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Brainerd, MN Real Estate News

By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
    Year around self-contained bundles of sunshine, holding a list of immune boosting nutrients and antioxidants that go well beyond a large dose of Vitamin C.  We are talking citrus, baby!  Even in the shortest, darkest most frigid Minnesota winter, citrus emerges in the produce departments.  Ruby Red Grapefruit, Meyer Lemons, Key Limes and Blood Oranges are a few of the favorites.  Easy to pack and go, even their colors please the eye.  Fairly long lasting (especially their faux counterparts) they also make excellent pops of color for home staging purposes.      Eat some and display the rest, you will have the best of both worlds.
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
    Congratulations to the newly crowned Mis Brainerd Lakes, Emily Wyman.  Emily is a Brainerd High School graduate, who will be attending Concordia College in Moorhead this fall.  She won the Talent and Interview portions of the pageant, with Heather Erickson winning the Evening Gown and Swim Suit competitions.     First runner up was Breanna Sinner and second runner up - Heather Erickson. The theme for this year's pageant was "It's Not Just Make Believe".  For Emily, a dream come true and a chance to compete for the title of Miss Minnesota in Eden Prairie next June.      Go Emily!
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
Here we are at the Crow Wing County fair again. We made a few color changes from last year and added in new accessories.  For this year our accent color is orange - a hot trend on the fashion and decorating scene. For booths, the decorating scheme needs to be a bit over the top to get people's attention.  We have achieved that with our graphic black and white curtains, wood tones, bamboo and bright color accents. As always, there is some greenery added in to give the homey effect. We have a drawing for choice of: a home staging consultation, a color consultation or a room redesign. It is a good way to get your face and voice attached to your services on a more personal note than you can achieve with most forms of advertising. How do we look? Re$ale Design & Home Staging Serving the Brai...
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
    Once you have chosen the  real estate agent to represent your sale, get to know them. Try and deal with the same staff members each time you call and learn to trust them. Don’t be afraid to point out anything you are not happy with though, remember you are the customer and are paying for their services.     Make sure you're happy with the particulars on your property. Read the text and study the photographs, if you are not happy with either, tell them ASAP. Don’t think you're going to offend the real estate agent by saying you're not happy with his photography - if the property does not look appealing on the photographs, you won’t get viewers through the door.      Likewise with the Internet, if it is advertised on a web site, check the particulars and view the photographs and virtu...
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
     August 1-3, 2008 will be an exciting time in Duluth, Minnesota as three tall ships will be sailing into port. Visitors can take on-board tours of these fascinating replicas of historic vessels.  The ships will be in port in the Duluth harbor as part of the Duluth Maritime Festival, celebrating the state's Sesquicentennial ( even harder to say than type).      The ships are the: U.S. Niagara which is 198 feet long and the schooner, Pride of Baltimore II at only 157 feet.  Both of these are replicas of the warships that took part in the War of 1912 against Great Britain. The third ship is a demure Madeline at a delicate 92 feet, which is a replica of an 1840s schooner used as a commercial vessel.      Tours of the ships are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday.  To buy tickets, g...
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
As a Home Stager & Interior Redesigner, I carry a number of tools in my Re$ale Design tool bag.  Here is a list of my personal favorites: One 16 foot FatMax retractable tape measure by Stanley One 25 foot retractable tape measure One small  carpenter's level with attached magnetic strip One FatMax Laser Level kit  One medium weight  claw hammer One light weight ball-peen hammer Two needle nose pliers One slip-joint plier  Makita 12V Cordless drill  with light and a variety of bits - slotted & phillips  -all sizes Two batteries for above  Battery charger Stud finder Hot-Glue guns and lots of sticks for each -both low and high temperature Staple gun- Black & Decker Power Shot & staples  2 Flashlights - 1 small maglite and 1 large maglite 409 or some type of cleaner & rags  Not technically...
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
     How do you keep visitors & Realtors at open houses and showings from using your nicely folded, perfectly hung, and oh so clean and fluffy towels?  I have read that some suggest tying them in ribbons or raffia and therefore signal that they are off limits.  But does everyone know how to read raffia?          A sign "Do Not Use Towels" along with "Do Not Use Toilet or If in the case of an Emergency :   please close lid & flush (or maybe flush and then close lid)", "Do Not Sit on Bed" ,  "Don't kiss the Mirror", "No eating or drinking in  any room", & "No smoking right outside the door and then throwing butt on doorstep" (still referring to the cigarette here) - might help!      Why are staging towels so irresistible and tantalizing? Is it the color?                                   ...
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
    Re$ale Design & Home Staging Partner - Allison Lordbock     The Children’s Miracle Network was selected as the official national platform for the Miss America Organization. This partnership represents the first time in the 86-year history of the Miss America Organization that they have adopted such a program.     The Children’s Miracle Network has had an 18-year history working with the Miss AmericaOrganization, with this newest initiative signifying a permanent and on-going relationship between the two.The new partnership will provide opportunities for the Miss America Organization to not only raise fundsand awareness for the 17 million children treated each year at the 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals,but also for the Miss America Scholarship Program, the world's largest p...
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
    The field of eight contestants for the title of Miss Brainerd Lakes will soon be narrowed down to "the one".  Competing for this year's title are: Antje Anderson, Caitlin Cross, Katie Ritter, Heather Erickson, Breanna Sinner, Jacqui Cavalier, Mary Petersen and Emily Wyman.      The pageant is on Saturday, June 28th, 2008 at the Tornstrom Auditorium in Brainerd, Minnesota.  It starts at 7:00  P.M. and tickets will be sold for $10.00 at the door.  Brainerd always puts on a fabulous pageant and this year will be no different.       Tier level sponsors of this year's pageant are : Caribbean Beach Tanning Salon, Wendy's, Shooting Star Casino,  Riddle's Jewelry,Susan G. Komen for the Cure- Brainerd Lakes. The official photographer is Woody's Photography.    Special guest appearances and p...
