Brainerd Lakes Real Estate Blog

Brainerd Lakes Area Expected to Grow!

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:30:52 -0600

The Brainerd Lakes area according to state demographers is expected to be the top growth area in the state. Area counties such as Aitkin , Cass and Crow wing Counties are projected to grow by 65% between 2000 and 2030, which makes it the fastest growing pocket in the state. The counties which are North of the area are projected to grow by 55% in that same time frame. Following the recession, according to George Orning a community planner, it will take about 5 to 10 years to catch up and our lakes area will have more competition with other urban centers which offer similar amenities such as: trees, water and hills.

The time to buy property in the Brainerd Lakes area is now. With our great selection of properties at every price range and our natural resources, this is a great place to consider for a primary or vacation property. There are many lower priced homes available on smaller lakes and very high end homes on the Whitefish Chain, Mille Lacs and Pelican along with others.

We are centrally located in the State of Minnesota with good roads leading into the area. Something is always happening here regardless of the season. This is far more than a summer get away. Our Fall season with the gorgeous color displays are breathtakingly beautiful. Winter brings a Wonderland with Cross Country Trails and downhill ski thrills. Spring is just the start for a summer of fun on our lakes and rivers or award winning golf courses. Many movie stars, successful business people and high profile sports figures spend their relaxation time here in the Lakes. Do they know something, you don't.

For a property in the Brainerd Lakes area contact: Kathleen Lordbock, Top Brainerd Agent, with Keller Wiliams Realty Brainerd Lakes - your area expert.

Kathleen Lordbock

REALTOR/Short Sale & Staging Specialist

Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes

Re$ale Design & Home Staging

218-829-0339

218-831-8001

KLordbock@kw.com

photo by Aunt Owwee - Flickr

Welcome from the Brainerd Lakes - where outdoor and indoor recreational opportunites abound. Looking to buy on one of our many lakes? Ready to move up or down? Having trouble selling your home? Falling behind on payments or already in the foreclosure process? I am a Certified Short Sale Specialist as well as a Home Staging Expert.

Call me!

How to Re-purpose Your Real Estate Blog's Content To Grow Your Email List in 5 Simple Steps

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:00:55 -0500

Ezines - are you publishing? How is that working to grow your business? Excellent article here on the how tos.

Via Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing Consultant (Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision):

How to Re-purpose Your Real Estate Blog's Content To Grow Your Email List in 5 Simple Steps
If you are blogging 3-5 times/week as part of your marketing strategy you should use your published original blog content to your advantage. Re-purposing the content from your published blog posts allows you an additional vehicle to brand your business and promote your services online.

One easy way to re-purpose your content is to to create an ezine from the content contained in your published blog posts. An Ezine is similar to a newsletter and is published in a PDF format which makes it easy for your readers to access, save, refer to, and share your content and information.

Ezines are an easy way for you to distribute your content and to grow your contact database.

Here are 5 Simple Steps to re-purpose your real estate blog's content to grow your email list

1. Decide Which Real Estate Blog Posts You Will Use as Content for your Real Estate Ezine
Before you create your ezine you will need to decide which of your real estate blog posts you will be using to create the publication.

Here are some recommendations of topics for your Real Estate Ezine:

Real Estate Market Reports- You could take 3 months worth of real estate market reports and create a quarterly ezine.

Home Maintenance and Repair- You could group by seasonal repairs/improvements or by type of repair/improvement (e.g. kitchen, living room, outdoor landscape)

Home buyer checklists

Home Seller checklists

Short sales 101

First time home buyer information

Relocation information

Any of your real estate blog posts that you have in a series

Once you have decided which blog posts you will use in your ezine, list the names of the blog posts on a document ( I use Google Docs) and the order in which you want them to appear in the Ezine.

2. Create your Real Estate Ezine
Go to Zinepal.com and take 2 minutes to fill out a form and create an account. It's free. Once you have an account an Zinepal you will log in and start creating your ezine. The first step is to enter the url of your blog or your blog's rss feed. Once you have done this the zinepal.com application will pull a list of your blog posts. You simply check the ones you want included in your ezine and zinepal.com will add them to a dashboard for you.

Check to make sure that you have the right blog posts for your Ezine in your dashboard and click the customize and create my ezine button.

3. Edit your Real Estate Ezine

Once you are in the Ezine Editor it will ask you to:

Enter your keywords and an introduction for your ezine.

Choose your logo for the header of the ezine, font type and font size.

Upload an image for advertising on your ezine (I'll discuss this later).

Save your ezine as a template for future ezines.

Editing your Ezine will take you about 5-10 minutes maximum. Once you are done you can preview your real estate ezine or hit create to publish and save your ezine.

4. Your ROI Is Dependent On How You Market your Real Estate Ezine

You will get a PDF copy of your ezine which you can download onto your computer and save in your documents. You will also receive a profile page on zinepal.com that will become a library for your Ezines. You can choose to keep this ezine profile page public or private. If you allow your profile page to be public visitors can subscribe by RSS to your ezine feed.

Here is how I recommend you market your Real Estate Ezines:

Decide which ezines you are willing to give away without requiring Internet visitors to fill out a form and which ezines you require visitors to fill out a form before allowing them to download.

Take your private ezines and upload them to a document storage and collaboration website and set them as private.

