Twin Cities Real Estate

"Don't Touch My Trees" says Seller & Buyers

Minnesota is a prairie state.  In the Twin Cities we are in the central part of the state.  I chuckle when on the Multiple Listing there is a home for sale and someone marks heavily treed.  I don't think in central Minnesota we can say that.  Try living out East and there you live in forests.  They cut down trees to make way for houses. Here we build the houses and then plant the trees.  What trees we do have ,we covet.

 

There is an unwritten rule that home owners are not to take down trees unless they have been marked with an orange X.  I have no idea who created that rule.  It stabs at my heart as a Realtor. Sixty years ago ma and pa planted a tree for each child as they were born, and they had six children.  They never pictured the mini-forest they were creating in their backyard. No grass will grow as there is too much shade.  Only hostas and impatients will tolerate the lack of sun.  The roof shingles have a reduced life span as the limbs rub against them and wear them down.  Two families later the homeowner wants to know why it is so dark in the house.

 

Whether you are building or buying an older home, think about the future when planting trees.  Buy a tree that is large enough that it takes up space in the lawn and don't buy five sticks that you hope to grown into trees.  In fact you put chicken wire around them so you don't mow them down.You can use a computer program to help you plan what the yard will look like in 5, 10, and 15 years worth of growth.  Plant tress that are hardy to our climate.  A catalog is not the best source.  Visit a local nursery.  Select trees that are not messy.  Have you ever lived down wind from a Cotton Wood?  I like some trees with berries as they attract birds.  Think about trees that flower in the spring and those that give you color in the fall.  I think it is fine to keep trees trimmed and on the smaller side.  It allows the house to stay the focal point of the yard.  I will go out to take a picture of a new listing, and I can't get a shot of the house as the big trees block it out.

 

Late fall is a great time to shape your trees.  It is cold enough not to allow bugs to invade the trunk.  As the limbs drop ,they won't do as much damage to the lawn as the ground is getting harder.  When spring comes you will have nicely shaped trees.  I use my trees to help screen out things I don't want to look at, such as my alley.  The Service Berry comes as a bush and as a tree and they are so good at screening.  The birds enjoy the berries and I have lovely flowers in the spring and strong red leaves in the fall.  My Mountain Ash right now has bright orange berries bringing a new color to my landscape.  Remember, I live in the heart of Southwest Minneapolis, and I can enjoy more than Maple tress and pine trees. 

 

Don't be afraid of taking down and starting over.  Six years ago we moved into our 1945 house and said,"Oh my God.  Someone forgot about pruning."  We first tried hand clippers.  Then we went to electric shears.  Next it was to rent a chain saw.  In the end we had the dang things cut down and new trees and bushes planted.  After so many years of being let to go wild, when we cut them back we were left with woody, ugly plants and trees.  We designed a plan and now love it.  You don't have to wait for the orange X to remove a tree.  You can do it on your and develop a landscape plan that will enhance your property and give you payback at the time you go to sell. 

Lake Cabin

In Minnesota we call them cabins.  In Wisconsin they call them lake places.  I think that is the influence of all those people from Chicago that have "lake places in Wisconsin." They think it adds class to their cabin.  We don't need to add class to our cabins, the price of cabins do that to themselves.

 

I remember as a kid growing up in Minnesota in the 60's and it seemed like every family but my family had a cabin.  How I would complain about it.  I was unloved.  How would I know how to water ski and just be cool if we did not have a cabin?  One summer my dad must have listened to me ,and we moved out to White Bear Lake for the month of August.  Listen to me.  I make it sound like we traveled a great distance.  It was in 1962.  It was a long distance phone call to call Minneapolis from the cabin we rented.  When Mom invited friends ,they came for the weekend as it was such a long drive.  Today I drive there in 45 minutes to show houses.  Most of the cabins back then were crude.  An out house was not that unusual.  Running water was not really necessary.  You jumped in the lake and cleaned up real good. 

