Viroqua Wisconsin: June 2009

Selling a country home that has large acreage? Or maybe an investment property, or even a farm property, it is important to know and understand what capital gains are in Real Estate and their tax ramification. This blog post helps a property owner with an easy way to calculate any gains that you might have if the property being sold is not a primary single family home. 

What do you do?

Leave it or blow them out? It often amazes me when you show a home and the owner has thoughtfully left several glass jar candles burning away.  Whether for atmosphere or to scent their home, was it really that thoughtful or was it more likely thoughtless? I guess I believe rule number one is never leave anything burning and unattended when you are not home. The question then becomes, who is responsible for the candles when it is time to leave the home after the showing is over. If they are not blown out and the house catches fire then what? Has that homeowner assumed the agent would put them out? Is that homeowner coming back right away or will they forget they are blazing in the house and risking a fire? It all makes me worry about the liability of the home burning down and could that become the Realtors fault by failing to blow out those candles?

My Answer: I blow them out. I would also tell the homeowner, since you are leaving the home unattended, to not light any candles for showing, please. It might also be a surprise for some homeowners to learn that many buyers are actually turned off by scented candles.  There are also some buyers who may have allergies and others may feel they were there to perhaps hide other smells. So the best advise: Just turn on all the house lights and open up all the window treatments, it is less risky and less costly to all.

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

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-606-2999

About the author:

Mary Strang is the Broker-owner of RE/MAX Hill Country Realty located in Viroqua, WI. Home to Organic farming, a small rural city population of about 4000 and a great place to live! Copyright © 2009 by Mary Strang.  All rights reserved... "Candles left burning"  the blog post was written by Mary Strang is believed accurate but may not be guaranteed.

Abandoned Farm...To some that is such a romantic image. Years ago, I briefly worked for a real estate company, which was legendary for their liberal usage of this particular phase.

They frequently ran ads with that specific heading because it made the phone ring. Apparently those 2 words strung together seem to conjure up images of escaping city life, or the opportunity in someones mind to save and restore an old farmstead. For others it might mean starting over in a new place with a much simpler lifestyle. Life down on the farm...whatever the caller's reason, it does grab a buyers attention and the phone did ring. That firm was actually a developer/investor and their abandoned farms were mostly carved up parcels of land. Sometimes the first questions a buyer would ask was, "What shape are the buildings in?" More often than not, there actually weren't any buildings at all... just parcels of farm land being broken up and sold off with easy financing available when needed.

I did not last long at that particular company and move along to a more rewarding career.

Nonetheless, I still have the opportunity to sell an abandoned farm, but in my case, it really is one! Just last Friday, I showed this one pictured here. The home was intriguing and we wondered how long it may have been abandoned and by whom and why? It appeared neglected and run down, but still had charm. So what shape were the buildings in? Well they were all mostly neglected and pretty derelict. I would say the outside grounds held more appeal to me. There were some wonderful perennials and mature plant life doing well in the front yard. It was fun for my client and me to poke around the barn and sheds taking note of all the rusty farm things and a good amount of debris that would need to be cleared away. It came with 4 acres of land, appeared to have a newer well, and we both agreed with the a lot of soap and water, some energetic elbow grease and at least 50 gallons of paint splashed liberally all around, you might be able to actually move into that old farmhouse place. Asking price only $79,000   

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

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-606-2999

About the author:

Mary Strang is the Broker-owner of RE/MAX Hill Country Realty located in Viroqua, WI. Home to Organic farming, a small rural city population of about 4000 and a great place to live! Copyright © 2009 by Mary Strang.  All rights reserved... "Showings around Vernon County"  the blog post was written by Mary Strang is believed accurate but may not be guaranteed.

Here is a Charming Country Home... it's affordably price and has many updated features. Such as newer French Door to the deck, newer kitchen and newer baths. All is in good condition with 3 possibly 4 bedrooms guaranteeing comfort and convenience to everyone.

Interior: There are 3 entryways; across the entire front of the home is an old fashion covered porch, also know as a veranda. Over on the garage-side of the home is a most convenient entry just step away from the garage and driveway. Finally there is the sunny deck just off the kitchen reached by way of patio sliding doors making it handy for the barbeque grill and a picnic table. Both the living room and the dining room are located across the total front of the home. The both rooms open up into each other thus adding a spacious atmosphere to the living area of this home. With original, sought after Mission style woodwork and hardwood floors in good condition, it is what many homebuyers are looking for. Located in the dining room is an open staircase, also with Mission period wood details that leads to 3 spacious bedrooms on the second level. At the rear of the home is an updated Kitchen, which has new attractive new cabinetry and will be a pleasant surprise. To the left is deck; to the right is an enclosed porch with room to hang up jackets and leave your boots. There is also access to the lower level living space byway of the kitchen. It is the location of a spacious family room and extra large full bathroom.

Exterior: With almost 4acres of land there will be plenty of room for large vegetable gardens or perhaps to raise a few animals. The yard is level and mostly grass lawn, except the portion directly behind the home, which is has some woods on the hillside. The owner built a Clary Pole shed, which is approximately 7 years old and is 30X40. The property fronts on a dead end road, so there is very limited traffic making it a great location for children to play or dogs to run. The location is nearby several favorite Trout streams; one being the West Branch of the Kickapoo and the other is Knapp Creek. It is also an easy few minutes drive into Westby by way of County Road P or cut across over Carlson Ridge Road and save a few miles. Asking: $159,900

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

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-606-2999

About the author:

Mary Strang is the Broker-owner of RE/MAX Hill Country Realty located in Viroqua, WI. Home to Organic farming, a small rural city population of about 4000 and a great place to live! Copyright © 2009 by Mary Strang.  All rights reserved... "Located in Rural Westby"  the blog post was written by Mary Strang is believed accurate but may not be guaranteed.