Rare opportunity to own a full duplex in a desirable North Peru location near scenic Baker Lake. Each unit features a well-designed oor plan with 2 spacious bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, an attached 1-car garage, and a full un nished basement-ideal for storage or future expansion. Enjoy the outdoors with a charming front porch and a large deck, perfect for relaxing or entertaining. One unit has been tastefully updated with quartz countertops and durable vinyl plank ooring throughout the main level, o ering a modern touch. Whether you’re looking for a smart investment or a multi-generational living option, this property is perfect to live in one side and rent out the other. Situated on a corner lot, this duplex combines comfort, functionality, and convenience in a prime location.
See listing on page 2
How to keep an AC unit running strong
PAGE 5
Dining room conversion ideas PAGE 12
How to repair 4 common types of wall damage PAGE 18
Peru - One of a kind 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath home, full basement, 2 car heated & a/c attached garage.
#12423376 $395,000
Varna - Stunning 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath lake view home, 4 car heated garage and pontoon.
#12425815 $425,000
Hennepin - Riverfront 4 bedroom, 2 bath home, 2 car garage, upper and lower decks, nicely landscaped. #12408257 $329,000
RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS
Peru - Full duplex, each with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1 car garage, large deck and covered porch. #12423024 $368,900
Spring Valley - Neat 2 bedroom, 1 bath home, main level laundry, privately fenced rear yard.
#12302208 $149,900
RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS
- Two distinct homes, front home 3 bedroom/1 bath, rear home 1 bedroom/1 bath.
#12391963 $147,000
Spring Valley - Lovely 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with attached 2+ car garage on wooded 8+ acres.
#12332636 $449,000
LaSalle - Spacious 2 bedroom, 1 bath home with welcoming front porch, deck, 1 car garage.
#12261782 $125,000
- Brand New 2 bedroom, 2 bath mobile home located in well maintained, quiet friendly park. #12369227 $99,900
LaMoille - Great 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home on large fenced lot, main level laundry, shed.
#12303754 $120,000
Putnam - Enjoy lovely lake living, spacious 4 bedroom, 1 bath home on 3 lots, 2 car garage.
#12191710 $184,900
Spring Valley - Move in ready 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath home, full basement, heated outbuilding. #12424014 $225,000
Spring Valley - Cozy 2 bedroom, 1 bath home, sunny front deck, covered patio, 1 car garage.
#12302340 $167,900
Spring Valley - Affordable 3 bedroom, 1 bath stucco and brick home, 4 season room, 1 car garage. #12422665 $110,000
Barb Kuzma Bonnie Lester Garry Schroeder Vincent Jessen
Lacey Monterastelli Lilli Orlandi
Chris Hopps
LaSalle
LaSalle
VERMILIONVUE SUBDIVISION
Located in the picturesque countryside. Lot size ½ - 1+ acre starting at $29,000. City sewer, water, underground utilities, covenants and restrictions apply. Call Wendy Fulmer @815-252-8280 or Barb Kuzma @815-343-1433. MLS#12061416
Large residential building lots starting at $19,900. Curb & gutters, city sewer & water available. Close to I-39! Lot size begins at .25 an acre & covenants are available. Call Garry Schroeder at 815-252-5854. MLS#10141625
LOT LISTINGS
Bob Huber
Carol Wlodarchak
TJ Templeton Amber Witek
Karen Zermeno
Heidi Huber
Tom Guttilla
How to keep an AC unit running strong
Air conditioners are a lifeline come the dog days of summer, when soaring temperatures make a well-cooled home a welcome respite from the outdoors. Maintaining an AC unit ensures it will be there to keep everyone cool when the mercury rises. The following are some steps homeowners can take to keep their AC units in tip-top shape this summer.
• Replace the air lter on the unit. Dirt, dust, debris, and pollen can quickly fill the filter on an AC unit. Replacing these filters prior to summer can make the unit operate more efficiently and keep cool air circulating throughout the house all summer. Homeowners can first identify which type of unit they have and then find an online tutorial to see how to replace the filter. Some filters are more expensive than others, but the cost is still low and the energy savings can be substantial.
