Byron Center, MI

I have had many requests over the years but this request is one I will remember a long time.

I get a call from what seems to be a buyer. The male voice asks if how much is the sell price of the property? How many acres, does it have building sites, how is the hunting?

I asked...would you like to walk the property? Yes, the caller responds, in an anxious voice. I am thinking to myself, great! My next question, are you working with an agent? No...then the voice says, really all I want to do is hunt on the property...who do I get permission from to hunt on it? It that you? What's the owner's name, the phone number I can call, where do they live I'll stop by. I tell the caller, I can't give you that information. I have an agent for owner agreement to keep his contact information private. Please find a friends property to hunt on.

I informed the caller they couldn't hunt on the property and I didn't have the authority to grant that permission anyway. The caller then gets mad at me...he says, why can't I hunt on it...nobody else is! I calmly responded, what happens if a real buyer wants to walk the property and you are out there with a shotgun? Who is going to be liable if you fall down and shoot yourself accidentally? Or if you hurt yourself or someone else?

I appreciate hunters and the sport of hunting for the most part although since Vietnam I do not hunt anything except coffee, lunch and dinner. I also appreciated the hunter calling instead of just trespassing onto the property and the owner or myself walking the property with a buyer and finding a stranger on the property with a shotgun!

Liability issues are to great to allow this activity. The owner could grant permission but I doubt he will do that since he lives on a 10 acre parcel attached to the other 70 acres and uses the property as recreational with his family.

This is the first time I have had the request to hunt on any of the large tracks of land I have listed. It may cause me to add a rider to my sign...."Hunting Granted with Purchase!"

If you would like to find hunting or recreational property please give me a call.

For Personal Service, Call: 616-784-2360 Email: GaryWhite@FlexitRealty.com

Recently built in 2005, town house style condominium unit available in the popular Sierra Field development. Two bedrooms, two and a half bathroom, two stall attached garage with 1500 square feet of living space. Affordable and convenient living awaits. Needs some minor work, but with some effort could be real sharp. Subject to lender's approval of short sale.

In Michigan, if you buy from a builders representative it is a good chance these are not licensed Realtors at all. The company selling the homes many very well have a real estate license but the "representative or counselor that you are discussing the home purchase with may not be a Realtor.

Buyers many times think they will get the "best deal" by negotiating directly with the builders representative.

Let me share the experience of a couple that I met. They had sold their home after living there 15 years. The kids have moved out so they wanted to down size. They decided to check out new homes. They had never owned a new home so they thought they would treat themselves. They started with an real estate agent who was a friend and new to the business. Not an uncommon choice.

As they looked and met with builders the agent kept steering the buyers to more expensive homes than they wanted to purchase. So they soon parted company. Which anyone would have done. They decided to go it alone and negotiate with the builder directly.

They found a home....upon going through the home it fit them perfectly. They made the offer and with that they went through the home again before close looking for defects and problems that the builder would fix.

The representative said sure we'll provide screen for all the windows, oh sure we'll put in towel bars, of course we'll fix that crack. You want eves put on the house, sure we'll include those at no extra cost.

As Mr. and Mrs. Experienced buyer (let's call them) left the walk through meeting with the representative they felt pretty good. The builder was very accommodating and they found their last home before retirement.

The close came without a hitch. They started calling after moving in when no screens came, the cracks were not fixed and no one had made an appointment to install the eves and downspouts on the house.

They were then told it wasn't in writing the home office for the builder had no idea what they were talking about. This should have been handled in writing before close. It's too late but the build could make some concessions on price if they would like some of the repairs and installations done.

The builder would send over a contractor to give them a quote. As you might guess they were not happy. The truth is ethics is not what representatives are bound by. They have a moral obligation but it is driver by their own character. Licensed real estate agents that are part of the National Association of Realtors are governed by a code of ethics. We have bad apples too but with the controls and guidelines we have methods of dealing with bad actors.

In this case the buyers had no recourse. If they had used a buyer's agent to represent them they could have saved this situation from happening.

Hope this help you understand you can have professional representation and still get a good deal while being protected with your concerning covered in writing.

Remember there are many reputable builders...get it in writing just the same.

As we enter the time of the year when storms can affect our lives being prepared is key to living life and keeping your family safe.

Storms can cause issues that we don't normally have to contend with and they always come when least expected.

Power Outages is a real problem. I have always been one to create checklists and prepare for emergencies. My experiences in Vietnam taught me to control what I can control and prepare for the issues I can't control.

So what do you do when the power goes out? If you are reacting to a power outage you are already to late.

Have batteries and flashlights that work. I have chargeables that plug into outlets. This allows me to grab one and know it is always ready. I have wired my home for a generator that can keep my refrigerator and food safe without having it spoil during an extended power outage.

Having something to cook with is also is very important, unless you are going leave home and eat out or visit mom for a free meal! I have used my grill to save the day more than once. I always have an extra propane tank. That allows me to always have a tank for extended power outages.

If you don't have a generator think about a source for dry ice. Remember handling safety, never touch dry ice with bare skin or hands. For short power outages never open the refrigerator doors unless absolutely necessary. Every time you open the door it warms the refrigerator and your cold time will is limited.

Garage door openers won't work, so use the safety cord and release and life your door if your car is caught inside. We forget these little things. I made coffee on my grill with a old coffee pot that percolates. I boiled water, cooked potatoes in tin foil. You would be surprised what you can do.

Your water heater won't work either but that boiled water will heat a bath if you need one. That also means you better have city water because your pump won't work either.

Hope this gives you a few ideas so you can keep your family safe even in an extended power outage.

If you live in the Grand Rapids or the West Michigan area, are not under contract and would like to sell or buy a home....give me a call. It could save you thousands in your next real estate transaction. FlexIt Realty designs selling and buying programs to meet our clients needs. Your call is always confidential and you are never pressured.

"Help is only a Call or Click away!"©2006-2009

Call Toll Free: 877-667-4699 Local: 616-784-2360 Email: garywhite@FlexItRealty.com

14 miles south west of Grand Rapids is the community of Byron Center MI. The community, formerly a farming area, is growing and experiencing diversification due to the fact that both Highways 131 and M-6 are in close proximity and offer easy access to Grand Rapids, Lansing, the lakeshore and the east side of the state.

The award winning school district of Byron Center Schools serves approximately 3000 students in 6 buildings. There are 3 K-4th grade buildings, one which houses 5/6th grade students, one for 7/8th grades and one high shool building.

A review of real estate market activity from 12/1/08-2/28/09 reveals the following:

Copyright 2009 Sondra TenClay, all rights reserved