Stefanie Running Anderson, Realtor with Boutique Real Estate

09/23/2026

The need to work remotely from home during the pandemic has led to cloffices - offices carved out of closets. Here’s how to create an effective workplace in a tiny space.

Tucking an office into a closet space carves out a dedicated workstation but uses minimal space. Here are some tips for creating a “cloffice.”

09/21/2026

While online mortgage lenders can save you money, you may be better served working in-person with a loan officer. See the Pros and Cons here.

Mortgage lending is yet another industry that has undergone massive change by the internet. Online lenders advertise fast and easy transactions while traditional lenders offer more personal service. Regardless of which option you choose, it’s important to understand the difference between a mortga...

09/19/2026

Hang some eucalyptus in your shower for a spa-like experience.

09/18/2026

When selling your home, you do all you can to make it as attractive as possible. But what your neighbors do can affect how quickly you sell, and you may have little or no control of the problem. Read about six ways your neighbors can sabotage your sale and some possible solutions.

Here are six ways your neighbor can sabotage your home sale, as well as some suggestions for resolving such situations with minimal conflict.

09/17/2026

Lowe’s is partnering with the Polk County Emergency Management Agency to support local residents recovering from recent flooding. On Saturday, September 19, from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, a free drive-up giveaway will be held at the Polk County Emergency Operations Center to distribute approximately 200 flood cleanup buckets to community members dealing with flooding and wet basements.

Lowe’s Red Vest associates will distribute Lowe’s buckets filled with supplies. Each bucket is packed with sponges, flashlights, bottled water, trash bags, goggles and hand sanitizer to help with recovery and cleanup.

This drive-up community partnership event aims to provide immediate relief and essential supplies directly to affected residents in the Des Moines Metro and greater Polk County area.

Event Details:

What: Free Lowe’s Flood Cleanup Bucket Giveaway
When: Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM (while supplies last)
Where: Polk County Emergency Operations Center, 1907 Carpenter Ave., Des Moines
Traffic Flow / Directions: This is a drive-up event. For smooth traffic flow, vehicles should enter the parking lot from Carpenter Avenue or northbound from 19th Street.

09/16/2026

Most homeowners know the nerve-grating sound of a chirping smoke alarm. Too often the chirp begins in the middle of the night. Here’s how to stop that annoying sound and get some sleep.

Nearly every homeowner has experienced the maddening intermittent chirping of a smoke alarm, too often in the middle of the night. Though it may seem the chirp is just there to annoy you, it’s actually designed to alert you that your smoke alarm needs attention. Here’s how to stop a chirping smo...

09/14/2026

You may or may not have kids who will be attending local area schools, but either way you should always consider resale value when buying a home - and that involves researching the quality of local area schools. Here's a guide on how to pick the right school district for your home.

When hunting for the perfect home for your family, more comes into play than a fantastic floorplan and your favorite restaurants nearby. If you have children, or plan to, school assignments are of major importance. Lots of choices. In some neighborhoods, particularly in metropolitan areas, parents m...

09/12/2026

Bring the seaside indoors with nautical décor. Do you think it's a classic look or too trendy?

09/11/2026

We honor those lost but not forgotten this Patriot Day.

09/09/2026

You can save money by closing off air vents in your home’s unused rooms, right? Think again! Shutting vents could cost you big time. Here’s how.

Shutting the heating and air conditioning vents to unused rooms should save on energy costs, right? Cutting off airflow to rooms could cost you money.