One Way to Start Preparing for Your Winter Home Sale

Having professional listing photos taken of your home ahead of your winter sale goes a long way with buyers. Here’s what I mean. 

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The fall season is almost here! Before it arrives, though, today I’d like to look a little further into the future and discuss a topic that comes up not in our fall market, but in winter. 

I often have clients come to me looking to sell their home during the colder months. Now, anytime a home goes on the market, the best way to showcase it to buyers is to have professional listing photos taken, which can be tough when the home’s exterior is partially concealed by snow. 

A lot of times, we learn that our sellers didn’t think to take photos of their home in the spring, summer, or fall, but the good news is we don’t let this deter us from making the best of the situation. No matter what time of year, the professional photographers our team works with will have your listing photos looking like a million bucks. 

And on that note, if you know you’ll be selling your home this winter, let’s not wait to start making preparations: We can take full advantage of this beautiful fall weather and set up a professional photo shoot of your home now, which, in turn, will give us a decisive advantage when it comes time to list your home. We know that the first place buyers will look for their new home is online, so if they’re interested in a home’s listing photos, they’ll be interested to see it in person as well. 

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If you’re planning a winter home sale, we can take full advantage of this beautiful fall weather and set up a professional photo shoot of your home now.

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For the sake of argument, let’s say we listed your home in February after we’ve been hit with heavy snowfall. Let me ask you this: If every other listing is accompanied by photos taken in the winter and yours were captured in the fall, whose home do you think will garner more buyer attention? The answer seems obvious. 

The bottom line is if you’re looking to sell your home between this winter and even as late as spring of next year, now’s the time to get a leg up on the competition and organize a strategy that includes snapping some professional photos. 

If you have any questions or would like to get preparations for your winter home sale started a little early, don’t hesitate to reach out to me and my team. We look forward to speaking with you soon!     

6 Important Points to Remember When Staging Your Home

There are six important points to remember when staging your home for sale.

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When staging your home for sale, there are six important points to remember to ensure that your home sells quickly and for top dollar:

1. Provide a great first impression. It’s very important that you clean the exterior of your house and its entryway, because these are the first two areas buyers see when they walk up to it. For the exterior, simple tasks like cleaning up the yard and planting some flowers can go a long way. In the entryway, you need to declutter. Remember—buyers might have to walk through that entryway while other people are walking through it as well, so if that space is cluttered, they might have a tough time getting a feel for your home.

2. Always be show-ready. You never know when a homebuyer will drive by your home and decide they want to see the inside, so your house always needs to be show-ready. I know this can be inconvenient, but it is only for a small amount of time.

3. Kitchens and bathrooms will sell your home. You don’t have to totally renovate either of these spaces. Small things like changing the knobs on your cabinet doors or adding some knickknacks on the counters can make a big difference. 

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You never know when a homebuyer will drive by your home and decide they want to see the inside.

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4. Take down the personal photos. This is a tough topic for some people to understand, and I always get asked why it’s a necessary part of the home staging process. First of all, you are already moving, so this will have to happen anyway. Secondly, when a buyer walks into your home, they’re trying to envision themselves living there. When they see you and your family’s pictures everywhere, it is tougher for them to imagine raising their own family there.

5. Put away the pets and litter boxes. If everybody liked pets, I wouldn’t be mentioning this point, but that is not the case. You’re trying to market your home to the masses so you can sell as quickly as possible and maximize your sale price, so hide any pet boxes, dog toys, or any other pet items that might turn a buyer off.

6. Hire an informed agent who understands the market and can price your property well. You’re doing a lot of work to sell for the price you deserve and sell in a timely manner, so hire someone who understands the marketplace and how to achieve your goals.

If you have any more questions about home staging or are getting ready to sell, give me a call. I would be happy to do a walk-through of your home and help you stage it myself.

If you have any other real estate needs, feel free to reach out to me regardless. I look forward to speaking with you.

Don’t Be Fooled By These Real Estate Scams

Real estate transactions are the targets of scammers all the time. Here are a couple big ones that you need to watch out for.

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I spoke with a friend recently who told me about a real estate scam involving one of his clients.

They sold their house and were ready to move. The moving truck arrived, they loaded their belongings into it, and they drove off to the new home they had purchased.

