I know that people who own lake cabins also keep a close eye on our website to see what else is on the market. Some of them are thinking about selling, but they need to be assured that there is some activity before they move ahead with getting their lake property listed.
One of the problems with lake cabins is that they tend to become burdens after people lose interest in them. It may be because the kids have all moved away, or it might be due to health issues, but almost everyone hits a point in their lives when they realize they have extra things they don't really want or need...and lake cabins fit into that category.
Besides the fact that the spring and fall bring a whole assortment of tedious jobs once considered enjoyable, such as getting the water drained and turned back on again - or moving the dock in and out of the water - winter is sometimes the worst. Even though your cabin is closed up, and like an icebox inside, someone should still check on things once in awhile to make sure there have been no major issues. And as the weather begins to give us a few of those days above freezing, you know what will happen if the two feet of snow on the roof begins to melt...from the bottom.
Unless you have a large pitch on your roof, or one that is made out of materials that are entirely waterproof, that water is going to get locked under all that snow. And you know what they say: "Water will find its easiest path." That is most likely straight down through your ceiling!
So, even if you just want someone to take your cabin away and relieve you of all these annual duties, don't let it get the best of you. Take a trip up there, or have someone else do it for you, and get the snow off the roof...before it is too late!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Bring Warm Clothes!
One thing about specializing in lake properties that isn't so good...just trying to get to them in the winter - and to stay warm enough to enjoy the process. Lake homes aren't too bad, since people generally live in them year-round, but cabins that have been closed up since fall can be a little challenging when you have to trudge through a couple feet of snow to get to the door...and hope you can get both the lockbox and the door open after that.
Even some of the roads leading to Northern Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin cabins may not be on the radar screen of local plow operators, so the hike into those places can be even more difficult. I always try to warn my clients to bring boots and warm clothes if they want to take part in this activity.
A couple years ago I had some buyers from the Twin Cities who wanted to see a real estate listing I had on Crane Lake in mid-winter, which is on the Canadian border. It was a water-access only property, and there was some questionable ice between the end of the ice road and the property. I never think it is very good for business when your car plunges through the ice with clients in it, so we took snow shoes along for the journey and walked a couple miles to the cabin.
There were only a few injuries on that excursion, as the sun decided to sprinkle ice patches around the lake, only to cause one of my buyers to fall several times on the way back as she ran low on energy - but refused to shed her snowshoes. I don't think I sold them anything that day...or ever, come to think of it.
Fortunately, not all of these winter lake property searches are this extreme. Most of the time sellers are wise enough to have someone keep the snow cleaned off the walks and some heat on if they are going to have their lake cabin on the market. But when the heat isn't on, I guarantee you that it will be colder inside the structure than it is outside!
Overall, looking at lake properties in the winter months can be an enjoyable experience. There is no shortage of solitude, as lakes are void of the hum from boat motors, the laughing of children playing in the water, and even the rustle of leaves on the trees. Those are all part of the sounds that bring pleasure to the summer months at your lake place. But the quiet of the other seasons is just as enjoyable for many.
It does seem like some buyers prefer to look for lakefront cabins and homes this time of year. They realize that prices are probably going to be as good as ever, and they want to have their new place before the snow and ice disappear to get the maximum use out of it. A few of those buyers are starting to contact us now to take a look at some things...and we've made a few sales on these types of properties over the past few weeks.
Oh, and one more thing to keep in mind. When you are out searching for lake cabins in the middle of the winter, make sure to ask your agent to make a pit stop at a gas station now and then to use the facilities. It can be a little difficult to find many cabins this time of year with their water turned on!
Even some of the roads leading to Northern Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin cabins may not be on the radar screen of local plow operators, so the hike into those places can be even more difficult. I always try to warn my clients to bring boots and warm clothes if they want to take part in this activity.
A couple years ago I had some buyers from the Twin Cities who wanted to see a real estate listing I had on Crane Lake in mid-winter, which is on the Canadian border. It was a water-access only property, and there was some questionable ice between the end of the ice road and the property. I never think it is very good for business when your car plunges through the ice with clients in it, so we took snow shoes along for the journey and walked a couple miles to the cabin.
There were only a few injuries on that excursion, as the sun decided to sprinkle ice patches around the lake, only to cause one of my buyers to fall several times on the way back as she ran low on energy - but refused to shed her snowshoes. I don't think I sold them anything that day...or ever, come to think of it.
Fortunately, not all of these winter lake property searches are this extreme. Most of the time sellers are wise enough to have someone keep the snow cleaned off the walks and some heat on if they are going to have their lake cabin on the market. But when the heat isn't on, I guarantee you that it will be colder inside the structure than it is outside!
