BUYING • SELLING • IMPROVING
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2 | HOME IMPROVEMENT, April 2019, South Edition
Gather ‘round the glampfire Fire tables are a hot trend in outdoor furniture
Open House sales event extended
BY MICHAEL STRASBURG mstrasburg@swpub.com
A s t he f i r st br e ez e of spring weather drifts across Minnesota, homeowners are quick to uncover and unpack their outdoor furniture. G etting outdoor tables and chairs out can be a bit of a task, but Minnesotans know they’ll find the process well worth it by the time they are relaxing in the spring sunlight after a particularly brutal winter. Some homeowners, however, don’t have to go through the additional step of unpacking and preparing their outdoor furniture. Those homeowners own “forever furniture” from By the Yard Inc., and are able to step outside once the snow melts and relax in their outdoor furniture, which conveniently sits right where they left it in the fall. The Jordan-based company produces maintenancefree outdoor furniture, crafted out of recycled materials. The furniture, which requires no winter storage
By the Yard is extending their annual open house sale event this year. The event, typically held one day, will now run April 22-27. Additionally, By the Yard will have extended hours during the sales week. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. MondayThursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL STRASBURG
Fire tables are 100 percent s’more compatible. or shelter, is warrantied for 35 years and resists fading, peeling and cracking. For 25 years, By the Yard
has manufactured products using synthetic, furnitureg rade lumber made from recycled high-density poly-
ethylene, known as HDPE. Recycled mi lk and water jugs, the main ingredients, are combined with no fill-
ers. While it is as dense as wood, the plastic lumber is naturally flexible and molds to an individual’s body for
comfort. The color also lasts a long time thanks to a UV inhibitor, which minimizes fading for decades. Since 1995, By the Yard has produced a variety of rockers, gliding chairs, benches and tables of various heights, shapes and sizes. But in recent years it has brought outdoor furniture to the 21st century with its popular fire tables. The fire tables are gas powered, with room for a 20-pound propane tank underneath the table. Flames
Furniture to 3
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South Edition, April 2019, HOME IMPROVEMENT | 3
FURNITURE continued from 2
calmly emit at a rate of 60,000 BTUs from the stainless steel fire bowl at the center of the table, providing a relaxing atmosphere for conversation, dinner or quiet relaxation. “It’s great for getting together and socializing, it provides a little ambiance,” said Mark Voss, By the Yard marketing manager. The stainless steel bowl is filled with glass beads to dazzle the eye and protect the bowl from warping. A tempered glass wind guard wraps around the bowl, maintaining a safe perimeter and keeping the flame bright. A fire bowl cover is included with every table, providing a full table surface for serving dinner or playing games. “They’re really growing in popularity, we’re one of the few people that make a fire table in this kind of material,” Voss said. Of course, anytime someone sees a relaxing fire in the summer, it begs the question: Can you make s’mores with it? “I always get asked if you can make s’mores over it and yes, you can,” said Nina Ribar, By the Yard marketing manager. But what happens when one inevitably loses grasp of a molten marshmallow and it falls into the glass beads and stainless steel fire bowl?
“I use one of those dishwasher bags and throw the beads in the dishwasher,” Ribar said. Outside of the occasional spilled beverage or wayward marshmallow, the fire tables adhere to the company’s mission of producing maintenance-free furniture. The only storage they recommend is placing the fire bowl cover over the stainless steel bowl for the winter. “It’s maintenance-free basically,” Voss said. “You don’t have to paint it, stain it, store it — you just leave it outside all year. Even in the winter you let the snow pile on it. You set it and forget it.” While some may miss the smokey smell of a summer bonfire, Ribar said the benefits of a gas fire table, in her experience, are cleanliness and convenience. “We got tired of searching for wood to build a fire and we didn’t do it as often,” she said. “Now we use ours every other weekend for sure, if not more often, in the summer ... This is a lot cleaner, a lot faster and you can easily eat around it.” In addition to the fire tables, By the Yard has 25 years of experience crafting more than 300 products, which are available in their showroom in Jordan. In addition to a diverse product line, they offer extensive customization, including options for shape, height, size, color and add-on accessories.
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL STRASBURG
By the Yard’s fi re tables emit gas-powered flames that create a calm atmosphere for conversation, dinner or quiet relaxation.
By the Yard’s maintenance-free fi re tables are made of recycled material and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and heights.
By the Yard’s “maintenance-free” fi re tables are made of recycled material and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and heights.
