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DIANA AND CHUCK IVAS AWARDED BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES’ CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE – GOLD

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – March 11, 2019 – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group today announced that Diana and Chuck Ivas have been named to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ esteemed Chairman’s Circle-Gold Level for 2018.

Diana and Chuck were recognized for their exemplary performance at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ annual Sales Convention, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 10-12. Real estate professionals from across North America attended the annual business and educational event.

“We congratulate Diana and Chuck. Winning the Gold Level of the Chairman’s Circle Award is an impressive achievement and attests to Diana and Chuck’s commitment to their profession. They are knowledgeable, have a strong work ethic and are sales leaders. Diana and Chuck strive to provide the best real estate experience for all of their clients,” said Nancy Nagy, CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices continues as America’s fastest-growing real estate brokerage network, with more than 48,000 agents and 1,400 offices named to the brand since its launch in September 2013. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group became a member of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network in 2014. KoenigRubloff consistently ranks among the top companies in the Midwest and global network.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group is a full-service real estate firm with nearly 1,500 real estate professionals and staff in 23 offices serving customers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, the North Shore, Western Suburban communities and Harbor Country, Michigan. Deep local roots are complemented by the extensive global reach of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, the top real estate brand in the nation. Affiliated and ancillary services in the form of HomeServices Lending, Fort Dearborn Title, and HomeServices Insurance complete the comprehensive services offered to clients. Visit KoenigRubloff.com.

Refrigerator Maintenance

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Your refrigerator doesn’t need a large amount of maintenance to continue to run effectively. Similar to your air conditioner outside, keeping the condenser coils clean in your refrigerator is essential. Cleaning them helps to keep it running smoothly.

Refrigerator

On most refrigerators, the condenser coils are located either on the top, on the back, or across the bottom of your fridge. These coils cool and condense the refrigerant, and when they are compromised with dust, dirt or debris they can’t function correctly.

Keeping the coils clean is a simple task as long as you periodically check back on the coils. We recommend cleaning the coils on your refrigerator every 6 months. One effective way to clean the coils is by using the vacuum cleaner with the brush attachment. This will ensure you are able to get in deep without worrying about cutting your hands on any of the metal. If you keep the coils clean, it will help keep your refrigerator clean and ensure the items inside stay cold.

Ice Maker

Another common household item that is found in your kitchen is the ice maker, these also have condenser coils that can get covered in dust. We recommend cleaning these coils every 6 months as well.

It should only take about 15 minutes to do both of these tasks. In the long run, it will save you the headache of having to worry about your food not staying cold in your refrigerator or not having ice in your ice maker.

Check out Chuck’s Maintenance Tips for more helpful tips!

Recognized in Crain’s as a 2019 Notable Residential Real Estate Broker!

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Crain's 2019 Notable Residential Real Estate Broker

The 134 brokers on this list are among the Chicago area’s highest-selling producers. Together, they form a cross section of the region’s residential real estate community, representing buyers and sellers in luxury markets, as well as in more modest neighborhoods. Some work independently, while others lead teams. They all have at least one thing in common: Each broker closed a minimum of $20 million in home sales in 2018, a year when the local housing market slowed and then dropped by double digits in December. A few of the brokers featured here ended 2018 on a more positive note by surpassing their career records for annual sales.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/notable/residential-real-estate-brokers-2019

What to Expect int he 2019 Housing Market

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2019 Housing Market Outlook
Here’s What to Expect
Housing Market Outlook
Fed Rounds Out the Year with Yet Another Rate Hike
Rake Hike Timeline
Mortgage Rates
Housing Trends at a Glance
Existing-Home Sales increased in November
Housing Trends at a Glance
Housing Starts Jumped 3.2% in November
In August, Mortgage Delinquency Rate Fell to Lowest Lefvel in 18 Years

4 Steps to Prep Your House for Your Winter Vacation

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Going on vacation to escape the cold weather? We don’t blame you! Winter prepping before you leave can be a chore. But it is essential for every homeowner to take these precautions before going out of town in the winter months. Here are 4 simple steps to prep your house before you leave for your winter vacation.

Turning off Your Water

A very simple tip from us to you is if you are going on vacation in the winter make sure that you turn off your water! Turning off the water main can lessen any worries about frozen pipes while you are away on your trip.

Draining the Sprinkler System

If you have an inbound sprinkler system, be sure that you completely drain the lines of any water. This will ensure that you don’t come back home to the headache of cracked lines and/or a broken system.

Setting your Furnace

Keep your furnace at about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, you won’t run up your electric bill, and you will keep your house warm enough to prevent any damage from the cold air getting into your house.

Stopping your Mail

Make sure that you stop your mail or have a close friend/neighbor pick it up for you. You don’t want your mail to overload in the mailbox. The foul weather could cause the mail to get wet and to potential intruders, that’s a sure sign that no one is home. An easy way to stop your mail is to go to www.usps.com and you are able to stop your mail right online.

We hope you liked these house prepping tips and we hope you have a great vacation!

Check out Chuck’s Maintenance Tips for more helpful tips!

5 Tips to Help Get Your Snowblower Ready for the Winter

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It’s getting to be that time of year again; soon enough SNOW will be on its way! Here are some helpful tips on how to make sure your snow blower is tuned up and ready for the winter.

5 Tips to help get Your Snowblower Ready for the Winter

1. Drain the Old Fuel and Replace with Fresh Fuel

Drain the fuel from your snowblower’s tank or have your local small engine maintenance shop take care of this. If you decide to do it yourself, use extreme care! Work in a well-ventilated area with no open flames or sparks in the surrounding area. Fresh, clean fuel is necessary because old gas absorbs moisture when it sits for long periods of time. A tip for next year: one way to prevent gas that sits from going bad is using a fuel stabilizer. Otherwise, gas typically goes bad in 6 months.

2. Check the Fuel Filter, Fuel Line, and Spark Plugs

These all are recommended to be checked and changed accordingly before each winter season. The fuel filter could be clogged and need to be replaced. Be sure to inspect the fuel line to make sure there are no cracks and that it is still flexible and soft. If you have changed your spark plugs last year or you missed a year of replacements, you’ll probably want to replace them this year.

3. Check the Oil

Be sure to check your snowblowers oil, the oil is essential to the lubrication of the engine. If you’re changing your oil at home, take your old oil to your local oil recycling station.

4. Check Your Tires

Check out the tires to make sure there are no cracks or holes, replace if necessary. After that be sure to inflate the tires to the proper PSI for the upcoming season.

5. TEST IT BEFORE IT SNOWS.

Nothing would be worse than seeing that fresh coat of snow, going outside to start your snowblower and realizing that it doesn’t work. After giving it a fresh tank of gas, take it outside on the driveway start it up and test out all of the controls.

We hope with these 5 tips you’ll have a snowblower that is ready to work hard this winter season. For more helpful home tips, check out our Maintenance Tips page!