SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY

The City of Maple Grove is providing two options for residents to spruce up for spring! Clean out the shed, basement, garage, etc. and dispose of items such as appliances, tires, propane tanks, scrap metal and electronics.
Clean Up Day (Saturday, April 30)

OPTION 1
Residents can dispose of items from 8 a.m. to Noon at the Maple Grove Public Works facility, 9030 Forestview Lane (just south of County Road 30 and north of 89th Ave).

OPTION 2
Curbside Pick-Up Service (Monday, April 25)
City crews will pick up appliances, electronics, and tires from residents’ homes for a fee. Residents need to pay the required fee for each item to be picked up no later than 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. Payment can be made at the Maple Grove Government Center, 12800 Arbor Lakes Parkway. Payment can also be sent by mail but must be received no later than 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. Make checks payable to City of Maple Grove and mail to City of Maple Grove, Curbside Pick-Up Service,
P.O. Box 1180, Maple Grove, MN 55311. Don’t forget to include the address and listing of item(s) to be picked up.
All items to be picked up and for which the fee has been paid must be placed at
the curb no later than 7 a.m. on Monday, April 25.
The chart indicates items that are part of these programs and the disposal cost of each.

*Only one trip charge applies per address

Special Notes for both Clean Up Day and Curbside Pickup
• All gas, oil, and non-metal items must be removed from items being disposed of as scrap metal.
• Water softeners are not considered appliances, so they can be disposed of in the regular trash. The charge on clean up day will be $22.00 for water softener disposal.
• Propane tanks and scrap metal are not part of the curbside pick up.
• For gas and ammonia appliances, please call 651-454-9215 for a price quote.
• The City/recycler retains the right to refuse any appliance deemed to be in such compacted or destroyed condition which prevents the proper removal of hazardous material or refrigerants according to law.
• These events are for household waste only. Waste from businesses will not be accepted.

Spring Tips

• Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter


• Check your sump pump

- ensure the pump is plugged in and the discharge connections tight and free of ice.
- pour water into the sump until the pump turns on and pumps the water from the sump

• Check your water heater

- drain water from the shut-off spigot at the bottom of the water heater to remove any sediment and wear products from the water heater

• Check plumbing fixture shutoff valves

- use caution when turning these valves-if any do not want to turn without excessive force, it may be a better idea to have a plumber repair or replace them.

• Vacuum dryer vent & under/around clothes dryer

- clean the ductwork and as much lint from around the dryer as possible to prevent fires

• Ensure your kitchen fire extinguisher is charged -- if you don't have one, get one!


• Review fire escape and severe weather plans


• Ensure flashlights and radios have fresh batteries


• Protect your electronics with surge protectors


• Service your air conditioner - outside temperature must be 60 degrees or higher to prevent damage to the a/c from lack of lubrication


• Check for damage to your roof


• Check caulk around windows and doors


• Check house fascia & trim for deterioration


• Clean gutters and down-spouts


• Replace smoke alarms every 10 yrs


• Replace carbon monoxide (CO) alarms every 5 yrs


• Replace the batteries in smoke & CO alarms


• Inspect & clean dust from smoke & CO alarms


• Check your insurance for sewer & drain back-up - insurance may cover problems with water from within (i.e., overflowing tubs) but without an additional rider, may not cover damage caused from water from without (i.e., ground water or sewer/drain back-ups)


• Check your insurance for home value*/replacement cost

- Do you have enough or not enough coverage to rebuild or repair your home in the event of catastrophe? I can provide a market analysis in-person or via e-mail to give you an idea of your home's market value.
* Steve can help with this

School Proposal for Zachary Square

The Maple Grove Planning Commission is reviewing a proposal to open a charter school in the 22,000 square foot east end of the Zachary Square Shopping Center (the old Red Owl grocery store site).
The school would open with an initial enrollment of 150-200 in K-8 grades and grow one grade/year to an enrollment of 350-400 in 5 years.

'Shadow' real estate inventory may take 4 years to clear

Inman News reports the "Shadow Inventory" is on the rise nation-wide, including Minneapolis.

