Dan Dekker Century 21 Minnesota

101 Low-Cost /No-Cost Home Energy-Saving Measures

2012-02-13T10:44:00.001-06:00

101 Low-Cost /No-Cost

Home Energy-Saving Measures

A guide for going green from DakotaElectric

Two days ago our furnace went out and we heated the house with with our two gas fireplaces. The temperature actually stayed a little higher than with the furnace but we'll see if my gas bill went up because of it. Our son's furnace went out too so I've been thinking about heating issues this weekend. I also learned that if you can wait until business hours, you'll save almost half of the service charge. I also checked three reputable companies based on the ratings and Better Business Bureau and picked the one with the lowest service call rates. The three were $125, $99, and $89 just to come out but would include up to one hour of repair.

We'll I want to turn a leaf at our next home and be a little more green so I found these tips on the company's website that is fixing my furnace. I hope you all are thinking about how you can contribute to our world's energy problems. So here they are!

From Angell Aire, www.angellaire.com

Water Heating

1. Set water heater temperature no higher than 120 degrees F.

2. For households with one or two members, a 115 degrees F setting maywork fine.

3. Install a water-heater wrap per manufacturer’s instructions.

4. Drain 1- 2 gallons from the bottom of your water heater eachyear to reduce sediment build up.

5. Install heat traps on hot and cold water lines when it’s timeto replace your water heater.

6. Insulate exposed hot water lines.

7. Limit shower length to 5 - 7 minutes.

8. Install low-flow shower heads.

9. Fix dripping faucets.

10. Don’t let water run while you are shaving.

11. Don’t let water run while brushing your teeth.

Laundry

12. Wash clothes in cold water. Use hot water only for verydirty loads.

13. Do only full laundry loads.

14. If you must do smaller loads, adjust the water level in thewashing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water.

15. Always use cold-water rinse.

16. Use bath towels at least twice before washing them.

17. Clean your dryer’s lint trap before each load.

18. Make sure that the outdoor dryer exhaust door closes whenthe dryer is off.

19. Verify that your dryer vent hose is tightly connected to theinside wall fitting.

20. Check that the dryer vent hose is tightly connected to thedryer.

21. Make sure that the dryer vent hose is not kinked or clogged.

22. Minimize clothes drying time. Use your dryer’s moisturesensor if available.

23. Dry consecutive loads to harvest heat remaining in the dryerfrom the last load.

24. Consider using a “solar-powered” clothes dryer, anold-fashioned clothes line.

Kitchen

25. Use your refrigerator’s anti-sweat feature only ifnecessary.

26. Switch your refrigerator’s power-saver to “ON,” ifavailable.

27. Clean your refrigerator coils annually.

28. Set your refrigerator temperature to 34 degrees – 37 degrees F
29. Ensuregaskets around refrigerator and freezer doors seal tightly.

30. Unplug unused refrigerators and freezers.

31. Use the microwave for cooking when possible.

32. When cooking on the range, use pot lids to help food cookfaster.

33. If you are heating water, use hot tap water instead of cold.

34. Remember to use the kitchen exhaust fan when cooking, andturn it off after cooking.

35. Let hot food cool before storing it in the refrigerator.

36. Rinse dirty dishes with cold water before putting them intothe dishwasher

37. Use cold water for the garbage disposal.

38. Only run the dishwasher when it’s fully loaded.

39. Use your dishwasher’s air-dry cycle instead of heat-drycycle to dry dishes.

Lighting

40. Replace any light bulb that burns more than one hour per daywith an equivalent Energy Star® compact fluorescent bulb (CFL).

41. Turn off unnecessary lighting.

42. Replace outdoor lighting with an outdoor-rated equivalentcompact fluorescent bulb (CFL).

43. Use fixtures with electronic ballasts and T-8, 32-wattfluorescent lamps.

44. Use outdoor security lights with a photocell and/or a motionsensor.

Miscellaneous

45. Turn computers and monitors off when not in use.

46. Make sure electric blankets are turned off in the morning.

47. Turn your waterbed heater off when it’s not needed.

48. Turn large-screen TVs off completely when not in use.

49. Turn off stereos and radios when not in use.

50. Remember to turn off hair curling irons and hot rollers.

51. Turn off coffee makers when not in use.

52. Turn off pool pump and/or heater when not needed.

53. Verify livestock water tank heaters are off when not needed.

54. Make sure heat tape is off when not needed.

55. Unplug cell phone chargers when not needed.

56. Ensure all new appliances you purchase are EnergyStar®-approved.

Heating & Air Conditioning

57. Set your thermostats to 78 - 80 degrees F in the summer, 65 - 68 degrees F in thewinter.

58. Run ceiling fans on medium, blowing down in the summer.

59. Run ceiling fans on low, blowing up in the winter.

60. Change furnace filters monthly.

61. When installing new air filters, make sure they are facingthe correct direction. (Look for arrow on the side of the filter.)

