Home looking a little worn down, used and ‘lived in’? There a few simple things you can do to improve your curb appeal, and increase the price of your property substantially. Another consideration is not just the price you get for your home, but how quickly it sells. The more quickly your home sells, the sooner you can stop paying the mortgage. It’s a HUGE savings. An attractive home sells more quickly. Period. – First- power wash your home and windows if necessary (whose home couldn’t use a power wash??) Dirty windows and siding make a home look old and[Read more…]

Summers in Minnesota are really about soaking up every moment of sunshine and goodness before Old Man Winter rears his ugly head again.  We work hard and play hard in a Minnesota summer. 11.  Trails- because even though we have the Mall of America, there is only so much mall-walking a person can take. 10. Barbecues.  We really take advantage of the ability to gather outside of the house, knowing we’re going to get plenty of “togetherness” in the house the rest of the year. 9. Cabins. Not to worry- even if you don’t have one, your friend, your crazy[Read more…]

If you’re like us, spring is that special time when you realize that an entire winter’s worth of toys, decorations, dirt, and tools are scattered throughout your garage.  Time to get it cleaned up and organized now that it’s warm enough to do so! We wanted to share some of the best garage organization tips we’ve seen over the years. Hanging shelving– If installed correctly, this can be super stable.  It’s a great way to get items you don’t use frequently out of the way.  Tip: holiday decorations are a great thing to store on these shelves since you only[Read more…]

10. Opening the windows Once it hits 50 degrees, that seems like a fair temperature to open the windows and get some fresh air, right? 9. Daylight The spring days seem to be endless- a welcome reprieve after months of short days. 8. Disappearing mountains of snow There is something therapeutic about seeing the shrinking mountain in your front yard.  One day you can’t see over it.  Two days later, it’s nothing but a molehill.  Fantastic! 7. People out and about After a winter cooped up in the house, there is no greater sign of spring than the people who[Read more…]

We’re all starting to get a touch of cabin fever as we anxiously await the beginning of driveway season, or as some might call it, spring.   With all of the snow days, we’ve heard some of you are running out of indoor activities for the kiddos, so we put together a list. 1.    Build a fort Many of us have fond memories of building blanket forts growing up.  All of these years later, it’s still a great way to entertain the little ones.  Move furniture close enough and drape blankets fully over it. Bring some books and snacks in, and[Read more…]

As the new year quickly approaches, we’re excited to announce our 2nd annual Tax Relief Driveway Giveaway!  One lucky winner will be announced the winner of the free concrete driveway on April 15th,2014 (tax day) from Richfield Blacktop and Concrete.  So, as you start to gather your receipts, tax forms and deductions this year, don’t forget to: Like our Facebook Page. Tell us why it needs to be repaired. Share the giveaway with your Facebook friends, and any family members who may need a new driveway. Schedule your free driveway quote.  We’ll come out and take a look, and help[Read more…]

We’re putting a bow on the season as the ground freezes, and making plans to enjoy Thanksgiving with our families.  In preparation, we put together a list of the 10 most Minnesotan Thanksgiving dishes.  While there are several hotdishes/casseroles that made the cut, there’s much more to Minnesota than that! Check it out! 10. Lefse The Johnsons, Hansens and Petersons that live in Minnesota serve up this Norwegian classic.  Whether you serve it with butter and sugar or with jam, Minnesotans do lefse well. 9. Green Bean Casserole You can’t do green bean casserole without the French-fried onions on the[Read more…]

We’re busy finishing up driveways before the snow flies, but we’re also taking some time out to enjoy this beautiful Minnesota season.  Here are 10 of our favorite ways to enjoy the fall in Minnesota! Go to a high school football game.  Throw on the school colors, bring a fleece blanket, and get out and support your local team!  It’s a cheap Friday night that lets you connect with your neighbors and enjoy some entertainment.  Buy a styrofoam cup of hot chocolate and some nachos from concessions while you’re at it! Go apple picking.  Bundle up in a hoodie, and[Read more…]

Back in April we announced Anne and John Weber as the winners of our driveway giveaway contest, and we could not be more pleased to reveal the complete transformation! Out with the old, cracked, wheel chair-restricted driveway and in with a much newer, neater, and wheel chair-friendly version. Through a week-long process, we excavated, installed, and paved a brand new asphalt driveway for the Webers, all in hope of making their lives just a little bit easier. We couldn’t have asked for a nicer, more grateful family to work with during the giveaway project. Please enjoy some of the photos[Read more…]

It’s forecasted to be an incredibly cold and snowy winter. It’s hard on our driveways, streets, backs- and mostly, on our spirits. So before the winter gets underway, we wanted to take time to remind you why we Minnesotans love it here- despite the seemingly endless winters of raging ice and snow. 21. Hotdish Can you really go wrong with tater tots, cream of mushroom soup, shredded cheese and ground beef? No. The answer is no. 20. Spring Nothing beats the first day it’s 45 degrees and the kids are running to the bus wearing shorts. Because- it’s shorts weather,[Read more…]