Real Estate Information Archive

Broker and Builder in Ann Arbor

Tom Stachler has been in the local real estate sales and management business since the 1980's.  For the past 20 years he as been working as an Associate Broker and REALTOR with Real Estate One in Ann Arbor Michigan.  Client References and more information can be found on this web site.

You can Click here to view a digital Brochure for more information about this seasoned professional  

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Looking for the Value of your Home in Michigan?

Try this Michigan Real Estate Home valuation tool to get a more accurate idea of your homes current worth that has proven to be more accurate than Zillow's Zestimate feature for instance for the tax assessor SEV or taxable value information. 

Go to www.My Price.guru to view it for yourself and if you put in your contact information, the service will send you quarterly valuation reports as well if you want.  Of course the most accurate way of getting a market report would be to drop us an email and we could provide you with a report with comps and even tweak it further with a visit to your home.  

Let us know if you have any questions or are looking to transition into another home or condo.  Just go to www.RealtyQuest.info for more information and to get the process started.  

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Vacation Prep Checklist:

▢ Unplug electronics.  Any televisions, computers, stereos and other electronics  that are not plugged into a surge protector should be unplugged in case of a power surge.  

▢ Monitor with Cell phone.  There are many services and equipment available now using cellular or Home wifi services that can send you text or video messages automatically to your computer or phone. Try video cameras with motion notices like DropCam or Nest thermostats and also cellular alarms like SimpliSafe not to forget some of the new video door bells

▢  Light rooms with timers.  They are available for under $20, and help make the home look occupied and use less electricity. To save on energy use fluorescent or ultimately, LED exterior light bulbs (very low energy usage) and leave your outside lights on more often.

▢  Turn off the main water supply.  A small leak while you are away can cause major damage.  Your main water shut off should not be far from your water meter or where water pipes enter your home.

▢  Check your sump pump if you have one.  Pour a bucket of water into the sump crock to test.  The pump should turn on after it reaches a level that triggers the pump.  It's a good idea to check this periodically as a routine maintenance item as well.

▢ Adjust your thermostat settings.  It is not the best idea to completely turn off your furnace or air conditioning while you are gone.  Best temperatures for vacation settings are upper 70's for summer and upper 50's in winter.

▢ Adjust your water heater.  Turn the temp setting to low or vacation mode to save on your gas bill as you don't need to pay for hot water while gone.

▢  Use a soaker hose for flowers.  If you don't have a sprinkler system that waters flower beds, you can use  a timer and soaker hose to help keep them alive.  If you are turning the water off for your house, there may be a separate shut off for outdoor water, which you can leave on for this.

▢  Have a neighbor or someone you trust check in on the house while you are gone for an extended period.  If there is an issue while you are away, damage to your home could be greatly minimized if discovered early. Make sure there is no mail or newspapers delivered and a porch cam or neighbor can monitor for any packages that get dropped off so they don't sit there unattended and call attention to your status.

▢  Notify your alarm company or police, if you have one, that you will be away from the home or some police departments have a time frame trip form you can fill out and they may stop by to check on your home while gone. Many police departments have programs where you can register your vacation online and then a officer can drive by to check on your home from time to time.

▢  Winter Snow, if you have a snow storm, make sure it gets maintained and any hand delivered circulars are retrieved. Break in crews look for tracks in the snow while looking for mail, packages and newspapers left lying about.

Provided courtesy of Tom Stachler, Real Estate One 734-996-0000

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Michigan Fall Home Maintenance Check List:

Outdoors:

- Check caulking and weather stripping around doors and windows. Even the tiniest cracks in these areas can allow enough water in to do some serious damage and also potential mold issues.  In addition, check exterior paint as well and touch up as needed.

- Check your roof for exposed nails, nail pops, and missing shingle(s). These are very important maintenance repairs before winter, as freezing water expands as it becomes ice, which can damage any area where water exists.

- Clean gutters - keeping your gutter systems clean and maintained is one of the most important ways to keep water away from your home's foundation.  Keep water flowing AWAY from you home!

