I love a parade

ice wall
ice wall – Rice Park

 It is Winter carnival time and I am looking forward to a weekend full of carnival events in addition to house hunting with clients and putting a new listing on the market.  There are a ton of events this weekend.  I plan on watching the parade and I will probably check out the ice carving contest in Rice Park.  The winter carnival grand day parade starts at 2:00 this afternoon but the route is a little different this year because of construction downtown.  The parade will start on the corner of Smith Avenue and West 7th and go east and end at 5th and Market street downtown otherwise known as Rice Park.  The official map states that the parade will disperse on Kellogg Blvd., yet they show the parade route ending at Rice park.

Parade Route
Parade Route

If you don’t know the area watch the signs because parking on the street requires a permit.   There is a huge parking lot next to the Xcel center, and there is the Xcel center ramp and the ramp at the six street station. 

Cold weather house hunting tips

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Red wool socks

This winter has been pretty mild but it is still winter.  If you are out looking at houses you will probably have to take your shoes/boots off when you go inside.  many of the homes on the market are vacant and they have the heat turned way down.   It doesn’t take long for the feet to get cold.  I have been experimenting with ways to keep them warm because I get cranky when they are cold. On Saturday I failed miserably and had cold feet all day.  

The secret is in the socks.  Sunday I wore two pair of socks under my boots.  The second pair were thick red wool socks.   I was able to stay in a cold house for half without getting cold feet.  

I like to remind sellers that they need to have a rug inside the door and it needs to be big enough to hold several pair of boots otherwise they will end up with puddles on the floor and I will end up with wet socks when I step in them which may cause me to encourage my buyers to make an even lower low ball offer on your home.