for Buyers in Chicago’s Western Suburbs

House hunting is just like any other shopping expedition. If you identify exactly what you want and do some research, you’ll zoom in on the home you want at the best price. Here are a few tips for buyers.
1. Know thyself: Understand the type of home that suits your personality. Do you prefer a new or existing home? A ranch or a two story? If you want a fixer upper, do you have the $$ and the time? Start a Priority list of “Need”, “Want” and “Dreams”. Keep updating and deleting the list.

2. Get your finances in order: Generally, lenders say you can afford a home priced two to three times your gross income. Create a budget so you know how much you’re comfortable spending each month on housing. Don’t wait until you’ve found a home and made an offer to investigate financing.

Call Pat Cannone at Coldwell Banker Home Loans @630.962.6680 and tell him Caryn sent you. He will be able to tell you what you can afford and will offer you a FREE pre approval letter.

3. Research before you look: Begin your search by going to 123HomeSweetHome.com and use my FREE home search. You don’t have to even sign in. See what your price range has in the way of amenities. Can you actually get into the neighborhood you have always wanted? While you are there, check out my link for schools in the area.

4. Think long term: In today’s Real Estate environment, you need to be thinking in the long term. You should plan to be in your new home for at least six to seven years. Location is as important as it ever was, perhaps even more so today than ever before. Find an area you love and you can never go wrong. If you are not sure about what area would suit you, give me a call and I can help you narrow your search.

5.  Be realistic: It’s OK to be picky about the home and neighborhood you want, but don’t be close-minded, unrealistic, or blinded by minor imperfections. If you insist on living in a cul-de-sac, you may miss out on great homes on streets that are just as quiet and secluded. I once had a client who refused to see anything that had a blue house on the same block. True Story!

6. Find an agent you trust and Listen to their advice: It’s natural to seek reassurance when making a big financial decision. But you know that saying about too many cooks in the kitchen. If you need a second opinion, select one or two people. I recently had a client that missed out on his dream home because he didn’t believe there was a second offer and wanted to think about it. It was SOLD that night.

If you are just beginning your first home search or are in the market for your end house, I would love to work with you. Take a moment and see what my clients are saying about me on my website: 123HomeSweetHome.com.

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To talk to a Realtor® who knows Lombard and the surrounding areas like the back of her hand, Call Caryn Kuhlman 630-730-8027

What to do with all that “stuff”

Finally we have some good weather. This weekend we will go into our garage and begin to pull out the stuff we need to open up our pool. This is always a dreaded weekend, as I am sure I will find many extra things that really don’t belong in the garage. Sweatshirts my kids dropped as they left in the car, roller skates and sleds that we don’t use anymore, pictures, area rugs and lamps that I use for staging my listings.  What to do with all this extra stuff???

Answer: Garage Sale!

Just like Antique Road show, not all treasures are worth something. So, if you are planning a garage sale, start with three boxes. Mark them as 1. Good Stuff we don’t need any more. 2. Garbage and 3. Free Stuff (things nobody in their right mind would buy, but maybe take.) If it looks like you have enough for a garage sale, here are some tips.

The keys to a good garage sale are:

Advertising: Local newspapers are the best. Most have a special section reserved for garage sales. Letting people know in advance that you are having a garage sale will get those early birds out and at your sale first thing. Make sure you advertise by listing a few key, anchor items that will draw attention to potential garage sellers. Examples would be a dresser or tools. Unless you have baby clothes, don’t waste your time with adult sizes, take those to a co-signment shop.   Note: before you put up signage, check with your town or village as to their rules for garage sales. Many places need permits.

Pricing: If people wanted to pay retail or close to retail, they wouldn’t stop at a garage sale! The idea is to get rid of the stuff you don’t want, so you can go out and buy more! lol. Have early bird specials like take $1.00 off if you buy five items. Make your pricing realistic, if not cheap.

Ask a neighbor: If you don’t have enough stuff of your own, why not ask a neighbor or two to join you. This way you will attract more buyers and have someone to talk with while you work.

Call 1-800-775-Vets: You can have the American Veterans of America pick up everything you have left over on the following day. It’s even tax deductable.

Be Friendly: I know that sounds obvious but each person who comes to your garage sale should be considered a guest. I always have a huge jug of ice cold lemonade and offer it free to all who are shopping.

