advice: Think of the pets during your yard work. - 03/30/12 09:03 AM
This Post is for Pet owners and families of young kids.
Right now is one of the prime times in Minnesota, at least in my area, to fertilize the lawn and spray for weeds and bugs.
Please keep in mind your pets and the kids. Read your directions as to when best to apply and how long before the area is safe for the kids and pets to return to that area.
Pets are especially vulnerable to the sprays as they get it on their paws and fur and them lick themselves and ingest the poison.
A bit of precaution can … (6 comments)
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advice: Are you taking a Bath when you sell your home today? - 02/04/12 09:20 AM
That is a question every seller needs to clear in their minds and deal with it accordingly.
After selling, are you buying a different home. If so, are you buying similar, upgrading or downsizing. The market is down and if you downsize, you will most likely be getting less in the deal because of the lower prices. If you are upgrading...you will be coming out on top. If you stay with the same home just in a different area it will most likely be a wash.
When you buy the next home, is your new bank loan a better interest … (23 comments)
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advice: Do you cry in the face of adversity? - 02/01/12 08:14 PM
When things go wrong, do you just sit down and cry, or do you forge ahead and fix the problem.
Ponder this for a moment...
A Farmers son was heading home with a crate of chickens he was entrusted with from the market. The crate fell and all the chickens scurried away. Scared but undaunted, the boy searched the neighborhood and caught the chickens and went home fearing the worst.
"Pa, the chickens got away, but looked all over and found all 12 of the."
You did well my son. You only left with 7!"
When a problem comes up you … (13 comments)
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advice: The Stress Level of the past Christmas Holiday doesn't pass in one day. - 01/01/12 11:07 AM
Not only do we have Christmas, (Or whatever Holiday you celebrate) but we also have New Years, Not to mention Thanksgiving also.
Researches have found that this time period of year produces the highest stress levels of the entire year.
The thing is, that stress does not disappear in a day or two.
The following picture will help you determine if you are still under severe stress and if you are, a large elixir of your choice may be in order.
Take a look at this picture.
Look very closely.
If you see 2 dolphins … (11 comments)
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advice: My Clients said..."We are glad we didn't walk away!" - 12/22/11 11:04 AM
I received a call yesterday from clients that will be working with me in the future.
I met with them 6 months ago and talked about the possibilty of walking away from thier home as they were like many people...upside down.
WE talked about the ramifications of walking away.
Destroying perfect credit.The increase of interests on current billsThe increase in insurance rates because of the credit risk.
ECT ECT.
Having the pride they did, they decided to wait for a few months and not make such a snap decision.
The call I got yesterday was of very deep gratitude.
The … (4 comments)
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advice: Curb Appeal is Money! - 11/09/11 07:53 PM
I had a listing that was a great home, but when you looked at it, the front door just did not fit.
This door just clashed with almost everything. It also did not fit tight and people made comment of that.
A new white door installed for less than $175 and it looked much better. The first people looked at it wrote an offer. Although my seller did not take the offer, the agent who had shown the house before said the door made a world of difference.
You don't always have to spend thousands, many times it may … (12 comments)
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advice: Selling your home...Go outside. - 11/07/11 07:45 PM
Go outside and the come in as a buyer.
To really understand the issue the buyers are going to have, you need to put your feet in their shoes.
You need to step out of the seller role and look at your won home as if you were going to buy it.
What would you want changed.
How is the CarperDoes the home need a paint job?Paint colors.Landscaping.Kitchen Appliances. Should they be replaced?Linoleum wore?Grout stained and moldy in the ceramic tile?How does the furnace look?How about eh water heater.Private well and sewer...Up to code?Window treatments, do they match the rest … (6 comments)
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advice: But...I can't save money for a down payment. - 10/27/11 09:23 AM
I again heard this from a client. We have him qualified, and all he needs to do is save $2000. He has $1000.
He cliams he and his wife have no extra money to save.
"How bad do you want to buy a house?" I asked them both.
"WE would do most anything," they both said. So we started.
Week day for work. Both have office jobs. Both buy all their drinks and meals from work or another restaurant. When I explained that they did not NEED 5 latte's in a day. Bring candy bars and chips from home. They … (13 comments)
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advice: Minnesota...This is One time you SHOULD keep up with the Jones's. - 10/23/11 08:26 PM
I am not going to burden you with all kinds of information.
The writing IS on the wall.
Interest Rates are at an all time low. Most renters can purchase a home for about half of what they are paying for rent.
Homes prices are at levels that are unlikely to be seen again!
If you are sitting on the fence...then you need to think about keeping up with the Jones's!!!
It will not happen over night. It may not happen in 2-3 years, but values of homes are going to go up. They are already in many local's. No, not … (4 comments)
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advice: That extreme lowball offer can ruin your chances. - 10/21/11 08:27 PM
The offer came in at 40% of list price. I Laughed and called my seller. He DIDN'T laugh. He said he would not even counter.
10 days later, we get an upgraded offer from the same person...51% of list.
Now my seller is furious..."I don't care if the buyer comes back at 10% above list...He can go to," well let's leave that part out.
