Livonia, MI

I came up with a great marketing idea for the summer. This year I decided not to plant annual flowers. With the economic times I thought I would buy vegetable plants instead. But I went overboard.

Last fall I had noticed that some ethnic homes whether it was Chinese, Italian, Romanian, or Arabic planted vegetables every where. In the front yard, on the side, wherever there was a spot for a plant they put one.

I live in Livonia and my yard doesn't get a lot of sun so I thought I would do the same thing. I planted in the front yard, in pots, and in the side yard to. The problem is when ever my wife and I went into a nursery or place that had plants we bought one more plant. So now we have about 40 tomato plants. I placed the pots wherever there was sun. I planted my tomato plants, peppers, zucchini, squash, and cucumbers. Then I watered and rapid growed (fertilized) them.

A couple of weeks ago the bounty started to come in. My wife has already canned about 20 jars of dill and sweet pickles. We have given vegetables to the neighbors and friends. And I had planned to give vegetables to clients too.

So this is what I came up with. I put cucumbers and the tomatoes and a few peppers in a nice gift bag. Bought a small bottle at the dollar store and filled it with olive oil. Then got a recipe and put my contact info on the back. And I put a little blurb about my economic stimulus plan and going green and I am giving it away to my clients.

And here is my blurb about the economy

Just another way of thanking my clients and friends for using me and helping me through these tough economic times.

If you have a business this I believe is a high impact gift without a lot of cost. It's the thought that counts.

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit Realtor

There are 7 items in a home that every Metro Detroit first time homebuyer should be looking at.

1.) Roof. How old is the roof? How many layers are there? How are the valleys? Are any of the shingles curling or bowed?

2.) Kitchen. Is the kitchen updated? Or is older and needing updating. A kitchen remodeling can cost from $10,000 to $50,000 depending on the size.

3.) Furnace. How old is the furnace? Is it rusted. If it is over 15 to 20 years old it may need to be replaced soon. A furnace can cost over $3500 to replace.

4.) Windows and doors. Are the windows old or newer? It usually costs $5000 or more to replace windows. A large window or a doorwall may cost up to $2000.

5.) Bathrooms. Are they updated. A bathroom remodel can cost from $4000 up to $10,000.

6.) Water Heater. Aren't really expensive but can cost $500 to replace

7.) Basement. Is there water in the basement. Are the walls bowed? A major basement repair can cost up to $10,000.

These are the 7 major items every Metro Detroit first time homebuyer should be looking at. The more of these items that are updated the better it is for you the Metro Detroit first time homebuyer.

If you can get a home with the roof, the windows, the kitchen updated then I think you are doing good. The more completed updates the better off you are.

If you have any questions and you are getting ready to buy a Metro Detroit home feel free to call or email me. info@russRavary.com or (313) 310-9855

Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit realtor helping you buy Livonia Real estate or any Wayne, Oakland, or Livingston County home or condo

Or has it happening in your area too. In the metro Detroit area cities have been increasing tickets and traffic enforcement to make up and pay for budget shortfalls and personel. We need police and the services they provide but it really has become a business here in Metro Detroit.

In many cities the police officers retirement is based on the highest 3 of the last 5 years of service. So many police officers work as much overtime the last three years they have before retirement. An integral part of paying for the overtime is the amount of tickets written.

So it has become a vicious cycle. The more tickets, the more overtime, the more personnel is all supported by local residents tickets. Of course court personnel, city personnel, and police officers get a free pass when it comes to tickets. In Livonia they are building a big new courthouse to handle the increased business. Here they are willing to change the ticket down so it is just a fine and no points on your record. So long as the money comes in.

15 years ago they increased the laws on trucks. They put more weigh masters on the road. Cities have made big bucks enforcing tougher standards and weight laws. The tickets the weigh master write pay for thier salaries and it has (in my opinion) increase safety and better quality (condition) of trucks on the road. So I don't and won't say this is wrong.

Traffic tickets are a necessary evil. Livonia's police force is a great team that protects it's residents well. I'm proud of them. But I rather that we would make up budget shortfalls a different way. I'm for making real criminals pay their way. Work crews and work farms should be the wave of the future to bring money back to the counties and the state. Make them pay for their stay.

But now the system has become a money making operation. It's not unusual for there to be tag team police cars pulling over car after car of traffic violators. In Livonia you are going to get a ticket for running a yellow/red light when turning left off Haggerty onto Six Mile Rd heading east.

