Guns, Ammo and Dead Animal Heads. Storm Lake, IA has many homes with owners who hunt. Many deer, turkey, pheasant and other critters can be found on walls in this town. It can be problematic when listing a home that is owned by an avid hunter.

I don't show properties with guns out in the open, many Buyers have children with them, some guns are small enough to disappear. I am not comfortable showing a property that I know has guns and I know Buyers feel the same way. Dead animal heads are great if you hunt, but there are some people who are appalled at the sight of one and then there are others, like me, who it doesn't bother. Just as some cultures will not buy a home in which someone has died, some will not even go into a room with a hunting trophy.

How do you handle listings that have lots of trophys, guns in sight and ammunition laying around.

Excellent list, when I first started in real estate I was amazed at what sellers left out (their listing contract with Net Proceeds, prescriptions, diamonds, jewlery, old coins, credit card statements, hand guns, money. This list is a really good one, we use a checklist in our listing packet on what should be removed, placed in a locked place before a showing.

Location and View! This home is close to BVU and BVRMC on a corner lot with a view across the street of the lake (new building will be placed at this site and could block the view of the lake). Enjoy a crackling fire in the cozy livingroom. The diningroom and livingroom are large and open to each other and they have a lot of natural light with large windows. All appliances stay and the current owner used a large room in the basement for a recreation room. Call me Georgia Weaver to see this home.

This home has a 5 star location, close to Buena Vista University, the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, Storm Lake and downtown.

Builtin character

This home currently has a view of Storm Lake, but a building will go where this picture has been taken.

This property needs work, including a complete heating system and some roof repair, but it is priced to allow for those needs. This is a 6 family conversion with a lot of potential. These apartments could be completed individually and rented as they are finished. Each has separate electric. Call Georgia Weaver to schedule a tour of this property 712-291-0118. Owner would like to sell this property with 316 S. 6th Street Sac City (a 5 plex).

Absolutely Gorgeous! Elegant home with granite kitchen counter tops, beautiful wood work, laundry on main, large enclosed front porch that has windows all around, ceiling fan, and hard wood floors. Builtin kitchen appliances, glass cook top with down draft vent, unique ornate stair case, built in china hutch in dining area and a large walk in closet in the master bedroom. Seems like a lot but there's more, 2+ car garage with large loft above, new windows 4 years ago,landscaped with flowers and herbs, and 2 Prairie Fire blooming trees. Come see this home for yourself, it is in excellent condition, has 2 furnaces and 2 central air units because the previous owners didn't want to cut into the floors.

Lots of landscaping, blooming Crabapple trees, Peonies, Bleeding Hearts, Lillies, Hosta.........

AND

One unbelievable kitchen

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!

Don't miss this home, go online to see all the pictures or even better yet - Call Georgia Weaver 712-291-0118 to see this home.

Big 4 bedroom home, Master with walkin closet on main, Kitchen is an open floor plan with the large living room that includes a fire place! This home has beautiful presence and has been lovingly cared for and updated with the original character in mind. HUGE dining room 25'1 by 11'5! This one you need to see, move in ready, call Georgia Weaver to see this wonderful home 712-291-0118

This is a beautiful home

Listed at only $105,000 and move in ready.

We have several local developers in Storm Lake and Newell continuing to work on new home developments and subdivisions, we have a number of investors working on flips and rentals, and we have a number of big developers vieying for the opportunity to put up some mega properties to help ease the local rental housing needs. Unfortunately, it looks like all the big developers are planning to put up low income housing (we need good, clean, rental housing across the board) but with the need at the several hundred units level and going up, every new rental clean good rental is a welcome addition.
Blu Skyz Properties LLC is one of the smaller companies that has made a significant difference in the current market. They have  a number of properties in Newell, Iowa and are working on an old boarding house facing Storm Lake.

Check out the videos of the remaking of a vacant old property into an updated 7-plex.

