Featured
Budgeting
What a Kitchen Remodel Really Costs in Chicago
A line-by-line look at where the money actually goes — cabinets, counters, labor, and the surprises that blow up a budget.
The Lee & Sam Blog
Insights & Resources
Practical guides on remodeling, permits, budgeting, and caring for a Chicago home — written by the team actually doing the work.
We’re putting the finishing touches on our first articles. Here’s what’s coming.
Insights
Permits & Process
Do You Actually Need a Permit?
Which Chicago projects require a city permit, how long approval really takes, and what it costs to skip one.
Basements
Finishing a Basement in a Chicago Two-Flat
Moisture, egress, ceiling height, and the code rules that shape every basement build below grade.
Hiring
7 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Contractor
How to read a bid, verify a license, and spot the red flags long before you sign anything.
ADUs
ADUs & Coach Houses: Chicago’s Rules, Explained
Where they’re allowed under the city’s ordinance, what they cost to build, and whether your lot qualifies.
Bathrooms
A Bathroom Renovation, Week by Week
What actually happens on site — from demo day and rough-in to tile, fixtures, and the final walkthrough.
Tools & Calculators
Interactive tools we use on real projects — built to help you run the numbers before you commit to anything.
Calculator
Renovation Deal Analyzer
Run a property through Buy & Hold, BRRRR, or Fix & Flip and get live metrics, benchmark verdicts, and a plain-English read on the deal.
Worksheet
Remodel Budget Planner
A line-item planner that breaks a kitchen, bath, or basement budget into the same phases we use to price real jobs.
Guide
Real Estate Investing Primer
Chicago-specific benchmarks, a worked BRRRR example, and the underwriting risks that matter most in this market.
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