The Bicycle Troops

                                                                               

The 2-peds of Chicago  

They are parked in uniform rows ready to attack the streets of Chicago.See them whizzing in traffic. What 2-wheel finesse...what artistry. Baryshnikov would be duly impressed. Am I? No, a thousand times no. I've been deprived of a driving lane --left to maneuver around white sticks in the pavement.

 I’m thinking of foregoing right hand turns because bicyclists dare me to turn in front of them with “litigate” in their snarly eyes… I’m getting prominently displayed middle fingers flashed at me as bicycle riders wheelie past through a red light.

Do they get tickets? Of course not. Yet I am photographed...my car is photographed... my license plate is immortalized if I dare ramp up the accelerator, or go thru a yellow when a red light catches me three-quarters into the intersection. And, if I stop too suddenly, I'm certain to be rear ended and have my insurance costs double.

I think it should be mandatory  for all bicyclists to wear a license around their necks--one that could identify them for any transgression.  And any moving violation! In fact, issuing "license" numbers would be a breeze for those cyclists renting the new blue city bikes. Imagine something like the numbers worn in a triathlon.  The city would benefit unbelievably from tickets issued to the 2-wheel nastys on the avenue.

Oh, but wait.  How about the jaywalkers? You know the ones.  You're going 25 miles an hour and some idiot steps directly in front of your car in the middle of the street--no crosswalk, no corner--and they stare at you like you are the bad guy.  Or you're making a left hand turn and they smile as you're forced to stop three-quarters into the turn, about to be hit by oncoming traffic.  Or they're talking on their frigging phone and you stop on a dime as they walk in front of your moving car--the coffee in the holder spills onto your lap and the open briefcase on the passenger seat spills onto the floor.

California tickets them. What do we do? Create more walkways in between the traffic lights. When I was a child, I was taught to look both ways and cross when it was safe--at the light. I thought that was a pretty smart solution. Now, it's wherever and whenever you feel like crossing the street.

I think it's time to rebel. Without cars in Chicago, cameras would have nothing to photograph. The cit would have no fines to collect, no stickers to sell. Police officers could spend their days protecting the taxpayer whose real estate taxes would rise even more, encouraging them to leave the city. In addition, with no funds, the potholes would not be filled, the streets would not be repaved, and bicyclists would no longer be able to whiz through lights particularly if they did not want their tires punctured. It would be a brave new world!

Now, I happen to like bike riding but I choose to ride in the safety of an exercise facility. I used to ride along the lakefront; unbelievably, the paths were empty when I moved back to the city several years back. Now, it’s more like the Autobahn. Between the cyclists huffing by at incredible speeds, triple strollers, and casual walkers walking three abreast, you are at the mercy of the many. After a torn rotator cuff, I took it easy. After a dislocated shoulder, I sold my bike.

Maybe you need to have the bravado of youth or be a lover of high risk riding to maneuver the streets of Chicago between the “white sticks”, the bike lanes and the SUVs. In any case, I still believe you need a license around your neck and a ticket to remind you there are rules on the road.

In fact, Chicago would have a great revenue stream if anyone renting one of our “blue bikes” were forced to pay for a bike license. Just think how that number could be prominently displayed each and every time they rode a bike. Think of the ticketing opportunity potential!

And if you think those bikes are helping to reduce congestion in the city, you haven’t been driving lately down Milwaukee Ave, or somewhere in the Loop, or around the East Bank Club. Or Dearborn Avenue. I will admit, some times of day are worse than others.

I’ve been in Chicago long enough to remember the gripes about bicycle-messengers. “A threat to pedestrians… to drivers.” They are milk toast compared to a trader on 2-wheels.

What do you think? Should Chicago become the cyclist city? Is there room enough for both cycle and automobile? Should cyclists have to display a license plate? Are car drivers being singled out to fill the city coffers—camera tickets, license plates, city stickers, gasoline taxes, parking fees and fines.

It would be wonderful to hook the tire of my convertible to a lamppost and not worry about a meter running out of time. But that, and snow in July haven't a chance of being more than a wish. So...I have decided to sell my car, walk for pleasure, ZIP Car-it for special shopping and limo-driver-it for non-walking, non-cabbing buyer tours. It will be my brave new world.

