When we purchase a new home, homeowner's insurance is ascertained and often directly incorporated into monthly mortgage payments by our bank.

Although this is an excellent idea, as life goes on homeowners can find themselves losing track of how their assets have grown and changed with regards to changing insurance rules, standards and policy. To make sure that your home and belongings are appropriately insured, revisit your circumstances and adjust your coverage as needed. 

Note this interesting Kiplinger.com article with points to consider when evaluating your homeowner's coverage. 

 

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Let's face it...transitional seasons make for sad-looking backyards.

Although autumn colors are gorgeous, properties with closed pools and post-summer garden beds lack the punch that sellers need to capture the hearts of potential buyers.

Spring is not the only time that your garden can be an outdoor sanctuary. Minnesota offers a Theater of Seasons. Rather than lament over the passing of warm summer months--celebrate the color and vibrancy of Fall. There are ways to decorate your yard for the season without cartoonish scarecrows and jack o'lanterns. Although these playful elements are fun, why limit your decor to one holiday? Addressing your gardens, yards and porches seasonally extend the longevity of your decor and ultimately stretch the…

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You've probably been hearing "It's a great time to buy" for a while now.  Turns out, this is still true!  Not only are interest rates low, the rental market is increasingly competitive, making it harder to find an affordable lease.  However, with the current market, great homes are selling quickly, so it's important to do the background preparation so that you're ready when you find the home of your dreams.

The first step in buying a house is speaking with a loan officer to obtain a pre-approval.  Not only will you need a pre-approval letter when making an offer on a house, but getting pre-approved will answer a number of your questions up front.  A loan officer can help identify an appropriate price range, what monthly payments will look like, and…

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Not all home improvement projects improve the likelihood of getting your property sold. Your award-winning half acre of professional grade gardens may be impressive...but to a potential buyer an impossible upkeep issue. The 70's inspired neon disco amusement room may hold fond memories of your growing family's teen years,...but to an emotionally detached potential buyer its just a dated space that will cost time and money to update.

When seeking to sell your property and receive an offer that meets your selling price, the property has to be neutralized with regards to over-the-top design elements that would greatly reduce the buyer pool. Excess is any form rarely reaps positive results. By avoiding extreme home decor, you broaden the scope of potential…

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