Brainerd Lakes Real Estate News

                                                                                                                     photo by jimfrazier

      Last night here in Brainerd, Minnesota, we experienced our first Frost of the season.  While I had my vegetable garden covered, I neglected some of my other baskets and planters and lost them.  Oh well, that will reduce my workload somewhat. However, as I see the leaves turning reds, oranges and yellows it reminds me that my staging accessories, also, now need to reflect the Fall season.

     Once Fall officially arrives, I  also start  cozying up my own home, getting out the flannel sheets,  moving the cooler colors  into storage and bringing out the touches of orange, darker greens, burgundy, and the caramels and chocolates.  Some of these same items can be used for every season, but it is what you pair them with that will change their appearance.

      My throws get a bit heavier gauge and richer in depth of color or may sport a tartan plaid. Dried gourds, twigs, and treated fall leaves add brilliant touches when used with restraint.

     Outside, garden mums survive the cooler weather well and come in gorgeous  jewel tones.  Corn stalks on either side of an entry stand as welcoming sentinels

    Open houses can now offer warm apple cider and pumpkin cookies.  Brewing some cinnamon sticks, cloves, and other spices - give off a enticing aroma, all adding to the allure of the home. Make sure that the spaces are heated at a comfortable temperature that will take the chill off entering prospective buyers, but not  cause them to break out a sweat.

      Here is a cup of Pumpkin cappuccino for you - enjoy!

photo by Nikaboyce

                                                                                                                 photo by haveyouseenthisgirl

   So often we think that we are getting away with something or that no one will notice. If you have children, they notice everything and mimic others.  If you repeat an action often enough, it becomes a habit.  So now your habits have become their habits, as well.  How you react to a situation will be noted, internalized and stored there to help them when they encountered a similar situation. Not only are your outward physical actions being copied but your values, prejudices,  & your evaluation system for making choices and judgments.

      My husband just signed up for an Ethics class at our local college, in order to keep sharp and for a way to  establish relationships with an age group that is seeking truth and for the most part in  their  college classes receiving lies. 

"There is no God"  "You can be God"  "You are a product of evolution - have no worth & can do what you please"

"Life is short , live it up - when it is over, it is over"  "Tolerance, that is what we need - then everyone will get along"

"Christians are stupid" "Tolerance is for all groups, but Christians" "You can't possibly believe that!"

If a student speaks up about their faith in God, they are shredded by the professors. We have mentored many students through our local college system - but now we are going in. 

This is a video that they are to watch for this week's class - it proves my point - Children See, Children Do.

Children see, children do

                                                                                                             photo by JRGould

 I have not seen this term used for a while, but when I did - it brought on a blog.  (I seem to have that reaction often, nowadays.)  A key component that  buyers are searching for is a home that is spotless and yes, squeaky clean.  I believe that would be the noise a finger would make rubbing over a surface that has no dust or grime.

     Rarely does anyone achieve this high level of perfection in a home they live in, but it is to be a goal for home sellers.  Your home is a product in a very competitive market and needs to be the best of the best.

      "Impossible! "- you are thinking.

      "Not so says I - after a full home staging with  stagers  like those at Re$ale Design & Home Staging - who are really good at what they do - it is achievable.  We can bring in the Clean Team, if you need help with getting down and dirty. Your job will now be only to maintain the look and condition of your home daily.  You will be pre-packed and have much less to work around.  We will even give you tips on how to prepare each morning like it is a show day."

                                                               Less mess =less stress.

      " Besides, your home will look  fabulous and you will enjoy keeping it like that.  Yes, I know that is still asking a lot, but it is for your own good and your Realtor and your bank account will both thank you for it."

     Call the Home Staging team at Re$ale Design & Home Staging  in Brainerd, Minnesota to make your home say

                                                      "Buy Me!"

Serving Brainerd, Cross Lake, Pequot Lakes, Nisswa, Little Falls, St. Cloud and the surrounding communities 

Home Staging, in- home Color Consultations, ReDesign and Decorating  help for you 

                                                                        photo from Flickr by Photochiel
 

                                                            photo by  sirwiseowl
 

Have you ever looked in the rear view mirror to see flashing red lights and then realize,  after a quick downward glance at the speedometer, that- they are flashing for  you?

This scene is reenacted in states all across our land, night after night and day after day. These law officers take speeding seriously and they try to make sure that you do too. Sgt. Curt Mowers, public information officer with the State Patrol, says the old saying is true "speed kills."  "The faster you are going the worse the crash is going to be," he said.

