What is your buyer's reaction really worth? Home Staging - Cost versus Benefit The price of Home Staging....is it worth it? That is always a question on the minds of home owners especially if their home is vacant.  It isn't cheap to bring in furniture and have it staged. There is of course the rental fee for furniture but it is also all the labor. The movers, the truck, the staging time to pack everything, stage the home and then come back and pack it all up when it sells. So is it really worth it?   I recently staged a 1904 three story home that sat vacant for many months. Let's look at the cost versus the benefit of Home Staging for this architectural jewel in a classic neighborhood of St. Paul, MN Cost... 1) The old cliché  is true....Home Staging almost always costs less than the fi... 03/03/2013

Need a Professional Home Stager in Minneapolis/St. Paul? Call Shar Sitter! Want to sell your Minneapolis/St.Paul area home for the most money, in the least amount of time and with the least amount of stress?  Then you need to hire a professional Home Stager to make the difference. Why does one home sell while another sits on the market?  There are many pieces to the SOLD puzzle…location…price…condition.  As a seller, what can you control?   Obviously you can’t move the house.  So location is good or not.  Price is something you can control, so be sure to price it right from the beginning.  Condition?  Definitely in your control.  What can you do to step it up a notch?  The answer is simple….STAGING!  OK, you’ve made the decision to stage your home, now what?  You need to hire a professi... 02/15/2013

  Izzie Midnight is an Indy film based in Minneapolis. They just released a concept trailer last night and the opening is a beautiful shot of the Minneapolis skyline at night. Take a quick look a the trailer...it runs less than a minute and has a couple other Minneapolis shots too.     02/01/2013

Yes, sometimes it really is better if your renter moves out. Minneapolis MN Home Stager I see this alot. People have rental properties and when they decide to sell they put it on the market while the renter is living in the property. After six months or a year it is still for sale and they wonder why.  You may be one of the few landlords where your tenants have beautiful furniture, keep their home spotless, and are so willing to assist you with getting your property sold. But....if you aren't living in a fantasy world the norm is your tenant has nothing to gain and probably a lot to lose if your property is sold. There is no incentive for them to keep it clean as a minimal starting point much less everything else that goes with selling.  Luckily this Landlord knew that.  Having all the ... 01/24/2013

Home market trends in Minneapolis MN 55419 Real estate market data in Minneapolis MN by Joel Friday of Keller Williams Classic Realty Minneapolis is the largest city in Minnesota and is situated with the Missippippi River snaking through the city. Minneapolis is also called the City of Lakes and has developed a great trail system circling all of their lakes and connecting to other trails throughout the city. Are home prices rising yet in Minneapolis MN 55419? Median sale price in Minneapolis MN Latest trends in Minneapolis MN The median list price in January for single family homes in Minneapolis is $249,900. The list prices dropped by -5.43% from the previous month. The price per square foot for listings in this area is $162. The median sale price in June for single family homes is $25... 01/22/2013

Free Guide to Staging Your Minneapolis Home To Sell! Find out how to get your Minneapolis home ready to sell step-by-step with practical guides on the following important subjects: Pricing your home - how buyers view value Making Sure your real estate agent actually MARKETS your home for sale Curb Appeal Deferred Maintence Issues Staging Kitchens and Baths Staging a Vacant Home much, much more great information to get your Minneapolis MN home ready to sell! You will receive step-by-step guides via email that will help you to get your house ready to sell without overwhelming you in the process!  This easy to follow system can be started about 2 weeks - 2 months before you are ready to sell your home so that your home will be the one buyers fall in love with!  Spend the time to stage you... 01/21/2013

Confused about all of the neighborhoods in Southwest Minneapolis/Uptown?     So is the rest of the buyer market out there looking at Southwest Minneapolis homes for sale.  If you are just beginning your search, the task to begin to understand all of these neighborhoods in Southwest Minneapolis can be daunting.  Depending on your search criteria certain neighborhoods are going to trump others for various reasons.  Some Minneapolis home buyers are looking for a particular style of home.  Others want the walkability of a particular location around the Minneapolis chain of lakes and still others are looking for a price points within a select area to build a new house in leiu of an existing home.  With a myriad of buyers out there in the market right now there are all sorts of reasons buyer... 01/14/2013

