GrandRapids-West Mi Homes Blog

Most home buyers fall into one of two categories when it comes to how they want to shop for their home.  They either want to see everything out there that could be a possibility for them or they are the type that has only a few homes they want to see every couple of days.

I'm respectful of BOTH and love to shop with either one!

POWER SHOPPERS  - If you are a power shopper, you probably have a list of 100 homes you want to see.  Most of my power shoppers can narrow it down to 50 with a drive-by.  50 is a doable number . . . as long as you know the true essence of a power shopper!  So what are the characteristics of a power shopper?

#1.  Power Shoppers wear slip on shoes.  No sense in spending too much time putting shoes off and on --we have a lot of homes to see.

#2.  Power shoppers always leave children at home.  They love their children but know they have work to do.  Power shoppers don't have to stop to put little shoes on or curb a temper tantrum.  They don't have to explain why they can't play with the toys in the home.  They have one purpose--get through the homes they want to see.

#3. Power shoppers understand the time frame.  They understand that they are scheduled to see a home every so many minutes and watch the time frame windows on the top of their showing sheets. 

#4.  Power shoppers will tell you if they decided the home was not a prospect just by sitting at the curb and they don't take the time to "just take a peek". (Realtor note-make sure you at least go in and put your card on the counter)

#5.  Power shoppers will tell you the instant they know this is not the right home and are done looking.  They don't feel the need to look at the basement if they already know the layout will not work for them.

#6.  Power shoppers don't take the time to turn on the water faucets, or open the closet to look for size, or to decide if a wall can be moved.  They will do all that when they narrow it down and come back for a second visit.  It either goes on the short list or it doesn't.

#7.  Power shoppers are usually in and out of a house in 5-8 minutes.

SLOW AND EASY - So what are the characteristics of a slow and easy buyer.

#1.  Slow and easy buyers are usually in no hurry to get through a home.  They will only see a couple homes at a time but their list may only be a total of ten long.

#2.  Slow and easy shoppers look at everything about the home.  They will make sure they check the water pressure and the closets to make sure they are the correct size.

#3.  Slow and easy shoppers  will bring their children to make sure they feel comfortable in a home.  Can their children see themselves in this home?

#4.  Slow and easy buyers will never knock out a home just from sitting at a curb.  They may be able to do something with the outside if the inside fits all their needs.

#5.  Slow and easy buyers will sit down on the sofa to get a feel for the home.  Does it "feel" like home to them and can they see themselves there?

#6.  Slow and easy buyers need up to an hour to view a home and take in all the possiilities of the home.

No matter what type of buyer you are, please know that most Realtors will move at the speed is that you would like to move.  Know your own speed and know how you want to look at a home.  It is ok to let your agent know exactly how you want to shop for a home and it helps them tailor the day to fit your needs.  If you want to see a lot of homes, be a power shopper until you narrow them down to two or three.

Many buyers who are relocating, fall into the power shopper category to begin with.  Many times they are in town for only a  few days.  They want to see a lot of homes in several different areas because they only have a limited amount of time.  Buyer who are relocating may be power shoppers for the first trip to town and slow and easy when they are making their final choices.

Above all, find a Realtor that meets your needs and that you enjoy being with.  As buyers, you may spend many hours with this person.  If they are not meeting your needs, let them know what your needs are.  If they don't fit your style after you have made specific requests, then let them know and find a different Realtor.  Find an agent you like and stick with them!!!

Happy Home Shopping!

This is an extremely well written post.  It is a bitter pill to sellers to understand that, yes even my home has lost value in the last year.  If you are serious about selling your home, you need to take pricing very seriously!

Blessings! T

Three years ago I really had it going on with my web-site www.LiveInWestMi.com.  I had leads coming in so fast I could hardly keep up--but I always tried to give people a few personal words whenever they used my web site in a search.  I truly think every person has something incredible to give in friendship.