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
 To create drama and dress up any room, consider adding touches of black. It works in virtually any color scheme and with any decorating style.  If you are going for major drama, inject even larger doses of this dynamic color in your window treatments, upholstered furniture, bedding, flooring or floor coverings, decorative wall moldings, shelving, cabinets, or your wooden furniture pieces.  Lime green, white, orange, red,  yellow and aqua all pop when positioned on or near black pieces.  Paint artwork frames, mirrors, or add black painted pinstripes.  Decorative boxes hung on the wall or open shelving to hold accessories in black are striking.  Paint the legs of a coffee table or dining table black -leaving the top in a wood tone. To give painted black objects an aged worn look; sand t...
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
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...
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
    The Washington Educational Services Building at 804 Oak Street in Brainerd will be the site of the Minnesota House K-12 Education Finance Division meeting.  The public Brainerd meeting on June 16, 2008, co-chaired by Representative John Ward will include a K-12 education finance update.     Representative Mindy Greiling, chair of the K-12 Education Finance Division stated her pleasure at the short term relief that has been slated by the Legislature    The Brainerd school system, like many others in the state, has seen a number of reductions in staff and programming.  Various efforts are underway to raise funds to keep some music programs and sports in place.
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
    It is Spring time here in Northern Minnesota, although you may not be able to tell by the weather.  With Spring comes Spring cleaning, as we let in the fresh air, go through the clothes and rid ourselves of the outgrown, outdated, unused and duplicates.     What to do with your stuff:        Have a garage sale.  Sometimes a fun social event trading your stuff for pennies.  I love going to them but will not be  hosting one myself.  Been there and not doing that again!          Throw it - Not such a good idea in our current waste conscious way of thinking.  But it is fast and final!          Donate - also fast and final and way more people and environmentally friendly (provided it is not  broken, stained, torn, etc)   Those items of clothing may make for good cleaning rags - cut them...
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
School Days 1957 vs 2007 Scenario : Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack. 1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack. 2007 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers. Scenario : Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school. 1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies. 2007 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it. Scenario : Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students. 1957 - Jeffrey sent to office and gi...
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
    We are now in our fourth month in a row of below average temperatures. It is still entirely possible that we may even get more snow.  There are still a few banks of snow left and some patches in low areas in the heavily forested regions around the Brainerd Lakes.  At least, the lakes had no ice remaining for our Governor's fishing opener.     I am taking a week off soon to go warm up in Florida, enough is enough.  I will be bringing my staging partner back with me, after another long year of college in the sunny state.     For help preparing your home for this competitive market call Re$ale Design & Home Staging.  Why leave money on the table?
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
This has to be one of the best singles ads ever printed. It is reported to have been listed in the Atlanta Journal.   SINGLE BLACK FEMALE seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I'm a very good girl who LOVES to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me. Call (404) 875-6420 and ask for Daisy, I'll be waiting. ....   Keep scrolling down, please ................Over 15,000 men found themselves talking to the Atlanta Humane Society  Now that is what I call creative advertising.  I hope that Daisy and all her lovely friends found homes.  Loo...
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
     In part 1, we covered the verse I Peter 3:15 and learned about being prepared to talk about our faith and to have answers ready for other's questions.  I often ask others about their beliefs and some will reply that they are "private - just between them and God".  Clearly, Peter did not advocate such a response!     Questions may come from a stranger on a long airplane flight or a relative at a funeral. A student of God's word will always be ready to explain the hope that others see in their life.  Think about it and  perhaps write it out - so you will be prepared.  We should enjoy talking about our Lord and Savior.  After all, he suffered and died, so that we could live.  What love!
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
I Peter 3:15    "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."    What do you say to someone who asks you about your Christian Faith?  Can you explain clearly and completely, who Jesus is and why your relationship with him gives you eternal hope and freedom?    Peter encouraged believers to live in such a way that others would be drawn to them and ask questions.  He stressed that they should have an answer ready for everyone who asked.      
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
     According to a recent Minnesota DNR survey, the typical ATV rider is a Caucasian male in his mid-40's with some college or technical training.  This man is most often employed full time, with an income of more that $50,000 and an average family size of 2.8.  In most cases he has not completed a DNR ATV safety course.    The DNR Enforcement Education Program Coordinator, Capt. Mike Hammer, said "Recent DNR  statistics show a decline in youth-involved incidents, largely due to safety training requirements for those age 16 and under. It's the adults who have not completed training who are most at risk."      Most adults think that because they can drive a car, they are in possession of the skills necessary to handle a powerful 600-pound ATV.  But ATVs handle much differently than othe...
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By Kathleen Lordbock, Keller Williams Realty Professionals
(Keller Williams Realty Professionals)
    Now if you are baking a ham or just ready to try something different for a side complement or even as a breakfast brunch dish - this is the one.  Of course, you have to be a pineapple lover and we  at the Lordbock house are. Our favorite pizza is sausage and pineapple. It is delicious and I found the recipe in our local newspaper.1 large can crushed pineapple, drained, save the juice1 cup milk1 stick butter2 cups sugar8 to 10 slices  fresh bread, cubed 2 eggsCube bread;put in a 9x13 inch pan.  Slice one stick of butter into small pieces and layer over bread.  Combine the milk. sugar and eggs.  Pour over bread.  Cover with drained pineapple.  Drizzle 2 tablespoons juice over the top. Refrigerate overnight and baked the next day at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes, or until the eggs a...
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Brainerd, MN Real Estate Professionals