The truck never showed up at the next house.

The client had been scammed by a fly-by-night moving company, and they never recovered their possessions. This is why today I would like to talk to you about real estate scams you need to avoid so that you don’t end up like my friend’s clients.

1. Moving companies. I had not heard of this before, but new scams pop up all the time. When we move, we use trusted movers that we have used over and over again and who provided consistently excellent service to our clients. When it comes to that point in the transaction, ask us about movers you are considering, and we can advise you about the reputability of that company.

2. Wiring instructions. After we close on your new home, you will receive a check either in the paper mail or you can have it wired to your bank account. A recent scam will email the buyers of pending listings and give out false email instructions for wiring money. In reality, that is not how we would do things. If you see emails like this, give us a call; let us be there for you as you walk through the process.

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New scams pop up all the time.

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If you are going through the process of buying a home or moving, use our experience to your advantage. We want to sell your home for the most money in the shortest amount of time and with the least amount of stress, which is where avoiding scams comes in. If you have any questions or are thinking of buying or selling a home, please feel free to reach out to us.

What Comes Next After an Unsuccessful Listing?

 If you’ve had an unsuccessful attempt to list your home in the past, what can you do differently when you try again? There are three points I’d like to make, today.


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If you attempted to sell your home in 2017 but were unable to do so, you may be wondering what’s next. To determine why your home didn’t sell during your first attempt to list it and to make sure you’re successful when you try again, there are a few things to consider moving forward.

The first thing to think about is the price. Unfortunately, we don’t have complete control over the price of your listing. The comparable properties in your neighborhood have already decided the price for you. On the bright side, this makes things a lot more simple for you. 

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Ask yourself if there are any small things you can change or update to improve your home.  

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When you look at the local market in relation to your home to determine the right price, you’re sure to sell quickly and for top dollar.

After you’ve thought about the price of your home, there’s something else you must consider when relisting— what objections buyers had the first time you listed. Ask yourself if there are any small things you can change or update to improve your home.

The third and final thing to consider is whether you were working with the right agent the first time around. The right agent will have the tools, knowledge, and experience to bring you success. Each of these three factors we’ve discussed will help you sell your home for the most money in the least time.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Should You List Your Home During the Holidays?

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Here are 10 reasons why listing your home during the holidays might be a good idea:

10. By selling now, you’ll have the opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer in the spring, when there are more houses on the market available for less money. This will allow you to sell high and buy low.

9. You can still restrict showings during the holidays.

8. January is traditionally the month for employees to start new jobs. Since transferees cannot wait until spring to buy, you need to be on the market in fall and winter in order to capture those buyers.

7. Some people are looking to buy before the end of the year for tax reasons. This is one people tend to not think about, but there are buyers out there who need to spend that money for tax purposes.

6. Buyers have more time to look for a home near the holidays than they do during the average workweek. During the holidays, most of us get a lot of time off work. Buyers are taking this time to find the right home for them, and your home should be available for sale to take advantage of that.

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Less competition means more money for you.

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5. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays so they are more likely to pay your price.

4. Houses show better when they are decorated for the holidays.

3. Supply will dramatically increase in January, which means less demand for your home. Less demand means less money.

2. Serious buyers have fewer options to choose from during the fall and winter, and less competition means more money for you.

1. People who look for homes during the fall, winter, and holidays are much more serious buyers. If people are doing their home search during snow, ice, and other inclement weather, they’re not just looking—they want to buy.

If you want to take advantage of these conditions and put your home on the market now, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I’d be glad to help you.

Why Should You Consider Selling This Winter?

Most people think selling in the spring is the way to go. In reality, selling a home in the winter can be equally beneficial.

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A common question we are asked this time of year is if it is smart to list your home for sale now, or if you should wait until the spring to sell. We’ve got a few statistics to help shed some light on that which we would like to share with you today.

Homes listed in the winter are actually 9% more likely to sell than homes listed at any other time of year. There is also a better pool of buyers out in the market. Anyone who is out looking for a home this time of year is almost certainly going to be: 1) qualified; and 2) serious about buying. When we look at those two things combined, it provides a huge advantage for anyone who wants to get their home listed and sold right now.

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Homes are 9% more likely to sell in the winter.

