FROM DRAB TO DREAM HOME

When Gabriela Loncar first saw photos of the 1953 Hinsdale home that her husband and business partner, Brandon, found and fell in love with, she was more than skeptical.

“I was like no way,” says Gabriela, a licensed broker and partner with her husband in their Loncar Realty firm. “Then, after walking in and listening to Brandon’s crazy vision, I leaned over the kitchen countertop and started to see the vision come to life.”

These long-time sweethearts (they’ve known each other since age 11 and dated through middle school and high school) had already renovated several homes but something about this one immediately felt special.

“Our construction expertise helps us work with buyers to see the value in purchasing a home as-is, making easy cosmetic updates to enjoy for years, and selling for a profit later,” she says, explaining that the home they were about to take on had a great layout, but the colors were all wrong. “We knew that if we made cosmetic updates to make the colors more timeless and neutral that the return on the investment would be great when we go to sell.”

Soon after that original tour, she began drafting the kitchen floor plan, knowing they had a 30-day window to get it all done.

“We have this process down to a science. The old kitchen was demolished and on the driveway an hour after we closed,” she says. “We added wood floors to the places that previously had carpet and started working on the bathrooms and kitchen simultaneously.”

Gabriela says the couple could not be happier with their project and hope their transformation can be an inspiration for both buyers and sellers.

“Whether it’s a small paint job or a major kitchen/bath renovation, we have tackled it all,” she says. “Presentation is everything for Loncar Realty and our sellers, and when we implement easy cosmetic changes, properly stage the home, and showcase it all with our high quality marketing, our listings sell for top dollar.”

For more information about Loncar Realty, call 630-918-1150 or visit loncarrealty.com.