 

As families passed the cabin down from one generation to another additions were added and modern convinces were installed.  The shack that gramps built in the 30's now started looking like something you could really live in.  Many became winterized as we started snowmobiling and recreating more outdoors in the winter.  Families shared these cabins and in some cases would subdivide the land and build second or third cabins on the land.  Family compounds were created.

 

Many of the old family camp grounds started being sold in the 70's as developers saw the desire to escape to the lake in style and not "campout." Not only did we desire the lake but we added golf courses so we could hit the white ball around in our free time.  Six years ago a developer asked me to stay at Gull Lake for a few days and help him decided where to build his townhouses ,on the lake or the new golf course.  I studied the situation and in the end told him the golf course.  More people were on the greens then in the blue water. 

 

Our cabins in some cases are better than our city houses.  My new out -of- towners always ask me where the "lake" is?  They hear their co-workers are going to the lake.  I laugh and tell them it could be anything and anywhere.  We in Minnesota use the "lake" in so many different ways.  It could mean a walk around Lake Harriet or a drive up to Ely.  It might mean staying in a cabin with bats or it could be a 3,000 sq ft log home with a wine cellar. 

 

It really does not matter what the piece of real estate is like.  It is our way to escape the city and drive through crazy traffic on Friday nights to get there in time to mow the lawn by flash light.  Then we have a ball, get sun burn, break off one of the blades on the motor being stupid, get eaten alive by bugs, and have the best family time you could ask for.  Sunday about two we pack it all up to get back in the traffic to get home in time to tuck the kids in.  Who would not want one of these cabins?

 

So it is with a tear in our eye and a heavy heart we say good-bye to the cabin and enter into our fall schedule of meetings, sports practices, chores,watching too much football, homework, inside projects. . . does someone hear the call of the loon to save me?

 

New House, Buying, Selling - Fall in in the Air

What's with temps in the 70's and frost warnings up north?  I guess it is the start of fall.  Those flip flops need to be put in the back of the closet and bring out the boots.  Wash my mouth out with soap.  I have just admitted that summer is over and fall is here. 

 

That is just fine with me.  As a Realtor, I like to see people return from the "cabin" and get a schedule and get serious about buying and selling.  In the Twin Cities the fall market is our second strongest market next to spring.  The fall market lasts longer than most people think.  It starts in early September and goes until early December.

 

People start thinking about nesting.  Those who live in apartments don't want to go through one more winter scraping the ice off the windshields of their cars or hauling their laundry to the Laundromat.  They yearn for the joy of raking leaves (don't tell them it is not all that much fun),they want to plant bulbs and watch them come up next spring, they picture romantic nights in front of the fire (don't tell them it is a pain to haul in the wood on a cold night) and they picture having holiday meals in their first house.  Buyers are ripe to buy now.

 

Sellers start their fall chores.  Dad climbs up to clean out the gutters (junior now has his own house and won't come back to clean Dad's gutters) and Mom stands at the base of the ladder screaming she will kill him if he falls and breaks his neck.  They count 39 leave bags and swear they will never do that again. The discussion begins if they will shovel this fall or pay a service that charges too much and arrives too late to remove the snow so they end of shoveling themselves.  As they crawl into bed hurting from using muscles they did not even know they had, they turn to one another and say"Let's sell this barn of a house and move into a condo." That means we have new housing stock for those ripe buyers to buy.

 

Winter is approaching so sellers list their houses more realistically and buyers really do want to buy so their offers are more real.  It is a match! It is not autumn to this Realtor but fall.  Things falling into place as buyers and sellers hand over keys and checks to one another.  Oh ,the sight of for sale signs with sold signs on them warms my heart.  It even lets me think winter might not be so bad. That is another story!

