It's 2013 and 13 Reasons Why I Love Grand Rapids

13 Reasons to love Grand Rapids, Michigan

1) The People.  The people in Grand Rapids are simply the best people in the world. Kind, friendly, outgoing, energetic, compassionate and generous. 
2) Downtown.  Who can not be impressed with our downtown. Vibrant, alive, exciting, new, fresh, innovative.  And all this in the last 25 years! Remarkable.
3) Lake Michigan.  Fresh water and plenty of it. Fishing, sailing, boating only 40 minutes away.
4) Beaches and Sunsets.  Arguably, the best beaches and sunsets anywhere on the planet.
5) Biking.  Fast becoming biking city USA. Wonderful bike/walking trails in city and surrounding area. If you are a bike enthusiast. GR is the place to be in the Midwest.
6) Beer.  We are "Beer city USA"  Hoist a hometown brew at one of the many Micro Brewery's sprouting up in and around our hometown.
7) Whitecaps Baseball.  Terrific, inexpensive,(what 5 bucks)  outdoor entertainment.
8) Medical Mile.  Fast becoming the place for medical technology and treatment.
9) Free Outdoor Summer Concerts.  Grab a lawn chair your cooler and enjoy any number of venues and music selections throughout the summer.
10) Colleges. Our many institutions of higher education bring youth, vitality, sports teams, drama, music, and much more.  Calvin College's January Lecture Series comes to mind.
11) Museums and Parks.  For the size of our town, our museums are impressive. Parks no less so.
12) Golf. If you love golf, you'll love GR and surrounding communities.
13) Five Guys Burgers.  Rumored to have 2 Five Guy Burger restaurants in 2013.  If you ever had a Five Guys Burger and Fries, you know why this made the list!

There you have it!  What a great place to live and own real estate.  There is one thing I hope to add for 2014.  Pizza!   In the 70's we had bad pizza. In the 80's we had not bad pizza (but not good). In the 90's we had OK pizza.  In the 2000's we had good pizza.  What we need now is GREAT pizza.  Not quite there yet, but heading in the right direction.  Have a safe, happy, healthy 2013!

Meijer Gardens, A Grand Rapids Gem

One of the best kept non-secrets, is our own Meijer Gardens. It is no secret to us here in West Michigan, as it is one of the country's most visited botanical attractions. But I somehow feel we don't think of it as the big thing that it is. The gardens is truly a special place that help make Grand Rapids a very special place to live. I love our town. As a real estate agent you would expect me to talk up our town. No faking it here, I just flat out, plain love it, and Meijer Gardens is just another reason.

What a deal! For $60 a year you can purchase a individual annual pass (not season, the gardens are open all year round). This membership allows you to take one guest with you at no charge, for an unlimited amount of visits. So, take your mother one week and take your friend the next week, or the next day. It also gives you and your guest free admission to their weekday summer concert series that showcases our local talent.

The gardens has many sculptures on permanent display from artists from all over the world, in addition to many special temporary exhibits. Enjoy a beautiful walk among the wetlands and woods, to a small farm to waterfalls. There are miles of trails and walking paths to enjoy.(photo shows boardwalk along the natural wetland area) Afterward grab a cup of coffee or a bite in their cafe and enjoy more artwork and beautiful surroundings.

It's one more reason to make Grand Rapids home.

Dog Gone It!

When it comes to real estate, mans best friend is not always so friendly to the bottom line. I have seen pets, being dogs and cats, affect the selling price of real estate in the tens of thousands. I do not own a pet, family allergies have prevented even a consideration of pets. But home owners and potential home owners should realize that the family pet can cost them many, many thousands of dollars at selling time. I have seen pets costs homeowners as much as $20,000. Of course this would be in addition to the routine costs of owning and maintaining a pet. A recent study determined that the average vet bills per year per pet are $1,500. This also translates into the savings a buyer may have for a down payment or closing costs, that can actually prevent the potential buyer from being able to qualify for a home loan. All and all, the family pet is much, much more expensive that one may think.

