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Twas the Week Before Christmas and all through the County—I’m Showing Houses!

By
Real Estate Agent with Boardman Realty Minnesota License#90858

Here it is a week prior to the Christmas Holidays and I am frantically getting ready as I always do this time of year. But in the midst of shopping for presents, sending packages, wrapping gifts and baking cookies, I have to set up and show homes to clients.

A normal year would see a slow down around the holidays but this year real estate has been anything but normal. Buyers have been out there all year long but with change on the horizon for 2008 in the mortgage industry, some buyers are very motivated to find the perfect home now!

So off we went this weekend for showings throughout Ramsey, Washington and Anoka Counties...Surprisingly most of the homes we saw were well prepared for our visit. Christmas trees were lit which added extra sparkle. Sidewalks were shoveled at most homes. And the chocolate chip cookies were a nice touch...Hope they were meant for us and not Santa.

Not all  stockings were hung with care in preparation for our visit. The one home owner that did not bother to shovel their driveway after the huge 8-12 inch snowfall last week, did miss out on a sales opportunity. The home was not bad inside but when a homeowner doesn't bother to maintain the exterior, the interior is reviewed with an extra critical eye. The potential sale was lost as my buyers trekked up the hard packed uneven snow banks to the front door. The Rainbow Goldfish crackers left in a pile on the table were not as appealing as the cookies at the other home either.

Sellers make the most of this week and the opportunity it presents! If someone wants to see your home this week, make it available and make the buyers feel welcome. Most buyers are very serious this time of year! A beautifully prepared home could mean the best present of all for a seller; an acceptable offer all wrapped up for the holidays!

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and  need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet.  I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2007 Teri Eckholm  http://www.terieckholm.com/

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Posted by

Teri Eckholm. REALTOR with Boardman Realty, is a native Minnesotan who has lived and worked in the Minneapolis St Paul metro all of her life. She specializes in lakeshore homes, acreage properties and first time home buyers but assists anyone making a move in the north and east Twin Cities metro.

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give Teri , a call or visit her website for a FREE Home Buyer Success Guide or FREE Home Value Report She specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2019 terieckholm.com

 

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Comments(24)

Kris Wales
Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI
Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI
Isn't it fun to be busy this time of year?  I know it's hectic, but the home buyers looking now are in such good moods and everything looks so festive!
Dec 18, 2007 05:57 AM
No Longer Active
Real Estate - Fallon, MT
Teri... Sounds like your lining up a nice start to the new year....  Maybe I'll go whip out a batch of something.... Made Rice Krispy Treats the other day but they didn't even last 24 hours.  I could really go for an old fashion platter of cookies with some milk.
Dec 18, 2007 07:31 AM
Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP

Hey Teri,  I'm so glad to hear that you are busy!  I also find that many sellers do not take this time of year seriously...it should be quite the opposite.  Those looking are VERY serious. 

Did you guys save a cookie for me?  MmMMmm....   :)

Dec 18, 2007 08:32 AM
Lynda Eisenmann
Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA
Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

Hi Teri,

I too am showing property this week. I've got a couple of pairs of buyers I currently working with.

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Dec 18, 2007 09:38 AM
Sandra Cummings
William Raveis Real Estate - Guilford, CT
Real Estate Agent, Guilford Connecticut
Teri - Okay, tell me how to do the Dipped Oreos. Sounds right up my family's alley! I also make tons of fudge. It goes as fast as I can make it, thank goodness it is an easy recipe!
Dec 18, 2007 10:18 AM
Tracy Santrock
Santrock Realty Group Inc. , - Cary, NC
Raleigh - Cary Broker

I agree Teri,

It's so wonderful when you go into a home during the holidays and it's decorates, smells nice, and feels cozy.  As you said, buyers that are out in the cold weather this time of year are SERIOUS buyers.

Dec 18, 2007 10:30 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher
Teri, I know it's supposed to be slow right now but I'm glad to hear you're busy.  You're right about that homeowner, the house has to look as appealing from the outside as it does inside.  People that have lovely and taseful decorations up will definitely add something to their homes right now, it can be a perfect time to show!
Dec 18, 2007 11:32 AM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro
Teri, you are right is someone is looking at this time of the year they are serious.  I normally slow down at this time of year also but this year I have stayed busy.  I'm going out of town for the holiday and have an appointment set for the day after I get back. 
Dec 18, 2007 02:42 PM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Stephanie--Thanks!! It is funny being busy should be stressing me out but actually it is making me more relaxed about the holiday thing because I am focusing on clients. BTW--Lots of yummy cookies here!
Dec 18, 2007 11:11 PM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Lynda--That's wonderful! It is a very fun time to show homes...Good Luck and Merry Christmas to you too!
Dec 18, 2007 11:14 PM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Sandra--Dipped oreos are as easy as they sound but you have to find a store with dipping chocolate. We have a local store called Maid of Scandinavia or Sweet Celebrations. The coatings come in several flavors and colors. We buy a lot of white and use flavoring +/or food coloring. Microwave the chips with paramount crystals (these keep the coating from hardening too quickly). Drop in an Oreo until coated. Remove and let harden on wax paper. We also dip pretzels.

This year we used the Mint Oreos with mint flavored coating...Those are hard to keep around. We also mixed chocolate coating with peanut butter and used Peanut Butter Oreos...My kid who loves Reese's goes crazy for those. The tried and true is a plain Oreo with white coating...or red and green. If you buy white coati

Dec 18, 2007 11:21 PM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Tracy--Clean with a path shoveled goes a long way...but decorated with sights, sounds and smells of the season is wonderful. :)
Dec 18, 2007 11:24 PM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Carole--I have been very fortunate to have wonderful clients...It is fun to show homes at this time of year!
Dec 18, 2007 11:26 PM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Marchel--That is wonderful news! With so many agents struggling earlier this year, it is nice to hear that so many are now busy! Enjoy your holiday...Then right back to work! :)
Dec 18, 2007 11:28 PM
Lizette Fitzpatrick
Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY
Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes
Yippee for us! Real estate is alive and kicking for both of us because of good clients. Loved my Christmas card! Chanel was sooo excited to see something from Minnesota. I let her sniff the card. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Dec 19, 2007 04:17 AM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Lizette--Did Chanel enjoy the scent of cold weather? Glad you are busy and hope you will stay that way into 2008! Have a wonderful holiday!
Dec 19, 2007 08:05 AM
Jeanean Gendron
The Address Realty - Redding, CA
Specializing in Selling Unique Properties
Teri, great post and good news all the way around. Have a wonderful season and a great new year. It will be a great 2008!
Dec 20, 2007 11:54 PM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Jeanean--Thank you...Yes I think 2008 will be a great year. Have a wonderful holiday!
Dec 21, 2007 01:11 AM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro
Jeanean--Thank you! Yes, I think 2008 will be a great year...Have a wonderful holiday!
Dec 21, 2007 01:11 AM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

Teri, I think this is a wonderful time for sellers to show their homes. With all of the festivity, it makes the homes so cozy and warm. Even with baking going makes the home smell good. Whatever the sellers can do to make their home more inviting, is what they ought to be doing. Very cute post. Have a Merry Christmas Teri.

 

Dec 24, 2007 12:29 PM