Allen Park, MI

I was showing houses down river in Lincoln Park and Allen Park. It was a bad day. I had 7 houses set up to show. The first house we went to I went to try the lock box. The listing office had given me a numeric code but the lockbox was alphabetic lockbox. I called the listing office and they put me thru to the agent. The agent had NO CLUE WHAT THE LOCKBOX CODE WAS!!!!

The only reason you don't know what the code is because you stole or "borrowed" the lockbox from another realtor. Most agents use the same codes on all their lockboxes. So if you can't remember the lockbox code I would bet that the real estate agent never bought that lock box.

The next house we got into no problem. The next house the lock box and key was gone off the house. So we couldn't get into that house either. Some real estate agent got themselves a new lockbox. (I hope they remember the code) Then we got into the next two houses.

Then we went to the next house. There is a lock box on the front door. The code doesn't work. I call the listing office no answer. Sure it's Sunday but it is only 2 o'clock. I go around back and there is another lock box. The code doesn't work on that one either.

I get a call about a half an hour later. They tell me they have known since Friday that neither lock box worked. But I set up the showing on Saturday and they didn't say anything. So I don't know but I think some agents don't just don't have ethics or common courtesy.

So out of 7 homes I couldn't get into 2 of the homes because of agent/office incompetence. BUT LUCKILY OUT OF THE FOUR DOWNRIVER HOMES WE LOOKED AT MY CLIENT LOVED ONE.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit real estate agent

Search Metro Detroit real estate listings and get the latest foreclosures emailed to you

What else would you expect as a roadside attraction in Detroit? Yes we have a 80 ft tire. I guess nobody got around to building the 200 ft car to go with it.

The Giant Tire was originally created by U.S. Rubber (now Uniroyal Tire) as a Ferris wheel attraction for the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair. The two sides looked like a tire but in between the sides there was the ferris wheel. Over two million fairgoers at the New York Worlds Fair rode the tire. Jacqueline Kennedy, Caroline, and John also took the ride at the World's fair.

When the New York World's Fair ended in 1965, U. S. Rubber decided to move the tire to it's present location in Allen Park, Michigan near it's sales office. The Ferris wheel was taken apart in 188 sections and transported by train to Detroit. Since then, the tire has become one of the nation's most recognizable roadside icons and featured in items ranging from maps and artwork to town Christmas ornaments.

I grew up less than a 1/4 mile from the tire. We used to spend hours in the woods there. (We called them Ford woods) There was a swampy woods area right near the tire that would freeze over. We would skate through the trees and play tag on ice skates in the winter. (Things kids do) Even then the tire had a fence around it to protect it from vandalism and graffiti.

In 1998, to demonstrate how their NailGard® self-sealing passenger tire worked, Uniroyal placed an 11-foot high, 500-pound nail into the tread of the Giant Uniroyal Tire.

In the fall of 2003 Michelin Uniroyal's parent company renovated the tire as part of a Interstate 94 renovation project. They spent about a $1,000,000 to renovate the tire. They added the company website, took down the neon lighting, added new structural beams, repainted the wheel, and added reflective lettering. Michelin, Uniroyal's parent company, donated the Big Nail to the city of Allen Park, Michigan.

The City of Allen Park put the Big Nail up for auction on eBay, and a short time later, Ralph Roberts of Ralph Roberts Realty placed the winning bid of $3,000, which ultimately helped the Allen Park Historical Society's programs and facilities.

The Uniroyal tire roadside attraction is located on I-94 just east of the Southfield Rd exit just minutes from Detroit's Metro Airport.

I have gotten several clients when they read my profile. They identified with me and my past.

I have gotten clients who lived in the town I grew up in. (Allen Park, downriver, suburb of Detroit, MI)

I have got a client that like that I served in the Military. ( U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne, Ft Bragg, NC)

I have got a client from a School that my son attended (Catholic Central)

You may get a client by explaining about your love of your pets whether it is a cocker spaniel or a Siamese Cat.

Or you may get a client by telling about your love of skiing and or your love of travel.

Expand your profile and tell prospective clients about you. We are just people, not a Realtor or mortgage person all the time.

After all in the summer you will catch me waterskiing behind a boat, or working in my garden. And definitely in February or March I need to go to Florida or somewhere warm to get rid of the winter blues. How about you? What makes you tick.

Allen Park, Michigan. I grew up in Allen Park, Michigan thirty years ago, and yet when I go back it still seems the same. Allen Park is still a small town suburb in the shadow of Detroit. Allen Park's claim to fame is that we have the largest tire in the world. It is located on I-94 just past Southfield Freeway. It was an old ferris wheel that was covered over to make it look like a tire. It has been standing on the side of the road ever since I can remember. Allen Park is also home to the Detroit Lion's training facility.

The Allen Park school system is still a fine system to graduate from. Allen Park School board has made the necessary decisions to be financially sound, and improving the schools. Allen Park High School has been given a nice face lift over the years. The Allen Park Jaguar high school football team has been doing well the last few years.

Allen Park has a small downtown where they hold a large Allen Park Arts and Crafts festival. The whole community comes out and draws people from around metro Detroit. Allen Park is a nice town to look at if you are looking for a home under $150,000. If you are thinking of relocating to Michigan feel free to go to my website to search over 60,000 Michigan homes for sale. www.RussRavary.com