Galvanized pipe is simply coating the pipe with zinc. The zinc helps protect the pipe from corrosion, and prevent mineral deposits from building up inside the pipe.  Many homes that have galvanized pipes today may show signs of reduced water pressure. This is caused because the zinc is wearing off and the pipe wall is starting to show signs of build up.

In addition, galvanized pipe has lead in it. Lead can cause a variety of different health problems. For more info on that here’s the Wikipedia site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning.

So if that’s not a good enough reason to switch to copper or PVC, then here’s a few more.

• More Durable
• Flexible to install
• Doesn’t rust or develop mineral deposits
• Withstand higher water temps and pressures

Also, studies have shown that copper pipes help add value on the resale of your home.  Many home buyers check to make sure the the home has been updated to copper.  Only recently, have home builders been putting pvc water lines in homes.

If you currently have galvanized water pipes in your home, it would be a good idea to do a lead test.  You can hire someone or get a do it yourself test kit at your local hardware store.

If you have any questions or have first hand knowledge about residential plumbing, let me know in  the comments section below!

Addison Oaks
355 Lake George Rd.
Oakland, Michigan 48363
(248) 814-0583

Braun’s Trees
796 Warren Road
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
(734) 663-2717

Three Cedar’s Farm
7897 Six Mile Rd.
Northville, Michigan 48167
Phone: (248) 437-8200

Warren’s Tree Farm
8366 Spicer Rd.
Brighton, Michigan 48116
Phone: (810) 231-4335

Pete’s Christmas Trees
43440 W 10 Mile Rd,
Novi, MI 48375

Do you know somewhere else you can find Christmas Trees? Please leave a comment for others.

1. Keep walkways clean and clear. Make sure you the shovel snow off the driveway, sidewalk and porch. Throw salt on any areas you see ice.

2. If your house is vacant, it’s a good idea to have it winterized during these cold months. Freezing pipes can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. Not to mention valuable marketing time.

3. Decorate for the holidays. Don’t be afraid to throw up some holiday decor! It gives your house a comfortable feeling, that will help the buyers feel right at home.

4. Keep the heat at a reasonable level. You don’t want buyers coming in and it being 50 degrees. Keep it set in the 60′s at the very least, so when they walk in they feel the warmth. Nobody likes viewing a house while they are shivering!

5. Price it to move! There’s serious buyers in the winter, so be a serious seller! Give them a price they can’t refuse. Pricing remains the number 1 way to get your house sold, yet so many people want to “test the market”.

If you’re thinking about selling your house in the winter (or any time), or want a 2nd opinion on your current marketing plan, let me know and I’d be happy to email you some info!

Happy Selling!

Keep Renting … it’s a great horrible financial decision in this market! I’m here to tell you why.

Doing a Google search it appears that the average rental rate in the Novi, MI area is about $1300/month. (Google has everything) That’s for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath “nicer” apartment. (I use the term nicer loosely because these places are typically beat down from multiple tenants)

If you were to take that same $1300 and put it towards a mortgage payment, you could afford a house around $195,000! Here’s the breakdown . . .

$195,000 – Loan Amount
30 Years – Mortgage
4.5% – Interest Rate
$988.00 – Payment
$312.00 – Yearly Taxes and Insurance

Total monthly payment is $1300! So now it’s a matter of seeing what that $1300/month gets you. I can tell you it will get you more than your 2 bedroom apartment. In fact, right now in Novi, MI between $190,000 and $200,000 there are 5 hours available. They all have master bathrooms, basements, garages, and they’re over 2000 sq. ft.

You could easily move into a similar place you’re living now for probably $500 less per month and save money! So Keep Renting, because that’s a great idea, or see what your money can do for you. You owe it to yourself to at least look.

Use the home search on the home page, or contact me for a list of properties sent direct to your email. No charge, no obligation.

Ah Wok is located on 10 Mile, just West of Meadowbrook. I’ve been enjoying their food since I was a kid, and it’s delicious. You can dine in or carry out. They have flat screen tv’s hanging on the wall, and also serve cocktails.

I always order the Sesame Chicken, but you really can’t go wrong with anything at this place. The staff is very friendly and always welcoming. Best of all, they are open until 10pm during the week, so it’s perfect for a later dinner craving!

Check out Ah Wok next time you’re in the mood for Chinese and I promise, you’ll love it!

Have you eaten here before? Tell me about it…Leave a comment.

“What is the FHA anyway? My mortgage guy told me I was pre-approved for a FHA loan, whatever that is.”