Or turning right off the I-96 service drive onto Farmington Rd. There will be a police car waiting for you when you turn on red. Or going under the train viadock on Merriman Rd there is many times a police car in the Ford Transmission plant. In Allen Park the speed trap is on Southfield Rd between Van born and Michigan Avenue. Every city has their speed trap area, their money making operation.

Romulus Police department goes head to head with the Wayne County Airport Security over issuing speeding tickets in Metro Airport. The Airport Security have even parked their cars next to under cover Romulus police cars with their flashers going to alert drivers to speed traps. They don't want people to get a traffic ticket as soon as they come to Detroit.

The more tickets, the more money, the more police, the more tickets, more overtime for police, more money taken in. A better funded police department and better police coverage. A very interesting situation that is growing bigger and bigger across the state in this tough economic times. The cities, the townships are looking for increased revenue and traffic tickets are becoming one more source.

Is it happening in your area?

It may be afternoon by the time you get this but I did start it in the morning. That counts, doesn't it? Just some general and random musings on the week that was. And away we go...

Full Disclosure

Politically I've voted for Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians (there was that "leave me alone" period) and Independents. I try to look for someone who at least, seems honest, has his/her country, state, city's interests at heart and will look me in the eye. If someone meets those qualifications, they have a fighting chance. That being said, very few in office would get my vote right now.

Health care

I'm concerned about health care in our country.I'd like to find a way that everyone who needs and want coverage could get it. I'd also like people who like what they have to be able to keep it. I don't think the system being put through Congress now will do either of those things. Barney Frank, powerful Democratic congressman said point blank that this bill is the first step to a "single payer" system. That is what Canada and Britain have now and no one likes it. I think if this bill, or anything similar to it passes, we will be bankrupt in a few years. There's no way the poor won't be taxed as heavily as the rich. It'll be called Excise tax or sales tax or something else, but it will be there. Let's find a better way.

Stop Wining

Keeping with politics and health care, I think it's hilarious that the Democrats are screaming about the protests happening at the town hall meetings. They yell that the participants are all plants by the Republicans. That may be true, probably is, but the Dems did the same thing for the last eight years. For them to decry the Republicans for stealing a page out of their playbook is the height of hypocrisy.

Credit Given Where Cedit Due

Hats off to Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) of Michigan. It was just announced that over 1.5 Billion dollars is coming to Michigan and my town of Livonia. Battery cells that had been made overseas and assembled here will now be made here. I don't know how much influence Granholm had in the decision, Thaddeus McCotter (R) the Livonia congressman may have had some pull as well. i know this though, if the jobs had gone somewhere else, like a lot of auto plants did, we'd be screaming for her head.

Finally

There was some good news in the Real Estate market in the Detroitarea recently. In an informal survey of local cities, inventory stayed about the same while in some towns, inventory actually dropped. What does that mean for you? Inventory is the leading indicator of the real estate market. If inventory is higher, there's more to choose from, so prices drop. If there's less inventory, prices stabilize or go up. It's too soon to call a recovery, but good news is good news.

Han D Dip Dairy Barn is Livonia's hometown place for Ice Cream.

My wife and I go there at least every three weeks. I even say I have my own parking spot. The local kids baseball teams go up their after their games. And there is always a line at the Han D Dairy Barn in Livonia. It is Livonia's ice cream spot.

The Han D Dip Dairy Barn is located on 5 Mile Rd just down the street from Livonia's City hall and on the same side of the street as Bates Hamburges. It's on 5 mile between Farmington and Merriman.

Mr. and Mrs. Stan and Eunice Hancock started the business in 1963. But after 6 years they put it up for sale. Pete and Cathy Hanson became the new owners of the "Han-D-Dip Dairy Barn" in the summer of 1969. In the early years it was tough for them. Pete the owner was also selling insurance and trying to run the Han D Dip Dairy Barn too. But the hard work paid off.

For years Bently High School Students helped support the Handi dip (spelled it wrong) or also called just "the barn". When the school closed I'm sure it was tougher on the owners. But the Han D Dip Dairy Barn is now a Livonia institution after being in business over 45 years.

Another great thing is that many local kids work at the barn through their high school years. I'm sure there are lots of memories for the kids working at the barn. Usually there are 5 to 8 kids behind the counters getting your ice cream.

So if you hot and need some good ice cream so on down to "The Barn" "the Handi Dip" or however you spell the Han D Dip Dairy Barn is Livonia's place to go to. It's a great evening treat for the family.

Stop in and get a ice cream cone, a sundae, a banana split, a flurry, or a slushy. Or get my favorite a cherry slushy with an ice cream float. You may even see me and Marianne sitting there enjoying our ice cream.