Are you comfortable with the size of your house? I am just wondering because I have listed a beautiful house on Lake Minnetonka, close to Wayzata, Minnesota and last weekend I showed it to a nice family. They were concerned because the house was a little bit smaller than the one they live in now. They weren’t sure if they would be comfortable with less space. I have dealt with so many buyers who think they know just how many square feet they want in their new house. They know that their present house is too small or too big. But sometimes they find the perfect house, that has the pool, the big deck, but it is much smaller or bigger than they predicted they wanted. They move in and discover the house to be cozy, if it’s smaller, or provides more privacy, if it’s bigger.

But then, I wonder if anyone ever moves into their house and declares, “this is not right. I want to return it for another size.”  

I have sold three houses over past Memorial Day weekends, so if you think Realtors typically don’t work this weekend, you are wrong. The weather is supposed to be great for the next few days. There are many wonderful bargains to buy. If you want to buy a house on Lake Minnetonka, I know of many wonderful opportunities.

The Distinctive Homes waterfront tour last week was a total success. All houses that have direct or deeded lakeshore were on the tour. The property I had open was a beautiful lot on Lake Minnetonka, and many people seemed quite interested in it. 

I love this one! Its a museum turned upside-down. It looks as if some giant monster picked this building up and dropped it on its head. What a great idea.

This place is called wonderworks and its located in orlando florida. You can see a complete animation of the house being “placed” at the wonderworks website.

This is a really great example of some amazing architecture. What an incredible attraction! I hope to visit someday.

I have been wondering what it would be like to sell reale state without feeling all tied up in technology. Sometimes I think it would be nice to just stay away from the cell phone and the lap top for awhile.

The new thing to do in Wayzata is Yoga. Actually many Wayzatians having been practicing yoga for years. That is why most people who live in this town are very calm and “on an even keel.” The police drive around just for something to do. The children are perfect. The mother’s are beautiful, and the men are tan and rich. This truely is the best town to live in, in Minnesota. I want to fit in so I am going to give Yoga the good old college try. Besides, I was at a party a few nights ago and all my friends said they were going to Yoga classes. They all originally met in a pool, so the name of our group is “The Swimmettes.” Now they will probably change the name of our group to Yogaettes. 

This is reprinted from the lakeshore weekly news.

You are invited to attend a special Planning Commission Meetings regarding the Wayzata Bay Center redevelopment. We encourage everyone to attend this meeting so the public’s voice will be heard at this crucial time in the redevelopment process.

Monday May 12th, 2008 - 6:00 PM - Public input and planing commision vote

at Wayzata West Middle School, 149 Barry Ave North

For more information please visit www.wayzatabaydevco.com or call Ed Briesmeister at 763-245-0962

Let your voices be heard Wayzata!

If you are thinking of putting your house on the market you are probably thinking about how much time it will take to clean out the closets, get the carpet cleaned and clear out the garage. In this market you need to add something else to your list. With almost every house that has recently sold there was a difficult conversation initiated by the seller’s real estate agent.

The conversation probably went like this; the real estate agent says; “I can tell you have loved living in your house. It certainly is a great home. But any buyer needs to see it in a totally different way. Once we put the for sell sign up it no longer is your house. It now belongs to a future buyer. That buyer needs to be able to walk into your house and feel like it could be theirs at any given moment. If they walk in and see all these wonderful pictures of your family, they are going to think they are in your home, not theirs. They will feel like they are an uninvited guest in a strangers house. It is an uncomfortable feeling for them, to tell you the truth. They will walk in and then quickly walk out.  They will also compare your house to the one down the street which was professionally staged. In that house, the carpet was cleaned, some of the walls were painted, and the stagers brought in a few pieces of furniture, and many accent pieces to make the house look like a model home. People walk into that house and as soon as they are in the door, they say “WOW.”  Every room has been purged of clutter in that house. A storage unit was rented and many boxes containing their treasures are kept there. So, I have shown you all the many ways I am going to market your house, how many open houses we will have, how many days on average it will take to sell your house, and I strongly suggest you stage your house. Staging may shorten the time it is on the market, and it certaintly will help sell the house.”

The seller says; “Do we have to stage our house? You don’t understand, we have loved living here, just the way it was built, totally untouched, for the last twenty years!” The realtor says, “I think you just helped make my case. Buyers today want a house that has a more updated look than a house built twenty years ago without anything done to it. Painting, cleaning the carpets, decluttering and staging will certainly help.”  The seller says; “O.K.”

A few years ago when I was 24, (so lets say six years ago?) I met Nick Nolte at a party.

He was so dreamy. I could look into those handsome eyes all night long. We talked a little about home life and friends. I think my meeting him left such a wonderful impression on him. I know it sure did me. I left that party on cloud nine. I have always been able to picture those handsome eyes perfectly in my head.

I must have really touched him because from that point on he has never quite been the same…

I think if he would have stuck with me at least he would have had a better chance for this…

Oh well Nick. You had your chance…

This is more like a strange building, but I still think it fits in here.

It’s a nice fire escape!

I would be scared if the dragon part wasn’t there yesterday!

Isn’t it fun to look at unusual buildings?

This one somehow reminds me of the torch on the Statue of Liberty.

I also see a giant solar ice cream cone. Don’t eat it though. No one wants glass in their mouth.

I think I need more privacy than that. I would also like a bigger foundation. I can’t do laundry in that little tiny basement.