Real Estate Blog - How To

Our Top 5 Tips for Fall Yard Maintenance

As summer gives way to autumn, it's time to shift our focus from pool parties and barbecues to fall yard maintenance. The changing leaves and cooler temperatures signal the need for some crucial tasks to ensure your yard remains beautiful and healthy. In this email, we'll discuss the top five tips for fall yard maintenance that will help you prepare your outdoor space for the upcoming winter months. 

1. Rake and Remove Leaves

One of the most iconic aspects of fall is the vibrant display of colorful leaves falling from trees. While they may be beautiful, those leaves can become a nuisance if left unattended in your yard. A thick layer of fallen leaves can block sunlight and trap moisture, leading to a host of issues like lawn diseases and dead…

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Understanding Home Insurance Coverage When a Neighbor's Tree Falls on Your House

Homeownership comes with a myriad of joys and responsibilities. One of the responsibilities that homeowners often encounter is dealing with potential property damage, whether caused by natural disasters, accidents, or even the actions of their neighbors. A common scenario that raises questions about home insurance coverage is when a neighbor's tree falls onto your house. Who is responsible for the damages, and whose insurance pays for it? In this blog post, we will delve into the complexities of this situation and provide insights into how home insurance typically works in such cases.

Determining Liability

The first step in understanding how insurance coverage comes into play when a neighbor's tree falls on your house is determining liability.…

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Unraveling the Mystery of CLUE Insurance Reports: A Guide for Consumers

When it comes to insurance, transparency, and knowledge are paramount for both policyholders and insurance companies. Insurers need accurate information to assess risk and offer appropriate coverage, while consumers deserve access to their insurance records to ensure fair treatment and make informed decisions. One crucial tool in this domain is the CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) insurance report. In this blog post, we'll explore what CLUE reports are, how insurance companies use them, and how you can access your own CLUE report.

What is a CLUE Insurance Report?

The CLUE insurance report is a comprehensive database maintained by LexisNexis, a data analytics company. It compiles and stores information about an individual's…

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Free Resources For Homeowners

Homeownership is a significant milestone in many people's lives, symbolizing stability, security, and a place to call your own. However, being a homeowner also comes with responsibilities, expenses, and occasional challenges. It can be a bit overwhelming to go from renting or living with family where when issues arose with the home, it was not your responsibility to deal with or fix them. However, there are many amazing resources offered for residents of Kent County that help negate some of the stress that comes with maintaining a home you own.

Home Repair Services

1. The City of Grand Rapids recognizes the importance of maintaining safe and well-maintained homes. The Home Repair Services (HRS) program offers free and low-cost repairs to…

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Sales or Service?

What comes to mind when you think of the real estate industry? Is it reality shows like Selling Sunset? Shows like House Hunters where all they do is see three houses and magically always get their first pick? The annoying person you’re friends with on Facebook who won’t stop posting about the “grind” and “building an empire”? 

Before I knew much about the real estate industry, all these things came to mind. All these misconceptions made me certain I would never want to be a real estate agent. I never considered myself someone who would be good at a sales job. I’ve never had a clear idea of what I wanted to do for a career, but I have always known I wanted to help people and be in service of others. Being a real estate agent didn’t seem like…

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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.

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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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