The Latest from Samantha

This article was such a fun read. I'm a bit of a sucker for social psychology, and why we do what we do. Throw in a little green living and we have a nail-biter.

http://bit.ly/green_couples_fight

Leslie highlights some very interesting inter-personal issues that come up between couples who started on the same path, but as they've opened their minds to greener living, have seen their goals shift, and maybe not in the same direction.

How green is green enough? This topic is charged: money, religion (as some become "green zealots"), identity, morality. When two who share a home don't see eye to eye, there's going to be trouble.

As one of just a few women-owned real estate brokerages in Minneapolis & St. Paul, and the only one focused on green, I had to read this article about how women entrepreneurs seem to fail as soon as they start up.
Although we have different approaches than men when it comes to business, that doesn't mean we can't do the job. But it does mean that we need to temper our natural, more sensitive, reactions and go in to each new business opportunity with guns a'blazin'. It's all about confidence, something that my gender tends to feel guilty about having for fear of being labeled a "ball-buster". Believe me, I exude that sometimes, but it gets the job done. No one cries, no one yells, but the point is made (sometimes sternly) and we move on.

Since having the opportunity (read "blind faith") to start my own businesses, creating a new set of standards that reflected my desire to help people and the planet, as well as pay my bills, was the bar that had to be met.
Turns out, you can run a successful business and still sleep at night. Well, as a small business owner, sleep can be a luxury.
This article poses the question of the Triple Bottom Line to a larger audience, the mid- to large employer. I admit, they have many more hurdles to tackle than what I encounter in my day to day. But that doesn't mean sustainability is an impossible goal (see Interface and Seventh Generation).

Love this idea!
Most people like booze, and I think just about everyone likes trees. But who was the genius to link the two?
The smarties at Treetini have started a program to not only sell a bunch of booze, but to make you feel good about doing it. With every glass sold, Treetini plants a tree.

Read more about it, and don't be afraid to do your part.
http://www.treetini.com/

When I'm previewing a house for a client, the one thing that always catches my eye is the concrete. Usually it's steps, as their condition can mean a big buck repair for the buyer. But I can honestly say that the public sidewalk has never been a major concern, nor the focus of a coveted MLS photo.

But maybe you see something different. Tell me, does it speak to you?

Another addition to our WWYT series, this Whittier Victorian is being grossly misrepresented. Dark corners, dated carpet and wallpaper (and not the good kind of "dated"), not to mention the photographs look like they were taken with a Kodak Insty-cam. Where did they get these shots? Do they even sell that kind of film anymore? Conveys the feeling that the house has been for sale for over a quarter century!

Too bad, because this 4BR/2BA Victorian is in a charming neighborhood, right by Whittier Elementary, The Wedge, and pretty much everything Lyn-Lake has to offer. All for $289K.

Check out the listing here:
http://bit.ly/KodakWhittier

The nexus of remodeling and real estate, Return On Investment. This is the type of data I love, because it helps to answer the questions I get every day. "What can I do to increase the value of my property?" Well, go through the list, check it against your budget, and find the best fit for you and your family. Enjoy the improvement now, and get some money back on that improvement when you sell. Win-win.

http://bit.ly/ROIremodprojects

Another tone that I'm picking up is that remodelers will have to start changing the way they do business, to become more affordable/available to clients with smaller projects. This category is my bread and butter. We specialize in the $5K-$45K projects, and really try to eeek out the most bang for the buck in every project.

There is a lot of confusion in the marketplace about the value of a "green Realtor". Do they only list green properties? What do they know that I don't? Has the green market even taken hold here in the Twin Cities?

The answers: no, a lot, and yes, it has.

I found this article on homefinder.com to be pretty useful at breaking down the different certifications and what they all mean.

http://www.homefinder.com/content/Buying-Guide:Using_an_Eco-friendly_Rea...

As always, the proof is in the pudding. If you have questions about what a good green Realtor can add to your home buying/selling experience, let's talk.

As I sit here with my feet dangerously close to my electric baseboard heater, I'm looking at these gorgeous radiators and oozing envy.
Having just made the move to a 1909 A-frame with ancient radiators, I'm well aware of the bulky, vintage aesthetic of these old beasts. Don't get me wrong, radiators are almost the perfect form of heat; efficient, compact, and comfortable. However, if we could modernize them a bit to fit more with 21st century design, I believe they'd be much more popular than they are today.

I love that the industry has such low photography standards. It helps me, a hyper visual person, have something to laugh at as I scroll through new listings everyday.

This site, by a photographer, allows people to submit some serious "winners".

Take a browse through. Not much worse (or better) than most of the photography provided by listing agents here in MN. Sad that the bar is so low.

Again, it's the BIGGEST sale most people will make in their lives. Take a second and represent it properly.

http://bit.ly/MLStrashcan