School Bus

This is the start of the school year.  Some of those yellow buses have already started coming down our streets picking up our kids.  There are private schools opening their doors prior to Labor Day.  The real rush comes after the "end of summer."  As I see kids waiting on street corners and watch buses pick them up, I think ,"what does the school and those kids mean to this community?"

 

Schools are an assets and bring value to real estate.  The stronger the school system the more buyers sense value in that community.  Even buyers without children are concerned about schools and how it will effect resale.  Buyers so many times will turn to me and ask me what I think of the schools in the area.  Sometimes I have to laugh as the couple has not even conceived a child, yet they want to know what school their child will go to.  Under law I cannot make a judgment call on schools.  I would not want to as it is a very personal choice as to how one values a school.  I do get frustrated when a read in the paper test scores and my buyers start judging schools just by those scores. I was raised in Edina and raised by children in Edina. Six years ago my husband and I moved to the Lynnhurst neighborhood.  I now have such a different impression of both school systems.You need to walk the halls, smell the paste, listen to the faculty interact with the kids,  see the school plays, watch the band march down the football field to really get a sense of what happens within the walls of the building.  A parent cannot just send their child to school to get educated.  The family, in harmony with the school ,surrounds the child with learning opportunities.  A magazine called "School House Magazine" gives a good outside perspective on public and private schools in the area. Web sites of school districts are a start. You do need to ask yourself who created the web site and is this PR on the district?  Most likely so.

 

Kids keep our neighborhoods alive.  We might get frustrated with some of the actions of some kids, but I do think we all get great enjoyment out of our door bells ringing on Halloween.  That brick structure in the middle of our neighborhood calls families to come live with us and keep generations living in our houses. Even  the outer -ring burbs are getting older and their neighborhoods are changing.  We go in cycles from the baby sitting clubs,to PTA, to the trees getting tpeed.  Then a hush falls over the street as the kids move on.  In the course of 18 years the kid who sold you pizza for his or hockey team is somewhere else.  Then if you listen carefully, you will hear the cries of a baby as the new child moves in next door. It starts all over again.  Thank goodness it does as we need to fill our houses and schools with bodies that just don't like to sit still but want action and to learn.

 

So, as we start this school year let's smile and enjoy the buses as they roll through our neighborhoods.  Stop when the stop sign is extended.  Don't get frustrated as none of us have to be somewhere that fast.  Laugh as you see these kids with back packs that almost pull them down.  You might even wave and smile giving them encouragement. After all, as adults we really do have it better then them.  We've been there and we know there is life after school.   

 

Dogs and Cats and Oh My!

Dogs and Cats and Oh my, what pets have I not seen in houses, condos and townhouses.  In my lifetime I think I have had 11 dogs and have welcomed cats, hamsters, fish, and gerbils in my home.  I strongly feel pets bless us with something that brings calm and a sense of life to us.  No matter what our age, a pet can bring a new value to us. 

 

The important thing to remember is that a pet owner must be a responsible person who controls the situation.  Dogs can cause so much damage to woodwork, doors, hardwood floors, carpet, and the yard.  I have seen holes in yards that I though were in preparation for planting a tree. No, it was Fido bored and digging his way to China.  Female dogs have caused enough brown spots in lawns that one might think a UFO landed there.  Locking a dog in a room can cause that dog to work to claw his way out.  Those groves can be so deep in the woodwork that replacement of the door and door frame are necessary.  No sanding can cure that problem  Years ago I sold a home of a couple who had a small Yorkie.  You could smell when you walked in that the dog was not house broken.  The new buyer bought the house knowing the carpet would have to be replaced.  What they did not know was that the problem was so severe that the plywood sub-flooring had rotted and needed to be replaced. The seller did feel responsible and paid for the replacement.

 

Cats can spray and mark their territory so that future pets will do the same.  I had a buyer who was interested in a house.  At the time of the buyer's inspection they asked their inspector if he knew of a way to get rid of urine smells.  In the laundry room you could really smell where the cat had sprayed.  Concrete is absorbent and that urine was in the concrete.  The seller tried several chemical compounds to remove the urine.  The answer was to jack hammer out the concrete and pour new concrete.  That pussy cat was expensive.