Condos & Co-ops: The differences

Taxes, ownership, financing and more

Many buyers shy away from co-op properties...for a number of reasons. One of them is the property assessment; it looks,at first view, to be double or triple a condo assessment.  Next 

DoThe Difference between Condos and Coopswnload eBook

is ownership--you don't really own a co-op, you own shares in the building.  And one of the biggest reasons is that many agents don't know or understand the differences between condos and co-ops, so many buyers don't get the full scoop. 

Here is an eBook I've written to help you learn a little co-op history in Chicago as well as the basic differences to condos.

Selling or buying                 a vacant house?     

Beware!                   Beware!                   Beware!

Just recently, I showed a town home to a prospective buyer.  Since the property was in the Chicago suburbs, a listing agent very rarely appears; we used a lock box to retrieve a key for entrance.

It was difficult to see anything clearly, despite it being a sunny day at three in the afternoon. The property had north and east exposures and only one operational light bulb.

The rooms were large with heavy outdated drapery at windows...windows not cleaned in some time; and the kitchen was in desperate need of a redo. However, my client had an interest in property he could make over.

His interest waned however, when he began to descend the steps to a walkout lower level. I refused to go with him—the smell was overbearing. He stopped suddenly when we both heard grunting and gnawing sounds from below. We surmised it was a very, very big mouse, or something quite a bit larger.

Remodeling and redecorating are not always issues, but creatures and overpowering odors can open a can of worms regarding the home’s maintenance and structural integrity.

Vacant homes can be prone to leaks that are costly to repair; appliances can have cracked or dried seals that start to leak or even make replacement necessary. According to many plumbers, many sellers simply shut off the water valve at a toilet or sink instead of turning off the main water cutoff and draining the pipes.

Additionally, vacant homes can become a refuge for furry creatures. Squirrels are great at chewing openings at the roof, then “dining” on insulation and wiring. What’s more, they can turn an attic into a rooming house for all kinds of other furry friends.   

Creatures, bad smells, poor lighting, and all kinds of dirt tell a buyer to keep away or to offer a ridiculously low price. For a seller, those issues could mean accepting far less than the asking price, or paying home expenses as the market time grows, while the asking price is repeatedly reduced.

When a listing agent doesn’t show a vacant property, an owner may not be informed of growing issues. And if a listing agent happens to ask a showing agent for feedback, the only response may be that the client simply did not like the property.

Some Buyer Tips

1:  When you decide to buy a vacant house, and the water is turned off. Ask that it be turned on again several days before your inspection. 

2:  Hire an experienced inspector.  Home inspections are always limited to what is visible and accessible; even though it is an extra cost, consider asking for a camera inspection into drain lines and pipes.

3:  Remember that an outside temperature of 55 degrees is necessary to inspect an AC unit and it must run for several hours in order to test the functioning of the condenser coil.  If the outside temperature is  too cold, ask the inspector how he looks for potential problems.  Also, consider hiring an individual heating and cooling company to inspect  the AC and the furnace.

Some Seller Tips   

1:  Hire an agent who actually shows your vacant property and reports issues that develop, or visit the property yourself on a regular basis.  Walk through it and pretend you are the buyer.  A third option is hiring a handy man to keep check.

2:  Ask a plumber for specifics regarding water turn off valves, etc when your property will be vacant. 

3: Check with a heating/cooling company for proper maintenance specifics while the property is vacant—temperature guides, filters, etc.

        When a vacant property looks and feels maintained, the vacancy can be an opportunity, especially if a buyer wants a fast closing date.  Everyone profits.

Photos

Some Handy Apps to Help Sell Your Home

Getting your home ready:  

Packing up the cute collections, washing the windows and having the carpets cleaned is a great start, but in many instances, it's not enough.

 53% of all homeowners who remodel and/or redecorate… are getting ready to sell.  That’s your competition.

 Selling a home is tantamount to going on an interview.  You wouldn’t wear beat up gym shoes, or a  clean but well-worn hoodie, would you.  No, you might spring for a new suit, maybe a pair of shoes.  And you certainly would visit a professional to style your hair.

Your home goes on an interview every time a buyer walks through the door.  A room painted in colors from the 60s, telegraphs to a buyer, "total redecorating required". Wallpaper with trucks and trains or frilly little flowers may remind a empty nester of a bygone era, when they want to begin a new one.

Repainting one room, or a wall in another creates a fresh feeling. Replacing fixtures with today in mind can bring a new mindset to an older home. 