Create a simple form for Internet Visitors to fill out before they can access your private real estate ezines.

Embed this form on your website, email, blog, social networks and other places online where your advertise your real estate services online. After they complete the form it will take them to the URL where your private ezine(s) are located for them to download.

Expose your public ezines by leaving them public on your profile on a document storage and collaboration website. This will allow visitors to download and share your ezines by email, facebook, twitter, Digg and more. It will also allow the search engines to index your profile page thereby increasing the visibility of these public documents.

Use the RSS feed you are given from zinepal.com and embed it on your blog or website. Even though you may leave some of your ezines public, you can still use the RSS feed to gain subscribers and grow your email list).

5. Take the Marketing of your Real Estate Ezine to the Next Level
The simple repurposing of content from your real estate blog into real estate ezines can provide a wealth of viral branding avenues for you to explore and create new business opportunities. Taking the marketing of your ezine to the next level means marketing your ezine in both offline and online venues.

Here's how you can take the marketing of your real estate ezine to the next level:

Use the advertising space when you are creating your ezine to promote your business, another real estate vendor or local business (possible paid opportunity- add disclaimer), an upcoming home buyer's seminar you are giving, or a charity you support.

Advertise your ezine in newsletters you send to your farm or in expired postcard and letter campaigns.

Offer your ezines as printed publications in local businesses that you network and partner with and/or on their websites.

Contact your local library if your ezines are of educational value on local or newsworthy issues and offer to allow them to be distributed in printed format and/or electronic format on their website.

Submit your ezines to ezine directories.

Pull and push your content heavy ezine for the maximum ROI.

It's up to you to take action now that you know how to repurpose your real estate blog's content to grow your email list in 5 simple steps.

A Roadmap Blogging Real Estate Professionals 23-Oct-2009

Crush the box. Somebody's gonna do it and it should be you.

Subscribe to Blogging In The Rain, A Real Estate Marketing Blog

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921 12th Street SE Brainerd, MN 56401 - Reduced to $114,000

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:15:19 -0500

This home in Brainerd,MN is everything you could want in a starter/family home. The backyard is entirely fenced with sparkling white tall PVC panels that are attractive and functional. Let the kids and/ or pets roam freely. The two car garage with paved driveway has plenty of room for a car plus toys or two cars, if you please. A full bathroom on the main and a 3/4 in the basement, along with the utility room. A home theater/game room is ready for family fun and movie nights. How about the big game?

The main level is open and light filled - isn't that exactly what you want?

How about a price of $114,000 with a new furnace in 2006?

~ VIRTUAL TOUR~

Contact Kathleen Lordbock REALTOR/Staging & Short Sale Specialist

218-831-8001

Licensed in MN

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October's Story

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:19:53 -0500

October’s big Real Estate story will be the expiration of the $8,000 tax credit on November 30th for eligible first time homebuyers. Since most transactions are taking a minimum of 30 – 45 days to close after an offer is made, buyers who need financing will need to sign a purchase agreement by the end of October 2009 in order to close their loan by the Nov. 30 deadline. Buyers who are hoping to utilize the $8,000 tax credit should be only making offers on properties that are able to close quickly and do not require bank approval. We do not know whether an extension on the tax credit will take place – or what that opportunity might look like – we only know how things are right now.

Buyers do not delay; you may be gambling away $8,000. We are also in a rare period of low interest rates, low prices, abundant inventory and down payment assistance programs – there's no better time to buy in our area of Minnesota. If you are looking in the Brainerd Lakes area of Minnesota, I have properties in all price ranges from county to city to lake. Many more are coming on the market so if you didn’t find what you wanted before, do give me a call. I will find your dream home for you. 80 acres of Hunting land adjoining State land and a 15- 25 acre rural parcel will soon be listed along with a 5 bedroom, 2 bath, 3 car just a few miles North of Baxter. A 3 bedroom on 7.5 acres and a 2 bedroom/2bath/ 2 car in town also are upcoming.

If your home is not selling and you want to try something different - give me a call at Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes. I will help you get your home show room ready, priced for this market and sold. The home that shows the best, is heavily marketed and priced correctly will sell first.

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Just a month – you can do it!

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:44:47 -0500

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."
- Stephen Covey: Author, organizational, leadership, and family expert.

Try this out for a month-just a month, you can do it.

Copy the above quote and print it out. Tape it to your bathroom mirror, your car dash, your computer monitor, your exercise bicycle, and your refrigerator. Read it and think about what is most important to you = your big why. Reflecting on this quote every day for a month will help your realize what you get up to do and why you are doing it. The small things, the bumps in the road, the elbow scrapes, the client who is not so cooperative – will become smaller as you focus on what is truly important to you.

That will differ for all of us so I am not going to give you a list. You can come up with your own. Then as the days go on in your month, you will be more aware and more focused – letting the trivial things go and marching on to achieve your goals, hopes and dreams.

Just a month - you can do it!

Kathleen Lordbock

Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes

Minnesota

REALTOR-STAGING & SHORT SALE SPECIALIST

House not selling?

Need to move soon?

Falling behind on payments?

Want to sell your home for the most money and in the least amount of time?

218-829-4664

klordbock@kw.com

Top Brainerd Agent

photo by Flickr

Call me!

