FCA Events in Southeast Minnesota

Evening Dinner Concert at Somerby- July 15th

Day of Championship Golf at Somerby-July 16th

DeCook Builders Winter Home Tip:

Winter is finally here!! Attic insulation may settle and become impacted over time which will effect your home’s heat loss. This not only raises your heating costs, but can contribute to conditions that create ice dams. Adding clown fiberglass insulation to the unfinished attic space of your home is easy and cost effective.

Happy 2012!

Where has the time gone? It was a year of great transtition in the real estate market for southeast Minnesota. We saw the number of forclosures drop which was a postivie but we also saw the average house sales price drop. At Edina Realty Rochester we continued to lead the market! Our 2012 has started off even stronger. It doesn’t hurt that we had such a mild December with lots of people heading out to open houses giving us the feel of a spring market. Today..it finally feels like winter in Rochester! Bundle up!

Interest rates continue to stay well below anything we could have imagined. Edina Realty Mortgage helped most of my clients with record low rates whether buying or refinancing. It look as though they may stay this way for at least a few months and that should help our market come back as well.

As we look ahead my goals are again to give exceptional customer service and follow-up. I want to thank you all for your many referrals. I cannot express my gratitude enough for your confidence and support! THANK YOU!

I wish you all a wonderful 2012 filled with love, laughter, good health and proserpity.

Warmest Regards,

Sylvia

It’s been too long… I hope you all are keeping up with your housekeeping inside and out!

You may have some unexpected company this month, and we’re not talking about crazy Uncle Harry and Aunt Prudence. We’re talking, gulp, mice and rats who will be looking for home in your garage and house. Seal holes in the foundation-especially those around pipes and wires- and look for places where they might sneak in. An easy way is to plug holes with steel wool. Make sure doors fit at the bottom. Have your fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned before lighting fires. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and replace batteries.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!!

It was  a rainy June in Southeast Minnesota in July be ready to crank up the air conditioner.  Make sure the condensation drip tube flows freely.  Take time to update your emergency kit! Don’t have one? Then make one. Experts recommend a three-day supply of drinking water and food you don’t have to refrigerate or cook, first aid supplies, a portable radio, wrench and other basic tools, flashlight, work gloves, emergency cooking equipment, lanterns, fresh batteries for equipment, clothing, blankets, baby items, prescription medications, extra car and house keys, eyeglasses, credit cards and cash, important documents such as insurance policies.  This emergency kit should be available to you year round but this summer if there is a big summer storm and lose power  you will be set!!!

Before you hang up your flag for the forth make sure your flag pole holder is secure! As you are half way through the year check that list you made and see how you are doing?  Rethink your list by moving some projects around and adding a few more projects.  Then look at all those  “once a year” chores, such as cleaning behind the fridge, checking the water hoses for the washing machine, checking for small leaks under the sink and the dishwasher and testing circuit breakers. If you haven’t already label the breakers so you’ll know what switch controls what part of the house!!

Memorial Day! Backyard barbecues!! Yum! Since you worked on your deck in April it’s time to pull out eh Weber and fire up the grill! Before you strike a match remove all the rust from the grill with a little elbow grease and a stiff brush.  Freshen up the trim around your home, wash off your driveway and check for damage that might have appeared over the winter.  This would also be a good time to check fro termite damage on the foundation and the crawl space of your home.  It’s also ant time be sure you keep their home outside of yours in not in it!!! Seal crack and put bait traps around.  Be careful if you have children and pets to keep them away from the traps.  Enjoy this Southeast Minnesota weather!!! Bring on the SUN!

A fresh coat of paint can brighten up the old homestead!!! Not a big painter?? Then go outside and wash the siding and the stucco!  While, you are outside around the house check for damage!  Fixing cracks and breaks now can prevent further damage down the road.  Since you are in the cleaning mood scrub off the dirt/sand from the harsh Southeastern Minnesota winter!!!  (new trick- use newspaper to get no streaks!!!) Inside clean up projects include; cleaning your blinds! (Usually dusty after they have been shut all winter!)  Clean the ceiling fans and heat/AC vents.  Wouldn’t be a bad idea to schedule a check on the heat/AC system!!  Just a few projects to get you started this Spring!!  Lets hope for lots of sun in the upcoming weeks to get you out there to fix up the house!!

Can you feel it? Spring is just around the corner!!!!!!

Time to get the yard and house ready for the warm weather and sun!  Start by fixing sagging fences, window screens, and your deck is ready.  Now would be a good time to give your deck a good cleaning and a fresh coat of sealer.  Check for dry and rotted wood.

Consider renting a power washer to scrub the deck, siding, driveway, and the rest of your house. 

Here is something we don’t think about often; the mailbox.  Is it time for a new one? Or maybe the old one would look better with a paint job.  Even brighten it up with a unique design.

Melt snow melt!

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