Real Estate Blog - How To

5 Gotta Do’s in April for a Worry-Free Summer

Battle bugs before they bite (or sting!) you — and check the attic for problems. Tackling five simple tasks now gives you a head start on spring. That leaves you plenty of worry-free time to enjoy the warmer weather.

#1 Tell Insects to Bug Off

Early spring warmth awakens insects, so start to protect your home now. Seal openings in eaves, decks, and other structures to keep out carpenter bees.

Nix mosquitoes by eliminating standing water or treating it with larvicide. Call a pro to destroy wasp and yellow jacket nests, unless you're experienced enough to engage in a bee battle.

#2 Prep Tools for Lawn Care

Ladies and gentlemen, start your mowers. April's the month to get this vital piece of equipment ready to roll. An unmaintained machine…

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Get Your Home Ready For Winter

Before the mercury settles in the bottom of the thermometer for the next three months, it’s a good idea for homeowners to winterize their homes against the freezing temperatures so that their greatest investment will survive intact for springtime.

DOWNLOAD YOUR CHECKLIST NOW

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How To Organize Your Garage

Whether you’re getting ready to sell or you have the itch to get organized before the snow flies, a clean garage is truly a game changer.

Garages are an often overlooked or misused space— and yours likely has tons of storage potential just waiting to be utilized. Once you have a plan, organizing your garage isn’t as daunting as it may seem! So grab a notepad, make a list for the hardware store, and let’s get to work.

It may go without saying, but your first step should be to sort through what you want to keep, donate, or toss. Once you have your “keep” pile, that’s where the real organizing begins. NOTE: If you have a lot you’d like to get rid of, we recommend researching your area’s second-hand stores or donation centers before throwing things…

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5 Things to Take Care of at Home This Fall

We’ve welcomed cooler temps, pumpkins are for sale at Meijer, and football season is in full swing— it’s officially fall in Michigan. After fall comes winter, which means you have a few things you need to take care of before the snow arrives (we won’t think about that too much). Taking care of your home now will set you up for success as the seasons— and elements— change over these coming months.

1. Clean Your Gutters

   This is crucial to complete before winter weather rolls around. Clogged gutters can potentially lead to interior flooding and exterior damage (neither of which are fun, especially in dwindling temperatures). If your gutters are in need of replacing, fall is a great time to do that as well.

2. Rake Your Leaves

   You either…

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Give Your Home a Morale Makeover

7 easy ways to revitalize your space and boost your mood.

With many Americans spending a lot more time at home, you may find your house taking on the roles of office, classroom, gym and community center — and it’s easy to feel uninspired by your surroundings after occupying the same space day in, day out. But all hope is not lost: There are simple and inexpensive ways to transform your home into a fresh and stimulating environment.

Give your home some TLC with these seven tips from interior decorators, feng shui experts and design enthusiasts.

1. Break it up

If you’re working at home, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by conflicting responsibilities. To help stay on track, designate different areas for specific activities. “It’s important to…

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How to Stage a House in the “New Normal”

While masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancing make home showings significantly safer, you may still have concerns about groups of potential buyers traversing through your home. Before you call off the staging company, consider that many home buyers are still exploring homes virtually in this “new normal.”

Every staging best practice pre-quarantine still applies— If anything, in this new normal, greater attention to detail should be taken when preparing your home for virtual tours.

Here’s how you can impress buyers from a distance:

1.    Lighting, Lighting, Lighting: If you’ve used Zoom lately for business meetings, you have a basic understanding of how important lighting is. Open shades and turn on as many lights in your home during…

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Selling Your Home, A Legal Checklist

Selling a home might be the most complex transaction you will undertake, so it’s crucial to address any legal issues before they become obstacles. Whatever the reason you are selling your home, you can prepare to make the sale as smooth as possible.

Avoid potential issues before they arise by downloading our checklist and if you have any questions we’d be more than happy to help!

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Save Up To $450 on New Appliances

We know moving into a new house can sometimes be a harrowing experience with many challenges…appliances being a common one. That’s why we’ve partnered with Bekins, one of the nations leading appliance dealer/service providers, to bring you this very special offer. Now our clients can get $150 off per appliance for any 3 Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, Kitchen Aid, or Bosch appliances purchased at Bekins…even sale items! Learn more in the video below. Learn more about our friends at Bekins here.

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How to Sell Your Open House: Before, During & After

Listen, open houses are important – but only if they are done correctly. Not every open house is the same – even in this seller’s market. Our team believes open houses are an important tool in selling your home. We’ve sold many houses AT the actual open house. It’s all in how you market the open house, work the open house and follow up afterward. That’s what sets our team apart and why we’ve made open houses successful. (Not to mention fun!)

If you’ve ever wondered what goes into an open house and what difference they make, here’s a little insight with the “Open House How-to”.

How-to: Before

Marketing, marketing, marketing! I don’t just mean Facebook and MLS, but is your agent sending invitations to other agents? In our network it’s important…

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It's Not Just Your Home...It's Also a House

Take the YOU Out of Your House to Avoid Getting HOSED at Selling Time!

Of course, your home is your sanctuary. At the end of a long workday or even a long vacation, there’s nothing quite like crossing the threshold into your own private cocoon and relaxing while surrounded by the people and things you care about most.

One of the greatest pleasures of owning a home is having the freedom to customize it as you wish, to express your style and personal tastes through window treatments, flooring type, exterior color and the like. But when you’re reaching for that paint can or countertop sample chip, be extra cautious. Sure it’s your home to love and lavish today … But where will you be two years down the line? Five? Even ten?

If there’s even the…

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