AT HOME WITH

Chris & Dana

Wicker Park, Chicago | Represented by Melanie Everett

Chris & Dana were on a hunt for a single-family home in the city to accommodate their growing family. In the midst of the extremely competitive Spring 2021 market, this was a challenge! 

We found their dream house in Wicker Park completely off-market, & they have been making it home ever since! 

Chris and Dana are some of the most down-to-earth, fun-loving, and compassionate people I know. They love to host and make others feel at home in their space — I can personally attest to this, as I’ve been lucky enough to have been their guest many times over the years.

When these sweet friends reached out to me about jumpstarting a home search, I was both thrilled and nervous! Representing friends is the greatest honor, but it can also be nerve-wracking 🙂 Right from the start, Chris and Dana were a dream to work with — we got busy touring homes across several different neighborhoods.

Spring Market 2021. This was one of the most competitive markets I’ve personally experienced, especially for single-family homes. We were still knee-deep in the pandemic, and many buyers at that time were prioritizing extra space both inside and out — exactly what houses could offer. Chris and Dana were patient as we explored active inventory, while waiting for new homes to hit the market.

We found their house really by chance. I had sent a message out to fellow agents, asking if anyone had pocket listings that fit Chris and Dana’s criteria. An agent I know contacted me about one of her pocket listings. A charming old house, in Wicker Park, with a cheery blue door.

It. was. perfect. Chris and Dana fell in love with this house from just the photos, and as soon as we toured it, we put together their offer. This was a golden opportunity — we were the only ones to see this house, before it even hit the private market. Chris and Dana were simply meant to have it!

They closed on their new house shortly before Dana’s due date. Since then, they brought home their daughter, and this summer, they will add one more little one to the mix. I could not be happier for this adorable family of 3 (soon, 4!), and I really love the place they call home.

A Few Quick Questions for Chris & Dana

How many homes did you look at before finding yours? We looked at around 10 – 15 homes + condos, though it feels like a million more, given how many Zillow listings we reviewed 😉

How did you know this was The One? We immediately loved the charm/history, the size & layout of the kitchen, the yard (!!) & the potential for the home to fit our family for many years.

What is the very best feature in your home? We absolutely love our kitchen – we spend our mornings at the built in banquette my dad made for us & our evenings prepping & cooking with our daughter around our awesome island. It’s truly the heart of our home!

Which room do you spend the most time in? Our basement is definitely the winner during the long, cold Chicago winters – it’s filled with our daughter’s toys & books & has excellent space to get the wiggles out. Now it’s summertime again, we are spending almost all our time on our front stoop or in our backyard playing with our dog, Wellie, and trying to keep up with our 2 year old!

Go-to restaurant in your neighborhood? Piece Pizza, our forever favorite! Order it square cut & well done 😉

Share your fave memory in your home! We bought our home during the pandemic and moved in when we were 7 months pregnant with our first baby. I never could have dreamed of having such a beautiful place to bring our daughter home to under normal circumstances, but having such a safe, warm home waiting to welcome Sophia during such a turbulent & overwhelming time was a true godsend. Our home has been such a refuge & gift to our family over the past two years and we are so excited to welcome our second baby to this home in August and for all the beautiful new memories to come!

Family Photos by Courtney Fitzpatrick Photo + Film