Should you move or improve? That is the million dollar question.

When your family is growing, or you begin questioning whether or not those little quirks in your home are still charming, you may start to wonder whether you should move to a larger home or simply invest in renovating it.

Your home no longer fits your needs, and you can’t go on denying this fact any longer. Regardless of what these needs are, a decision needs to be made – one that is worth a ton of money.

Here is some sound advice to help you decide what route is best for you.

Find Out if You’re Legally Able to Expand

First of all, you need to make sure you’re even legally able to expand your home. Find out if the community you live in allows additions, and what the limits are on how large a house can be relative to the size of the land it sits on. If your home is already as big as it can legally be, an addition is essentially off the table.

Instead, you’ll need to work within the footprint you’ve already got, or you’ll have to relocate.

Will an Addition Make Financial Sense?

If you find out that you are legally able to expand your home, your next task is to determine whether or not such a decision is a good financial move.

Get yourself a cost estimate to find out what the price tag will be like to make the changes to your home that you have in mind. Once you’ve got that number, figure how much the addition would add to the value of your home. Then compare this new value with comparable prices of similar homes in your neighborhood. It may just be that you won’t get a decent return on your investment.

While having a larger home would certainly accommodate your needs, you don’t want to expand to the point where your home is basically the elephant on the block. You don’t want to have a home that’s twice the size of all the other homes on the street – the value simply won’t be there.

You need to strategically decide if your investment will still be worth that much a few years down the road. For instance, you don’t want to put $250,000 into your home when it won’t even be worth $200,000 in five years.

Neighborhoods can only support so much cost for a specific home. If home buyers have $400,000 to spend on a house, they’ll most likely look to an area that is made up predominantly of other $400,000 homes, instead of $250,000 homes.

Just make sure that you are bringing your home up to – or only slightly above – the standards in your area. If that’s the case, renovating just might be a great idea from a financial point of view. But if your home is already the biggest, nicest home on the block, expanding it even more probably won’t result in any payback on resale.

Make Sure the Renovation Will Boost Your Home’s Value

Whatever remodeling job you decide to pour your money into, make sure it will add value to your property. This can help offset the expense of the job you plan on taking on. Speak with a seasoned real estate agent who is experienced in buying and selling in your particular neighborhood. He or she will be able to give you pointers about what upgrades hold the most value in the are, and which ones don’t.

For instance, if most of the houses in the area are 3-bedroom homes, and yours only has 2, it would probably make sense to add that extra bedroom to bump up the value of your property. On the other hand, if the majority of the homes on the block are ranch-style bungalows, and you decide to add a second to your home, you might not be able to recoup that investment money come sale time. It simply depends on what buyers in your specific neighborhood hold value to.

Some renovation jobs bring back a sizable return on every dollar spent, while others don’t. Do the math on your particular renovation job to determine if the return on investment is a healthy one.

This is a matter of land value versus structure value. It’s the land that appreciates the most – the house not so much.

When Moving Makes More Sense

There are a ton of things you can do to your home to improve or upgrade it. But there are certain things that cannot be changed – namely, the location. Analyze the size of your land, the schools in the area, the greenery, and other factors – these are things that can’t be altered. If you can’t live with these factors, then moving probably makes the most sense.

Not being a fan of your neighborhood isn’t the only thing that might prompt you to start house hunting, either. Maybe your home was built decades ago when lead paint and asbestos were the norm in home construction. These are things you definitely don’t want to touch, especially when renovating.

And while moving might not necessarily be easier than renovating, it’s definitely a lot faster. It’s simply a matter of what would make the most financial sense for you, what would ultimately cause the least amount of stress, and what would provide you with exactly what you’re looking for.

A house, while still an investment, is really all about lifestyle first and foremost. The decision to move versus renovate is comes down to this: will your existing home – after renovated – make you and your family happy? If not, and you can afford something different, then moving might be the right decision.

Just make sure this decision is not made without the help of professionals, like a contractor, financial advisor, and real estate agent.

Most people know Lincoln Parkas the home of the only free-admission zoo in North America. Or, they know the great Chicago History Museum and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Or DePaul University, the largest Catholic university in the U.S. Or the amazing restaurants, clubs, and concert venues. 

Sadly, it’s still home to Lincoln Park Towing, 4882 N. Clark Street, aka, the ‘Lincoln Park Pirates. ‘

Lincoln Park, notes Wikipedia, has Chicago’s only 3-Michelin star restaurant, Alinea. The Lettuce Entertain You restaurant empire started at R.J. Grunts at 2056 N. Lincoln Park West. Bordered on the north by Diversey Parkway, on the west by the Chicago River, on the south by North Avenue, and on the east by Lake Michigan, Lincoln Park communities includes Lincoln Central, Mid-North, Old Town Triangle, Park West, RANCH Triangle, Sheffield, and Wrightwood Neighbors.  The area also includes the Clybourn Corridor retail district.