Portland Home Staging Success: Sold in One Day in THIS MARKET!! See How ...

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:43:20 -0500

Selling a home is always a TEAM EFFORT - if your client is not a participating part of the team - your listing will be in big trouble.

Via Pangaea Interior Design Home Stager - Redesign - Model Homes (Portland Oregon):

Portland Home Stager, Pangaea, shares how the broker, the seller, and the home stager teamed up to get this Portland, Oregon Home SOLD in ONE DAY to the first person who saw it!

I would just love to take all of the credit for this, but as I have said before, it takes a team to successfully sell a home. With properties languishing on the market for months and months at a time, it seems like a miracle that a home could sell so fast. So, here is what each person did.

The Broker:

Counseled the seller regarding the importance of condition and presentation of the home.

Expertly assessed the right pricing for the property

Referred the seller to the Home Stager

Hired a professional photographer to take great photos for the listing

The Home Stager:

Started by asking the broker for any special concerns or negatives about the property - master bedroom not on the main floor was an issue.The bedroom on the main floor looked very crowded & wall color was dark.

Scheduled and performed a thorough "Walk & Talk" consultation for the seller with specifics about what needed to be done and why.

Empowered the seller to know that she couid accomplish everything by prioritizing and showing specific examples to take out any guesswork.

Provided additional furnishings / art / accessories and returned to do the final staging.

The Seller:

Trusted her professionals and committed to doing everything recommended by her broker and home stager.

Rolled up her sleeves and worked hard!

Now here's the success story that shows that all three pieces are what sold this home ---

Two weeks prior to going on the market, the broker put out a "pre-listing" notice so people would know it was coming up. She connected with another broker who had a buyer ready to buy! They went to see the house, contract in hand ready to write an offer, before the painting and staging work had been done. As soon as the buyer saw that the "master" bedroom was downstairs, they changed their mind and passed on the house.

So, to prepare the home, I had the seller remove clutter & older, unattractive furniture. Also had her paint the kitchen in a warm sand color and paint the cabinets white, plus update the hardware. The main floor bedroom had a futon in it. Because of the arms on the futon, when it was folded down to be a bed, the arms protruded into the space enough to make it very tight and to "scream" that it was a guest room. Although I had recommeded painting a lighter color in the bedroom, time & money made us decide to go with the existing color. The seller's white bedding made the dark walls seem even darker. So I used darker bedding more befitting of a "master" bedroom, and added art & throw pillows that tied in with the green but in lighter shades.

So, after the property was staged, professional photos were taken that day and put online asap! An open house was held the next day. According to the broker, the very first person who walked in bought the home. Happy Ending!!

Here are before & after photos for you to enjoy. "After Photos" courtesy of Rachel Weinstein rachelweinstein@comcast.net

Portland based, Pangaea Interior Design, offers home staging, interior design, and redesign services in the greater metropolitan area. If you value professionalism, a collaborative approach and results, then please call or email for an appointment to get your listing ready for the market! 503.816.4394 design@pangaea-id.com Pangaea Interior Design

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If you want new clients, give this a try.

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:21:44 -0500

When I call you - to give you a referral - answer your phone or get back to me within a day or email or.................................I will find someone else!

Via Brian Brumpton, Boise Idaho Real Estate (Keller Williams Boise):

I took two new listings this week from brand new clients. I always like to ask how they found me and why they decided to go with me vs. any of the other thousands of real estate agents active in Boise, Idaho? In doing so I've discovered, re-discovered, and confirmed the largest return on investment of all the things I do to generate new clients.

The answer to the first part of the question is somewhat predictable, they found me on the internet, usually Google. That's to be expected, it means what I'm doing online with my websites and Active Rain is working.

The second part always surprises me. When asked why did you pick me? The overwhelming response is "you answered your phone." I know for a fact that in one instance I was the third agent they had called. It's sad but true that one of the easiest ways to differentiate yourself in the market place is to make yourself accessible.

I spend a lot of time online working on websites and my blog and I've come to realize that if you're not accessible you can have all the visitors, inquires, and blog subscribers in the world, if you don't respond, they move on and in one instance this week very quickly.

Jokingly, when one of the buyer's agents on my team that I can never get hold of asks me where all the leads are, I simply hold up my phone and say "on the other end of this thing."

Call me!

Do You Do The 50% Ratio?

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:41:38 -0500

In reading a blog on the net , I came across the idea of the 50% Space to Stuff Ratio This was new to me but may be old stuff to some of you.

The concept is that you are to evaluate the floor space in your home. If it is almost completely covered, there is no room left for new opportunities to come in. Reduce what is on it by 50% and there will be room for movement and the ability to change out what you want for now and for the future. When you have an open house and there are a lot of people in the room - they need to be able to get around.

Then when you bring in something new, something old goes away - far away- permanently.

This will help considerably with your organizing, as there will be less to organize. Once your home is ready to be sold, you will not have all your stuff to deal with. What is left is what you really want to keep and/or need.

This may help in explaining things to clients about how much to remove before staging.

Once again, it is 50% available space to how much stuff is in that space, for some you may need to give a 75% figure. Men probably like this numbers concept better than most women, we go more by how it looks.

