Buy It and They’ll Install A New Kitchen: 2325 W. Dickens in Bucktown

This 3-bedroom vintage brick cottage at 2325 W. Dickens in Bucktown has been on and off the market since May 2007.

2325-w-dickens-approved.jpg

The listing price has also apparently seen numerous changes with it listed in March 2010 at $499,000 only to have it then raised in July to $525,000.

It is currently listed at $515,000.

Built in 1880, the house is on a smaller than normal Chicago lot of 25×100 but does have a 2-car garage.

Two of the three bedrooms are on the second floor. The house also has an unfinished basement.

While the new master bathroom has marble and granite and frameless glass doors to the shower, the kitchen still has the white cabinets and countertops.

But the listing says the seller will “upgrade kitchen” to “cherry or maple cabinets, granite counters and hdwd floors” for the buyer (and a selection of those upgrades can be seen in the kitchen picture.) 

There is already a stainless steel refrigerator in the current kitchen so presumably that stays. 

Would the lure of a new kitchen entice you to take a closer look?

Christine Breuer at Jameson has the listing. See the pictures here.

2325 W. Dickens: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

  • Sold in April 1989 for $114,500
  • Sold in May 1996 for $242,000
  • Sold in June 2006 for $460,000
  • Originally listed in May 2007
  • On and off the market
  • Listed in March 2010 for $499,000
  • Listed in July 2010 for $525,000
  • Reduced
  • Currently listed for $515,000
  • Taxes of $8035
  • Central Air
  • Unfinished basement
  • Bedroom #1: 18×13 (second)
  • Bedroom #2: 15×13 (second)
  • Bedroom #3: 7×11 (main)

24 Responses to “Buy It and They’ll Install A New Kitchen: 2325 W. Dickens in Bucktown”

  1. So when the homebuyer tax credit ran out their strategy was to raise the price?

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  2. “So when the homebuyer tax credit ran out their strategy was to raise the price?”

    Brilliant!

    Is David Alexrod advising this seller?

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  3. I have this on my watch list. I’m going to jump on it when it hits $550K.

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  4. I actually like this place. $425K.

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  5. I went through this place before the new floors were put in. There was a giant ferret cage in the living room if I recall correctly. Not only is this place small, it feels small. The bedroom on the main floor is unusable. I can’t believe that someone would call this “stunning.”

    Your guests would be stunned, however — when they have to use the restroom with a glass block wall facing the living room.

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  6. I don’t understand how anyone can justify still having a wall of glass blocks…it’s one thing to have in a convertible one-bedroom, but in a $550k house?

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  7. I nominate Jon for the quote of the day: ” I can’t believe that someone would call this “stunning.” Your guests would be stunned, however — when they have to use the restroom with a glass block wall facing the living room

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  8. It always makes me nervous when the seller offers to do something for the buyer – e.g. replace X. Like, what are the odds that the buyer is not going to like the way it was done?

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  9. danny (lower case D) on November 2nd, 2010 at 10:57 am

    The room with the checkerboard floor wasn’t even the kitchen.

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  10. “I have this on my watch list. I’m going to jump on it when it hits $550K.”

    Damnit, I was going to jump on it at $575k, you scoundrel!

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  11. I’m interested where the kinda nice but with some significant negatives bucktown cottage on a short (aka standard bucktown) lot will end up in price. There’s going to be a lot of these.

    Also, just as a curiousum, this weekend I happened to walk by this place which came up tangentially in another bucktown thread. For sale:

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2234-W-Lyndale-St-60647/home/13357662

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  12. The room with the checkerboard floor appears to have a checkerboard stairway outside (I know, it’s the angle of the stairs & the light, but it confused me for a minute & I thought it was funny).

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  13. “Also, just as a curiousum, this weekend I happened to walk by this place which came up tangentially in another bucktown thread. For sale:”

    Also with the “raise the price” marketing strategy.

    Does the box truck come with the house?

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  14. “Also with the “raise the price” marketing strategy.”

    You can never tell where Mr. Zaskowski will go next.

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  15. Wow the pricing strategy on the lyndale property is insane. and stupid. It hasn’t worked since it was first listed on Aug 27, 2007 and it’s still not working today. TIME TO DOUBLE DOWN.

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  16. HD you’ll never be able to afford this place–they are raising the price faster than your net worth or remuneration is increasing. If you are ever able to afford this place it will likely run in the millions of dollars. This owner is so shrewd.

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  17. I get the impression that Mr. Zaskowski is unaware at just how easy it is for normal buyers to see those fluctuations. Remember that place on Winchester with the stone basement level + hot tub? that was him as well with nearly weekly price changes.

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  18. Walked through this place a month ago. Really wanted to like it, but it has some layout issues the pictures don’t really show. There’s a spiral staircase to the second floor. Which sucks. Your only other option is the rear staircase, but then you have to walk through the second bedroom to get to the master bedroom. As mentioned, the third bedroom is small. Really just an enclosed hallway.

    The floors are nice, and they’ve opened up the layout a bit since this was up last year. But still has some issues.

    Oh, and apparently this has been a rental for a few years. Guess the owner is a contractor and that’s why he’s offering to have the kitchen put in. Unfortunately, this contractor had the new front steps put in as well – and now the front gate won’t open fully, because it hits the steps.

    Like I said, I wanted to like this, but…

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  19. “The room with the checkerboard floor appears to have a checkerboard stairway outside”

    So is there a bump to value, if this was in fact the set of a Tom Petty video?

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  20. Yes, I believe Mr. Zaskowski has a patent on that pricing strategy – uses it on all his listings.

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  21. I have been thru this property. There are structural issues with the foundation. Someone did a make shift repair to the Western basement wall. When I went thru it, the unfinished basement was taking on water.

    I was told that this was the first time that this had ever happened. I doubt it. This place is a mess.

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  22. I like the area a lot, but the short lots and lower grade is unappealing. I am curious what the correct pricing is since stuff in this area is all over the map and not a lot is moving. The Lyndale 2 flat is directly next door to one listed at 475k in much better shape. My guess is it would sell around 400-425k and the one posted above assuming full gut necessary would sell for 250-300k. Of course that is reality and neither of the owners like it.

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  23. Bucktown lots are usually only 25 by 100? Where does the other 25 feet go? Wider streets and alleys?

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  24. “Bucktown lots are usually only 25 by 100? Where does the other 25 feet go? Wider streets and alleys?”

    I’m sure there are exceptions, but I think the vast vast majority of the lots west of damen are about 25 by 100. They laid it out with more streets. There are more east-west streets (maybe other differences too) but that’s the big layout difference I’m aware of.

    Don’t know the reason for it. Obviously you can fit more lots in, but not sure why there? Workers cottages?

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