Viroqua Wisconsin: August 2008

I better investigate this.... (Bambi is the golf clubs orphan, as sadly her mother was hit by a car on the highway about one month ago.  We often see this cute yearling roaming our fairways here at the Virqoua Hills Golf Club.

Maybe I can take a little bite? (As the yearling crossed the 11th fariway, to investigate the ball, I was able to watch from my cart a short distance away. While waiting to take my third fairway shot I was hoping to hit the green.)

Nope it's just another golf ball, darn!( On this par 5, my third shot landed in the rough, just a short distance off the green to the left.  Now only a chip and a putt away for a par, oops I missed the putt, take a bogie, #@&*!!)

 Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599  

You can clean up in more ways than one with this spacious one level Ranch home. If you have been waiting for a GOOD BUY, the one you've been waiting for is here waiting for you. Don't miss country bliss on 1.50 acres of rural land; there is a whole list of convenient features in this home. It has a newly replaced roof, there's a striking new wood burning insert fireplace with stone hearth & log mantle to save you lots of $$$. Brand new carpeting has been recently installed in the living room, which also has an open adjacent dining area! Along the front side of the home are found 2 bedrooms and a hall bath. Off to the rear the home is a woodsy den that will scream, take-it-easy! Furthermore there is another large room so bring your king sized bed for this potential master bedroom area. That space has also been used as a hobby room. Depending on your needs for 2 or 3 bedrooms, you will relish the roominess home!

Make it yours and U call: I'll Show! Asking Price: $119,000

 Are you searching for homes to buy in Viola or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599  

Surprise Surprise... we got pictured on the back cover of our River City Realtors newsletter. In the picture was Linda Sherry, her husband, myself and Justin Miller from our local course who filled in for my husband Trent. 

Again for the 5th year,  we attended our annual Realtors Golf Outing back on July 10th. That particular day it was hot, humid, later it poured rain and there were tornado warnings. It wasn't the greatest day at the course.  Good news was Hickory Hills Golf Club gave all in attendance a rain check for a new golf date since the outing had to be canceled by the time we were on the 7th hole!  So sometime hopefully in September this foursome will be at the links again! Enjoying better weather and hopefully hitting them long and straight!

Individual Hole Winners: Hole #7 Closest to Pin- Dewy Sherry of our team.

 Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599  

Dear Realtor: "I have been offered a position with a local school district in your area and need to find a place to stay with my 60 goats, dogs, cats and, oh yes, my kids (there are two of those).  Because this has happened so quickly, I am not in the position to buy since I have my own place that I need to get put together to sell.  

Perhaps you may know of other options out there that could meet our needs.  I am currently paying my mortgage up here but, with some understanding, could possibly tackle a Contract for Deed or a Rent to Own.

Please let me know if you can help"

Realtors get some strange requests from time to time. Somewhat amusing but at the same time unbelievable, is the notion that Rent to Own is really an option sellers consider. Come on Buyers... where in the world does this come from, you must be joking?  Let's get serious for a minute. Why would any private Seller agree to a Rent to Own to the buyer above? Most Sellers have mortgages to pay off and need the funds out of their home to pay for the new home. Many Sellers are not financially equipped to be the bank by offering a land contract or an option lease. This is simply not a common situation in my market.  I have been asked many times about Rent to Own; I just know I have yet to meet a seller who would ever agree to such an arrangement.

Generally it is the investor is who will Rent to Own. Given the risk, it means there's likely to be a pretty good buck turned and less than ideal digs offered in these deals. Perhaps it's just my experience, but with about 20 years behind me selling real estate, I have not listed one rent to own home. I have not seen this come up in any continuing-ed courses I have taken, none of my past brokers I ever worked for ever took this type of listing and I haven't seen any NAR sponsored training or designations offered if you want to excel in this type of business transaction. Do you think; maybe, just maybe, it's not Mainstream? So why do buyers ask? Because the ones who do don't have the necessary money, possibly don't have good credit, might have too many potentially smelly pets (like the one above), or are just desperate. Sorry I don't specialize in Rent to Own; I would bet my E&O wouldn't cover it either.

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599  

Here is a sweet little country farmette, which is just Egg-citing! It's located about 10 miles west of the center of Viroqua; just far enough out to enjoy a quiet stroll in the country or to watch the starlit nights above.

