West Metro Minnesota Real Estate Blog

When vetting a potential new home, there are often many unknowns.

A buyer’s inspection or home warranty can help mitigate risks related to the property itself, but that is really only a part of the transaction.  Quality of life in your new home is impacted by many additional factors, not the least of which is your new neighborhood.

While understanding the nuances of a neighborhood can be complex and difficult from the outside, answering four key questions can help.  

Takeaways:

• There is much more to a home purchase than the property

• Neighborhood details can be an important consideration

• Leveraging a few resources to answer some key question can help

 

Is the neighborhood safe? 

Your family’s safety is the single most important factor to consider about your new neighborhood. While crime statistics and the state’s sex offender registry can set a great baseline, they only tell part of the story.

To really understand an area, prospective buyers should also contact the local police department directly and ask pointed questions about calls they have received to the area.  Noise complaints and domestic issues may generate a call to law enforcement that crime statistics can miss. Most cities have a community outreach officer who will be more than happy to help.  

It is also a good idea to drive through a neighborhood on multiple trips at different times of day with an eye toward safety. On those trips be sure to pay particular attention to traffic volume, pride of ownership shown by residents, neighborhood watch signs and other clues you may have missed previously.

Does the neighborhood support your family’s lifestyle? 

Following safety, the livability of an area is the next most important consideration. How might the infrastructure of your potential new neighborhood impact your life? While considerations are many and your categories will vary, a few common considerations and web resources are listed below:

What will my new neighbors be like? 

While internet searches of public data can give you a decent idea about the demographic makeup of an area, that information may be less actionable than you’d like.  Most sites offer information for entire cities and fail to account for neighborhood-level variables.  To obtain the specifics here, a better resource is a pair of Nikes.  

As awkward as it sounds, walking the area and chatting up the locals can prove invaluable.  Remember most neighbors are as curious about you as you are of them.  Frequently by simply taking a little extra time to linger outside after a showing appointment, or taking a quick stroll around the block you can not only get the neighborhood vibe, but also make a connection, stop and chat and obtain much more.  

Is this neighborhood a good financial investment?

As much as your new home is an investment in the property itself, it is also an investment in the neighborhood-- the latter greatly impacting the former.   Understanding current trends and volatility of a given location can help protect that investment. A strong real estate agent should provide this information by combining an investment analysis of the home you are considering with some comparables and alternatives.

Additionally, tax information on specific homes is available on the county assessor website (Hennepin, Carver , Wright ).  Spend some time reviewing previous year’s tax info for your prospective new home, looking at overall trends.  If you see wild fluctuations you may want to discuss those concerns with your agent.

Bottom line

Answering these four key questions is a great way to vet the neighborhood of a property you are considering purchasing.  By putting in a little work on the front end you can ensure you end up in a neighborhood you’ll love.

If you have yet to identify a property, we have an even better strategy that flips the script entirely.  By starting with the lifestyle considerations that matter most to your family (rather than a property), we can narrow your search to neighborhoods that are the best fit. 

You’ll end up with a more efficient search and ultimately a home that not only fits your budget, but also a neighborhood that fits your lifestyle.  Call us today to get started.

It is now official, you didn’t win the lottery.  But all is not lost, for the price of a $2 ticket, you were able to spend a day or two pondering the “what-if” and thinking about how your life may have changed had you leapt a few tax brackets overnight. 

For many that what-if may have included thoughts about a new home.  For those dreamers (and anyone who can scrape together $5 million+) we present Minnesota's five most expensive residential real estate transactions of 2015.  

Takeaways:

• The West Metro is the place to be in Twin Cities residential real estate

• Last year saw five homes fetch over $4 million each

• With the “sold search” function on westmetrohomesearch.com you can explore each of them, as well understand the market for homes that may better fit your budget

 

The Mansions of Minnesota Millionaires

#5- 2333 Co Rd 24, Medina

14,000+ sq. ft, 15 Acre
Sold 10/15/15
$4.3 Million

As you can imagine, a multi-million dollar home with no lakefront must be full of amenities, and this property in Medina truly delivers.  Not only are there vaulted ceilings, sun and exercise rooms, but this estate also includes a 5,000 square foot garage complete with more than enough room for five cars.  Who needs five cars you ask?  Presumably the same person who needs the property's five fireplaces, all burning fuel culled from six forested acres (also included). 

