I have a friend, who for privacy’s sake shall remain unnamed here, but he is obsessed with burgers. Since we left Austin, he has been on the search for the perfect Chicago burger. His standards are very high, so going to a burger joint is a journey of anticipation, elation, and potential disappointment. This week took us to Umami Burger in Wicker Park. The menu is mouthwatering, with a variety of appetizers, piles of fries, and of course, a bunch of burgers. After seeing a couple of plates come out, we knew we had to start with fries. For a slight up-charge, you can “Umamify” your fries, meaning, smother them with delicious things. We decided to “Make ’em Manly”. The fries were crispy and salty and came covered in rich beer-cheddar cheese, thick cut bacon, onions strings, and chives. Between the three of us, these disappeared quickly. If you’re a fry hog, I recommend getting your own order or sharing with a date. With so many great burger choices, I knew I couldn’t decide on just one to try. I ordered the Slider Trio, which includes the Hatch, Truffle, and Manly burgers. The Manly burger came with the same toppings as were on our fries and was equally delicious. The Hatch burger was topped with roasted hatch chiles, house Cali cheese, and roasted garlic aioli. This is a sentence I never thought I’d write, but it was almost too cheesy for me. I wanted more spice from the chiles and felt they were overwhelmed by the cheese. The Truffle Burger was absolutely the star for me. Topped with truffled aioli, house truffle cheese, and a truffle glaze, the flavor was rich and intense and the burger was cooked to perfection.  My burger-loving friend also ordered the Truffle Burger and he enjoyed it as well.

While not yet my friend’s favorite burger in Chicago, Umami Burger was certainly well worth the trip. The Wicker Park location is open Sundays through Thursdays from 11 am to 11 pm and Fridays/Saturdays from 11 am to 12 pm. They feature a Social Hour Mondays through Fridays from 4 pm to 6 pm and again from 9 pm to 10 pm. Stop in for $4 draft beers, $3 truffle fries, $5 glasses of wine, $6 starters, and $7 specialty cocktails.  Check out their location in the West Loop too!

When you buy a home, you have the option to include a home warranty in the sale of the property, or purchase it after the deal closes. These warranties cover the repair or replacement of any mechanical systems or major appliances that come with the home and are good for a certain time period.

Depending on the age of the home you’re buying, sellers may include a home warranty in the sale as their promise that there’s nothing wrong with the home they’re selling. If something does happen after you take possession, the warranty may cover you financially.

Don’t Confuse Home Warranties With Homeowner’s Insurance

Coverage for components in the home that may break down sounds like homeowner’s insurance, doesn’t it? But despite their similar definitions, they are different. For starters, home warranties are optional, while insurance is necessary. Lenders require that a home is insured before a mortgage is even extended to a buyer. Insurance is also meant to cover major damage or loss associated with your home’s structure and your personal property that may be caused by theft, vandalism, flooding, fires, or other natural disasters.

On the other hand, home warranties typically cover appliances and systems that break down after normal wear and tear that doesn’t necessarily have to do with any type of major accident or natural disaster. 

With homeowner’s insurance, the cost of the policy depends on things such as your home’s age, construction, location, and your personal belongings. On the other hand, the cost of a standard home warranty in the same location is the same.

What is Covered With a Home Warranty?

Not all home warranties provide the same amount of coverage. Every home warranty policy and company is different. Having said that, basic coverage typically covers things like the furnace, air conditioner, plumbing system, and electrical system. However, coverage varies from one company to the next, so it’s important to look over the details of your contract. 

You can get additional coverage if you upgrade to a better plan, which will subsequently be more expensive. There are also add-on plans that you may be interested in that provide coverage for specific items. For instance, if you want components such as all your major appliances, central vacuum system, pool, hot tub, or irrigation system included, you can do so for an extra cost.

In order for your home warranty to ensure coverage, all the components that you want covered need to be in proper working order when the warranty goes into effect. If you’ve got an old appliance that you want to be covered under a home warranty, you need to have the associated paperwork detailing any known issues with it to make sure your contract covers it.

How Long Do Home Warranties Last?

The length of time that a home warranty lasts will depend on exactly what is being covered. Typically, components such as major appliances, drywall, paint, and stucco are covered for 12 months. Builder home warranties usually cover up to 10 years for structural issues, and two years for plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems. Again, it’s important to look over your specific contract because plans vary from one company to the next.

You Need to Get Approved For Specific Work to Be Performed

If your home ever experiences a problem that’s covered under warranty, the home warranty company will decide if it’s covered under your plan, and will then send a contractor to your home to diagnose the problem. The contractor will then need to get approval from the home warranty company before making any necessary repairs.

Don’t Forget About the Deductible

While the home warranty company will pay for the repairs needed, you’re still on the hook for paying a deductible when you make a claim. The amount you pay will depend on your plan, but it typically falls within the $50 to $100 range per incident.

Coverage is Transferred to the Buyer if You Sell

If sell your home while the warranty is still in effect, whatever is left on the coverage will be transferred to the buyer. This can be an attractive feature on your listing. If you want to top up the coverage, you can add the difference at closing.

The same applies when you buy: if there is any remaining coverage on the warranty of the home you’re buying, it’ll be transferred over to you at the point of closing.

Should You Buy a Home Warranty?

