Join a local CSA and pick up a sizeable box of delicious local vegetables picked at the peak of freshness and delivered to a drop site in your neighborhood. You never know exactly what you will receive but you can count on the freshest local produce each and every week! Explore different vegetables and cooking styles while creating delicious, nutritious meals filled with healthy vegetables grown right up the road! Big River Farms, our CSA just north of Stillwater, MN, sends a brief newsletter with tried-and-true recipes featuring the seasonal fare in your weekly box so each week brings a few surprises and new ways to explore with delicous and nutritious local food.

Become a member and enjoy the bounty of your fellow members and friends hard work. You can volunteer your time by sharing your green thumb (or lack of) to nurture the gardens and harvest the fare at a local CSA farm. Or simply pick up your weekly bushel of goodness at a neighborhood drop site and enjoy healthy and nutritious meals all summer long! A summer filled with weekly surprises….what a fun and local way to get your Recommended Daily Allowance …nurture the planet and nourish your family!

To learn more about Community Supported Agriculture in the Twin Cities, Minnesota and Western Wisconsin and CSA farms in the area, visit Minnesota Food Association or Land Stewardship Project. Visit Simply Home Group for more information about housing and life in the Twin Cities.

Below are a couple of great ideas and easy tips to help break the ice:

1. A simple “Hello”- A simple “Hello, my name is” with a friendly handshake goes a long way. This is a great way to at least exchange names to help prompt future conversations.
2. A “hello” with a cold beverage- They may need a cool down as you share a brief introduction, bring a bottle of water or a cold soda.
3. Homemade goods- You can’t go wrong by delivering a warm plate of cookies! Perhaps sneak in the recipe card as well, not only to share recipe but also to let them know the ingredients in case of a food allergy. (example Nuts)
4. Deliver a Meal—Bring over a meal that they can either eat on the spot or throw in the oven after unloading the trucks. Remember, they may not have a chance to get everything unpacked so you may want to equip them with paper plates, napkins, and silverware as well.
5. Have them over for dinner- Knock and the door for a quick intro but offer to have them over for dinner at a later date.
6. Local/Neighborhood Resources- Provide your new neighbors with a list of local resources and phone numbers. (Examples: garbage/water/cable services, neighborhood fix-it man, babysitters, pet-sitters, favorite restaurants, etc.)
7. Offer to help with the move- Haul Boxes, unload furniture or offer to mow the lawn if needed.
8. Meet and Greet- Offer to host a meet and great BBQ with a few other neighbors.
9. Coffee- Bring them a cup of coffee or coffee gift card as their coffee pots may still be in hiding.
10. Bring a Plant- A nice green plant or a colorful flower always helps a house feel like home!
11. Keep it Short- Remember to keep your initial meeting short as they are busy unpacking!

Well put your paint samples down and pick up your phone!  We found an excellent application for your phone that allows you to snap a picture of whatever you are trying to color match (vase, throw pillow, granite counter top) and instantly find the closest matching shade as well as suggestions for accent walls & trim colors.  The app. narrows 3,500 different paint choices down to 1 perfect hue.  The app. is called Color Capture from Benjamin Moore.  It is simple to download, easy to use and saves you all those trips back and forth to the paint department.

We found it helpful, hopefully you will too!

A final walk-through, usually done within a few hours to a few days before closing, serves the purpose of making sure the property is in the condition the you and the seller have agreed upon and that all repair requests have been fulfilled. In addition, it is your opportunity to make sure the seller as removed all personal items and debris from the property.

Below is a list of things you will want to do during your final walk-through:

1)      Check exterior conditions. Are there new cracks in drive, roof damage that was not there when the purchase agreement was signed or new siding damage?

2)      Make sure there is no missing or additional landscaping.

3)      Turn on and off all light fixtures and appliances to make sure there are not any electrical issues. You may also want to bring an item to plug-in to make sure outlets are in proper working order.

4)      Run water in sinks, tubs, showers and all other indoor/outdoor faucets. Make sure there are no pressure problems or leaks. Don’t forget to run underground sprinkler systems if ones exists.

5)      Flush all toilets to make sure there are no plumbing issues.

6)      Turn on all appliances. (Refrigerator, Range, Washer, Dryer, Garbage Disposal, Exhaust Fans, etc.) Take time to make sure the fridge cools and the stove heats up.

7)      Ensure that the garage door opens.

8)      Make sure all windows open and close properly.

9)      Turn on both heating and cooling systems.

10)   If you have asked that some personal items stay make sure they are still there, otherwise make sure the seller has not left you with unwanted items.

Your agent should be with you at your walk-through to be your second pair of eyes in spotting any potential problems. Remember, it is vital that you ALL concerns with the conditions of the property are discussed and remedied before closing.