The Residence:This neat and tidy Cape Cod Style farm home has been keeping its current owner very, very busy. It's all freshen up, generally spruced up and recently re-landscaped as the owner is ready to retire and sell. This comfy home has a sizable double living room, a formal dining room that has patio doors leading to the front deck, and a handy main floor bedroom. On the second level there are 2 other bedrooms and a large landing area perfect of a study or den. The country kitchen is located on the driveway side of the home and has a nice bay window permitting you to keep an eye on whose coming or going. The full basement has both interior and exterior access and is the location of the laundry. The home has newer vinyl siding and roofing, there is also a money saving outdoor wood burning boiler; its sure-fired to save you $$$.

The Outbuildings: The property is just right for many organic farm operations and has several good farm buildings. The 71X90 metal pole building is presently and partially used as the hen house. It has an attached pasture and nursery pen for all the wonderful feather friends of this farm. An older tobacco shed, and a small corn crib are located to the rear of the house and on the side. There is also a detached 2-car garage only steps from the kitchen door. The land consists of 10.5 acres, mostly ridge top pasture land. It's currently home to several much-loved horses. Half way out into the fenced pasture is a field pond which was design to retain and store water for the livestock needs.

Wanting to stay in tune with the environment? Well then, maybe this darling little farmette will be the right natural ingredient for your future! So if you want to wander the pastures or visit the hen house, please give us a call to set up a good time.

Are you searching for homes to buy in Genoa or Vernon County Wisconsin call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599  

A unique and common site in our hilly area are Ground Clouds.  If you have not ever seen one, they are likely to form nearby streams or rivers in low areas. They are clouds at ground level, which are made when warm air that is being cooled by coming into contact with the colder ground temperature then form and hovers on the ground until they disapate.

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin call Mary Strang at therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599  

If you would like a high quality custom built home but are concerned about the time and commitment necessary to have one built; then take a look at 116 Tamarack Street! It is only 10 years young and has awesome curb appeal. With a full front covered porch, it will welcome your visitors to come into this delightful ranch style home.

Interior: The name Great Room was coined for this home; the room is Great! Designed for one floor living, it is spacious, open, and sunny. Vaulted, beamed ceilings define the space and compliment the décor. Off of one side of the great room, there is a separate sunroom ideal for reading a book. With a warm cozy fireplace, this private sitting area is tucked away behind a pair of French Doors. The centrally located kitchen has a large island snack bar, flanked on either side by the dining room and the breakfast nook. A master bedroom with private spa bath and main floor laundry complete the main floor living of the home. Found on the lower level are additional bedrooms and a family room designed for relaxed living. So, if you are looking for a quick close, this well maintained home is good to go!

Exterior: The landscaped grounds surrounding this home have been tenderly nurtured and manicured. All the work is done. It's ready for you to just turn on the in-ground sprinkler system and sit back, enjoy, and watch the birds sing. Consisting of 1 and 1/2 lots, it's approximately .75 of an acre in size. The more private places, to the back of the house, are where twin decks and terraced flowerbeds have been well established. Each deck has interior-exterior access from a patio doors in the kitchen and in the sunroom. Additionally, there is an oversized attached 2.5 car garage, which has a full access stairway leading down to the lower level and workshop in the basement.

When you open the front door, you will know you have come home; please give us a call to set up an appointment soon!

Are you searching for homes to buy in Soldiers Grove or Vernon County Wisconsin call Mary Strang therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599  

The unique terrain of Vernon County is the direct result of being by missed by the glaciers of the past. Thus being untouched and un-glaciated, our landscape of ridge tops and the hidden valleys has remained relatively intact.  Of course, when you have hilly terrain you get zigzagging country roads. With lots of twists and lots of turns, our roads are popular with tourist, motorcyclist, and bicyclist. Many flock here to ride these roads, like amateur Mario Andretti's they go whizzing by. Harley bikers, Corvette club outing, and even luxury car clubs with Lamborghini's, Jaguar's and Ferrari's come here for their country road rallies. Why... because there are no stoplights, no traffic, no cops and there are... yep, super winding roads.