 A speeder underestimates the time needed to slow down when something unexpected happens. Those who speed often have other bad habits, such as following too closely and failure to yield the right of way.

The National Safety Council says that for every 10 mph that you drive over 50 mph your chances of getting seriously injured or killed double. 

Capt. Mark Jonassen, Brainerd commander, estimates that his troopers issue about 5000 speeding citations a year for this area.  "Traffic is our bread and butter,"  Jonassen said.  That's our main duty - enforcing traffic laws."

How much bread and butter is worth:

• Speeding 1 to 10 mph over - $117
• Speeding 11 to 14 mph - $127
• Speeding 15 to 19 mph - $137
• Speeding 20 to 25 mph - $217
• Speeding 26 to 30 mph - $277
• Speeding 31 and above not endangering - $377 

                    Is it the Master bedroom? Kitchen? Bathroom - you know everyone needs at least one?

NO - it is the entry way, vestibule, foyer, receiving area, entry hall!  Typically, we think of this area by one of those names and then give it no further thought. But this is a very important area and is the prospective buyers first view of the interior of the home. In my previous blog Looking Good ,  I covered the importance of the front door.

                                                      Now, they are inside. 

      Barbara Corcoran says "Every buyer will judge your house

                                                                within 8 seconds upon going in the first door."" 

                                                                                                          " We Will Leave The Lights On For You"

                                                                                                                       Flickr photo by DK10

               Wow - We don't have much time - we had better get started!
 

•  Give careful attention to the colors and details of this particular space.  The colors should be warm and inviting - giving you a bit of a sense of intimacy - like the home is giving you a hug.

•   A fresh flower arrangement, an impressive art piece, or a slender table to place keys and gloves on are good ways to say welcome.
  

• If there is adequate space, a low bench or a chair, where they might sit to slip shoes or boots  on and off would be comforting.  Here in Minnesota, footwear often stays near the front door because of our weather conditions.  Balancing on one leg is extremely difficult for a lot of people.

• Make sure there are empty hangers in the entry closet and lots of room - so they can take their coats off and "make themselves at home". 

• A small mirror to make last minute make up checks

• A  lamp or two lit up says "Welcome Home" and they are just inside the front door!

                                      This is a very important space - do not neglect it! 

                           ~Remember, they will see it both coming and going - stage both views.~ 

                                                                                                              photo by tOkKa

 photo by Baston

    Soon all the nation's schools will be back in session, changing the lives of everyone with children still in a school of any type.  My youngest recently left for college in Florida and that is a long way from Minnesota - hence a big change for all of us.

     Notebooks, pens and other school supplies are crowding out the garden sections in stores.  If you got your counter cleared off this summer - make way for the incoming notices, schedules and hot lunch money reminders.

      Driving by the football field, I see our Brainerd Warrior team already suited up and listening to a lecture on something.  In my daily walk on a quiet nature trail, I was passed by the girls' x-country team out on a  practice run.

     If you live in a community, like Brainerd, MN - there are so many clubs and sports teams to choose from that it would make you dizzy.  Now, that is just the school sponsored ones.  We have 4-H, church groups, Boy & Girl Scouts, private dance studios and martial arts.  I will stop there  - but that is just the beginning.

     Juggle those with homework, part time employment, social lives - who has time for chores at home and their family?

      Family Fun. com suggests staying in tune to how many activities your child can juggle and still get a good nights rest.  Sleep is one thing that most kids don't get enough of.

     Remember each child handles things differently, even within the same family. 

"Most of your children will not earn their living from sports or music careers. But hopefully you can help your kids cultivate lifelong interests that will provide many enjoyable hours away from the demands of academia and career. 

If you're signing your child up for one enrichment activity after another because you believe an early start will secure a lifelong interest or give your child the competitive edge in high school sports or music, think again. If you start a child in extracurriculars too early--before his body is developed to perform the skills required, before his mind is able to understand the strategy of a game or a musical concept, before his emotions can manage the pressure of competition and performance, or before he acquires the social skills to understand sportsmanship and the discipline of practice--you will turn him off to the activity instead of providing the benefits you might wish."

                                                                        - Jan Faull - a child development and behavior specialist 

               Realize that children and adults, as well, need a certain amount of downtime - it is called play!

                                     It is really nice, if they can do some of that together .