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Because of the herd mentality in thinking that spring is the only time you should sell, that’s when most people want to list. However, by listing when there is low inventory, the serious buyers who are qualified to purchase your house are actually more likely to choose your home. You don’t have buyers out there who are just prancing around looking at homes for fun. 

This is a great time of year to sell. If you have any questions or if you or someone you know is thinking about selling, we would love to hear from you. Just give us a call or send us an email.

Should You Rent Your Home Out or Sell It?

Should you rent your home out or sell it in today’s market? Here’s what you need to know.

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As a homeowner, you have two options when it comes to maximizing your investment: sell your home or rent it out. Which is a better option? I’d like to break down the pros and cons of each for you today.

What are the benefits of renting your house to a tenant? The first benefit that most people consider is the extra monthly cash flow, or at least possible monthly cash flow.

Here’s the reality, though: your expenses are not fully offset by the rent money coming in. There are other expenses involved in renting out your home that you may not have considered in addition to your mortgage payment. You’ll need to calculate this additional expenses in order to determine how much to charge in rent. The other benefit to renting is that renting your home will allow you a few key tax write-offs which will also help offset some expenses.

What are the downsides to renting your home out? One of the biggest negatives, which I think that everybody knows, is the fact that you’ll have to manage the property while renting it out. We’ve all heard horror stories about working with tenants and maintenance issues with the property at inconvenient times. These can become major burdens and major expenses for you, so if you’re looking for recommendations for management companies, I can put you in touch with a few great ones.

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Renting your property out may come with extra expenses and responsibilities.

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Something to consider in our market is the fact that low inventory and low interest rates have made right now a great time to sell a home. Interest rates may rise in the near future, and as a result, resale home prices may be affected. For this reason, you may have a large buyer pool if you decide to sell your home now rather than in the future.

Whether you’re thinking about renting your home out or selling it, I can help you make any and all tough decisions. If you have any questions about whether you should rent or sell your home or anything else related to Minneapolis real estate, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you!

How to Buy and Sell a Home Simultaneously

Here’s how we can help you find a new home while you sell yours.

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One question we’ve gotten from a lot of our clients lately is, “What if I can’t find a new home after selling my current one?” Selling your current home can seem like a major risk, especially if you’re not confident about finding another house you like on the market in a short time span.

As someone who has had experience in this field for a number of years, there is one thing that I can tell you: if you don’t have the ability to purchase a new home, you will never find a house that you like. What does this mean? If you don’t have enough money to buy a home before you sell yours, you’ll never find a home that meets your needs because you’re not truly looking for a house; you’re window shopping for one.

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We can help you find a short-term rental or get a leaseback.

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This is why it’s so important to list your home on the market before you go house hunting. So pull the trigger and give yourself an option. At the end of the day, if we can’t find anything that you like, there are other options.

Short-term rentals are a viable option, as are leasebacks. A leaseback involves leasing your home back from the buyer after closing, allowing you to live in it until you are able to find a home that suits you.

One thing I can say with certainty is that if we sell your house, this issue will not be a problem for you. I guarantee you that we’ll get you taken care of. If you have any other questions about how to balance buying and selling a home simultaneously, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you out!

How to Prepare Your Home for the Market

How should you prepare your home for the market this fall? Whether you’re selling this fall or any other season, simplicity is the key.

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If you're selling your home in the fall, there are some things you need to do to prepare it for the market. In the end, the same applies to all seasons, really.

When we look at selling a home, it's important to see your home through the eyes of a buyer—someone who has never seen your home before. In my experience, everybody makes a massive deal out of selling a house and the process of getting it prepared. What we have to keep in mind is that 99% of the time, we're selling a used home. They have been lived in.

At the end of the day, we're looking to simplify. We want to make the home look open, clean, and simple. Most of the people that come through who will buy your home will go ahead and buy new carpet, paint the walls, and do all the little things to the house that they want.

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Keep it simple!

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So my tip of the day is this: keep it simple! 

If you're interested in looking at what you need to do to get your house prepared, give me a call and use me as a resource. I'd love to help you out and prepare your home to get you the results you're looking for.

Why You Can’t Trust Zillow in Minneapolis

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I’ve been getting a lot of questions about Zillow, from people looking to buy and sell. Lots of people check it out and call me with questions about Minneapolis properties they see on Zillow.