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Prepare to be Cornmazed

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:52:34 -0500

Here in the Brainerd Lakes of Minnesota, 2 special corn fields have been silently growing and planning for the Fall. Soon these innocent looking fields will be sculpted and designed into twisty labyrinths for the sole purpose of making you walk in circles. You can spend an afternoon winding your way through the towering stalks and the evening on a hayride drinking cider. There are special days for families with small children and appropriate age crafts. Several nights will be for those who like a little excitement with their confusion. Scary creatures will inhabit the maze ready to make it a screaming adventure.

"Our labyrinth of twists, turns, and dead ends, carved into a 14 foot high cornfield, offers an experience that is perfect for those searching for adventure.

Near Halloween, what was a dark, quiet, gentle maze becomes a field of screams, with ghosts and goblins added for your late night spooking pleasure!"

Support local farms in your area and enjoy our Autumn Season. To learn more about corn mazes visit Corn Maze Directory.

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Center Stage with Wells Fargo

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:25:29 -0500

This week I was invited by Wells Fargo lenders to travel by covered wagon (coach bus) to Minneapolis. We left by 9:30 AM and I got home by almost 9 PM so it was a long but educational day. It is always fun to see old friends in the real estate business and to meet new ones. Hello, Brian Emerson! Our ride down was conversational and real estate was the topic of the morning. Wells provided us with delicious box lunches to eat on the way and we were ready to face the educational session.

Our speaker was Rich Casto and along with a good deal of coaching and tips, we got a few laughs from his stories and examples. As always, the listening part is the easiest and then the implementation another story entirely Although probably no one ran home and put into play everything that was suggested - we all learned and picked out a few things to do now and many to do later.

Sam (Stephanie) Hall from Wells Fargo Baxter, MN shared a few of her inventive ideas on the way home. If anyone is looking to invest and get a sure fire product patented and produced -Sam has one that women would buy. Absolutely necessary! She could probably arrange the loan for you as well.

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I WILL NOT FORGET

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:42:18 -0500

As you all well know, today marks the eighth anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. I am listening to some of the 9-11 memorial program on the television and remembering where I was and what I was doing on that day. We had a tornado rip through on June 13,2001 taking almost everything we owned including our roofing business and horse stable. We lost horses as well and that was the most difficult for me.

Our insurance company purchased us a dumpy old house trailer that we named Barney after the purple carpet that ran through the living spaces. It was parked behind what was left of our home. Some young men had already shown up for work and were in there with my husband deciding on the day's plan. I was doing my morning chores and listening to the TV as I went. After the first building was hit I ran to the house with a sinking feeling that there was more to come. My husband and the guys were already in a circle holding hands and praying for our nation and the lives of those in peril.

I hope that you will take a some time today to reflect on the things that are most important in your life. My relationship with God reflects on all the other people and things in my life. I have experienced tragedy and sorrow and pain, but God has never left me and I have never left Him. I have found that, though painful to endure, through trials we have the opportunity to rise even stronger.

I also will spend some time praying for those who were left behind and those who were injured and continue to endure great pain from this terrorist attack on the United States of America and her people. May God be with us.

Photo : Flickr

I WILL NOT FORGET!

FOR A COMPLETE TIMETABLE OF THOSE EVENTS CLICK HERE**********

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Ouch - It was wearing a yellow jacket but did not work for Century 21

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:14:37 -0500

To my C-21 friends ~ my apologies!

Summer is winding down but the number of stinging insects, such as yellow jackets and wasps, flying through the air, have not. In my case getting stung results in a big ouch, temporary redness, swelling and itching at the site of the sting. Hoewever for a small number of people with severe venom allergy, these stings may be life-threatening.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) and the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) urge people who suffer from a stinging insect allergy to take extra precautions and to carry epinephrine with them at all times.

"September through October is prime sting season; a nest that had a few dozen yellow jackets in July may have thousands in late September" said David B.K. Golden, MD, Fellow of the AAAAI and member of the AAAAI's Insect Allergy Committee. "Therefore, be careful when doing yard work or attending football games this fall."

Up to 5% of Americans are at risk for severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reactions from stinging insects. Unfortunately, most people are not aware that they are allergic to insect stings until after experiencing a reaction.

When an allergic person is stung, his or her body produces an antibody called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). The venom reacts with the IgE antibodies which trigger the release of histamine and other chemicals that cause allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions to insect stings can involve many body organs and may develop rapidly. This reaction is called anaphylaxis.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis are:

Itching and hives over large areas of the body
Swelling in the throat or tongue
Difficulty breathing
Dizziness
Stomach cramps
Nausea
Diarrhea
In severe cases, a rapid fall in blood pressure may result in shock or loss of consciousness

The AAAAI's Insect Allergy Committee recommends the following tips to avoid insect stings:

Stay out of the "territory" of stinging insects' nests
Hire a trained exterminator to destroy nest and hives near your home
Don't drink from a straw or can that you cannot see inside of, this is a favorite place for yellow jackets to hide
Do not swat at stinging insects if encountered by them
Avoid wearing heavy perfume and brightly colored clothing outdoors
Keep all food covered outside until eaten

In my area of the Brainerd Lakes in Minnesota, ground nests are common and difficult to find until you disturb one ( then run like the wind). Yellowjackets also love piles of old hay or straw. They nest under stairs, in dark cavities and get particularly annoyed by vibrations.