Beware however, it is easy to get lost here as things aren't all that well marked. If you make a wrong turn, don't be surprised if after about 20 minutes of zooming from one curve to next curve you might get totally turned around and end up emerging from this unintended maze back at the point of the beginning where you missed your turn. If that is not dreadful enough, many of the roads don't seem to be very well mapped out yet, so using GPS might also be somewhat futile. Nonetheless, getting to the point of my post, it is really about street signs. Now I had been driving these roads for years and years. Even I, every now and then, manage to get lost. Not because I don't know my way around here, but because someone must be dyslexic in the department that installs our street signs

As far as I am concerned street signs should always be placed perpendicular to the street it names. Somewhere there must be a rule or a codebook that plainly spells this out? It clearly would say: "All road sign names should be place in the same direction as the road runs." Otherwise when I get to that T intersection, maybe I should be making a U turn? Help me please, I may be lost in Vernon County!

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin call Mary Strang at therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599  

Here is an unfussy, quaint, and funky little country retreat home. It certainly offers up a friendly and inviting feeling to all who may enter. Set upon approximately 2 acres of wooded land, this shady, sheltered site is an idyllic woodsy hideaway.

Exterior: Behind the white picket fence, one very exceptional feature of this property is the cold water spring which gushes water from the hillside. It flows with the velocity expected from a fire hydrant. It's truly amazing. There's a charming little garden shed and a second older outbuilding that is sided with galvanized tin both just right for storage. The shape of the parcel is that of a triangle, as it is all lying on one side of the township road. Essentially it is a corner off of a 40 acres parcel all on one side of the road.

Interior: The first room you enter is a sweet little screened-in porch with plenty of windows on all sides. It's a cozy area for dining. You will be able to imagine a table and wicker chairs fitting nicely in this space. The rest of the main floor consists of a double sized living area with a woodstove and sizeable replacement windows that let in plenty of light. There is a main floor bedroom adjacent to the living room. The kitchen has eclectic cabinets, appears well organized and is the location of the open stairway leading to the second floor. Upon climbing the stairs to the second floor you'll be astonish at the size of the upper two rooms. The first is a landing with room for sleeping; the second is a private bedroom.

Are you searching for homes to buy in LaFarge or Vernon County Wisconsin call Mary Strang at therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599  

Typically when showing a house to a buyer they usually come with a friend. More often than not, it's the wife and kids plus occasionally their parents come too, to offer guidance and concerned advise. Most of my showing appointments are pretty normal and uneventful as to the people.  However, sometimes when I meet a party at a property first; not at the office, I might not know how many will show up.  One thing is personal safety and another issue is crowd control.  What do you do when the entire extended family including cousins, uncles and every person they know in life shows up together and wants in? Well if you let the entire gang in it can get pretty wild and even out of control.  If I am meeting the party at the house, in most cases I have never felt it was a necessary to ask in advance, how many will be coming along to see the house. Do You? I now think I should start asking this question.

 " Excuse me Sir...for crowd management purposes only, just how many will be in your touring party?" 

Which brings me to a question, since a typical showing is where you would have 1 to 4 attending what to do?  I got to this appointment and saw how many were there I immediately spoke up.  Having encountered this a few times before. I start off by lying downs some simple ground rules before we entered the property. I stated, "Seeing as there are so many of you, please don't open any of the other exterior doors because they stick and will be impossible for me to shut again once you leave. This property is vacant and there is no power on, so please don't go into the basement without me knowing this first for safety reasons etc. etc.  Of course they never listened to a thing I said. The moment they got into the house they all scattered in every direction. Going upstairs, going downstairs, scampering into the dark basement to check out the furnace and to see if the basement had ever been wet.  They were told not to go there without my approval but that fell on deaf ears.  Generally this group commandeered the building for the time they were there. When I ask them to stop doing some of the things I had asked, I got disapproving looks. There were unspoken emotions and looks directed at me for limiting their rights to explore anywhere they wanted. Implying, they were the buyers, how dare me! With buyer's entitlement made known, all the exterior doors flew open and one fellow yelled at me, "Look, the front door works fine, see!"

So why is it so hard for a Realtor to manage a large group showings? It is simply you are out numbered. You don't know the people you will be encountering or how they will behave at the home once you let them in the door.  For starters the interior space may not be set up to accommodate a large group. They will often divide up into pairs and spread out causing you to loose sight of were they are and what they are doing. Learning some crowd management skill maybe essential and asking in advance before the appointment, how many will be there. This will help reduce upsetting surprises. The goal any showing is to sell the house. In the process it is also your responsibility to provide a safe and organized setting in which people can tour the house and hopefully want to buy it without incident or bruised egos.

 Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin call Mary Strang at therteam.com RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599