In this interview, Pillar To Post Home Inspectors President Dan Steward shares ways your clients who are looking to sell this fall can get their home ready for prime time.

Q: For clients looking to sell this fall, what can they do to get their home in tip-top shape?

Tom Stachler: While spring is usually designated as the best time to put a home on the market, fall is also a lovely season to show a home.

Some of the most important fall clean-up tasks that should be completed include:

Clean Up the Exterior
It’s well-known that outdoor space is one of the top five most important factors for buyers, however, forgetting to clean up the yard is the No. 1 place sellers often drop the ball when preparing their home for sale. If you’re lucky enough to have magnificent trees on your property, spend a few dollars and get them trimmed so that they look their best.

-Raking leaves
-Removing loose sticks
-Weeding flower beds
-Trimming flowers, bushes and shrubs
-Aerating the lawn
-Cleaning gutters
-Painting the exterior of the house, even if you can only afford to do the trim
-De-cluttering, both inside and out

-Brewing a fresh pot of pumpkin coffee Cozy-up the Interior
Since you’re selling a home in the fall, it’s a great time to use scents to make the space more inviting. Some ways to introduce a fall scent include:

-Boiling cinnamon sticks, baked plate of cookies/smells or Burning fall scented Candles
-Fire in Fireplace

Another important tip to help prepare for showings during the fall season is to make sure you turn on all the lights. Since the number of daylight hours in the fall decreases, it’s more likely your home will be shown when it’s dark. Having all the lights on for showings will make the home appear larger and more cheerful.

Tom Stachler is a michigan licensed broker and Builder helping buy and sell homes in the Ann Arbor, Saline, Dexter, Chelsea and Ypsilanti realty markets.  Call or use the handy navigation tabs and Links on this website for home owner information or find listings to purchase or sell.  Go to RealtyQuest.info to look up the price or your home or to MyHomeTour.com to access the AA Area Board of Real Estate.  

There’s no way around it, supporting a college student can be very expensive. Food, books, and most importantly, housing — all add a hefty expense on top of tuition. That’s why the idea of purchasing a property for a college student can be a good investment strategy for families and an alternative to paying Rent for four years. If you have clients with children going off to college, use this list to help them weigh the financial pros and cons of buying their college student an off-campus Home.  Ask Tom about how to also create a homestead exemption to save you approx. 33% on property taxes as well.  

Pros:

• Offers possible tax benefits, appreciation in value, rental income, etc. Educate your clients on the area and demographics of the town in which they’re considering a purchase, as well as the current property values and typical rent prices.
• Provides a stable living situation for their child and helps avoid rising rent prices and security deposits.
• Eliminates any need to pay storage costs for furniture during summer breaks. In addition, they can rent the property out during the summer to make money.
• Benefits multiply if you have roomates or other children who may attend the same college. 

Cons:

• Give this checklist to your client to help them determine if buying a property for their college student is a good investment.Creates homeowner costs such as a mortgage, insurance, and repairs. Have your clients determine a budget and create a list of estimated costs.
• Unlikely to turn a profit or even recoup the costs of buying and selling the property after their student graduates (e.g., 3-5 years).
• Must be prepared for the typical “college renter” consequences, i.e., the occasional party trashing, heedless roommate damage, etc. College students don’t have the best reputation when it comes to taking care of properties. Make sure your clients are financially prepared to cover possible repairs.
• Inherent risk: their student could decide to transfer to a different school, or move back home. Make sure your clients have thought about what they would do if something like this happened.

Tom Stachler is a licensed Broker and Builder based in the tri county area surrounding Ann Arbor Michigan.  Also specializing in the Saline, Dexter, Chelsea and Ypsilanti Markets.  Call Tom for assistance on houses, homes and condos to purchase, list or Lease.  Check out the helpful Links page and navigation tabs above. Looking to purchase a home, check out the all MLS Inventory link above for currently active properties in the Board of Realtors data base.  

Over the past year, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has become increasingly concerned about the impact of student debt on Home ownership and the overall economy. The U.S. currently has a whopping student debt load of $1.3 trillion, which accounts for 10 percent of all outstanding debt. While student debt has risen, the homeownership rate has fallen, especially among younger generations. NAR’s second quarter 2016 Housing Opportunities and Market Experience (HOME) survey reports that roughly two-thirds of non-homeowners with student debt said they are generally not comfortable also paying for a mortgage. Furthermore, non-homeowners and younger adults with student debt are less likely to believe that they can qualify for a mortgage due to student loan repayment obligations.

