Representatives with insurance companies would survey city properties, rating them in terms of fire risk. The maps they created detail the original outlines of buildings, their heights, the materials of which they were made and their styles. They're also good tools for researchers interested in uncovering how their surrounding neighborhoods changed over time. Insurance companies stopped creating these maps in the early 1970s. Again, suburbanites can check with their own local libraries and historical societies.
Old photos are another treasure trove for property owners looking for their house's history.
However, they're often difficult to find. Homeowners can check with their local historical societies. In addition, the Chicago Historical Society and Harold Washington Library have historic photo collections. The odds aren't good, though, that most homeowners' residences will be included in these collections. Unless someone famous lived in them, most residences don't make the cut.