The funny part is that the buyer wanted the seller to hold the note and also didn't want to put down any money.
We have others that are serious about purchasing the property. My seller … (10 comments)
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advice: Can you keep your sense of Humor even in Adversity? - 08/20/11 09:43 AM
There has been a lot of tragedy this year concerning the weather. People have had damage and others have lost everything.
Some that seam to thrive, hold onto their humor as a sort of solace.
My neighbor had major damage to his home and several outbuilding along with losing a lot of trees. AS I was driving past his place I say this box on a tree limb.
Upon closer examination, I found that he was using this milk carton as a mail box. His had been destroyed by the tree that fell on it.
Better yet, I found … (10 comments)
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advice: Is your world Black and White? - 07/30/11 05:06 PM
Is your wold Black and White? !hen you go throgh life is there just one way to do things? I see many agents who's world is just that way. They market one way becaause..."it is the way they were taught, or they like doing things that way. In today's worlð being just Black and WHite may not keep you in business. Wake up, there is a beautiful world out there. … (8 comments)
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advice: Standard sizes are not always standard. - 06/21/11 05:06 PM
I had a real surprise. A client, an elderly lady, wants to put new garage doors on. I told her I would help her find them. I looked at them and I told her that they are standard 8' doors.
I have installed close to 50 of these doors and the width is usually 8' or 16'. Sometimes I see a 10 foot or some other 2' increment.
I ordered the doors out and they didn't fit. When I measured them the width is 8' 10 ".
Blew my mind. I measured the doors and they were 9'. I made … (7 comments)
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advice: Selling your home...Be the Buyer! - 06/20/11 10:55 PM
Here is a great way to get an idea of what people are thinking when they look at your home. Step outside, become the buyer of your own home. Walk in, and be honest and write down everything you wish was done. Write down everything that you feel is wrong or that you would change if you were buying this home.When you step into the shoes of the buyer for your own home you get an entire new perspective on what REAL buyers are looking at and probably thinking.
Only after you do this honestly can you get the feel for … (11 comments)
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advice: Don't leave Naked Pictures on your Camera Card! - 05/21/11 09:23 PM
Technology is great. Today we can share pictures and other info by just sharing a flash drive or a camera card.
But we must be very careful with this generosity.
I have a friend that gave someone his flash drive, only to have forgotten some 'Private' photo's on it. To say that he was embarrassed is an understatement. But the other party hasn't found out yet and hopefully won't.
One very good rule of thumb in sharing memory cards of any sort, is keep business cards separate form personal cards. Even if there is nothing embarrassing on them, it is just … (13 comments)
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advice: To the Bat Cave!!! - 05/08/11 08:17 PM
Great memories of a tacky show gone by.
But, I am not talking about a TV show. It is now time!
I saw my first Bat today.
Yes it did make me happy. These creatures that have been compared to flying mice do a lot more good than bad.
Having bats around the home, (NOT IN) reduces the number of insects that drive us nuts. Bat houses setup on the edge of a person's property, (A wood line is perfect) reaps great benefits for landowners.
Right now the bats are emerging from hibernation and last years young may be … (15 comments)
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advice: Are you up to date with your Home Insurance? - 04/09/11 06:59 PM
It is that storm time again. In a blink of an eye, you can see everything GONE!
"No need to worry, I have insurance."
Now that may be true, but when did you update your policy last. Did you buy the cheapest one you could find, or one that will benefit you in case of a disaster.
We had a fire this past December. We had just re-evaluated our policy. We DID NOT take the cheapest policy, but one that wold put us back to where we were before any mishap.
A friend just lost his second 2 car garage to fire. When I … (5 comments)
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advice: Is your home in the flood area...Have you protected your well? - 03/20/11 05:47 PM
One of the most ignored things on flooded properties is the well. Very few people realize that your well needs to be taken care of if flooding is going to happen.
Most well are not sealed tight on top. They have a cover that fits fairly tight, but, will still allow waster into it.
When water floods an area, some of the water can and does get into the well and the contamination can be devastating. not only can the ground water seeping into the well head ruin your well, but it can ruin the wells of neighboring properties as well.
… (5 comments)
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advice: Are you courteous to your neighbors? - 02/06/11 01:57 PM
Have you ever seen a neighborhood feud. I just run into one where next door neighbors were basically dueling with each other.
Now, I will say I have only heard one side of the story, but the side I heard says the neighbor is and A$$....
Well, that may be, but your actions are not going to help. Now try and sell your home while you are fighting. When you act like they do, you put yourself at their level.
Take the high road and you will find better ground.
A blonde and her husband are laying in bed listening to … (8 comments)
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advice: Are your buyers having trouble saving money? Here is what I had my clients do... - 02/05/11 03:44 PM
When I told my clients they had to save some extra money to get to closing, I was informed that there was no extra money to be saved.
" How bad do you want this home?" I asked.
"You know this is our dream home. Once we get in our payment will be less than our rent payment and we will be just fine."
"OK, so tell me....
At this point I asked each of them how they spent their money. Neither worked an office job, so it opened a wide range of things. I found both went out for dinner. … (11 comments)
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