Better House Chicago

Wayne Beals & Derek Walvoord
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Home & Garden
  • Updated Weekly

Wayne and Derek have been through a lot of Chicago Renovations and have decided the stories are so incredible, they need to share them with you.  They'll also share everything they have discovered about your Chicago Home.  Whether you're restoring a beautiful historic home, or want to retrofit you Chicago home for our new climate, you'll find this show insightful and entertaining.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    The Tale of Two Chicago Real Estate Markets

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to a brand new season of Better House Chicago! Hosts Wayne and Derek are catching up on a crazy, weather-beaten summer and diving deep into a real estate market that has officially flipped on its head. With Chicago's appreciation rates blowing past the national average, buyers and sellers are navigating a highly competitive landscape that feels like a tale of two cities. In This Episode, We Cover:The 12.9% Price Surge: Wayne breaks down the staggering year-over-year median sale price increase strictly within the city of Chicago. The median price recently hit $420,000, which completely dwarfs the 1.8% national appreciation rate.   Bidding Wars & Buyer Fatigue: Hear the wild story of an Albany Park listing that jumped from an asking price of $970,000 to a final sale of $1.15 million in its very first weekend. This property saw massive competition, pulling in five offers and 26 showings right out of the gate.   South Side Value: Derek explains why neighborhoods like South Shore and Woodlawn are becoming hotspots for buyers seeking affordability. He notes that habitable bungalows can still be found in the low to mid $200s, while $600,000 to $800,000 gets you into the highest-end bracket in the Jackson Park Highlands.   Neighborhood Developments: The hosts take a look at how the newly opened Obama Presidential Center is bringing amenities and tourism to the area. They also discuss the upcoming quantum computing campus on the southeast side, which is expected to drive high-paying jobs in the area.   Tool Talk & Home Resiliency: Derek shares his newfound love for oscillating tools for precise trimming and flooring projects. The guys also discuss why hybrid heat pumps are a highly efficient way to handle Chicago's fluctuating winter weather and fuel costs.  Preservation Watch: Derek shares a quick update on the historic O'Leary mansion. The property is currently tied up in a messy probate situation and is entering demo court.

  2. 12/18/2024

    Look Ma, No Demo...Going All Electric in Sauganash

    Send us Fan Mail Jeff and his partner wanted an all electric home on the North Side of Chicago on a budget...a tall order.  In this episode, we tell his story with guest experts Craig Matteson from ARC Insulation, and Christopher Muhhamad from Going Green HVAC, who helped Jeff transform his mid century Sauganash home. Got a topic you want to hear us cover?  Connect with Derek and Wayne at BetterHouseChicago.com, of give us a call or text at 312-772-3257.

    Look Ma, No Demo...Going All Electric in Sauganash

  3. 04/02/2024

    Wanted: All Electric Homes $5000 REWARD

    Send us Fan Mail All electric homes are growing in popularity, and that's in no small part to the work of Sophia Seol, Electrification Researcher at Slipstream.  Sophia has been helping developers and homeowners go all electric since 2020 by helping to administer the Com Ed All Electric Homes Incentive Program.  This program is especially timely with the city of Chicago considering the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance (CABO). Learn everything you need to know on todays podcast and visit ComEd's All Electric Homes Website for detailed program info.

    Wanted: All Electric Homes $5000 REWARD

  4. 01/30/2024

    Your House Needs a Parka

    Send us Fan Mail Finding the recent polar vortex conditions a little uncomfortable?  You're not alone, most of Chicago's homeowners find themselves unprepared for multiple days below zero.  Wayne and Derek are joined by Special Guest Keon Medlock, who shares his knowledge about air sealing and insulation.  Keon has decades of experience make homes more comfortable and offers simple insights into how you can make your home better shelter in ultra cold weather.

    Your House Needs a Parka

  5. 12/23/2023

    Secrets of Selling Smart in 2024

    Send us Fan Mail Selling a house in 2024? Get insider secrets from expert Realtors Derek Walvoord and Wayne Beals on this no-nonsense podcast! Learn pricing strategies and staging tactics to attract buyers, identify market trends, learn how to use data to give you a crystal ball view and maximize offers, and secure your dream sale. Ditch the stress, dominate the market, and cash in on your biggest asset.