Overall, looking at lake properties in the winter months can be an enjoyable experience. There is no shortage of solitude, as lakes are void of the hum from boat motors, the laughing of children playing in the water, and even the rustle of leaves on the trees. Those are all part of the sounds that bring pleasure to the summer months at your lake place. But the quiet of the other seasons is just as enjoyable for many.
It does seem like some buyers prefer to look for lakefront cabins and homes this time of year. They realize that prices are probably going to be as good as ever, and they want to have their new place before the snow and ice disappear to get the maximum use out of it. A few of those buyers are starting to contact us now to take a look at some things...and we've made a few sales on these types of properties over the past few weeks.
Oh, and one more thing to keep in mind. When you are out searching for lake cabins in the middle of the winter, make sure to ask your agent to make a pit stop at a gas station now and then to use the facilities. It can be a little difficult to find many cabins this time of year with their water turned on!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Agent Opportunities...Like No Other!
I've been around the real estate business for quite a few years now, and the one thing that has always remained the same is that there is never a shortage of real estate companies willing to hire new agents - both brand new and those moving from another company.
Generally, agents shop around for what they feel is the best deal and the best fit for them personally, and then choose who they want to work for. Many times the honeymoon doesn't last too long though, because they end up competing for business with the other agents in their office. This often leads to the "hoppers" who move from one company to another in search of the perfect home.
However, agents also sometimes realize that the decision to join a particular company may not have been the right one for them. And it is sometimes hard to recognize that before they get a feel for the new operation.
Other reasons to move from one company to another have to do with feelings of stagnation, boredom, or a need to be more independent - which is why some agents choose to start their own brokerages after working under another broker for several years.
At Lakehomes.com, we have a significantly different philosophy than other brokerages. We have gone out of our way to give our agents reasonably protected territories, as long as they are actively selling. On top of that, we are now paying out commissions from 70% to 95%, along with free leads. That allows our agents to have much more control over their respective market areas, and to run their real estate businesses like businesses...which is what ultimately benefits the buyers and sellers the most!
We don't provide fancy offices or a lot of other perks that have to be compensated for by charging higher commissions or junk fees to sellers, or taking it from the agents' bottom line. Instead, we are able to pass along high value at a low cost to our agents, giving them more latitude and flexibility with each client.
But don't be fooled by our ability to operate on a streamlined basis. With nearly all waterfront buyers - and sellers - searching the Internet for available properties and knowledgeable agents, it is not too difficult to see why our waterfront specialists are so successful in finding buyers for their waterfront and recreational listings.
A Google search such as Minnesota lakefront real estate or Minnesota waterfront property will generally display our site at the top of all results. And although it is impossible to be the number one result on every search all the time, you will typically see us within the top few on most every community or lake area name across Minnesota with terms like "lakefront," "waterfront," etc.
Here are a few other search terms relating to waterfront real estate that seem to be showing strong search results today for us: Duluth lakefront property, Park Rapids waterfront property, Longville real estate, Minneapolis lake property, Twin Cities waterfront real estate, Northern Minnesota lake lots, Northern Minnesota lake homes, St. Cloud lakefront real estate and Western Wisconsin lake properties...to name a few. You will currently see the same types of results across most of Minnesota, and as we add new listings and agents throughout the Midwest, we are generally displayed at the top of new areas rather quickly.
Search results are no doubt very important these days, in an age where buyers and sellers want specific information quickly. We can easily provide those, and be a great source of targeted marketing for all types of recreational properties. But it's our agents who use this technology to give their sellers the marketing capabilities they desire, and to provide easy searching and ongoing communication to buyers.
So, if you are a little tired of how your real estate business has been going, you might want to try ours. Spring is coming quickly, and now is a great time to take advantage of our differentiation.
If you are a knowledgeable lakeshore agent, and interested in becoming the Lead Agent in your market area, we may be able to offer you exclusive rights to your territory, along with immediate access to all buyer and seller inquiries there. And at listing appointments, you will truly have something valuable to offer...that no one else will be able to.
Oh, and by the way, even if you aren't ready to change companies there may be some opportunity to work together. We send a lot of leads out to various partner agents and brokers in areas where we think they can help the customers best. We just may be able to send some your way! Please feel free to contact me for more information.
Dan
Generally, agents shop around for what they feel is the best deal and the best fit for them personally, and then choose who they want to work for. Many times the honeymoon doesn't last too long though, because they end up competing for business with the other agents in their office. This often leads to the "hoppers" who move from one company to another in search of the perfect home.
However, agents also sometimes realize that the decision to join a particular company may not have been the right one for them. And it is sometimes hard to recognize that before they get a feel for the new operation.