What's new?  What colors work?  Here are some apps and a url that might help.

 1. + Houzz.com.   Get Ideas and  home renovation advice; research contractors, designers, in your area.  And over 6 million photos are yours to check out--every kind of kitchen, bath, bedroom, patio, and more.  And if you find that you like a specific room, you can contact the person who designed it.  Get product ideas, too.

                             Keep a handy record of room section  measurements.

 2. “Photo Measures”:  Now here's a smart app for  your smart phone from +Big Blue Pixel Inc.

It lets you snap a picture of a room ( along with furniture) and drag an arrow along the wall you want to measure.   When you insert the measurement,  it will be stored in the app.  Next time you’re attending a house sale, or visiting a store that’s having a sale, and you see a wonderful piece of furniture at a bargain, click your app and see if it’ll fit.  The free app allows a limited number of images.  The upgrade for around $5 gives you much, much more.

     
                            What color should you paint a contrasting wall?

3. "Color Capture"  Use an app that lets you group colors, create combinations, and help you with a color-matching options. It’s free for iPhone and Android 6.1 or higher from +Benjamin Moore & Co.

              

See how the color looks, without painting.

4.  "Home Depot Project Color".  Take a photo of a room or a wall (with furniture), choose a color, and see how the color will look-- right in the photo.  If you like it, save it with all the info to purchase.
From +Home Depot.

                           Create a floor plan for yourself, and buyers.

5. “ Stanley Floor Plan”.  Floor plans can do a lot to help you sell your home-- buyers love them.  And now you can create a floor plan of your home or condo with an easy app that helps you measure rooms, add doors, windows, etc. .

These are just a few apps that can help you refresh your home for selling, or staying. But check out the app store for others  from +Sensopia Inc and others.

Home Upgrades 2015

If you plan to sell your home in the next next 18 months, here are a few ideas that can add to its marketability.  

     click To see video version:

#COUNTERTOPS.  Granite still has  appeal but the hot surface today is quartz. It's  durable and comes  in great colors. Or replace the backsplash with  glass tile or tumbled marble. And raise it up to the bottom of the cabinet.

#CHARGING STATIONS.  Create a dedicated niche as a charging station for electronic devices.

#ALL WHITE KITCHENS. Paint or replace kitchen cabinets.  The color of choice:  white or pale, pale grey.  Frosted glass fronted upper cabinets are a big plus, too.

#FREE-STANDING TUBS.  Elegant, nostalgic, yet truly modern--with or without legs.  These tubs bring a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere to any bath.

#KEYLESS ENTRY. Check out the switch that builders are making to locks using fingerprints with algorithms store in a database. Think of it, no key to lose or forget.

#STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES are stars in the kitchen, and it looks as though they will continue to be at the head of the class. Stainless steel is still on a buyer's want list.

#REDECORATE. The easiest change and the biggest bang for your buck--paint accent walls in a warm color and pair with crisp white, gray or pale beige walls.  And don't forget wallpaper--it's making a big comeback.

#PORCELAIN FLOORS.  Instead of imitation wood, consider Porcelain floors in high traffic areas.   Small tiles or long, linear plans -less expensive and very well wearing.  Lots of colors and textures, too.

#OUTDOOR AREAS.  Cleanup the landscaping.  Make it easy to care for, and energy conservative with LED lights.  Have a small pet? Create a small pet run with pavers.

#BAR-B-QUE PITS.  Think bar-b-que firepit style.  Toss that old bar-b and build in a brick pit to sizzle those steaks.

Remember, keep it simple.  Start de-cluttering now.  Pack up
photos and collectibles.  Let buyers see your home, your lifestyle, not your history.

Smart things to do with kids in Chicago

Northeast corner of Northerly Island

Atwood Sphere

All Chicago’s museums offer a great deal for residents, but for children they can be  a history lesson, an adventure, an opportunity to explore and above all, an inspiration. The Adler Planetarium lets kids travel to the universe .

Situated at the northeast corner of Northerly Island, the original building, a 12-sided polygon with a copper dome, opened its bronze doors in May of 1930.

Modifications and additions have seen the planetarium landscape change much like the skyline that one sees from the building’s entrance.  The most notable addition:  the Sky Pavilion, a 60,000 square foot steel and glass structure that opened a host of features to the public: exhibition galleries, the Star Rider theater focusing on virtual environments to actively explore the universe, the historic Atwood Sphere that moves on an axis to introduce the small audience sitting inside to constellations in the sky.

