Paullina

I hear this one all the time from prospects looking to list their house. "Well, agent xyz told us that if we listed with her, she'd have it sold in a week." This would fall into the category of "If it sounds too good to be true, the probably is." The majority of agents are not going to make this claim, but rather will give you an honest market analysis, inform you as to how weak or strong the market is, especially the market in which your home resides, and present the objective facts. A good agent will then lay out an effective marketing plan, where the majority of the focus should be on "online marketing". Be careful to not get caught up in empty promises, reduced commissions, and being talked in to lowering your price below market value (unless you must have a quick sale). The key to choosing a good listing agent is to objectively determine who is going to provide you the best opportunity to sell your home. Will your listing agent also aggressively work to find buyers, or will they just list your home and wait for another agent to do the work.

Playful Cupcaketions does an incredible job making cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, and cookies. She really goes above and beyond to make your custom cake creations come to life. We've used her multiple times for our son's birthday, and cake smash cakes, and they've never been short of amazing. We've tasted her delicious cakes at weddings as well, and they're always as beautiful as they taste. We trust Playful Cupcaketions with all of our cake needs.

Bringing back the old Okoboji general store from 1884, the Okoboji Store has made a huge name for itself since it opened in 2015. The Okoboji Store is nearly always busy, thanks to their amazing food and drinks. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, during the summer and fall. The restaurant also hosts some of the areas best live musicians, which is always a great time. But, the best part of the Okoboji Store is of course, the view of the lake. Its beautiful location is sure to keep anyone coming back for more.

Arnold's Bark-ery and Grooming is a great place to take your fur babies for their "puppy spa day!' Not only do they offer grooming services but they have a great boutique full of yummy treats and accessories. You can even order certain treats for holidays!

The Bedell Family YMCA offers many programs to kids and adults alike. Children can get their first experiences with various sports, and continue their interests as they grow into specific programs. Adults also are offered many sports, health, and wellness programs at the Y, they even provide childcare while you attend your program, or work out. The Bedell Family YMCA is also the creator of Camp Foster, an amazing camp for kids in the summer.

Gourmet Burgers, Spicy Chicken Thigh Sandwiches, Lobster Rolls on Friday & Saturday, Cubans, Hot Tots, Rosemary Sea Salt Fries, Beer Battered Cheese Curds, Scrumptious Milk Shakes, Crisp Salads, Huge Cookies & More!

Mill Creek is located on the NE corner of Okoboji Ave (Hwy 71) and 9th Street in Milford. Dine in or carry out. There's something for everybody--daily and nightly specials, too! The staff is friendly and the atmosphere relaxing. Great burgers, sandwiches, pizza and appetizers. A couple of my faves are the Fried Pickle Chips and the Kentucky Bourbon Sandwich. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 11 AM - 11 PM (grill open til 10 PM) and Sunday from 5 PM - 9 PM. Have a party in the events room with family and friends. Games for the kids, too!

Sunshine Foods, located on Highway 71, is Milford's only full service supermarket offering Fresh Produce - Butcher Fresh Meats - Deli - Kitchen

Where muscles burn, skin sweats and community happens!
The District is a boutique fitness studio offering classes including indoor cycling, TRX® and more. The District strives to create community while encouraging and motivating all levels of fitness. Whether you're looking to PR your next race or just coming to workout with your friend, consider The District in your daily routine.

The Waterfront has been a really great addition to the Iowa Great Lakes. Located on the Bridges Bay campus, it is easy to find by car or boat. Streak, seafood, pasta, crepes, pizza and numerous delicious sides on the shores of East Lake will have you always coming back for more. Also try their Sunday brunch, it will not disappoint.

Chaplin's is a great neighborhood bar with food, value priced drinks, the best karaoke, friendly and happy staff, plenty of parking and a welcoming atmosphere.

This place is amazing! From the views, atmosphere, service and food you can't go wrong. The biggest beer and drink selection at the lakes. On Sundays you can enjoy one of the largest bloody mary bars in the area. Their menu consists of a variety of steaks, seafood, and flatbreads. The Waterfront is a great addition to the lakes area!

