Valerie Mineiko's Real Estate Blog

One thing you may not have thought about once  you’ve moved  in to your new home is getting to know your new neighborhood. This is really important – especially if you have kids. Here are some tips on how to get to know your new neighborhood and making the transition easier and happier for everyone. Before Moving to a New City or State 1. Before you get there, it’s a good idea to contact the local chamber of commerce and request a packet of area information. Most of the time, they are happy to oblige, getting the word out about their town or city. You can learn a lot from this material, including local history, the businesses in town, events, etc. 2. Purchase a detailed map of the area. Spend time with your kids and look it over with them. Call your  children’s schools  to request a tour of the facility prior to the kids have to start. Locate their classrooms, the cafeteria, library, gym and bathrooms. Once You Move In 1. Drive around the area and look for the p...

  Welcome March it’s just about time for spring cleaning! This is that time of year when the Chicago-area weather finally allows for deep cleaning your home both indoors and out. One of the main reasons to perform intensive spring cleaning, especially if you’re getting ready to sell your home, is to perform maintenance and upkeep checks — making sure that everything is in working order and not in need of repair. If these tasks seem too large, why not break them up into several weekends so you don’t become overwhelmed? Be sure to get the whole family involved — many hands make light work. Turn it into a yearly tradition, a signal that summer fun is almost here. To get started, take an inventory of your cleaning supplies and products, including garbage bags, vacuum bags, paper towels, rags, rubber gloves, etc. Take them with you in a bucket or other container so you won’t have to go searching for what you need. Have plenty of cold water and high-energy snacks on hand (nuts, dried fru...

If you’re in the market to  buy your perfect home , it should start with hiring the right real estate broker. But how do you determine which Realtor is the right one? Follow these four steps to help you narrow down your choice: 1. Look Them Up & Learn More About Them Check out their  online presence . Is their website and  social media  up to date? Do they have  recent listings and sales  that you can see? Also, don’t forget about reviews! If you are wondering what its like work with a worthy real estate broker, start by reading what past clients have to say about them. Realtors can tell people that they’ll work hard for them, and get them the best deals, but good reviews from past clients tell the real story. 2. Make Sure They’re Knowledgeable Buying and selling real estate is extremely competitive. A good agent should understand the local market, as well as the real estate business in general. They must understand what you will face as a buyer or sell...