COUNTERTOP STYLE

by HOLLY HURD 

Realtor Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel

Choosing the right countertop can be a daunting task. It's an investment that can give your house the boost it needs, but you want to make sure you're making the right decision. Quartz is a great option because it doesn't require sealing and resist stains. Granite countertops require sealing, but are a very popular choice. Marble counters often need to be resealed, are  not very stain-resistant and scratch easily. Here are some other tips to help you with the process:

- If you're going with concrete counters be sure to hire a professional. Also, ask them for references from jobs completed at least a year or two ago. 

- Make sure you hire an installer that is manufacturer certified. If not, the manufacturer might not cover the work if there is a problem.

- Stone, concrete, butcher block, and the grout between tiles need to be sealed to resist stains. Some may also require resealing.

- Test  if it's time to be resealed by putting a few drops of wanter on the stone near the sink. Let it stand for 15 minutes. If the water doesn't stay in a bead it is time to reseal the counter.

- Clean stains as quickly as you can. Make sure you follow the care instructions or it could result in the warranty not covering it.

- Do all cutting on a cutting board. 

Holly Hurd~ 

Is a REALTOR with Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel
in Northville, Michigan 48167 

#1 Firm in MICHIGAN

hollyhurd@hotmail.com

Sell / Buy a home in Northville,Michigan register today at

www.Northvillehomes4sale.net

Holly Hurd ~Living in the Northville, Michigan area for 40+ years , Holly Hurd is graduate of Northville High School, Schoolcraft College, Michigan State then raising her own family here Holly Hurd has first hand knowledge and knows the area quite well Please feel free to contact her for all your real estate needs #spring #YourHome

Northville Michigan Real Estate
Homes for sale in Northville Michigan Northville, Mi. 48167
#bombogenesis #realtor #realestate #reaestatemarket#realestateforsalemi #hometown #hollyhurd #home#homesforsale #historicnorthville #buy #buyingahome#buildingahome #buyrealestate #condo #coldwellbanker#northville #northvillemi #sellyourhome #sellingyourhome#smalltown #shop #cbwm #cbbelieves #moveinmichigan#greattimetobuy #greattimetosell #sold

A "Frozen" Lesson for Homebuyers

by HOLLY HURD 
Realtor with Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel

I had the pleasure of watching "Frozen" this weekend, and like most animated Disney features, I really enjoyed it. If you haven't seen it, I would encourage you to check it out. The advent of pay per view cable and satellite TV has given those of us without small children the opportunity to see the films we would have taken our kids to in a different time, and you can do it without showing up in a theater feeling like the creepy adult in a room full of adolescents and toddlers.

One of things that happens in the film surrounds little sister, Anna. Prior to the beginning of a ball, she meets a handsome prince. During the ball, they link up again and she is smitten. Before the ball is over, they decide to get married, and it's that decision that sets the rest of the movie in motion. When Anna tells her sister about her wedding plans, Queen Elsa refuses to let her. The events following send Elsa off into the mountains to live as a recluse snow queen.

While on a search to find her sister, Anna runs into an ice salesman who guides her path to Elsa. In one of the early conversations they have, Anna confesses to the ruggedly handsome Kristoff that she is in love and to be married. She relates the story, and Kristoff is appalled that she is going to marry a man she just met. He brings it up over and over. This is where I leave the movie.

How many home buyers want to buy the first home they see? In my experience, it's actually a small number. I would say it's in the 10-20% range. The one thing they say over and over is, "Is it wrong to buy the first house you look at?" I would respond, "Not necessarily, but it really depends."

Depends on what? 

• Does the house meet your needs?
• Does the house meet your location choice?
• Does the house correspond to your financial abilities?
• Does the house offer a good deal overall?
• Is the house in a condition that meets your approval?
• Have you done your homework online to see what else it out there?
• Have you listed the pros and cons of the house as compared to looking at others?
• Are you sure you're not making a snap decision because the market is too competitive and you're afraid you won't be able to buy any house?
• What would be wrong with buying the first house you looked at if it turns out to be what you wanted?

I sold a property to a client a number of years ago who looked at 60 houses. He finally bought the first one he looked at. Thank goodness the market was moving slower then. He had the privilege of looping back a few weeks later, but in a hot market that isn't always possible.

Buying a house should be about meeting your needs. First, fifth, tenth house, there is no set number of views that make one a better decision than another one. Overall, it's all about meeting your needs. In Anna's case, the first husband candidate didn't work out. Fortunately, she found out before she said, "I do." In her case, the second choice was a better choice.

It's not the number of houses you look at. It's the ones that meet your criteria. If you're just looking at houses with no criteria, you may just as likely become "Frozen" without any sense of right and wrong. Decide what you want, weigh the options and buy based upon an intelligent choice.