Play safe , they do not play nice!

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No Swimming For You but maybe Shark Watching?

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:29:55 -0500

Recent sightings of four great white sharks have prompted a swimming ban for the rest of the Labor Day weekend at some of the area's Oceanside beaches, including North Beach, Lighthouse Beach, South Beach and Harding Beach and Nauset Beach.

No swimming this Labor Day weekend and maybe for another month. The Great White Sharks have moved in and are enjoying the ideal water temperatures and the abundant fresh food, in the form of seals. They do not care if you planned a beach weekend retreat, are there on your first vacation in years, or if you are going back to school tomorrow. They are doing what sharks do and they are doing it very well.

Great white shark scientific name : Carcharodon Carcharias photo by Flickr: hermanusbackpackers

The Great White is between 12-16 feet long, and can grow up to 19-21 feet. The Great White is the most feared fish for humans. Great White Sharks are a very large species of shark. They are streamlined swimmers, and have a torpedo-shaped body with a pointed snout.

They have about 3000 teeth, arranged in several rows. The first two rows of teeth are used for grabbing and cutting prey, while the teeth in the last rows rotate into place when front teeth are broken, worn down, or fall out. The teeth are triangularly shaped with serrations on the edges. (How cool is that!)

The back of the shark is a dull grey color and the underside is colored white. They have three main fins: the dorsal (on back) and two pectoral fins (on the sides). The tail is crescent shaped. There are five gill slits on Great White Sharks. The Great White reaches maturity about 9 years after it's birth. The growth of The Great White shark is about 25-30 cm per year. The White Shark has litters of about 7-9 pups. The females only reproduce twice in her whole life.

Some shark information from www.indianchild .com

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Free Safety Webinar from NAR

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:20:13 -0500

I am signing up for a Webinar sponsored by the National Association of REALTORS and am thinking how sad it is that we need to even consider these issues. Although I have not had any trouble or even felt uncomfortable at a showing or an open house, I know others who have. I have also heard of robberies, rapes and murders of agents. I am not naive enought to consider that this could not happen in my area. It Could! I am going to do what I can to prevent it from happening to me. To sign up for the free Webinar go to NAR and sign in.

Attend the Free REALTOR® Safety Webinar from NAR: Safety at Open Houses

Your safety is a top priority for NAR and as part of a year-long initiative to help build safety awareness, NAR will host REALTOR® Safety Webinars each quarter led by safety expert Andrew Wooten. The first in the series, Safety at Open Houses, is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2009 at 10am Central. Advanced registration is recommended.

Photo FLICKR

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Sunny Charming-Move In Ready

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:31:52 -0500

My new listing at 921 12th Street SE Brainerd, MN is everything you could want in a starter/family home. The backyard is entirely fenced with sparkling white tall PVC panels that are attractive and functional. Let the kids and or pets roam freely. The two car garage with paved driveway has plenty of room for a car plus toys or two cars, if you please. Two bedrooms are on the main level and another large bedroom on the second. Masyer bedroom up or down, you choose. A basthroom on the main and a 3/4 in the basement, along with the utility room. A home theater/game room is ready for family fun and movie nights. How about the big game?

The main level is open and light filled - isn't that exactly what you want? How about a price of $119,000 with a new furnace in 2006?

~ VIRTUAL TOUR~

Contact Kathleen Lordbock REALTOR/Staging Specialist

218-831-8001

licensed in MN

Call me!

Who Doesn't Like Apple Pie?

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:13:27 -0500

Most buyers are looking for a well-maintained house in apple pie order. They will be looking to buy as much house as they can get and still leave a little dough for changes to adapt things to their personal taste. That doesn't mean that they will be looking to dive right into major home improvements, because they won't. The down payment on your home will take most of their savings. After the monthly mortgage payments, taxes and insurance, there is no room in their budget for major repairs. Many buyers today will not consider a house that needs remodeling and improvements, they do not need to as there are plenty of move in ready homes available. Those buyers who will are called flippers and need to buy property as cheaply as possible to make needed repairs and enhancements and still clear a profit. Nothing personal - it is their business.

Your house will stand a better chance of selling if it has an up-to-date kitchen, an up-to-date bathroom and shows the signs of regular maintenance. Inside and outside everything should be in good repair. Fresh paint improves the curb appeal of any house, along with blooming flowers and a nicely cropped green lawn. Cleanliness, both inside and out will make a good impression on the buyer. Clean out the gutters and downspouts, pull out all weeds, put fresh mulch around trees and in flower beds. Pressure wash the sidewalks and siding, if it will stand up to it. Go the distance and the reward will be much greater.

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Adoption From a Big Sister's Point of View

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:40:51 -0500

A young teenager in our youth group wrote this poem about her new much younger brother and sister. For those of you who are adoptees or have siblings that are - this expressed what I have found is a common thread. Fear, resentment, acceptance - love.

