Reclaim, Repurpose, Rebuild

2/17/2017

I buy distressed, neglected, “diamonds in the rough” properties in the Chicago land area. I reclaim, repurpose, rebuild & sell them. This is not your typical “fix & flip’. I am all about taking what exists and making it useful and beautiful again, preserving, restoring, replicating what I can, repurposing what I cannot. If you are looking for property to invest in or currently have one to repurpose or sell, I will work with you to achieve your goal.

Detailed description

• Search & find distressed properties
• Buy from auctions, estate sales, private party, adds
• Locate investors and secure funding

• Locate buyers/ investors
• Due diligence
• Feasibility studies
• Rezoning
• Project development

Are you planning a rehab project in your bungalow or vintage home? Come be inspired by winning rehab projects from our Richard H. Driehaus Bungalow Awards! We will present Before & After photos, and the winners will be there to explain their process and answer questions. Please join me.

https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07edsua66f3aedc73f&oseq=&c=&ch

2/13/2017

So, whether I am buying a property for my own investment, or someone else, designing and rebuilding for others I make it my mission to look at every building to understand its past and to plan for its future and most important fully understand who and what is driving the need for change.

By following a set of guidelines, I can give my clients and myself the best possible outcomes.

• I am my toughest client and if it is not good enough for me, it is not good enough for you.
• Have I done my research and due diligence?
• Will the project result in increased value?
• Have I looked at every available option?
• Have I got the best cost for the work?
• Am I on schedule, am I on budget, am I within scope?
• Not every project requires a full rebuild.
• Not every client requires all areas of my service, ala-cart is fine.
• Am I being environmentally responsible?
• Have I truly heard what my client wants and expects?
• Have I outlined those expectations in writing and gained my clients agreement?
• Finally, communicate, communicate, communicate.

2/6/2017

Before talking about what I do and the services I offer I thought it might be helpful to share with you where my mind wanders when it comes to my passion for architecture/ real estate……

I wish I could count the times I have almost had an auto accident because I was looking at houses, buildings, properties or construction sites. Or the times my family would not acknowledge that they knew me because I would walk right up to a house to touch it, or pull into a drive way marked private. Needless to say I have walked through rodent infested buildings, looked at mold covered walls, picked my way through structurally questionable spaces and yes, gone into “not so safe” neighborhoods just to see a building, I just had to see it. Why? Passion! The passion for making old new again.

There is an excitement that comes from the challenge of seeing what every building has to offer, it’s history, use-past & present, it’s architecture and design. No matter the state of disrepair, deterioration and, or out-of-date design and functionality, I always ask myself “how I can bring it back to life”? You must be wondering if it is always worth it? To answer your question, yes. Every building deserves at least a chance for review but there are some that cannot be brought back. And those buildings should be deconstructed thoughtfully as to reclaim as much material for reuse as possible.

Watch for upcoming posts about my journey with my most recent property.

Best,

M