Homeownership & Life Transitions
Do You Need a Permit to Finish Your Basement in Palatine?
- Mari Van Meter
- 11/2/26
Palatine requires a building permit for basement finishing and remodeling. Here’s how to check the project requirements, inspec...
Read MORE
What to Repair Before Selling an Older NW Suburbs Home
- Mari Van Meter
- 10/27/26
A practical guide to the repairs that build buyer confidence, the projects you may be able to skip, and how to make a plan that...
Read MORE
How to Sell Your Home in Itasca, IL: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Mari Van Meter
- 05/7/26
What Itasca sellers need to know — from prep and pricing to disclosures, closing, and everything in between
Read MORE
Right-Sizing Your Home in Mount Prospect, IL: A Practical Guide
- Mari Van Meter
- 10/9/26
How to choose a home, budget, and moving plan that fit your next chapter
Read MORE
What to Do Around the House Before the First Freeze in the Chicago Suburbs
- Mari Van Meter
- 10/1/26
The average first freeze at O'Hare is October 19. Here is the outdoor, plumbing, and heating list, in the order that actually m...
Read MORE
A Small September Reset for Your Home in Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs
- Mari Van Meter
- 09/14/26
A short, doable fall list for Arlington Heights, Palatine, Schaumburg, Mount Prospect, and nearby towns, plus one free local ev...
Read MORE
How to Prepare Your Arlington Heights Home for Sale
- Mari Van Meter
- 03/17/26
What to clean, repair, update, stage, and skip before putting your house on the market
Read MORE
Rightsizing After Divorce: Keeping Kids in the Same School District
- Mari Van Meter
- 07/1/26
A practical guide for co-parents in the Northwest Chicago Suburbs who need two homes — without uprooting their kids
Read MORE