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4 | HOME IMPROVEMENT, April 2019, South Edition
10 staging TIPS FOR
YOUR HOME
Team at Holmers Real Estate Group knows how to do it PHOTOS BY CONNIE CASTONGUAY AND KARLA HALEY BY LARA BOCKENSTEDT lbockenstedt@swpub.com
When staging a home, the goal is to minimize imperfections and elevate the best features. Broker and Realtor Connie Castonguay works with Realtor Karla Haley to stage homes for Wayzata-based Holmers Real Estate Group.
Their work has helped homeowners “make the most money they possibly can, in the shortest amount of time.” They shared their top 10 tips for staging your home:
1. FRESHEN THE FRONT DOOR AND CURB APPEAL The first 10 -15 seconds when a potential buyer approaches a front door is a
An “after” photo of the staged living room. make it or break it moment, Castong u ay said. Ever ything thereafter is a justification of why they like the home, or why they won’t chase after it. While replacing an older front door is a wise investment, event a fresh coat of paint is meaningful, Haley said. Other steps to consider in upping curb appeal: Trim trees and bushes. Put away the yard art. Power wash and sweep the steps.
2. WHEN IT COMES TO THE FRONT ENTRY, THINK OF THE SENSES
Ann “after” image of the staged kitchen.
The more important question to ask when thinking of first impressions isn’t just what potential buyers see, Castonguay said. It’s what they smell. “All of our houses have an odor,” she said. “We just don’t notice.” People encounter scents ranging from residents’ pets, to whatever was baked the night before, to the heavy smell of candles and plugins. Haley said they advise homeowners to use cleaning products steeped in essential oils so the home has a more natural perfume. Using a plugin or candle sends the message that the homeowners are trying to mask some other dubious smell.
3. DECLUTTER, DECLUTTER, DECLUTTER Decluttering is a finesse, Haley said. “Take the personal items out, like family photos,” she said. “If you can, just make sure that it’s very neutral so people aren’t distracted.”
4. THINK OF THE DETAILS IN CLEANING Castonguay said washing the windows is a step that can make the home look new. By deep-cleaning the home, potential buyers can focus on the features that sell.
A “before” image of a kitchen the Holmers Real Estate Group duo worked on.
5. BE SENSITIVE WITH COLOR Both Castonguay and Hal-
A “before” image of a living room. ey said trendy paint colors may not always complement the home they’re in. “Each house we go in and stage, the color is specific to that home,” Castonguay said. “So we bring in a pallet of colors and say, OK, what looks good in here? Is it a warmer white? Is it a smoky gray? Is it a warm tone or cool tone?” One hardline rule they enforce is steering clear of paint with shine. Flat paint works more at hiding imperfections. When they paint homes, they tend to repaint rooms with heavy primary colors back to neutral colors.
6. WITH FURNITURE, LESS IS MORE Consider moving furniture so it makes the space feel open, and conducive to conversation. “A l l o f t h i s i s g oi n g through the buyers’ minds as they’re walking,” Castonguay said. “They’re either looking through the clutter and mess and getting lost in people’s things. Or they’re get ti ng a rea l wa r m a nd great feel.” Decluttering and furnit u r e pl ac ement work to -
gether. The realtor duo recommends to get rid of worn f u r n it u r e a nd to keep it simple.
turn in the listing price, Haley said.
7. REPAIR AND REPLACE
New towels, new rugs and mended features are what cou nt s i n t he bat h room, Castonguay said. Spend $20 on a new set of towels and repair cracking grout, or fix the caulk in the bathtub. Personal items should be neatly tucked out of sight.
Light fixtures, appliances and faucets a re i nexpensive items to replace that instantly add value, Haley said. Whatever a f law may cost to replace or repair, a potential buyer will likely imagine it as double the cost and will deduct that from the value of the home. “We want to avoid that,” Haley said. “We want them t o g o, ‘ O K , t h at ’s d o n e . Check. OK that’s done’ … and they just keeping moving on and go ‘Oh, we love this place.’”
8. GET CONSISTENT WITH APPLIANCES St ai n less ste el i s sti l l a popular finish for bathroom appliances, the pair said. However, it ’s more about what looks appropriate for the space. Appliances should be the same color, and should be the right size for the kitchen. Investing in new appliances gives a generous re-
9. DEPERSONALIZE THE BATHROOMS
10. TIDY UP THE MASTER BEDROOM The master bedroom goes with the kitchen and bathroom for being one of the main selling features. “Make it an inviting place where someone can relax,” “It kind of gets back to that de clut teri ng … orga ni ze things so that when somebody comes in, they’re not distracted by the mess.” One of the frequent mist a kes homeow ners m a ke is to leave their bedroom closets as they were. Closets can appear suddenly small if homeowners have been constantly packing in knickknacks and clothing for a number of years.
