Under Contract in a Weekend - West Loop, Chicago
THE RELOCATION CLUB
We’ve perfected the art of finding a home in a weekend. Since 2015, we’ve helped folks from all over the world relocate to Chicago, and we love sharing our little slice of the city during our clients’ quick weekend trips to find “the one.” Chicago is our favorite place to call home & we can’t wait to share our insights into finding your place in the world in just 72 hours.
Before coming into town, be sure to coordinate your availability with your Broker. Many properties will require a minimum of 48 hours notice for showing requests, so you want to give your Broker enough time to ensure they can secure appointments for all the properties you’d like to tour.
Friday //
CHECK IN
We always recommend staying in or near the area where you’re hoping to move. Immersing yourself in the energy of the neighborhood always offers a true depiction of a local’s every day life. If you’re in between neighborhoods, try to find the most centrally located accommodations. Check out a few of our favorite hotels & Airbnb’s.
Did you stay somewhere else that you loved — tell us here!
DINNER
Start off on the right foot & dine at one of the neighborhood’s hottest restaurants. Make sure to snag reservations as early as you can!
SWIFT & SONS
🥩 Steakhouse
🖤 Don’t skip the oyster bar…or the dessert cart.
GIRL & THE GOAT
🥘 American (New)
🖤 One of the most coveted reservations in Chicago & a must-try for every new Chicagoan.
MOMOTARO
🍱 Sushi Bar
🖤 Warm your soul with a modern Japanese feast (veg & gf friendly) & craft cocktails
Saturday //
BREAKFAST
Today will be a long one. Start your day with a heavy dose of caffeine & something on your stomach. Plan accordingly — you’ll want to be at your first open house by 10:00am.
Pro Tip: If you’re a snacker like me, pack a granola bar for the road.
GOOD AMBLER
☕️ Café
🖤 Perfect for the coffee enthusiast who enjoys a slow cup of coffee in the morning with a savory quiche or croissant
BEATRIX
🥘 American (New)
🖤 For a quick bite, stop by their pastry counter & coffee bar. For a proper breakfast, make sure to snag their opening reservation at 9:00am.
STAX CAFE
🍳 Breakfast & Brunch
🖤 Celebrate the start to a fun weekend with a fresh & wholesome breakfast.
TOURS
We usually tour our clients’ top six homes — any more than that and the day becomes quite long & properties start to blend together.
Deep Dive: Learn more about the local architecture & styles of homes here
COFFEE
A day of showings wouldn’t be complete without a quick mid-tour pick me up from a local café.
SAWADA
☕️ Coffee & Matcha
🖤 Military latte + the New York City vibes
MATCHA CITA
🍵 Matcha
🖤 Unique matcha sweets, treats & drinks
FAIRGROUNDS
☕️ Coffee
🖤 Local roaster
DINNER
After a long day of tours, laugh about a seller’s wallpaper choice & gush about the homes you loved in a neighborhood gem. Don’t forget your reservation.
ROSE MARY
🥘 Croatian-Italian
🖤 Ask any West Loop resident, and they’ll tell you this restaurant is one of their neighborhood favorites.
CIRA
🥘 Mediterranean
🖤 Hidden in the Hoxton Hotel, we love the modern cozy vibes & their double cheeseburger with a side of garlic fries. After dinner, slip into their prohibition-chic cocktail lounge — Lazy Bird.
THE LOYALIST
🥘 French-American (New)
🖤 In a more casual space than its its fancier two Michelin-starred restaurant sibling upstairs (Smyth), you’ll find one of the best burgers in the city within these dimly lit walls.
Sunday //
BREAKFAST
With a shorter day ahead, keep your morning light.
UNCOOKED
🥗 Vegan Juice + Smoothie Bar
🖤 We love starting our day with Uncooked, and we’re not even vegan. From delicious smoothies to not-your-average raw bowls (maybe revisit this for lunch, vegan/raw friends!), everything we’ve tried here has been delicious. Not to mention it’s Black + woman owned.
THE GODDESS & GROCER
🥐 Café & Grocer
🖤 Stop into this Chicago favorite & order a quick bite at the coffee bar. While you wait for your latte & breakfast sandwich, mosey through the little shop & maybe even make a last minute purchase on a local foodie find.
THE ALLIS - SOHO HOUSE
🍜 American (New)
🖤 The members only venue hosts a collection of restaurants within the Green Street Studio. While many of its spaces are private, Soho House opens its door to the public with their restaurant, The Allis, featuring an expansive art collection and views of Green Street from floor-to-ceiling windows.
TOURS
Sunday showings are for the last minute “can we add this to the schedule,” the backups, or simply the homes we couldn’t get into on Saturday. Usually, this is a lighter schedule than the day before.
LUNCH
Take some time to really think about where you see yourself living — as we always say, “Who you want to be & what kind of life do you want to live?”
JP GRAZIANO GROCERY
🥪 Italian Sub Shop
🖤 Enjoy the people watching as you wait in line for a quick but filling bite to eat. Then, continue exploring the neighborhood with a fresh Italian sandwich in hand.
BAR TAKITO
🌮 Nuevo Latin American
🖤 Tucked underneath the Morgan Green/Pink Line tracks, you’ll find elevated tacos in a vibrant atmosphere.
GAIJIN
🍱 Japanese
🖤 Our go to order is an Osaka-style okonomiyaki with a side of kimchi. Be sure to save room for their kakigori!
SUBMIT AN OFFER
So, you found “the one!” Reconnect with your Broker about the purchase terms & digitally sign your offer. Bonne chance 🤞🏽
EXPLORE
As you continue to day dream about your new home, you’ll either want to keep movin’ & groovin’ or be ready to take a nap back at the hotel. If you’re not a napper, continue exploring the neighborhood. It can take some time to hear back from a seller (sometimes a few hours, sometimes a day or so), so lean into the present & take your mind off things.
UNION PARK
🌲 Green space
🖤 Concerts in the summer
RANDOLPH STREET
👜 Commercial District
🖤 A foodie’s paradise with trendy shops
MARY BARTELME PARK
🌲 Green space
🖤 Dog park & yoga in the park
DINNER
Cheers to submitting an offer on a home! Clear your head of the anticipation & celebrate with an easygoing evening. You may even hear good news over dessert.
TIMEOUT MARKET
🍜 Food hall
🖤 All of our favorite spots under one roof + a showstopping bar.
PARLOR PIZZA
🍕 Pizza
🖤 Save the deep dish for another day & enjoy an elevated pizza with a local draft beer.
KUMA’S CORNER
🍔 Burgers
🖤 A dark & moody burgar bar with metal blasting on the speakers. A more unique choice, if you will.
Under Contract
After some (hopefully) painless negotiations, you’ll be under contract! In Chicago, things move quickly & you’ll be working closely with your Broker on the next steps. Most home inspections are conducted within 5-7 business days of a signed contract & you’ll definitely want to try to stick around or make plans to come back for that. Everything else can be done virtually.
Next Steps
Sign off on the contract
Coordinate your home inspection
Hire an attorney
Deliver your earnest money