“World's Most Complete Neighborpedia”
Explore:   What's happening in your neck of the woods?

Viroqua, WI

Amish Tea

Mary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate: Real Estate Agent in Viroqua, WI

For all you city brokers and buyers out there you might be shocked to learn that when showing some properties in the country you just show up for an appointment. No need to call first. Why, because they don't use phones. If there is several days notice, I would then usually send a courtesy post card. What kind of sellers would agrees to this? Well these owners are Amish.

Presently I have 2 Amish Farms for sale. Yesterday when I went out to show both of them and one was vacant while I knew the other had a family still living there. When we opened the front house door, it was a total surprise to see a sea of plants evenly spread out across all the floors. It was easy to understand that they were being dried in the heat of the closed up house. Every room was filled with them. The buyers and I both joked, but could tell it wasn't Marijuana grass. However we really were not sure what it was. After looking over the outside of the house and all the outbuildings, we headed over to the other farm. The owner there was in and had no problem with our impromptu showing and agreed to lead us around his home. Again, we found in the second floor the same plants spread out to dry. We learned they were stinging nettles and many Amish families harvest nettles for medicine and tea. I learned from him that the season is short, you have to gather them up before they flower out. He continued to tell us, he sold most of his to a herb buyer.

If you have never gotten into a field of stinging nettles then lucky you. I have, and they do really sting. You would have to dress up for this harvest with work gloves and long sleeves and pants making sure to cover all exposed skin, or else! Apparently this noxious weed is also known among herbalist to be a plant that will heal all that ails you. I personally have never tried Stinging Nettle Tea but since learning about it, I think I just might have to give it a try.

The photo on top is a picture of the nettles spread out on the living room floor, the other one is of the buyers and the Amish fellow heading up to take a look at the cistern well powered by wind.

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-606-2999

About the author:

Mary Strang is the Broker-owner of RE/MAX Hill Country Realty located in Viroqua, WI. Home to Organic farming, a small rural city population of about 4000 and a great place to live! Copyright © 2009 by Mary Strang. All rights reserved... " Amish Tea" the blog post was written by Mary Strang is believed accurate but may not be guaranteed.

Realtors, pay attention while taking a photo

Mary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate: Real Estate Agent in Viroqua, WI

Please Vote: How does a Realtor take a photo exactly like this?

1. You know the guy in the red cap and accidentally push the shutter button.

2. You normally are not aware of your surrounding and life just happens while doing real estate.

3. You felt the bright color of the red cap would add drama to the drab room and is your idea of staging a room.

4. You really don't care how the picture turned out and the MLS requires a photo within 48 hours.

Photo courtesy of an agent friend of mine who is now trying to pay more attention to what's going on around them in the room while taking their listing photos.

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-606-2999

About the author:

Mary Strang is the Broker-owner of RE/MAX Hill Country Realty located in Viroqua, WI. Home to Organic farming, a small rural city population of about 4000 and a great place to live! Copyright © 2009 by Mary Strang. All rights reserved... " Realtors, pay attention while taking a photo" the blog post was written by Mary Strang is believed accurate but may not be guaranteed.

Up Stairs Down Stairs

Mary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate: Real Estate Agent in Viroqua, WI

Many a builder has told me, that one of the most common construction blunders made by DIY'ers are the step's measurement on staircases. I'd bet most Realtors have been out to list or view a home and while either going up or down the staircase, the last step was off a bit. It is just automatic and without any thought that ones foot just steps down at a uniformed rate... until oops that last step was deeper or shorter than the rest. It's an opportunity for a twisted ankle of worse maybe a fall. This structural defect can be a really expensive slip-up to repair. In most cases this mistake usually doesn't get fixed ever. Often it will cause the home to last much longer on the market than it normally would if the steps were right.

Some of the older rural homes I list on a regular basis have what might be called "farm-steps". Those are very steps from 100+ years ago. They are very vertical, extremely narrow and often have worn-in depressions from trudging for eons up and down those steps by the former occupants of those upper rooms. They too, are always found hidden behind a closed doorway, so the second floor can be unheated if wanted. Unless the staircase is completely relocated there is likely to be no extra room to fix it. As it would consume too much space or the headroom is just not there at either end of the staircase to bring this type of stairway into modern day building code.

One other difficult to sell stairway, is the Spiral Staircases. These stairway relics of the 70's, often conjurer up visual images of a hip and swank bachelor pad. I can just imagine Dean Martin crooning "Everybody Loves Somebody" on his way down those circular steps with a martini in hand.

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-606-2999

About the author:

Mary Strang is the Broker-owner of RE/MAX Hill Country Realty located in Viroqua, WI. Home to Organic farming, a small rural city population of about 4000 and a great place to live! Copyright © 2009 by Mary Strang. All rights reserved... " Up Stairs Downs Stairs" the blog post was written by Mary Strang is believed accurate but may not be guaranteed.

Settler's Log Cabin

Mary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate: Real Estate Agent in Viroqua, WI

At the most prominent ridge top point, along a winding country road lays a truly gorgeous property. Its location is just a few minutes from downtown Cashton or a short 20-minute trip to the city of Sparta. This is a head-turner of a property. As you are traveling along the panoramic ridge top, the incredible views will be sure to compete for your attention with this eye-catching log cabin home.

It's style is that of a distinctive and craftsman built home, which was "built better not bigger". Set on 4.5 acres this authentically styled log cabin was modeled after a traditional settler's cabin of the times gone by. With the use of genuine antique hand-hewn, chinked logs and the expected ad-on addition at the rear of the home, sided in cedar shakes, one has to wonder about its age and history. With approximately 1250+/- square feet of living space this home was erected around 1998 by hand, not from a kit. Since then this Log Home has received a tasteful renovation both inside and out. Thus taking it to a new level in the style found in quality homes such as those featured in the book "Not so Big Homes" which was a best seller by Sarah Susanka.

Interior: The home has 3 levels; on the main floor is an open great room with a natural stone fireplace. The fireplace has been fitted with an insert, which comfortably heats the entire home but the primary heat is the high-efficiency hot water boiler for the in-floor heating system. The flooring and woodwork throughout the house is of milled oak hardwoods. A central open stairway leads one up to the private and spacious master suite. It has plush carpet flooring, a large walk-in closet and half bath and 2 roof skylights. Back on the main level sharing the open spaces with the great room, is a gourmet kitchen. Top of the line stainless appliances such as a Jenn-air bottom freezer refrigerator, Firgidaire dual fuel slide in range with matching microwave and Bosch dishwasher are all included. The Beyers cabinets all have full depth pull out drawers. The island comes complete with a pot rack and 4 stools. The lower level of the home has full windows and walkout access. There is a second living space, ideal for a media room or family room and a second bedroom. The laundry and utilities are on this level.

Other Attributes: An amazing deck system of approximately 2000 +/- square feet of outdoor decking surrounds the house. There's plenty of room for parties and to recreate outdoors on the impressive deck, lower patio or under the front covered porch. The Northland Building is 30X56 with full concrete floors, 220 volt, 100 amps service and plenty of room to park 8 cars. The overhead door is 18X8 and the other is 9x8 with openers, plus there is water to the building. The second wooden shed is 16X24 and also has electric service. There is a huge garden plot, a well-established asparagus patch, and walking paths lead you through the wooded portions of the acreage. This is a unique property and worth a trip to see, it's a delight in all seasons!

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-606-2999

About the author:

Mary Strang is the Broker-owner of RE/MAX Hill Country Realty located in Viroqua, WI. Home to Organic farming, a small rural city population of about 4000 and a great place to live! Copyright © 2009 by Mary Strang. All rights reserved... " Settler's Log Cabin" the blog post was written by Mary Strang is believed accurate but may not be guaranteed.

Viroqua Home for you!

Mary Strang ~ Viroqua, WI Real Estate: Real Estate Agent in Viroqua, WI

Looking for seclusion and a peaceful setting?

Perched on the rolling hilltops of Vernon County this impressive hide-away home is a traditionally designed raised-ranch. It has been serenely tucked away on 5.77 acres of wooded land, which is far enough away from traffic and clamor, but still close-in enough to Viroqua or Soldiers Grove.

The Residence : From the front entry, a split foyer leads up a few stairs into the main living areas of this home. The front room is divided into 2 unique spaces; a recessed parlor to the front side of the home, and a more formal living space in the center. One of the larger rooms in the home is the generous Master Bedroom Suite. It features a sizable private bath with a garden soaking tub plus a separate shower stall. At the other side of the home, there are two additional good sized bedrooms which share the full hallway bath providing space and privacy. Over in the kitchen the layout has a snack bar, which offers convenience, as well as a dining area, also there is a sliding patio door leading out to a rear deck. The kitchen cabinets are oak, and all the appliances are included.

The Lower Lever:Down stairs there is a large and spacious family room. The focal point of this room is certainly the gas fireplace. There is a mud-room, a laundry room as well as 2 additional bedrooms. Asking only $169,000. Don't wait, give a call to 608-606-2999 for a private look at an affordable home.

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-606-2999

About the author:

Mary Strang is the Broker-owner of RE/MAX Hill Country Realty located in Viroqua, WI. Home to Organic farming, a small rural city population of about 4000 and a great place to live! Copyright © 2009 by Mary Strang. All rights reserved... " Sometimes it just takes a long time: the blog post was written by Mary Strang is believed accurate but may not be guaranteed.