62. When heating or cooling, keep windows locked.

63. Insulate electric wall plugs and wall switches with foampads.

64. Caulk along baseboards with a clear sealant.

65. Close fireplace dampers when not burning a fire.

66. Caulk around plumbing penetrations that come through wallsbeneath your bathroom and kitchen sinks.

67. Caulk electrical wire penetrations at the top of interiorwalls.

68. Close shades and drapes at night to keep heat in during thewinter.

69. Make sure drapes and shades are open to catch free solarheat in the winter.

70. Close shades and drapes during the day to help keep heat outduring the summer.

71. Ensure your attic access door closes tightly.

72. Insulate your attic access door.

73. Make sure insulation in your attic does not block soffitvents.

74. Do not close off unused rooms that are conditioned byforced-air systems.

75. Do not close supply air registers.

76. Ensure return air grilles are not blocked by furniture orbookcases.

77. Ensure windows and doors are properly weather-stripped.

78. Make sure outside soffit vents are not blocked.

79. Do not use roof-top power ventilators for attic exhaust asthey may evacuate conditioned air from your home.

80. Have your HVAC system serviced once per year by aNATE-certified technician.

81. Monitor your home’s relative humidity in the summer. If itconsistently stays in the 60-percent range or higher, ask your HVAC technician about lowering your central air conditioningunit’s indoor fan speed.

82. Ensure window air conditioning units are weather-stripped.

83. Ensure windows with window-mounted air conditioning unitshave weather-stripping between the middle of the top and bottom pane.

84. Remove and clean your window air conditioner’s filtermonthly.

85. Keep “fresh-air” vents on window air conditioning unitsclosed.

86. Minimize use of electric space heaters.

87. When using the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening thedamper in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly.

88. Caulk around your basement windows.

89. In a basement, seal the sill and band joist with durablecaulking or foam sealant.

90. Ensure floor registers are not blocked with rugs, drapes orfurniture.

91. Ensure your outdoor heat pump or air conditioning unit iskept clean and free of debris.

92. Outside your home, caulk around all penetrations, such astelephone, electrical, cable, gas, water spigots or dryer vent.

93. Caulk around storm windows.

94. Use heavy-duty, clear sheets of plastic on the inside ofyour windows to reduce the amount of cold air entering your home.

95. Verify that your supply air duct “boots” (behind supply airregisters) are caulked to your ceiling, wall sheet rock or flooring.

96. Verify that your ducts are tightly connected to your HVACequipment if your ducts are in an unconditioned space.

97. Verify that all outdoor doors (including storm doors) closeand seal tightly.

98. In two-story homes serviced by one HVAC system, a paddle fanat the top of the stairs can push down hot,second-floor air.

99. Install 15-minute, spring-wound timers on bathroomventilator fans.

100. Always run your HVAC system fan on “AUTO.” Running it on “ON”uses more electricity and can decrease your air conditioner’s ability to remove moisture.

101. Keep your garage door down. A warmer garage in the winterand cooler garage in the summer will save energy.

For Sale: 2BR/2BA Single Family House in Lakeville, MN, $239,900

2012-02-12T21:02:00.000-06:00

For Sale: 2BR/2BA Single Family House in Lakeville, MN, $239,900

Monthly Skinny: January 2012

2012-02-11T04:34:00.000-06:00

2012-02-11T04:29:00.002-06:00

January Pending Home Sales Highest Since 2005

February 10, 2012 posting on the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors

"There were 3,149 purchase agreements signed in the 13-county Twin Cities metropolitan area during January, a 25.5 percent increase over last January. No doubt driven by a mix of record-low mortgage rates, affordable prices, strong negotiating leverage and unseasonably warm weather, that’s the highest January pending sales figure since 2005."