Adoption
You came into my life I didn’t really know you.
You came here to stay, but yet it felt like our old life was so far away.
I wanted you to stay.
But I wanted you to leave.
But the more I got to know you, the more I got to love you.
The more I got to see you, the less I was afraid.
Afraid of losing the only thing I had,
You know that it was truly hard for me to share my mom and dad.
But then I had to realize I truly had to see,
That there was more to our home now then just me.
I got to spend some time with you, and you asked me questions,
So now each and everyday I get to watch you grow and grow.
I miss you when I’m gone.
I miss you when you’re near.
I love it when we play.
And we go camping in your bedroom.
I love to read to you, and hear your little voice.
I wish that I could understand you more,
But sometimes it’s hard to think twice.
I know that it will still take time to love each other more.
And even when I am grown and gone.
I pray that our relationship will still stand strong.
Picnics in the backyard.
Flowers in a hand.
I know that I will forever love you,
The more and more we stand.
Walking down the street.
Playing in the sand.
Waiting for you to fall asleep.
Or maybe just holding your hand.
I wish that you could understand just how I feel for you.
This poem is my exact thoughts from the moment I first saw you.
I love you more then yesterday but less then tomorrow.
Swimming at the beach,
Castles in the sand,
Good times,
Bad times,
Wishing for more time that we could always have.
Brother and Sister, I love you and I pray all the time, that God would bring us closer all the time. I am so happy that you guys are now ours, and that you are here to stay, so we can hold you in our arms. I didn’t really understand that when you first came that you would stay forever. And I know that there have been times when I did not want you to stay. But now all those thoughts have gone away. I love you and will never want you guys to leave. I love being your big sister. I hope that you feel the same.
I love you guys.

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I Can Stage It Myself!

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:38:35 -0500

I see suggestions on Trulia and other sites from well meaning people who seem to think that by watching HGTV, you too can stage your own home. Only 10% of the population can visualize something other than what they are seeing, so you are rare. To top that off, you already have your home how you like it - right. That is the other problem - it is not about you any longer - it is all about getting prospective buyers in the door and to the purchase agreement table. If they do not like the online photos -they won't come to see it. Even worse if there are none.....
If they do not like the view from the road - they will drive on. There are so many other homes to see- why waste time? Are you willing to risk what is perhaps your biggest asset?
If you are serious about selling your home in the Brainerd Lakes area of Minnesota - then contact the team that can take you all the way to Sold and in get there in Style with much less Stress.
A complimentary staging consultation for each of my signed listings, furniture and accessories available for my vacant listings and a virtual tour and flyers for all listings.

We do things differently and it works.

Kathleen Lordbock

REALTOR/Staging Specialist

218-829-0339

Brainerd Lakes area of Minnesota

Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes

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This is a Great Safety Tip!

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:06:06 -0500

Tell your parents, your children, your friends, your clients, everyone you run across. Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain.

It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around... after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that! And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. I always have my keys out in the Mall of America ramp or the hospital ramps in the cities.

For someone working outside in their yard - who falls or starts to feel ill (heart attack) - push the button. Those living in secluded or rural areas are on their own, but even where I live - if the neighbors knew "the signal" could hear a honking horn across 80 acres.

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Summer Weather and Tornado Safety

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:27:02 -0500

This is what was left of our 70' trailer home which was inside a 80x170 indoor riding arena - also gone in Brainerd, MN. We never found the appliances, furnace, etc - but our blue toilet was found intact several miles away. Fencing & building in the background were put in after the storm. This tornado hit June 13, 2001 around 8:15 PM and we are still picking up the pieces and cutting up the trees. It was very fast and very devastating and yet, while we did lose horses and possessions, no human lives were lost. It certainly could have been worse! 86 Homes were destroyed and our riding stable and a farm with cattle. We are back in tornado season and I want to give you information that may WELL SAVE YOUR LIFE.

Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Every state is at some risk from this hazard.

Some tornadoes are clearly visible, while rain or nearby low-hanging clouds obscure others. Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible. That was the case with ours. The warning sirens in town went off after we came out to view the damage.

Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. A cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible. Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.

The following are facts about tornadoes:

They may strike quickly, with little or no warning.
They may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
The average tornado moves Southwest to Northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 MPH, but may vary from stationary to 70 MPH.
Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land.
Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.
Tornadoes are most frequently reported east of the Rocky Mountains during spring and summer months.
Peak tornado season in the southern states is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer.
Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time.

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Staged~Listed~Sold First Day on the Market

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:28:26 -0500

As a REALTOR/Staging Specialist with Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes, my listings are all staged. My listings are selling and selling fast. They are bringing close to the asking price and others are wondering why? I hear the statement that "price will overcome all objections" out of seasoned agents. While probably true, is that in the best interest of your clients? How low can they go? Many things can be done to enhance the desirability of a property that cost nothing. They are moving - why not prepack? Most of us can live with much less than we do. After all look at the number of people who go camping each year, it can be very freeing.

Yes moving is inconvenient, so is making repairs that have been put off for years. Cleaning is inconvenient - get over it! Once the property is prepared, keeping it up is very simple. I show them tips and techniques to get out of the house fast for showings and still leave it in showing condition. My sellers are motivated to move- they make small protests but in the end after multiple explanantions - they get it and go with it.

Here is my latest - send me more!

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Are you crazy? Stop paying your mortgage is "strategic"? Part 2

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:00:15 -0500

Are REALTORS encouraging defaulting on mortgage payments?

