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Do You Know the Five 'P's?

Want to sell your home? Then applying the Five 'P's' is your first step towards success.

Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Presentation

By putting the cart before the horse, many homeowners unnecessarily create a situation where the best first impression is lost, causing the detrimental effect of fewer subsequent showings. Buyer's agents often will bypass updated listings having previously already determined that it didn't meet their clients needs, or use the time on market to negotiate a lower offer on behalf of their client.

Set your target date and begin to work towards it. Working with the Barry Berg Group, we aim to prepare your property to put its best foot forward, to create a stronghold that maintains its footing from the start.…

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Five Factors That Determine Your Home Value

Sitting in the salon yesterday, I'd overheard a woman discussing selling her home. When asked which Realtor she'd hired, her response was, "I'm going to represent myself--there's not that much to it." Really.

Her reasoning piqued my curiousity. Sadly, not one of her comments reflected even the most basic knowledge of the market, proper presentation, nor did she have a plan. She'd simply based her decision to 'handle things on [her] own because agents want 7% and [I'm] just not going to spend that when I can do it myself.'  She had determined her sale price  based upon what she and her late husband had spent building the home forty years ago, and what she deemed it was now worth. As a widow, she'd already relocated out of state. She painted the…

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Get the Best Seat in Town!

Local Anchorman Rick Kupchella has pulled together links for you to best enjoy the firework celebrations of July 4th that are nearest you:

Flooding has changed some plans for Fourth of July celebrations throughout the state, but the show will go on.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced Monday that St. Paul’s annual fireworks display will continue, despite Harriet Island being flooded causing A Taste of Minnesota to move to the Carver County Fairgrounds in Waconia.

“Fireworks have long been a part of our Independence Day celebration, and despite the flooding, I am excited that this important tradition will continue,” said Mayor Coleman said in a news release. “We want to thank Visit Saint Paul, the Minnesota Wild, and Wells Fargo for…

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Need to Feel Useful While Waiting for Your Home to Sell?

'Hurry up and wait!'

Sometimes, that's the feeling homeowners have once their property has been made 'live' on the market, leaving them to wonder, 'What can and should we do now?

Once the decision is made to sell your home, the preparation phase becomes an overwhelming flurry of activity. Now that the property has been launched, there's a lull that often follows as the pace of showing activity wanes and balances. This stage of the listing is often a state of flux that leaves homeowners feeling abruptly empty. What to do? Here are a few simple ideas to keep the process moving along while avoiding becoming unnecessarily anxious, and to resist the temptation to over-manage your real estate professional (see previous blog article, 'What's Helpful…

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What's Helpful and What's Not?

More often than not, the more helpful that we try to be in fields that are not our specialty, the more we actually can hamper the process--in some cases sadly even thwarting our own desired outcome.

We've all found humor in the clever commercial that has as its theme, 'You Wouldn't Want Your Doctor Doing YOUR Job, Would You?' and who can forget the funny series of hotel commercials with the tagline, 'I'm not a (CEO/doctor/lawyer/or other professionally trained specialist) but I did stay at Holiday Express last night!'

In real estate, there is a balance to be had in the partnership between homeowners and their real estate professional. While it is impossible to sell a property effectively without homeowner participation, at what point does that…

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April Showers Bring May Flowers--How Does Your Garden Grow?

April Showers Bring May Flowers...don't we know it!

The long-g-g winter has finally passed the baton to Spring, leaving yards and gardens desperately in need of refreshing. When your property is For Sale it is imperative that curb appeal be maintained and kept sesasonally appropriate. Note this interesting article with budget-friendly tips for how to do just that!

HOW STUFF WORKS - 10 Landscaping Ideas on a Budget

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What Will You Do With Your Tax Refund?

Tax refunds. It feels like 'free money' to some who then spend it all in a weekend with little or nothing to show for it. Others pay down debt, yet others use their refund to take a well-deserved vacation. Do you have a plan for your tax refund?

While the obvious holds true for home buyers to use the funds to beef up your downpayment on your new home, long-term carrying costs of a home on the market for sellers can be a burden. Consider wisely reinvesting your refund into the property you wish to sell.

By heeding 'negative' feedback that may indicate where your property is tired and could use updating, rather than being insulted or discouraged, take the criticism as constructive. For example repainting interiors, switching out dated bathroom…

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Simple Low Cost Updates

Cabin Fever turns into Spring Fever after the long winter months of cold weather. Spring is slow in coming and we are ready long before its arrival.

When looking to make improvements on a budget that will have impact and curb appeal, consider these wallet friendly ideas to get the most bang for your buck. When selling your home, these simple low cost upgrades can often set your property ahead of its competition.

Note this interesting article,

Yahoo! HOMES '10 Do-It-Yourself Home Projects You Can Finish In A Weekend'

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Off-Season Snow Blower Storage

Those of us who call Minnesota home, inspired by recent warm temps and snow melt, are eagerly anticipating Spring's long awaited arrival. Who's not ready to trade in their snow blower for the lawn mower, shovel for a garden hoe, and salt & sand mix for fertilizer, flowers and grass seed?

As tempting as it would be to shove it into the back of the garage and just walk away, proper prepping of your snow blower prior to stowing it away will save you dollars and headaches come next November.

Note this Consumer Report article - 'How to stow your snow blower so it works next year'

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Don't Be Late!

It's that time again when we set our clocks ahead one hour.

So before you fall asleep Saturday night, Spring Ahead and don't be late on Sunday!

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