A kitchen remodel can be a substantial investment.  You want to make sure you make the most out of your investment and create the best kitchen you can.  Here are six strategies to help you do that.

1.  Establish your priorities.   Decide early on what features or design modifications are most important.  Don’t forget to take into account your lifestyle.  You’ll also want to decide if you want to hire a design professional early on.

2.  Keep the same footprint.  If you can, save on expenses by keeping preexisting walls and not rearranging plumbing, electrical, and gas fixtures.

3.  Match appliances to your skill level.  You may not really need the commercial grade range with eight burners. 

4.  Focus on lighting.  Think about task lighting, recessed lighting, pendant lights, and even dimmer switches.

5.  Focus on durability.  Spending a few more dollars for the long lasting Silestone may be worth it if you plan to stay in your home a long time.

6.  Add storage, not space.  Utilize the space you have with cabinets that reach the ceiling, add shelving units into cabinets, and use hooks on the back of doors.

~Info from HouseLogic.com~

Washington County Libraries and the Washington County HRA are teaming up to provide residents foreclosure prevention workshops.  Anyone who is behind on their mortgage or is worried about falling behind is encouraged to attend.  People simply interested in the foreclosure process are also welcome.

Starting Sept. 2^nd, the workshops will be held weekly through the end of October at various libraries throughout the county.  You can call 651-458-0936, Ext. 542 for more information or to register for a workshop.  You can also visit www.wchra.com/foreclosure.php.

Here is the workshop schedule:

6-7 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 2, Washington County HRA

6-7 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 9, Woodbury R.H. Stafford Library Conference Rooms A & B

1-2 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 16, Oakdale Library Meeting Room

4-5 p.m. Tues., Sept. 28, Forest Lake Hardwood Creek Library Conference Room

6-7 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 7, Washington County HRA

6-7 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 14, Woodbury R.H. Stafford Library Conference Rooms A & B

1-2 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 21, Oakdale Library Meeting Room

4-5 p.m. Tues., Oct. 26, Forest Lake Hardwood Creek Library Conference Room L14

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently released conducted a housing survey in 2009.  They aimed to determine how people felt about their homes and neighborhoods.  The report, just recently released, showed homeowners are content with where they live.

On a scale of 1 to 10, about 70% rated their homes between 8 and 10.  28% of those responding gave their homes a 10 rating.  84% of people living in new construction homes gave their homes a rating between 8 and 10.  68% of those surveyed rated their neighborhood highly.  And 25% gave their neighborhood a “best” rating. 

The survey also looked to determine the most common factors used to select a neighborhood.  At 20%, convenience to a job was the most common.  14% of respondents stated that being close to relatives or friends was a factor in choosing a neighborhood.  Only 10% listed the design or look of the house as a neighborhood factor. 

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your home and neighborhood?  What was the most important factor in selecting the neighborhood where you live?

~Information from Real Trends~

Monthly Skinny August 2010

Are you ready to celebrate?  Then get ready for Woodbury Days!  At the end of August the Woodbury community comes together for three days of food, entertainment, and fireworks.  This year the event takes place August 27th through August 29th.

The Snyder Team will be at Woodbury Days this year.  We’ll be at the Re/Max Results booth Friday evening and we’ll be walking the Parade on Sunday at 1pm.  Our office will be raising money for Children’s Miracle Network by auctioning off seats in the Re/Max Hot Air Balloon, weather permitting of course.  You don’t want to miss that!

Make sure to come to Woodbury Days and say “hi!”  For more info, check out www.WoodburyDays.com. 

If you are thinking about buying a home, put August 21^st & 22^nd on your calendars! (That’s this Saturday and Sunday!)  Realtors® across Minnesota will be hosting open houses for the Statewide Open House Weekend.  A variety of homes in different price ranges will be available to view.  With rates at historic lows, now is a great time to buy.

We’ll have two of our listings open on Sunday, August 22^nd.  2544 Bayberry Avenue in Stillwater will be open from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.  458 Wildwood Road in Mahtomedi will be open from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.  Go to www.2544BayberryAvenue.com or www.458WildwoodRoad.com for virtual tours and more information.

 Happy House Hunting!

The St. Paul Area Association of Realtors recently announced the first half sales and median sales prices for Washington County.  The figures covered existing single-family homes, townhomes, and condos.  Many cities throughout the county experienced an increase in median sales prices.  Here is the breakdown of cities and their median sales price:

• Mahtomedi ~ $250,000 ~ Up 25.6%
• Cottage Grove ~ $188,500 ~ Up 6.2%
• Stillwater ~ $228,750 ~ Up 0.8%
• Lakeland ~ $216,500 ~ Up 24.1%
• West Lakeland Twp. ~ $376, 500 ~ Up 2.1%
• Afton ~ $357, 500 ~ Up 8.8%
• Dellwood ~ $740,000 ~ Up 111.4%
• Forest Lake ~ $138, 375  ~ Up 2.5%

Cottage Grove, Mahtomedi, West Lakeland Twp., Lakeland, Forest Lake, and Stillwater all saw an increase in the number of home sales as well. 

While many cities and counties in the metro are seeing a slowing real estate market, Washington County is experiencing stabilizing market conditions.  It’s a good time to live in Washington County!

The Miracle Jeans Day concept is simple.  Individuals or groups can participate in Miracle Jeans Day by supporting Children’s Miracle Network hospitals with a minimum donation of just $5, and in return, trade their traditional work attire for jeans!  All participants can also choose from memorable Miracle Jeans Day merchandise, such as buttons, lapel pins or electronic certificates to show their support.  Funds raised go directly to the Children’s Miracle Network hospital in your community.

Last year our team participated and we are proud to be wearing our jeans again on September 15^th.  Interested in getting your workplace involved?  Go to www.MiracleJeansDay.com for more information or to donate to a wonderful cause.

Every month brings home maintenance projects to keep your home in tip-top shape.  Here’s what you need to do in August to keep your home beautiful for years to come!

• Check windows and doors to make sure locks work properly and that they are in good condition.  Clean tracks and lubricate hinges.  Repair or replace any cracked windows and damaged screens.
• Repair minor brick and mortar cracks.  Call a professional if necessary, especially concerning foundations.

Today, August 5^th, is DQ Miracle Treat Day!  A portion of every Blizzard sold at participating Dairy Queen locations goes to Children’s Miracle Network, a charity that funds local children’s hospitals.  It’s a great way to treat yourself and treat others as well.  So, what type of Blizzard are you going to have today?

Click here to find a participating Dairy Queen near year.  Click here to learn more about Children’s Miracle Network.