Video 1 - Storm Lake IA Rental Remake - The BEAST

Video 2 - Storm Lake IA Rental Remake - Clean Sweep

Like us and follow us on Facebook to see updates of this project

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It is January in NW Iowa, Storm Lake to be exact. So far this year we have had 2 snow falls, both slight compared to our usual massive accumulation. The good weather has helped keep the Storm Lake MLS active and Storm Lake homes  and surrounding area homes selling.  I just got back from the Storm Lake MLS new property tour and we had several new listings to go through, that makes me smile. We had a good year in 2011 and it looks promising for 2012. We are planning to bring on fulltime office staff and we have have a few more big changes coming that should positively impact the Storm Lake and surrounding area real estate markets. Those changes involve growth, new services, better client/customer services, and a few surprises!

No pun intended! Our brokerage has had a good year with an increase in sales by 11% over 2010.  Part of the growth was and will continue to be the work we are doing with Blu Skyz Properties LLC (BPSLLC) in residential and commercial development in both Storm Lake and Newell Iowa.

Our average days on market also rocked at 76 compared with the average of 141!  Thank you to all our clients who helped make this growth possible. We work for YOU!

2012 will have a lot of surprises -

Service Animals are not Pets. They have jobs to do and are trained to do those jobs. They are the legs, arms, alarm system, and much, much more to many people all across America. This case has gained national interest. A town next to the one I live in has made big headlines recently by insisting a service dog be removed from the city limits. The town of Aurelia, Iowa has a ban on Pit Bull dogs and mixes that contain Pit Bull. There is a petition going around concerning this case. Weigh in, I have, there's a link to the petition below, it is number 6.

Lots of chatter, and ink on this topic in the local area, but also in the entire country. Check out some of the articles and sites.

1) Hearing set in Aurelia Iowa  - Ban on Service Dog Case https://www.google.com/search?q=aurelia+iowa+pit+bull&num=100&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&rlz=1I7ADFA_en&prmd=imvnsu&source=univ&tbm=nws&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=B2H7TpibIsqBgAfRkPCyAg&ved=0CEIQqAI

2) Aurelia Iowa Pit Bull Ban Leaves retired police officer without a service dog http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CFIQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Fnews%2Faurelia-iowa-pit-bull-ban&ei=B2H7TpibIsqBgAfRkPCyAg&usg=AFQjCNH8TveNKajWPER33JSNgCMq0vcZbA

3) Disabled Police Officer and Vet required to say goodbye to his service dog Aurelia Iowa http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CGEQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fchicagoist.com%2F2011%2F12%2F22%2Fiowa_towns_pitbull_ban_forces_retir.php&ei=B2H7TpibIsqBgAfRkPCyAg&usg=AFQjCNEeUGAA2MMRJKD0jEFH0_XDIdmg5w

4) Disabled man says goodbye to his service animal - Aurelia Iowa City Council requires the animal be removed from the man's home http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=9&ved=0CGgQFjAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ktiv.com%2Fstory%2F16387641%2Fupdate-aurelia-ia-man-reunites-with-service-dog&ei=B2H7TpibIsqBgAfRkPCyAg&usg=AFQjCNGes6fyCqtXNMDr777GxR-YmqJK5A

5) Hearing set in Aurelia Iowa over allowing a disabled man to have his service animal in the town of Aurelia http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=14&ved=0CIkBEBYwDQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.court.us%2Fidar4187177%2Fhearing_set_in_aurelia__iowa__pit_bull_case___sioux_city_journal.htm&ei=B2H7TpibIsqBgAfRkPCyAg&usg=AFQjCNHyaoE3xv7eTBIEH0TMz0eIisnHUg

6) Petition to allow retired disabled police officer to keep his service dog - http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=17&ved=0CJ8BEBYwEA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.change.org%2Fpetitions%2Faurelia-ia-city-council-a-disabled-retired-chicago-cop-is-being-denied-pit-bull-service-dog&ei=B2H7TpibIsqBgAfRkPCyAg&usg=AFQjCNGfhJR9WdW8BM0xu1vXF_BvyFl-dw

As realtors, we know that service animals have a very different standing when it comes to housing, especially rentals. But this case should bring clarification to more states that don't have clear rulings protecting these animals and the people who depend on them.