About Brainerd's Pequot Lakes

According to the National Association of Realtors, 75% of people on the market to purchase a home begin their search on the Internet. Other sources put this figure closer to 85%. It is only logical to determine then that exterior photos of your listing can instantly determine if buyers will take a second look. Virtual curb appeal is a reality. Patchy unkempt lawns. peeling paint and poor or no photos will lose you potential buyers. With so many houses for sale in any given neighborhood, it is crucial to invest dollars and or sweat. to get lookers inside the website. Once in there, they should have lots to see. Photos of staged rooms with great angles and strategic lighting will get them to pick up the phone.

For help with your upcoming listings in Central Minnesota, call Re$ale Design & Home Staging at 218-829-4664. For other areas, check out the stagers on Active Rain.

This photo:

• move the car
• straighten the shot
• different angle to see the landscaping and entry
  

With two large German Shepherds and a lovable but nosy mutt "it" could happen soon. One of these days, while checking under a wood pile or shed , at least one of the dogs will encounter a peppermint kitty and he will let them have "it". Skunk spray , one of the most obnoxious smells, works quite well for the sprayer. The sprayed upon however have burning eyes, nausea, and owners who no longer want them as close companions.

There are a number of commercial preparations, none of which I have found to be worth their price. So grab a glass of tomato juice and drink that as you prepare the following recipe:

• ONE QUART OF 3 PERCENT HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
• 1 CUP BAKING SODA
• 1 TEASPOON OF LIQUID SOAP

This needs to be used shortly after mixing and should not be stored, as it gives off oxygen gas, which could case a closed container to burst. For large or long haired dogs, you will need more batches. Don't hesitate to repeat the process if odors linger.

Accoding to Wikipedia:

Skunks have two glands, on either side of the anus, that produce a mixture of sulfur-containing chemicals (methyl and butyl thiols) that has a highly offensive smell that most people describe as a combination of the odors of rotten eggs, garlic and burnt rubber. The odor of the fluid is strong enough to ward off bears and other potential attackers, and can be difficult to remove from clothing. Muscles located next to the scent glands allow them to spray with high accuracy as far as 2 to 3 metres (7 to 10 ft).

The singular musk-spraying ability of the skunk has not escaped the attention of biologists: the names of the family and the most common genus (Mephitidae, Mephitis) mean "stench", and Spilogale putorius means "stinking spotted weasel". The word skunk is a corruption of an Abenaki name for them, segongw or segonku, which means "one who squirts" in the Algonquian dialect

Keep in mind that skunks go into inactivity during our long Minnesota winters and winter is always just around the corner.

ENJOY!

Kathleen Lordbock- Home Staging and Interior Redesign in the Brainerd Lakes area

Re$ale Design & Home Staging

When I wrote Go Away - Snow, I was thinking that this was my ode to winter weather. However, we are experiencing a storm of blizzard proportions. The high winds, combined with the snow, are causing the problems. Trees and limbs (trees again, not human) are coming down and anything not tightly fastened (this could be human) is tumbling.

It was quite a challenge getting winter blankets on the horses in the wind. By the time I had one end secured, the other end was coming up to meet me. I brought most of them into the stalls for the night as it simplified my life and made them very happy. I am a pet pleaser, after all.

Area schools are closed and the trails are being groomed for what might be one last cross country ski jaunt.

Easter was early this year, so I suppose we should have been expecting more snow - plus it is Minnesota - the weather can change in an instant.

We did some design work on one of the homes in this weekend's Builder's Home tour. It doesn't have a lawn or landscaping in - this will be perfect, no one will even notice!

Just when I think that I will be able to soon see green blades of green peeking out of the white fluffy stuff - it snows. Not just a dusting, or a mere frosty blanket, no! I am talking about two feet of the white stuff. Now being a born and bred in Minnesota gal, I know that it will eventually disappear and Spring will come. It just is not going to happen any time in the near future.

We usually try to make the most of our lovely and yet unpredictable

Minnesota weather and so here is a snowman for you. He portrays

the best of our talented Minnesota Niceness.

Cooking, entertaining, reading, relaxing and sleeping for many decades in the USA have been activities that homeowners did inside the house. Now, the trend for many is to move activities to the out spaces. Just as formal sitting rooms indoors are passé, formal gardens are out and the lived-in garden is very chic.
Kitchens for the patio come complete with fire brick pizza ovens, refrigerators, ice makers, sinks, and the traditional favorite BBQ grill in a fashionable streamlined stainless steel model. Entertainment tents, screened in 3- season rooms and gazebos move the crowd from the main indoor living spaces. Piped out music, a flat screen TV and speakers that look like rocks, add to the draw. A hot tub complete with built in DVD/CD player and mood lights couldn’t hurt! Container water gardens and fountains soothe the weary and bring tranquility to this outdoor haven.
How does a stager treat these areas? Less is still the best. Resist plastic, religious objects and garden gnomes. Add a few quality eye-catching pieces that project simple elegance. Place a few colorful pillows on the seating pieces with an accenting throw over the back. Now is not the time for neutrals! You want to accentuate the (hopefully) neutral color of the home, so be sure your potted plants and hanging baskets are all in the same coordinating colors. Think— POP— and — WOW! This includes vertical spaces, so think of vines, trellis shapes, and climbers. An outdoor rug can anchor a grouping as well. Plants that are scented: like roses, lilac, and jasmine, add to the ambiance but don’t overwhelm when outdoors.
A good outdoor living space can sell the home, as the prospective buyer envisions the memory making moments that could be experienced here.

If you want to be part of the “in crowd”, you will want to be thinking “out”.

Kathleen Lordbock - Re$ale Design - Brainerd, MN