One such search came in and we hit it off immediately.  I don't remember how it came about, but it came up that she had a horse.  She was very excited about coming to America to live but very sad about having to leave her horse in England.  His name was Fancy Man and her name was Yvonne.   I immediately  told her that I had a horse here in Allendale, MI and told her she was welcome to him any time!  I then asked where they would be moving.  She was unsure but knew they would probably be looking for a home in this area.  I have worked as a relocation specialist for quite some time but this was all the way from the UK.  Heck, I had to figure out how to dial over-seas--this country bumpkin had never done that!

We corresponded back and forth.  I emailed her a pic of my horse and she emailed me one of her and her horse (pic to the left).  We made plans for their first visit to America and when the day came we immediately hit it off. They were very adamant about being in a sub-division where Yvonne could make friends.  Someday they would like to have a home with some land where Yvonne could have horses.  But for right now, it was all about making new friends in America and getting her into a home that would make it easy for her to meet people.

We were having a great time and I enjoyed looking at homes with them.  I'm not going to lie to you, sometimes I had a really hard time understanding them.  And some of their words are really different.  She asked me one time if our horses were afraid of the lorries?  What in the heck is a a lorrie?  I finally figured out she meant a truck and we laughed and laughed.  I also started using the words, "well bloody hell".  That's an engish term for our "what the hell" or maybe "for crying out loud".

It isn't the easiest thing in the world to move to America.  It took them forever, I mean FOREVER, to get their visa to go through.  They have lawyers involved and everything-- it is quite a process!!!  I remember it like it was yesterday.  They were visiting again and we were looking at houses and decided to stop in at a local restaurant for some lunch - The Yellow Jacket  between Allendale, MI and Grand Haven, MI  They like the smaller "pubs" as they call them.  Just as we were about to walk in the door they got a phone call from their lawyer - their visa had come through.  There some tears--some of joy and some bittersweet at the thought of leaving children and grand-children so far away.

On that same day we found a house they really liked.  I liked it because they were going to be just a few miles from my house.  But it was not to be.  The owners were, shall we say, OFF THEIR ROCKER with price.  Norman and Yvonne liked it so much but I just couldn't let them do it.  It just wasn't worth that!  I told them to walk away.

As far as finding a home, that trip was a bust.  But I did get her up on a gaited horse for the first time in her life.  She laughed and laughed, just like most people do when they ride a gaited horse for the first time.  Also on this trip I introduced them  to honey crisp apples.  They are the best apples in the world but dang expensive!!

It ended up being very convenient that the cottage I manage for another client came up for long term winter rental.  It worked out perfect that Norman and Yvonne got to rent The Lakeshore Cottage.  Since it takes forever to get furniture shipped from the UK, it was wonderful that the cottage was fully furnished.

The next spring we found a perfect home for them in Holland Michigan.  They loved the area of the cottage and liked being close to the beach.  It is beautiful there.  Since that time, Yvonne and I have become fast friends!!  I have met her daugher and her grand child and someday I hope to make it to the UK with her.

((Upper right pic of Yvonne at the campground with us---lower right pic, me on the left and Yvonne on the right))

The video is of Yvonne and I riding last week.  She fell off Joey in slow motion.  She wasn't hurt to bad, just a few bruises and we laughed and laughed how it seemed like it happened in slow motion.  You will have to listen to how she says my name.  I love to hear her say it--she makes it sound  . . . so . . .I don't know  . . English.

Real estate is awesome - it brought me a wonderful person I call friend!!!

I am going to tell you honestly.  I did not want to take the time to do this post.  But God keeps throwing it back in my face in one way or another.  I know it is suppose to save someones life out there.  So I am not going to go looking for pretty pictures, I just want to get it out there.  Someone is suppose to read this that needs to save a family member or a friends life!

Every year, people have life changes because of a stroke.  I thought it only happened to old people until it happened to someone I cared very deeply for--she was my kids Godmother and younger than me!!!!  I can't remember how old she was but it was in her 30's.  She is doing great today--I can still remember the day I saw her back on stage singing at our church.  The tears poured down my face.  God thank you for saving her!

THIS IS WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW - TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE - and we aren't talking about real estate contracts here!!