    Secrets of Selling Smart in 2024

  6. 12/12/2023

    Decarb by Design with Tom Bassett-Dilley

    Send us Fan Mail From the outside, you wouldn't know it only cost $14 Dollar per month to heat, cool and power Tom Bassett-Dilley's Oak Park Bungalow. The unassuming building retains all of its character and fits perfectly into the backdrop of his quiet South East Oak Park community. He shares how he decarbonized without moving out, over time in phases, and on a very practical budget. Tom also shares his journey and the experiences that influenced him as he grew into a leading architect designing energy efficient and PHIUS (passive house) homes.

    Decarb by Design with Tom Bassett-Dilley

  7. 11/06/2023

    Buying a Fixer Upper

    Send us Fan Mail One path to a great real estate deal is to buy a building nobody else wants to deal with, and Wayne & Derek have found a lot of them over the years.  But how do you buy a building when the bank doesn't want to give you a mortgage?  In this Episode, Wayne and Derek share their thoughts on finding the right place for you and using construction financing.  SPECIAL GUEST:  John Edel shares his extensive experience making unwanted buildings cool places to be.  He shares his experiences renovating a monster Brownstone in Bronzeville, reclaiming an abandoned varnish factory in Bridgeport with Santa Claus, and his success revitalizing a former meat packing building now called The Plant and with his Company Bubbly Dynamics.  Musical interludes by J. Davis Trio.

    Buying a Fixer Upper

  8. 10/25/2023

    Gas Off!

    Send us Fan Mail Induction Cooking, Heat Pump Water Heaters and Clothes Dryers, and Cold Climate Heat Pumps are popping up in appliance stores, homes centers and heating & cooling supply centers all over the Chicagoland Area.  Is our future an all-electric one? You bet, and it's exciting! Wayne & Derek discuss how these modern electric replacements for our old natural gas appliances are improving our lifestyles, comfort, safety and efficiency at home.  Special Guest:  Steven Vance, founder of chicagocityscape.com, shares his plans to electrify his Two Flat in the East Garfield Community.

    Gas Off!

  9. 10/25/2023

    BHC EPISODE 3: Gas Off!

    Induction Cooking, Heat Pump Water Heaters and Clothes Dryers, and Cold Climate Heat Pumps are popping up in appliance stores, homes centers and heating & cooling supply centers all over the Chicagoland Area. Is our future an all-electric one? You bet, and it's exciting! Wayne & Derek discuss how these modern electric replacements for our old natural gas appliances are improving our lifestyles, comfort, safety and efficiency at home. Special Guest: Steven Vance, founder of chicagocityscape.com, shares his plans to electrify his Two Flat in the East Garfield Community.

    BHC EPISODE 3: Gas Off!

  10. 10/13/2023

    The Chicago Two Flat

    Send us Fan Mail So you want to be a landlord?  Maybe just need two living spaces?  The two flat may be right for you. Derek and Wayne dive into this Chicago Icon with two Iconic Chicago Guest Julio Davis and Sam Sharp, musicians from the J. Davis Trio.  In addition to their fame as musicians, Julio owns a two flat on the near west side and shares his experience and perspective and Sam, a rockstar lender from Guaranteed Rate, break down the ins and outs of financing a two flat and investment property.  Don't miss this entertaining and informative episode!

    The Chicago Two Flat

  11. 10/13/2023

    The Chicago Bungalow

    Send us Fan Mail Derek and Wayne talk about a Chicago icon, The Chicago Bungalow.  We discuss how and why the Bungalow evolved to be one of the most popular house types.  We'll also talk about what it takes to bring the Bungalow into the new age of sustainability and electrification.

    The Chicago Bungalow
  • 11 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Wayne and Derek have been through a lot of Chicago Renovations and have decided the stories are so incredible, they need to share them with you.  They'll also share everything they have discovered about your Chicago Home.  Whether you're restoring a beautiful historic home, or want to retrofit you Chicago home for our new climate, you'll find this show insightful and entertaining.

Information

  • Creator
    Wayne Beals & Derek Walvoord
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Better House Chicago
  • Show Website
    Better House Chicago