If the home in question is fairly new, a home warranty might not necessarily be worth it, especially if you’re handy enough to tackle any repairs on your own. On the other hand, if the home is older and you don’t have the home repair skills nor the desire to be responsible for making any repairs, a warranty might be worth investing in. Your decision to buy a home warranty or not will ultimately come down to your ability take care of the repair work on your own and the likelihood of anything breaking down in the near future.

I’m a sucker for great Asian food and there is no shortage in Chicago. I am so happy to have stumbled upon Del Seoul, a tucked away Korean Street BBQ restaurant in Lakeview. The restaurant is small and unassuming, with counter service and a limited number of tables. We began our meal with two of their appetizers: The K-town Chicken Wings and the Kimchi Fries. Between three of us, the 8 piece chicken wings were the perfect size. Drenched in a sweet soy, chili, and garlic glaze, the wings were crunchy, moist, and delicious. The basket of fries was piled high with sautéed kimchi, onions, pork belly, scallions, melted cheddar and jack cheese, and sour cream. While the toppings were delicious, the fries were not quite hot enough and got soggy near the bottom. Del Seoul is known for their street tacos and we couldn’t leave without trying some. Between $2.90 and $3.75 per taco, the prices can’t be beat either. I had the Sesame-Chili Shrimp and Kalbi (grilled beef short rib), each on flour tortillas. The shrimp was absolutely delicious, panko-battered, crispy, and topped with a sesame-chili aioli. The “secret slaw” was just the right amount of crunch. The Kalbi was really the star for me. The meat was tender and cooked to perfection. With a hint of spice, it perfectly balanced the coolness of the slaw and cilantro-onion relish.

We came in at peak time on a Saturday night, were able to find a table quickly, and the food service was lightning fast. Although at times there was a line for the counter, it never seemed other customers had trouble finding tables. Del Seoul serves both beer and wine. They deliver within a mile radius of the restaurant; you can find more information on that here. Hours: Monday-Thursday from 11:30 am- 9:30 pm, Friday-Saturday from 11:30 am- 10 pm, and Sunday from 11:30 am- 9 pm.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

It’s customary to call a real estate professional to help you when you’re on the prowl for a resale home, but what about if you’re interested in new construction? Isn’t it enough just to deal with the builder to choose a lot, select your home’s layout, and seal the deal? After all, you don’t have to deal with a seller or need a home inspection.

Contrary to what you might believe, buying new construction isn’t as simple as picking out a specific model and signing a few papers. It’s still a real estate transaction and needs to be carefully navigated before you make any commitments.

Here are just a handful of reasons why a professional real estate agent should be by your side representing you when purchasing a new home build.

Make Sure You Work With a Trusted Builder

Many new home construction builders are reputable, but some aren’t. How will you be able to spot the bad apples in the bushel? Having a real estate agent on your team can help you focus on builders that have a good track record of following through with their promises and delivering high-quality craftsmanship. Understanding how a specific builder works can help to avoid any unpleasant surprises and pitfalls down the line.   

Offer a Sense of Security

Just like with a resale transaction, having a buyer agent represent you will ensure that your best interests will be looked after. Builders are in it for the money, just like any other type of business. That’s not to say that you won’t be treated with professionalism, but the builder’s best interests inevitably lie with them.

If you work with the builder’s real estate agents, they’ll be representing the builder, not you. The builder’s representatives will be working to keep the best interests of the builder in mind rather than yours.

Having the sense of security to know that you have a professional who’s experienced in the realm of real estate – including new construction – can help ease the stresses that are often associated with entering these types of transactions and ensure that you are properly looked after.

Ask the Right Questions

When you’re buying from a builder, you must ask the right questions to get the answers you need to make an informed buying decision. An experienced real estate agent will know the right questions to ask.

What extra charges will you be responsible for paying? Can you transfer the agreement before it closes? What type of warranty is offered? What upgrades can be selected? These questions only scratch the surface of what should be asked before you sign on with a builder, and your agent will now exactly what to ask.

Guide You to Choosing Upgrades That Will Bring the Most ROI

Just because you’re in the process of buying a new home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider the potential of selling your home some time in the future. While you may have decided that this will be your “forever” home, anything can happen. Choosing the right upgrades for the specific neighborhood you’re buying into can help add more value to the property should you ever sell.

In addition, experienced real estate agents will be able to provide you with advice on upgrades that would be more cost-effective to do on your own or with a separate contractor after the fact to help keep more money in your pocket. 

Ensure the Contract is Solid

If you’ve ever been involved in a real estate transaction before, then you’re likely well aware of the fact that these contracts can be lengthy and often confusing. There’s a ton of real estate industry lingo in these documents that the average person may not understand. Just like a real estate agent can help you navigate these contracts in a typical resale deal, so can they assist you when reviewing the contracts that you will be bound to with the builder.

Help With Negotiations

Negotiating isn’t just reserved for sellers of resale homes. You can also work with a builder to make the deal a little bit sweeter for you. Real estate professionals understand exactly where they should be focusing their negotiating tactics. Even if the builder is set on the purchase price, they may be willing to include extra upgrades or even closing fees in the deal. 

The Bottom Line

It’s easy to get caught up in the allure of new home construction, especially when you visit a sales center or model home and see how beautiful a new home can potentially look like. But it’s important to keep your head up and treat this transaction like any other contact. Having proper representation in the form of a buyer agent can help ensure you’re covering all the bases and protecting your pocketbook.