One problem with Zillow is that the updating is slow. A lot of times there are properties listed on Zillow that could be sold, but they still show up as active on the platform. That’s one of the most frustrating things that comes up with Zillow users here in Minneapolis.

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There are properties listed
on Zillow that could be sold.

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Zillow is a great place to go and look for homes because you can see everything, but that is their one downfall.

Secondly, people are asking what a Zestimate is. Zillow created an algorithm that compares homes in the same neighborhood and spits out a value for them. The tough part about the algorithm is, they don’t take condition and upgrades to the property into account. Sometimes these Zestimates have been up to $100,000 too low or too high.

At the end of the day, if you’re looking to buy or sell you can start your search on Zillow, and that’s all well and good. However, if you really have true questions about your home’s value and what’s really active in the neighborhood, give me a call. We're here to help with your real estate needs. Let’s talk soon.

Tips for Your Minneapolis Move

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Many people have questions about the moving process. As a local Minneapolis Realtor, I handle real estate transactions every day, so moving is second nature. I understand how difficult it can be, especially if you have kids. Today, I thought I’d give you a couple tips to make the moving process smoother.

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Take the first step by getting rid of clutter.

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1. Declutter your home. Everyone has a lot of stuff, even if some of it happens to be junk. If you’re getting ready to move, you can pack away things you don’t need. You can even give away or donate items that you don’t use anymore. Put things in storage. It’s unbelievable how much stuff you can acquire. Take that first step and get rid of the clutter.
2. Deep clean your home. There might be some little things that you take for granted, but buyers walking through your home will see everything. They’ll see the dust on top on the refrigerator, or a dirty ceiling fan. It can be hard to keep your house clean, but at the end of the day, doing so will help you move faster and make more money.
3. Get your kids involved. Most kids are competitive, so make it into a game. See who can clean up the fastest, or whatever you need to do to get them involved. That way, they can get excited about the move, and they won’t be underfoot while you’re getting ready to move. 

Following these tips will help buyers visualize themselves in your home while making the move easier for you. If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email.

Fall in the Minneapolis Real Estate Market

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Today, we focus on the fall in the Minneapolis market. We’re often asked the following question: Is the fall a good time to sell or should I wait until the spring?

Inventory always drops in the fall. During this time of year, there are usually fewer listings for buyers to choose from. Many people think there might be more buyers in the market in the spring. While inventory doubles in the spring, there are a few things to consider.

Fall buyers are serious. In the spring, buyers are more likely to window shop because of a wide selection from a high inventory. This is not the case in the fall. That’s a seller’s advantage.

During the second quarter last year, 4,096 single-family houses sold. The price difference rose to 2.3 percent compared to 2013’s statistics. Interestingly enough, in the fourth quarter, 3,369 sold. Comparatively, there was a 12.4 percent difference in price. That’s ten percent more of a price difference compared to the spring! When there’s less inventory available, the price increases.

To anyone who's thinking about selling your home, give me a call and we can talk about numbers. We can help you make more money now. It’s a great time to sell. Happy fall selling season!

Your Minneapolis New Construction Questions Answered

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My baseball team, the Victoria Vics, just entered the playoff season, so today I'm sporting a playoff mustache. The bigger the mustache gets, the further we've made it into the playoffs!

In other news, I've gotten a lot of questions about new construction lately. Most people want to know if they need a real estate agent, or if they can just work with the agent who works for the builder.

Keep in mind that although the builder's agent is supposed to be impartial, at the end of the day, they represent the builder's interests. I would absolutely recommend working with a real estate agent to better protect your interests.

Another question people ask is whether or not they need an inspection on a new construction house. You will get a few walk-throughs with the builder during the construction process. However, it's better to be safe than sorry, so I absolutely recommend having an inspection when the home is completed.