It wasn’t always the shopping, dining, entertainment and educational mecca that it is today. And certainly it wasn’t one of the wealthiest communities in Chicago. According to Wikipedia sources, in 1824, the United States Army built a small post near what is now Clybourn Avenue and Armitage Avenue. “There were Native American settlements existed along Green Bay Trail, now called Clark Street (named after George Rogers Clark, of Lewis & Clark fame), at the current intersection of Halsted Street and Fullerton Avenue. Immigrants came in the 20^th Century, from Eastern Europe and Italy. Later, Lincoln Park was the scene of the ‘St. Valentine’s Day Massacre’ on February 14, 1929, when seven mob associates and a mechanic were shot to death in an automobile garage at 2122 N. Clark Street.” 

Golfing in Winter at Diversey Driving Range 

Yes, Lincoln Park Zoo is open year-round. But that’s not all the outdoor fun you can have in the middle of winter. Golf fanatics  can golf year-round at the Diversey Driving Range & Miniature Golf, 141 W. Diversey Parkway, open daily from 7am – 11pm. The last sale at 10pm, according to their website. The course, which opened in 1916, now boasts a synthetic turf range, two putting greens, a miniature golf range, and multiple covered heated hitting mat areas. Additionally, the upper hitting deck offers views of Lake Michigan, Diversey Harbor, Lincoln Park Zoo, and downtown! For more information, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Wow! A few days ago, it was in the high 80’s. Now, it’s 65 with lows in the 50’s! Fall is definitely here. Of course, there will be more days in the 80’s (that’s Chicago for you), but we need to get our landscape moving towards cooler weather. 

This is the best time to plant grass seed. It will have time to get established before winter and the cooler temperatures will have it thriving. 

Add some topsoil to the lawn to encourage the seed growth and help the old lawn to recover from some of the summer heat. Spread the soil out as evenly as you can and work it in with the back of a rake. Throw out more seed than you think you’ll need, because half of it will end up as bird food. Water it well and moisten every day until it germinates. This usually takes 7 days but can also take up to 14. 

It’s wise to start fertilizing now. Choose a fertilizer that is good for root development, not weed control. Weed control fertilizers can prevent your grass from germinating. Fertilizers are graded according to the ratio of nutrients. The three nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Look for a higher middle number on the fertilizer. That’s phosphorus and encourages root growth. Use a granular fertilizer as it will release over time. 

It’s also the best time for tree and shrub planting! Again, they will have time to establish. Follow  planting and mulching instructions closely. It’s a good rule of thumb to keep mulch away from the trunks and stems. They need to breathe, and too much mulch too close can encourage insects and vermin. Water, water, water! Do so until the ground freezes. The best way to do this is to let an open hose trickle a foot or so away from the trunk. Let it go at least an hour and do this twice a week until the ground freezes. 

As the garden plants are spent, remove them, don’t compost them. They may have diseases or insects that you are not aware of and it’s better to not take a chance. Smooth out the soil and add compost. We use mushroom compost, and it seems to work well. Lay down half of the compost and work it into the soil. Spread the other half over the top to discourage any weed seeds from germinating. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago

Believe it or not, autumn has officially arrived this past Thursday and it’s the last weekend of September already!  But, there’s plenty of events throughout Chicago’s various neighborhoods this weekend to help us embrace our new season!!

Chicago’s upbeat jazz scene will be prominently featured this weekend during the 16^th annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival dedicated to the city’s most critically acclaimed artists along with nationally and internationally recognized talent.  This remarkable free festival will be presented on 11 stages with over 34 bands in a variety of settings throughout the Hyde Park neighborhood (South Woodlawn Avenue and Midway Plaisance) for over 18 hours of free, nonstop jazz performances! Come celebrate jazz’s great legacy and bright future on Chicago’s South Side. Afterall, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival is the essence of a first-class festival!!

Celebrate in the streets at Goose Island’s annual end-of-summer 312 Block Party on the pavement outside of its Fulton Street Brewery (1800 W. Fulton St.) on the Near West Side. Wrapping up this Saturday (gates open at 4 p.m.), this year’s event brings together a stacked lineup of performers for some great music, some great food vendors such as Goose Island Clybourn Pub, Harold’s Fried Chicken, Yum Dum and more, plus a great lineup of $5 beers! I’d say it’s time to party!!

Returning for its 19^th year of seasonal revelry this Saturday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m.-7 p.m.) is the St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest taking place in and around St. Alphonsus Church (1429 W. Wellington Ave.) in the Lakeview neighborhood.  This autumn fest features Bavarian foods along with the requisite selection of suds, brats, and pretzels; craft beer tasting (separately ticketed); two stages of Bavarian music and cover bands; and the family friendly KinderFest! As they say, bring on autumn and pull out the lederhosen!!