"Sellers were less active, as new listings fell 9.0 percent from January 2011 to 5,112 properties. The number of homes for sale continued to drop, as well, down 28.1 percent from last year to 16,463 active listings – the lowest inventory reading for any month since 2003. Another important housing metric, months supply of inventory, remained at a six-year low of 4.6 months."
“If you look deeper into the strong sales figures, you can see which segments are leading the charge,” said Cari Linn, President of the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®. “With inventory down, especially among foreclosures, and good purchase demand, buyers are finally looking harder at traditional properties.”
"Traditional sales surged 28.7 percent, while foreclosure sales fell 2.9 percent and short sales increased 16.8 percent. For sellers, the landscape is shifting. For six consecutive months, sellers received progressively more of their asking price than they did the year prior. In January, sellers received an average of 91.2 percent of their original list price."
"Sellers are also watching market times closely. The average number of days a listing spends on the market before closing was down 8.3 percent to 142 days—the fourth consecutive year-over-year decrease. But those looking to sell their properties should be aware of distressed market activity."
"In January, 43.2 percent of all new listings were either foreclosure or short sales. Together these lender-mediated properties made up 55.3 percent of all closings. Homes in financial distress are exiting the marketplace faster than they are entering it, but they have still managed to prevent market-wide price appreciation. The median sales price was down a modest 3.4 percent from January 2011 to $140,000, marking the smallest decline since November 2010."
“Price declines are subsiding, partly thanks to changes on the supply-side of the equation. Rising home prices will still be the final phase of recovery,” said Andy Fazendin, MAAR President-Elect. “We firmly believe that what we’re seeing now is setting the stage for better times ahead.”
by Aubray Erhardt

2012-02-09T22:02:00.000-06:00

Guess whose home was featured today on Realtor.com???

19182 Ingleside Court Lakeville, MN 55044 - Real Estate | CENTURY 21

2012-02-08T21:25:00.001-06:00

19182 Ingleside Court Lakeville, MN 55044 - Real Estate | CENTURY 21

Fine Homes and Estates - Flyer - 2 Sided - Horizontal - C21233S-UV

2012-02-07T21:38:00.000-06:00

Fine Homes and Estates - Flyer - 2 Sided - Horizontal - C21233S-UV
19182 Ingleside Court, Lakeville, Minnesota 55044

2012-02-05T16:02:00.001-06:00

Buying Advice

Buying a home is a significant and exciting decision. This section provides professional real estate advice and helpful home buying tips.

First Steps

The Internet and real estate professionals are the top two resources most buyers turn to when searching for a home.¹ When it’s not convenient for you to speak directly with a real estate professional, century21.com can help improve your overall home buying experience and provide the guidance to reduce stress, save time, and make you a savvy, successful consumer.
A CENTURY 21® Agent is ready to make a full-time commitment to help you capitalize on current market opportunities and assist you in making an informed decision.
To ensure you make the right choice for the long term, a CENTURY 21 Agent offers extensive knowledge in:

Neighborhoods, schools and market conditions
Mortgage specialists who can assist you with your financing
Technology that gives them an edge, along with multiple resources available just for you on century21.com

Would you like to receive more information on the home buying process? Contact a Dan Dekker at 952-220-3701 now.
¹ 2010 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers
Finding the right real estate agent can make you a savvy consumer and improve your overall experience.

2012-02-03T20:22:00.001-06:00

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferrooney/2012/01/26/why-century-21-is-advertising-in-the-super-bowl-for-the-first-time/