'Shadow' real estate inventory may take 4 years to clear

Neighborhood Painting Expert

Continuing in my series of articles on experts in our neighborhood, this time I am introducing you to Karen Gehrke ( www.KarensDecorativePainting.com ) or (763) 424-4156.
Karen is a professional painter and artist -- Muralist/Decorative Artist and Interior Painter and Color Consultant.

Murals and Interior Artistry
First impressions are key for the home. Interior artistry works for any room but especially for the entry or a kitchen or to "add" a window to a room. Karen also often paints accents around a room as a decorative touch -- the murals and artistic touches take from 1-4 days to complete and these details can set your home apart!

Tips
Interior
Preparation (prep'ing) is key.
Clean the walls, patch and fill any holes, gouges and cracks - using pre-mixed drywall mud which comes in small quantities makes it easy.
Next, prime the walls, especially if you are covering dark colors. If you are repairing smoke or water damage, an oil-based primer is important - Kilz works well for this as well as for priming dark-stained woodwork. Additionally, a flat primer helps with paint adhesion.
Patience and skill -- it will take liberal amounts of both of these to finish with a nice-looking paint job. Often rooms will take 3-4 coats, especially if covering a previous dark color.
Go with quality -- paint and supplies.
Paint -- Karen gets her paint at Hirschfields where she chooses a 97% low-smell (low VOC/environmentally friendly) paint. She says Hirschfields paints often can complete a job in just one or two coats.
Rollers and Brushes -- use Purdy brushes which you can also get at Hirschfields. Don't reuse your rollers. If you will be starting with the same color the next day, you can wrap your rollers in Cling Wrap overnight but must clean brushes at the end of each day.
Painters Tape -- she gets this at Sherwin Williams and recommends using a credit card to ensure the tape is tightly adhered in corners and around wood trim prior to painting. She also recommends removing the tape while the paint on the wall is still wet to prevent lifting the paint from the wall with the tape.
Clean-up -- to clean paint from trim (prior to drying), use baby wipes or a wet rag.

Types of Paint
Flat -- good for primer, but is not washable so won't work as a final coat. Often used in new construction as it makes for a good primer coat and is inexpensive.
*Egg Shell* -- Karen's favorite. Hides imperfections in the wall better than more glossy paints and is cleanable.
Satin/Semi-gloss -- more shiny so will show imperfections in the wall but very cleanable.
Enamel -- more for woodwork and cabinets
Lacquer -- very hard and durable. Similar to varnish, won't yellow like polyurethane.

Choosing Colors
Accent walls are one wall or section of wall painted a different color than the rest of the room. These can add interest to a room and also add a feeling of space.
Colors should be chosen according to the home-owner's taste and to accent the rest of the home.
Dark colors are ok and don't necessarily make rooms feel smaller, they can sometimes be calming.

Finally, some tips when hiring a painter.
A painter should be responsive to your needs and phone calls. If you don't get prompt returned calls or they aren't there when they say they will be, choose someone else. You want someone who will work hard to get the job done in a reasonable time and see it through to completion, including the details!
Look for an experienced painter and ask for references-these should be freely provided from a reputable painter.

A good suggestion is the professional we have right in our neighborhood -- Karen Gehrke.
She can be reached at (763) 424-4156 or ( www.KarensDecorativePainting.com )

Neighborhood 2010 Real Estate Summary

2010 was a turbulent year in the real estate market to say the least.
An uncertain job market and economy held back many 1st time homebuyers after the tax credit ended on April 30. These buyers are the driving force for the real estate market as they create new demand and lead the charge for home sales.
Adding to this, the issues affecting foreclosures in 2010 such as the federal foreclosure remediation programs (HAFA and HAMP) as well as robo-signing, there were at least two noticeable pauses in foreclosure activity that reduced foreclosures but increased the "shadow inventory" of homes that are 60 or more days past due on their mortgages. This foreclosure shadow inventory will likely lead to an up-tick in foreclosure activity in 2011 and further downward pressure on prices.


Click here to see the bank-involved activity summary. (link will expire in March 2011)






Click here to see the non-bank-involved activity summary.
(link will expire in March 2011)