The Bartel Group Blog
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- 2026 | 17 Posts
- 2025 | 52 Posts
- 2024 | 47 Posts
- 2023 | 45 Posts
- 2022 | 50 Posts
- 2021 | 54 Posts
- 2020 | 49 Posts
- 2019 | 39 Posts
- 2018 | 30 Posts
29
5 Ways to Lower Your Heating Bill
Cold weather is upon us, and with the furnace running more often, our heating bills are climbing. On a budget this year? Here are a few tips for lowering your heating bill, based on what our real estate agents see in the most energy-efficient Minneapolis homes for sale.
- Turn down the thermostat. One of the most simple ways to save money on your heating bill is to turn down the thermostat, especially when you don't need the house to stay warm. For instance, overnight and when you're at work are two times when you can turn the heat down and save some money. If you keep forgetting, you might invest in a programmable thermostat that will do it for you. Smart thermostats are also a popular feature we see in Saint Paul homes for sale.
21
Wayzata, MN: 5 Places for Winter Outdoor Fun
The fun is just beginning when the snow flies in Wayzata, Minnesota! This small community is just a short drive from the Twin Cities, making it a popular destination for outdoor adventure near these Minneapolis homes for sale and Saint Paul homes for sale. These are some of our favorite places for winter fun near Wayzata:
- Gro Tonka Park - 17003 Prospect Pl, Wayzata, MN 55391
Popular for family outings in all seasons, Gro Tonka Park is a cozy 15-acre park just outside Wayzata, MN. It also happens to be the city's oldest park, established in 1959, and offers picturesque walking paths and wide-open fields that provide prime sledding and snowman-building territory. But the grandest winter attraction at Gro Tonka Park is its seasonal ice skating ring, which gives families from all over the region an opportunity to don skates and take to the ice.
14
Why 2020 Is the Year for a Holiday Home Sale
Does the thought of selling your home over the holiday season intimidate you? In past years, many buyers have wondered whether selling in December is a good idea. And whether you've got Minneapolis homes for sale or Saint Paul homes for sale, it's important to time things right.
You might have heard that the market is slower at year's end; that showings can interfere with holiday plans, or even that harsh winter weather can keep buyers from your doorstep.
2020, however, brings us a winter selling season unlike any other.
In short: Not only is this the best holiday season in years to go forward with your sale, it may be the best time to sell period. A unique combination of economic factors is driving a sellers' market that's enormously favorable to your plans – like no other time in decades.
And this window of opportunity will likely close by the start of spring. What is it that makes this holiday season unique for sellers? Let's take a closer look.
7
Where to Order Holiday Poinsettias Around the Twin Cities
Poinsettias and other holiday plants make ideal gifts or arrangements to brighten up your own home this season. As you're looking for Minneapolis homes for sale or St. Paul homes for sale, shop any of the following long-standing florists in the area to find beautiful holiday plants and flowers:
- Lake Harriet Florist – 5011 Penn Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55419
You'll find fresh, hardy poinsettias at Lake Harriet Florist, which offers convenient curbside pickup to Minneapolis and throughout the Greater Twin Cities area. Other holiday choices include a Merry Christmas Dish Garden with ivy, painted fern, dracaena, croton, and fittonia plants, a Norfolk Pine decorated with festive balls and ribbons, and a petite pine under glass. The shop's hours are 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. and 9 a.m. - noon on Saturdays. Online ordering is available, as is curbside pickup. The physical store is currently closed to the public due to COVID-19.
23
Homebuyers: How a Realtor Can Help with the Details
Whether you're most interested in Minneapolis homes for sale, Saint Paul homes for sale, or homes anywhere else throughout the Twin Cities region, one key fact remains the same: There are plenty of little details that can make your homebuying journey much easier … or much harder!
All in all, buying a home isn't as intimidating as it might look in the beginning. But the process can have its twists and turns, and the best way to navigate is with the help of an expert. Your real estate agent is your staunchest ally, getting you to closing day with the minimum number of surprises.
No matter what questions you have – and most first-time buyers understandably have plenty of them – your Realtor can help. He or she is always thinking two steps ahead, so you're never in the position of feeling lost or not knowing what to do next.