To address the growing concern about student debt, NAR highlighted the issue during the 2016 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. The Regulatory Issues Forum featured U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro, along with a panel of speakers, who discussed important regulatory changes that would ensure housing opportunities can exist for young people. At the Residential Economic Issues & Trends Forum, Senator Elizabeth Warren discussed Congressional efforts to alleviate the growing burden that student loan debt repayment is having on young adults, the housing market and the overall U.S. economy. Finally, the NAR Board of Directors adopted a policy that, “NAR should strongly support policy proposals to allow student loan borrowers to refinance into lower interest rates and to streamline income-based repayment programs. Additionally, NAR supports policy proposals that promote student loan simplification, clarity and education. NAR also shall ensure that mortgage underwriting guidelines related to student loan debt should become standardized and that they do not impair homeownership.”

In June, NAR partnered with the American Student Assistance (ASA) program SALT® to conduct a survey of student loan borrowers who are current in student loan repayment. The results of the survey demonstrated the impact and challenges that student loans have on housing, even among those who are managing to pay their bills on time. Among survey respondents, 67 percent received their loans from a four-year college, 31 percent from a two-year college, 27 percent from graduate/post-graduate school, and 11 percent from a technical college. Twenty-four percent were delayed by at least two years in moving out of a family member’s home after college due to their student loans. While 18 percent are currently homeowners, 17 percent live with friends or family and do not currently pay Rent.

NAR also continues to work with Congress and the Administration. NAR submitted letters of support for several pieces of legislation that have been introduced in Congress this year aimed at addressing the issue of student loan debt. Some of these legislative proposals address a variety of issues, including streamlining the student loan process and limiting repayment to 10 percent of a borrower’s income; allowing borrowers to refinance student loans at a reasonable interest rate or utilize an income-based repayment plan; and enhancing financial counseling options. Additionally, NAR worked with HUD to alleviate the burden of student debt for potential homebuyers by revising the calculation of student loan debt for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans.Among non-homeowners, 71 percent cite student loan debt as the factor delaying them from Buying a home. This is most frequently the case due to the fact that borrowers cannot save for a down payment because of their student debt. Among homeowners, 31 percent say student debt is impacting their ability to sell their existing home and move to a different home. The delay in buying a home among non-homeowners and homeowners is typically five years.

NAR and this broker remains committed to addressing the impact of student loan debt on the economy and housing market.

Tom Stachler is a licensed Broker and Builder based in the tri county area surrounding Ann Arbor Michigan.  Also specializing in the Saline, Dexter, Chelsea and Ypsilanti Markets.  Call Tom for assistance on houses, homes and condos to purchase, list or Lease.  Check out the helpful Links page and navigation tabs above. Looking to purchase a home, check out the all MLS Inventory link above for currently active properties in the Board of Realtors data base.  

Today’s “Ask the Expert” column features Mark Walker, Director with NRG Mass Sales.

Q: What are the top five things new homeowners need to know about energy efficiency?

A: First-time homebuyers have many questions, ranging in scope from a Home’s square footage, what the neighborhood is like, whether the asking price is negotiable, and more. Typically, it’s not until they receive the first electricity bill that they begin to think about energy efficiency.

Insulation is tops.As many REALTORS® know, new homeowners are one of a kind. They’re excited about their purchase, but perhaps nervous about the costs ahead. At Reliant in Texas and NRG Home in the Northeast, we want the electricity bill to be one less thing that causes concern. That’s why it’s helpful to understand what drives energy use, and how to be more efficient. Naturally, new homeowners consider their REALTOR® the go-to source for all things home-related, so here are five energy efficiency tips you can share with first-time homebuyers.

For re-sale homes, it’s important to make sure the home is well insulated. The most cost-effective improvement any new homeowner can make is adding insulation. Without proper insulation, a home can lose up to 40 percent of cooled or heated air.