- Cover your exterior air conditioning compressor unit. Most manufacturers recommend not running your AC below 65 degrees, as it can damage the unit (check your owner's manual). Covering the exterior unit when you are finished using it for the season will keep debris and additional moisture out of the unit.   Help keep it clean

- Trim dead limbs on trees and bushes - trimming dead tree branches before winter can prevent them from falling with the weight of snow and ice, which can cause damage to anything below. In addition, trimming dead limbs can make spring clean up much easier. Rake leaves to keep from killing your grass.

- Flowers - trim perennials and remove annuals. Trimming perennials before winter sends energy to the roots for next season.  Annuals will need to be removed anyway, and spring removal can be messier as the ground is typically more wet in the spring than in the fall.

- Mulch young plants - give newer trees and shrubs a fresh 2-4" layer of fresh organic mulch to keep the plantings warm and control water runoff and soil erosion as we head into colder temperatures

- Blow out sprinkler systems.  Hire this task out if you don't own an air compressor or need help with this task. Do not try this yourself without proper research or you may damage your sprinkler system.

- Repair and seal driveway cracks. Water entering cracks and expanding during freezing can damage driveways and walkways.

- Drain hoses and shut off outdoor water valves. Disconnect hose from the faucet to allow frost free hose bibs to work properly.

- Clean and seal wood decks.

Indoors:

- Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. The NFPA recommends smoke detectors be tested once a month. In addition, make sure you have a fire extinguisher accessible with instructions attached and everyone in your home knows where it is located.  For more information on smoke alarm safety,

- Replace furnace filter.   In addition, change your humidity setting on your furnace humidifier to a comfortable setting.  Fall is also a great time to have your furnace inspected, as it most likely hasn't been used for months.  Remember you humidifier filter as well. Make sure to schedule an inspection well in advance as this is a busy season for HVAC professionals.

- Check dryer exhaust tube and vent for lint and debris.  One of the more common causes of home fires is clogged dryer vents, as lint is highly combustible. Typical recommendations are to clean these once per year or more often if you have more than 2 people in the home.

- Sweep chimneys.  It is important to keep your chimney clean for proper airflow and ventilation. Chimneys used for exhaust ventilation, including gas appliances like furnaces and hot water heaters, need to be properly maintained to avoid health and safety issues.

- Ceiling fans.  Clean  your ceiling fans and reverse your fans if needed.  Ceiling fans should be pushing warm air down in the fall and winter for proper air circulation.

- Check  sump pumps.  If you have a sump pump, make sure it is working properly.  There are several types of systems.  Check your owner's manual for testing and maintenance schedules.

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Given that as much as 25% of household energy costs are for water heating, it makes sense t 
evaluate various types of water heating systems with an eye toward saving both energy an money on their operating and maintenance. Here we take a look at some of the water heater options currently available for homeowners to consider.

Storage (Tank) Water Heaters – These are by far the most common type of residential water heater, In these systems, cold water flows into a tank where it is heated by gas or electric power. Once the water in the tank reaches the desired temperature, the heater will cycle on and off to maintain the temperature of the water. As the hot water gets used, more cold water will enter the tank to be heated. Most of us know the phenomenon of running out of hot water after family members take one shower after another; this will occur if the tank's storage capacity is insufficient to meet the demand. At other times of the day when relatively little or even no hot water is being used, the heater must still fire on and off to keep the contents of the tank hot. Unfortunately, it is quite inefficient to keep a tank of water hot all day, especially when the water isn't needed. Adding an insulating wrap to an existing water heater can boost efficiency and energy savings – these are inexpensive and can be installed by the homeowner. New U.S. standards introduced in 2015 include a requirement that manufacturers use an increased level of insulation in their storage water heaters.

