COVID-19, Real Estate 2020 & You: The Right Realtors Offer Some Insight COVID-19: So where are you today? Literally, physically, mentally? Secretly happy you have enough canned goods and supplies to survive for months? Wondering why there is a rush on grocery stores? Or somewhere in between? Personally, I oscillate between worrying about the fate [Read More]
It is no secret that existing home inventory is low. This shortage extends to many types of buyers, including those looking for a home on acreage. It can be hard to find the right mix: A little acreage, perfect setting, a nice home, an added outbuilding and all at a reasonable price. As buyers consider [Read More]
Is there a scent that will guarantee the sale of your home and increase the price you get? Some scents, while appealing to a seller, may be distracting to a buyer and actually have the opposite effect! Studies suggest you are better off with a faint Windex smell vs baked goods. The reason is that [Read More]
It all starts innocently enough. Your kitchen faucet is starting to leak. You don’t think much of it. It may be simply spray from cleaning up the kitchen. It starts to get worse. By now you have water pooling under the sink. You have determined that the problem is the “O” ring for the spray [Read More]
What a great time! John and I took part in this year's Spirit of the Lakes Festival and Minnesota Wakesurf Championship. Looking at the photos you would never know the events had a slow start from a morning of storms! Wow, so many people enjoying the action! We are happy to be part of a [Read More]
We are proud to support our community! We have supported MNWSC since its inception!! We were two of the Spirit of the Lakes Board Members that Reimagined the Festival (Involved over 13 years!). We Live (50-year resident!), Work (24-year Realtor) and Play right here in the Lake Minnetonka area! Join us Saturday July 20th for [Read More]
Considering Refinancing? Whether you want to refi into a lower interest rate, a shorter term, or simply want to do some updates, call us first! We can help you get an idea of what your home may appraise for or if any updates would help. Call before you pay money for the actual appraisal. Considering [Read More]
Okay, okay, enough play on words. Truth is, scents are a really big deal in selling a home! Sellers do all they can to create an inviting home from cleaning every surface to clearing out the clutter. They add a scent to make the buyer feel even more at home. The trick is to find [Read More]
As soon as the weather turns warm, we tend to run outside and start projects right away. Before we know it, there is a pile of debris and a hole where the new fire pit is supposed to be. This year, start with a plan. What needs to be done first? Cleaning up the leaves [Read More]
So you want to build a shed. Nothing too fancy, just something that can fit the Christmas decorations, store the bicycles in the winter and other miscellaneous things to keep the garage cleared out. Sounds great. How big do you want it to be? Where are you planning to put it? Do you have to [Read More]
If you are a parent, aunt, grandparent or otherwise are blessed to have children in your life, then you will understand. There are days when their creativity has soared and toys and forts and coloring books are filling almost every square foot of the house. You will also be the first to wonder how in [Read More]
You love your home. You have lived there for years. You may have even raised your kids in that home. You cannot imagine a better place to live. Yet, you are starting to realize that there may be a time that this home will just be too much for you to keep up. Likely there [Read More]
When your current lease is up in three months? When you realize the youngest child graduates in two years? Or when Retirement is 11 months 2 days and 5 hours from today? Of course, everyone has their own comfort level. Yet truly, there is a lot of value in beginning and understanding the process sooner [Read More]
Below Zero temperatures. Snow piling up. Icy road conditions. Not exactly perfect conditions to show a home! So you can bet if buyers are coming to see your home in this weather, they are serious about purchasing! Most sellers who have their homes on the market right now are equally motivated. And in this season, [Read More]
January is an interesting month. The holiday season is over. The hot sales at the malls are almost done. Your house is more or less back in order (no judging if there is a lingering decoration or two!). There is a quiet calm. It is a time when we are asked “Is now a good [Read More]
In December we often get the question: "Should we list our home now or should we wait?" If you are ready, as a seller, the buyers are certainly still out there! And you can bet that any buyer looking is a serious buyer. Homes show very well and incredibly inviting this time of year. For [Read More]
Your neighbors put their home on the market and a SOLD sign went up right away! Yet now two months later, there doesn’t seem to be a new neighbor moving in? A co-worker told you she bought a home but then 3 weeks later she says the home is no longer hers? This may leave [Read More]
Maybe it's the pumpkins, or the apples at the apple orchards, or simply a brisk Fall sunny day. Something calls us to get outside this time of year. Some with purpose: on our way to a birthday party or running errands. But still others enjoy the drive to take in the amazing sights of the [Read More]
Join us Saturday July 21st! Surfside Park & Beach, Mound Kristin and John will have a booth at the 2018 MN Wakesurf Championship, an event held at the Spirit of the Lakes Festival! See SpiritoftheLakes.com and MNWSC.com for information and a full schedule of events! We hope to see you there!
It’s summer! Hopefully you are enjoying all that you love about this time of year (even if it means prepping your snowmobile for your more favorite season). We are in the midst of a busy season but are loving it. I mean, how can you not enjoy what you do when its views of the [Read More]
Be Aware of Any Assessments! New streets, sidewalks, condo facades and pool decks. We all may agree the end result is beautiful! We may not agree on who, when, and how these assessments should be paid. Buyers should take note of a few points when making a purchase! First, when buying a single family home, [Read More]
What Should I do if Another Realtor Calls and says “I have a buyer for your home?” Call us right away. We will personally contact the agent to determine if he/she does, in fact, have a buyer or is just ‘fishing for a listing.’ This happens more often than you think! If he/she does have [Read More]
It is May 2018 and the market is in full swing! Listings are coming on and off the market quickly, many sellers are getting 99.1% of asking price, and inventory remains low, thus driving multiple offers in most price ranges! In the midst of it, many of you have had questions about the ‘nuances’ in [Read More]
We were showing homes to a couple with three kids. At just the second home on the list of four, their little five-year-old had already had enough. She sat down in the foyer, put her shoes on and was ready to go. When her parents asked why she was in such a rush to leave [Read More]
