Not enough space?

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

I see the inside of maybe 300 homes a year. Many if not most homes do not have enough storage space, possibly because the occupants have too much stuff. That is why rental storage spaces have become so popular.

Storage lockers can be very handy for home sellers who can remove excess furniture and possessions from their house and store them.

When I needed to move my parents I rented storage space because it gave us some flexibility and time to figure out what to do with excess stuff. I just couldn’t make decisions fast enough as I prepared their home for sale.

Rented storage space is also nice for people who move often.

Personally, I think having less is best but that isn’t always easy to achieve.

storage lockers
self-storage

 

The tiny bungalow kitchen

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

The kitchen is from one of those adorable 1920’s craftsman-style bungalows.  These houses were made or entertaining with beautiful dining rooms that have built-in buffets. They are usually small houses that are one to 1.5 stories and at the time they were built with simplicity and affordability in mind.

Often the kitchens in these homes are tiny as in 9 X 9 and they may have an old-style radiator under the one window and there isn’t any place to put the fridge except in that little space by the back entryway or the small hallway by the basement door.

This particular home has a small kitchen with little useable counter space but plenty of storage because the designer took advantage of the vertical space.

kitchen
kitchen

More often than not the kitchens in these homes can not be expanded but it is a trade-off and the people who love these homes buy them and come up with all sorts of creative ways to make the kitchen more user-friendly. In fact, several books have been written about these kitchens and how to make the most out of them.

They really don’t build houses the way they used to. Heck, small affordable houses are rarely built at all anymore.

Other people’s clients looking for a second opinion

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

realtor_r_blueIt happens all the time. Home sellers and buyers who are under contract with a real estate agent want a second opinion so they call or email another agent. It is easy to second guess another agent but I won’t do it. I don’t know the whole story and I am not comfortable judging someone else. There are all sorts of situations where people want free advice . . . because it is free.

Sometimes people get their second opinions from friends and family via Facebook or other social media sites. That isn’t where I would ever go for a second opinion but for a lot of people when they need advice even medical advice that is where they go.  It is pretty easy to find a real estate agent who will give free advice to other people’s clients.

People who are having trouble with a real estate agent should talk to that agent. If the agent isn’t doing his or her job as outlined in the buyers or sellers contracts buyers or sellers can ask the agent to cancel the contract.

If that doesn’t work or isn’t an option the next step is to call the real estate company and ask to talk to the broker. Real estate agents work under real estate brokers and the broker is responsible for the agent’s actions. Most brokers will defend whatever their agent does because . . . that is what they do.

If the agent is a Realtor® (Member of the national association of Realtors) and has done something unethical consumers can file an ethics complaint through the Minnesota Association of Realtors. There is a code of ethics and the specific article that was violated needs to be stated in the complaint.

Taylors Falls is so close

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

If you are looking for a place to go that is close to the Twin cities consider visiting Taylors Falls. We went there a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed walking through pothole park (Interstate Park) and we on the paddle boat ride on the St. Croix River.

Taylors Falls is especially beautiful in the fall and is one of my favorite place to go and take pictures of fall colors . . . not that we need to think about fall in the middle of summer.

St. Croix river
St. Croix river

Minnesota is a beautiful state.

I love/hate my phone

Posted on by Teresa Boardman
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It is Friday, and Fridays are for fun.  I will admit I am rather fond of my phone and I rely on it and use it all day long and sometimes I even use it to make phone calls. I lose my phone several times a week.

Yesterday I lost it in my car and found it by calling myself with another phone.  A couple of weeks ago I lost it at the downtown Farmer’s market.

I totally panicked when I reached for my phone and it wasn’t there.  I retraced my steps through the market.  I checked the brussel sprouts (I love brussel sprouts doesn’t everyone?) and the beets and went past the honey and checked the corn stand.  I could not find it anywhere even though it is in a bright pink plastic case.

It is a good thing I did not report the phone missing because I found it in my other back pocket and not in the pocket I usually put it in. I have lost my phone while I was holding it.

I actually wrote this post in 2013. My phone has more uses than ever now. I can use it to check to see if the wash is done, and I can adjust the thermostat and I can use an app I have to unlock electronic lockboxes on houses. I can turn the lights in my house on and off and check the cameras in my office. There is more of course.

Which should you choose, house or neighborhood?

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

Some home buyers are open to many architectural styles and others have a specific style and even floor plan in mind when they go house hunting. Homebuyers who have there heart or budget or both set on a certain neighborhood may find that their favorite style of home isn’t there.

If you are looking for a rambler or a split level home with a two-car attached garage I would not bother looking in the downtown area but you might find some in the western part of Highland Park and in the battle creek and Eastside neighborhoods.

If you like Tudor style homes look along Summit avenue or in Merriam Park or in the Cherokee heights neighborhoods because those are the areas with the biggest concentrations of them. I have clients who specifically want Tudors or Craftsman-style bungalows or even Ramblers.

When choosing a neighborhood consider the housing style and when choosing a housing style consider the neighborhood.   When you find the right combination you may find that you can not afford the style of home that you want in your favorite neighborhood.  Homebuyers sometimes end up compromising on style or neighborhood or both when they don’t match.

People who want new construction won’t find much in St. Paul and if they do it will be large and expensive because that is what gets built.

In recent years people have been buying houses in their favorite neighborhood, tearing them down and building the kind of home that they want which is of completely different size and style than what is usually found in the neighborhood. Thankfully that isn’t an option for everyone.

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Tudor style house – Merriam Park