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 It finally seems like we have rounded the corner and spring is in full swing! Now that the sun is shining and the temps are higher, you may be thinking more and more about your lawn and garden this year. While we are experts in real estate and not so much lawn maintenance, we turned to an incredible resource, the University of Minnesota Extension for some great tips and how-to’s for your lawn, landscaping, and garden. Plus, a well maintained yard will only help boost your home’s value!

What can I plant to have a more pollinator-friendly yard?

There are a few ways to accomplish this! You can turn sections of your lawn from turfgrass to a bee lawn, or you can incorporate more pollinator friendly plants into your landscaping. What’s a bee lawn you…

Here at VIBE, we pride ourselves in doing everything we can to ensure you have the best experience possible with your real estate purchases, and take it from us, who you choose to finance that purchase can make a HUGE difference.

Here are the most important insights (from a Realtor’s® perspective) about choosing a good lender, and why it really matters.

1. )  Sometimes our recommendations to work with a professional can feel like we’re pushing you in a certain direction. But as Realtors®, we are fiduciaries, which means we must operate with your best interests in mind. So when an agent recommends a few different lenders to you, chances are, they are coming pre-vetted by their personal interactions and experiences with them! 

Trust us,…

Earth Day is coming up at the end of this month, so we wanted to share some home energy efficiency tips and helpful resources!

Quick and easy energy saving tips:

• Use smart devices when you can! Installing a smart thermostat and putting your home’s temperature on a set schedule can dramatically help with energy costs. On average an Energy Star® rated smart thermostat can save homeowners approximately 8% annually on heating and cooling bills (Energystar.gov).

• Swap out all incandescent light bulbs for LED light bulbs.

• Regularly service your furnace/boiler or air conditioner to make sure they are clean and running without any issues.

• As the seasons change, change the direction of your ceiling fans. During…

Spring is sort of in the air and with spring typically comes the hottest time of the year to sell your home! As REALTORS® we see all types of different situations when it comes to getting your home ready to make its debut on the market, and of course when you go to list your home everyone seems to have an opinion about who to work with, what your home is worth, and much more. No fear! We are here to debunk some common misconceptions when listing your home.

Myth: Get in touch with a REALTOR® a week or two before listing your home.

Fact: This is actually the exact opposite of what we recommend doing, but we do understand sometimes you have to move quickly! If you aren’t under any extreme time constraints, our advice is to get in touch with your…

Last year’s article from our very own Susan Bonne was so good we're pressing the repeat button. The real estate market is even more competitive than this time last year, we knew we had to reshare these helpful and even more relevant insights! If you’re in the middle of buying a home right now, or are thinking about getting the process started - this one's for you! 

You’ve likely been hearing, from every rooftop, that we are in the hottest seller’s market in a generation. That listings are scarcer than hen’s teeth. And that buyers have to pay thousands over asking, and throw in homemade cookies, a puppy and maybe a Tesla to be the winning bid and secure a new home. Yes, it’s more than a typical real estate frenzy, and multiple offers on desirable…

Over the past few years we have seen interior design trends make some big shifts - partly due to needs changing during the pandemic. We see people tackling home renovation projects they have always really wanted to do, and have seen a strong need for more space, or more multi-use spaces.

We reached out to our friends and DIY extraordinaires (no really, they are incredible), JP and Liz, over at @therehablife and asked them what they have seen change over the past year, and what trends they are most excited about in 2022.

Photo Courtesy of @therehablife

What trends do you see fading out as we head into 2022?

Goodbye gray! (hopefully). Gray walls with white trim and all white kitchens can still be stunning, but if they're not balanced with…

Ahhhh, winter. The snow starts falling, the temperatures drop, and maybe you’re wondering what all of that means for the real estate market.

I know we are all interested to see how this winter market unfolds, coming off of one of the most aggressive and competitive real estate years in history. Traditionally, the winter is a slower season in real estate. Fewer homes go up for sale, and fewer people are out shopping for new houses. The winter season does have its own benefits though - for both buyers and sellers!

Winter Buying Benefits

Less competition against other buyers. One of the biggest benefits for buyers is that there is much less competition. Because the market has been so intense and competitive over the past year, the winter could…

We know the real estate pattern well, home sales heat up every spring and summer, and then, as the leaves begin to change, the market begins to cool. Conventional wisdom says that the best time to buy and sell a home is in the spring. However, it's worth considering your options of buying or selling in the Fall. Here's 5 reasons why...

Avoid peak real estate season
With fall usually comes the start of real estate’s slower season. Typically, there are less people looking to buy a home in fall, and less people putting their homes on the market. This gives you a leg up in either scenario. If you’re a Seller, your home has fewer homes competing against it. As a Buyer you’ll have fewer people competing against you! As a side note: we have seen an…

Buying a home is no easy feat, especially in an extremely competitive market. With a competitive market comes an amplified homebuying process. Emotions run higher, it can be more stressful and the process can take longer. So we thought it would be helpful to touch on some aspects of the homebuying process that you may not hear a lot about, the less “tangible” aspects that can make all the difference. 

1. Starting earlier has its advantages and can really give you an edge. If you feel like you’re going to buy within the next year, start reaching out to a few Realtors in your area. Interview multiple people, get to know their processes, and make sure you feel comfortable with them. It’s never too early to get your ducks in a row!

2. …

Some of the most impactful decisions to make when preparing to sell your home are deciding what improvements to take on to get the most out of your home sale. Some projects add value well over the amount they cost - some, not so much. So which ones should YOU take on before putting that lovely sign in the yard? Well, now may be the time to start considering what to tackle, as some projects may take longer than they have in the past.

If your home just needs some sprucing up with some paint and light landscaping, then sure, that may only take a few weeks. But what if adding a deck would transform that standard backyard into a stunning entertaining space? Maybe bringing the laundry room from that old basement up to the 2nd floor would make a big…