Mount Horeb, WI

In case you missed the article in last week's Mt. Horeb Mail, you can click here to read! Realtors speak out about local housing market.

Annual Open House at Tyrol Basin
Sunday, October 26, 2008 9am to 5pm

It is hard to believe but it is that time of year already for Tyrol Basin's annual OPEN HOUSE. Fall colors are fading fast and snow will be here before you know it and the Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting even more snow than last year. In fact, the Tyrol Snowmaking crew already made a little white stuff back on October 4. We're anxious and ready to start blowing snow for real as soon as the temperatures drop.

Tyrol Basin's Open House is a great time to come out for a few hours and enjoy the beautiful Vermont (Township) countryside. There will be scenic chairlift rides (about the only time you get to be a foot passenger and ride around or get off at the top to walk around or picnic on the mountain) and fun inflatable bouncing for the kids. Most importantly, this is the best time to come out and have your picture taken for your season pass. It is a lot easier and less time consuming than being delayed the first time you come out to the slopes and want to get right out on the snow. There have been a few questions about the new "Pick up a Ticket Pass". Yes, you will be issued a regular photo ID season pass that you will have to show at the special season pass window each time to pick up a ticket for the day. You can still use your pass like a gift card by having value added to it. It can be used anywhere around Tyrol, same as cash only more convenient and accessible because now you can keep it safe in your pocket instead of wearing it in an armband. Both "Pick Up a Ticket" and "Easy Access" passholders will need to have their pictures taken for their passes before they can hit the slopes.

The Tyrol Basin Ski Patrol's Ski Swap also takes place during the open house. This is an excellent opportunity to shop for some pre-season bargains on ski and snowboard equipment. Individuals can bring in equipment on Wednesday night or Saturday and drop it off to sell. Sunday, there are lots of shoppers looking for deals on new and used equipment. If it sells, the ski patrol charges a 15% commission and you get the rest. If it doesn't sell you need to pick it up on Sunday evening. There are also several ski shops that bring in brand new equipment to sell at discounted prices so there are thousands of items to choose from. This is the annual fund raiser for the Ski Patrol, an all volunteer organization which uses proceeds to purchase equipment and supplies to take care of you, the skiers and snowboarders if you ever need it.

Season Passes are still discounted through October 31. Don't wait too long and pay more! Purchase now on line at www.tyrolbasin.com or buy them at the Open House.

I was hoping that HGTV had disspelled the myth that the smell of freshly baked cookies or the right scented candle was the key to a successful showing or open house. Unfortunately, there are still some people stuck in that mode. There are really only TWO things within a sellers control for a positive open house:

1) You must overly clean your house. I don't mean just vacuum and dust. I mean degrime your faucets, clean the tile grout, the burner pans on your oven, the handles on your frigerator door--clean it all. It is a must in today's competitive market!

2) Declutter. Some owners have done a great job at depersonalizing and getting rid of knick knacks. However, there is still a fair amount of daily life that comes with clutter that you should remove for showings and open houses.

• Clear counter tops of the utensil holders, small appliances (toasters, can openers, etc), and cutting boards. When in doubt, clear it all out.
• Don't have sponges or hand towels or even dishracks in the sink.
• Pet food and water dishes should be out of sight.
• Office areas should look organized and very streamlined. I would hide as much as you can!

You can bring all these things back out to live in your house...just have a place for them for when potential buyers are coming through.

It's important to remember, too, that potential buyers often look behind shower curtains, in cupboards and pantries and in closets. You can "shove" it all in there, but it should still look organized. Otherwise it truly is a charade and buyers don't like to feel like they are being "faked out".

Good luck and go get 'em!

Mt. Horeb has flown under the radar as a great place to live for years, but now it's official. Madison Magazine rated it the #1 Madison suburb. The magazine looked at things such as population, crime rate, property taxes, housing, appreciation, culture, schools and government services.

If someone asked me why Mt. Horeb is a great place to live I would give you the following top 3 reasons:

• Schools: AMAZING teachers and low class sizes have equaled a great educational experience for kids
• Rec Department: Parent volunteers play a large part in the great sport/activity offering from our rec department. Soccer, baseball, gymnastics, and swimming programs are not only cheap--they are excellent.
• Sense of community: While hard to measure on a day to day basis, certain community events like the lighting of the fire house Christmas tree, Relay for Life, and the high school Homecoming make you feel like you are a part of something really cool.

Of course, I have kids so I'm looking at this town through those eyes. Feel free to weigh in on why you think Mt. Horeb is a great place to live!

Few Mt. Horeb Neighborhoods and Median Sale Prices

All statistics from Southwestern Wisconsin MLS. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

• Valley View Heights: $304,000
• Hickory Hills: $314,900 (only one home sold)
• Sutter Prairie Ridge: $282,500 (all but one were brand new homes)
• North Cape Commons: $295,000 (all brand new)
• Vista Ridge: $222,000 (all about 10 yrs old and 2100 sf and under)
• Kara View Heights: $215,000 (20-30 yr old homes)
• Nordic Hills: $278,900
• Trotter Glen: $250,476
• Brookstone Ridge: $247,700

There are many neighborhoods in Mt. Horeb. These are just some of the "subdivisions" in town. If you'd like to know something more specific about your area either in Mt. Horeb or the surrounding area, I'd be happy to run those stats for you!