CheekyChicago

When I first sit down with my clients and talk about where they want to live, I ask them to first consider how they want to live.  Are they going to use the home as a weekend home when they need to flee the suburbs for civilization?  (Okay, I am a city snob…but I do have clients who live in homes in the suburbs and come in on the weekends to shop, eat in great restaurants and stay overnight in their own homes rather than a hotel.)  These clients may want what is commonly known here in Chicago as an “in-town.”  (An inelegant phrase for which I do not want the credit!)

Or, maybe they’re going to use the home as a regional base?  For example, I have some retired clients who prefer to live in Florida during our tough winters and come back to the Chicago lakefront for the summer.  One client lives in NYC but spends a lot of time here with family and alternates between renting out their condo and living in it six months out of the year.

Maybe they are putting down roots.  Are they planning to live in the city and raise a family here?  I have one very independent female client who decided to buy her dream house where she plans to live with her husband and children some day.  Until then, she lives in a three bedroom duplex in Bucktown with her Golden Retriever.  Once she finds Mr. Right, she is ready to rock out!

So, basically, before I ask you, “Where, Cheekies, Where,”  I’m asking that you think a bit about why you want to make the move and how you want to live once you get there.  Ask yourself:  do I love my current neighborhood and even my building, but need more room?    Do you find yourself dreading your commute every day and wishing that you were closer to your ideal route to work?  Maybe you are sick and tired of having to get in your car and drive to where “stuff is happening?”  Does it drive you crazy to walk out of your own building and bump into a bunch of people standing in the middle of the sidewalk while looking up at the Hancock Center?  (Okay, that last one was very anti-tourist, but let’s face it – it happens!)

These are all the things that you should tell your realtor when you discuss where she should start looking for your new home.  As you guys get to know each other better, she’ll likely ask you more personal questions about how you want to live, and eventually your very own detailed Buyer Profile will emerge!  In the meantime, buy a map or two of the city neighborhoods.  I actually supply my new clients with a map at our first meeting.  It is a great reference tool and helps me to pinpoint clients’ wants and needs at that first encounter.  And, just like the beginning of any important relationship (make no mistake, your relationship with your realtor will be very important to you!), that first meeting is going to lay a stable foundation upon which you will build.

Your realtor knows (even if you don’t) that Chicago is a world class city with many opportunities that may allow you to change your mind about what you want a few times before you find the one path that will lead you home!

Next time we’ll explore how to find the home you want once you’ve narrowed your search to a neighborhood or two!  Until then, thanks for reading and as always feel free to contact me at phyllis@cheekychicago.com.