M Shane

Protect Your Cabin With "Off the Grid" Home Security

Securing your cabin can be a difficult task - especially if you're "off the grid" and don't have the easy luxury of electricity and an "alarm system". But, there are some common sense steps to follow and a couple tricks of the trade, that'll help secure y... Read >

Energy Costs? - What Energy Costs?

An energy smart rating on a property is suddenly a big attraction. Recently the energy efficiency of a home has become a more important factor to prospective home buyers. Certainly if you can show an energy efficiency report with a five star rating it... Read >

Breaking News - A No-Glitch Switch

Imagine being able to move all your furniture around without having to worry about obstructing the light switches - because the light switches can just be moved at random! Imagine being able to switch all the lights on in your house just as you approach... Read >

The Virtual Handshake

For many realtors, one of their best assets is a gift-of-gab. You know what I mean...that ability to enter a room, shake hands with a complete stranger and chat them up, and after a few minutes make them feel like they've known you for years. For many, t... Read >

High-End Foreclosures

With 1 in every 483 households in the U.S. facing foreclosure, it only stands to reason that us common folk aren't the only ones affected by the housing crisis. It's just as easy to create a mountain of debt by borrowing against a multi-million dollar e... Read >

What to Consider When Handing Down Your Cabin

It's important to note that when "giving away" an item such as your cabin or cottage to your children, despite your purest intentions, it can quickly become an enormous tax burden for the recipient/s. Here are some different options to discuss with yo... Read >

Real Estate for Military Buyers: A How-To Guide

Buying real estate can be a stressful experience for the average person, but when you're also in the military, there are a number of concerns your family may have and complications that can arise. If you have been given orders for a Permanent Change of ... Read >

Window Treatments That Will Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

When selling your home, it is imperative to keep things inside and out looking their best. If you are trying to sell your home during the summer months, it can be tricky keeping the place at a pleasant temperature and attractive at the same time. It's eve... Read >

6 Tips for Keeping Insects Out of Your Home This Summer

When we think about the summertime, we usually envision backyard barbeques, trips to the beach and cooling off in a swimming pool. What people forget about is the annual swarm of insects that occurs during the hottest months of the year. While insect i... Read >

Chicago's Navy Pier

When someone is new to Chicago and they ask about local hot spots, the first place that crosses my mind is Navy Pier. There is something about this vibrant, area, where locals and tourists all come together to play, dine and enjoy the incredible views th... Read >

Cabin Fever: The Practical Guide to Buying Your Dream Cabin

So you're dreaming of buying that piece of paradise, the ideal cabin tucked away from the buzz of the city. Call it what you will: your dream cabin, cottage, chalet, lodge, vacation home, whatever it is, it's your dream. Now, most folks when looking for t... Read >

Is Your Backsplash Outdated?

Backsplashes follow design trends just like cabinetry and colors and styles of counter tops. In fact, a striking backsplash can go a long way to perking up a tired old kitchen or creating an interesting focal point in a home. Interestingly, this is one a... Read >

Creating the Purrrrfect Outdoor Living Space for Your Feline

In amongst all the articles for furnishing your outdoor living areas, this one concentrates on a different type of living space - outdoor cat enclosures. More and more cat owners have experienced the problems associated with letting their pet run free... Read >

The Ultimate Re-Sale Check List

When it comes to selling your homes there are numerous little details that'll help boost the re-sale value of your home and fetch you the best price for your sale. Although you may not be able to attend to them all, here's a master list to keep you motiva... Read >

The Truth of Real Estate Cliche

Ever landed on a cliché expression and wondered is there any truth to this statement? Some familiar slogan written on the bathroom walls begins to haunt you... You've heard something so many times it sounds like gibberish but for a moment, you stop to ex... Read >