Runner’s Gate grows in Lakeville 6A Both sides clash over spending proposal 9A Christmas Corner rings in the holidays 52A
TAD JOHNSON T.W. BUDIG ANDREW MILLER
dakotacountytribune.biz dakotacountytribune.biz
DATE ##, 2009 DECEMBER 10, 2009
VOLUME 30, NUMBER # VOLUME 30, NUMBER 41
Dakota County Tribune Since 1884
B
U
S
I
N
E
S
S
w
e
e
k
Empty homes receive staging style Stagers dress up empty homes, speed up house sales, time on market by Kara Hildreth DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Staging a home before it is listed “for sale� is like a dress rehearsal for a live theater production. If a residential property is staged well, it receives a positive critics’ review, and that often means a quick sale at a higher negotiated price for the homeowners. Most buyers looking to buy a residential property cannot visualize a home’s potential. So hiring a professional home stager can help them learn how to Submitted photos showcase each room’s best Fiorella Staging Concepts features. But staging is serving in Apple Valley created this a new purpose in today’s “before and after� to show how staging can boost the economy. With the housing mar- visual appeal of rooms. ket bringing more foreclosures to Dakota County in the last two years, more vacant homes have required real estate agents to hire a stager to make the property look more appealing. “I get calls from the banks or listing agents, but most of my referrals are from agents to other and short-sale homes need the agents, but sometimes the bank owns the properbenefits of staging even more ty and hires me to stage it,� said Cyndi Liemohn, than a traditional residential owner of Staged in Style. “They (banks) know Denise properties. the vacant ones sit and it is worth it to them to Husnik The need for staging foremake a small investment, and I come in and do closed or short-sale homes will the color and carpet selection.� still be necessary into 2010. Some vacant properties have been left in With the federal tax credit deadline being exdisrepair by angry homeowners who have been tended for new homebuyers until April 2010, the foreclosed on. They take out their frustrations housing market is still sluggish, but is definitely on the house by taking appliances, interior light a buyers’ market, so staging is even more vital for fixtures, and in some cases toilets and sinks, homeowners to get the best selling price. Liemohn said. Husnik said homebuyers are not jumping on In these instances, banks need to replace fix- the bandwagon to buy because the deadline is a tures and appliances before hiring a stager to few months away. evaluate the interior to get the property ready to With a background in retail and a merchanlist. dising degree, Husnik worked in real estate for Denise Husnik, an accredited staging profes- five years and now helps to boost residential real sional for Fiorella Staging Concepts, said vacant estate sales for her RE/MAX Results team in +&//: 800%4 "/ 45"$&: "$,&3. "/%3&8 .*--&3
" PG QSPN PUJPOT FQSFOFV S " " OFX A'SPOUJFS UFTUT ZP VOH FOUS " 5ISFBET *OLT S FOUFSUB JONFOU B (SBOE 4MBN GP
70-6 .&
/6. #&3
USJCVOF CJ[
EBLPUBDPVOUZ
4JODF
#
6
4
*
/
&
4
4
X
F
F
L
M
y
INSIDE BIZ FORUM
The state of Minnesota needs to deploy a realistic system for raising revenue to ensure long-term stability. DON 4A HEINZMAN BEST PRACTICES
While philanthropic work can help boost the bottom line, it shouldn’t be the sole reason for donating. JEFF 5A APPELQUIST BUSINESS 101
In the green economy, businesses need to analyze what eco-friendly practices f it their business plans. RON 14A THOMAS BUSINESS 101
ANTAR SALIM
&
Improving your negotiation skills will result in you getting more of what you want personally and professionally. 14A
!""'! !
$
General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Advertising 952-846-2011
See Staging, Page 2A
Interested in a FREE subscription?
une Dakota County Trib )JUUJOH
"6(6 45
Apple Valley, which provides free staging with each listing. Realtors understand how important it is because staged homes have a 6 percent higher selling price on average than non-staged homes, and staged homes sell faster, Liemohn said. Many properties listed for six to 12 months sell in a week or two after having the staging completed and then the properties are re-listed, Liemohn said. “Some of my agents are amazed and so are homeowners,� said Liemohn. “The last two years we have been really busy.� Since Husnik’s brother, Steve Fiorella, has many residential listings, “he and I are joined at the hip to make sure the pricing is done correctly,� she said. Staging a home and having the property priced correctly will together help move a home more quickly, Husnik said. If it is not priced properly, it is not going to sell, she said. Since founding her company Staged in Style four years ago, Liemohn has worked in homes across the Twin Cities and assists realtors in south-of-the-river suburbs. When the housing market crashed, “I knew people needed this more than ever and it would be a nice segue into a new business,� said Liemohn, who sold real estate for 14 years. “Ten years ago when houses were flying off the market there was not a need for staging.� Liemohn relies on a network of people to help with painting, renovations and moving. Kristen Sevigny, a realtor with Keller Williams Preferred Realty in Lakeville who’s used Staged in Style for two years, said the services
l
Z
*/4*%& #*;
'036.
