Baby it's cold outside! Invite the buyers in!

Think of your buyers as your most desired guests.  Roll out the red carpet treatment and you will create a lasting impression!

By +Sarah Marrinan - Keller Williams Premier Realty 

 Make your home seem warm and welcoming to potential buyers with an inviting atmosphere. This will encourage them to stick around, giving them more time to admire the space. Here are some tips to help your home make a lasting impression in even the coldest months.

Crank up the heat. When it’s cold outside, buyers will be grateful for a place to warm up. Turn the thermostat up a couple of degrees to make it extra toasty, or light a fire in the fireplace for an extra homey touch. Just be sure not to leave a fire unattended.

Let in the light. To make your home look bright and open when it’s a bit dreary outside, turn on all the lights and open all the shades and curtains to let in as much natural light as possible. Use amber-colored light bulbs to give your home a warm glow.

Create appealing aromas. The scent of freshly baked cookies, cinnamon rolls or apple pie is almost universally appealing. Avoid artificial fragrances like sprays and scented candles, which might affect buyers' allergies. If your house has been closed up tightly, you may want to open all the windows and doors for just a few minutes each day to freshen things up.

Offer warm treats. If delicious aromas are wafting through your home, follow through by having food and drinks available for buyers, such as cookies, hot chocolate or apple cider set out.

Play soothing sounds. Classical or jazz music playing softly in the background can add to your home’s inviting atmosphere. An acoustical holiday music CD may be seasonally appropriate.

Add seasonal adornments. While overly large decorations or an abundance of decorations can distract buyers from your home, tasteful wintry accents can complement your decor. Consider a simple wreath on the door, a vase filled with poinsettias on an end table, or a centerpiece made of pine cones on the dining room table. Simple or professionally done exterior holiday lights will help light a buyer's way on those winter months when the sun sets early.

Emphasize cozy comfort. As a finishing touch, emphasize the comfort of your home with luxurious and inviting fabrics, like soft blankets, plush towels or a silky tablecloth.

Should I Care About Radon?

The latest buzz in the housing market... and activist groups... and cancer research is radon.  But what do we know about radon?
Well, here is what the government wants us to know:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL BROCHURE

How does this pertain to the sale or purchase of a home in Minnesota?

Effective January 1, 2014, the Minnesota Radon Awareness Act requires additional disclosure and education be provided to potential home buyers during residential real estate transactions in Minnesota. Before signing a purchase agreement to sell or transfer residential real property, the seller shall disclose in writing to the buyer any knowledge the seller has of radon concentrations in the dwelling.


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NEW LISTING: 5905 135th Street N

What a great home in Hugo!




This wonderful home is in a quiet neighborhood of Hugo and is situated on a beautiful lot on a dead-end street. This home features a large master bedroom w/2 closets, eat-in kitchen plus a dining room and family room that walks out to the private back yard. This home has a  3 car insulated, attached garage plus shop with electricity!
New roof, siding and windows within the last 5 years and new carpet in 2013! 
Request a showing: http://listings.listhub.net/pages/RMLSMN/4429378
See the Virtual Tour

Other posts related to 5905 135th St N: 

http://www.mlsfinder.com/kwls/kw/index.cfm?action=listing_detail&property_id=10634429378

http://minneapolis.backpage.com/homes-for-sale/219900-3br-huge-insulated-3-car-garage/11285142

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/reb/4192927935.html

9 Reasons to List Your Home for The Holidays

Need a reason to put your house on the market now versus waiting until the spring? Here are nine of them!
By +Sarah Marrinan

9. You can sell now and delay closing or extend occupancy to keep you in your home until next year when you will have more buying choices of your own! 
8.  Many homes and yards photograph beautifully with snow cover.
7.  Less competition! Buyers have fewer homes to choose over the holidays giving you the opportunity to get more money for your home.
6. January is traditionally the month from place to begin new job since transferase cannot wait until spring to buy you need to be on the market during holidays to capture that market!
5. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons!
4. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays so they're more likely to pay a better price for your home.
3. Houses often show better when they are decorated for the holidays. 
2. Since the supply of listings dramatically increases in January there will be less demand for your particular home and more competition! Less demand means less money!

And the number one reason to list over the holidays is...

1. People who look for homes during the holiday season are the most serious buyers!

Even though your house will be on the market you still have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days around the holidays.

Smart Homebuyers Are Locking In Ultra Low Rates Before The Fed Hike

Are you a smart home buyer?
By +Sarah Marrinan - Keller Williams Premier Realty 
The recent mini spike in mortgage rates has homeowners scrambling to save thousands over the next several years by locking in a rate today. Many homeowners are just now recuperating from seeing their home values plummet in the past, to finally seeing positive equity, so now is the time to take advantage of low-rate mortgages before rates begin climbing higher.

The Fed lowered short term rates several years ago to near zero in an effort to revive the economy. Now that we are seeing a recovery it's expected we will begin to see rates escalate to normal levels. Historically, rates on 30 year loans are usually between 5.50%-7.25% and higher. Below is the difference on a $200,000 mortgage for a 30 year term at an available rate today of 3.25% vs 6.75%.