Tonight I actually stopped at our rural mailbox and took the mail out. I remember 32 years ago when getting the mail was such a big treat.  My husband and I had no credit history, no accounts, didn't live anywhere long enough to have associations - we were blissfully free of the mail assault.  The only mail we got was mail we wanted. Now, 99% of the mail we get is nearly or completely unnecessary.  We pay and monitor accounts online but keep getting paper statements since most online statements make NO sense; we need the paper for clarification but don't open them unless there is an issue.  As for advertisements for goods and services, we shop when we want, where we want, by word-of-mouth, and buy only what we need.  Little by little, we began to disregard the mail completely.  (Anyone ... 05/20/2008

This afternoon I received a call from a potential seller who owns a condo in Barclay Park Condo’s. I asked him how he found me and he said on the internet, I Googled Ann Arbor Re/Max Agent and you came up twice on page one. I had to inform him that I was not with RE/MAX anymore as there is no RE/MAX office in Ann Arbor and was that a problem. It wasn’t. Brad Carroll recently posted on how to change your on-line identity if you have changed companies on his Dakno Marketing Blog. I had already followed the steps, by changing my sites etc… but it takes time for Google to not index the places you are still found. In this case it put a smile on my face. Barclay Park condo’s are located in the North East side of Ann Arbor and is a fantastic location for Physician Residents or people in class... 05/19/2008

My brother bought a fixer-upper late last year and is now in the process of doing the exterior of the house.  Among the biggest decisions to be made is what color to paint the exterior.  It is currently pale pink.  I know, I know.  But why do you think he got it for $150,000 or so and it immediately appraised at $216,000?  People!  Exterior paint does not cost $66,000!!! Well, after at few attempts at slapping a quart on here and a quart or there, he was directed to a website that does the work for you.  You can figuratively paint a house that may or may not be like yours and see the hopefully harmonious and favorable results without so much as lifting a quart OR a paintbrush. I loved this site, mostly because it showed the errors of so many homeowner's color choices.  Fortunately for m... 05/17/2008

Ann Arbor Book Festival is this Saturday for anyone in the area looking for something perhaps intellectual.  Wide variety of vendors with books of interest to all. 05/15/2008

All Waste Donates Dumpster Service to Worthy Causes and Joins the Fight against Breast Cancer   Ann Arbor, MI - Sherman Rogers began his business in 1998 with a single Mack truck and 12 roll-off dumpsters.  Rogers, president of All Waste, now runs an all-Mack fleet of 12 trucks and more than 500 dumpsters.  All Waste is an honest company with professional services at fair and competitive prices.  They are not only the #1 trash service provider in Michigan; they also lead the way in community service.   Sherman has joined the fight against breast cancer, showing his support by painting his dumpsters pink and decorating them with ribbons.  He also contributes a portion of All Waste's proceeds to a research foundation in hopes of finding a cure for this disease.  In addition, All Waste pro... 05/11/2008

They are not only the #1 service provider for trash removal in Michigan, they pride ourselves on being among the leading Michigan companies actively involved with the community   Ann Arbor, MI - For 20 years All Waste has been the leaders in Michigan trash hauling and junk removal. They also surpass others in trash compactor sales and services as well as dumpster rentals. their radio dispatch units enable them to respond to their customers quickly and professionally for jobs like demolition, remodeling waste removal and basement cleanup. They even do yard cleaning, appliance removal, trash and rubbish collection. With their 10, 20, 30 and 40 foot dumpsters they can take on any size job.   ALL WASTE, LLC was started 1998 by Sherman Rogers with a single Mack truck and 12 roll-off dumpster... 05/11/2008

Somewhere I know I posted a blog article about a home on Washtenaw in Ann Arbor that we almost helped a client buy. I say almost because when the buyer's home inspector looked at the home he found EIFS that had been incorrectly installed. He couldn't determine if it was a $5,000 problem or a $30,000 problem so he recommended some actual testing be done. The builder on this brand new $1.1 million home refused to have the issue looked at. He then accused us of being unreasonable and our buyer walked away. (Interesting note to add to this paragraph - this builder originally balked at providing a one year warranty on the home. It makes you wonder if he actually knew about the issue.) Also interesting to note that the listing agent on this home told our REAL buyer agent that the home was stu... 05/11/2008