To do so, we have gathered a list of our favorite websites that showcase city information and event calendars to help fill your summertime schedule.

http://www.ilovestillwater.com/ – Including but not limited to; dates for River Cruises, classes at Lakeview Hospital, corporate networking events, and lists of shopping locations and local eateries. This is one of our favorite websites to visit all year round.

http://www.ci.stillwater.mn.us- This is the City of Stillwater’s official website. Included is information on the beautiful parks and trails located throughout Stillwater. Check back in late April for a special events calendar for Washington Square Park and Teddy Bear Park. Children have a blast with all the fun the city parks have to offer! 

http://www.stillwaterlibrary.org/- If you are student, a bookworm or parent needing to keep your children busy the Stillwater library offers many story times and book clubs. In addition, the historic site offers a small café so you can grab your favorite seasonal beverage and enjoy your reading on the rooftop which provides remarkable river views.

http://www.summertuesdays.com/- Summer Tuesdays are a great way to get a “taste” of what Stillwater has to offer. Grab a bite to eat from the weekly featured restaurant while you shop in the market for locally created arts and crafts.

http://www.thechefsgallery.com/calenders/summer2011_calendars.html- Love to cook, or need to know how? The Chef’s Gallery is a fantastic location to take cooking classes with spouses or friends. They will equip you with a few recipes to WOW your friends at summertime gatherings.

Have fun experiencing Stillwater. Perhaps we will run into you while on adventures of our own!

1)      De-clutter/Depersonalize- Start with three boxes; one for garbage, one for donations and one for storage. Go through drawers, cupboards, closets, attics, basements, toy rooms and bookcases.  Categorize everything into one of those three boxes and get rid of the stuff you don’t need! For those items you use on a daily basis but tend to clutter up counter space (ex. toasters, coffee pots, etc.), simply tuck away neatly in a cupboard where it is easily accessible to you but out of plain sight.

 2)      Play handyman Make sure that everything in your house is tuned up. This may include everything from fixing a leaky faucet to replacing light bulbs, tightening door handles to repairing major or minor dings in the wall.  All appliances should also be in working order.

 3)      De-personalize and neutralize This step is not always easy but necessary for buyers to able to picture their family in the home.  Family and children’s photos need to be packed away and put into storage as well as decor that might not reflect the taste of most individuals. Neutralizing the colors in your home is also important. It may require a little elbow grease removing wallpaper and getting out the paint brush but will be well worth the time and effort.

 4)      Clean- Clean your home from top to bottom! Start with carpets and work your way up to light fixtures. Interior and exterior windows will also need to be done. If time does not allow you to do this yourself hire a cleaning service. Many companies out there offer a special one-time clean for those getting their house ready for market.

 5)      Stage- Help a buyer visualize what each room should be used for. This may include adding or removing decor and furniture to make the rooms look both spacious and function-able. This also includes staging deck and patio space. Your Real Estate Agent or a staging professional will be able to help you with the staging process.

 6)      Curb appeal Make sure your yard is in tip-top shape as this is the first thing buyers see as the pull up to your home. Grass, trees and hedges should be freshly trimmed, the yard cleaned of animal messes and driveways/walkways cleared or sticks and debris. Placing a few planted pots on the front porch will create an inviting welcome for buyers.

Getting your home ready for the spring market doesn’t have to be expensive and is a great way to get your home sold faster, easier, and at a price you like.

For more reasons why now is prime time to buy a home, contact the Simply Home Group and we’ll send you a free ebook!

If you are thinking about taking advantage of the current market and buying a home or investing in real estate, or if you know anyone who is, please contact the Simply Home Group!

Holiday planters will jazz up your front door!

• Add splashes of green and purple with plants, grasses, evergreens to liven up the landscape.
  

  Dressed up for the Holidays

• Make the front door the focal point with a large wreath.  Add colorful ribbons that will outlive the holiday season. 
• Large colorful planters filled with evergreens and your favorite winter branches and berries will dress up the entry as well.
• Transform a bird bath, fountain or large urn with twigs, winter greenery and sparkly decor to add seasonal sparkle to your landscaping.
• Outdoor statues can add class and elegance.  The key is to place items strategically around the garden to draw buyers’ eyes around the valuable outdoor space.  Be sure to use frost-resistant urns and statues in our frigid midwest climate!
  

  Warm and welcoming log cabin in the northwoods

• Since many showings take place after dark during the winter months, be sure to light your home well, especially the entry.  Use clear flood spotlights to focus on the home’s architectural features.  The Simply Home Group will ensure that winter photos are taken at dusk with all of the interior lights on…the light bounces off the snow creating a warm, inviting glow. 
• Use the outdoor living area to show off your lifestyle.  Shovel your deck or patio so buyers can envisions themselves using the space.
• Keep your outdoor furniture dressed up for the season!  Rather than covering it or putting it into storage, keep it clean and add a few bright pillows.  Looking out at this type of vignette can make the indoor space feel larger and more interesting. 
• Create a photo display of warm days of spring and summer when the grass is green and the flowers are in bloom.  A digital photo frame works great for showing off your home and yard during different times of year.
• Most importantly, keep all of the pathways clear of snow and ice!  Not only is this crucial for the safety of all visitors, keeping them clean helps potential buyers get a sense of their true size.

Good luck maximizing your winter curb appeal!  Please let us know if you are considering a move or if you know anyone who is!

Wishing you and yours a wonderful and warm holiday season!

Simplify your move and realize your dreams with the Simply Home Group!