As for the kids, an indoor basketball court offers a nice distraction, complete with a balcony overlook so the new owner’s butler can properly supervise while junior perfects his jump shot.  

#4- 1280 Bracketts Point Road, Orono

Lake Minnetonka Estate

Sold 9/15/15
$4.5 Million

The place to be in the west metro is on Lake Minnetonka of course, so if lakefront property is more your style this home in Orono has 300 feet of it and a dock that stretches as far as the eye can see.  Oh sure, the new owner will have to rough it with a relatively modest 6,000 square foot home, but the views are sure to beat Medina’s best.  As an added bonus the outdoor pool will no doubt pay dividends for the roughly 60 days a year when there is no snow on the ground. 

#3- 320 Ferndale Road, Wayzata

Sold 11/12/15
$5 Million 

For an extra half a million a potential buyer could have upgraded their lake experience to Wayzata Bay and this 7,000 square foot walkout.  A truly a stunning home, that extra half million garnered the buyer a significant upgrade in not only location but also curb appeal and landscaping.  Let’s just hope they also set aside some loose change for the $57,000 in annual property taxes.  

#2- Mooney Lake, Orono 
Meadowood
Sold 9/18/15
$5.3 Million

Lake Minnetonka can be busy, so for the buyer of this property a larger shoreline and a quieter lake likely made more sense.  This home sits just west of highway 101 on Mooney Lake, a wonderful spot to begin a possible second career in agriculture.   With 93 acres and an orchard, this de facto ranch will allow the new owner to channel their inner farmer while staying close to the metro and living in luxurious comfort.   As 93 acres can be quite an upkeep challenge, let’s hope the buyer has a teenage son or 12 for lawn care.

#1- 19550 Cedarhurst, Deephaven 
Sold 8/3/15
$5.875 Million

At #1 sits the self-proclaimed “best property on Lake Minnetonka” offering its new owner a stake in nearly an entire peninsula.  With a tennis court, home theater and formal dining area that is practically hanging over the lake, this property is unique to say the least.  The ultra-modern kitchen promises to be enough to bring out anyone’s inner Emeril as they entertain guests.  

Built on a single level, this represents perhaps the perfect retirement oasis for anyone hoping to enjoy the fruits of their golden years --presumably following a career robbing banks. 

Current Listings

Are you sorry you may have missed out on any or all of these properties?  Never fear as several current west metro area listings include options with list prices all the way up to $24 million.   These stunners include all the amenities you’d expect like tennis courts, private ponds and game rooms.  Bargain shoppers will also note that many have recently seen list prices slashed by over a million dollars! 
 

If this look at “how the other half lives” has you questioning your current home, or dreaming of a new one, we’d love to help you investigate cost-effective solutions to upgrade.  It doesn’t take millions to find a home that better suits your family and can substantially improve your quality of life.  A consultation is always free and we love helping families explore all that is possible.  

A famous axiom in real estate says that the three most important factors are location, location and location.  Albeit oversimplified (as most cliché’s are) it remains mostly true.  

One consideration that gets a lot less press but can be equally important is timing.  While getting the highest possible sale price on a home you sell and a great deal on a new home you purchase is more art more than science, historical sales data reveals some trends worth noting.  

Takeaways:

• Spring brings a crowded residential real estate market full of opportunity

• Properly timing your sale or purchase can prove invaluable

• Trend data uncovers some clear best practices

 

Timing a Spring Sale for Maximum Value 

When you have a home to sell, spring represents the best opportunity to get in front of a large number of buyers in a hurry.  Ready to leave a home they’ve outgrown or explore new options, eager buyers flood the market as soon as the snow melts.

But with opportunity comes competition, home sold data tells us that the number of listings rises in the new year and peaks between April and June.  Unsold homes from last year and anxious sellers make up a large portion of these homes with an eye toward being “first”. 

But first isn’t always best and a deeper look at the numbers indicates that sellers who obtain the highest percentage of their list price actually sell in June and July.

The data clearly indicates if you have some flexibility, listing in May or June may be a better strategy for many.  Competition early in the year is high with supply greatly outstripping demand.  As a result prices and terms suffer. If you have the flexibility, a measured approach of waiting may prove fruitful.

If you don’t have that flexibility, you must accept that there will be more competition and take steps to adapt.   Spring is still the best time to sell your home, but staging, detail-work and flexibility are paramount in your ability to make your property stand out early in the year.