Why Century 21 Is Advertising In The Super Bowl For The First Time

Century 21, a real estate company that a few years ago had shifted marketing spend to digital media in lieu of TV, is back to TV in a big way, as that move includes its first-ever Super Bowl spot. The company actually announced its plans to participate in the big game last March. The :30 ad in the third quarter of the game as well as pre-game spots feature Deion Sanders (jersey number 21, coincidentally), Donald Trump and Apolo Anton Ohno and are a continuation of its new “Smarter, Bolder, Faster” campaign from agency Red Tettemer & Partners.
It actually has been 21 years–again, coincidentally–since any real estate company has advertised in the Super Bowl, said Bev Thorne, Century 21 CMO. I talked with her about the Super Bowl ad, why it made sense for the brand, and what sort of payback she expects to get from the reportedly $3.5 million price tag.
What was the rationale for deciding very early on to advertise in this year’s Super Bowl?
At that point in time we viewed the timing of the Super Bowl as perfect for a couple of reasons: It was our 40^th anniversary mid-year 2011, and we felt this was a perfect tail-end celebration. It is also the jump-start to the spring selling season.
It was a terrific opportunity for us to not only speak to consumers but also energize the sales professionals that represent the Century 21 brand. For us it was a great opportunity to share with the world our confidence with our real estate professionals, our confidence in the housing marketing and the dream of home ownership.
Wasn’t there any concern that the housing marketing could take an even bigger turn for the worse?
In its weakest forecast, I think you will find that most forecasts show there will be more than 4 million transactions this year. While that is nowhere near a high, it is still a significant number. Also realize that for those 4 million transactions, this is an extremely important financial transaction and an emotional transaction. So we think for many this is a generational opportunity to purchase a home.
Advertising in the Super Bowl is an expensive proposition.
It is expensive, but we think our agents are worth it and our objective is for those people who are appropriate…we want them to be familiar and aware of the capabilities of the Century 21 agent.
They’ll be watching the game?
The vast majority of American homes will be watching the game. 70% of households will be watching the game. The really nice thing about it is that it takes place in the home. It’s the last American campfire. What greater time or place for visibility of this message?
Explain the choice of celebrities that you are using in the ads.

Our national campaign has the tagline of, “smarter, bolder, faster.” We feel they embody and magnify those attributes.
What kind of ROI would you like to see from it?
We’d like to see it pay off for the investment that we’ve made in terms of our agents and the preference that consumers will have for the brand. What we look at is our share of the market. We are absolutely looking to increase the engagement of Century 21 professionals in the transactions that take place. We’ll look like metrics like the online engagement with consumers, the number of additional conversations that take place.
If it goes well this year, will you advertise in next year’s game?
We will look very favorably upon it, because all of the reasons I just shared with you will be true next year.

Century 21 Apolo Anton Ohno Super Bowl Commercial 2012

2012-02-03T19:53:00.000-06:00

CENTURY 21 Super Bowl Behind-the-Scenes Videos: On-set with Deion Sanders

2012-02-02T20:53:00.000-06:00

CENTURY 21 Super Bowl Behind-the-Scenes Videos: Where Apolo Ohno calls '...

2012-02-02T20:52:00.000-06:00

CENTURY 21 Super Bowl Behind-the-Scenes Videos: On-set with Donald Trump

2012-02-02T20:51:00.000-06:00

Century 21 Internet Marketing Program

2012-02-02T18:35:00.000-06:00

· www.century21.com

· www.century21espanol.com

· Neighborhood Profiles

· Targeted E-mail Communication

· Social Media Website

- Facebook

- Twitter

- YouTube

- Flickr

· Website Listing Distribution Network

· National Advertising

· Local Advertising

· Global Referral Network

· Seller Service Pledge^®

· Mortgage^SM Services

· Preferred Client Club Marketing

· Direct Mail Marketing

· Fine Homes & Estates Digital Magazine

· Buyer lead distribution program (LeadRouter)

· Client lead reporting tool(Golden Ruler)

Don't be caught poorly marketed when you sell your home. Call me now so I can show you how OUR marketing can SELL your home!

Dan Dekker
Century 21 Premier Group
952-220-3701

Pricing Your Home To Sell

2012-02-01T07:32:00.000-06:00

Intelligent Pricing

By pricing your property at market value, you expose it to amuch greater percentage of prospective buyers.

This increases your chances for a sale while ensuring a finalsale price that properly reflects the market value of your home.

The Effect of Overpricing

Improper pricing may lead to a below market value sale price, oreven worse, no sale at all.

Your home has the highest chances for a fruitful sale when it isnew on the market and the price is reasonably established

Activity vs. Timing

A property attracts the most attention, excitement and interestfrom the real estate community and potential buyers when it is first listed onthe market.

Improper pricing at the time of initiallisting misses out on this peak interest period and may result in your propertylanguishing on the market.

Please call me now to discuss the pricing of your home!

