The Bartel Group Blog

You know the key to maintaining a clean environment is a place for everything and everything in its place. But the more things we accumulate, the more difficult it is to find places to keep them.

We always advise sellers that the greatest enemy of comfort is clutter. Here are a few features they have found in some of the finest Alexandria homes for sale and White Bear Lake homes for sale that can help move your house to the front of the line. The best news is that they won't break the bank.

Experienced buyers will fall in love with the house where they can envision their own belongings. But why wait for time to sell? If you're just moving into your new place, these small details will help keep your home clean and functional. With careful planning, you can maximize the space and create a relaxing environment without sacrificing your belongings.

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When the snow flies, the outdoor fun is just beginning in Minnesota. The Twin Cities area becomes a winter wonderland this time of year, with ample opportunities to get out and explore. 

So strap on your snowshoes and dust off your trekking poles. It's time to explore these great winter hikes in Minnetonka and the Twin Cities area!

1. Lone Lake Park - 5624 Shady Oak Rd., Minnetonka, MN 55343
   A quiet park in the southwest corner of Minnetonka, Lone Lake Park offers 146 acres of woods and open spaces, with a 1.2-mile trail that provides beautiful views of the lake. The trail is always left un-plowed in winter to facilitate snowshoeing, and a separate 5-mile multi-use mountain bike trail is also open to winter hiking and fat-tire biking. Located a short drive from many Minnetonka homes for sale, Lone Lake Park's trails also connect to additional hiking routes in nearby parks, including Shady Oak Beach and Three Rivers Park.

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The coronavirus pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives, including the colors we should use to decorate our homes. Paint companies have already rolled out their top hues for 2021, and it's no surprise that the pandemic has had an enormous impact on what's expected to dominate home décor in the year. Many of the chosen colors are warm and comforting, with shades of aqua showing up more than once. If you're craving some color therapy or want your home to stand apart from other Minneapolis homes for sale or Saint Paul homes for sale, you're sure to find some inspiration from these colors of the year.

• Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year: Urbane Bronze
  Sherwin-Williams selected a warm, grounding shade of gray-brown as its 2021 color of the year. Urbane Bronze is intended to reflect the current need for serenity, stability, and renewal. The shade can make a sophisticated statement when used as an accent or primary color. Try it on all four walls in a den or bedroom to create a cozy atmosphere. You can also use Urbane Bronze on kitchen cabinetry or built-ins and then finish surrounding walls in a warm white for a sleek, contemporary look. The bold shade can work well on your front door or an accent wall in the living room.

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If you love Italian food – and who doesn't? – you'll have plenty of great restaurants to choose from around Minneapolis. From eateries that serve elevated dishes to ones that focus on the tried-and-true prepared in a delicious way, you're sure to find something to please your taste buds.

Treat yourself to dinner from one of the following Italian restaurants located near Minneapolis homes for sale as well as St. Paul homes for sale, and work your way through the list for delicious meals in the weeks to come:

• Pizzeria Lola – 5557 Xerxes Ave., S. Minneapolis, MN 55410
  Pizzeria Lola is full of surprises – starting with the fact that chef/owner Ann Kim is a James Beard Award-winning chef originally from Korea. The pizza-focused neighborhood restaurant makes traditional pies like pepperoni but also serves signature pizzas like the Lady Zaza (with red sauce, kimchi, Korean sausage, serrano peppers, scallions, sesame, and soy-chili glaze). If you'd like to try one of their pizzas, the restaurant is currently open for takeout only. Hours are 4 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sunday. Orders can be placed starting one hour before the restaurant opens.

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Home tours have stepped into a whole new world – the virtual world, that is. Our agents were among the first in our area to launch virtual showings for homes. That early commitment to keeping sellers and buyers alike moving forward has now been echoed by the rest of the industry. Virtual tours are common, and they might persist in 2021 and beyond.

Minneapolis homes for sale are some of the most desirable in North Carolina – that hasn't changed. But the right way to showcase a home's unique features has. Recent research shows that buyers taking a virtual tour have priorities a little bit different from those in a traditional walk-through.

Sellers – and their real estate agents, of course – need to adapt. Here are five big things buyers notice on virtual tours.

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