Why Integrity is Crucial in Real Estate

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

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

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”

Finish Your Basement Like a Boss: 6 Steps to Have the Best Basement in Grand Rapids

Finish Your Basement 1Michigan basements can be a drag.  They can be dark, damp, and unwelcoming (and some are downright gross).  But fear not… with just a few key steps, you can have an amazing space.  So how can you finish your basement like a boss?  If you want the best basement in Grand Rapids, read on…

 1.  Start with the Bones

First, understand that basements are their own animal.  You often have to work with concrete, deal with moisture, manage varying temperatures, and tackle oddly shaped spaces.  So begin with the bones of the house, and make sure you’re starting strong.

Make sure you have a solid foundation on your house, and that moisture can’t get in.  If you can smell mold, see obvious cracks, or have dampness anywhere inside, take care of that first.  Otherwise, all of your hard work to finish your basement will be wasted!

As you begin installing, make sure to install a vapor barrier between the foundation and drywall.  You can also offset the wall from the foundation using furring strips, which will help with moisture.  Installing good insulation will keep your space snug and warm.

So before you start designing the best basement in Grand Rapids, make sure the space is ready for it. Continue reading “Finish Your Basement Like a Boss: 6 Steps to Have the Best Basement in Grand Rapids”

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

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”

Real Estate Arbitration: Alternatives to Court in Grand Rapids (Part 2)

Real Estate Arbitration 1In our last post, we discussed how real estate disputes don’t have to end up in court.  Real estate mediation can be a great alternative, and it can help you craft a mutually-beneficial solution.  However, reaching agreement through a mediation isn’t always possible.  So, let’s explore another option: real estate arbitration in Grand Rapids.

What is Real Estate Arbitration?

Real estate arbitration is a dispute resolution method outside of the court system.  The case is not resolved by a judge or jury.  Instead, both parties submit their information to an arbitrator, who reviews the case, listens to both sides, and makes a decision.

This process is less formal than court, but more rigid than real estate mediation.  Since more than a million disputes go to arbitration each year, there are several large companies that offer arbitration services.  Both sides can also agree to an independent arbitrator if they choose.

Typically, the parties will agree on a neutral space, such as a conference room, to hold the arbitration.  The ‘rules’ of the proceeding may be determined by a contract or by mutual agreement, so the specifics can vary quite a bit.

What are some of the key elements? Continue reading “Real Estate Arbitration: Alternatives to Court in Grand Rapids (Part 2)”

Real Estate Mediation: Alternatives to Court in Grand Rapids (Part 1)

Real Estate Mediation 1Real estate can get ugly.  Contracts are violated, bills sit overdue, and information gets withheld.  Most people think their only way out is through a nasty lawsuit.  But fear not – there are alternatives to court!   Today, we’ll discuss a fast, flexible, and effective option: real estate mediation.

But first, let’s dive into a few reasons why you might want to try some alternatives before filing that lawsuit.

Why not immediately go to court?

When someone wrongs us, it’s almost a reflex to ‘take them to court.’ We live in a lawsuit-happy society, and knockdown, winner-take-all battles in front of a judge are quite common.  However, these conflicts are often expensive, lengthy, and extremely stressful. Continue reading “Real Estate Mediation: Alternatives to Court in Grand Rapids (Part 1)”

4 Reasons to Avoid Breaking the Bank As You Buy a House in Grand Rapids

PiggyIt is very tempting to go ‘all in’ on a house you love, and stretch your budget to its breaking point.  When you find a house that is the right size, in a great neighborhood, with fantastic bonus features, logic can fly out the window.

This is especially challenging when you’ve been trying to buy a house in Grand Rapids for a long time.  Since the market is currently quite hot, homes are moving quickly.  The temptation to over-spend on a property is huge.

However, breaking the bank for a ‘perfect’ house is a recipe for financial disaster.

You will be much better served by sticking to a more modest, reasonable budget that works for your finances.  Here are several reasons to stay modest as you submit your offers.

 1.  Emergencies Happen

Let’s face it – life is messy.  You get a flat tire at the worst possible moment, and have to pay out the nose for a tow truck and new wheel.  Your furnace dies on the coldest day of the year.  A huge windstorm blows dozens of shingles off of your roof, and you have to pay to repair it. Continue reading “4 Reasons to Avoid Breaking the Bank As You Buy a House in Grand Rapids”

5 Stress-Reducing Moving Tips for Your New Home in Grand Rapids

MovingMoving is hard.  It feels like you have to pack up your whole life into boxes, just to reverse the whole process a few days later.  You have to handle address transfers, coordinate bill changes, figure out a new route to work, and find a new spot for the kitty litter.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to make the experience less painful.  So let’s jump into some moving tips for your new home in Grand Rapids, and put the excitement back in the experience!

 1.  Start Purging Early

Whenever you live in a home for a while, STUFF seems to magically appear.  When you start to look through your house, you’ll probably find 14 stacks of paper that you don’t remember making.  A half-full, dried out container of spackle from the one time you patched a wall. 7 toothbrushes, for some unexplained reason.

As soon as you’re thinking about moving, start purging.

By starting sooner, you maintain your sanity.  Purging one room might take an hour, or it might take 15 minutes.  If you knock out one room at a time, you can have a much more manageable space in just a few days. Continue reading “5 Stress-Reducing Moving Tips for Your New Home in Grand Rapids”