Goodies Handmade Candies is a small family-run business located in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Goodies has become a "must stop" place when visiting the area.
Goodies offers handmade candies, ice cream, coffee, and gifts. Each batch uses fresh quality ingredients and no added preservatives.
Customers from all over rave with remarks such as, "Goodies makes the best candies they have ever had."

The Bear is an eclectic little coffeehouse and wine bar nestled in Spencer. The bear serves amazing breakfast, lunch and dinner year round, as well as beer, wine, and of course, the finest coffee. It has a casual, comfortable setting, sure to keep you coming back for more. Its also great for meetings, work events, or just a nice spot to meet friends. They host events, local live entertainment, and more; they're very involved in their community.

If you are looking for a place to catch a bunch of fish in a short period of time, the dock in Minnewashta right off of Sawmill Park in Arnolds Park is the place. Fish with a worm or throw a crank bait, you can't go wrong. This spot located in the center of the lakes area allows you to bring your children to play on the nice equipment, or have a family gathering at the recently remodeled shelter. These waters are well known for perch, bluegill, pike, crappie, walleye, yellows, and smallmouth and largemouth bass. With two different places to launch a boat, Minnewashta is a great place for some family fun.

A home town favorite! The Taco House is a hidden gem in the Great Lakes area. If your looking for delicious Mexican food give this a try. Taco House is not open during the winter months but you are able to put in a freezer order before they close to satisfy your craving on those cold days. Whatever you decide to order don't forget the Taco House hot sauce, you won't be disappointed.

Okoboji Brewing Company is proudly locally owned and brewed. They brew high quality craft beer, from IPA's, Stouts, Ales, Porters, and more. They have an extensive beer menu in their taproom, which is a comfortable spot to enjoy a brew, watch TV, and get food delivered from your favorite spot in the area. You can sometimes find a local food truck parked outside, to pair with your favorite Okoboji Brewing company craft beer.

This new coffee shop is located in the Allure & Co. downtown Spirit Lake. They offer amazing coffee, smoothies and homemade baked goods. This is a great addition to the community!

Snook’s of Okoboji started primarily as a retail flooring store. After a transfer of ownership, the new owner, Bill Adams, has transformed our store into a one-stop home store. We now not only retail flooring, but also offer a wide selection of furniture, bedding, window treatments, decor and outdoor living. With the ability to purchase from the floor or order custom, we’ll make sure you get what you’re looking for to suit your space. Let our family help your’s.
Stop by today or shop online at snooksofokoboji.com.

Your family deserves advanced dental care provided in a warm, friendly environment. Hill Avenue Dental excels in giving people of all ages beautiful smiles and healthy teeth. Your comfort is the highest priority of Dr. Dotson and Dr. Hartzell and their skilled dental care team.

With summer right around the corner that means one thing for the Greens Space at Arnolds Park. The 2024 Free Summer concert calendar has been released spanning the whole summer with exciting performers. Who are you excited to see?

Comfortec has trained and licensed technicians who can handle the job whether you have no heat or a loud noise coming from your equipment. We are a Carrier, Ruud and Lennox dealer giving us an advantage when it comes to working with different types of furnaces. We carry a wide variety of parts and can service any brand of furnace or AC. When it comes to needing someone to come handle your heating or cooling issue, we get there fast and get the job done right anywhere in our service region. Additionally, we provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week because problems with your heating and cooling systems or plumbing rarely only occur during a normal workday.

Consumers Lumber Company is the only locally owned and operated building center in the area. They have been proudly serving the best builders and homeowners with the best materials and services since 1906.
They have locations in Spirit Lake and Spencer Iowa with a complete line of building materials and builder’s hardware. They also have full showrooms of millwork, stone, decking and cabinetry.
Dollars spent with Consumers Lumber stay in Dickinson and Clay counties. They support all the area schools and youth organizations along with several other community charities. Consumers Lumber Company is also very proud of the fact that their 15 employees have over 200 years of combined service to our company and that they all live, shop and play here.
They offer timely and accurate project bids and drawings to better serve the areas builders and homeowners. They also provide free and fast delivery to the four county area.

