Shoreview, MN: A Tale of 27 Years

Written by Alyssa Swenson, The HōM Group – MN and WI Licensed Realtor

When I first met Diane and Tom, Diane was just a couple months away from retiring, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. After 27 years, they were selling their beloved home: A cozy, sun-soaked house nestled on the shores of Lake Judy in Shoreview, MN. It was time to move southwest to their new home in beautiful New Mexico.

Each time I visited their home, their dog, Chispa, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, was always there to greet me at the door and packed with energy. Chispa means “spark” in Spanish and, oh my goodness, did she live up to that name! I could tell that Chispa had thoroughly enjoyed her years at the house, running around in the large fenced yard.

Their home and yard were a true testament to their love for conservation. Over the years, they carefully transformed the space into a sanctuary for Minnesota’s native plants and wildlife. The garden bloomed with wildflowers and plants that invited nature in, while a stone path led to a large deck that overlooked the lake.

From there, Diane and Tom spent hours watching the lake, butterflies, waterfowl, deer, insects, and eagles, accompanied by the chorus of 114 different bird species. It was a home that had seen countless memories, quiet mornings, and beautiful sunsets. When Diane and Tom selected me to sell their home, I knew that there was a story that needed to be told. And that whomever was going to buy the home was going to fall in love with all of these special aspects.

It was important that the marketing, messages, interactions, and selling experience paid true homage to their years of loving and caring for this property.

It can be overwhelming when you realize the enormity of the task at hand to pack and move after 27 years of living in one home. As their real estate agent, my job was to offer as much support as possible to reduce the stress and find solutions.

During the period of time that they were listing the home, they would still be living there. So, completely clearing it out and professionally staging it wasn’t an option.

As a solution, we brought in our trusted colleague Heidi Lindahl from Set to Show to provide a consultation and “shop” their home. By doing this, Heidi thoughtfully utilized the furniture and belongings Diane and Tom already had in the house to highlight the best features and create the right flow. 

We spent two hours going through the house top to bottom, rearranging furniture and books, making notes, and taking photos to ensure our memories didn’t fail us when it came time for professional photos.

Chispa was always sure to be the center of attention in each picture!

Moving across the country also called for decluttering and saying goodbye to items no longer needed or not in good enough condition to keep. We utilized a number of resources, like Ace Bros Junk Removal LLC, a family-owned local business, and Junk Luggers.

I also hired my friends at Ross Moving Minneapolis to help us rearrange some of the heavier items we needed for staging, like this large king size bed and desk in the basement. 

Along the way, we found various non-profits, church groups, and Facebook ‘Buy Nothing‘ members to pick up the remainder of the furniture that was still in good condition so that nothing unnecessarily went to waste.

To truly tell the story of the home and showcase the beauty of the environment surrounding it, we not only took interior and exterior photos, but also aerial photos that highlighted Lake Judy and all of the beautiful old-growth trees. 

On The HōM Group, we believe in the importance of offering open houses to get the most visibility for our client’s home and sell it for top dollar. We often find that buyers rely on coming to an open house because their own agent is out of town, on vacation, or busy. When it came time to list the home, we ensured that all three days of the first weekend on market had an open house scheduled. 

I also spent a day walking through the neighborhood, door knocking and dropping off flyers to promote the open house and encouraging neighbors to send their friends and family through. In the end, each open house was packed to the brim. 

Ultimately, all of the hard work paid off. We received multiple competitive offers in just a few days on market and the majority of the offers came from buyers who viewed the home during an open house. We closed for well over list price.

In the middle of everything, Diane and Tom bravely decided to get a new puppy! Another Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever who they named Cadi. It was fun to have her along for the journey and they did a great job managing both dogs amidst the chaos of packing, moving and cleaning. 

With Chispa and Cadi at their heels, they said goodbye to the house one last time, ready for their next adventure, carrying with them the spirit of the home they had loved so deeply.

Congratulations, Tom and Diane! It was an honor to represent you and your beautiful home. On behalf of myself and The HōM Group, we wish you the very best in New Mexico!