If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I write a lot about my first-time buyers and their new homes. I rarely share about my sellers. For whatever reason, blogging about the other side of the transaction seems to be a little bit taboo in our industry. We don’t take a photo of our happy sellers on closing day. We don’t congratulate them on social media. We might brag about the final price or how many offers they got, but that’s about it.
That said, I’ve got to tell you about Jacob.
We met a few years ago when I was selling his neighbor’s condo in Old Town. Jacob invited me to see his place and asked what I thought it might be worth. As it turned out, he decided not to list at that time, and I didn’t hear from Jacob for more than a year. Last summer, his name popped up on my phone out of the blue. We were texting rapid-fire back-and-forth, and by the end of our conversation, I had a listing agreement on its way to Jacob’s email inbox.
His condo in Old Town was one of my favorite listings to date. We got almost ten offers in one weekend (my boyfriend played bartender on Jacob’s patio during the open houses) and celebrated a quick sale.
A week or two later, Jacob was under contract on his next place: an incredibly unique condo in Wicker Park. The home had fantastic bones and a kitchen that was just begging for a rehab. We closed his Old Town sale and Wicker Park purchase seamlessly, and then Jacob spent some time making his new house feel like his home.
Before
After
He invited me over a few months ago to see his place. It was late afternoon and the sun was just beginning to set in the sky, filling the living room with warm golden light. I walked over to the front bay windows, marveling over the tree-top views of Evergreen Street and pausing to admire his crown molding (it was not there before).
Slowly, I moved toward the piece-de-resistance. A stunning juxtaposition of chic mixed metals and farmhouse touches, the kitchen is so unlike most. Jacob installed the most high-end appliances money can buy, a subway tile backsplash with dark grout (favorite!), soft white cabinets with brass pulls and open glass shelving. He tied it all together with two incredibly cool sunburst chandeliers.
I headed up a small set of stairs to see the two bedrooms, two bathrooms and outdoor space. On the way, I took note of the floors. They had been refinished to a light grey color, a welcome change from espresso or maple. Everything felt fresh, right down to tiny details like the oil-rubbed bronze door hinges and knobs.
After seeing the rest of his home, I sat with Jacob to talk about life and real estate. His job was taking him overseas, and as much as he wanted to stay in the home he had created, he told me he had to leave the city. I assured him I’d find him a buyer who would love this space just as he did.
This week, I’ll list this condo for $469,900. Please contact me if you’d like a private showing.
