The reach of the internet

It's a little frightening, but also very cool.  Last week, yahoo.com had an article about the ability to purchase a home for the same price as a car.  Because I am a premier agent on Zillow.com which is part of yahoo, the article somehow got linked to me and homes in the Two Rivers area.  I was getting e-mails from all over the world!  Really!  China, Germany, UK, India and many states across the US were the locations of the e-mail addresses.  I did receive a few phone calls as well from people in the US.  It was difficult at first to believe that this was all legitimate, I thought that I was definitely the victim of scamming, but after some research and many questions, it turned out to be actual inquiries.  What I want to know is this, would someone really buy a home without having seen it?  Or, knowing about the area?  Would one really trust a stranger to explain the home, the amenities and problems of the home and the location?  Would a person from Dubai actually do this?  If so, then I am completely baffled by it and give me a call!  I'm your Realtor!  Let's buy that house!

Housing outlook is more upbeat – USATODAY.com

Housing outlook is more upbeat – USATODAY.com

9 markets with rising real estate values | Inman News

Thinking of moving? These cities look very attractive, give me a call and I will get your house SOLD!

9 markets with rising real estate values | Inman News

Happy Holidays | Carlson School of Management

Happy Holidays | Carlson School of Management

Home touring day

While viewing homes the other day, the buyers and I came across this renovated farm house.  Part of the home had been recently remodeled but they did not finish the entire home.  Obviously they left the basement as it was in 1945!  Look at these jars of canned items!  Note to self: date home canned goods!

5 tasks to ready your home for sale

You've asked for it and finally I have compiled my 5 "must do" tasks for getting your home ready for sale.
1) Front entry - I can not stress this enough. Make sure that your potential buyers enter through the front door, not the garage, not the side service door, etc. And pay attention to detail! Fully operational doors, clean, keys operational, fresh door mat, decorative wreath, & no hanging wires from the broken doorbell!
2) Smell - Make sure your home is rid of offensive odors. Sometimes, that means actually removing the dog, the kennel, the bowls, the toys (if they don't see a pet? possibly they don't smell one?)
Garbage taken out, diaper odor gone, last nights poker game smell - eradicate it. And for heavens sake, do not have candles burning all over the place! That is a sure sign of a cover-up.
3) De-clutter - You have seen it on "Sell this house" and it is true. If you have to get storage boxes to store your "stuff" then do it. Closets should appear roomy, not sparse mind you, but the offering of ample storage possibilities. Table tops with 15 framed pictures - put in storage. Your buyers want to picture themselves in your home, not you! Walls, mantles, & countertops should not be overly decorated. Just the necessities - coffee maker, utensil bin, etc. NOT: cereal boxes, loaves of bread, medication containers, dirty dishes, etc.
4) Repairs - any annoying little item that you have been procrastinating on, get it done! You know what I am referring to: loose door hinges, chipped paint on the corners, burnt out lightbulbs, sticky sliding glass doors, broken cables on windows, etc.
5) Yard - pay attention to it. Mowed, trimmed, weeded, flowers and bushes maintained, no toys laying around, & yard furniture neatly arranged.
Good luck getting your home ready!

Sausage making

This is a bit of a detour from home selling but it is about making a happy home! Greg and I just bought a NESCO sausage grinder and stuffer and used it for the first time yesterday. This was one of the most satisfying culinary projects I have ever been a part of. Also, it was the first time eating sausage where there was no guilt! I knew exactly what went into our sausage so that eating it was just plain tasty. Here's the recipe: Pork butt, fennel seeds, parsley, red-pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. We cut the pork butt into chunks and then mixed it with the seasonings, allowed it sit for about an hour, then grinded it twice and voila! The next attempt will be tweaking the flavorings (more fennel!) perhaps some oregano, garlic, etc. and then actually stuffing into casings. My Dad has taught me year after year how to make Finnish Potato Sausage so this "should" be a no-brainer. Thanks Dad for that! Also, organic pork? That would be preferable but hard to find where we live.