Midwest Canada Minute - March 27, 2011 - 03/30/11 12:20 PM
ASK MG: Strange and Unusual  
Mike and I were having lunch with a business acquaintance last week who asked us "what is the strangest thing you have run into in your real estate career?" Here were a few of our experiences:
Our brokerage has an acreage for sale that the surrounding community firmly believes is haunted by a female ghost.  The story goes that the spirit came with the house when it was moved on to the property, and will make itself known to residents by a number of events - every drawer in the kitchen open in the morning, a … (0 comments)

Midwest Canada Minute - March 20, 2011 - 03/23/11 11:23 AM
Green Acres
It's that time of year when city folk have had enough of the barking dogs next door, nosy neighbours, or a view out the kitchen window that incorporates at least three or more back yards.  "Honey, let's move out to an acreage" sounds so peaceful.  The children can play freely, you can get that horse you have always wanted, there will be room for a shop and garden, plus have lots of space to, well, have space.
Personally I think there is no better place to live than in the country.  But there are a number of pitfalls … (1 comments)

Midwest Canada Minute - March 13, 2011 - 03/16/11 04:04 PM
What Every Realtor Gets Asked When Listing
Almost without fail I will be asked by clients when listing their home what they should do to get it ready for sale.  My response is "follow the Triple C guideline" - clean, cared-for, and charming!
Now HGTV will say that every home needs to be staged, and some of their television hosts will go to great lengths to strip a residence of anything that reflects the personality of the present owners.  The common wisdom is that saleable properties have to be neutral in presentation so that the prospective buyers are not distracted as … (0 comments)

Midwest Canada Minute - February 27, 2011 - 03/01/11 12:09 PM
A Tale of Two Farmers   
Every once in awhile as a Realtor you will be presented with a life lesson.  In this case, it was distinctly different impact made by two farmers on their family and communities.
Both of these gentlemen were bachelors.  Each was adept at farming accumulating considerable holdings and wealth over fifty years of working the land.  Both had a grade eight education, the highest that the public school system would support at the time they were children. The lack of a formal education did not deter their later progress though; if anything it may have made them … (0 comments)