• Schedule annual maintenance on the unit. Routine maintenance performed by a local HVAC technician is another way to ensure an AC unit is running at peak capacity when it’s most needed. Such maintenance is perhaps most effective in spring, as that ensures the unit is running strong from the first heat wave of the summer all the way through Labor Day. HVAC technicians can identify problems and recommend services that homeowners may not recognize they need until it’s already hot out. Annual maintenance appointments also give HVAC
professionals a chance to assess a system compared to the previous year, which can help them identify if a unit is nearing its end. That can ensure homeowners are not caught off guard when the unit needs to replaced.
• Help the unit make it through the summer. Whether it’s a typical summer or one marked by a handful of heat waves, AC units can use a little help to get through the season. Closing curtains throughout the house on hot afternoons is a natural way to keep a home cool during a heat wave, and that can cut back on home cooling costs and protect a unit from being overworked. Ceiling fans also can be installed to keep rooms cool and circulate air, which also makes a hot summer a little less taxing on an AC unit.
• Use a programmable thermostat . Programmable thermostats allow homeowners to set the temperatures inside their homes throughout the day. If no one is home during the afternoon, there’s no reason to have the AC cranking. Program the thermostat so the house is comfortable when people are home, but raise the desired temperature when no one is around. That gives the AC unit a break during the day and can help to dramatically reduce the cost of cooling the home.
AC units will not last forever, but some simple maintenance can improve their life expectancy and keep homes comfortable throughout the summer. TF247114
Make YourDream Home a Reality
St., La Salle, IL th
Centrally located! Large yard w/Garage Appliances included. 2302 4 St., Peru, IL th
Dining room conversion ideas
Many homeowners can undoubtedly take a stroll through their homes and find at least one space that could be repurposed to provide more functionality. Real estate professionals know that such sentiments are not uncommon, and many point to formal dining rooms as spaces that have fallen out of favor in recent years.
Formal dining rooms were once common in newly built homes, but the pivot toward open concept floor plans left it up to homeowners to decide if such spaces were for them. In a 2017 book published by the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press, authors used cameras to monitor life in many people’s homes, including how they used each room. The authors concluded that formal dining rooms were rarely used for eating. If that sounds a lot like home to many current homeowners, then it might be
time to consider some ideas to convert formal dining rooms to make these spaces more functional.
• Home o ce: Though the percentage of professionals working remotely has dipped considerably since the end of the pandemic, hybrid working is perhaps among the more lasting work-related byproducts of COVID-19. In its Global State of Remote and Hybrid study published in early 2024, the career networking resource LinkedIn noted that 13 percent of jobs posted to the platform were for hybrid positions. That means millions of workers can still utilize an accommodating home office space. A formal dining room can be converted to provide such a space, and the good news is that such a conversion need not require extensive renovations. A fresh coat of paint, an additional outlet or two and perhaps a new overhead lighting fixture can instantly transform the space at minimal cost.
• Reading room/library: Homeowners who dream of having a designated space
for quiet reading can convert a little-used formal dining room into a space to curl up with a good book. Some comfortable armchairs, built-in bookshelves and perhaps an expanded floor-to-ceiling window overlooking a side or backyard can help homeowners create a home library that will be the envy of any avid reader.
• Studio space: If there’s a resident yogi and/or artist living under the roof, then converting a dining room into a yoga or art studio, or perhaps even a hybrid space for those who enjoy both activities, is a no-brainer. A yoga studio conversion may not require as much investment as a kitchen overhaul or bathroom renovation, but an ideal home yoga space requires more than a mat and room to stretch. The Yogapreneur Collective notes that flooring in a yoga studio should be non-slip, easily cleaned, durable, sound-absorbing, and low maintenance. The Yogapreneur Collective asserts that different flooring materials may be ideal for certain types of yoga, noting that
cork flooring is a go-to choice for professional studios that offer hot yoga. Similarly, the right flooring for an art studio may depend on the artist’s preferred medium, whether it’s oil painting, arts and crafts or another artistic pursuit. But any artist knows that a floor that’s easy to clean is perhaps best for a home art studio.