South Edition, April 2019, HOME IMPROVEMENT | 5
Surviving and buying Tips and tricks to buying a home BY MEG BRITTON-MEHLISCH mbrittonmehlisch@swpub.com
L
et’s be clear: buying a house is far from the proverbial walk in the park. If anything, house buying is more of grueling marathon that eventually ends at the place you call home. There can be many bumps along the way — dream homes that sell just as you find them, offers that fall through — but buyers don’t need to feel like they’ve stumbled to the finish line bruised and battered. Here are some tips and tricks to get buyers on the path to a successful new home:
KNOW WHAT YOU’RE WALKING IN TO It’s not unusual to hear the phrase “seller’s market” today, though that doesn’t mean a buyer is at a total loss. Matt Schafer of Savage ReMax Advantage Plus says today’s housing market offers something to people on both sides of the transaction. “Sellers can take advantage of the low supply of inventory which can lead to a quick sale,” Schafer wrote in an email. “Buyers are still taking advantage of historic low interest rates.” That being said, getting a home in the region requires some agility. Schafer said the biggest change over the last 10 years has been the housing supply. “Ten years ago we had approximately a 13-month supply of homes on the market,” Schafer said. “Today Scott County has approximately a two-month supply of existing homes available.”
PHOTOS BY RANDY MONNENS
An aerial view of a Shakopee neighborhood on a March morning. “There are great resources online such as online mortgage calculators that can help you determine how much you can afford,” Schafer said. “However, the best way to determine what you can afford is by speaking with a reputable mortgage lender.”
BE A COMPETITIVE BUYER
TALK TO AN AGENT Think of your real estate agent as your house hunting coach — someone who has brokered many home sales before you and can tell you what pitfalls to avoid. Realtors can help you get preapproved for a mortgage, help you search for and locate the kind of home you’re looking for, fine-tune or even negotiate your offer and get you in touch with a home inspector. The average buyer tours four homes, attends two open houses, makes an offer on two homes and orders one home inspection, according to Zillow’s 2018 housing trends report. Having a realtor can help you through that process. “Asking a Realtor questions, making sure you’re a fit for each other, and learning about what occurs throughout the process can make for a more enjoyable
Buying a house isn’t easy in a seller’s market, but it can be done. buying experience” Schafer said.
BE CLEAR ON WHAT YOU WANT It’s fine to dream of living in Paisley Park or having lake access, but buyers should know what they really can’t live without in their next home. Figure out which details you can compromise on and which you can’t. For example, Schafer noted
many first time buyers are drawn to one level, rambler style homes, but that doesn’t mean those homes come with an entry level price tag. I n Scot t Cou nt y, t he best homes for first-time buyers are often split level style homes. Knowing whether you can adapt on something like layout and the number of levels can help target
your search in the most realistic direction.
ASSESS YOUR PIGGY BANK Schafer encourages buyers to see at least two different lenders to get a sense of what a home will cost in monthly payments. A good place to start looking is your bank or credit union or local mortgage broker.
When you’ve finally found THE home, it’s time to make an offer that will turn the sellers’ away from other interested buyers. Schafer said the best way to do that doesn’t always come down to the biggest dollar figure. “Make it personal: Prepare a letter with a photo of you or your family and write a short paragraph about who you are and why you chose that particular home,” Schafer said. “Often times sellers have poured their heart and soul into their homes and want to make sure the home is going into good hands with the next homeowner.” He also recommends buyers include elements that keep the process moving for sellers. Schafer said reducing your inspection period to five to seven days, doing away with unnecessary contingencies or costs and offering a flexible closing date “could make the difference in getting the home you want.” And if all else fails, money talks. Offering earnest money equal to 1 to 2 percent of the purchase price can also get the ball moving, Schafer said.
6 | HOME IMPROVEMENT, April 2019, South Edition
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8 | HOME IMPROVEMENT, April 2019, South Edition
COURTESY PHOTO
Typically an ice dam forms when there isn’t enough insulation in the attic.
How to protect your home from ice dams next time BY CHRISTINE SCHUSTER cschuster@swpub.com
A record amount of snowfall in February brought a homeowner’s winter nightmare to rooftops all over Minnesota — ice dams. T he ic e b a r r ier s t h at formed around the roofs of homes a nd bui ldi ngs led to collapsed roofs, broken backs and countless insurance claims for water damage inside homes.
