Tuesday, December 29, 2015
‘Tis the Season … for Selling? Holiday Staging Tips for Home Sellers
Historically, the holiday
season is a slow season for home buying and selling. More people are interested
in spending time with family than moving house. But some people have no choice
but to move during the holiday season. These serious buyers have fewer options
than in the spring and summer months. Take advantage of the low inventory to
sell your home quickly without sacrificing your holiday celebrating.
Who’s buying over the holidays?
There are many reasons why
buyers have to house hunt over the holidays. They may be relocating to the
Buffalo/Rockford area or trying to add an investment property to their
inventory before the end of the year. Some know that there is fewer competition
for homes during the late fall and early winter. Whatever the reason, holiday
buyers are often motivated and serious about house hunting.
Won’t showings cut into my holiday and family time?
Not when you work with a
reputable Realtor®. He or she will help you set a competitive price for your
home and identify buyers who are hunting on a tight deadline, increasing your
chances of a quick sale. Your Realtor® can also help you create a calendar for
showings so you have time to spend enjoying the holiday season.
How can I decorate my home for the holidays and sell it?
Believe it or not, most holiday décor does not deter buyers. But you do want to avoid decorations that detract from
the selling points of your home. Don’t let a giant inflatable Santa Claus distract
buyers from your home’s phenomenal curb appeal. Large Christmas trees can show
off ceiling height, but take up lots of floor space.
As you’re setting out your
holiday décor, place items in ways that show off your space. Show off a grand
banister in the foyer with an aromatic evergreen garland. Highlight alcoves
and built-ins with your Santa or nutcracker collection.
Once you’re done decorating,
try to keep your home as clean as possible. When you have a showing, crank up
the heat, put on all the lights, and offer a place for buyers to put their
coats and boots. Make sure the sidewalks and stoops are clear of snow and ice.
The holidays can be a great
time to sell your home, especially with an experienced Realtor® by your side.
To learn more about selling your home over the holidays, contact Trent Shipley at Keller
Williams Realty Integrity NW.
Sources:
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Dreaming of Warmer Weather?
Find Your Dream Winter Vacation
Home with These Tips
The recent plunge in
temperatures throughout Minnesota has many people already dreading frigid
winter days
The process of purchasing a
faraway home is a bit different than buying one nearby. Prospective snowbirds
need to do their research before flying straight into a purchase agreement.
Initial Questions for Snowbirds
Before starting your snowbird
search, think through the following questions to discover if you can afford to
winter down south and if you’re searching in the best region and community for
you.
1. Are you able to carry the expenses of two households if you
choose to maintain your Minnesota home? Or, are you hoping to downsize your
Minnesota home or move south permanently?
2. Are there rental markets for your Minnesota home and new
home that could offset costs when you’re not there?
3. Are you familiar with the region you’re considering moving
to? Are there specific communities you’d like to move into?
4. Are the taxes in your new state higher or lower than what
you’re used to paying?
Snowbird Home Shopping Tips
Because you’ll likely be
searching for homes from hundreds of miles away, it’s important to have a good
plan for home shopping. Create a timeline that outlines how much time you’ll
need to prepare your Minnesota home for sale or renting and contact
a Realtor® to set a competitive asking
price.
Get prequalified for a loan
for your new home if you plan on financing your purchase. Start to check out
the housing inventory in the areas you’re interested in, and once you narrow
down on a city or community, start to interview Realtors®. Your agent in
Minnesota may be able to make a recommendation for you, too.
As you narrow your options, it
may make sense to plan a trip to meet with your Realtor® and tour homes. It
would be a great time to learn as much as you can about the area and with the
specifics of the area’s real estate and tax laws.
Once you’ve found a home and
had your offer accepted, hire an inspector to thoroughly look over the
property. You’ll need to be present at the closing to sign papers and get the
keys to your new place.
If you’re a snowbird ready to migrate to warmer weather this winter, contact Trent Shipley at Keller
Williams Realty Integrity NW for a free market analysis of your Minnesota home.