I come here innocently enough, with ideas aplenty to blog about, somewhat afraid that if I post one thing after another people will think I am a machine, or a machine is behind me.Sorry, it is just me.  Imperfect.  Hit and miss.  Today I actually picked up our local weekly paper at the supermarket (I had unsubscribed as a boycott to the new editor's policies but I don't think she knows...) and found so many articles to trigger a blog that my husband and son were totally distracted while I ripped the paper as they were trying to watch "4400".  Has anyone ever heard of that???!!!  They have it on DVD or maybe Tivo and when their schedules allow, they watch it together.  It is a total soap opera for nerds!  (I love nerds, understand...my family is totally nerdular, probably me included but... 05/08/2008

 Monday night on May 12th from 7:00 to 8:30 we will have another of our home buying classes.The focus is on putting togehter a well planned, well researched home purchase.This class is a lot of nuts and bolts down and dirty information about the four stages of home buying. The class and materials are free, but confirmed registration is required because we have limited seating and sometimes fill-up.To reserve your spot call 734-223-9831 and leave a message with the number seats you would like to reserve, your name, and a phone number where we can call to confirm your place.This class can literally save you thousands of dollars so call in your reservations today!   05/08/2008

Charm galore in this 1930’s home located at 305 Ideal Street in Milan, Mi. Brick fireplaces surrounded by bookcases and beveled glass. Four bedrooms in 2 full baths. Remodeled bath, and 2 car garage added. Walk to downtown, parks and schools. Full finished basement. Open from 2-4, May 4th. Take I-94 to Carpenter Rd. Carpenter Rd turns in to Dexter Ave. Turn left off Dexter onto Ideal. 2552 Fenwick in Ann Arbor OPEN from 2-4, Sunday, May 4th. This is a well maintained condo in Georgetown Commons. This condo is subject to a “short sale”. The hardship letter has been written and the package is ready to go once an offer is presented. This condo sold for 169,000 in 2005 and is currently being offered at $99,000. Directions: State Street to Eisenhower Parkway, onto Hayes. Hayes to Fenwick Ct. 05/03/2008

The 1st day of May is here and it is chilly outside and it has been chilly in market too.   Last year from April 1st 2007 to April 30th, 2007, we had closed on 148 homes in Ann Arbor. This April from April 1st to April 30th, 2008, we only closed on 29 homes in Ann Arbor.  Now if that is not discouraging enough, of the 29 that sold, 9 were rentals and three were foreclosure's. This is discouraging for home sellers who have a home to sell in either Saline or Ann Arbor. If you include the entire MLS for the Ann Arbor Board of Realtors, this would include all the way from Brooklyn in Lenawee County to Brighton, down through Western Wayne County, there were 373 closings in 2007 in the month of April and only 82 for April 2008. This means that out of the 1000 Realtors in Ann Arbor Area Board... 05/01/2008

Today I set an agenda for myself that included getting my backlogged laundry done between real estate work, having no previously scheduled appointments with clients.  That goal was interrupted by a semi-urgent need to go into the office - I work from home primarily.  I would be meeting a potential client, cash buyer, who needs to close a property in 2 weeks since his current property closing then will be happening but the purchase deal he thought he had will not be happening...via his relative the realtor.  I really hope I am not in trouble on this one but the man needs somewhere to live!  He is a referral from a current client of mine.  He and the relative/realtor are not speaking.So with all the unexpected activity today, my office hours ran late.  I was determined to get that darn la... 04/30/2008

Yes, that is quite sexist when considering that I am a woman who IS a wife but that is precisely why my title is what it is.  I was a STAY-AT-HOME wife for many years due to young children and then my husband's employment outside the US that did not allow me to work.  I know of what I speak.I am defining wife as someone who is the helper doing the necessary life things that must be done for a family but also may involve the other partner's job.  As noted, I did that for years.   It is a full time job.  Now that I am in a full time profession as a realtor, rather than the "wife", things slip throught the cracks.  Recently the insurance supplied by my husband's company disappeared for everyone but him because a mailing required response that we apparently did not supply.  We needed to ver... 04/25/2008