Dan Dekker
Century 21 Premier Group
952-220-3701

CENTURY 21 Arrives In Hollywood | Century 21 Blog

2012-01-31T16:23:00.001-06:00

CENTURY 21 Arrives In Hollywood | Century 21 Blog

Donald Trump invites family including Ivanka and Eric to the set of his latest Super Bowl ad, also starring Deion Sanders and Apolo Ohno - NYPOST.com

2012-01-31T15:58:00.000-06:00

Donald Trump invites family including Ivanka and Eric to the set of his latest Super Bowl ad, also starring Deion Sanders and Apolo Ohno - NYPOST.com

Deion Sanders Teaser: CENTURY 21 Super Bowl (video)

2012-01-31T10:36:00.001-06:00

Tycoon Teaser: CENTURY 21 Super Bowl (video)

2012-01-30T21:06:00.000-06:00

2012-01-30T21:03:00.000-06:00

The President/CEO of Century 2, Rick Davidson, shared some figures today from the National Association of Realtors. For three months in a row prior to January, existing homes sales rose and remain above last years levels. Home sales increased 5% nationally in December and total housing inventory fell 9.2%. That makes it the lowest level of available inventory since March, 2005. But at the current rate of home sales, that's about a 6.2 month supply. With a market that continues this way, we could see a balanced market with prices stabilizing and even some possible growth. Freddie Mac fell to 3.95% interest rates in December setting another record! The National median home price was $164,500 in December. Cash transactions were down 1% and investors made up 21% of purchases in December and first time home buyers accounted for 31% of transactions. Distressed home made up 32% of sales in December which was up 3% over November. Confidence is building in the real estate market and now is a good time to think about moving.

Century 21 Seller Service Pledge

2012-01-30T04:31:00.000-06:00

As an independently owned andoperated CENTURY 21^® Office, we are dedicated to providing you withservice that is professional, courteous and responsive in helping you marketyour property. To fulfill this commitment, we agree to provide you with thefollowing services:

1. Dedicateourselves to making the process of selling your home as easy and successful aspossible

2. Respectyou and your needs and be honest and forthright, in accordance with FairHousing regulations and ethical real estate practices

3. Holdyour best interests in the highest regard throughout the process

4. Valueand respect your time, being as efficient and effective as possible

5. Understandyour needs and respond quickly

6. Utilizemy knowledge, resources and training to best serve you

7. Provideregular progress reports throughout the process and discuss with you commentsreceived about your property

8. Explaineach step of the process and act as a guide to help you make informed decisions

9. Makerecommendations to enhance the marketability of your property

10. Utilizea written Competitive Market Analysis and local market information to help youset an appropriate listing price to sell your home and receive the value itdeserves

11. Reviewvarious financing alternatives

12. Develop,present and agree upon a customized marketing plan that will detail specificpromotional efforts to help best market your property

13. Placethe internationally recognized CENTURY 21 yard sign on your property, with yourpermission and subject to local ordinances

14. Postyour property on century21.com, a site which receives millions of visitors eachmonth

15. Explainlocal real estate procedures and regulations

16. Showyour property to potential buyers

17. Utilizethe CENTURY 21 System’s vast online resources to expose your property topotential buyers around the world

18. Utilizethe CENTURY 21 System to help you obtain the results you deserve, includingleveraging our network of more than 8,000 offices worldwide

19. Submitto you all written offers, assist with negotiations, and provide an estimate ofyour net sales proceeds, so you understand all implications prior to theacceptance of any offer

20. Uponacceptance of an offer by you, pre-settlement (escrow) activities throughoutthe closing process will be monitored as permitted by law or local practice

21. Assist you in finding your next home, or offer torefer you to an agent in another location

Please call me now so we can discuss how this service pledge can work for you.

Dan Dekker
Century 21 Premier Group
952-220-3701

Century 21 Moving Checklist

2012-01-28T18:35:00.003-06:00

Please feel free to comment on my posts! I would like to know how you think I'm doing as a blogger. How about some real estate questions? Anyway, let's talk about moving!

