One of the great things about summer in Chicagoland is the abundance of local farmers market's. Often, we just stumble upon them while out for a Saturday stroll or while visiting a new neighborhood. Well, now thanks to the state's agriculture department, we have an official list of locations for Illinois markets. FYI, the Andersonville Farmers Market starts June 13 and runs through October 17. It is held each Wednesday from 3-8pm on the 1500 W. Berwyn. So, get out there and support local farmers! Surely, no one enjoys paying property taxes in Chicago or elsewhere. Yet, they are inescapable if you are a property owner. In recent years, it seems the burden has increased exponentially. The days are filled with headlines about the decline in home values but the tax bill (which is supposed to be based on value) does not seem to have budged at all. What can you do? One answer is to appeal your assessment. Each year in Cook County, the assessor re-assesses one third of the county in what is called the triennial assessment in which your property's assessment valuation is fixed for the next three years. You can appeal that assessment each year and offer evidence that your valuation is not appropriate. The assessor's office deadlines and appeal forms can be found online here. You can do the appeal yourself and you can do it online. You do not need an attorney. Simply complete the form to start the process. The assessor's office also offers assistance at any of it offices. If you fee that you do in fact need the assistance of an attorney, there is a great service called Tax & Utility Reduction Consultants ("TURC") in New Lennox that offers the best service that we have seen. They are not attorney but do retain attorney's on your behalf and TURC does all of the research to support your appeal. You can contact TURC at (815) 463-1707. Whatever course you choose to take, make sure you appeal. By not appealing, you are guaranteeing that the assessor's valuation will remain the basis for your tax bill for the next three years. Do not wory, the assessor cannot raise your bill just because you filed an appeal. If you have questions about appealing your property tax assessment, call iMove. Our broker, Rusty Payton, has filed ver 50,000 such appeals and would be happy to guide you. Stop in our office and see Rusty. Toady was picture day at iMove Chicago. Many thanks to our photographer, Madeline, who did such a great job at the shoot. We can't wait to share all of the new pics with our clients, friends and family. Stay tuned! This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.
Today's Sunday Tribune confirmed something that I have noticed for quite some time now. The big franchise real estate companies - Coldwell, Banker, Prudential Rubloff and At Properties - seemed to all be locked in a heated battle for the moniker of #1. What's going on here? Coldwell Banker touts that it is "#1 in Chicagoland." Prudential Rubloff claims the title of "#1 Luxury Firm." At properties gives itself three titles: "#1 Company in Chicago," #1 In The North Shore - Winnetka Office" and "#2 In The North Shore - Evanston Office." Is there an upcoming trophy ceremony that I missed? Who awards such distinguished prizes? Does any of this really matter when you are trying to buy or sell a house? Seems that the big franchises are caught up in a storm of self-adulation. Shouldn't YOU be the focus of their marketing efforts instead of THEM? I found it amazing to see that At Properties took out a two page, centerfold spread to tout its own accomplishments and the volume sales that its agents had supposedly achieved. Could this space and the advertising dollars it required have been better spent showcasing one of the THOUSAND or more properties that remains unsold? I know that if I had my unsold property listed with this company that this would certainly be my wish. If you are a buyer out there looking for the perfect new home, would you rather see the mugs of Realtors congratulating themselves or of properties that might be available for sale that you may want to purchase? It seem that the Sunday tradition of opening up the real estate section of the Trib and actually seeing properties that are available is dead. If all I have done is sold your house or found you the perfect place to buy, then give me third place any day. If you live in Chicago, then you know our summers are consumed with festivals in just about every neighborhoods and on most weekends. To help keep track of them all, The Redeye has published a very helpful Chicago Summer Festival Guide which will come in very handy this season. So, now you have no reason to not get out there and explore what Chicago's huge collection of diverse hoods have to offer. If you are moving to Chicago, the guide can be a great introduction to Chicago. Get out and enjoy. There has beeen a lot in the press and on blogs and such about the prospect of mobile phones being the subject of telemarketing calls and how this all interacts with the National "Do Not Call" list. Well, we did some research and found this information from the FCC: the Facts. The long and short of the FCC info is that there is nothing to panic about. Your mobile will not soon be swamped with unwanted calls. We used 99Designs.com and were very happen with the design process and the results we achieved. Check them out..... and look for our new letters in your box soon!
Here's a new one: Gizmodo reports that these New Jersey tenants are attempting to break their lease becuase there is a ghost at the property haunting them. Check it out! Don't break your lease. Contact iMove and we will find your landlord a new tenant so that you can move.
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