Spring Impressions for Sellers

HEY SELLERS, With the increase in buyer traffic, it’s important to start concentrating on your buyers’ first impressions! Here are a few things we would suggest doing on a property for sale: a)Add potted plants to your front porch and decks. (Potted plants are good this time of year as we may still expect some off and on cold weather. The pots make it easy to bring indoors on those cold nights!) Think Bright Festive colors or Deep Greenery shades and plants that would accent the exterior siding. b)Finish picking up tree branches from the storm and put along the curb for city pick up. If the city has already been by or hasn’t been by for a while, perhaps call Holton’s City Hall at 364-4914. If you have not replaced electrical issues please call City Hall or a licensed electrician. If you live outside of Holton and are wondering whom to call for limb pick-up, please let us know and we’ll research your options. c)Clean the branches/leaves off the roof and gutters. d)Clear out ponds and till your gardens and flower beds. Everyone is in the mood to start planting and that gives a homey offering. e)Hang up bird feeders and houses to attract life. f)Shampoo carpets to eliminate winter grime. g)Consider fresh vase arrangements indoors at your bath vanity, bedrooms or in the kitchen. h)Clear out your winter decorations and excess from the holidays. i)Inspect your air conditioning units and make sure to change filters. j)Clean out fireplace ashes and consider post winter inspection of your fireplace. k)Spend a few hours this weekend on closets changing out Spring attire which will lighten your spaces making closets appear deeper. Oprah Winfrey hosted an ‘organization’ TV Special recently that stated, if each week you gather a trashbag of trash from your storage areas, basement, cubbards or closets and a trashbag full of items to donate to a philanthropy – after a month, you’ll have 8-10 bags of ‘stuff’ out of your home - Think of the spacing impact that would make on your living environment!

New Weekly Fox Team Listings

Price Reduction on 17420 Stoney Dr., Mayetta Reduced $5,000 down to $134,900!!! This ranch home on 3 acres is an all electric house! Full unfinished basement with walkout double french doors - easy finish opportunities as pre-studded for bathroom. Oversized mstr bedroom suite has sitting/office area, corner tub and oversized vanity in mstr bath. All bedrooms have walk-in closets. Wood burning fireplace in living. Rural Water, separate utility. Fresh open living. Amazing view to the East, located bet. Holton and Topeka w/ access to 75 Hwy. HBW 2-10 Home Warranty Provided.

Annual Mission Valley Ranch Sale - 2008

What a Fabulous weekend! Yet again, a great turnout, fabulous weather and Hot Angus on the grill! Over 70 head were sold, mostly Spring and Fall Pure Angus Bulls. It is such a beautiful drive down K-4 heading towards the 'gates' of the Flint Hills. I remember not long ago being able to stand on top of Rattlesnake Mound and look out to the North or West and not see a home for miles. Mission Creek running swiftly by at the base, faint gobbles of wild turkey towards the South, the horses running wild amist the orange and yellow setting sun, the old rusty jeep stale under the cottonwood draw, black dots of angus on the horizon, and periodically, after a good hard rain the hope of finding yet another historic arrowhead on the rocky hillside or in the creek bed. Today, numerous new homes follow the highway thru, built on those rocky bluffs between the corrals and periodic pastureland. But on Sunday, the straight roll of the Auctioneers tounge, the YEPS of the Arena Assistants. The bleachers are full, standing room only. The muddy ranch hands methodically pushing thru the head - lot by lot, living the cowboy dream! One future cowboy, just 3, stands stubbornly in his black hat. As he stands hollering at grandma "I want to ride those bulls Grandma!" Not realizing his little 30 to 1000 pound ratio would not be a welcome outcome - innocence! Grandpa sitting atop the arena stand, always looking so handsome with his hat cocked a bit over his brow. I regularly think of all the special faces and people who have been involved out at the ranch. As they have either lent a hand for registration, cooking the burgers, chasing loose cattle that have slipped by the Ranch Hands or the wonderful guests and visitors who have shown their support over the 50 years. Some of my earliest memories of sale day are of playing in the gravel, hay or grain barns watching all of the old 1970's and 1980's trailers and pick-up trucks roll-in. Over the years earning myself a bit more of a responsibility first running food, then sale bills or supplies back and forth and now to managing the sale day office. Oh, the year we tried the sale at St Marys Sale Barn and when the boys let the heifer out what a memory. She was heading home! Boy Grandpa was not happy with that incident! I believe the calf nearly took out some children running thru an alley, checked out a few police cars and was finally captured 35 minutes later in the St Mary's high school football field by a present day cowboy medium - standing in the back of a pick up truck with a lasso in hand...well, you can't have it all today. We slowly drove it back to the barn with cow following by rope :) Or the year my dad seemed to upset a bull - and it just pounded and pounded and pounded the plate over and over trying to get to dad with this bulls massive - thick head! We couldn't get that thing out of the arena soon enough! Dad always had an interesting way of working with cattle :) We'll chuck this sale up for yet another fabulous memory in our minds. And if you were present - thank you for being part of a special day. To me, it goes beyond that of a business - but the country lifestyle that is just worth holding on to!

For a copy of the published article, go to: http://www.missionvalleyranch.com/Journal/sara.html

New Weekly Fox Team Listings

We have had several Price reductions! 617 NEW JERSEY - Holton Reduced to $99,000! Large 4BR, 2BA, garden room set for hot-tub, updated kitchen, new carpeting, oversized garage/hobby sheds off alley! 207 N FIFTH - Mayetta Reduced to $135,000! Newer construction home w/ full basement, partially finished - ready to complete the rest. New fenced in yard - country view to the East, cul-de-sac setting. Call the Fox Team Today to View these or any other property! Interest rates are still decreasing! Lenders are calling us saying they have new FHA programs that can assist both First Time Home Buyers and the Veteran Purchaser. Our local USDA Rural Development group still has monies available and have recently raised their Home Value. For further information on financing opportunities, call us anytime 364.0424