 Here is a challenge for home buyers, real estate agents and home inspectors. I've posted a photo below of a side rail from a garage door. This rail tells you something about the garage that is unique. I would guess only 1 in 20 doors is like this. And it could be a problem for some home buyers.So, what do you think?Additional information that may or may not have any relevance:The home was build in the 20's.It is a two car garage with two doors.The home started priced over $300,000.The driveway is stamped concrete.There are two missing windows.The neighbor has a fountain.  04/24/2008

First, before any of you, my loyal readers, panic from my title (yoo-hoo-hoooo, anybody out there?), my daughter Sara is alive and well in her 14 day solo adventure through 8 countries in Europe.Just to recap, Sara's plans to have a male companion along on this journey fell completely apart due to his non-US passport issues but she decided to forge on alone.  She is sleeping on the couches of strangers for free, with her incredibly fluent English language skills and her passable French language skills helping her along the way.  None of the 14 days are in France, by the way, though this is spring break from her study abroad program in Paris, France.  If you really want to know how she feels, deep down inside, please read the hilarious accounts of Dave Sedaris in "Me Talk Pretty One Day.... 04/23/2008

Every May, as the weather warms and the park surrounds us with fresh greenery, the annual Burns Park Run welcomes Spring.  This year's run is Sunday, May 4th, at 8:30 AM.The run features a 5K and a 10K races, and draws about 1,000 participants.  There is also a Fun Run in the park for the youngest runners.  Proceeds benefit the Burns Park Elementary School.  The course winds through the streets of the Burns Park neighborhood.This is one of the true highlights of the Burns Park calendar.  The energy and cheering buzz through the whole neighborhood.  Don't expect to sleep in on Sunday, May 4th.  You'll miss the fun.  I may even dare to run this year!For more information, or to register or volunteer, you can go to the official website at http://www.burnsparkrun.org/  04/22/2008

Having just returned from a meeting with the Dalai Lama… oh gosh its only been 48 hours … yikes…. Question! You end up with an additional GPS from the big box store. You’re pretty sure you didn’t steal it, at least not intentionally, but there it was in your back seat when you got home. So you paid for one, got two … do you: 1. Return it because you somewhat believe in that burning in hell stuff? 2. Give it to some lost person which should counter-act #1, right? 3. Assume it was a two-fer sale and all is well. 4. Assume it was an act of God, possibly even a miracle. What would you do? 04/21/2008

The other day I reached into a file folder and for the first time in years got a paper cut on my finger.  It hurt like bloody hell.  I kept a bandaid on the tip of my finger for two days, precariously positioned because of the location of the cut, but finally abandoned it from annoyance.  The cut was not yet healed and reminded me of that with occasional pangs of pain when I forgot about it being there on my right hand, me being a righty.Maybe that was the final straw to remind me how much I despise paper, particularly paper clutter that arrives via the mail and piles up on surfaces throughout our home.  If the kids bring it in from school, it goes somewhere near to the front door.  If my husband brings it in from work, it usually ends up in our first floor master bedroom.  If I bring i... 04/20/2008

Back in 2006 I posted a couple pictures of a house being moved from Washington Street downtown to Pontiac Trail near Barton. House being moved blog post Last night I was downtown and I noticed the big crane on the lot where the house had been. I thought it made an interesting picture showing the shops at Liberty.This is one of two different big cranes downtown this year. It is good to see the new construction even in these challenging times for Ann Arbor! 04/20/2008

Yes, another tale from the dark side.  I may start giving these blogs episode numbers so it doesn't look like I am just recycling the same old thing.  Roman numerals, identified by year/month shown, rated on a scale of 1-10 for level of buyer horror, perhaps on a profit & loss statement estimate when showing to an investor, maybe even the imaginary pangs of back pain experienced when envisioning the work needed?  So hard to decide....  I just like to write about distressed properties when I show one that in some way tops all of the other ones I have shown.  Today was one of those days.The $49,000 price point in a nice subdivision that could bring $200,000 or more begged the question, "What's wrong with this property?"  Wait, another idea!  This could be a game show!  I could give clues ... 04/18/2008