Ryan Smith Blog

Attractive, appealing, professional-quality listing photos are a huge key to attracting buyers when you put your home on the market. Most buyers start their search online, and your listing photos provide a crucial first impression of the property.

While it's often easier to get great listing photos during the warmer months thanks to green grass and flowers, you can still capture perfect listing photos in the winter if you know the right tricks of the trade. Our real estate agents are here to help, with a guide to capturing picture-perfect listing photos in the winter.

1. Keep Snow from Building Up in Key Places
   When you're competing with other Minneapolis homes for sale, you always want to put your best foot forward. Start by clearing snow away from walkways, your driveway, and your front porch. A snowy scene can provide a nice backdrop for your listing photos, and clearing snow from key places helps you set the scene while making your home feel safer and more inviting for buyers.

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As writer and environmentalist Bill McKibben so eloquently stated, the ideal holiday is the one you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, and traditions. Enrich your personal holiday by starting a new tradition with one of these festive activities around Minneapolis homes for sale. 

• Pick out a Live Christmas Tree at Bob's Famously Fresh Christmas Trees - 1632 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
  Few things will get you in the holiday spirit quicker than selecting your own live tree at Bob's Famously Fresh Christmas Trees. Bob has been organically growing native species of trees on his farm near St. Paul homes for sale for more than 30 years, so you're assured of the finest quality no matter which one you pick. His friendly staff will offer you a cup of hot cider and make sure your tree is securely loaded before you leave. Beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving, Bob's will be open 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. seven days a week until supplies are gone.

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Moving across state lines comes with a unique set of challenges. Because it is more complex than a move across town, you'll want to start planning well in advance. The good news is that you aren't the first person to move into Minnesota from out of state, we can help ease the transition and help you settle in when you arrive. 

1. Hire a Buyer's Agent
   A buyer's agent will represent your best interest throughout the process. Your agent will help identify homes within your budget and select neighborhoods, schools, etc. that best suit your needs.
   
   
2. Hire a Relocation Specialist
   Relocation specialists often work for free and many larger employers have relocation specialists they use for new employees. Relocation specialists earn their money based on referrals to vendor services and products you purchase when you move into the community. They will help with everything from organizing the move to helping you find lawyers, doctors, plumbers, dentists, and other service providers when you arrive.

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Are you ready to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year? With the holiday season nearly in full swing, now is the perfect time to experience the Minneapolis performing arts scene with a holiday show at a local theater. Whether you're looking for the perfect show to put the kids in the holiday spirit or a performance of your favorite plays and musicals from your own childhood, there's a local performance with your name on it. We are here to help you celebrate the season, with a guide to plays and musicals around Minneapolis this year.

Must-See Holiday Musicals and Shows

• A Christmas Carol at Guthrie Theater – 818 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55415
  Minneapolis homes for sale make it easy to attend so many of the shows on our list, including a classic performance of A Christmas Carol at Guthrie Theater. This is always one of the most popular holiday performances in the area, thanks to amazing acting and the classic, unforgettable tale of A Christmas Story.

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If you're looking for a home to buy, you're probably prioritizing what you most want to have in your new home. Square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and yard size are always important, but make sure to also consider the length of your commute. This mainly includes the length of time it takes you to drive to and from work, but you should also take into account how close you'll be located to schools, stores, restaurants, and other places you'll likely drive to on a regular basis.

What you need to know about factoring in your commute time when buying a Minneapolis home:

Growing commute times

Commute times are tending to get longer rather shorter in most areas, with an average of about a 25-minute drive one way. If you're buying a home near a major city, this can be even greater.

Looking for a home in the suburbs may allow you to get more of what you want for the same amount of money, but there may be a tradeoff involved. You may end up trying to strike a balance between where you can afford the best home and surroundings for the money and the length of your commute.

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