South Shore Estates is the newest lakeshore development on Lower Gar. Here you have access to West Lake, East Lake, Minnewashta, and Upper Gar.

Looking for a pace to get organic, and natural foods? Wilder Thymes is your go-to place! As the only shop in the lakes area to offer such things, this quaint little shop is definitely a place to check out. They offer organic, and local foods, from snacks, spices, cooking ingredients, gluten free, dairy products, and more! Wilder Thymes also has an array of natural cleaning products, and personal care items that are hard to come by. Not only can you buy groceries here, but they also have a deli! Pizzas, wraps, braked goods, soups, and sandwiches are just some of the yummy things you can buy at Wilder Thymes!

The Studio Yoga & Barre has two locations: Spencer or Spirit Lake @ Allure & Co. Come and experience a community of people seeking to live healthier lives through exercising the body and mind.
They offer a variety of yoga, barre, cycling and paddle-board classes for different levels of experience.
The Studio also offers yoga and exercise apparel, as well as oils and health supplements.

Wild Child, which features stylish clothing, accessories and awesome toys for children and newborns, is all about quality clothing and toys. Wild Child is the "go to" store for people with all budgets, and offers styles that cannot be found anywhere else, and strives to offer unique apparel and toys that are fun, functional and educational.

All Pets has always gone above and beyond for our pets, providing amazing customer service, and pet service for years. Dr. Roti has always been so informative, and kind to us and our pets whenever our pets have had any illnesses, and even emergency care needed in the middle of the night. Their staff really loves each animal that walks into the door, and they put you at ease when you need to leave your pet over night. All Pets has state of the art diagnostic equipment, making them by far the best veterinarian clinic in the area. We wouldn't trust our pets with anyone else!

Ferguson's is arguable the most popular place to buy flowers, trees and more in the lakes area. They're a family owned business, providing flowers, trees, plants, supplies, and furniture. They also have a small gift shop inside, as well as a floral shop, with freshly cut flowers. They have amazing customer service, and are there to help with all questions regarding planting and gardening. Ferguson's seems to go above and beyond, offering to bring anything you buy from them to your front door!

Yesterdays Restaurant has been an Okoboji favorite and is only opened seasonally. Yesterdays has a complete dinner menu that features nightly specials. They have a wonderful martini menu that will not disappoint. Make sure to also make reservations in the Japanese Teppanyaki Room. Watch as asian inspired meals are prepared and served by your personal chef.

Boji Tan is a great tanning salon located in Spirit Lake. They offer different types of beds that are four different levels. This local business is very clean and the staff is always friendly and provides you with great service. At Boji Tan they don't only offer tanning but you are able to purchase AdvoCare products also. If you are going on a trip and want to get a base tan before you leave or if you just want to warm up on those cold summer days make sure to stop at Boji Tan!

Conveniently located near all the great Okoboji attractions, Vintage Block is a great hotel for your stay in Okoboji. The hotel offers 54 guest rooms, including 14 large family suites that can lodge up to 10 guests. Jump start your day with our complimentary breakfast including Belgium waffles, fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal and beverages and more! On-site have fun and relax with our outdoor swimming pool and gazebo, surrey bikes and green space with fire-pits, grills and games.The hotel has recently been renovated and includes a Lake Okoboji feel with the use of reclaimed dock wood. Rated as the #1 hotel in Okoboji on Trip Advisor, you can't go wrong when choosing to stay at Vintage Block Inn and Suites.

This new business to the lakes area is sure to be a hit! Arnold's Bark-ery makes healthy, fresh made snacks for all of the lucky dogs in the surrounding Okoboji area. They also provide natural, and holistic pet foods in their shop. A fun place to bring your dog to shop, as well as a place to get them groomed. What a fun addition to the area!