Check out Chicago Gourmet’s new addition to its four-day slate of programming and events, Prost! In The Park this Sunday (1 p.m.-4 p.m.) on the rooftop of the Harris Theater (205 E. Randolph St.) in The Loop.  This newest event brings a German flair inviting local chefs to go “überboard” with riffs on classic German delights and is hosted by Monteverde’s chef Sarah Grueneberg. There will also be plenty of fun cocktails for your sipping pleasure, foamy steins of beer, and oom-pah bands!  It’s sure to be a can’t miss event!!

The 2nd annual Oktober-Family-Fest returns to The Northman Beer & Cider Garden (233 E. Riverwalk) in The Loop this Sunday (12 p.m.-5 p.m.). Live music kicks off at noon along with face painting, balloon twisting, and a craft and go table! And of course, plenty of Oktoberfest food and drinks for the entire family!!

Come and enjoy this weekend’s Randolph Street Market Festival at Plumbers Hall (1341 W. Randolph St.) in the West Loop. It’s one of Chicago’s Top Festivals with continuous live music, great foods, sensational treasures, and is a mecca shopping experience for interior designers, Hollywood set decorators and many others. This event is both indoors and outdoors (rain or shine) with over 200 vendors offering art, antiques, vintage, global goods and more!  After a three-year hiatus, it’s time to hunt for those new and old treasures again!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

“To think like a wise man, but to express oneself like the common people.

Lady Gregory’s motto (taken from Aristotle) 

There’s some interesting history behind Andersonville’s Lady Gregory’s Irish Restaurant and Bar, an upscale farm-to-table bar, with a large beer and whiskey menu, served in a ‘traditional’ Irish pub.

According to an archived Chicago Reader story, the restaurant endured a fire three weeks before its opening in 2011, and undaunted, owner Martin Cournane rebuilt the space, proving himself every bit as resilient as the Galway-born Lady Gregory, an author and co-founder of the Irish Literary Theatre and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Cournane pays tribute on the restaurant’s cozy, bookshelf-lined walls laden with books. 

Cournane described the menu to The Reader as “approachable gastrofare.” Well, that’s true. The American-Irish menu is heavy on traditional gastropub offerings as burgers, mac and cheese, and sandwiches, but pays homage to its Irish roots with entrees like Shepherd’s Pie, made with angus sirloin, carrots, potatoes, peas, herbs, beef gravy, and mashed potato, with a parmesan cheese crust. Other hearty offerings include a Chicken Pot Pie with roast chicken, onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, peas, chicken cream gravy, tucked in a pastry crust.

All can be washed down with a selection of 200 Irish whiskeys. 

Lady Gregory’s vegetarian and gluten-free patrons also have many delectable selections. Curried Veggie Pot Pie pairs cauliflower with mushroom, red potato, broccoli, squash and tomato. Or, try the Buddha Bowl, long grain brown rice with broccoli, baby bok choy, red peppers, kale, edamame, bean sprouts, and peanut glaze. 

Their separate gluten-free menu offers Fish and Chips, with crisp fresh haddock, and tartar sauce, served with gluten-free chips and slaw, and a Grilled Scottish Salmon, with a lemon beurre blanc, and served with asparagus and mashed potatoes.

Sandwiches and burgers, served with fries, includes a Blackened Chicken Club, with Swiss cheese, bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, onion, and herb mayonnaise on Tuscan bread.Their Ultimate Grilled Cheese (with bacon) pairs four cheeses –swiss, sharp white cheddar, mozzarella, and brie, with roasted tomato concasse, crispy fried onions, candied bacon confetti, served on parmesan-crusted sourdough bread. Lady Gregory’s Impossa Burger isall-natural all-veggie, vegan bun, lettuce, tomato, onion, daiya cheddar, and their special “impossa” sauce. Their Hatch Kick-Ass Burger hasAmerican cheese, hatch green chile, grilled onions, and Marie Rose sauce. 

Google reviews are generally good, with a 4.5 rating. As one wrote, “The vibe and the foods were good. The grilled cheese was fantastic, with the perfect crisp from the bacon, some sweetness from the jam and abundant cheese over the whole thing. Shepherds pie is delicious too with the melted cheese over smash potatoes. Skillet cookie and ice cream was the highlight for this meal as the cookie is just so good. However, they require a 2.9% transaction fee if you’re using a card, so consider paying with cash.”

Lady Gregory’s Irish Bar & Restaurant is located at 5260 N. Clark Street. They are open Monday-Wednesday from noon– 10:30pm, Thursday from noon– 11pm, Friday and Saturday from noon-11:30pm, and Sunday from 11am– 10:30pm. For reservations, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago