Make sure your next home comes with a warranty

Did you know that over 70% of Minnesotan's already have some type of home warranty? The majority purchase a service plan through their energy provider and have the cost added to their monthly energy bill. This is a good idea, although most of these service plans only cover repairs. If the item is damaged and cannot be repaired, the homeowner must replace it themselves. Our warranty plan offers either repair or replace coverage for pretty much the same cost.

Many of the real estate disputes that occur after the closing are caused by failure of some home system. Purchasing or selling a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll make. Why would you give up the piece of mind of having a warranty protection plan? See our buyer and seller benefits below.

Protection

The Edina Realty Home Warranty is a one-year service contract that helps protect you against the high cost of unexpected repairs/replacement of mechanical systems and appliances that fail due to normal wear and tear.

Convenience

Edina Realty Home Warranty removes the worry and time-consuming task of having to find a service company. When there’s a failure, you simply call us and we’ll provide a qualified, prescreened service technician to take care of you.

Buyer Benefits

• The comfort of being protected. Any time you move into a new home, there can be many expenses to cover. Take comfort in the fact that repairs to a covered system or appliance won’t be one of them.
• Reliable service, 24-7. You don’t have to worry about calling different vendors for estimates and repairs. Just call us. We’ll arrange for a diagnosis, choosing from our list of qualified, pre-screened service technicians. Be assured that the convenience of the service is matched by the quality of the repairs.
• Valuable protection year after year. The good news is that an Edina Realty Home Warranty protects you from the unexpected. The great news is that the warranty can be renewed annually, so as normal wear and tear takes its toll on mechanical systems and appliances, you’ll be protected.
• Our Service Guarantee. If we cannot provide a qualified service contractor in a timely manner, we will approve the use of a contractor outside of our service network to ensure convenient, prompt service.

Sell your home with an Edina Realty Home Warranty

Sellers can protect the equity investment in their home with an Edina Realty Home Warranty. A warranty placed during the listing period can eliminate many "out-of-pocket" expenses sellers often experience from unexpected breakdowns and repairs to mechanical systems and appliances.

Seller coverage is FREE to the seller for up to 12 months when they commit to purchase coverage for the buyer at closing. If the property never closes, the seller owes nothing, even if claims were paid.

Seller Benefits

• Coverage while your home is on the market. Mechanical system failures are covered during the listing period for up to one year. This means if something goes wrong, you can continue to concentrate your efforts on selling your home instead of worrying about repairs.
• A powerful marketing tool. Your real estate professional will tell you that buyers prefer to buy a house that includes a home warranty. In fact, research shows that 8 out of 10 buyers prefer to buy a warranted home. It’s added incentive that gives you the edge and sets your home apart from the competition.
• Help prevent post-sale disputes. If an unexpected failure occurs in the home after the sale, the buyer will turn to us not you to solve the problem.

Avoid the worry and inconvenience of dealing with unexpected home repairs. With Edina Realty Warranties, you get reliable protection backed by exceptional service.

Annandale Housing Market Update - August 2011

Sold property search - (Annandale)

Change in Change in Change in

New Listings Closed Sales Median Sales Price

- 33.3% + 600.0% - 39.7%

2010 2011 Change

New Listings 165 129 -21.8%

Closed Sales 48 43 -10.4%

Median Price $144,800 $150,445 +3.9

We are nearing fall and the end of the third quarter with housing numbers bouncing up and down. We had more buying activity in August this year but overall closed sales are down ten percent.

As the gap between inventory and closed sales narrows, we are down to 6 months of inventory (3-4 months create a balanced market) buyers may have to move quicker to get the home of their choice.

Prices here in Annandale and across the country are seeing consecutive weeks of improvement indicating that the housing market is trying to stabilize.

Where I’ve gotten in my life was done the hard way. I mean that literally. I am one of the directional challenged from infancy. I would get lost and they would finally find me under the crib. When I first started in the business world I had to deliver samples to a dealer’s store location in Roseville. Picture the near east side of Minneapolis. No…. I headed directly south and ended up 5 miles from the Iowa border before I figured out I had taken a wrong turn!

When I started selling real estate, I would drive my route a day in advance of my showings just to make sure I wouldn’t make a wrong turn. I cannot tell you how many times I had to call my husband and have him get the Kings book out. “Honey”, he would say, “I need you to give me 2 cross roads so I can tell you where you are”. Yes, he is a saint.

So when my patient and enduring husband bought me a Garmin I was thrilled. Serious, you punch in the address and ‘poof’ the little darling tells you exactly where to go. I named her Itty Bitty and it was love at first sight. I drive exactly to any address anywhere and never take a wrong turn. My stress level was reduced at least by 30%.

Then I discovered her personality. (why do we always presume these things are female?)

I let her talk to me all the way home one day just to see what she would do.

In her ‘Rosy’ voice from ‘The Jetsons’ she ended our journey by announcing, “Arriving at home on the right”. Just like a dog starts to whine when you get a block from home and signal that they know we are getting close to the favorite spot.

My daughter and I were going down to Calhoun Square and Itty Bitty kept saying, “Keep right on Minneeeesooota Hwy 7”. Just the perfect Norwegian accent! We laughed our heads off for 20 minutes.

But my absolute favorite was coming out of Maple Wood last week in bumper to bumper rush hour traffic; Itty pipes up and asks me, “Would you like to switch to pedestrian mode?” Okay, now there’s one in every crowd!

Itty Bitty has become my car companion and if you have to live in your car like most real estate agents, she sure is one heck of a good ride sharer.