5IF -FHJTMBUVSF DPVMEO U CBMBODF B CVEHFU UIF HPWFSOPS DPVME 0, CVU UFOEFE UP PUIFS IPU UPQJDT 1)*,3*/,*&
"
#64*/&44
EVSFT EF TBMPO FO 8 IJMF GBET GB
" NFOUPS DBO IFMQ B ZPVOH XPSLFS SJTF UISPVHI UIF SBOLT PG BO PSHBOJ[BUJPO PS MFBE UP PUIFS DBSFFS PQQPSUVOJUJFT
)"30-% " 5033&/$& TLJMMT UISPVHI BOE EFWFMPQJOH UIFJS %T 5*$&4 UIF #&45 13"$ SFBEJOH WJEFPT BOE $ BMTP DSFBUFE ,OPXJOH UIF 5IF DPNQBOZ XIJDI FO EJGGFSFODF CFUXFFO 4UBS 5ISPXFS QSPHSBN H BOE QSPGFT BEWFSUJTJOH BOE IBODFT TFMG MFBSOJO OU 5FBN NFN QVCMJD SFMBUJPOT TJPOBM EFWFMPQNF E UP BUUFOE DBO IFMQ CVTJOFTTFT CFST BSF FODPVSBHF JEF FWFOUT UP DSFBUF CV[[ UIBU JOEVTUSZ BOE OBUJPOX XPSLT FN TUBZ BCSFBTU PG USFOET TFWFSBM IBT DLFSNBO 45"$&: " CZ 4UBDFZ " $PMF T 4BMPO JUI UIF DPN /5: 53*#6/& / %",05" $06 "$,&3." QMPZFFT XIP WF CFFO XVTF UIFZ LFFQ $PMF T GPVOEFS PG QBOZ GPS ZFBST CFDB UISPVHIPVU %PVH $PMF 4U 1BVM #BSCFS 5*$&4 HSPXJOH #&45 13"$ MFBSOJOH BOE 4BMPO BUUFOEFE FSF IF MFBSOFE 1JYBS QSPNPUFT UIFJS DBSFFST CFFO BMM * OFFE UP 4DIPPM BU BHF XI IJT MPOHUJNF 3JFOUT B DVMUVSF PG i$PMF T IBT TVDDFTTGVM BOE CF GSPN +FSSZ DPNNVOJDBUJPO BU NBLF NZ MJGF VSQIZ B NFOUPS XPSLT UIBU SFBQT U UIF GVMGJMMFE w TBJE +BOFM . 5PEBZ 3JFOUT MPO BT B CBS 4BMPO WFUFSBO i"BCPVU JOOPWBUJPO BOE SOEPSG GPS ZFBS $PMF T 1IPUP CZ 3JDL 0 $PMF T "QQMF 7BMMFZ TB * GFFM HPPE QSPmUT JO IBT CFFO EPJOH VFT PO 5JN FOE PG UIF EBZ CFS XIJDI IF PPE w OUT DPOUJO NPWJF NBLJOH 5SJTI .FMJTTB )BOT NBLJOH PUIFST GFFM H IBT UIF QBTU ZFBST 3JF +&'' O IBT HSPXO UISPVHI " IJQ GSPN MFGU -BVSB JTI 4UPSIPGG GPS $PMF BOE $PMF T 4BMP OVSUVSJOH FNQMPZ *45 UP CF B NFOUPS UIF MBTU GPVS EF $PMF T 4BMPO MFBEFST BS 5PVSUJMMPUU BOE 5S "11&-26 CZ GPS QMFT w /VH UIF ZFBST JOTQJSFE IJN B MPZBM DMJFOUFMF $PMF %PVH $PMF $I PZ BOE QSJODJ UIF (PMEFO BOE CVJMEJOH FFO TFFJOH UIF DBEFT IBT UBVHIU IJT FNQM IBU $PMF TUBSUFE FNQMPZFFT FFT FE IJT GJSTU $PMF T 4B XBT UIJOH $PMF MBTU ZFBST BOE JT X D HFUT QSPHSBN JO XIJDI OVH .BOZ DMJFOUT IBWF C M ZFBST $PMF PQFO JO *U UP XSJUF FFT GPS UIF TJOFTTFT TV TBNF TUZMJTU GPS TFWFSB F LFFQT NF MPO JO #VSOTWJMMFTPVUI PG UIF SJWFS BSF DIBMMFOHFE NFS TFSWJD IF BUUSJCVUFT UP IJT CV UIF POMZ TBMPO TFSWJDFE UIF FO HFUT JO TJY NPOUIT BSF QVUUJOH i5IF DVTUP TBJE 5SJTI 1FSLJOT UIBU DFTT $PMF PQFOFE i(PMEFO OVHHFUT *U JT DPNJOH CBDL w 7BMMFZ TBMPO BU UIBU UJNF IF MBUF T *O %PVH BU UIF "QQMF JO PVS NJOE 4PVUIEBMF TJDB UJSF GBNJMZ %VSJOH U JOH BOE JU XBT #BSCFS BU HPPE UIJOHT TFMG UBML BOE TFMG B DMJFOU FFO TFFJOH TUZMJTU +FT $IJMESFO T BU BHF FMZ QPTJUJWF