Tuesday, October 30, 2007

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS FOR KIDS

There are many ways to keep your child safe at Halloween, when they are more prone to accidents and injuries. The excitement of children and adults at this time of year sometimes makes them forget to be careful. Simple common sense can do a lot to stop any tragedies from happening.

  • Help your child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Make it fire proof, the eye holes should be large enough for good peripheral vision.
  • If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure that they are far enough out of the way so that kids costumes won't accidentally be set on fire.
  • Make sure that if your child is carrying a prop, such as a scythe, butcher knife or a pitchfork, that the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury if fallen on.
  • Kids always want to help with the pumpkin carving. Small children shouldn't be allowed to use a sharp knife to cut the top or the face. There are many kits available that come with tiny saws that work better then knives and are safer, although you can be cut by them as well. It's best to let the kids clean out the pumpkin and draw a face on it, which you can carve for them.
  • Treating your kids to a spooky Halloween dinner will make them less likely to eat the candy they collect before you have a chance to check it for them.
  • Teaching your kids basic everyday safety such as not getting into cars or talking to strangers, watching both ways before crossing streets and crossing when the lights tell you to, will help make them safer when they are out Trick or Treating.
  • Make Halloween a fun, safe and happy time for your kids and they'll carry on the tradition that you taught them to their own families some day!

    Sharla Stafford, Realtor
    Coldwell Banker Burnet, Minnetonka Office
    Distinctive Homes Division
    Cell: 612.282.6895
    Direct: 952.470.2578
    Fax: 952.474.9583
    www.StaffordFamilyRealtors.com
    skstafford@cbburnet.com

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Open Houses - Sunday, October 14, 2007

Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Sunday, October 14, 2007
Address: 3416 Robinwood Spur
Location: Minnetonka, MN 55305

Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Sunday, October 14, 2007
Address: 5695 Star Lane
Location: Shorewood, MN 55331

Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Sunday, October 14, 2007
Address: 2295 Clover Field Drive
Location: Chaska, MN 55318

Coming Soon - 5695 Star Lane, Minnetonka

Priced at $394,500. A Colonial with 4 Bedrooms up, totally updated on a wooded lot.

New Listing - 3416 Robinwood Spur

Priced at $415,000. A beautifully executed renovation turns this 50's walkout rambler into a stunning home that rivals new construction. Every surface has been renewed - from the exterior to the interior - with new siding, windows, roof, mechanicals, wiring, plumbing, wood floors, carpet, paint, millwork, doors, & light fixtures! With a gorgeous, top of the line Gourmet Kitchen decked out with Stainless Steel Appliances, Granite Countertops & Custom Cabinets! 3 Bedrooms on the main floor and a spacious Master Suite complete with a full Bath with Spa Finishes and Walk-in Closet with Custom Organizers. Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac with a park-like backyard, fully fenced with new drain tile & irrigation system. With easy access to the entire metro located in award winning Hopkins School District.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Weekly Market Activity Report

While sellers continue to list fewer homes, buyers remain firmly in control in the Twin Cities housing market. New listings on the market for the week ending September 16 were behind the same time last year by 11.4 percent, while newly signed purchase agreements (pending sales) fell by 26.3 percent for the same time period. With slow sales comes decreased inventory absorption; the number of homes for sale is 9.9 percent higher than at this time in 2006.