Timing a Spring Purchase for Maximum Value

As you can imagine, potential buyers should proceed down the opposite path. A flood of listings and opportunities will
present themselves beginning in February through spring and savvy buyers need to be ready.  This means taking the time to define exactly what you want, a clear plan to visit homes early and a pre-approval in hand.  

Sellers may be more amenable to your terms and demands earlier in the year, but the most important factor in your success is your ability to pull the trigger when you find the home that meets your family’s needs.  Let others hem and haw and wait out the market, you’ll be moved in and enjoying your home all summer.

The Bottom Line

All of this represents directional advice through statistical analysis.  We know that your family, your home and your future are not statistical models.  While this advice can be helpful, every situation is different. We’d love to hear about your situation and collaborate with you to help your family find a new location, location, location.  Schedule a consultation today.

Credentials, experience and testimonials are all important things to consider when vetting a potential real estate agent.  They also represent a very low bar that a large number of agents will clear. While they are all important, it is imperative to take a deeper dive when interviewing a real estate  agent.  

Takeaways:

• An effective Real Estate Agent can make all the difference for home buyers

• With a crowded marketplace of providers it can be difficult to choose

• Strong agents share several key characteristics

 

A focus on the key realtor characteristics that consistently drive client satisfaction can help.

They have a Neighborhood- level Knowledge of Your Target Area 

For an agent, casting a wide net in terms of area served is seen as good business.  Why limit your potential client base by geographic factors?  For many, this often leads to a website with a laundry list of cities served. 

The issue is that in trying to be everything to everyone, many agents are simply stretched too thin.  To be truly successful an agent must present more than just a list of cities, but a deep knowledge of the individual neighborhoods within them.

Why this matters:  The nuances of fluid school district lines, variances in the styles of homes available and the demographics of the neighborhoods are all major factors to consider.  Consider the following

• A few miles in home location can vary downtown commute times by up to 20 minutes 
• Many neighborhoods in Minnetonka are almost exclusively retirees, others have turned over to younger families
• The Wayzata School District spans portions of eight different cities with grade school maps changing just  last year
• Certain home styles can be rare in specific within communities.  Plymouth for example has only small pockets of 1 ½ story homes available

These are only a few examples, but agents who dabble in an area can easily miss the nuances of the neighborhoods within them.   This can increase the time it takes to find a home as well as your satisfaction with the home you ultimately purchase.

They Focus on Stewardship of a Buyer’s Time

Stated simply, an effective agent does most of the work.  

A buyer’s job in a home search is to first interview and hire a real estate agent.  Once hired, meet with the agent for a deep conversation about their needs, wants and availability.  Next they should budget time to analyze homes that meet this criteria.  How long this ends up taking can vary greatly depending on how well you and your agent define your search criteria and the knowledge of your agent to guide you to the best suited areas to locate your new home

A buyer’s agent should vet many  properties on your behalf, and armed with your vision, bring you only a small percentage to potentially investigate further.    

Why this matters:  Searching for a home can be great fun, but that search should be highly targeted and time bound.  The number one factor in buyer satisfaction is how much time they invested in the search.  Your agent should recognize this and make the most of yours.

They Are Accessible

We are all busy, and a strong agent will likely be busier than most, but being accessible to clients is imperative throughout the course of a home search.  Your calls or texts should be answered quickly, your agent should have the office, infrastructure, technology and staff to always put you in touch with a live voice who can help.

Why this matters:  The nature of the real estate game requires speed and it is imperative you act fast when opportunities present themselves.  When time is of the essence, you do not want to be wasting it trying to track down your agent while competitive offers are already in the works.

These are only a few of many considerations.  Additional factors include a personal connection with your agent, and their desire and ability to advocate for you.  At Zachary Adams & Associates we take our service commitment seriously.  We love building long-term relationships and exceeding expectations.  

We’d love to hear about your dream home and how we can help you find it.  Call us for a no-obligation consultation today.  We aren’t like any other realtors and we’d love to show you why.  

Cooler weather and waning daylight can combine to make winter a challenge for many.  This can be compounded if you are stuck in a home short term, dreaming of exploring alternatives in the spring.

By transforming that angst into action, you can ensure you not only get top dollar in the spring, but also enhance your enjoyment of your home for one final winter. 