Okoboji Mattress Co. is a Sleep Specialty Store located .7 miles west of the junction of 9 and 71 in Spirit Lake, IA. We are a locally owned Sleep Boutique featuring Serta and Simmons Mattresses and bases. Stop by try Malouf Z Pillows before you buy! A great selection of Serta, and Simmons Beautyrest Mattresses, Adjustable Bases, Malouf Sheets, Mattress Protectors, and Comforters, Malouf Z pillows, and more! New Sleep Lift Recliners from Mega Motion and Ultimate Power Recliner!

Since 1973 Treasure Village has provided great family friendly entertainment, including a mini golf course, live children's theatre and gospel concerts for all ages to enjoy. They also offer Flea Markets throughout the year and already have 3 of them scheduled for 2017, make sure to check them out memorial weekend, 4th of July, and Labor Day weekend. If you would like to check it, follow the link to their website for coupons.

Okoboji View is a public 18-hole golf course with membership availability. It is a beautiful golf course with an emphasis on nature and offers many challenges with fast greens, beautiful water features, tree lined fairways and rolling hills.
The newly remodeled restaurant and bar - renamed Pub19 Bar & Grill in 2015 - is full service and you can enjoy drinks and dining on the large new deck overlooking the golf course.
Whether you need a golf lesson or a professional club-fitting, or if you need to schedule your corporate golf outing, wedding rehearsal dinner/reception or class reunion, or just want to enjoy playing at one of the best courses in Northwest Iowa - Okoboji View Golf Course, a family run facility, is for you.

Animal House of Okoboji, themed after the movie, is a young men's and women's clothing store, offering surf brands, and trendy clothes perfect for summer! They have a never ending array of shoes and flip flops, as well as swim suits, for your summers in Okoboji. Its located in the Central Emporium, so don't miss out while you're here visiting the lake.

Jimmy John's slices our all-natural meats and fresh veggies in-house every day. Our fresh-baked bread is made right here where you can see it, and our house-made tuna salad is fresh every day. The flavor of a ripe tomato, crisp shredded lettuce, combined with fresh-baked bread, fresh-sliced meat and real Hellmann's mayo - that's when the magic happens. Made with love every single day since 1983. That's Jimmy Fresh!

Gary's is newly owned by Rabab, and sure to keep your taste buds coming back for more. The menu still features classic American comfort food, as well as some of Rabab's Mediterranean favorites. This comfortable, yet classy restaurant is perfect for date night, or family night. Gary's features their ever popular "pizza night" on Thursdays and Fridays, which is always amazing, and their "pasta night" on Wednesdays, which is sure to keep you full all night!

If you're looking for great interior or exterior paint check out The Last Touch Benjamin Moore Paint Store at 2230 33rd Street, Suite 1, in Spirit Lake. They have a great selection of authentic colors and have been ranked highest in interior paint by JD Power and Associates for several years running. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and always ready to help whether it's with a free estimate or a color consultation. They also offer cleaning services for new construction, remodels, top-down or general cleaning plus janitorial services. You can reach them at 712-336-4475 or visit their website at www.lasttouchllc.com. When you're ready for your next project give The Last Touch a try! You won't be disappointed!

At Winther, Stave & Co., LLP we use a team approach. You have a team of accounting professionals at your disposal, not just one person. With specialists in many different areas, we can draw on that breadth of knowledge and experience to help with services ranging from taxes, to payroll, to wealth preservation.

The ever popular country bar in Des Moines is now a staple bar in the Okoboji area. The only bar of its kind in the area is always a good time in the summer. Their rustic country feel, and country music always blasting on the TV's is sure to create a good time for anyone visiting the area. With a huge bar, and great indoor/outdoor atmosphere, this is one bar you don't want to miss!

From stylish furniture for casual living to cutting edge design in home decor. Visit INTERIORS for the best selection of Furniture, Wall Art, Everyday & Seasonal Decor, Lighting, Kitchen, Bed and Bath.