This happens in a couple of ways. If you are a seller and own a pet, over time you have become accustom to your pets odor. It is something that you don't notice, or you notice it, but do not feel at all as a problem. Well, it is a problem, buyers without pets can tell a home with pets. Even if they are OK, with pets, they can still smell the pet and will add up carpet cleaning, and usually carpet replacement with their offer. In addition, just having a pet will reduce your potential buyer pool, as I have had buyer clients that will not consider a home that has a pet, particularly cat(s). Whenever you reduce your buyer pool you reduce your bottom selling line. Second, often the pet will inhibit showings. If it is a inside pet, sellers will need to make arrangements for pets to be taken off the premises either by themselves or someone else. This makes showings more difficult to schedule, and making showings more difficult make for reduced showings. Third, not always, but sometimes pets will give a home a more 'used' look. Scratches on the door trim, gnawing of corners, matted carpet where the pet sleeps, excessive dog and cat hair, scratches on a finished wood floor, staining, etc. Pets just tend to age a home.
Another example is when the owner cages up the dog for showings. Caging a pet for showings is a viable option when you can not remove the pet for showings, however it can be very costly. I recall a number of caged pets that barked or growled non stop when I was showing a home. This made for a extremely unpleasant showing in that I could hardly talk with the buyers and the dog monopolized the showing. The growling dog adds a safety concern that makes the showing uneasy.

Another, more difficult factor is the dog next door. Many, many sales have been lost due to the neighbors dog barking or growling at the potential homeowners. That is almost always a deal breaker! The buyers just can't see themselves coming home to that every day, in addition to their safety and that of their children. I have been with buyers that would not even go into the home when greeted by the neighbors unwelcoming dog. This is the most difficult situation for a home seller, to be held hostage by the neighbors dog!
Regardless, when it comes to selling real estate, there is not an upside to owning a pet. I have even seen pet owning buyers not consider a home because there was a pet living there and they were convinced that their pet would not take to the home where a pet have previously marked out the territory.

One of the options a seller has is to rent a small machine (about the size of a small dehumidifier, that will filter pet odors and other odors as well. These machines rent for approx $300 for 2 months, but do a good job of eliminating most odors. A high quality carpet cleaning with special solvents for pet stains and odors is another recommended treatment. Air fresheners and cleaning litter boxes and pet areas frequently can also help.

Obviously, pets have contributed to our personal and family enjoyment, and for many, life without a pet companion is just unthinkable. I have been with many pet owning buyers and sellers to know this and appreciate it. But it is good information to know the unseen cost of owning a pet when it comes to selling real estate can be extremely high, and to anticipate some buyer rejection.

A Fitting Tribute to 9-11 in Grand Rapids

Marking the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks on our country, Grand Rapids offered a moving and profound tribute to the fallen on that fateful day. Hundreds of volunteers assembled over 3200 flags, each flag representing a person who lost there lives on September 11, 2001. In addition, tied to each flag pole was the name of the person honored, birth date, and a brief statement about the person. These statements seemed to be written by family members or friends as some were deeply personal. It brought home to me about the suffering and loss experienced by those most closely touched by the attack, as we were somewhat insulated here in West Michigan some 700 miles away. I say somewhat insulated. If you had loved ones or someone you knew, even just by acquaintance, a day of remembering brings more emotion to the surface. But here in West Michigan, we could not see the smoke of the towers. We could not smell the heavy polluted air. Those who live in and around New York City, remember that day in a way that we in West Michigan simply cannot. So for me, that solemn memorial on the hills of Cannonsburg Ski Area, awakened a fresh reality of the day and a renewed appreciation and gratitude for the men and women who rushed into the towers, willingly, giving of their very lives to rescue and save others. A fitting and special recognition was given to these fallen heroes at the memorial.

I was proud of my country as I experienced this memorial. I was proud of my fellow citizens, first responders, emergency and military personal who lost there lives on that day. I was proud of my town, for caring enough to erect this memorial.

There is a time that we move on from these tragic events. I would expect, that we will see less remembering as the years go by. But how tragic to let it become so unfamiliar that we cease to mark or remember that day at all.

My Favorite Boat and Car Show

Looking for a cool fall "Up North" event? Check out the annual "Wooden Boats on the Wall" September 17, 2011 in Leland, Michigan. This free yearly event plays host to Leland's finest wooden boats, all on display up close and personal. The event takes place on the quaint and tidy grounds along Leland River in the heart of Leland. The village of Leland harks back to its roots as a fishing village and still has some of the original structures of that era. The wooden boat show fits right in with this historic town. Dozens of wooden boats are on display with many owners nearby for interesting facts and history of the boats. Often free music entertainment is offered and food is available on site or at the many cafes and restaurants in the village. Next to the boats is an impressive antique and classic car show.