Takeaways:

• The spring real estate market is traditionally the hottest time to sell

• Several key factors impact buyer perception in a crowded market

• A small investment NOW can ensure you hit the sweet spot

 

Five steps to prep your home for a spring sale. 

1- Buy a New Coat

It certainly seems cliché, but a fresh coat of paint really can go a long way toward changing perception of a room.  The normal scuffs of family use can make a room feel old, dirty or worn.  By cleaning up the normal dents, dings and scrapes you can freshen things up-- including buyer perception.  Focus on neutral colors for your project like tans and whites and carefully consider every room in the home.  Anything out of the ordinary like an accent wall should be addressed.  What is bold and innovative to you, may seem distracting and dated to a buyer

2- Get a Mini-Makeover

You may not have the time, money or patience for a full kitchen renovation, but a few small changes can have a large impact.  New light fixtures, updated cabinet hardware and stainless steel appliances can be a cost-effective alternative.  All can change the perception of your space from dated to contemporary.

This same formula works for bathrooms as well. Swapping out a toilet, vanity or adding a pedestal sink are jobs the least handy person can still tackle, but will more than pay for themselves.  Keep your choices mainstream to ensure the maximum bang for your buck.

3- Reduce your Footprint

We all have too much stuff.  And if you are like most people your basement, attic and closets have become a dumping ground for most of it.  While these items may be safely out of the way, the clutter can be distracting and hijack a potential buyer’s focus.  Fall and winter offer an excellent time to address this.  Not only should your focus be on getting rid of seldom used items, but also in organizing the storage of those that make the cut to stay.  A closet organizer or some do-it-yourself shelving can deliver a better organized impression and turn a negative into a positive.  

4- Provide a Purpose 

Buyers want to picture themselves in your space.  Your job is to help them do this.  If you have an extra room, decide how you should highlight it and give it purpose.  Even if you aren’t using a spare bedroom as such, your buyer may, so consider setting up a bed.  If you have other rooms that lack direction, organize them so they offer something valuable, be that a home office, a craft area or a reading sanctuary, it really doesn’t matter.  The key is that every room should help a buyer see the potential.

5- Get a Sherpa

The most important thing you can do is understand the strengths and weaknesses of your property and highlight the former while mitigating the latter. A consultation and walkthrough with a real estate agent who specializes in your area can prove invaluable.  

They see 1,000’s of homes and facilitate real estate transactions every single day.  This experience means they can walk through your home and not only provide a valuation, but tell you immediately what works and what doesn’t in moving the bottom line.  By understanding your home’s unique situation, you can then be laser-focused on the most important projects, ensuring you get op dollar next spring.

Saddled with student loan debt, little to no savings and more of a job than a career, many 30-somethings are putting off the purchase of a home.  In so doing they are shelving something previous generations viewed as core to the American dream.  Is this a savvy financial move, or a bad decision?  More importantly, how can young adults know if now is the time?   

Takeaways:

• Research shows that young adults may view the traditional milestones of adulthood differently

• This can mean delaying a home purchase later than previous generations

• Even with a delay, a few simple considerations can help them determine when the time is right

 

Young adults make up a large percentage of homebuyers with those 34 and younger accounting for 31% of new purchases.  Despite this, financial and timing concerns are keeping many more on the sidelines.  

Knowing when to pull the trigger on your first home is complex, but while emotional and psychological readiness are tough to quantify, several key metrics can help define the financial side of the equation. 

Savings 

In the past purchasing a home typically meant squirreling away money until you saved a full 20% of a home’s asking price as a down payment.  With increases in the flexibility of financing options, those days are long gone.  Today young adults purchasing a home average a down payment of just 7%.  This isn’t a minimum but an average meaning many are starting with even less.   Today the lack of a large down payment should no longer be seen as limiting factor.  

Cash Flow

The much more important factor in purchasing a home is in managing monthly payments.  Answering the question of how much is too much really depends on your situation.  Will you be taking in renters?  How much of your income is variable?  What are your other monthly expenses?

Experts have historically said that the sum of your mortgage, insurance and property tax expense should rarely exceed 28%.   This represents a rather high ceiling, one new homeowners might want to consider carefully. We think a better start would be to consider 20% of your gross pay.  This provides a directional upper limit that allows some financial freedom.  