6-8 Weeks Before moving day

o Set thedate

o Interviewmoving companies and get estimates

o Getcosts from truck rental companies if you are
planning to moveyourself

o Inventoryhousehold goods

o Choose amover

at least 4 weeks before moving day

o Contactutility companies to arrange for transfer
or shut off

o File changeof address forms

            -Don’t forget to notify creditors and anyone
            elsewho sends you monthly mail or
            publications

o Notifyfriends and family of new address

o Startorganizing items to be moved or packed

-Fragile vs. non-fragile

-Immediate need in new home

Kitchen items

Clothing

Toiletries

Tools

o Hold a yard sale to get rid of unnecessary items
andjunk

2 Weeks Before moving day

o Return any borrowed or rented items

-Cable Boxes

-Furniture

-Library books

-Etc.

o Pick up any personal items

-Cleaning

-Tools

-Etc.

o Begin to clear out refrigerator and freezer

1 Week Before moving day

o Confirmarrangements with the movers

o Notifyfriends and neighbors that you may need
theirhelp

o Make arrangements for care of smallchildren
and pets for theday

1 day before moving

o Read a book - NOT!

o Makesure each person has a bag packed for
essentialsat the new address

o Defrostrefrigerator/freezer

o Confirmarrival time of movers

Day of the move

o Get an early start

o Make sure movers have your contact
informationduring the move

o Be available to movers for questions

o Perform final check of the home once movers
haveleft

- Make sure anyappliances left behind are
turned off

-Be sure to leave keys and garage door
openers

o All rooms should be at least broom clean and
preparedfor buyer walk through inspection

Delivery Day

o Makesure you understand how mover expects
tobe paid

o Superviseunloading and any unpacking

o Confirmreceipt of all items on inventory sheets

o Welcometo your new home!

Moving can be fun but it can turn out to be a nightmare! So please call me now so I can walk you through all the steps of a successful move!

Dan Dekker

Century 21 Premier Group

952-220-3701

Century 21 Staging Your Home Checklist

2012-01-27T19:26:00.001-06:00

Whenit comes time to prepare your home for showing you might want to considerhiring a professional to help. If you choose to do it yourself here are sometips for you to think about. In doing this, you will be ahead of most of thesellers already on the market in the way your home shows.

Inside

Clearall unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house
Clearall unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops
In thebathroom, remove items from the countertops, tubs, shower stalls and commode tops
Be surethat the bathroom tubs, tile, sinks, shower floor and ceilingand toilet bowls are free of mildew and look sparklingclean
Rearrangeor remove some of the furniture if necessary
Takedown or rearrange pictures or objects on walls
Patchand paint where necessary
Reviewthe house inside room by room, and:
Paintany room needing paint
Cleancarpets and vacuum drapes that need it
Cleanwindows and cobwebs from ceilings and chandeliers
Makesure the closets and garage are not “too full”
Replaceburned out light bulbs and repair any faulty switches
Repairsand improvements will facilitate a sale being made
Make certain all rooms areodor-free

Outside

Go around perimeter of the house and remove all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc, intothe garage or trash
Check gutters and/or roof forleaks and/or dry rot
Weed and then mulch allplanting areas
Clear patios and decks of all small items,such as smallplanters, flowerpots, charcoal, barbecues,
toys,etc.
Check paint condition on the house,especially thefront door and trim
Review if shutters, shingles, stone orbricks need replacing
Check exterior stairs andhandrails; walkways, screens, screen doors

In general

Try to look at your house “through a buyer’seyes” as though you havenever seen it before

If you need help staging your home to sell, please give me a call and we'll make the most of staging to benefit you.

Dan Dekker

Century 21 Premier Group

952-220-3701

What to Have Ready to List Your Property

2012-01-26T21:49:00.001-06:00

o Prior year tax bill

o Survey (if you have one already)

o Account numbers for mortgage

o 3 copies of the key to the front door

o Invoices for repairs or improvements tothe property

o A list of inclusions and exclusions inthe sale

o Any interior or exterior pictures ofthe property

o Declarations/Covenants/DeedRestrictions (if applicable)

o Utility bills, actual monthly costs ormonthly budget

o Information on special assessments (ifapplicable)

o Homeowners/Condominium associationinformation (if applicable)

•Amount

•Company

•Address

•Contact name

•Phone number

Now that your documents are all in hand, please call me so we can list your property now!

Dan Dekker
Century 21 Premier Group
952-220-3701

The Minnesota Song

2012-01-25T15:37:00.000-06:00

Factors that Influence the Value of your home

2012-01-25T14:44:00.000-06:00

Factors that have noimpact on the current value of your home:

· What you paid for it

· Your Investment in the property (such as upgrades)

· What you want to net from the sale

· What those outside theindustry believe the property is worth

Please call me today so I can unravel the mystery of the correct market value of your home.