 

Not only can pets do damage why we live in the property, they can cause real problems when the property goes on the market.  If a seller thinks they can be sly and remove the pet when it goes on the market, think again.  In the state of Minnesota a seller must complete a seller's disclosure form in which they disclose if a pet has lived in the property.  .  Recently, I showed a year old condo in downtown Minneapolis.  There was no evidence of a dog living in the unit when I showed it,like dog bowls, balls, dog bed, etc. Yet, my buyer noticed deep marks in the maple flooring.  The seller on his disclosure did not mention a dog.  I spoke with the listing agent and not only did a dog live there but a Great Dane.  My buyer had no interest in trying to make repairs to the flooring and the seller saw nothing wrong with the floors. 

 

I listed a townhouse and the seller had one of the two bedrooms dedicated to three ferrets.  The cage system was amazing and rivaled what you might see in a zoo.  The smell also competed with the smells in a zoo.  After two weeks on the market we had those creatures visiting "friends." 

 

Dogs that bark white they are in their crates during showings make buyers uncomfortable and the buyer wants to leave.  Best have the dog go visit Grandma. I showed a house and on the front porch was a box of Milk Bones.  A note was taped to the box.  " Flip Ginger a bone and she won't bother you"  I hoped there had been many showings and that by now Ginger was so fat she could not cause bodily harm to us.  I have had cats leap off refrigerators and onto my buyers.  Yes, that did kill the deal! I was told when I made an appointment for one showing not to let the cat out.  It would attempt to escape as you open the front door.  My buyers and I made a barrier as we entered ,but the feline got out. Naturally, my buyers loved the house and wanted to make an offer.  I could not let the lost cat hurt their chances at getting the house.  I sent my buyers home and poured some milk in a bowl and sat in the front bushes until the cat came to me and I grabbed him.  What do you do at your job?

 

Bottom line. A well trained pet is a welcome part of a residence.  An animal that has been allowed to be untrained can make the situation impossible.It really means the owner that owns up to their care taking job won't have problems when they go to sell their residence.

 

Selling Mom's House

 

Selling Mom's House

 

The post-World War II parents are now in their 80-90's and yes,some of them are just now thinking about selling their houses.  They are typically very practical and independent people and never want to move in with the kids or to  assisted care.  Just this past week I got two phone calls to meet with sellers and their family members about selling the "house."  Now get this, they are just in the thinking phase.  Mom is 88 and not sure if she wants to move out.  I think mentally that seller sees herself in her 70's.  I am starting  to think once we are past 45 we see ourselves as 10 years younger.  I know I do.  I can't fault these older people for not wanting to think they can't continue to live in the house. 

 

The problem is that some seniors should not be in their houses any longer.  They are taking risks that could be dangerous.  Their vision, sense of hearing and smell are reduced.  They might not remember they left the stove on and don't smell the smoke in enough time.  In many senior apartments this incident happens frequently and there is a staff to assist. 

 

The reason why some home owners do not move is that the challenge of moving seems too much.  They are scared of the unknown.  Change in itself is scary.  They are held prisoners by all their "stuff."  They have no idea where to go and they don 't want to bother their family members.  The idea of living somewhere  else  without their spouse seems wrong and perhaps expensive. 

 

I meet with families and we discuss alternatives that might work. Often I will visit alternative living places with them to show them alternatives.  I have estate companies help them see the forest through the trees.  We talk about selling the house"as is" or making improvements.  This is not an easy task and everyone needs to tread softly.  The home owner does not want to hear their place is not appreciated and family members don't want to hear about all the work and who will pay for it. 