Via Mark Warner (RealEspace):

This is part 2 of my "Are you crazy" post. You can read part 1 here. I referenced the so-called "strategy" of those who voluntarily stop paying their mortgages. And, based on your responses, I wanted to do a second posting on this issue and why it is so important that we as industry professionals encourage not only our clients, but also our friends and families, to stay the course of continuing to make their monthly mortgage payments-even when they are hearing other ideas from the media and other sources you reported in your blog comments.

The 7-Year Credit Hit

Most of us know that negative credit listings stay on our report for 7 years. But what many don't realize is how far-reaching those effects are-or how they've become far more significant over the last few years.

It used to be that you could file bankruptcy or go through a foreclosure, then go out and buy a car within a few weeks. Sure, you'd pay a slightly higher interest rate, but other than that it didn't slow you down much.   Well, not any more. One of my cousins recently went through a bankruptcy and then tried to buy a $3,000 car.    No one-and I mean NO ONE-would lend them money.    His mother had to lend him the money. But that's not where it ended.   He had a hard time getting insurance because-you guessed it-they checked his credit report. Later, they had difficulties trying to switch electric companies for their home...because they checked his credit.

The scariest one to me? A friend mistakenly decided to "give" her house back to her bank. Quite the gift, no?   Well, this one kept on giving: she was later turned down for a really great job because they pulled her credit and believed that her failure to make payments was a reflection of her level of (or lack of, as the case may be) responsibility.    And she's not alone in this type of situation.

In short: making payments isn't just about keeping your house. It's about keeping your future.

Long-Term "Forced" Savings

For a lot of Americans, their home has always been a part of their retirement plan. My folks worked hard and, even if they couldn't put a lot into their savings account, they made their mortgage payment religiously. The result was that when they were ready for retirement, their home was paid for and their retirement income stretched a lot farther.

Those who believe that retirement planning should only include investments in the stock or bond markets are amazingly short-sighted. I've been in the financial services industry for over 30 years, and I can tell you that most folks aren't going to have enough money in the long run to live a comfortable lifestyle if they still have a mortgage payment.

As you make your payment every month essentially translates into a forced savings.   Your mortgage balance decreases and your equity ultimately increases-even if it means that you have to wait for the market to correct.   If you eventually owe nothing on that house, imagine the world of possibilities that are opened to you.   And the worlds that will be closed if you pay rent for the rest of your life.

Life-and Real Estate-Are Always Full of Ups and Downs

Anyone who's ridden the real estate rollercoaster before understands that it's full of ups and downs.   The market can't always be peaking. It has to slide in order to climb again. California goes through real estate "bumps" about every ten years: it climbs, it falls, it climbs, it falls.   Admittedly, we've seen it take a hit over the past few years-but we'd also seen it climb higher than ever in the previous five.

Voluntarily deciding to stop making your mortgage payments because your entry into the real estate market was ill-timed is not only unwise, but also smacks of a spoiled child who cries because he can't have a cookie until after dinner. Sometimes you just have to exercise a little bit of patience to get the reward. Both when it comes to cookies and to profiting in real estate.

Adding to the Problem

I made mention of this one in my last posting, but feel that it cannot be emphasized enough: with every foreclosure that takes place on its streets, the property values in a neighborhood tumble. And that's not all that declines.

Mortgage banks, who have suddenly found themselves with a flood of properties on their books-properties that they never wanted to own despite some public opinion-hire companies specializing in REO properties to secure and market them. They're also supposed to try to maintain the properties as best they can.

A guy I've known for years is in the REO business, and he tells me that they are so overwhelmed that they simply don't have time to care for the properties. That means that the grass goes unmowed, windows that are broken may never be repaired, and pipes burst in the winter because they were not properly winterized. These properties not only pull down neighborhood values-they also become a blight on that neighborhood.

In truth, if people want to see their home, neighborhood-and investment-maintain their values, they should do everything to keep it looking good rather than becoming part of the problem. Hey-if mowing my former neighbor's yard on occasion meant that my property value wouldn't tumble irrevocably, you'd better bet I'd be on my John Deere getting the job done. I wouldn't just say "hasta la vista" to my house, walking away after tossing the key through the mail slot because I didn't think there was anything more I could do.

Agree or disagree? Tell me what you're thinking.

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Why hasn't my home SOLD?

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:55:06 -0500

Why, why, why - there is a reason or even many reasons. Thanks to Ginger for the descriptive photos.

If you are in the Brainerd Lakes area of Minnesota and your home is not selling, call me. My listings sell fast and for close to asking price. I stage them then list them, market heavily on the internet with a virtual tour and go to closing. Is that what you are getting from other agents? Trying to sell on your own? Not working for you?

PS~ I can not help you if you are under contract with another agent.

218-829-4664

Via Ginger Foust-Home Stager Oakhurst CA Dream Interior Redesign & Staging Calif (Dream Interior Redesign & Staging Oakhurst CA):

Most of us know of the tried and true BIG 3 when it comes to selling a house, PRICE, LOCATION and CONDITION. If your house is listed or you are considering selling, have your looked seriously at these crucial issues?

Knowing the correct listing price is critical. A professional real estate agent is your best friend in determining a price that will make your home attractive to potential buyers and then actively marketing your property. The location of your house helps determine the price, as does the condition of your home. Though you cannot change the location, the price and the condition are under your control. Helping you to know how to properly prepare your house, so that you can reap the largest return on your investment in the shortest period of time is the job of a Professional Real Estate Home Stager.