Other reasons to move from one company to another have to do with feelings of stagnation, boredom, or a need to be more independent - which is why some agents choose to start their own brokerages after working under another broker for several years.
At Lakehomes.com, we have a significantly different philosophy than other brokerages. We have gone out of our way to give our agents reasonably protected territories, as long as they are actively selling. On top of that, we are now paying out commissions from 70% to 95%, along with free leads. That allows our agents to have much more control over their respective market areas, and to run their real estate businesses like businesses...which is what ultimately benefits the buyers and sellers the most!
We don't provide fancy offices or a lot of other perks that have to be compensated for by charging higher commissions or junk fees to sellers, or taking it from the agents' bottom line. Instead, we are able to pass along high value at a low cost to our agents, giving them more latitude and flexibility with each client.
But don't be fooled by our ability to operate on a streamlined basis. With nearly all waterfront buyers - and sellers - searching the Internet for available properties and knowledgeable agents, it is not too difficult to see why our waterfront specialists are so successful in finding buyers for their waterfront and recreational listings.
A Google search such as Minnesota lakefront real estate or Minnesota waterfront property will generally display our site at the top of all results. And although it is impossible to be the number one result on every search all the time, you will typically see us within the top few on most every community or lake area name across Minnesota with terms like "lakefront," "waterfront," etc.
Here are a few other search terms relating to waterfront real estate that seem to be showing strong search results today for us: Duluth lakefront property, Park Rapids waterfront property, Longville real estate, Minneapolis lake property, Twin Cities waterfront real estate, Northern Minnesota lake lots, Northern Minnesota lake homes, St. Cloud lakefront real estate and Western Wisconsin lake properties...to name a few. You will currently see the same types of results across most of Minnesota, and as we add new listings and agents throughout the Midwest, we are generally displayed at the top of new areas rather quickly.
Search results are no doubt very important these days, in an age where buyers and sellers want specific information quickly. We can easily provide those, and be a great source of targeted marketing for all types of recreational properties. But it's our agents who use this technology to give their sellers the marketing capabilities they desire, and to provide easy searching and ongoing communication to buyers.
So, if you are a little tired of how your real estate business has been going, you might want to try ours. Spring is coming quickly, and now is a great time to take advantage of our differentiation.
If you are a knowledgeable lakeshore agent, and interested in becoming the Lead Agent in your market area, we may be able to offer you exclusive rights to your territory, along with immediate access to all buyer and seller inquiries there. And at listing appointments, you will truly have something valuable to offer...that no one else will be able to.
Oh, and by the way, even if you aren't ready to change companies there may be some opportunity to work together. We send a lot of leads out to various partner agents and brokers in areas where we think they can help the customers best. We just may be able to send some your way! Please feel free to contact me for more information.
Dan
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year
This past year has been a challenge for a lot of people, and certainly the real estate industry was one of the hardest hit. Sellers have had a tough time finding enough good buyers to generate reasonable offers - if any - on their homes, and so quite a few of them have decided to hold off for awhile until the dust settles.
Agents have left the industry in droves, with many of them not able to make enough money to even cover their expenses, let alone support their families and have any fun money left over. So...what will be next?
I'm optimistic about 2009. Our page views have shot through the roof on our website since the day after Christmas, and that means there are waterfront buyers out there starting to look already. That is generally what happens after a slow market like the one last year. And the 2009 sales may speed up even more quickly because of the low interest rates!
At the same time, we are making several changes to our overall marketing plan for our listings. In an attempt to make sure we find every possible buyer out there for our listings, we have created several new concepts that are proving quite interesting.
You will be seeing some of these on our website in the days ahead. But, if you're thinking of selling fairly soon, feel free to contact us for more information on how you can benefit from some of these cutting edge ideas.
Remember...the spring market starts way before spring. So don't let it pass you by!
Agents have left the industry in droves, with many of them not able to make enough money to even cover their expenses, let alone support their families and have any fun money left over. So...what will be next?
I'm optimistic about 2009. Our page views have shot through the roof on our website since the day after Christmas, and that means there are waterfront buyers out there starting to look already. That is generally what happens after a slow market like the one last year. And the 2009 sales may speed up even more quickly because of the low interest rates!
At the same time, we are making several changes to our overall marketing plan for our listings. In an attempt to make sure we find every possible buyer out there for our listings, we have created several new concepts that are proving quite interesting.
You will be seeing some of these on our website in the days ahead. But, if you're thinking of selling fairly soon, feel free to contact us for more information on how you can benefit from some of these cutting edge ideas.
Remember...the spring market starts way before spring. So don't let it pass you by!
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