Ser vice Restoration, a local ly owned contractor service in Shakopee since 19 97, serviced more than 200 homes for water damage related to ice dams this winter. The company brought in additional support from all over the country to manage the calls this winter and spring. Dan Schmitt, a partner with the company, said winter water damage is avoidable, and the summer months
are a great time to make sure your home is protected. “Typically an ice dam is created because they don’t have proper insulation in the attic,” he said. Ice dams become a risk to your home once the snow on the roof begins to melt, Schmitt said. The running water from the melting snow becomes trapped by the ice dam around the edge of the roof, which can cause damage to the shingles. Service
Restoration replaces over 2,000 shingles a year, he said. The good news is the effects of ice dams can be counteracted by removing snow from the roof. Sunlight will usually take care of the ice dams once the snow is removed, Schmitt said. Schmitt said Service Restoration doesn’t do estimates because “we don’t know what we have behind the scenes” when it comes to repairing water damage on a home.
“People have been misled, thinking they will have an estimate,” he said. “We aren’t going to write estimates — we need to get to work.” Instead, a certified restoration contractor will work a lon gside t he i n su r a nc e company through a service agreement to document the work being done. Service Restoration offers free inspections to homeowners. Schmitt said it’s a good idea to have an inspection to
identify the potential before filing an insurance claim. Because ice dam issues start in the attic, summer is a great time to have an i nspection done to ma ke sure the home is prepared for winter. “Human beings are procrastinators by nature so they will wait until the problem happens and then figure out what to do,” he said. “Get the fix done so it doesn’t happen again.”
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COURTESY PHOTOS
Auditors can help homeowners figure out where to start improvements in their homes.
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How to be energy efficient Audits can save homeowners money
Home Energy Audit:
BY ALEX CHHITH achhith@swpub.com
W
as your home feeling a little drafty last winter? You’re not a lone, accordi ng to Josh Martin, Xcel Energy’s associate product por t folio manager. Ice dam damage, severe weather and high energ y bills are some of the reasons homeowners have been scheduling Xcel Energy’s Home Energy Audits. The report generated can help ow ners understand their home and appliances better and make them eligible for rebates offered through the energy company. “When people think their bi l ls a re rea l ly high, we can dig into why that is and what’s driving that energy,” Martin said. “The main perk of the audit is that when everything is said and done, the customer will receive a full report with recommendations on how to improve energy efficiency in the home.” Here are four things to know about Xcel’s Home Energy Audits and how to save energy:
1
ELIGIBILITY
The program is open to all Xcel Energy customers, according to Martin. Residents who do not use Xcel Energy in cities like Chaska and Shakopee can seek similar energy audit programs through CenterPoint Energy, if they are users of that utility, he added.
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What: Home Energy Audits can help homeowners know how to make their homes more energy efficient. Contact 866-2224595 or visit www. homeenergysquad.net/ request-a-visit to schedule a visit.
A blower door test can show homeowners where air leaks are in their homes.
2
COST
The cost of the program is $30 for a walkthrough audit and $60 for a standard service. A wa lk-through ser vice includes meeting with an auditor who can assess insulation levels, mechanical systems and review utility bills, according to Martin. A standard audit also includes additional services, such as an infrared scan of ceiling and walls, to assess insulation levels, an ice dam check, a carbon monoxide test and a blower door test, in which a machine is fitted to the front door of the home and determines air loss within the house. Ultimately, the service can save homeowners big bucks. With an audit, homeowners become eligible for Xcel’s rebate program and during the inspection, auditors can advise homeowners where to get started. Auditors will have a list of prices and local contractors who have committed to the prices shown, Martin said. “Often times customers don’t know where to get start-
ed,” he said. “An audit can help fill that gap.”
3
HOME ENERGY SQUAD
Home ow ners c a n also schedule a Home Energy Squad visit in conjunction with their energy audits with little investment, Martin said. During the Home Energy Squad visits, the crews can install weatherstripping on doors, a programmable thermostat and LED light bulbs around the house. Both visits together are $100, if homeowners schedule the visits on different days it is $130.
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Until homeowners have their audits, they can do a number of things around the house to improve energy efficiency, Martin said. Home ow ners c a n save money by turning down the water heater to 120 degrees. “That’s still enough to do what you need to do and save on the gas bill,” Martin said. He also recommends changing lights over to LEDs and installing a low f low shower head — which has a double effect of helping homeowners save on both their electric and water bills.
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10 | HOME IMPROVEMENT, April 2019, South Edition
So many
COLORS So little time BY UNSIE ZUEGE uzuege@swpub.com
PHOTO BY UNSIE ZUEGE
Color consultant Diane Casanova is one of five Hirshfield’s color specialists in the Twin Cities who helps coordinate interior color and design palettes for homeowners.