22 ft telescope, circa 16

Home to one of the finest antique collections of sundials, telescopes and more, Adler goes beyond, well beyond, with a goal to be the world's leading public center for interpreting and inspiring the exploration of the Universe. To achieve part of that goal, The Adler has created the most technically enhanced theater experiences ever developed.

Star Formation

Three theaters take children and adults into the universe with ultra high-definition seamless images giving them a 360-degree experience that only actual space travel can surpass. Exploding stars, black holes, galaxies, planets, supernovas. It’s like being on the flight deck of a starship mission. And the mission is always changing from the solar system, to cosmic wonders even a sky adventure with Big Bird, or the earth, moon and sun with Coyote, a fun character adapted from Native American oral traditions.

Explorer Club activity

But The Adler is even more. It’s research. Astronomy. It’s the Doane Observatory with the largest publicly accessible telescope in the Midwest.  It’s the Adler after dark for 20+ somethings every third Thursday of the month. It’s a hangout for teens on Wednesdays. It’s Explorer Clubs for kids. It’s Adler sleepovers and summer camps and intern programs. It’s a week of Geek. It’s interactive multimedia exhibitions. It’s hands-on learning.

It’s an awesome environment to challenge and inspire kids.

Visit www.AdlerPlanetarium.org to learn more about current programming, membership and transportation options.

*In 1928, Max Adler, a senior officer and early stockholder in Sears, Roebuck and Company, opted to invest a part of his fortune to build a facility for Chicagoans that would become the Adler Planetarium. He had been intrigued by a European device and method that could opticallycreate the illusion of a night sky on the inner surface of a dome.

Home Maintenance for "non hi-rise" homeowners

Some Maintenance Things to Remember...when you buy a SFH (single family home), town home, or condo in a multi-unit building.

Having just moved to a town home, I was rudely awakened by the fact that there was no building engineer to call when something stopped working. That's not all. You actually have to drag trash containers to the curb--no disposal chute down the hall to take the trash away. And there's no automatic window washing, either -- you're the one who makes the calls.

After several phone calls, a few trips to Home Depot, plus hours spent combing the Internet, I learned that I had a lot to learn. So, I put together some notes as well as a chart for some of the basic things that need maintenance. #HomeMaintenance.   And I'd like to share them in an ebook I've written:

Some Important Things To Know

 I'm certain as Winter turns into Spring a host of other surprises will send me scurrying for info and help.  Watch for more challenges and solutions in "My New Life as a Town Home Owner".

To sell your home--target market specific

Is the buyer who will buy your home living in your complex, subdivision, condo building, or are they from out of the area?  Are they young, middle aged, older or simply getting old? Before you can focus on your target, you have to understand market segments.  Here’s a brief description from the National Association of Realtors:

Among all generations of home buyers, looking online for properties is pretty much the first step in buying a new home. For generations X and Y, a mobile search is used by half of them.

Younger buyers tend to buy older homes, because they feel the price is better and the home is a better value overall.  Boomers on the other hand are more likely to buy new homes or homes that have been remodeled, primarily to avoid  renovations or problems with plumbing or electrical. A new home, also allows them to customize.

Younger buyers place a high importance on commuting costs, while older buyers place higher importance on landscaping for energy conservation and environmentally friendly community features.

What's included in environmentally friendly features: Heating and cooling costs for one, energy efficient appliances and lighting, landscaping created for energy conservation. So if you decide to sell your home, cater to your specific target. And for all generational groups of buyers, prepare a cost of operation sheet that includes the following: 

•  heating and cooling costs ( And don't forget to state the temperatures you keep on your thermostat.)
•  lawn care costs  (And name the plantings, trees,etc if you are able.)
•  annual maintenance costs (like cleaning the fireplace or water heater, furnace and water softener   check-ups)   
•  HOA costs and what they include if you own a condo/town home/flat.          

Ask your agent to create a photo report for a handout. And make a list of all appliances and equipment.  Add the dates they were purchased, if they are energy efficient, and the last service date.  Don't forget the roof, garage doors, or the deck.  You might even consider an inspection prior to listing your home. You'll know then if there are any issues to take care of.  

Impress buyers with your diligence. It could make the difference between your home and someone elses.