2. Heating and cooling account for most energy use.

Did you know that heating and cooling your home can account for up to half of its energy use? Save energy by following these simple tips:

• Air filters and vents should not go unnoticed.Follow the 4×4 principle. Setting your thermostat four degrees higher when away from home for more than four hours can help reduce electricity costs.
• Rotate ceiling fans. Turning your fan counter-clockwise during the summer helps create a wind chill effect for a more comfortable living environment. In the winter, set your fan clockwise to move hot air downward.
• Always use the automatic A/C fan setting. Keep your A/C fan on the “auto” position. Turning it to the “on” position can increase energy costs and make it harder for your A/C to maintain the desired temperature.

Homeowners often overlook replacing air filters, but it’s important to change filters regularly to keep your system working efficiently. Also, ensure return air vents are free from obstructions. If air flow is hindered, the system can’t operate properly, and your energy bill will suffer.

4. Energy-efficient appliances matter.

If appliances are more than 10 years old, it may be time to invest in new, energy-efficient models, from refrigerators and dishwashers to washers and dryers. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label when upgrading.

5. Small actions add up.

Turning lights off when leaving a room and shutting blinds to block summer heat are just a couple simple ways to decrease energy costs and make your home more comfortable and efficient.  LED light bulbs last longer and run on a very small fraction of what it takes to run other types of bulbs.  For more information and resources, visit our Links page above under resources tab on the right. 

Tom, Stachler, real estate, one, homes, for sale, michigan, ann arbor, saline, school information and more. condo, houses, for Lease, resources, energy. Thomas

More people are keeping chickens in their urban and suburban backyards, and I don’t think it’s just because they enjoy the fresh eggs. It would be cheaper and easier to just buy eggs at the grocery store.

Most people view backyard chickens as pets, not livestock. Chickens have distinct personalities, and they will respond to people who feed them and show them attention and affection.

But how many of these “new” chicken farmers know what they’re doing? There’s a wealth of free information available on the website of Penn Vet—the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia.

The school has sent a news release with 12 important tips because the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports people have been sickened by salmonella after coming in contact with backyard chickens.

A total of 324 people in 35 states got salmonella from January 4 through May 11. More than 90 percent had contact with chickens, according to the CDC, and 27 percent of salmonella victims were young children.

Moreover, in a July 19 update, the number of salmonella cases had almost doubled to 611 in 45 states.

Below are several important tips that can keep chicken keepers and their families healthy. They come from Sherrill Davison, a Penn Vet professor and veterinarian who has worked with chickens for more than 30 years.

“Not all poultry have salmonella in their intestines,” Davison says. But some chickens who are not ill do have salmonella in their intestinal tracts, which can be passed on to people.

Follow these guidelines:

— After tending your chickens, remove your shoes or boots before entering your Home. Wear them only in your chicken yard—and nowhere else.
— Do not bring chickens into your home.
— Wash your hands after handling chickens.
— Do not let chickens near food that will be eaten by people.
— Keep the coop clean. Change bedding every one-to-two weeks and disinfect with diluted household bleach or cleaners formulated for chickens. Chickens should be out of the coop when cleaners are used.
— Isolate birds that seem sick. Your garage is an OK sick bay. Your house is not.

Sick chickens need veterinary care. For names of vets who know how to treat chickens, contact the Penn Vet Laboratory of Avian Medicine and Pathology at 1-610-444-4282. Calls to the lab are free, and the staff will also answer questions and concerns, “though I cannot diagnose over the phone,” says Davison, who is director of the laboratory.

Penn vets are seeing an increase in backyard chickens with Marek’s disease and Mycoplasma. Neither disease is transmitted to people or pets that are not chickens.

Marek’s disease is an untreatable virus that causes tumors, weight loss and paralysis. Chickens won’t get it if they are vaccinated when they are one day old.

Mycoplasma is a bacterial-like respiratory disease that can be treated with antibiotics, but it will decrease egg production for the life of the chicken.

With good care, chickens generally live five to six years, Davison says, although one of her patients lived for 10 years. Chickens raised on egg farms are only allowed to live for one to two years—their peak egg production years.

For more information, go to www.vet.upenn.edu

Check the "All MLS" listings tab at the top of the page to view an inventory of homes for sale in your area.  

tom stachler, real estate, one, for sale, homes, houses, inventory, list, chickens, city farmers, raising at home, kids, saline, michigan, ann arbor, chelsea, dexter, ypsilanti