Don’t forget to give me a call at 630.730.8027 and I will be sure to stop by. : )

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To talk to a Realtor® who knows Lombard and the surrounding areas like the back of her hand, Call Caryn Kuhlman 630-730-8027

Caryn’s Mothers Day Brunch Menu and Recipes

I would like to wish you all a very happy Mother’s Day. For many years, I would host a Mother’s Day Brunch and my siblings and family would join together to honor Mom. After everyone left, I would put on old jeans, get out my shovel and begin putting my annual flowers in and around my house. In the evening I would have a fabulous meal made by my husband and open the handmade gifts my children had made in school or scouts. It was always a beautiful day. I hope yours is too!

For those of you thinking of going the brunch route, I thought I would give you my menu:

The Menu

Quiche Lorraine
Fresh Cut up Fruit Kabobs
Muffins and Coffee Cake
Sausage and Bacon
Orange juice
Bloody Mary’s
Coffee

Quiche Lorraine

12 slices cooked bacon
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 ½ cup Half & Half
4 eggs
¾ tsp salt
¼ tsp sugar
1/8 tsp cayenne red pepper
1 deep dish pie crust

Heat oven to 425
Sauté onion until translucent. In medium bowl, mix eggs, half & half, salt, sugar and pepper. Add cooked bacon, onion and cheese. Place ingredients into pie crust and bake15minutes. Reduce heat to 300 for 30 – 40 minutes until brown. Let cool for ten minutes before serving.

It’s a tasty, easy brunch that can be made ahead of time. Note: If you don’t expect guests, please feel free to copy this and have the family bring it to you in bed. This is exactly what I think I will do this year!  Happy Mother’s Day.

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To talk to a Realtor® who knows Lombard and the surrounding areas like the back of her hand, Call Caryn Kuhlman 630-730-8027

Lombard Area Gardening Challenge

Join the Best Looking Garden Challenge- Click on the picture to view a helpful video on how to start your vegetable garden

This year, I am planting a vegetable garden. I’m not a novice as I plant Tomatoes every year, but this year I am hoping to attempt more. I am blessed with a very large lot with amazing soil (at least for flowers) so I am excited to give a vegetable garden a try.

I would be interested in what you have planted in the past. I am planning on growing Tomatoes, lettuce, bell peppers, herbs, cucumbers and zucchinis as I use those weekly. Tomatoes need at least six to eight hours of sun a day to produce well — and full sun is best, especially in cooler, more northern climates like Lombard. Provide well-drained soil with a pH around 6.0 to 6.8. In our area,  plant in spring after frost danger is past.

Since I have always been competitive, how about a little contest? Send me a picture of the start of your vegetable garden and another at the peak of growing season and the one with the best looking garden will win a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Home Depot.  You can send them to Caryn.Kuhlman@cbexchange.com.  or give me a call at 630-730-8027 and I would be happy to stop by and take the picture for you. Good Luck and happy planting.

Oh, one other suggestion, I found a video that may help you with planting a vegetable garden. Starting a Vegetable Garden Video

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To talk to a Realtor® who knows Lombard and the surrounding areas like the back of her hand, Call Caryn Kuhlman 630-730-8027

Out and About in Elmhurst

The weather forecast for this weekend looks good. So why not join my husband and I and spend a few hours this weekend at the “ART OFF THE PARK” on the grounds of the Elmhurst Art Museum at 150 Cottage Hill Avenue, north of Wilder Park in Elmhurst.

This marks the 14th Annual Art in the Park juried show of fine art, craft and design and takes place Saturday and Sunday this weekend. The Art in the Park festival, produced by RGL Marketing for the Arts, Inc., is a wonderful place to find unique handcrafted jewelry, paintings, ceramics, photography, sculpture, furniture, glass, mixed media and fiber art selections. Discover one-of-a-kind gifts for Mother’s Day, graduations, birthdays and springtime celebrations.

There will be 110 outstanding artists exhibiting at this exciting weekend-long event with live entertainment and an assortment of food for sale by select vendors.

The 4th annual Raku in the Parking Lot will take place with artist Ken Nance. For only $15, visitors will be able to have their own piece of this centuries-old, Japanese pottery form. Pick a pot to glaze and watch as the piece is fired in a gas-fueled kiln and transferred into a metal can full of sawdust and excelsior where a magical transformation occurs. All creations will go home that day!

Elmhurst Art Museum will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on May 1 and May 2 in conjunction with the festival, and will be free of charge. Special children’s activities will be provided by Elmhurst Art Museum from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day.

I will be looking forward to seeing you there.

To subscribe to this blog by email use to box near the top of the left hand column.

To talk to a Realtor® who knows Lombard and the surrounding areas like the back of her hand, Call Caryn Kuhlman 630-730-8027