Bob "RealMan" Timm

I've been on a rant for 9 months now that if you are taking part in the economic downturn there is no reason to. For 9 months I've been preaching that we need employees for absolutely everything, except maybe Realtors ;) in Western North Dakota. If you are a family man about to loose your home wouldn't it be worth leaving the family for 9 months to or so to save the family home and your pride? On average oil workers out here are earning $70,000.00 a year. These are starting level ruff-neck jobs. If that is to tough to handle then keep in mind we have openings in every field imaginable.

For more information on the oil field check out www.midwestoiljobs.com . We are also very short of carpenters. Keep in mind, we are in a BOOM! We have a huge shortage of homes and the contractors have no one to build them, they all headed out to the oil field!

Come to Minot ND, it's like the Gold Rush, stake your claim, save the family home or start a new one here.

Bob Timm

I have been in contact with my favorite plumber just a little to often lately but this last time I have no doubt will save me money and be good for my "Go Green" image as well.

Larry had recently replaced a furnace and water heater in a rental of mine. As I was pointing out the work that needed to be done it made me think of a long ignored problem in my own home.

It was bugging me that every morining when I would take a shower it seemed like just as much water came out of the spout as did the shower head. I told Larry that if I tried to stop the water at the spout but then it shot out of the packing around the faucett. He checked it, confirmed I was correct, fixed the packing around the faucett, and replaced the spout. I am amazed at the differance! Now I use half the water, have the same or better water pressure, and save energy. What a deal!

Last of all I want to mention that if you have a service person like Larry that you use yourself and are very pleased with let your customers know. I have two business card display racks in my office and only cards of people I know and trust go in them to hand out to my customers. I can tell you from experience that your customers will appreciate it.

Bob Timm, Minot ND

Things just keep getting better in Western north Dakota. If you are wondering if I'm being ficious here I am NOT. If you are a regular reader of this blogg you know that while much of the country is in economic woes Western North Dakota has been Booming like no other part of our nation.

1st of all as reported on the News today Cities with a neighboring military base are doing better then all other cities in the USA as a rule. Hopefully in these tough economic times the incoming administration will remember that when they start thinking of cutting back on the military. After all why cut back in the few going/growing markets that we have. In February of 2009 our Minot Air Force Base is expecting an additional 1,000 to 1,200 troops and their families to man the new squadron of B52's we have.

2nd, the news of the Bakken Formation (our big oil boom) keeps getting better. It was just announced yesterday/today that the USGA has doubled their estimate of recoverable oil in the Bakken Formation to 4.3 BILLION barrels, over 4 times the amount of the next largest formation in the USA. Prior to the election President elect Obama gave his approval to drilling in this formation so that looks good for us.

We seriously need people here in Western North Dakota for all jobs and industries, especially construction. We have a housing shortage like no other in the country today. Home prices have gone up approximately 50% since the first of the year. We are short about 500 homes and the 1,000 to 1,200 new troops and their families haven't even arrived yet. If you are sitting in some part of the USA wondering how you are going to save the families house then get off your butt and get to Western North Dakota, start making oil field money, send it home and save your families home. If your a contractor wondering what you can do to save the jobs of the men/women who work for you, get the crew together and come to Western North Dakota. When you get here give me a call, we (Oak Park Realty) will find you a place to live.

Bob Timm, Realtor, Oak Park Realty, Minot ND

Their Here! Millions and millions of snowflakes that is. It's our first snow storm of this winter season and it certainly is a mess. I'm making this post in an effort to help all the NEW folks in Minot due to our Air Force Base as well as all the Texans up here working on our oil boom. Watching traffic here would be comical if it was not for the fact people are getting hurt and their automobiles are sustaining a lot of damage. Here are some pointers for you:

1) If you are not scared to drive on snow you should be. If you have never driven on snow and you are not afraid then you are an idiot. Even the most experienced drivers in this area respect the snow and we all know that when that first big one comes it's a new learning experience all over again.

2) Minot ND is located in a river valley. The areas of town are called North Hill, South Hill, and The Valley. In a storm your chances of going up either hill diminishes greatly. The chances of stopping at the bottom from the top and ending up where you want to be is also a crap shoot.

3) That sports car you brought to the Air Force Base or out to the oil boom is not a good choice during a snow storm. The snow can get up to two feet not counting much higher drifts. A sports car can handle an inch or two, not a foot or two. (There is a reason that most of us have 4 wheel drive and it's not that we are a bunch of gun to-ten hicks).

4) Don't lock up your brakes if you are heading for disastor. If you have time then pump your brakes, if not you will actusll have more controll by accelerating then slamming on the breaks.

5) Many North Dakotians keep a tow rope in their vehicle and most of us do not expect payment for helping out a stranded citizen. Still, even today, most North Dakotians will stop to help.

6) If you are stuck but it doesn't look like you should be (very little snow) you can most likely get out of it by making sure your wheels are straight and then rock the car from forward to reverse back and forth until you break free. Do not gun the engine or spin the wheels when doing this. Soft and gentile will get you out.

7) Keep a scoop type of shovel in the car. If you get stuck in a drift or snow bank you need to shovel as much snow as you can that is behind the wheels (front and back). Once your car is no longer "hung up" you should be able to do the rocking thing and get out. Remember to keep those wheels straight, this is vital to getting free.

8) Don't put yourself in a position that you have to hurry. That more then anything is going to get you stuck in a snow bank or in a collision. As painful as it may be double the time it used to take you to get to and from the Air Force Base or what ever. I'm sure I don't need to through this in but I'm going to: Don't drink and drive, it's a bad idea when the roads are good but it is a really bad idea in stormy weather.

I hope this is helpful and I hope others will throw in some additional pointers. Thanks,

Bob

If you are coming to North Dakota to live you may be asking yourself, should I bring my motorcycle? Having the privilage of working with many fine personnel from The Minot Air Force Base as well as Texans streaming in to work in the oil fields, I find there are a lot of misconceptions about our climate. We do have Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall in North Dakota and despite the whining of many Summer really is longer then one month.

I was having a fun conversation with a friend yesterday where we were re-living the days of our insane youth. I knew Ralph was a bike fan because I saw him this summer on one of/if not the nicest bikes I've ever seen. We talked about our death defying feats: speed, jumps, sliding under vehicles (even moving ones) and SNOW. I'm pretty proud of the fact then when I bought my new 750 in 1982 I drove it every month of the year except February of that first year. Granted I had to wear a snowmobile suit but I figured as long as the roads were clear I was going to ride. Well Ralph out drove me. He said people really looked and pointed as he went down the street with his feet on the ground all the way to keep the bike upright. Now that is not a tactic I would advise but the point is You can motorcycle in North Dakota and the seasons length depends on how much of a mommies boy you are (or maybe how sane you are). So "Man Up" and bring you bike to North Dakota, even the biggest wuss should get 6 months of riding out of it.