Simply put, the FHA is the Federal Housing Administration and they provide mortgage insurance on loans. For example, if you walk into your local mortgage company (and I highly suggest you use a local one) and they say you can get an FHA loan, the FHA will insure the mortgage company if you default on the loan. Kind of like full coverage car insurance.

As the borrower, you will have to pay MIP, or mortgage insurance premium for this. Typically FHA loans have great interest rates AND you only have to have a minimum of 3.5% down payment.

Now, I have to say that I am not a mortgage rep, so you would have to discuss the pros and cons of FHA loans with the expert in that field. However, I can surely refer you to some valuable resources that explain more about it.

Here ya go …

The FHA page at HUD.gov

How FHA loans can help you

Check those sites out and by all means if you still have the question, “What is the FHA anyway?” give me a call or send me an email. I’m always happy to help!

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One of the reasons I enjoy Happy Sushi in Novi, is that the cost is very reasonable. My wife and I can eat here for less than $25.00. She loves the Miso soup and I suggest ordering the edamame . . . so good and for only $2.25 you can’t go wrong. They do a big carry out business too so you can call ahead on your way home.

Here is there full address and phone number
41766 W 10 Mile Rd
Novi, MI 48375
(248) 380-8696

So if you’re looking for good sushi in Novi, stop by Happy Sushi! Tanoshimu!

Low rates, low prices … low number of good listings. That’s right, I said it! Yes there are a lot of listings, but good, sale-able listings are hard to find. So when you find “the one” and write the offer you’re up against others. Multiple offers seem to be the game these days. Here’s 5 ways to get your offer accepted!

5 tips to get your offer accepted…

1. Make sure your financing is in order. At this stage in the game it’s so important to have your pre-approval ready to go. A seller with multiple offers will reject yours just based on not having this completed.

2. Don’t drag your feet with contingencies! Keep your time limits short. A seller will want to see things like inspections being taken care of within a few days. This way everyone knows if you have a solid deal or not.

3. Put your best offer in first. This is effective when dealing with bank owned homes. If you put in your best offer and get outbid, at least you can sleep at night knowing you put your best foot forward. And if there are multiple offers you don’t have to take time to re-do everything.

4. Jump on it! When you come across the house that you want submit the offer! Don’t wait to show your parents, aunts, uncles, friends, dentist and dog. Get on it. You will have the inspection to bring your friends and family for their approval if you need it. The longer you wait, they longer someone else can come in and write.

And last buy not least, the #5 tip to getting your offer accepted is …

5. Don’t make your purchase contingent on selling your current home! This isn’t going to happen in today’s market. Sellers want to get their home off the market quickly. No time to wait around for your house to sell!

Have questions about submitting an offer, an offer that you already sent it or anything at all … feel free to contact me. I will personally get back with you.

“My son’s fav is McD’s nuggets and we drive thru a lot! Every time I order I say “no sauce please”….9 times out of ten they reply “what kind of sauce would u like?”. lol. I just think its comical…I dunno why”

I don’t think this is comical at all, I think it’s sad. This goes beyond not wanting sweet and sour sauce, this is just poor listening skills. So bringing this back to real estate and how it relates. When a customer says they want a 4 bedroom 2 bath home, don’t show them 3 bedroom houses. Over the past 6 years I’ve probably closed a dozen sales because the buyer was sick of their agent suggesting homes they had no interest in.

As real estate agents, it’s so important to listen to your client’s needs and wants, then tailor how you work around them. Can you imagine going to a restaurant and ordering a steak and they bring you out soup? Would you be upset? Maybe a little confused … that’s how your customers feel.

Take a second to listen to what they want!

1. Change your furnace filter. Having a clean filter ensures good air flow and allows your furnace to work easier.
2. Make sure all the doors and windows close tight and the weatherstripping is in good shape.
3. Walk around the outside of your home and seal any places where pipes or wires come in the house.
4. Check your attic for leaks.
5. Add insulation if necessary. Having the proper amount of insulation will keep the heat in and the cold out!
6. Walk your roof. Look for nail pops. If you find any, nail them down and seal with roof tar.
7. Insulate the outlets. This one is often overlooked. On a cold day, hold your hand in front of an outlet. Can you feel the draft? If so, you can buy outlet insulation at the local hardware store.
8. Clean the gutters. If your gutters are clogged, it can create ice damming which can cause your home to leak and create problems.
9. Call the chimney sweep! Do you have a fire place? Your chimney should be inspected every year.
10. Insulate pipes and ducts. If you have water lines or heat ducts that run in unheated areas, wrap them up!

If you have specific questions on any of these things, the expert at your local hardware store can usually guide you in the right direction.

Good Luck!