up north cabins: Buying & Selling MN Homes
- 04/18/15 09:40 AM
Here in sunny and now finally warm Minnesota we have had a fabulous past few days with record breaking warm termperatures. Note to sellers: Sellers need to take advantage of this break in the weather and spruce up the outside of the home. Add some mulch, pressure wash the exterior, clean the windows-replacing any broken glass, wash down the doors and scrape any chipping peeling paint and paint if needed. It’s been sunny for a few days and many of the trees and flowers are blooming. This means an early start on selling houses too. Note for buyers: Exciting times for buyers now! Mortgage applications are up 4% over the last 4 … (1 comments)
up north cabins: Spring and the Time to get Your Move On!
- 04/18/15 09:16 AM
While ideal weather is one of the main advantages to selling your home in the Spring, another advantage is that the children do not have to be moved in mid-school year. When a buyer purchases a home in the Spring, they are most likely to move in during the early summer. That means plenty of time for the kids to adjust and adapt to the area before the new school year begins. They may even make a friend or two with the neighborhood kids before the first day of school. Interest rates are still low! Properties that are ready for the market … (4 comments)
Is your Brainerd, MN home ready for another Minnesota winter of frosty temperatures and beautiful snowy weather? It is important to clean and prepare your home in the fall before winter arrives. This checklist covers most of the necessary maintenance for your home and gets you ready for winter in Minnesota. Inspect and clean gutters and downspouts to protect exterior surfaces and keep water out of the basement Seal any gaps or cracks around windows and doors with weather-stripping and caulk to reduce drafts and to keep the heat in Inspect roof for damaged or curled shingles, corroded flashing, or leaky vents-putting this off can be detrimental and disastrous (it is much harder to find and fix the leak when it is under snow and ice) Repair damaged sidewalks, driveways, and steps-look for cracks more than 1/8-inch wide, uneven sections, loose railings on steps, disintegration of asphalt, or washed-out materials on loosefill paths. These may not seem dangerous now but when it gets cold and icy out they can be hazardous Drain and winterize all outdoor faucets and irrigation systems-much easier than dealing with a busted pipe later! Clean or replace dirty/old furnace filters-filters that are clogged can make it harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature and can increase your utility bills during the winter months Have a professional inspect your furnce/heating system Check fireplaces for buildup, best to hire a professional chimney sweep as accumulations in a flue or chimney can result in a devastating chimney and/or house fire Inspect any gas-fired room heaters- an improperly maintained gas heater can spew poisons into the air of your home, which can be very dangerous Inspect wood stoves before firing up-cracks in wood-stove-stovepipes can release toxic fumes into your home, so check for corrosion, holes, or loose joints often Test smoke and CO 2 monitors and replace the batteries Inspect (or install) fire extinguishers-there should be at least one fire extinguisher on each floor of your home Review fire escape plans Rid your home of old newspapers and other fire hazards Get it done now and when our Minnesota Winter comes you will have more time to get out and enjoy it. … (2 comments)
up north cabins: Outside is In!
- 07/17/14 07:47 AM
Cooking, entertaining, reading, relaxing and sleeping for many decades in the USA have been activities that homeowners did inside the house. Now, the trend for many is to move activities to the out spaces. Just as formal sitting rooms indoors are passé, formal gardens are out and the lived-in garden is very chic. Kitchens for the patio come complete with fire brick pizza ovens, refrigerators, ice makers, sinks, and the traditional favorite BBQ grill in a fashionable streamlined stainless steel model. Entertainment tents, screened in 3- season rooms and gazebos move the crowd from the main indoor living spaces. Piped … (1 comments)
Here in sunny and now finally warm Minnesota we have had a fabulous past few days with record breaking warm termperatures. 
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