hgtv: Top 8 Upgrades to Make Buyers Flock to Your Door - 02/22/19 10:09 AM
We live in a word of reality TV, and home improvement shows are 24/7.  Every buyer is HGTV trained, and they drool over cosmetic appeal. What can a homeowner do on a budget to have buyers stampeding your door?
Kitchens sell homes. Without having to do a whole kitchen remodel, what’s important? All the flips advertise granite countertops and new appliances. Granite is losing favor because it scratches, stains and cracks. There are a plethora of laminates with a Hi Definition photo quality without the extreme price. Freshen kitchen cabinets with a coat of paint. There are water based paints just … (1 comments)

hgtv: Temperatures are Soaring, the Real Estate Market is Cooling - 08/14/18 08:16 AM
The spring market was frantic as usual, with multiple offers on almost every home, or so it seemed. The media was waving “It’s a Seller’s Market!” flags, and there was very low inventory of homes. Buyers were frustrated, and it was common to write at least three to six offers for a buyer before landing them a home.
 
In Minnesota, we have seasons, and real estate rolls with the season. If Punxsutawney Phil doesn’t see his shadow on February 2, we can hope for an early spring market. The high point of sales for real estate is usually April, with a robust … (4 comments)

hgtv: My Life as a TV Real Estate Reality Show Star (imagined) - 03/16/18 07:50 AM
Every morning I wake up with my head exploding with brilliant Instagram images on rehabbing houses. It's not an easy work, it takes a village. There are project plans, the decor has to be gorgeous, crew lined up, and buyers vetted. Hair and wardrobe make or break the image. What should I wear swinging a sledgehammer or showing a dingy basement? The look has to be professional and glamorous, yet with homey relatable images.
At 10 AM I meet the new couple at my office. They've been vetted by the casting team, contracts are signed, budget is set, and they’ve already bought … (24 comments)

hgtv: 400 Hours of Watching HGTV Does Not Make You a Designer - 02/27/18 07:20 AM
Our eyes are fixated on the screen, our blood rushes, and we hold our breath. Are you ready? Are you ready to see your dump of house transformed? YES, YES, YES!!!! The buyers scream, Ohhhh, we can’t believe it!!!” We cheer with them, our hearts are pounding, and we can’t wait to see the surprises inside.
Room by room they swoon, it gets better and better. The designer squeezed in every desire, it's almost a psychic dream come true. Sunlight pours in through enormous windows casting a cozy glow across sparkly granite countertops. Walls were opened up creating expansive airy rooms, clever … (8 comments)

hgtv: Total Rehab in NE Minneapolis, Part 3 - 02/05/18 08:00 AM
From the outside it doesn’t look like much is going on. Even if you peek in the windows, you’ll still see a raw gutted main floor. You’ll be surprised, “Wasn’t this supposed to be done by now? It’s already been a couple months!” Here's the reality check part: things don't always go according to plan, and surprise is a very bad word in real estate.
I sat down with Kevin Johnson of Chief Concepts, over a cup of coffee to find out what happens before he even writes an offer on a house. Over the years I've had a lot of would … (0 comments)

hgtv: 6 Hacks to Make Home Buying Painless - 01/16/18 09:53 AM
You want your own home, don’t know where to start or who to trust. There is so much information online that it’s overwhelming. It seems daunting, even frightening. Here are 6 practical hacks to make to make you a smart buyer, and the journey a breeze.
 
Get EducatedI’m not talking about college, it’s about knowing the process. Schools don’t teach it, but it’s important for you to understand financing, contracts, rights and responsibilities. The more you know, the better decisions you make. You’ll want an objective overview. Minnesota Homeownership Center (http://www.hocmn.org/buyingahome/homebuyer-education/) offers in person classes for which they give you a certificate. … (4 comments)

hgtv: Total Rehab in NE Minneapolis - 11/16/17 09:26 AM
The word REMODELED can mean many things. Some investors slap on a coat of paint and add some new appliances. Very few will take a property down to the studs, replace all utilities, and reconfigure the floor plan. I’d like to tell you the story of how it really happens, not the HGTV version that wraps it all up in 20 minutes after a quick trip to Ikea.
A few weeks ago I sold a 1904 one and a half story in NE Minneapolis for a family who owned it since WWII, over 70 years. The owner was ill, and couldn’t take … (2 comments)

hgtv: Dear Buyer, HGTV is Not you Friend. Not a Real Friend. - 11/21/16 05:27 AM
Every buyer is hooked on HGTV for inspiration, hoping that they can make it happen for themselves. Twenty minute makeovers are seductive. The homeowners walk in and are surprised, thrilled, tears of joy spilling down their cheeks.
Who doesn’t love a good makeover? As Americans, we expect magic. We love Walt Disney, Harry Potter, and HGTV. We don’t really want to know how it works, we just want to push that EASY button.
Can we do a little fact checkin?  Starting with the Realtors on the shows, they show up all over the map, offer a client 3 homes to choose from, and … (7 comments)