August means it’s time to soak up those last minutes of summer fun, travel and leisure before heading back to school and work. Maybe you’ve been diligently checking things off your summer bucket list or maybe you need a little last-minute inspiration. Some ideas from AAA include mixing a cool, summer drink, stargazing, watching a sunrise, hosting a movie night or creating a summer play list. However you choose to do it, make the most of those last glorious summer days.
NAR Settlement Explained
The National Association of REALTORS® recent settlement has led to several changes that benefit home buyers and sellers, and we wanted to clearly lay them out for you. BHHS Chicago is here to help guide you through these changes to successfully sell or buy your next home. Effective August 17, 2024:
Buyers and their agents must have a signed agreement before doing property showings.
Properties for sale: the MLS will not advertise co-operative compensation offered by a listing broker to the buyer’s broker.
Sellers may still offer to pay the buyers broker. This will be advertised on our website and in property materials.
Addendums to the sales contract will memorialize any concessions or buyer broker compensation terms.
As always, the amount of real estate compensation is not fixed by law, is set by each broker and is fully negotiable. Your BHHS Chicago agent will guide you smoothly through the process to achieve your real estate goals.
The Answer to Just Muddling Through
The Mud Room has become one of our home’s hardest working rooms serving as both a transition from our sometimes-chaotic outer lives to our precious safe space inside. It’s also the place professional organizers refer to as a Drop Zone for everything that’s important for a given season. Country Living shares some Mud Room ideas to help keep everything organized as we wrap up summer including getting creative with boat cleats or sewing spools as hooks, adding baskets for managing the mess and comfortable seating. Mud Rooms easily transition as the space to corral homework and sports equipment as the school year kicks off.
Success Breeds Success
There’s a lot more to consider than meets the eye when it comes to setting up homework space optimally for young learners as Forbes Magazine found. Depending upon the child’s age and responsibility level, use of technology like parental controls and smart lighting can be very helpful. For many kids, involving them in the process of designing the space can not only teach important skills like planning and budgeting, but can also help them love the space they’ll be using. Of course, your child’s homework space and needs will evolve as they get older so will need to be revisited periodically, but hopefully the steps you take now can contribute to their success as students.
