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Coming Soon to the Market – 651 Portree Lane, Lake Zurich IL

This home has been completely renovated with the highest quality in mind. Completely open concept with white kitchen. Bathrooms completely gutted with double vanity. Brand new flooring throughout. 4 bed/2 bath. $314,900

Call Lindsey Kaplan for a Private showing. 415-215-0077 or lindsey.kaplan@cbexchange.com

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10 Tips for Sprucing Up your Home on a Budget

Getting your home ready for the market does not have to be a stressful or expensive undertaking. We teamed up with Holly Waxman of Holly J Waxman Interior Designs to bring to you the best tips on how to ready your home for the market without having to break the bank.

COLOR | Paint something…anything…a fun new color. Painting a room is one of the least expensive ways to make the most impact. If painting all the walls is still not as cost effective as you were hoping, paint one accent wall. Or, paint the ceiling!! Ceilings are the fifth and often forgotten wall. If your walls are all white, go bold on the ceiling. If even painting one whole wall is too much, consider taping out a shape or pattern and just paint a portion of the whole wall. Lastly, if painting the wall(s) still seems like too much work, opt to paint a table, picture frame or chair a brand new color. Just make sure you use the right finish.
DECLUTTERRR | Spring cleaning is a great excuse to declutter, organize and make sense out of spaces that have been hibernating all winter. By getting rid of out-dated and unused items, your room will feel fresh and clean and be more functional! You will also feel good for donating items to people who may be in need.
GO SHOPPING—IN YOUR OWN HOME! | Reusing items your already own, but in a different way, is the least expensive way to make a change—it’s free! By “shopping” in your own home, you move accessories, artwork and maybe even furniture from one room to another. By giving your belongings a “new home” they take on a completely different look and feel.
SWAP MEET | Another great way to not spend any money is to recycle your things. Organize a party with your friends who also want to spruce for less. Have everyone bring art, accessories, throw pillows or even furniture that they no longer want or need. Then, you take theirs and they take yours. Not only will you enjoy your “new” items, but when you visit their home, it’ll feel even homier with familiar pieces.
ADD SOME BLINGGG | You may not have the budget to remodel your kitchen or bathroom, but a great way to make a subtle, yet noticeable impact is to switch out the hardware on your cabinets. Knobs and pulls are like jewelry for our cabinets, and just like any great outfit, the accessories can make the difference. Updating knobs, handles and pulls—from brass to brushed nickel, or polished chrome to oil-rubbed bronze—may be just what your kitchen or bathroom cabinets need. And if your cabinetry does not currently have any hardware, consider adding some.
SCRUB IT DOWN | Sometimes all a home needs is a good ole fashioned deep cleaning. Whether you clean your own home or have the luxury of a service, sometimes the everyday cleaning and maintenance just doesn’t cut it. Every now and then you need to get down and dirty and scrub those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. Washing windows—interior and exterior—lets the sun shine through in a whole new way. Rent a carpet cleaner to get rid of icky stains. Wax those hardwood floors. Steam out those draperies. Grab the extension hose on the vacuum and rid vents (both high and low) of dust and debris that has accumulated over months of being shut in. Polish tarnished picture frames, accessories & tchotchkes.

FLOAT & FLIP | The way your furniture is currently arranged in the room may not be the only option. A lot of the time people are not sure the best way to lay out furniture, so things often get shoved up against the walls. Float furniture in the room. Reverse the way everything is facing. Floating and flipping can create new pathways and lines of sight. By moving the sofa from there to over here may give you a whole new vantage point of your room or even your whole house. Just because the outlet for the cable is on one wall does not mean the TV has to go on that wall or that the sofa has to be on the opposite wall. You likely have more flexibility than you think!
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE | You need not purchase a new piece of furniture or remodel a kitchen or bathroom to feel the change. The littlest things can make the biggest impact. Add a new bright throw pillow to the sofa, or simply make or purchase a pillow cover for existing ones. Swap out the photographs that have been in those picture frames for years with newer, artsier ones. On the computer, you can crop, make black & white, or add some cool crazy effects. For a more dramatic change, paint the picture frames, too. Fresh flowers go a long way to brighten a space. If their life span concerns you, consider a silk flower arrangement that will live forever! Orchids are gorgeous, but tricky to keep alive. Going faux here will never make you feel like a failure! New sheets on the bed can not only totally change the look of your bedroom, but can also make for a great night’s sleep! Mix and match bright bold colors for sheets and pillow cases, or select fun big patterns.
HONEY-DO LIST | Ah, that never-ending list of things that need fixing & repair. Anything that is broken, damaged or dysfunctional should be addressed. That hole or crack or creak or leak or rip or tear, once repaired, will be like new again and no longer be a burden or the source of dismay or even arguments. Yes, these things can be tricky to take care of, but once they are it will feel so good!
UPGRADE | While these things may require a bit more expertise to handle, they will not only breathe new life into something old, but can ultimately add value to your property. Consider changing out your kitchen or bathroom faucet or install new light fixtures. If you own a home, chances are the things that came with the home may not be the style of your choice. Perhaps you prefer separate hot and cold handles on your faucet instead of a single lever. Or, maybe you like brushed nickel light fixtures instead of the builder-grade brass ones. Places like Lowes & Home Depot have a great selection of cost-effective fixtures for both plumbing & lighting that will suit your personal style.