Friday, November 20, 2015
OPEN HOUSE - 1498 Pulask Rd, Buffalo - Sat (11/21) 12pm-2pm
1498 Pulaski Road, Buffalo, MN
OPEN HOUSE
November 21, Saturday 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
$ Click for current price
4 BEDROOMS | 2 (2 full ) BATHROOMS | 2062 SQUARE FEET
Presented By:
Showing Agent:
Trent Shipley
Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Integrity Northwest
612-310-4770
Licensed In: MN
Keller Williams Realty Integrity Northwest
612-310-4770
Licensed In: MN
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Open House - 4021 Woodhill Ct, Rockford, MN 55373
4021 Woodhill Court, Rockford, MN
OPEN HOUSE
November 15, Sunday 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
$ Click for current price
5 BEDROOMS | 3250 SQUARE FEET
Don't miss your chance to see this amazing 5BR, 4BA modified two-story home on a cul-de-sac! Beautifully landscaped yard on wooded lot. Fully finished basement with beautiful wood bar. SS kitchen appliances, kitchen island, breakfast nook, formal dining room, main floor laundry, main floor family room with fireplace.
Presented By:
Showing Agent:
Trent Shipley
Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Integrity Northwest
612-310-4770
Licensed In: MN
Sunday, November 8, 2015
26 Oak Avenue S, MN
Check out this charmer. Awesome rental opportunity. Spacious kitchen, private backyard, newer decks front and back for entertaining. Private backyard.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Don’t Be Spooked by the Home Sale Process
Selling your home is exciting, but it can
also cause anxiety for you, your spouse, and your family. Whether
you’re moving
across town or across the country, following these simple steps can make the
home sale process go more smoothly.
Sell First or Buy First?
If you’re selling your home, chances are you’ll be buying
another one to replace it. Your family may be moving into a larger home or you
may be downsizing. The first decision you need to make is whether to sell your
current home first or to buy your next one first.
Selling your home before buying your next
one can help you present a strong offer on your new home. Some sellers may find
it too risky to accept an offer that’s contingent on the sale of your current
home. Selling your home beforehand also means you do not risk carrying two
mortgage payments in the even that you purchase a new home before your current
one sells.
However, if you sell your home before finding
a new one, you may find yourself in a short-term rental or living with in-laws.
Searching for a home before you sell your current one will ensure you have a
place to stay while you’re trying to sell.
Pick a Good Realtor®
Finding a reputable Realtor® to sell your
home is one of the most important things you can do to make the sale of your
home go more smoothly. Your Realtor® will take a tour of your home, take
measurements, and compare your home to comparable properties in your
neighborhood and use the data to come up with a fair market value for your home. This will help you
set a competitive asking price. He or she will likely ask you to make some
small repairs or upgrades that will help nudge your asking price higher.
Prepare Your Home for Sale
When we live in our homes for a period of
time, it’s easy to become blind to minor repairs and issues that turn buyers
off. Take your real estate agent’s suggestions to heart and patch up dings and
scratches, freshen up paint, and make small kitchen and bath updates. These
small investments will put your home’s best face forward.
Having lots of clutter is not appealing to
buyers. For the short time your home’s on the market, consider it a commodity. Clear out any unnecessary furniture and personal items and give your
home a deep clean to show it off.
Put It on the Market and Accept an Offer
Once your home is sale-ready, your Realtor®
will list it and market it online and through his or her office and
professional networks. You’ll likely host an open house or two.
Once you have an offer, you can choose to
accept it, make a counter-offer, or reject it. Your Realtor® will help you determine
if an offer is fair. After accepting an offer, the buyer will likely request an
inspection and their lender will request an appraisal. If these go well and no
issues are uncovered, the sale moves to closing. You’ll likely meet the buyer
at that point, sign off on the sale, and pass over the keys.