Bathrooms - Easy Updates, Fixing Awkward Builder's Errors and A Room That Makes Them Smile! :-)  Home Staging Minneapolis, MN Yup....you heard me. The bathroom is the perfect place to make the buyer smile.   But first, lets look at how Home Staging can assist with easy updates. The Master Bath is more important than a guest bathroom. However, the buyer almost always comes to the guest bathroom first as they walk through a home. So don't let it set a negative tone that your house is outdated.  Outdated immediately screams 'MONEY NEEDED' to the buyer and so many times there are easy and inexpensive fixes to update the space.  This guest bath has many negatives but take a look at the mirror.     A standard builder's mirror can be made to look like an expensive framed mirror for less than $... 01/06/2013

Mortgage rates moved higher Wednesday up congressional leaders voted to avoid the "Fiscal Cliff". Mortgage-backed securities (MBS) fell as investors bid up stock prices. Confidence among investors and consumers typically causes mortgage rates to rise. That's what happened Wednesday. For Thursday and Friday, expect jobs data to dictate where Minneapolis mortgage rates are headed. The Federal Reserve has said that the national Unemployment Rate will dictate future monetary policy, with the central banker planning to raise the Fed Funds Rate from its target range near zero percent once joblessness falls to 6.5%. Currently, the jobless rate is 7.7 percent. As the jobs market improves, equity markets should follow, causing mortgage rates to -- again -- move higher. Thursday's Initial Jobless... 01/03/2013

Real estate listings in Minneapolis, MN can offer home buyers a reasonable price in a relaxing city populated with parks and community attractions. Listings for real estate in Minneapolis, Minnesota can range in price from the $50k to more than $1 million dollar range depending on location and amenities. Affluent homes can be found in the Linden Hills area while more affordable homes may be available in the Windom Park, and Webber-Camden areas. Real estate listings in the mid $100s to mid $700s price range are available in the Bancroft and Fulton areas. Search all homes for sale in Minneapolis here: www.MinneapolisHouseSearch.com Located in Hennepin County, Minneapolis is known to many as the "City of Lakes" while others may know it as the “Mill City”. The city of Minneapolis has a popu... 12/30/2012

Minneapolis, the largest city in Minnesota, is situated next to a bend in the Mississippi River in the eastern portion of the state. Minneapolis is also home to the largest concentration of the state's population, and so too is home to an amazing diversity of culture and a rich heritage, as well as plenty of amazing contemporary conveniences and world-class attractions. Homebuyers choosing between the various cities of eastern Minnesota should make sure that they take a good look at the Minneapolis, MN houses for sale. These homes are unparalleled in the region, and offer a new lifestyle that will be simply brimming with new and thrilling experiences for their owners and their families. The market contains a plenitude of differing architectural and floor plan styles, and range from cond... 12/26/2012

The Most Meaningful Project of 2012. Home Staging & Redesign Minneapolis MN At the end of each year I like to look back and think about the projects I have worked on. I had some that were great, some that were easy, some that were tough and of course I had my favorites or most memorable projects.  At the completion of each project I have almost always had fun but there is always one or two that stood out.  For 2012 I had a few: 1) Favorite Home Staging New Construction, 2) Favorite Redesign Project and, 3) Most Meaningful Project So here is the third of my three '2012 Year In Review' posts: My Most Meaningful Project!  This project won't make it on the cover of Home Beautiful....it won't bring any Woos and Haaas over the spectacular furnishings and color.  But....it did bring tears to m... 12/25/2012

The process of buying a foreclosed home is slightly different from the process of buying a non-foreclosure home. If you want to invest in Minneapolis foreclosures, therefore, it is important to understand the different ways by which to purchase a foreclosed home. There are three main ways to buy a foreclosed home. Buying before the auction:Some delinquent homeowners may want to sell their homes before facing an actual foreclosure. In this instance, the homeowner, in agreement with the lender, agrees to sell the home for less than the amount owed on the mortgage. This is called a short sale. Short sales are "pre-foreclosures", of sorts. By broadening your home search to include short sales, you can identify homes that may be sold at a discount.   Buying at the auction: Another way by whi... 12/22/2012

2012 - My Favorite Home Staging for New Construction - Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis, MN    At the end of each year I like to look back and think about the projects I have worked on. I had some that were great, some that were easy, some that were tough and of course I had my favorite and memorable projects.  At the completion of each project I always have so much fun that I think it is my favorite project but upon reflection there are three that really stood out for me in 2012. The three projects that stand out are: 1) Favorite Home Staging for New Construction. 2) Favorite Redesign Project and, 3) Most Meaningful Project So here is the first of my three '2012 Year In Review' posts! My 'Favorite  'Home Staging for New Construction' was not your typical new construction in an all... 12/18/2012

