Archives for January 2012

Recordbreaking Snow? – I Need a Vacation & Checklist!

January 27, 2012 By
Cleaning the Rink - Chicago Blizzard 2011
Cleaning the Rink – Chicago Blizzard 2011

Next week is the first anniversary of last years record breaking Blizzard that swept through the Nation and today is the 45th anniversary of the 1967 heaviest snowfall in Chicago!  Last years event was the third heaviest snowfall on record here with 21 inches total.

How top Chicago snowstorms stack up:

  1. 1967 – 23.0” – Jan. 27
  2. 1999 – 21.6” – Jan. 3
  3. 2011 – 21.2” – Feb 2
  4. 1979 – 20.3” – Jan. 14

Contrary to what the Farmers Almanac predicted, this year we’ve only seen a few inches so far, so go figure.  However, who knows what’s coming?  Historically, February is almost equal to January in number of significant snowstorms – so I think it’s still a good time to be thinking “Vacation”.  In anticipation, here’s a detailed checklist to keep your home healthy whenever you’re gone. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Complete Blog

What’s the Best Way to Pick a Builder or Architect

January 20, 2012 By

Lake Michigan BoathouseCustom residential construction offers so many choices and decisions that people often wonder exactly what one item can assure them of the highest degree of success when picking their team of professionals.  Like many things, I believe that this one item is finding the relationship you feel most comfortable with.  This includes the relationship between you, the architect, the builder and their overall process.

Remodeling and home building creates a unique intimacy, one that is forced together for a long duration of time.  While not ignoring conventional wisdom and due diligence, at some point you must look beyond budget estimates, referrals, marketing photos and salesmanship and judge a person or a team on their communication skills, understanding and responsiveness to you.

I like to remind people to keep one thing in mind.  It’ll be your builder and their employees who will greet you every morning, know your dogs habits and will essentially be living in your house for a while.  If you think about it, this makes the relationship [Read more…]

Filed Under: Complete Blog

The Home Hammer

January 13, 2012 By
Beaver Island Michigan

Beaver Island Michigan

Happy New Year! Like so many, I’m caught up in the annual ritual of the New Year and of course making resolutions. All sorts of them are out there, eat healthy, work out, lose weight, read more professional publications – or specific ones like I have, potty train our dog, watch more of my daughter’s basketball games and read more books with our youngest son. However, my most ambitious one is what you’re reading.

I’m venturing into what I’ll call the great digital divide – known otherwise as social media on the Internet and the Blogosphere! I say venture but it’ll probably be more of an adventure – like anything new and mysterious!

As a professional architect, builder and broker in the residential housing market on the North Shore of Chicago my goal with this type of newsletter will be to help homeowners understand many things that are important for their homes, but often [Read more…]

Filed Under: Complete Blog