Hartley’s bicycle shop located at 24 West Hinsdale Avenue in downtown Hinsdale not only provides quality service and bicycling expertise, but extends its service by collecting bicycles for the needy.  Ken hartley, owner of Hartley’s Cycle Shoppe in Hinsdale, donates used bikes to Pillars, a nonprofit social service organization that provides for families in need. Hartley requires that bikes donated through his store be in good condition.  A bike that has been wrecked or has plenty of rust will not be accepted, unless the donar is willing to pay to have it fixed.

As a resident of Hinsdale I am proud to have Hartleys in our small community doing the right thing to help those in need. Bikes are not only for kids, but for those who don’t have a car, those with mental disabilities, those who have had their licenses taken away and those who share the importance of a green earth and good health. Those who benefit the most though are the children due to local parents who have encouraged their children to donate bikes that they have outgrown.  If you speak to an advocate or bicycling lover, then they will tell you that there is nothing like challenging yourself on a bike.  Hard work pays off.

If you are interested in bicycling, Hartleys website is a wealth of information.  Visit their site at http://hartleyscycle.com and see for yourself how the years of service, commitment and the love for the sport can benefit you, a loved one or the needy.

The Federal Reserve initiative includes research, regulatory guidance, and strategies to help prevent foreclosures. http://www.chicagofed.org/community_development/foreclosure.cfm

Both Hinsdale High School District 86 schools ranked in the TOP 12 of Illinois High Schools for 2007 in a Newsweek report.  Hinsdale Central ranked sixth and Hinsdale South ranked 11th.  Newsweek also ranked the Top 1000 high schools in the nation, and Hinsdale Central was Number 339 and Hinsdale South was Number 540. The ranks are based on the number of Advanced Placement tests taken divided by the number of graduating seniors. 

Get Ready to Move – Start Packing!

When I list your home, we will go through the house together. Meanwhile, here are some tips for you to think about.  In doing this, we will be ahead of most of the sellers or your competition already on the market in the way your home shows…

INSIDE:

Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house.  Keep decorative objects on the furniture restricted to groups of 1,3,5 items.

Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen counter tops.  If it hasn’t been used for three months…put it away! Clear refrigerator fronts of messages, pictures, etc. A sparse kitchen helps the buyer mentally move their own things into your kitchen.

In the bathroom, remove any unnecessary items from  counter tops, tubs, shower stalls and commode tops.  Keep only your most needed cosmetics, brushes, perfumes, etc., in one small group on the counter.  Coordinate towels to one or two colors only.

Rearrange or remove some of the furniture if necessary.  As owners, many times we have too much furniture in a room.  This is wonderful for our own personal enjoyment, but when it comes to selling, we need to thin out as much as possible to make rooms appear larger.

Take down, or rearrange certain pictures or objects on walls.  Patch and paint if necessary.

Review the house inside room by room, and 1) Paint any room needing paint; 2) Clean carpets or drapes that need it; and 3) Clean windows.

Don’t worry about closets or garages in regard to being too full.  People expect t hat.

Leave on certain lights during the day. During showings turn on all lights and lamps.

Have stereo FM on during the day for all viewings.

Make sure your home is accessible with a key box – #1 importance:  If we don’t have it, they won’t show us!

OUTSIDE:

Go around the permiter of the house and move all garage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., into the garage.

Check gutters and roof for dry rot.  Make sure they are swept and cleaned.

Look at all plans…prune brushes and trees.  Keep plans from blocking windows.  You can’t sell a house, if you can’t see it.  Plants are like children – they grow so fast!

Weed and then bark all planting areas.  Keep lawn freshly cut and fertilized.  Remove any dead plants or shrubs.

Clear patios or decks of all small items, such as small planters, flower pots, charcoal, barbecues, toys, etc.

Check paint condition of the house, especially the front door and trim. Curb appeal really works.

IN GENERAL:

Try to look at your house…through the buyers eyes…as though you’ve never seen it or been there before.  Any time or money spent on these items will bring you back more money in return, and hopefully a faster sale.  When service matters, give me a call at 630-842-8812, email at Carla@CarlaSteuck.com or visit me online at www.CarlaSteuck.com.  I look forward to helping you!

David Cassidy was in Hinsdale last year and it was such a success that Hinsdale has invited David Cassidy back for another concert in the park! Get your tickets now for Hinsdale’s End of Summer Bash featuring David Cassidy, known for his Partridge Family fame. The gates open at Burlington Park on Friday, September 12th. at 5:00pm. David will be performing at 8:00pm rain or shine.   The Burlington Park is located across from the Memorial Building in downtown Hinsdale between Garfield and Washington Streets on Chicago Avenue. Tickets are $7.00 through September 11 or $10.00 at the door. VIP admission and seating, including VIP parking, round tables with linens, complimentary hot and cold appetizer buffet, VIP restooms and great views,  is available for $99.00. Contact the Parks and Recreation office for more information or to purchase your tickets at 630-789-7090. I recommend bringing lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the music, food and fun.

This Sunday, August 17th, 2008 the Oak Brook Polo Club is hosting a benefit for Graue Mill at the polo grounds, 700 Oak Brook Road. I’m excited to view my first polo match, taking place at 1:00pm and 3:00pm.  I can’t imagine having a ball hit so hard that it comes at you at a speed of 110 miles per hour.  A polo match last about two hours. I understand that lunch is available for adults and children for a fee. The rain date is scheduled for next Sunday, August 24th.  I’m sure it will be a fun day had by all.  If you are like me and have never seen a polo match, this is a great opportunity to view a match and help benefit Graue Mill. See you there!