Christmas Concert by The Blenders in Minneapolis, MN Who are 'The Blenders'? Well, originally from Fargo, North Dakota they are now proud to call Minneapolis, MN their home. They have over 20 years touring the U.S. with their unique style of vocal harmony bases music.  They have appeared with such acts as Jay Leno, Howie Mandel, Savage Garden, Chicago, The Righteous Brothers, Lou Rawls, Chuck Berry and many more. In 2007 their music was featured in the Queen Latifah film, 'The Perfect Holiday', and have won 3 Emmy Awards for their work in television commercials.    The Blenders Christmas Concert this year is December 14, 15 and 16 at The Pantages Theatre.  Pantages Theatre Tickets 710 Hennepin Avenue,  Minneapolis,  MN  55403 One of my favorite Christmas Albums is "Nog" by The Blenders.... 12/09/2012

Easy As 1 -2 - 3 Holiday Decorating - Home Staging and Redesign MN. "I don't have time to decorate". "I'm starting to dread the holidays because it is so much work". "My house is for sale and I don't have time to take everything out and bring in Christmas items. Plus I need to keep it simple" "I love the holidays but there just isn't time for everything". "The older I get the harder it is to get it all done". Have one of these quotes come from you? Maybe if you are like me it is all of them! Well, the selling part isn't me but many of you are in the process of selling your home and decorating for the Holiday is a challenge. I used to decorate for days....and I mean days of decorating for the holiday season. I have at least 25 bins filled with Christmas decor not to mention shelves fille... 12/04/2012

Minneapolis, the twin sister city of St Paul in the center of the state of Minnesota, is a large Midwest city of around 387,753 people as of the 2010 census, and the 48th largest city in the United States. Homes for sale in the city of Minneapolis vary very much from neighborhood to neighborhood as each area bring with them a very different flavor. There are distinct and very recognizable areas throughout the city and any newcomer will certainly find one that appeals to their preferences. Among them is the University of Minnesota area located east of downtown Minneapolis. The area offers a mixture of well kept older homes with many turn of the century bungalows and Victorians and 1920s era homes. It is a lively area with many great restaurants and a student population of more than 51,00... 12/02/2012

As the largest population center in the state of Minnesota, and one of the most influential cities in the Upper Midwest, Minneapolis is a regional center for culture and commerce. Located along the upper part of the Mississippi River as it winds through the eastern part of Minnesota on its way south, Minneapolis is full of rich history and heritage. Today, however, the city is defined equally by its interesting history and by its progressive development as a modern city with numerous conveniences and attractions that residents love. Homebuyers who search among the Minneapolis, MN real estate for sale discover a vibrant and welcoming community, and many fantastic neighborhoods of homes from which they can choose an exceptional home. Minneapolis is community that has something for everyon... 11/30/2012

If you're buying an old house in the Twin Cities with pipes sticking out of the ground in your yard, heads up.  You might have an oil tank somewhere at the property.   While the vast majority of homes in the Twin Cities are heated with natural gas, there is still a small percentage of homes in the metro area that are heated with fuel oil, and far more properties with abandoned oil tanks. When a home gets converted from fuel oil to natural gas, the fuel oil tank becomes abandoned.  Once the tank is abandoned, it needs to be dealt with. When tanks are abandoned If the tank is buried, it needs to be removed or filled in place  If a fuel oil tank is left buried, it could eventually leak.  A leaking underground storage tank (LUST) can contaminate the soil as well as the home, creating an env... 11/27/2012

Located in the heart of Uptown, often called the 'Greenwich Village' of Minneapolis, the walkable East Isles neighborhood is bordered on one side by idyllic Lake of the Isles... ...and on the other side by bustling Hennepin Avenue lined with bus stops, coffee houses, cafes, restaurants, theaters, retail shops, businesses... who could ask for anything more? Put in bigger context, Hennepin Avenue is the connection between nearby Downtown and Uptown, which is also part of the popular Minneapolis Chain of Lakes district that attracts millions of visitors each year. In between those two borders is a mix of distinguished homes, condos and apartments with current prices of properties listed for sale ranging from $69,000 for a 600 sq ft senior condo to $3,750,000 for a 6,500 sq ft urban estate ... 11/17/2012