• Additional ideas: Some additional ways to repurpose a dining room include a gaming
room for avid gamers, a memorabilia showcase for collectors or a pantry for foodies who love to cook but need some extra space to store ingredients and tools of the trade.
If a formal dining room is only utilized on occasion, homeowners may want to consider the many ways to convert such spaces into areas that are more usable every day. HI248168
Roberta Wright, Broker Mike
Broker
Heckman,
Broker Amanda Andreoni, Broker Donna Bayler, Broker Brandi Kunkle, Broker
Beth Coleman-Weger, Broker
Landmark Realty of Illinois LLC
$275,000 5 BDRMS; 2 BATHS #12348267
311 S. RANDOLPH PRINCETON
$119,000 2 BDRMS; 1 BATH #12424959
#12292531
(BPT) - Maintaining the walls of your home is essential for both aesthetic appeal and structural integrity. Over time, walls can suffer from various types of damage, whether it’s from everyday wear and tear, accidents or environmental factors. From the more common drywall holes to texture damage, concrete wall cracks and water damage, understanding how to effectively address these issues is crucial for any homeowner. Proper repairs not only restore the appearance of your walls but also prevent further deterioration and potentially costly repairs down the line. Here are practical solutions for repairing different types of wall damage, ensuring your home remains in top condition.
DRYWALL HOLE REPAIRS
Drywall hole repairs are among the most common wall repairs homeowners encounter. Many drywall holes can be easily patched with spackling or a drywall patch kit. For the ultimate spackling option, DAP Fast Dry Premium Spackling is a profession -
al-grade spackling compound with a smooth, one-strike application that leaves a rocksolid coat that won’t sink, shrink or crack, offering superior impact resistance and is paint ready in as little as just 15 minutes. Another great solution for repairing drywall holes is the Eclipse Rapid Wall Repair Patch. Whether the damage is small from a picture frame nail or anchor or as large as doorknob damage, simply apply the patch and it’s paint ready immediately. With Eclipse, projects can be completed faster with a permanent, mess-free solution that offers superior impact resistance.
TEXTURE DAMAGE REPAIRS
Texture damage repairs are necessary when the wall’s surface texture is compromised, often after fixing cracks or holes. The challenge lies in matching the existing wall texture to create a professional look. For a seamless repair, try DAP’s 2in1 Wall & Ceiling Spray Texture for orange peel, knockdown and popcorn textures. Unlike competitive products on the market, DAP’s
aerosol cans feature Aim Tech technology that offers a 60-degree adjustable nozzle angle to easily repair vertical, overhead and hard-to-reach areas with one can, providing users much flexibility when completing projects. Once dry, the wall can be painted to match the rest of the room. A useful tip is to practice on a piece of cardboard before applying the texture to the wall to ensure you achieve the desired consistency and pattern.
CONCRETE WALL REPAIRS
Concrete wall repairs are typically needed when cracks or spalling occur, often due to settling or exposure to the elements. For small cracks, applying concrete repair caulk or epoxy filler can restore the wall’s integrity. Larger cracks may require chiseling out the damaged area and filling it with a concrete patching compound. Spalling, where the surface of the concrete flakes or chips away, involves removing the damaged material and applying a new layer of concrete. To ensure a durable repair, it’s essential to clean the area thoroughly before ap-
plying any patching materials and to use a bonding agent to help the new concrete adhere to the old.
WATER DAMAGE REPAIRS
Water damage repairs are critical not only for aesthetic reasons but also for preventing mold and structural issues. The first step in repairing water-damaged walls is to identify and eliminate the source of the moisture to prevent future problems. Once the area is dry, remove any damaged drywall or plaster and replace
it with new material. It’s essential to treat the area for mold or mildew, using appropriate cleaning solutions, before proceeding with repairs. After replacing the damaged sections, apply a stain-blocking primer to prevent water stains from bleeding through the paint. For lasting results, ensure the area is completely dry before painting and consider using moisture-resistant materials in areas prone to dampness.