Dan Dekker
Century 21 Premier Group
952-220-3701

A Little History

2012-01-25T12:50:00.000-06:00

My real estate experiencestarted in 1998 with Coldwell Banker Burnett where I graduated from Coldwell Banker University and quickly rose to Realtor® of the month at my Office in Burnsville. I continued in school and earned my designation as Graduate, Realtor® Institute or G.R.I. with the National Board ofRealtors®. In 2001, I joined a new company called RHS Realty, a fast growing company who, many years later, merged with Coldwell Banker Burnet. At the merger in 2007, I joined Gold Key Realty who merged with Century 21 Premier Group the following year.

Century 21 Premier Group was established in 1964 and has now grown to the sixth largest real estate company in the Twin Cities and surrounding area. However, our ten Twin Cities locations provide that small town professional and friendly service. The Century 21 franchise was added about 30 years ago which gives us the worldwide reach needed to market property in today's world. Century 21 Real Estate was founded in 1971 and consists of over 8,000 independently owned and operated offices. The headquarters office is located in Parsippany, New Jersey and provides marketing support and a national and global presence in real estate. The St. Louis Park Office was originally Zip Realty, which commenced in 2006 and merged with Century 21 Premier Group in February of 2011.

Affiliations:

Minneapolis Association of Realtors®

National Association of Realtors®.

Education:

Cornerstone University, B.A Degree

Coldwell Banker University, Graduate

Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music, Graduate

Spartan School ofAeronautics, Graduate

Coldwell Banker University, Graduate

Coffee at Cafe Latte' anyone?

2012-01-23T16:03:00.003-06:00

I've been spending a lot of time at my computer lately and there are some people that think you can do everything at the computer like find your home or sell your home. But your computer can't do what I do at Century 21. I can understand what your needs are, weigh out the subtleties of the market, the schools, the neighborhood, the whole process. I can see your reaction when you walk through a home and know if you love it or not. There are some things a computer can't do. And that is why Century 21 is the Gold Standard. We listen to you and know whether to even show a home or not based on your wishes. It saves you time and frustration and makes the whole home buying or selling experience better. Have a computer do that! Computers can't negotiate. Computers can't adjust for changes in the market. Put me to work on your real estate purchase or sale and I'll prove there is just no comparison to the difference a real person can make when searching for your new home.

Please call me today at 952-220-3701 for an appointment to see how I can help you with your real estate questions. I would love to meet you over a cup of coffee at my favorite coffee spot!

Linda White- The Dick Loughlin International Hall of Fame Award

2012-01-23T15:11:00.000-06:00

Century 21 (Stills)

2012-01-23T14:47:00.000-06:00

Century 21 Real Estate Presents "The Path Home"

2012-01-23T14:27:00.000-06:00

OPERATION: C21 Super Bowl

2012-01-23T13:51:00.000-06:00

Why I Decided to Get Into Real Estate

2012-01-23T09:57:00.000-06:00

My name is Dan Dekker and I have been involved in construction remodeling projects since high school. I was a volunteer for Youth for Christ (YFC) in Michigan to remodel hostels for unwed mothers. My interest in real estate was cultivated by the rise in the cost of home ownership and wanted to make a difference in this community by providing excellent representation. Many do not know the pitfalls of purchasing or selling real estate as I have had to learn by experience, and I want to help prevent buyers and sellers from going through the worse nightmare of their life! For many, the investment of their home is the largest investment and I want to help them protect and increase that investment by sound and wise decisions that take them into the future without regrets. Knowing market trends and staying in touch with the housing market helps me advise my clients to maximize their home investment throughout their lifetime. Between the administrative skills of my wife and my negotiating abilities, our knowledge of the industry, and our ability to please our clients in way we do business, I believe we can make the constant changing process of home ownership more profitable, enjoyable and rewarding and a growing investment into the future.

I grew up in western Michigan, north of Holland, Michigan and am a graduate of Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for over 34 years and enjoy working together with her in this business.