Check out Emmetsburg for your St. Patrick's Day celebration! You may just be surprised what a great location this is for some fun. It was even featured among the 10 most surprising places to celebrate St. Patty's!. See for yourself below!

Here's the scenario. You are building a house or remodeling your house. Material costs are up. Labor costs are up. You ask yourself, where can I save a buck? Before answering this question, you must be careful, especially if your home is located in an area where other quality homes are built, whether on the lake, off the lake, or in higher valued developments such as golf course developments, etc. Growing up in construction and with a plethora of new construction and remodels under my belt, let me share with you some of the easy things that your future buyers will recognize when they are looking for quality.
1. One of the first things buyers of higher end homes will look for is to determine if the owner used hollow core doors. It's an immediate sign that the seller was looking for ways to save money (where else then did they cut back that I can't see???)
2. The second most obvious is the counter tops. Did the sellers spend for a quality granite, quartz, or other hard surface, or was formica used?
3. The third item that might stick out is the cabinetry. Do the drawers have dovetail construction with hardwoods? Did they use "soft close" drawers? Are there pull outs for the pots and pans?
4. Flooring is an easy one also. Was laminate used, or is it engineered or hardwoods? Does the carpet convey a quality feel and plushness? Is there a nice thick pad underneath the carpet?
5. Though there are many other items to look at, cheap vs quality lighting and plumbing fixtures are probably the next major focus.

There is nothing wrong with with using lower cost materials, especially when trying to keep a project within budget, especially when trying to build more house for less money. Just be aware that most buyers looking to spend in excess of $300k for off lake homes and $500+ for East Lake chain homes, and $1M+ for West and Big Spirit will expect the very best materials and finishes.

Arguably the most iconic spot in all of the lakes area, Barefoot Bar is the one place you must visit when you're here for the summer. They have the best blended drinks, as well as every other cocktail you can think of, served in their signature cups. Its the perfect place on the lake to sit back and relax with friends, while enjoying the view, and all of the palm trees. Barefoot Bar also has a menu, to enjoy some food while you're soaking in the sun. Its even the perfect place for kids, with a full swing set, and even a slide that goes right into the lake!

The Dry Dock, connected to Four Season's Resort offers a simplified menu, but consistent delicious food. One of the few restaurants on West Lake Okoboji, the Dry Dock offers up legendary breakfasts, great lunches and dinners, and the local favorite Friday Night Fish Fry. Sit inside or out after arriving by foot, car, or boat.

"The Bridge" has been referred to by the Wharf Bridge, the Kentucky Fried Chicken Bridge, the bridge connecting East and West, among other names. In the good old days, this was actually a draw bridge converted to the current permanent structure. In the 90's when the 3 lane was installed, there was talk about removing the bridge and making some drastic changes. All in all, the base of the bridge remained, and the upper structure was improved. I remember as a kid jumping off the bridge, and fishing on and under the bridge. In fact, an unforgettable memory I have is when I was fishing with my cousin and I casted out trying to reach the opposite corner of the bridge with my lure. In mid air, a pigeon flew and the timing was so great that my line wrapped around the pigeon, and the pigeon went into the water. I reeled it up and had caught a pigeon. My cousin then decided to hold this pigeon inside the front of his coat. We went to show people at Okoboji Boats what we had caught. When we got there, he opened his jacket, and the pigeon had pooped all over his white shirt.

Nectar is a fun, seasonal coffee shop, serving from a cute camper within walking distance to Arnolds Park Amusement Park! Nectar offers fresh-pressed juices, espresso drinks, REAL fruit smoothies, and baked treats - making Summer in Boji even better!

New to Spirit Lake is Lisa's Bakery. We have heard wonderful reviews of her caramel and cinnamon rolls and has a variety of other bakery goods. Set up for convenience, Lisa’s Bakery also offers a variety of take and bake meals for the busy working family or a nice break for the stay at home mom who wants a healthy satisfying meal for her family without having to be in the kitchen for hours. This place is all about convenience with a new fun twist on getting home cooked meals from Lisa's table to yours.