The home sale process can be complicated,
which is why you want an experienced Realtor® on your side. To sell your home
in the Rockford-Buffalo-Delano-St. Michael area, contact Trent Shipley at Keller Williams Realty
Integrity NW today.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Thursday, September 24, 2015
It’s Time for Some Fall Fun in Buffalo, Delano, Rockford, & St. Michael
Clear skies,
cooler temperatures, low humidity: Fall’s arrived in Minnesota! The leaves are
starting to
turn and apples are ripening in the orchards around Buffalo,
Delano, Rockford, and St. Michael. It’s time to enjoy the season at some of the
area’s best fall attractions.

Buffalo: Apple Picking and Foodie Festival
As the locals
know, Buffalo is a great place to celebrate autumn. Many families choose to
spend the day at Deer Lake Orchard. Aside from apple picking, you can take a
wagon ride, try your luck in the corn maze, and hunt for the best jack
o’lantern pumpkin. The kids will enjoy the animal area, hale-bale maze, and
outdoor games. The orchard runs its own store with pies, apple crisp, brats,
and apple cider.
On September 24,
the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce will host A Tasteful Night in Buffalo. This adults-only event runs from 5:30 to 8
pm at the Buffalo Civic Center. Sample foods and libations from Buffalo-area
eateries.
Delano: Apples and Wine
Buffalo has Deer
Lake Orchard. Delano has Apple Jack Orchards. Spend a crisp fall day picking apples,
riding the cow train, or shooting an apple out of a cannon. Kids will enjoy the
play area, animal park, and dry corn pit. Everyone will have fun on the huge
jumping pillow. Enjoy treats from the barn store at one of the orchard’s scenic
picnic areas.
Looking for
something a little stronger than cider? Check out Woodland Hill Winery. The
tasting room is open on weekends. For only $6, you can enjoy wines selected
just for you. Purchase your favorites to take home or enjoy while lounging in
their gazebo.
Rockford: Pumpkins and a Park Reserve
If you want to
pick your own pumpkins, take a drive down to Knapton’s
Raspberries, Pumpkins, and Orchard. The farm specializes in large, carving pumpkins. If you get there
early enough in the season, you’ll be able to pick your own raspberries, too.
The farm also grows apples and sells a variety of produce and preserves.
If you’ve
already done your apple and pumpkin picking for the season, enjoy some quiet
outdoor time at Lake Rebecca Park Reserve. Part of the Three Rivers system, Lake
Rebecca offers trails for hiking and biking, an off-leash dog park, picnic
areas, and even horseback riding. Kids will enjoy hunting for treasure through
the park’s geo-caching program. The park hosts a Family Fall Colors River
Paddle on October 18.
St. Michael: Time Travel and Peaceful
Wilderness
If you’re really
looking to get away from it all, consider visiting the St. Michael area. The Oliver Kelley Farm is in nearby Elk River. The working farm and
living history museum is managed by the Minnesota Historical Society. Step back
in time to the 1860s. Help farmers work the fields, tend the animals, and put
up food for the winter.
To get even
further away the hustle and bustle, visit Crow-Hassan Park Reserve. Like Lake Rebecca, Crow-Hassan is managed
by Three Rivers. It features miles of trails through preserved prairie. Look
for bald eagles, hawks, deer, fox, and coyotes. Park your car, take a hike, and
take in all the natural beauty fall has to offer.
If you enjoy
spending time in the Rockford area, why not move there? Contact Trent Shipley at Keller Williams Realty Integrity NW today.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
1601 Viking Drive, Buffalo, MN
1601 Viking Drive, Buffalo, MN
Just Listed
$ Click for current price
3 BEDROOMS | 2 (2 full ) BATHROOMS | 2016 SQUARE FEET
Property Description
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
3116 Gabler Avenue NE, Buffalo, MN
3116 Gabler Avenue NE, Buffalo, MN
Price Reduced!
$ Click for current price
3 BEDROOMS | 2 (1 full, 1 ¾ bath ) BATHROOMS | 1900 SQUARE FEET
Property Description
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