Projected Ownership Period

A key factor in the financial impact of any investment involves how long you hold it.  Due to closing costs and fees associated with a real estate transaction, some level of commitment is needed to make the decision financially viable.  Again, there is no set standard here, but most people stay in a home around 6 - 9 years.  This number skews lower for first time home purchasers, and all situations are different.  Typically a good rule of thumb for new buyers is to think of a home purchase as a minimum of a five year commitment.

Opportunity Cost

The final and perhaps most important financial consideration involves putting a price on waiting. While quantifying this is not an exact science it is possible to deliver directional guidance.  The key data points include current interest rates, true cost of home ownership, rent and the rate at which properties are expected to appreciate.

With so many variables, a consultation with a knowledgeable agent is the best way to understand all the options.  A strong agent will not only educate you on the current market and rates, they can also surface some additional factors you may not have considered.  If you are on the fence, or even think you are ready to buy, a consultation is always a good idea.  It is also fast and free.  

I encourage you to put our team to work for you.  Complete the form below to get started today!

Who doesn’t like a good ghost story?  The tradition of a good scare fuels our holiday parties, decorations and even the movies released this time of year.

A few scripts are just too far-fetched to be believable-- even for Hollywood.  Sadly for a few eager homebuyers, they were all too real.   

Takeaways:

• Houses frequently hold secrets, some can be frightening

• Discerning potential issues prior to closing is imperative

• An experienced agent and a thorough inspection can help protect your family

 

Consider a home sold in a small town in Idaho.  

It seemed like a great deal, and other than a strange taste to the well water and a few unfounded rumors a great value.   Upon moving in, the new owners quickly noticed some strange sounds coming from their walls.  It turned out it wasn’t mice, but the opposite.  A crawl space containing a hibernation chamber for 1,000's of snakes.  Snakes in such great numbers that they had polluted the well on the property.  The discovery that could have been unearthed via a thorough inspection. Ultimately the issues were too great and led the buyers to walk away from the home.

Then there’s the Cannon Falls acreage that seemingly had all of its papers in order. Only after closing did a few strange things suddenly start to add up.  There were a few windows painted black, a shed with a ventilation system that locked from the inside and (discovered after closing) some hastily discarded chemical bottles.  You guessed it, a meth lab.  One that was never busted by police or documented but will take $100,000 to clean up.   

Or the historic fixer-upper in Wisconsin that upon renovation attempts uncovered a human skull and ancient burial ground.  

Or the hidden tunnel found in a South Carolina home, complete with toxic mold and a creepy note from the previous owner.

While these stories are extreme, they are also mostly preventable.  In each case the homes were priced well below market value and either came along with questionable oddities that required follow-up or actual documented issues.  An experienced agent could have done some due diligence and likely unearthed the truth.

Less Extreme but Just as Scary…

Other more common scenarios present issues that while less headline-worthy, could prove just as costly to remedy 

• Non-Conforming Improvements – Do-it-yourself remodeling can add value, but also offers a chance to cut corners.  Determining if the previous owners pulled permits for their work and followed safety code requirements is key.  
• Fire Hazards- Fireplaces can add charm and serve as a cost effective supplement to heating, but they are also prove a large potential hazard.  A proper certification must be completed prior to use. 
• Hidden Water Damage- That cluttered basement you saw at the open house might be the sign of a disorganized seller, or an orchestrated attempt to hide the truth.  
• Carefully Worded Disclosures- Homeowners and their agents can get pretty creative in the way issues are worded on disclosures.  Pests, criminal activity, water intrusion and foundation issues are but a few of the potential hazards. 

A seller looking to be out by winter may cringe at a contingent sale.The solution to counteract all of these potential issues is to work with an experienced agent.  By engaging a professional who has reviewed hundreds of sales agreements and disclosures, and seen thousands of homes, you can help protect your family.  

A good  agent will call out potential issues, carefully review all documents and help oversee a thorough inspection. The net result of their in-depth knowledge and care will be confidence that any home you select will meet your needs now and for many Halloweens to come. 

Ready to get started?  A free consultation with our team can help you understand the market, refine your search and take action.  No one understands the west metro market better and help is just a click away.  Or call us at 612-656-9647

Autumn has traditionally served as the “second spring” for real estate.  Home sales typically spike as eager sellers attempt to take action prior to the winter lull.   

With recent metrics indicating home prices are trending upward and supply trending down versus last year, how can savvy buyers pursue their dream home this fall while also protecting the bottom line?