 

Understanding, kindness, and empathy will help families get through this.Best lesson to learn is that as children of this age group we need to toss crap and get out of our houses before the kids come and say to us, " you are old and now what do we do with you."  I want to stay in control and do it in style. 

"We'll Live In the House Forever!"

It seems many  buyers I work with at the time of writing the offer to purchase a house say, "Don't worry Jane, we are going to live in the house forever.  We don't need to worry about..."  When I meet with people to discuss remodeling they tell me the same thing.  "We want to do it this way ... as we are going to live in this house forever."

 

Forever statistically in real estate means 7-12 years.  That amount of time really goes quickly.  Our lives change in the blink of an eye.  Odds just are not there for people to live forever in their houses.  The rate of divorce is 50% ,and that is a major reason people sell houses. The multiple birth rate is up and that means to couples they can be short on bedrooms before they know it.  Corporate America is changing and our jobs change too. Many families have dual incomes, so the odds of relocating just increases.

 

Buy smart.  Select location, location, location.  Have the floor plan be a style that would meet the needs of many families.  It might be fun and funky to you, but will other buyers see it that way? Buy always with resale in mind.  That drives my buyers crazy as they are just moving in why should they worry about moving out?  If you are going to put little money down and have the seller pay closing costs, then you best pay the mortgage down when you have extra cash on hand.  Otherwise, it will take a long time to build up enough equity to cover selling costs at the time you move.  Rule of thumb is that with 5% down and buying at the right price, you need to hold the property 5 years to cover the selling costs. Keep the house up to today's standards. Each year invest $3-5,000 in your property.  That could be a new roof, replacing windows, finishing the basement, tuck pointing, rebuilding the chimney, adding a bath, remodeling the kitchen, and the list goes on.  Select products that fit the price range and neighborhood of your house.  When in doubt go higher rather than lower.  Buyers do not like sellers that did things cost effectively.  Think green and natural products.  That trend is not going away. If you know you do not have the ability to make good selections consult a professional.  They will be more than worth it at the time you go to sell.  I offer no cost, no obligation consolations to help homeowners stay on track.  Do the improvements for you now and not when you are rushing to put your house on the market. 

 

Remember, forever is not really in the big picture

It's Here!

It started on Thursday and now we have survived our first few days  of "The Great Minnesota Get Together."  I attempt to warn my new residence about the State Fair, but they are never prepared for what I warn them about. Welcome to living in Minnesota where we have a rodent, the gopher, telling you to join the crowds and I mean crowds to eat anything you can put on a stick.

                                                                                                                        

 

I first tell them parking will be a bear, so go to one of the malls and take the bus.  They don't believe me and pay high prices to park and then walk and walk to the fair  grounds.  I tell them to wear comfortable shoes and take the child in a wagon.  It will be a long day and the child can sleep as you pull them around.  They forget the wagon and dad's shoulders get the work-out of his life as he totes the child around on his shoulders.  I talk about bringing money and then more money.  In their minds $50 should take care of a family of four.  They don;t realize every 15 feet there is something new to eat.  The standard foot long hot dog, bag of Tom Thumb donuts, the pronto pup, the tub of Sweet Martha Cookies, a tub of French fries, a snow cone, and the all you can drink milk at the dairy barn are just starters.  You then have to go to the church dining halls to get a real meal.  I tell them they will just be working off the calories of the State Fair when the holiday foods hit them.

 

They are told they will see things like you can't see anywhere else.  They will see beauty queens sit in a freezer and have their likeness carved in a large block of butter.   They will see the insides of a cow as the straw passes from one stomach to the other, A pumpkin grown the size of a smart car will be on display.  They will see people sleeping in the stalls with their show horses.  Sheep will be wearing coats.  If we wear their wool in our coats ,then why do they need to wear coats in August? These are the features of the fair and not the side shows!