Tankless (Demand) Water Heaters – Tank less or demand water heaters are exactly what their name implies. Rather than being stored in a tank, the water is rapidly heated by gas or electricity
once the faucet is turned on. For many homes, a tank less heater can be located close to the sink or shower to heat water on the spot. Because it reaches the desired temperature so quickly, much less water is wasted while waiting for hot water to flow through the faucet, however the results are not truly instantaneous. Tank less heaters powered by gas are usually much more efficient than electric heaters – in fact, electricity costs can sometimes negate much of the savings a tank less system might otherwise provide. Most tank less heaters will already meet the new 2015 energy efficiency requirements implemented in the U. S. Tank less systems normally cost more upfront than a conventional storage water heater, so homeowners should take that into account along with what type, size, and location makes the most sense for them.  I have an on demand system heated by a boiler that also heats our solid surface floors for instance.  There are hybrid systems with smaller tanks that provide a buffer for the on demand systems as well.  

Solar Water Heating – The basic concept of solar water heating is that the sun's energy is used t 
pre-heat water for the Home. The pre-heated water then flows into a solar tank that monitors temperature. Then it is piped into the regular hot water system, usually a storage water heater. If no water is turned on within a brief period of time, the water circulates through the system again, making it unnecessary to keep a large tank of water constantly hot. The pre-heating is done by one or two solar panels, usually installed on the roof. Solar water heating is becoming more and more popular as costs for the systems continue to decrease. By some accounts, including the California Energy Commission, a typical solar water heating system can pay for itself in as little as four to seven years.

No matter what type of water heating homeowners choose, it pays to do some research first to discover the ins and outs of various types for their specific situation. With efficiency and decreased energy use as a goal, the best choice of water heater depends on what pencils out in any given home.  Let us know if you need any recommendations or have questions.  We are always here to help both before and after the sale.  Take care.

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Scenic 3 Acre Site Backing to 12 acre Nature Area and your own Pond

• Drain Field Site Approved
• Well installed 
• Walk OUt Buidling Site
• 1/2 Acre Pond Included in Price
• Cul Du Sac Location
• Lots of Wildlife Views in one of Saline's Most Popular Subdivisions
• Popular Saline School District
• Low York Township Taxes

Pond has been approved and ready to dig this summer and included in the price.  Walk out Building site.  

Scenic Site in Popular Timber Ridge Subdivision.  Just a 5 minute commute to the I94 and US 23 interchange.  One of the lower Township Tax base communities and within the Award winning Saline School District.  

Ask Listing agent for more Information or use the submit button below.  

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Over 2570 SQ. FT of Finished Living Space on Over 1 Acre

Check out our latest New Listing.  Lots of living space and huge fenced yard ! Watch the HD walk through Video below and then call us for a showing appointment ;-)

Wonderful Raised Ranch with Granite kitchen and slate backsplash, and NEW solid 3/4" Oak 3.25" wide flooring with 100-year finish guarantee, updated roof and Carrier boiler. Outside you will appreciate the huge fenced in back yard with some privacy fencing, two decks with pool and 3 car attached garage,

• New 100 Year Finish Warranty 3.25" wide x 3/4" thick Red Oak Flooring
• New Carpet
• Updated Granite Counters
• Slate Back Splash
• Fresh Paint
• Hot Tub
• Updated Carrier Boiler
• 3 Car Attached Garage

This property is ready for your move-in with little effort. Spacious Home and yard in sprawling neighborhood you can truly enjoy.

WATCH THIS VIDEO WALK THROUGH IN HD BY CLICKING THE 4 ARROWS IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER OF FRAME

Easy Access to Zeeb Road and i-94 for commuters and shopping.  

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Home sales are on the rise and it takes a sellers edge to make their home standout in the competitive market. As real estate agents we are well aware that staging a property can enhance the appeal and get the seller a top-dollar offer.

According to the Real Estate Staging Association, homes that are professionally staged result in a higher sale price compared to non-staged properties. They also spend about 73 percent less time on the market. These numbers can make for a compelling argument for your client against the cost of hiring a professional staging company.

Most buyers are pre-screening homes by viewing pictures online before they actually take the next step to see it in person. The first impression they have of the home is how it is photographed. If the pictures are not appealing, they will continue their search and disregard the home before even taking a step inside. When a home is professionally staged, it helps distract the buyer from the flaws and draw attention to the best features.

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