XIP IBT C #VSOTWJMMF XBT CPPN Z GPS $PMF UP F ZFBST MBUFS POF BCPVU ZFBST i5IFZ EFGJOJU JMM Z BOE .BMM 5ISF B QFSGFDU PQQPSUVOJU UIPVHIU w $PMF TBJE UIF TBMPO CFDBVTF FNQMPZFFT 4UBQG GPS BU ZPV XBOU +FTTJDB X w DPNNVOJU DMPTFE $PMF T PG IF UIF I POF IFZ DBUFS UP XI FF[F NF JO HSPX XJUI &WFSZ FNQMPZFF XBT UPP NVD * EJEO U JT HJWFO B OPUFCPPL JO XIJDI U T UBLF NZ DBMMT BOE TRV HFE JO UIF SBJTF IJT PXO GBNJMZ QBOZ XJMM BHF UP BGGJSNBUJPO CFS UIF DPN 8IJMF B MPU IBT DIBO Z i'SPN I XBT EFUSJNFOUBM UP NZ XSJUF EPXO QPTJUJWF UIF DPN (FOFSBM 5IJT 0DUP F XJMM SFDFJWF NF UP PWFS ZFBST ZFBS BOOJWFSTBS MFBSO XIJD %JTUSJCVUJPO FODPVSBHFE DFMFCSBUF JUT DVSSFOUMZ PQFSBUFT FWFSZ EBZ TVDI BT i8 i)BCJUT MFBWF CVTJOFTT U DIBOHFE JUT DPSF WBMVFT CVTJOFTT +FSSZ UZ FMJFWFw BOE "EWFSUJTJOH S B EBZ w $PMF QBOZ IBTO 5IF CVTJOFTT OTWJMMF "QQMF TUBSU MFBSOJOH BO IPV CFHJOOJOH XIBU XF C GSPN USVTU BOE IPOFT 4BWBHF IBT B XIJDI TUFNUT PG iHSPXJOH ZPVSTFMG w UIF WFSZ GJWF TBMPOT o JO #VS B USBJM w 4BMPO BMTP JO &BHBO BOE $PMF TBJE i'SPN B MFBSOJOH DVMUVSF 7BMMFZ UXP &BDI $PMF T XIFSF FNQMPZFFT BOE DPOTJT 4FF $PMF T 1BHF " XF FTUBCMJTIFE UP CFUUFS FNQMPZFFT o BOE IBT MFBSOJOH MFBSOJOH MJCSBSZ IJT MPDBUJPOT HSPVOEFE JO UIF EFTJSF F WBMVF UP PVS BSF FODPVSBHFE UP LFFQ TUSPOH IBT QVSQPTFGVMMZ LFQU WBMVFT SJWFS UP GPSN PVSTFMWFT QSPWJEF USV MJWF CZ PVS TPVUI PG UIF DVTUPNFST BOE DPNNVOJUZ UJFT O IPVS B EBZ JT TPNF -FBSOJOH B
(+* +)
$PMF T 4BMPO DFMFCSBUFT ZFBST
F JUJPO POMJO VS EJHJUBM FE ta County Tribune Dako
$IFDL PVU P
QBHF in JQw UP UIF OFYU LT UP UIF ST PG UIF QBHFT UP [PPN JO 5IF MJOG UIF QBHF $MJDL PO DPSOF PUUPN P PQ PG BOZ QBHF UP $MJDL PO UIF U C 4JUFT XJMM BQQFBS BU UIF C PVS FTT $MJDL PO "EWFS UJTFS 8F QBSUJDVMBS CVTJO -PPLJOH GPS B FY BU UIF UPQ PG UIF QBHF "EWFS UJTFS *OE FZ XPSE 4FBSDIBCMF CZ L
&44 8
&&,-:
#64*/ #VSOTWJMMF CJ[ $P 3E PVOUZ5SJCVOF XXX %BLPUB$ "%7&35*4*/(
Just complete this form and mail it to: Attention: Subscriptions Dakota County Tribune 12190 County Road 11 Burnsville, MN 55337 or fax to: 952-846-2010
__________________________________________________ _____________________________ BUSINESS NAME
ATTENTION
________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS
________________________________________________________________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP
__________________________________________________ _____________________________ SIGNATURE
DATE
________________________________________________________________________________ EMAIL