Showing Instructions—Lock Doors, Leave a Card and Bring Your Shovel and/or Snowshoes!

Yesterday the second of January, I was out showing houses throughout Forest Lake and Wyoming, MN. It was a blustery Minnesota winter day that perpetuates the myth that our state is located somewhere north of Canada. It was COLD…No, it was downright FRIGID! Though the sun was bright, the morning temperature was -4. After a day of sunshine, the mercury had risen to the single digits or maybe teens depending on your location.

Now the native Minnesotan that I am didn’t let this stop me. I was working with a buyer who is in town sporadically. Yesterday was a day that she was in town. Our showings were set so all I had to do was warm up the car for a little longer and dress warm.

Everything went along fine until the fourth home on our tour and this was the scene. That whopping foot of snow we received just before Christmas was still on the driveway of this home! (Note that 4 foot bank of snow left on the curb by the snowplow.)

I asked my client if she thought the home was worth the trouble from the exterior. My client was adventurous so we did blaze a trail through the snow to see the home. Inside the home was nice, but not for my client

The feedback I emailed off to the listing agent was short and to the point. Shovel the driveway!

So what if the home was perfect and my client decided forgo the winter snow climbing adventure? We saw five homes yesterday. Three were vacant. Only one looked like we needed snowshoes to get to the door! If it had been “the” home, our offer would have been lower to reflect the lack of maintenance.

Today the weather is warming up and temps in the mid-30’s and low 40’s are expected for Friday through the weekend. The snow at this property will melt , pack down and turn to an ice block when the refreeze, that undoubtedly will happen, comes!

Sellers even if you have relocated or are not in the area to shovel your driveway, hire someone to maintain the exterior of your Minnesota home. It can’t sell if the buyers don’t get through the door!


Featured Minnesota Listings:

3608 Woodland Drive
20685 Georgia Ave N



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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.


Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/