Takeaways:

• Fall home sales offer some of the best deals in residential real estate

• Recent trends indicate reduced inventory and a slight price increase for listings versus last year

• The current environment means a little strategic direction is imperative

• Three simple tips can ensure you make the most of your search

 

Tip #1- Stay the Course

The first piece of advice if you are searching for a new home is to keep looking!  The best time to purchase a new home is when you find one that meets your needs, and regardless of the metrics a fall purchase presents several distinct advantages.  

Pricing- While the super-heated inventory in spring may be missing this time of year, so too is the super-heated pricing.  October home purchases are typically among the best you’ll see all year in terms of value.

Motivated Sellers- Fall also typically offers a much more motivated seller, this also has an impact on pricing.  As much as you’d love to be in your new home before the snow flies, it is a fraction as much as a seller carrying two mortgages may wish to be out.

Less Buyer Competition- School has started, it is cooling down and daylight is waning.  This translates into less time and interest spent home shopping.  Those motivated sellers are seeing less traffic through their properties and this means they may be more amenable to those they do see.

Tip #2- Refine that Search 

In a reduced inventory environment like we are seeing this fall it becomes of paramount importance that you see every home that may fit your family.  To ensure this, it is crucial to strategically expand your search criteria so that you can consider a variety of properties. Listing requirements can be notoriously specific and that means that even search criteria set with the best intentions can unknowingly filter viable homes.  An experienced agent can help you dial in those parameters separating the wants from the needs and finding properties that fit. 

Tip #3- Show Up Well

When you do find a property you love, current market conditions mean that it is important to put a strong offer forward.  This means giving careful consideration to your offer price, contingencies and other factors.  While you certainly need to negotiate terms that are amenable to your family, you should also consider making a competitive bid and removing as many contingencies as possible.  A seller looking to be out by winter may cringe at a contingent sale.

The Bottom Line

Rising home prices and reduced inventory may seem daunting today, but trends from the fall market have a habit of carrying into the next year.  So today’s moderate uptick in prices may portend a larger uptick next year.  Couple this with the wildcard of today’s low interest rates and the inherent advantages listed above and  it really makes this fall a wonderful time to consider purchasing a home.   A little strategic thought can help ensure your success in that endeavor.

• Ready to get started?  A free consultation with our team can help you understand the market, refine your search and take action.  No one understands the west metro market better and help is just a click away.  Or call us at 612-656-9647

Online tools have made searching for a home easier than ever.  What best practices can ensure you are both efficient and effective in your search?

Takeaways:

• Online listings have fundamentally changed home searches

• Discerning which properties are worth an in-person look is as much an art as science

• Several key best practices can help you make the most of your time

 

When does cozy and historic really mean tiny and dilapidated?

When included in the listing description of an online property of course.  

Don’t get me wrong, virtual property listings are an incredible tool to aid in a home search. The value of one centralized database of listings with detailed property information available at the click of a button is immense.  It has revolutionized residential real estate by greatly reducing the amount of time needed to search through thousands of listings, and led to great increases in responsiveness.  

But with all of that convenience, comes a learning curve and some clear best practices.    

Here are three.

1. Beware of Euphemisms

 Online listings are in many ways like social media.  People are highly incented to put the best face on their “updates” and gloss over the less flattering.  This means highlighting the positive and frequently re-casting the negative, not with an outright lie, but with a little marketing polish.  Consider the following guide to what they say versus what they mean

 While these examples are extreme, you get the point.  Keeping your eyes wide open is often about reading between the lines and questioning if something is legitimate, or marketing spin.  If your eyebrow raises at a descriptor, trust your gut.

2. Search Your Lifestyle

Most searchers begin pretty broadly with search parameters as cities, list price, number of bedrooms, square footage and other considerations.  All very important, but a few less obvious things can be just as important 

School District- Would it surprise you to know that the city of Minnetonka actually includes Minnetonka, Wayzata and Hopkins school districts?  That a home in Maple Grove may be Wayzata or Osseo School District and which it is can dramatically affect its price? All are factors and all matter.  Considering a school district or map-based search are solutions to really help refine search results and get you the most pertinent listings.