Holly Hurd~ 

Is a REALTOR with Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel
in Northville, Michigan 48167 

#1 Firm in MICHIGAN 

hollyhurd@hotmail.com

Sell / Buy a home in Northville,Michigan register today at

www.Northvillehomes4sale.net

Holly Hurd ~Living in the Northville, Michigan area for 40+ years , Holly Hurd is graduate of Northville High School, Schoolcraft College, Michigan State then raising her own family here Holly Hurd has first hand knowledge and knows the area quite well Please feel free to contact her for all your real estate needs #spring #YourHome

Northville Michigan Real Estate
Homes for sale in Northville Michigan Northville, Mi. 48167
#bombogenesis #realtor #realestate
 #reaestatemarket#realestateforsalemi
 #hometown #hollyhurd #home#homesforsale #historicnorthville #buy
#buyingahome#buildingahome #buyrealestate #condo #coldwellbanker#northville
#northvillemi #sellyourhome #sellingyourhome#smalltown #shop #cbwm
 #cbbelieves #moveinmichigan#greattimetobuy #greattimetosell #sold

Top 10 Worst Home-Showing Offenses

Here are the 10 most common responses from buyer’s agents when asked about the worst mistakes they see when presenting for-sale homes to clients:

1. Leftover home owners

By far, one of the top offenses cited by buyer’s agents was home owners still lingering around when agents arrived with clients to preview the home. Awkward encounters ranged from buyers finding sellers taking a shower, asleep in the bed, to even the “stalker sellers” who liked to follow buyers and the agent all over the home to see what they thought.

With the exception of the “stalker seller,” many of the home owners who were still at home blamed their listing agent for not giving them enough advance notice about the appointment prior.

2. Pets and their messes

 The not-so-friendly dog and kitty encounters as a top offense. Even pets left in a crate can pose a distraction since they might make noise the entire time others are in the house. Plus, if they seem mean, the buyer might not even step in the room. My suggestion is if you have a pet take out of the property for all showings.

Vicki Robinson, ABR, CRS, broker with Fonville Morisey Realty in Raleigh, N.C., says she recently was given showing instructions from a listing agent who told her the family’s “friendly dog” would be at home. But when Robinson unlocked the front door with her client for the showing, a pit bull was staring down at them from the top of the staircase, growling. “We closed the door and left!” she says.

3. Bad smells

A displeasing smell can really turn buyers off. Common offenses include cooking smells lingering around the home, such as garlic, fried bacon, or fish. Also, watch for cigarette smoke and animal smells.

4. Critters running wild

Wild animals and pests roaming around is a surefire way to send buyers running. I remember one home had worms crawling on the floor and bats and raccoons lounging in the attic. 

5. Odd home makeovers

Do-it-yourself disasters were also prevalent, like doors opening the wrong way or unprofessional paint jobs. Also, rooms not being used for their intended purposes can confuse buyers, such as an office being used as a bedroom even though it has no closet.

6. Dirt and clutter

There were a number of offenses cited when it came to cleanliness: Dirty laundry piles, unflushed toilets, dishes on the counter or in the sink, unmade beds, clothes scattered about, soiled carpets, dirty air conditioner filters, and overflowing trash cans.

“One of the worst things I have seen is piles and piles of clothes in every room,” It was like an obstacle trying to walk around the mess. It is very important to keep it clean.

7. Personal information left in plain sight

Sellers should be careful not to leave in plain sight important documents that may pique buyers’ curiosity. Some agents say they’ve seen personal information like bank and credit card statements—even mortgage payoff notices—left on the kitchen counter.

“Buyers are nosey,”  sometimes  “I’ve even seen the contract for the sellers’ next purchase sitting on the kitchen countertop or ‘final notice’ bills.”

8. Too dark

Dark or dimly lit houses aren’t showing the home in the best light.

“Particularly [homes lit with] CFL bulbs," By the time [the bulbs] light up, the buyer is gone. Energy efficient bulbs need time to warm up before they are at their brightest, so staging professionals usually recommend agents arrive early to a showing to turn on any light fixtures with CFL bulbs at least 10 minutes prior.

9. Keys missing from lockboxes

All too often, agents arrive at a listing appointment with their client only to find there’s no key to get in. “I actually had a [seller’s] agent who wanted me to open the door for my clients by going through the dog run as a large dog barked like crazy.” 

10. Distracting photos

Watch the photos displayed on the walls too as I am recalling showing a family a home that had life-sized, nude photos hanging, which left my clients racing for the door covering their eyes.

