Why Integrity is Crucial in Real Estate

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Integrity is Crucial in Real Estate 1Integrity.

It’s not a word you hear a lot nowadays, and when you do, it’s usually used to sell something. However, integrity is crucial in real estate. Whether you are buying or selling, renting or managing, appraising or inspecting, acting with integrity makes the whole system run.

Most people will agree with this sentiment in theory. But in practice, when there is an opportunity to fudge something ‘just a little bit,’ the majority will take it.  We see this in a thousand small ways. The landlord who ‘forgets’ to mention that the shower will only stay hot for ten minutes. The renter who breaks an appliance, but stays silent, so they can get their full security deposit back. The home seller who doesn’t fix the electrical system, but installs three-prong outlets to make it ‘look right.’ The home buyer who adds a few months to their work history in order to secure a better rate on their mortgage. The list goes on and on. Continue reading “Why Integrity is Crucial in Real Estate” →

Your Commute Can Wreck Your Happiness

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Your Commute Can Wreck Your Happiness 1When we’re choosing a place to live, our commute time tends to tumble down the list of priorities.  Our ride to work often ranks far below things like square footage, number of bathrooms, and stainless steel appliances.  However, your commute can wreck your happiness.

Why does this happen?  Can other factors balance out the negativity?  How MUCH does a long commute affect your satisfaction?  And most importantly, what do we do about it?

More Commute = Less Satisfaction

Let’s start with the basics – getting to work is a drag.  Anyone who has an hour long drive to and from their job can tell you that.  However, plenty of people assume it’s just a small annoyance, and doesn’t have a lasting effect on your overall life satisfaction.

This is incorrect.

Empirically, having a long commute systematically lowers subjective well-being.  Accounting for other variables, including the quality of the home, job, and means of transportation, the results hold true.  Many studies correlate high commute times with increased stress and social isolation, and consistently rank it among modern life’s largest annoyances.

However, when it comes to deciding where to live, we don’t give it enough weight.  Psychologist Ap Dijksterhuis calls this a ‘weighing error,’ a common mistake where we lose sight of what’s really important. Continue reading “Your Commute Can Wreck Your Happiness” →

How to Navigate Your Apartment Lease Like a Pro

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Apartment Lease 1Apartment searching can be exhausting.  You search for the right complex, find a unit that fits in your budget, and endlessly debate the importance of different features.  Once you finally find a good place, it’s easy to ignore the apartment lease and just sign whatever the landlord hands you.

Don’t fall into this trap!

Here are a few ways you can navigate your apartment lease like a pro, and be more satisfied with your stay.

1.  Read Everything

Read the whole lease.  It doesn’t matter if the agent sighs loudly, checks their watch, or tells you that ‘it’s all very standard.’  Understand what you’re getting into!

If you’re confused about anything, ask for clarification.  If you don’t like a particular policy (such as a move out policy, early lease termination, etcetera), ask to change it.

Remember that landlords want good tenants to stay for a long time.  A little flexibility is often possible… but only if you ask for it. Continue reading “How to Navigate Your Apartment Lease Like a Pro” →

Bigger Isn’t Always Better: The Case for Small Houses in Grand Rapids

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Small Houses in Grand Rapids 1Bigger is not always better.

Many people are hoping, wishing, and working for a housing upgrade.  Not only a better school district or a more desirable neighborhood, but a BIGGER house.  More square footage, more bedrooms, more bathrooms, more everything!

Having space for socializing is wonderful, and a little room to stretch your legs can be great.  However, there are immense advantages to living in a smaller house!  So, rather than falling prey to the cult of the HUGE, let’s make the case for small houses in Grand Rapids.

So – how can a small house be superior to a large one? Continue reading “Bigger Isn’t Always Better: The Case for Small Houses in Grand Rapids” →

How to Make a Competitive House Offer in a Hot Market (Like Grand Rapids) Without Losing Your Shirt

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SunMany home buyers are starting to get stressed about the market.  We’re straddling the thin line between spring and summer, and houses are moving fast in Grand Rapids.

