Bismarck Happenings

I am a big fan of Papa's Pumpkin Patch. I am planning to take my kids this weekend.

SEASON: The 2012 season at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch is Sept. 10 – Oct. 20. We haul pumpkins and all of our other produce like squash, gourds, straw bales, corn stalks and decorative corn into the yards each week in September so you always see a fresh supply of fall color. HOURS: Papa’s Pumpkin Patch is open 12-7 pm daily, weather permitting. Always double check the home page of Papa’s website or Facebook fan page if you’re uncertain about the weather or our hours. We try to post our intentions for each day by 11 am. If we need to close the patch during the day, we will post our closing on the website and fan page as soon as we make the decision. Mother Nature in North Dakota can be challenging sometimes! COSTS: General admission at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch is $3/person. Infants and toddlers age 2 or younger are free. If you are visiting Papa’s Pumpkin Patch on Monday through Friday as part of a pre-scheduled group or party, the cost is $1/person.

Why Do I Need a REALTOR?!

All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR "®" logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again. But if you're still not convinced of the value of a REALTOR®, here are a dozen more reasons to use one: 1. Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power, he or she can refer you to lenders best qualified to help you. 2. Your REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home search. 3. Your REALTOR® can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property. 4. Your REALTOR® can help you negotiate. 5. Your REALTOR® provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property. 6. Your REALTOR® can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified lenders. 7. Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly. 8. When selling your home, your REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. 9. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. Often, your REALTOR® can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of your property. 10. Your REALTOR® will know when, where and how to advertise your property. 11. Your REALTOR® can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising your marketing position. 12. Your REALTOR® can help close the sale of your home. "http://www.realtor.com/Basics/AllAbout/Realtors/Why.asp?source=web"

What is YOUR home worth?

Book Giveaway

I am giving this book away.  Enter for a chance to win by liking my fan page at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bismarck-Beth-Keller-Williams-Roers-Realty/169677599735092

Clever Dragons and more

Later today, my friend Karmen, is teaching one of her first Chinese classes of the season.  It's called Clever Dragons and my 7 year old seems to enjoy.  He loves everything Chinese.  This can be linked back to Pokemon in some way.  None the less, I am glad Hayden is showing interest in another culture.

If you are interested in Chinese classes for your kids, it is called "Clever Dragons" and it is through BSC Enrichment.  You can also email me for details BismarckBeth@kw.com

My other son, Tyson, is learning Spanish at school.  He is in Preschool.  I don't have any idea of how much he retains of this, since I don't speak Spanish.  He could be fluent or just throwing random noises my way and I can't really tell the difference.

The only issue that I can see wrong with my bilingual children is that I am awful at languages.  I seem to make it okay with English.  I am happy my young children are already ahead of me when it comes to different languages.  I imagine that only will surpass me as they get older and ultimately our goal as parents is to pray that they are better than us as they grow.

Let me know if there are any fun activities that you would like to share!
 

3619 Palomino Dr. N, Mandan, ND

http://www.bismarckmandanhomes.com/mls_detail;jsessionid=2B4040CE278D00B4DCAF64469F6E244D?mls_number=318265

The Home Selling Process: Determining Value of a Property

Let’s begin with this direct statement:

I am not the one who decides how much your home is worth.   The market does.

It tells us exactly where to price your property to sell and how to approach the marketing of your property.   Here are the factors that will affect the value in today’s market:

Price

Pricing your home properly from the start is the deciding factor on how long it will take to sell it.

Location

Location is the single most important factor in determining the value of your property.

Condition

The condition of the property affects the price and the speed of the sale.

As prospective buyers often make purchases based on emotion, first impressions are important. I’ll be able to help in optimizing the physical appearance of your home to maximize the buyer’s perception of value.

Competition

Prospective buyers are going to compare your property – both the condition and the price – to the other listings in and around your neighborhood. Those buyers will determine value, based on properties that are listed or have recently sold in the area.

Timing
Property values are affected by the current real estate market. Because we can’t manipulate the market, we’ll collaborate on a pricing and marketing strategy that will take advantage of the first 30 days your property is listed. It’s the  window of opportunity when buyers and their agents discover your property and are most likely to visit and make offers.