If you have any other questions on new construction, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Avoid the Six Biggest Pitfalls When Selling Your Home

There are many great Minneapolis area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (952) 303-4347 or 952) 303-4347 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

The Six Most Common Selling Mistakes and How You can Avoid Them
There are many things that can go wrong when selling a home, and today I will be discussing six major problems that some home owners create for themselves. I want you to be able to avoid these pitfalls in the future:

1. Over-pricing your property: This can ruin a good sale and cost you thousands of dollars. Pricing your home correctly is the most important thing you can do to sell it. When pricing your home, you have to look at comparable properties, get a professional appraisal, and listen to the buyer's response. The best thing that you can do is talk to a professional real estate agent such as myself. Contact me if you would like to know about my pricing strategy. 
2. De-Clutter and De-Personalize:  Nobody wants to see a cluttered home. Your clutter will only distract potential buyers, and they will not notice the features that you have in your home. Get rid of unnecessary clutter and allow the buyers to imagine themselves inside your home. The small things can make all the difference in the world. You'd be surprised how much larger your home feels after getting rid of unnecessary clutter. 
3. Inability to Show: If you want to sell your home for a good price, you're going to have to make some sacrifices. This will include being able to show your home whenever it is necessary.
4. Unpleasant Odors: You can get used to the odor of your own home, but buyers will immediately pick up on unpleasant smells. If you have pets you may want to consider a deep cleaning. If you cook with a lot of spices you may want to refrain from cooking on days that you have showings. Smokers may also want to step outside if they are trying to sell a property. Odors can drive away buyers very quickly, so make sure your home smells neutral.
5. Unwillingness to Negotiate: Depending on how strong the market is in your particular area in Minneapolis, you may not have to negotiate very much. At Team Winegarden, we pride ourselves on getting the most amount of money for our sellers. You can always refer to me and my team to fight for your best interests. 
6. Unwillingness to make repairs:  I have seen clients in Minneapolis that were unwilling to make repairs, and it caused turbulence in some cases. When you sign a contract with a buyer you will have to disclose any material defects in your property, so it only makes sense to repair them ahead of time. It also helps to know which things are worth repairing, because you don't want to spend a fortune fixing your home right before you sell it.

Hopefully this will give you a better insight into the sales process and keep you from making amateur mistakes. If you are interested in learning more about buying or selling in Minneapolis, please don't hesitate to contact me and my team.

How We Avoid These Types of Pictures on Your Home’s Listing!

There are many great Minneapolis area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (952) 303-4347 or 952) 303-4347 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

As you may know, buyers are viewing homes on the internet for approximately six months before they physically look at the houses. Here is a breakdown of some awful pictures that are being used to market your home to the public by real estate agents:

1. This picture is hilarious – the first picture on the listing is of a toilet! Doesn’t this look inviting.
2. The blurry photo may work if you have a home that needs work, but most of us don’t.
3. It always amazes me when people use the picture of a hallway that leads to nothing.
4. A panorama photo makes me dizzy, and this one is no different! As you can see, high-end homes are not immune to bad photos!   
5. A very sweet feature of this high-end home is the sideways fan. It’s a very nice picture of the fan; it’s just pointed the wrong way!  
6. The owner’s cat is featured in this picture. There is nothing more enticing to a buyer that may have pet allergies!
7. The all-coveted selfie – this one is a full-frontal!

To ensure this never happens to you, Team Winegarden utilizes a professional photographer to give you clean, crisp and in-focus features that emphasize your home’s features. These photos will get people in the door! 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thanks and have a great day!

The Ins and Outs of Home Staging

 

There are many great Minneapolis area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (952) 303-4347(952) 303-4347 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions. 

I've been getting a lot of the same questions lately. Everyone wants to know whether or not to stage their home. Luckily, I have some great answers for you. With spring approaching here in the Minneapolis area, now is a good time to consider this.

Staging Your Home: The Ins and Outs

• On average, staged homes garner 8% more in a sale when compared to empty homes or un-staged properties.
• This doesn't mean you need to buy new furnishings: What I mean by 'staging' a home is that you need to organize your home in such a way that any buyer can walk inside and feel comfortable. 
• Try to enhance the appearance of different rooms, especially the kitchen and living room. Aim for neutrality, but make sure these areas feel welcoming and not empty.
• Also aim to make your home more functional by clearing away unnecessary clutter or rearranging existing furnishings.

Staging a home takes a good amount of know-how, so if you're having trouble or feeling uncomfortable about this, please give me a call. Also, if you need help buying or selling in the Minneapolis area, then give me a ring at (952) 303-4347,or shoot me an email at erik@teamwinegarden.com

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