While you are there take some time to explore and experience what the Today's show has called America's most beautiful place! Leelanau county features approx 26 miles of incredible Lake Michigan shoreline known as Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore. Enjoy beach walks with out concern of tress passing on private property, it's federal land, you own it! Take in sensational sunsets with a glass of locally produced wine from one of the many vineyards located throughout the county.

You may want to consider Leelanau county when looking for a vacation cottage, condo, hunting cabin, or hunting land. I have been camping and vacationing in this hidden gem for 30 years and for the last 10 have been enjoying our cottage on Lake Leelanau. If you have any questions about Leelanau county real estate, or things to do and places to see, where to eat, great wine tasting venues, please contact me. I would be delighted to help!

"Life is like a box of chocolates...."

Some time ago a movie titled Forrest Gump hit the big screens. The title character. played by Tom Hanks, often quoted his mother saying "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your going to get." As charming as that sounds, it really is not all that accurate. A more fitting statement would be, 'Life is like a box of choices, and those choices have a profound effect on the direction of your life.'

We make choices everyday. Some choices have little or no significance on our lives and those around us. Choices on what to eat for breakfast, what to wear, what shoes to buy, and so it goes. But other choices are more weighty. Cars to purchase, careers path to take, whom to date/marry, where to live, home to buy. Even when we decide not to make a choice, we are making a choice.

When I think of the importance of a real estate decision (choice) it seems to me that a buyer, or seller, would want to select a real estate agent that is competent, responsive, experienced, knowledgeable, and offers more than just opening doors. For many, the home investment will be the most significant investment of their lives. Although, we have seen a decline in real estate values of recent years, real estate will still remain to be where a large share of a buyers income resides. Yet, the home as an investment, is just one piece of the pie. What about the home itself, how does the home live. How does the homes floor plan work for the buyer, how does the natural light from the sun affect certain rooms, how is the home constructed, how well has it been built. Further, what are the utility costs of the home, the property taxes, future expenditures, neighborhood projections. All these factors play into a decision, a choice.

I can't imagine choosing to 'go it alone' when it comes to real estate. Whether buying or selling, why make such a big choice, with so little assistance!
The purchase or sale of real estate is often a emotional choice, and emotion is an important part of the decision. But pure emotion unbalanced with sound reasonable counsel is a poor choice. Make a good choice, connect with a realtor of your choosing, and then choose well.

Tips for Home Buyers Touring Homes

I have come to realize that after showing thousands of homes to potential home buyers, a sequence or pattern should be established on how to actually tour a home.
Here are some reasons for touring each home in a simular pattern.
1) It establishes a routine that keeps a buyer from side tracking or derailing on what offen is non essential.
2) If a buyer tours each home in a simular pattern, it makes it much easier to compare and recall features of the home after touring 6 or 7 homes.
3) You can experience the home as it is meant to be experienced, not as a home inspector randomly moving from room to room.
4) The home is put in it's best presentation, or puts the home in the best light.
Here are some simple techniques I can suggest.
* When you arrive, park on the street, not in the driveway, if off street parking is availalbe. This prevents any oil or fluid droppings from your car from staining the home owners driveway. Also, this gives the buyer a good vantage point for taking in the homes curb appeal, rather than a close up view of garage doors.
* If weather permits, walk around the home first before going into the home. The buyer can observe both the exterior of the home and the neighboring properties. Does the buyer have pets, like to garden? What is the view from the front porch? Back deck? What is the condition of the roof? These are items to consider when walking around a home.
* Walk in through the front door and remove shoes. If the key box is located on a side door, it works best for the agent to enter through the side and open the front door for the buyers.
* View the main level first, starting with the more formal areas, living rooms, dining rooms, then kitchen and family rooms. Then any bedrooms and baths on the main level. If home is empty, the buyer will want to observe window and door openings in rooms to understand where a bed or couch might be located and how it affects traffic flow.
* Next, move to the upper levels and view the bedrooms and baths, always leave the basement and garage for last.
* After touring the entire home, make some notes about the home, and re-visit any rooms or areas that you may have questions about.
* Bring a flash light and a measuring tape or tool.
* At the end of the tour, try to rate the home on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being No Way and 10 being Perfect. Understand that there is rarely a "perfect" home, so don't set your expectations unrealistically.
* Share your thoughts and comments with your real estate agent. This will be very helpful for your agent to know what is important to you, and what you will want to avoid for future showings.