Wilmette, IL

You earned it. You bought it. You loved it. Now you want to sell your Wilmette home.

Nothing can stop you if selling your Wilmette house is a must-do goal

You cannot test the market. Or dip your toes in the water.

You have to go full throttle and pull out all stops to make your dream become a reality.

Listing your house for sale isn’t the same as selling your house

If you own a house in Wilmette, consider yourself fortunate to live in such a vibrant and popular community. It may be ‘cooler by the lake’, but it’s still a hot real estate market. Wilmette won’t ever go out of style.

Data provided by the Midwest Real Estate LLC (MRED) multiple listing service and includes properties listed and sold by various participants in the MLS. Data supplied does not reflect all market activity in the area.

More statistics

I've been into offices and basements of Wilmette clients who have not thrown out any important paperwork in dozens of years. These bank statements, canceled checks, income tax statements and credit card summaries may have private and sensitive information on them. It's not smart to dump them in the garbage.

If you are faced with this dilemma and are thinking of clearing out some files, you will be happy to learn that the Wilmette Park District is having a shredding day at the Mallincrodt Community Center parking lot. Just bring in your boxes - a shredder, provided by Edens Bank, will make mincemeat out of your paperwork.

At the same time, they will take your old medicines and cell phones and dispose of them in an ecologically friendly way.

The shredding will be done in the parking lot of Mallincrodt in Wilmette; and the medicines/cell phones should be taken inside the center.

Free coffee and donuts will be provided inside as well a raffle to win a home shredder. Reason enough to go, in my book.

There's more: two workshops will be offered:

• 9:30 am - Plagued by Paper
• 10:45 am - Living Green

The shredding event will take place on Saturday, September 10 from 9:00 am to noon.

Mallincrodt Community Center
1041 Ridge Road
Wilmette, IL
847-256-9623

There is still time to attend an informal meet and greet with Dr. Gendel - she will be meeting with small groups of parents in the Avoca West conference room. Here are the dates and times:

Tuesday, August 16 at 5-6 p.m.

Tuesday, August 16 at 7-8 p.m.

Wednesday, August 17 at 8-9 a.m.

Wednesday, August 17 at 10-11 a.m.

Thursday, August 18 at 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 18 at 4:00-5:00 p.m.

If you can attend, please e-mail Mary Herlinger at herlingm@avoca37.org to sign up, or call 847-724-6800

Avoca West School, 235 Beech Drive, Glenview, IL

Avoca School District 37 serves portions of Winnetka, Wilmette, Glenview, and Northfield Illinois.

No! Not that word! The other one, the real estate related "F" word. Flip.

So, now that you're over that shock - let me explain. I have been seeing properties on the market that are offered for very good prices. No surprise there - except that some of them seem ripe for a do-over that might yield a dividend when sold. These houses are crying out for some simple (not inexpensive, mind you) change that will bring them up to par with others in the neighborhood.

I recently saw several three-bedroom homes in Wilmette that have the perfect layout for a family room and master bedroom addition. Lots of people used to buy those types of homes then add on these rooms as their family grew. Maybe they also expanded and updatee the kitchen at the same time and had it open into their new family room; just above that room is the new master, walk-in closet and bath.

Today's buyers don't seem to want to do any work to their new house, they would prefer buying it already updated. The end result is that these homes are unsold, priced well, and in need of someone who is willing to dip his toe into the flipping waters. The homes are not teardowns, they are in otherwise good condition. They are located in neighborhoods with more expensive homes and are, essentially, the cheapest house on the block (the litmus test for some buyers.)

As a regular source of income, I don't believe flipping (remember "Flip That House") will be viable anytime soon. However, there are a few nuggets out there just waiting for someone with the vision and . . . guts . . . to handle a project like this. Mortgage rates will be higher for an investment property, but I believe that building costs are low enough to offset that. I think some money can be made here.

Call me for more information on homes that might be flipped in Winnetka,Wilmette, Northfield, and Glencoe.

Oh yes - it's that time again. We are just getting adjusted to the heat and humidity and suddenly we have to start thinking about Back-to-School.

Schools in Wilmette District 37 include Avoca and Marie Murphy. Avoca and Marie Murphy school are located in Wilmette but serve a wide area including portions of Wilmette, Northfield, Glenview, and Winnetka. Avoca serves kindergarten through 5th grade, while Marie Murphy is for 6th through 8th graders.

Wilmette District 37 School Calendar - Avoca School

Wilmette District 37 School Calendar - Marie Murphy School