I enjoy making new friends over coffee. My favorite coffee shop of all is Café Latte in St. Paul where I frequently go for special occasions. Friends have become a very important part of our lives since we see extended family less often than we would like. I think my relationship with friends is like many have with close family members. We enjoy closeness with our friends and going through life together, witnessing each others joy and sorrows, helping each other along the way. I enjoy including others in my circle of friends and hope you will see that I have a refreshing and uplifting spirit.

My work experience includes working for Northwest/Delta Airlines as an Aircraft Lead Mechanic, Manager, Pilot, and Instructor. I love traveling and have visited many places in Europe and Asia. Although I have replaced flying with real estate, I still enjoy talking about aviation and travel. That's where this new logo emerged. I think it represents a classic sort of flying and I want to offer a classic experience in finding a new home for you. Although I am heavily involved in the new technology in real estate, I still believe personal contact suits people best when making decisions.

My thirteen years of real estate experience started with Coldwell Banker Burnett where I graduated from Coldwell Banker University and quickly rose to Realtor of the month at my Office in Burnsville. I continued in school and earned my designation as Graduate, Realtor Institute or G.R.I. with the National Board of Realtors. A few years later I joined a new company called RHS Realty, a fast growing company who, many years later, merged with Coldwell Banker Burnet. At the merger, I joined Century 21 Premier Group, a company with a branch office in St. Louis Park at 1660 S. Highway 100, Parkdale Plaza Suite 528.

I've learned many things over the years, but mostly that working with real estate and investing continues to change through the years and the most information you can get is from seasoned Realtors. Although real property seems to be a bad investment at the time, there are a lot of opportunities out there and interest rates are at the lowest in years. Please call me today at 952-220-3701 for an appointment to see how I can help you with your real estate questions. I would love to meet you over a cup of coffee at my favorite coffee spot!

10 Important Tips to Successful Real Estate Investing

2012-01-21T16:18:00.000-06:00

Be a Real Estate Investor - 10 Important Secrets

When it comes to investing, everybody has certain goals and aspirations. I was just talking with a Minnesota friend in Florida who was seriously thinking of investing in distressed properties in the Ft. Meyers area. Then another friend in Indiana flew up to also look at properties. The low home prices look tempting, however, we have found that there are certain guidelines every aspiring real estate investor needs to know:

1. Compare Property Values and Area Rents

Financial statistics only go so far; the best measure of a property's market value is often the sale prices of nearby properties. The same holds true for area rents. A low price can often be justified by a reasonable rent; renters who can afford a high rent can afford to buy instead, so reasonably priced rent is a need.

2. Be careful - Tax Law Changes

Don't base your tax investment on current tax laws. The tax code is constantly changing, and a good investment is a good investment regardless of the tax code. The right property with the right financing is what you should look for as an investor.

3. Specialize in What You Know

Start in a market segment you know. Whether you focus on fixer-uppers, foreclosures, starter homes, low-down payment properties, condominiums, or small apartment buildings, you'll benefit from experience by specializing in one aspect of investment real estate properties.

4. Know the Costs Going In!

Know the financial statements inside out. What are operating expenses? What are loan payments? Vacancy costs? Taxes? What does the cash flow statement look like? These are key issues that must be addressed before making a solid investment.

5. Know Where Your Tenants are Coming From

If the last rent increase was recent, your tenants may be considering a move. If tenants have a short-term lease, they may be living there simply to attract unsuspecting buyers. It is also important to collect the tenants' security deposits at closing.

6. Assess the Tax Situation

Taxes are an integral part of successful real estate investing, and they often make the difference between a positive cash flow and a negative one. Know the tax situation, and see how it can be manipulated to your advantage. It may be a good idea to consult a tax advisor.

7. Investigate Insurance Coverage

If seller's coverage is based on lower-than-current replacement value, your insurance cost may increase when you pay a higher purchase price.

8. Confirm Utility Costs

Ask the local utilities to verify recent utility expenses, especially if any of these costs are included in your tenant's rent.

9. Consult Your Accountant

Taxation is a key element of successful real estate investing, so be sure to find an accountant who is well-versed with the constantly evolving tax code.

10. Inspect!

Make sure that you always perform a thorough inspection of the property before buying it. Never, ever buy any property without at least examining the site. In some cases, hiring professional inspectors to examine the structural mechanical system may be a sound investment.

Visit my website at www.C21mn.com soon for more updated information.