Ever notice how the color palettes of home goods, home accessories and furniture all seem to be so complementary, no matter where you shop during a season? It’s no accident. It’s carefully thought out. Each year, Pantone, a leader in color for manufacturing and printing, announces the color of the year. This year’s color is Living Coral. So don’t be surprised if you’ve noticed shades of coral showing up in throw pillows, towels, fashion accessories and even makeup shades.
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And paint companies like Benjamin Moore, Hirshfield’s, and Sherwin Williams also come out with their own colors of the year, often influenced by the fashion trends from Paris and Milan. If you’ve ever tried to suss out the right colors for your living room, family room or bedroom, you know the array of paint chips is dizzying. That’s when it’s helpful to ask the advice of someone like Diane Casanova, one of Hirshfield’s five professional colorists. She is located at the Eden Prairie store. Under Casanova’s guidance, homeowners can learn which paint colors are best suited for their homes. “I don’t tell them what colors to choose,” Casanova said, “but I work with them to help make
the best choices.” She considers details the average person may overlook. Did you know the type of lighting in your room — fluorescent, incandescent, halogen, LED — casts a different type of light that affects how the paint color can look in a room? And that the quality of natural light from a north window is different than light from a south window, and affects how a paint color will look? Casanova said other interior details, like woodwork, can also affect the look of a color in a room. “Many sales pieces show rooms with white woodwork,” Casanova said. “But here in the Midwest, most people have homes
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South Edition, April 2019, HOME IMPROVEMENT | 11
PHOTO BY UNSIE ZUEGE
Paint consultant Jacob Ewald selects one of his favorite colors.
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with golden oak woodwork and that can change how a color will look in a room.
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COLOR BOARD Casanova is available for color consultations with clients who’d like to coordinate their room makeovers with the rest of their home. A consultation costs $150 and involves Casanova visiting the home to see the current colors of furniture and home furnishings. In addition to color recommendations and treatments, she puts together a color board for clients. Such a color board helps homeow ners make good choices as they move ahead with other room remodeling in the future. Casanova also does color consults in-store. Clients may bring in pillows, bedding, dishware or a small home accent piece they want to match or complement. W hen planning a color theme for a room or a home, Casanova suggests a palette of three colors and the following ratio as a guide: 60 percent, main color; 30 percent, second tone; and 10 percent, a pop of color.
MIDWEST TASTE C u r r ent ly, A mer ic a n s seem to like grays in the home, and in the Midwest, the warmer gray tones, “because we have long winters and people want to warm things up.” C u r r e n t l y, M a g n o l i a Home pai nt s, by Joa n n a Gaines of HGTV’s popular Fixer Upper show, is a popular brand, in colors reminiscent of painted furniture — “What we used to called Sh abby Ch ic,” Ca s a nova said. “Now it’s called Fixer Upper.” As with other paint comp a n ie s , H i r sh f ield’s h a s
PHOTO BY UNSIE ZUEGE
Millennials have made wallpaper popular again, especially for accent areas in the home.
If you go Hirshfield’s, a fourth generation Twin Cities-based, familyowned home decorating business. Founded in 1894, celebrating its 125th year. Thirty locations throughout the Twin Cities, including Eden Prairie and Chaska: 12991 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie; 952-996-0644. 2948 N Chestnut St., Chaska; 952-361-2336 its color of 2019: Into The Stratosphere, described as “a captivating dark blue we can imagine a journey into deep seas and endless night skies.” It’s one of a family of five complementary colors in deep hues. H i r sh f ield’s h a s t h r e e ot her c olor f a m i l ie s for 2019: Craft Luxe, soft muted shades reminiscent of sunfaded furniture, barns and p or che s ; T he H appi ne s s Project, colors reminiscent of nature ; and Humanity Within, neutral shades of technolog y with a pop of vibrant color. Outside of color trends, Casanova sees a lot of people going for white walls and accenting with pops of color in their homes.
MILLENIALS AND WALLPAPER Wallpaper is making a comeback, Casanova said, a nd poi nted to a wa l l of oversized binders of wallpaper samples. “Once Joanna Gaines started doing more wallpaper, we saw more people, especially millennials come in for wallpaper,” Casanova said. “It’s not the old fashioned prints people remember.” And, it helps that many now come in convenient peeland-stick formats. Casanova gets inspiration from HGTV and reading a lot of publications and visiting websites like Houzz. Her personal favorite brands? Magnolia Homes by Joanna Gaines and Candace Olson’s wall coverings.
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