Home Style-  Were you born a Rambler Man?  Are you averse to split level living?  Open to a townhouse?  Can you really live with a detached garage in Minnesota?  Every home style has benefits and drawbacks.  Separating your universe into preferences and deal killers can also help you sort through the noise.  Unsure what you are after?  A good agent can show you several and discuss the pros and cons of each.

Layout-  Do you need an open floor plan for entertaining?  Is it important that all bedrooms are on the same level?  Got a sneaky teenager problem?  New baby coming?   The reality is that all 3500 square foot homes are not the same.  It is about usability and how it fits for your family.  The online listings have great basic info, but also many “next level” data points can be searched to really dial in layout preferences. 

3. Engage a Sherpa

Perhaps the best piece of advice in any home search is to engage a professional real estate agent.  A quick consultation can help get you laser focused on exactly what you are after.  Even if you prefer to search on your own, we can help you dial in search criteria to help you build a solid search that makes the most of your time.  

Like any professional, our biggest asset is experience.  We know the tips, tricks and red flags.  We can discern the pertinent info on a given property quickly, and if you need more information, we can contact a listing agent or handle an initial walkthrough on your behalf.  

That way when you ask us about that cozy, historic home with “loads of potential” we can do the research and clue you in to exactly how much TLC it really needs.

Ready for a quick consultation to help dial in your search?  A twenty minute, no obligating meeting can save you time and set you on the right path to find the home of your dreams.  Click Here to schedule a consultation with one of our Experienced and Professional Realtors.

August is here and with it comes the beginning of the end of the home improvement season. It is time to figure out what will get done this year and what can wait. Everyone knows that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes, but which other late summer/early fall projects can both enhance your life and also add equity to your bottom line?

Takeaways:

• Home improvement projects can dramatically impact the value of your home

• Being strategic in which projects you tackle can pay dividends when and if you decide to sell

• Several fall projects top the list

 

Home improvement projects can be a cost effective way to simultaneously improve your family’s quality of life and increase the value of one of your largest investments.  Traditionally spring is thought of as home improvement time, but several key projects lend themselves to action now.

Boost Curb Appeal

One simple but impactful aspect of your home’s value is curb appeal.  It also happens to be one spot where a small investment can provide a large impact.  Something small like a new front door in an accent color can not only make your home pop aesthetically, it can also save energy, a key consideration this time of year.  You might also consider swapping out external lighting fixtures with newer metallic or bronze versions to add sizzle and increase security, turning a small investment into a big change in the perception of your home.  

A new garage door, windows or siding are some larger projects to consider.  Though the expense for these projects can be significant, tackling them in fall can be a savvy move as materials and labor tend to be less expensive this time of year as building supply inventory sits and contractor business wanes.  

Landscaping is another traditional spring project to instead consider tackling now.  Since spring planting is the norm, many yards are full of shrubbery and plants that bloom seasonally in spring and early summer.   By accenting your landscaping with some fall planting, you can have vibrant colors through to winter.   

Add Square Footage

Despite our best efforts to fight it, winter inevitably means additional time spent indoors.  Now is the time to make the most of that time by adding usable space to your home by finishing an attic or basement.   A workout room, home office or spare bedroom can help you get the most out of the space you already have without the cost and hassle of an addition.  

Keep in mind that while simply adding usable square footage is good, making that space conform as a bedroom is better.  You may be interested in building a basement workout room, but spending a few hundred extra dollars to add an egress window allows you to classify that space as another bedroom, better positioning you to recoup the cost.  

Another sure sign of winter for busy families is an entryway littered with boots and coats.  Consider adding a mudroom now to deliver additional usable square footage and make winter organization much more manageable.  Your kids still won’t put anything away, but at least you’ll have a spot for everything when you do. 

Improve Energy Efficiency

The white stuff will fly soon enough, now is the time to get a jump on energy efficiency.  This is one area where a professional consultation can really prove impactful.  A home energy audit offered by your utility company for free or at a nominal expense will go a long way toward helping you understand what is actionable for your particular home.  

Sure, they’ll try and talk you into low-flow shower heads, but you can ignore that and focus on the other advice that can really move the needle for your finances this winter.  Frequently several small and inexpensive changes can make a world of difference, but every home is different and it really takes an expert to diagnose those for you.

By staying strategic with your fall home improvement efforts, you can invest some sweat equity this late summer and early fall and enjoy the impacts into winter and beyond.   And by carefully considering which projects you pursue, you can be confident in the impact to your finances now and into the future.