Here are some examples of homes, in our area, with issues that potential sellers could not overlook. In each of these examples, Dream Interior Redesign and Staging was called in for a staging consultation. When a Professional Stager comes into your home for a consultation the following are the areas that should be addressed:

CURB APPEAL and EXTERIOR CONDITIONS:



REPAIRS:



DECLUTTERING:



DEPERSONALIZING:



NEUTRALIZING:



UPDATING:



CLEAN:



STAGING of OCCUPIED & VACANT PROPERTIES:





To the best of our knowledge, when the sellers made the recommended changes and spent some time preparing the house for the resale market, the house SOLD. When our Dream Team does the actual staging the statistics are even stronger.  Professional Staging does help sell houses.  Hiring a team of: a Real Estate Sales Professional and a Professional Home Stager is the best option available today for making the sale in the shortest period of time for the largest return on your investment.

The houses, from the photos above and many more, where the sellers chose to ignore the staging suggestions and did not listen to the Realtor regarding pricing, have not sold.  Some of those houses have been sitting on the market for years and some have now become short sale or foreclosure properties.

Smart and savvy home sellers recognize the need for preparation. Sales price alone is rarely the answer to making the sale.

Click here to see a slideshow with a small sampling of our staging projects. IF you seriously want to sell then you need to consider AT LEAST a staging consultation.

Dream Interior Redesign & Staging by Ginger Foust is a full service Professional Staging and ReDesign company serving the California foothill and mountain communities of Oakhurst, North Fork, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Fish Camp, Wawona and Mariposa.  Also, visit our website at www.dreamredesigns.com or www.oakhurststaging.com For more information call 559-877-2442.

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Religious or In a Relationship?

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:38:14 -0500

"People always think that religion and business do not go together. I totally agree - “religion” causes all sorts of problems.

People always think Christians are religious nuts - not true. Christians aren’t religious - we have a “relationship” with God. That’s all he wants - a relationship with you. I talk to God like a best friend. I spent time telling him how I feel, what I would like to see happened, praying for YOUR success and more." Dwan Bent-Twyford

Thanks to Dwan for the differentiation between religion and Christianity. People tell me I am religious - I tell them I am in a relationship. People acknowledge that there is a God and if asked want to (& think that they are going to Heaven). Yet, they have no idea how that would happen (Or think they are "good" and "good" people go to Heaven). They also do not know God or anything about Him and yet want to spend eternity with Him. Why? They do not want to spend their short life on earth "with" Him.
Get to know God, study His word - so much to learn. And pray - talk to Him and ask for your eyes to be opened and for understanding.

photo: Flickr

Kathleen Lordbock

Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes

Top Brainerd Agent

licensed to sell real estate in Minnesota

~Not your ordinary REALTOR. not your ordinary results~

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Statue de la Liberte

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:01:35 -0500

Today for the first time since 9-11, you can go to the top of the Statue of Liberty. "On that fateful day in 2001, she held her head high as she witnessed with her own eyes the horrors that took place just across from her watery home. Symbolism and sentimentality can be infinitely applid to her place in it all." I have never been up in the Statue but hope to at some point. There are lots of others who want to enjoy the "view from the crown" and tickets are sold out until November. Carefully planned down to the smallest detail- the statue looks out on the ocean and on to France.

Located on a 12 acre island, the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4,1996.

The seven sharp spikes on her crown represent the seven continents and seas. Her torch is a symbol of enlightenment.

Security improvements include additional rangers stationed throughout the statue itself, new handrails and a trained medical technician on site.

Already a symbol of hope and strength, many visitors see the re-opening of the crown as a symbol of America's resiliency.

"I think it had to happen. [September 11] was a terrible tragedy, but getting this reopened shows our experience and rejuvenation," said tourist Steve Sardinia, Jr., who was visiting from Long Island. "I think it shows the ability of America to come back."

photo:FLICKR

When shipped from France to New York, she came in 350 pieces.
Once delivered, it took four months to put her together, and was completed on October 28, 1886.

Facts from the Fact Monster

The statue was designed by Fredéric Auguste Bartholdi of Alsace as a gift to the United States from the people of France to memorialize the alliance of the two countries in the American Revolution and their abiding friendship. The French people contributed the $250,000 cost.

The Statue of Liberty, the most famous symbolic statue of a woman, was modeled after Marie Bartholdi, the sculptor's mother. The Statue of Liberty is tremendous! Her nose is four and a half feet long, and her mouth is three feet wide. Her waist measures 35 feet around.

The 150-foot pedestal was designed by Richard M. Hunt and built by Gen. Charles P. Stone, both Americans. It contains steel underpinnings designed by Alexander Eiffel of France to support the statue. The $270,000 cost was borne by popular subscription in this country. President Grover Cleveland accepted the statue for the United States on Oct. 28, 1886.

The Statue of Liberty was designated a National Monument in 1924 and a World Heritage Site in 1984.

Have a great 4th of July enjoying the liberty that so many sacrificed for and others are continuing that sacrifice.

I will be saluting the flag and cheering on the military marching in my hometown.

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