If you’re looking to buy now, how can you compete in the middle of a hot market?  Generally, sellers are looking for a combination of three things:

  1.  The highest price possible
  2.  The highest likelihood of closing
  3.  The smoothest process, with the fewest headaches

Different sellers will have different priorities.  Some will only care about the highest possible price.  Others will want the quickest and easiest closing, even if they get a little less money in the end.

Knowing this, there are several things you can do to make your offer more attractive.  Let’s dig in to some specifics.

 1.  Get Pre-Approved by a Lender

Once you are serious about making offers, talk to a few mortgage companies.  Shop around for services and recommendations, and don’t be afraid to ask for specifics like interest rates and fees.  Once you feel comfortable that you’ve found a great provider, ask them if you can get pre-approved for a loan. Continue reading “How to Make a Competitive House Offer in a Hot Market (Like Grand Rapids) Without Losing Your Shirt” →

5 Myths About Grand Rapids Renter’s Insurance

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SlipIt’s easy to forget about renter’s insurance.  The premiums can seem like an unnecessary expense, and when you’re first moving in, one more bill is the last thing you want.

However, don’t blow it off.  Getting Grand Rapids renter’s insurance can be one of the best ways to financially protect yourself.  Unfortunately, less than 1/3 of tenants take advantage of it.

So, let’s tackle some of the myths around insurance, and show how helpful the right coverage can be.

Myth #1: Your Landlord’s Insurance Covers You

Many renters believe that their landlord’s insurance will help them in case of emergency.  They think that if something crazy happens (like a tree falling on the house), their belongings will be paid for.

Unfortunately, your landlord’s insurance is built to protect THEM, not you.  So, if something catastrophic happens to your stuff, you’re on your own. Continue reading “5 Myths About Grand Rapids Renter’s Insurance” →

The 3 ESSENTIAL Steps to Realizing your Real Estate Dreams

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ClimbMany of us have real estate dreams.  Perhaps you want to become a homeowner, or move to a bigger apartment.  Maybe you’d love to upgrade to a better school district, or purchase an investment house.

Big dreams require big action.

However, the formula is simple.  Deceptively, annoyingly simple.

  1.  Decide on ONE game changing goal.
  2.  Make a plan, and work your plan.  Adjust as necessary.
  3.  Do NOT quit until the goal is achieved.

That’s it.  This formula is incredibly difficult to follow, but amazingly simple at its core.  Let’s dig in to each of these steps further.

 1.  Decide on ONE game changing goal.

First, you must decide what you want.  Most people never do.

Oh sure, they may have small goals, such as getting a bigger TV or a new pair of shoes.  But real estate goals aren’t small.  They are life changing.  And remember, big dreams require big action. Continue reading “The 3 ESSENTIAL Steps to Realizing your Real Estate Dreams” →

5 Money Saving Tips (So You Can Upgrade Your Home)

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MountainMany of us would like to upgrade our home.  Whether that means moving to a nicer apartment, becoming a first-time homeowner, or adding an extra bedroom above the garage, having extra cash really helps.

But how do you get there?  Reducing your expenses and increasing your savings is a lot easier said than done.  How can you improve your financial situation without sacrificing too much of your lifestyle?

Some quick money saving tips are in order…

1.  Set a Target

It’s difficult to hit a moving target.  It’s even harder to hit an invisible one.  So start by defining your goal.  Do you want to free up $100/month so you can get into a better unit?  Save $4,000 to improve your kitchen?  Scratch together $417.50 to finally get the furnace fixed correctly?

Whatever the case is, write your goal down.  Having vague money saving ambitions is a lot less effective than having a solid number to shoot for.  In addition, if you tie your efforts to a worthy goal, you will have extra motivation to keep those dollars in your pocket. Continue reading “5 Money Saving Tips (So You Can Upgrade Your Home)” →