Story of The Sale

1006 Ridge, Evanston

Some homes are more than addresses. They're anchors to a neighborhood's story, witnesses to a city's evolution, and keepers of the families who shaped them.

1006 Ridge is one of those homes.

Built in the early 1920s within Evanston's Ridge Historic District, this jumbo bungalow had been home to only three families over the past century. Our clients bought the home in 1995 and spent the next thirty years thoughtfully restoring it while raising twin daughters. Every decision honored the home's original character, from restoring stained glass that had been stored in the basement to salvaging original doors for the second-floor addition.

When the time came to pass it to its next chapter, we knew this wasn't a typical sale. It was a responsibility.

The Research

To tell this story properly, we started at the Evanston History Center, uncovering the significance of the Ridge Historic District and what made 1006 Ridge special: it's a strong early example of a Chicago Jumbo Bungalow, sitting on an 8,700-square-foot lot with a rare green Ludowici tile roof known since the 19th century for its beauty and longevity.

This research became the foundation of everything that followed.

The Marketing

The home was in remarkable condition, beautifully restored with period-appropriate details. Our job wasn't to transform it. Our job was to tell its story to the right audience.

When we first stepped into this home, it was filled with memories and decades of belongings. The owner had passed, and his daughter found herself responsible for preparing her father’s home for sale. She felt overwhelmed by the task and was unsure how to even begin.

That’s when our team stepped in.

Over the course of months, we guided her through every step of the process from clean-out to closing. We connected her with Smith & Joans of Evanston, a favorite partner who helped her thoughtfully sort through her father’s belongings — advising on what to keep, coordinating donations, and arranging for the removal of everything no longer needed. Our team handled everything, coordinating contractors, selecting lighting and finishes, managing paint and design upgrades, and ensuring the home was ready to shine.

Once refreshed, our partners staged the home to highlight its warmth, space, and natural light. The transformation was remarkable. The home went from dated and cluttered to bright, inviting, and beautifully market-ready.

After professional photography and a successful round of broker’s opens and open houses, it paid off with multiple offers and an agreed contract that was $40,000 over asking price. Every home tells a story. We specialize in turning those stories into success, one detail, one decision, and one sale at a time.

This one was a special transaction… representing my old neighbors.  I lived on the same block as these clients for my 14 years in South Evanston.  This neighborhood, and the people who live in it, continues to hold a special place in my heart and I always love the opportunity to showcase this urban-suburban hidden gem of a neighborhood! This is the 11th sale for me on this block of Mulford and Harvard.  Three of these homes I have sold twice in 12 years!

Selling 1100 Mulford was a full-fledged event.  We started pre-marketing the house by collaborating with our artist client to hold an open house showcasing his artwork.  It provided an opportunity to sell his artwork but also present the home to potential buyers. We collaborated with Evanston Made to cross-promote the event and were able to get lots of eyes on the home.  Working with these clients started several years ago when they reached out to ask my advice on the best way to spend money on the home.  I consulted with them several times over the last 6 years helping them decide on kitchen updates and adding more livable space to the 2nd floor of this Bungalow.

Because of this, our teamwork and collaboration netted them a whopping return on their investments.  We listed the house for $699,000 which, by all accounts on paper, seemed high for this 3Br, 1.5 BA Bungalow.  But the character, charm and energy of this house went beyond bed and bath count and buyers felt it.  We had several offers and settled with a buyer who paid $780,000 ($81,000 over asking)!