I also recall showing a home to a client, who was staring at a painting in the master bedroom of a woman in lingerie. “Isn’t that the owner?” the client asked. “She was also the real estate agent!” 

www.Northvillehomes4sale.net

HELP YOUR PET ADJUST TO YOUR NEW HOME

Moving to a new home can be a difficult transition for everyone in the family, including the furry, four-legged members.

Dogs and cats develop a strong bond with their environment so when they are relocated from their territory it can cause them stress.

Here are some tips to ease your pets’ transition to a new home :

Keep Your Mood Calm 
Pets are very tuned-in to your emotions and will sense your mood. If you are stressed throughout the moving process, your cat or dog will pick up on this and it will make him anxious. Try to remain calm and give your pet plenty of attention and reassurance during the process of moving.

Transporting Your Pet 
A few weeks before the move, introduce your pet to his pet carrier so that he becomes familiar with it. It will be much less scary for him to be transported in a carrier, which already has recognizable smells and perhaps a favorite chew toy or blanket inside. When you are moving your pets to your new home, it is a good idea not to feed them for about three hours before setting off, as this can help to prevent accidents while in transit.

Upon Arrival 
When you get to your new residence, place your pets in one room of the house and provide them with water, food, and a few familiar possessions. Keep them in a closed room while you move things in, as the process of moving boxes and furniture can be chaotic and doors can be left open. Once everything has been moved in, you can take the time to give your pet some one-on-one attention.

Dogs find routines comforting, so try to stick to the same schedule of feeding and walking in your new home. Cats will want to explore and rub their scent all over the house to claim it as their territory. A cat might attempt to return to its old home after a move, so keep it indoors for a few weeks at first.

These are just a few ways that you can make moving to a new home a better experience for your beloved pets. If you’d like more suggestions for helping your pets and family adjust to a move, call or email me with your questions.

HOLLY HURD

hollyhurd@hotmail.com

www.Northvillehomes4sale.net

#1 in Market Share again in YTD for Northville/Novi‏

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel ~ #1 in Market Share again in YTD for Northville/Novi

5 TOP THINGS HOME SELLERS HATE

Sure, it is in the home seller’s best interest to impress their home buyers, but there is definitely a "protocol " if you will that home buyers themselves must adhere to as well.

That said, here are some things that home sellers hate. Take note, as it may save you from losing a home you so desperately want.

Things home sellers hate #1

Treating the home like public property
Walking in without removing your muddy boots and gallivanting through the home like it’s a museum will leave home sellers with a bitter taste in their mouth. Avoid behaving as though the home is nothing more than a vessel, especially if the homeowners still live there.

Things home sellers hate #2

Using the bathroom, I mean really using it
Considering you likely won’t be spending more than an hour in the home, there really is no reason why you should be using the washroom, unless it’s to wash your hands. If you absolutely must use the washroom (hopefully not for number two), then make it your mission to leave the washroom exactly the way you found it.

Things home sellers hate #3

Criticizing the home in an effort to get a better deal
Let’s face it; if you like a home, you are going to make an offer. If you want to negotiate the price, then be on the up and up about it. There is nothing more irritating for sellers than home buyers who bash the house up and down and then make an offer in the next breath.

You can comment on certain things in the home and you ask plenty of questions about why they put the toilet next to the tub or why they didn’t fix the crack in the ceiling, but if you have décor comments, keep them to yourself because when you buy the home you can do as you please with the place.

Things home sellers hate #4

Giving an insane low-ball amount
Of course you want a bargain – everyone and their mother does – but hitting home sellers up with an offer so low that it’s almost laughable is really not the way to go. A seller can’t afford to hand you the keys without getting some kind of deal out of it, so low-balling them in an effort to just “see what happens” is insulting to the seller and will result in no deal.

Instead, review recent sale prices of like home in the area and then comes up with a reasonable dollar amount. Low-balling may only serve to kibosh the entire deal.

Things home sellers hate #5

Offering to buy without mortgage approval
Home sellers want to unload their homes and they would like to know that the person making an offer can afford the home and has already planned ahead by getting pre approved for a mortgage.

It’s not uncommon for home buyers to start working with a mortgage broker or their bank six months to a year in advance of beginning the house hunt. Remember: qualify, then shop around. That way you know how much you can afford

Avoid the things home sellers hate and find your home today contact me HOLLY HURD 

Northville Property Values on the rise

http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20120216/NEWS12/202160433/Northville-s-property-values-rise



This is a great article from the Observer & Eccentrice  stating the same things full time agents having been swing in the market place today that "This past year, the City of Northville and Northville Township mutually saw an increase in average residential assessments. According to the Equalization Office of Wayne County, both have risen with Northville Township's values climbing by 4.89 percent and the city by 3.26." PLEASE read the full article