 

Don;t be surprised if you turn on the news and see it broadcasted from the fair I tell them.  They say, "This is a major market and you are telling me they will take NBC to a cow and pony show."  I tell them,"Hey buddy,hands off.  This is the Minnesota State Fair and one time out of the year for 11 days it is all we can talk about.  It is sacred. Even if you don't go 3 times to the fair, lie and said you did.  It will make you a real Minnesotan."

Realtor's Can Do Damage During Negotiations

I was the listing agent on a transaction recently.  The house had been on the market for 5+ months and there had been numerous price reductions.  The sellers had bought high 3 years ago and they were suffering greatly with the falling market.  The buyers saw this as an excellent opportunity to buy the SW Mpls house at a low price.

 

The initial offer was low, low.  The seller was in shock and at first did not want to even respond.  I genteelly tried to help them see it would be okay to counter and not take it personally.  How can one not take it personally?  The buyer's agent came on strong defending the initial offer.  Her strength in representing her buyer sent things going in the wrong direction.  Her buyers kept protecting their offer and my sellers kept being angry.It took 3 days to regroup.

 

Here is my suggestion.  The offer is written by the buyer and it it reviewed by the seller.  The two Realtors communicate but have no ownership to the purchase agreement.  I find that when the writing agent uses the words we or ours, you will have trouble with the offer.  The ownership of that agent can be stronger than that of the buyers.  A selling agent must be careful not to set themselves up by telling their buyers there offer is good and any seller should be please with it.  A listing agent has to be careful that they don't work to defend their listing price and therefore discourage their seller from being realistic with the offer on the table. 

 

It must be a win/win situation for buyers and sellers.  In many cases the agents have to take a deep breath and not let their personalities get in the way.  A strong agent for their buyer or seller can destroy the entire process.  You need to quietly help all parties see how if we row together we will get to shore.  This art of being able to work with another agent can take years to develop.  When I first started in real estate, I got hold of the ankle of the other agent and never let go.  As I look back 20+ years,  I wonder how many transactions I sent to the tank because of my attitude.  It is much like the coach who coaches his team quietly compared to the yelling coach.  They both might get the big W, but which coach kept the respect of all parties involved.

 

The deal went together and now everyone has a smile on their face.  I just wonder what our blood pressures read during this process.

Why Porches

Do you ever wonder why there are porches on houses? People today would say they are a great place to relax or entertain, but porches at one time serve a purpose.

We find front porches on houses up until 1940. The porch was a relation area, a place to cool down and a way for neighbors to communicate with one another. There were no phones, so sitting on the front porch was a way to welcome visitors. Originally, these porches were open aired. In fact you can see the floors slant for the water t run off. There a ducts at the base for the water to run through. Over the years screens were added to keep the bugs at bay. They became a 2 Season Porch as windows were added. In recent years insulation, hear and durable window have been installed making the porch a room to the house.

The front porch had the over

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stuffed, wicker furniture and the romantic swing hanging from chains. Glidders were also a common piece of furniture. The porch was a welcome relief during hot, summer, days. Originally the porch had no electricity so a ceiling fan was not even possible. Installing electricity on the porch brought the comfort of fans. People sat on the porch, drank iced tea, and exchanged concerns and joys. It was truly a relaxing time of friendship and caring.

As I show houses, I often see these porches loss to being mud rooms or junk yards. Owners don’t see a purpose for the porch and often neglect it. Defrayed maintenance has the porch almost falling off the house.

The front porch is in a come

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back mode. Recently new subdivisions have made it part of their covenants to have a porch built on houses. The cottage home or Nantucket style house has the porch back in demand. Many a summer meal is eaten on our porch. I will allow a radio to listen to the Twin’s game or Garrison Keller’s “Prairie Home Companion,” but no TV. is allowed on the porch. It is to have solitude.

I often think people might not need to take so many antidepressants, sleeping meds or need therapy if they let their porch do its job. Relax, visit with family and friends. The porch an be that part of our life where we center down. So

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get the boots and sports gear out of the porch and start relaxing on it.