Thank you, Holly for the excellent advice! Do you need interior design or home staging help? contact Holly Waxman at holly@hollyjwaxman.com
Or, if you are getting your home ready to sell and need an excellent real estate team to do the selling, call the Anne Kaplan Team for a free market report. 847-401-7904

Homes for Sale in Sterling Ridge Subdivision in Cary, IL

Are you looking for a home in the Sterling Ridge Subdivision, IL?

Are you interested in finding a home in the Sterling Ridge Subdivision in Cary IL? Click this link to find all the currently available homes.

Details of the the Sterling Ridge Subdivision

The Sterling Ridge homes were built in the early 2000’s by Cambridge homes. These homes range from 3 to 4 bedroom homes with 2.1 to 3.1 baths. The square footage of these homes are from 2400 – 3800 sq. ft. The landscaping is in the Sterling Ridge subdivision is well tended. There are two ponds, a gazebo and several walking paths in the subdivision.

What’s Going on Nearby the Sterling Ridge Subdivision?

Lions park is right across the street from Sterling Ridge in Cary IL. This park has several large playing fields, a comprehensive playground structure and large skate park. The Cary Community Center offers a large outdoor pool and fitness center. Sterling Ridge is minutes away from several golf courses and downtown Cary. You can find out all of the activities and programming going on through the Cary Park District here. In addition to all of the recreation Cary has to offer, you can also enjoy downtown Cary which has several excellent restaurants and shops including Tracks Bar and Grill and Gilottos Pizza and Pasta.

What Schools will your Children Attend?

The Sterling Ridge subdivision feeds into district 26 and District 155; Deer Path Elementary, Cary Junior High School, and Cary-Grove High School. To get local school scores and more information about these schools, check out the school reports on my website.

Are you Ready to Find a Home?

If you are interested in the current home for sale in Sterling Ridge, Cary IL, click here!

You can also contact me directly at 847-401-8941 or email me at anne.kaplan@cbexchange.com.

It’s Preschool Time! (Part 2)

Here is a brief starter list of preschools in the Northern Suburbs of Chicago. Major Disclaimer, this is by no means a full list of preschools. Consider this a starting point in your research of preschools in the Chicago suburbs.

Deerfield

Deerfield Montessori Schools

Founded in 1966, Deerfield Montessori school offers three locations, one in Riverwoods and two in Deerfield. They offer programming from infant/toddlers, all the way up to elementary. http://www.montessori-schools.com/

Deerfield community nursey school

For 50 years, DCNS has been providing rich and stimulating preschool programs for children 18 months up to 5 years of age. Children are encouraged to investigate their environment at their own pace through creative play. http://www.deerfieldcommunitynurseryschool.com/

Deerfield Park District Preschool

Offering programming for children from ages 2-5. http://www.deerfieldparks.org/programs/preschool/

Buffalo Grove

Jacob Duman JCC

JCC offers a comprehensive program infused with Jewish learning. They have programming for infant/toddler up to kindergarten. Not Jewish, don’t be deterred! This program has great diversity of learners and is open to everyone. http://www.gojcc.org/early-childhood/programs/

Montessori World of Discovery

They offer seven different programs for children ages 6 weeks to 10 years old and are open year round with full time, part time, preschool, before and after school schedules available. http://montessoriworldofdiscovery.com/

Kingswood Preschool

Kingswood Preschool is a non-denominational school and is open to children of all backgrounds and religions. They offer a program that is designed to encourage and promote the ability of each child in learning. Their mission is to provide Preschool education for 3 and 4 year old children in a safe, child-centered environment where they will achieve success while growing academically, socially and emotionally. http://www.kingswoodpreschool.com/default.asp#

JCYS- Jewish Council for Youth Services

Their developmentally appropriate, play-based curriculum encourages children’s creativity, fosters their self-esteem and socialization, and establishes a love of learning. They offer childcare services from infant to kindergarten enrichment. http://jcys.org/child-care/early-childhood-education

Arlington Heights

Village Preschool

Village Preschool is a developmental preschool geared to encourage the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth of three- through six-year-old children. http://www.villagepreschoolinc.com/

Arlington Heights Park District Preschool

The philosophy of the Preschool program is to allow children to learn through play, as they grow socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. http://www.ahpd.org/programs/preschool/

White Oak School

Operating since 1960, family owned and operated. Open daily year round Ages 2-8; Nursery School. They also offer before and after school care. http://www.whiteoakschool.biz/index.html

Vernon Hills

The Goddard School

From infant to toddler to preschool, Goddard teachers in every classroom to lead each child to reach developmental milestones – preparing each one for social and academic success beyond their time with us. http://www.goddardschool.com/chicago/vernon-hills-townline-road-il

Christ Lutheran Preschool

Christ Lutheran Preschool will provide a Christian based curriculum for preschool children as part of their first experience with formal education. http://christlutheranvh.org/clc-preschool/

Vernon Hills Kinder Care

Their preschool programs ensure kindergarten readiness. Before and After school programs are available throughout the school year, while our Summer Camp program for ages preschool and up provides a perfect solution for families who need care during school break. http://www.kindercare.com/our-centers/vernon-hills/il/300983/

Libertyville

Libertyville’s Cooperative Community Preschool

core pre-school classes based on age-appropriate, guided play learning; enrichment programs for 4- & 5-year olds that emphasize the arts, sciences and applied learning; and lunchtime fun. http://www.libertyvilleco-op.com/index.html

The Children’s House of Libertyville

It is the goal of the school to meet the developmental needs of each child – social, emotional, physical, and intellectual within the context of the “prepared environment” essential to a Montessori education. http://childrenshouseoflibertyville.com/