The faster you get someone help the better their chances of recovery.  You need to know what the signs of stroke are and DO NOT DELAY ONE SECOND!  This is the numonic that will help you remember what the signs are:

When a stroke occurs you must act F.A.S.T.

F - (FACE) Look at their face and tell them to smile.  Does one side of their face droop?

A - (ARMS)  Ask them to raise their arms in front of them.  Does one drift downward?

S - (SPEECH) Ask them to repeat any random sentence.  Are their words slurred-can they repeat it correctly?

T - (TIME) If any of the above are true, Time is of the essence -DO NOT DELAY CALL 911 - The faster you get this person help--the better the chances of recovery.

Other symptoms may be, numbness (especially on one side of the body), confusion, trouble seeing clearly, not being able to see out of one eye.

Hope this helps someone at some point.  Commit F A S T to your memory.  It may not be today or tomorrow but at some point you may need this!

If there is one thing we have all heard, it is that the new CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light)   bulbs can save you money.  I was a little shocked by how much money when I read Can Fluorescent Lighting Really Save You Money?  But there are some things that can be very confusing about them.  Many also believe they have to put up with that squirrely looking bulb.  Let's face it, lighting should also look atheistically appealing.

First, you should know that the CFL bulb has evolved.  No longer do you have to be concerned you will have to look at that unappealing bulb to save yourself a lot of money.  After all, the average home uses 28% of its electrical use on lighting.  CFL bulbs have been known to save the average household 30% on their electrical bill.  Now you no longer have to give up a normal looking bulb to save money!

The bulbs now come in normal shapes and sizes.  They come in the original bulb form, recessed light form and candle light bulb form.  They also come in soft light and daylight brightness.  There is a bulb that will fit every need you may have and still look as you would want it to.

However, there are some things you need to consider before purchasing your bulbs.  They are much more expensive than the old incandescent lighting.  The curly looking bulb remains the most inexpensive at this time and of course you will need to pay a little more if you would like the traditional looking and the recessed lighting.  With the bulbs being rather costly, you will want to make sure you use the correct light in the correct place.

Dimmer switched bulbs take a special CFL bulb.  Because of the way the bulbs are made, the dimmer places stress on a regular CFL bulb causing it to cease working earlier than its expected life.  They are now making CFL bulbs specifically  for the dimmer switches.  The same is true for the three stage lights.  Make sure you spend the extra cash to get CFL bulbs made for dimmer switches and for dimmer switches.

CFL Bulbs take some time reach their maximum brightness.  The average time it takes to reach full luminosity is approximately 90 seconds. This is why it is best to use a CFL bulb in a place where the light will remain on.  Constant off and on will shorten the average life span of the bulb which is usually 10 times that of an incandescent.  Below is a light in my home coming on.  This video has been time lapsed--it usually takes about 90 seconds for it to reach full brightness.

CFL Bulbs do contain mercury.  The amount is so minimal that it is less than a fraction of the amount of mercury found in the amalgam filling your dentist puts in your mouth.  As the light reaches the end of its life, the mercury becomes inert as it has fused to the glass.  Many places such as Home Depot, will dispose of the old bulbs for you in the proper way.

Know your wattage conversions.  This is where many people get confused.  Because the bulbs create light in different ways, it effects the wattage of the light.  The CFL bulb makes light in a way that uses less wattage to produce more light.  In fact, it is 4-6 times more efficient than the incandescent light.  The conversion chart looks like this:

                                      Standard Bulb                              CFL Bulb

                                          60 watt                                   13-15 watt

                                         75 watt                                     20 watt

                                        100 watt                                   26-29 watt

                                        150 watt                                   38-42 watt

To help you with your lighting plan, click HERE for an interactive guide that allows you to click on each area of your home.  You can adjust the lighting to what makes you comfortable.

Do your part!  A recent study in Canada showed that if every household replaced just one 60 watt incandescent bulb with a CFL bulb, they would save $73 million on in energy and it would be like taking 66,000 cars off the road.  What can we as Americans do?