Rob Gow - Real Estate and Shoreline Lifestyle: September 2013

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Tips for Getting Your Harbor Country Home Ready for Fall

As we begin to experience cooling temperatures here in Harbor Country, we anticipate the beautiful fall season. Many of us are dreaming of cozying up in our Harbor Country homes around the fireplace with family and friends. Before we know it, we’ll be feeling the crisp air, watching the leaves change to vibrant colors and thinking of the holiday season.

In our work as Harbor Country Real Estate agents and advisors serving the Harbor Country towns of Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, New Buffalo, Grand Beach, Michiana, Three Oaks and Sawyer, our goal is to provide our clients with a well rounded approach. Whether you’re buying, selling or wanting to know how to get the most from your home; we hope to provide you with a number of great tips and advice!

Ready to create a fall checklist to ensure your home is fully ready for fall? Here are a few items you won’t want to miss!

1. Check the roof- Whether you climb a ladder and survey the top, or grab a pair of binoculars for a close inspection, be sure to take a good look at your roof. You’ll want to be on the lookout for missing shingles or any other damage so that you can replace or fix it before the cold weather hits.

2. Add weatherstripping to doors and windows- Weatherstripping can be plastic, foam, felt or metal; its job is to seal small gaps, keeping moisture and cold air outside where they belong. Newer, energy-efficient windows generally don't require added weatherstripping, but if your windows are older, weatherstripping can keep drafts at bay and energy costs down.

3. Clean your chimney- Before you begin cozying up by the fire in your Harbor Country home, be sure to clean our your fireplace and chimney. The same goes for any heating appliances and vents!

4. Turn off exterior faucets- As the gardening season comes to an end, begin putting any outdoor hoses away for the season. Be sure to turn off and fully drain all exterior faucets since leaving water in the pipes can freeze and cause the pipes to burst.

5. Add downspout extensions- The fall in Harbor Country can be filled with rainy days, so you want to be sure your home is ready to handle the additional water fall. Adding extensions to your downspouts so that water is running at least three to four feet away from your home can help you prevent water damage or flooding.

6. Check gutters- Do a quick visual check to make sure gutters are clear; they'll be performing double duty soon with rainstorms and falling leaves. Full gutters can cause water damage to the roof as well as ice dams.

7. Reverse ceiling fans- Reversing your ceiling fan in the cooler months can save on your heating bill. Switching the fan so the blades run clockwise will help push the warm air near the ceiling down into the room.

Creating a fall checklist now and beginning to get items checked off will allow you the opportunity to relax later on in the season and enjoy the Harbor Country lifestyle.

As always, if you have any questions about living in Harbor Country or would like to learn more about the Harbor Country Real Estate market; please don’t hesitate to contact us!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

See What's Happening in Harbor Country This Weekend!

One of the things we enjoy about working as Harbor Country Real Estate agents here at Shoreline Property Advisors is the quality of life that can be found on our shores. Whether you choose to live or vacation in New Buffalo, Union Pier, Harbert, Grand Beach, Three Oaks, Lakeside or Sawyer; you’re sure to experience a thriving community and a beautiful home you’ll enjoy for years to come!

Because of this excellent quality of life, we like to highlight what’s happening in Harbor Country here on our blog. We know that much of buying a vacation home or permanent residence involves feeling “at home” in the area in which you choose to live. Our goal is to ensure buyers get a good feel for what they can expect when living or vacationing in Harbor Country.

So, whether you’re visiting this coming weekend, or you’re a resident of Harbor Country and are looking for something fun to do; you won’t want to miss out on these upcoming events!

New Buffalo Fall Fling Sidewalk Sales
Downtown New Buffalo

Friday, September 13th through Saturday, September 14th

- Don’t miss amazing deals this weekend at local businesses throughout New Buffalo! Those retailers and restaurants featuring a giant blue flag will be offering great discounts and season end sales on merchandise! And, while a majority of the sales will be out front on the sidewalk of each shop, there will also be great things going on inside as well, so you’ll want to spend time going through each business. Maps of NB and all retail shops, restaurants, lodging and attractions can be found at the NBBA Info booth on the corner of N. Whittaker and Merchant Streets. For more information, please visit the New Buffalo website!

Three Oaks Gallery & Town Walk
Downtown Three Oaks

Saturday, September 14th from 5-9pm

- Head over to Three Oaks this Saturday for an evening filled with great food, shopping and art! Restaurants, galleries and local retailers will stay open late to allow residents and visitors to enjoy this charming downtown atmosphere. If you’ve never been to Three Oaks, you’re sure to love this quarter-mile stretch of historic downtown charm! Visit the Three Oaks website for more information.

We hope that you’re able to get out this weekend in Harbor Country and take part in these fun events. Of course, there are a number of other things to do throughout Harbor Country such as hiking, biking, soaking up the sun on the beach and more!

If you’d like to learn more about living or vacationing along this beautiful Lake Michigan Shoreline, please feel free to contact us today! We look forward to hearing from you!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

7 Tips to Help Your Harbor Country Home Sell This Fall!

Now that Labor Day is behind us, the pace of life slows down just a bit in Harbor Country. Of course there are still a number of things to do and see, but the hustle and bustle of summer vacationers lends way to a quieter and more relaxed fall atmosphere.

The same can be true for the Harbor Country Real Estate market. As in any market across the nation, the spring and summer months are amongst the busiest and best times to buy or sell a home. However, this doesn’t mean that buying or selling a home in the fall doesn’t come with its own set of perks!

For instance, with the slower market, this means less competition for sellers. Buyers have a more limited inventory from which to choose. Buyer also find that sellers are more willing to negotiate due to the hopes of selling before the winter. Yet, on the flip side, sellers know that buyers are also looking to be in their new home before the festivities of the holiday season.

If you’re considering selling your Harbor Country home this fall, don’t get discouraged! Armed with a handful of home selling tips and an experienced Harbor Country Real Estate agent, you’ll find the home selling process can be a pleasant one!

Today, we wanted to highlight seven things you can do to help your Harbor Country home sell this fall. You won’t want to miss these tips!

1. Give your house a makeover that adds value and keeps it up with the Joneses'- That doesn't mean you should run out and completely renovate your kitchen. But if granite countertops are the norm, replace the laminate.

2. Use the secrets of staging experts, or hire one- Staging your Harbor Country home can be as easy as a fresh coat of paint, new cabinet hardware and strategically-placed lighting. Think of it as a creative, inexpensive facelift for your home.

3. Find out what's wrong with the house and get it fixed- This may seem obvious, but many homeowners put this off. Don't wait until that serious buyer finds faulty wiring or a termite problem and then pulls the plug on the deal. Be proactive. Get an inspection on your Harbor Country home before hitting the market.

4. Hire an aggressive, well-connected real estate agent- Find an experienced Harbor Country Real Estate agent with a proven track record and knows how to pound the pavement. In this market, name recognition is important, so find the go-to person for buyers and their agents in your community. If you’ve been hunting for a Harbor Country Real Estate agent; we’d love the opportunity to talk with you! With our customized home selling plan, we can get your home sold in a timely and efficient manner!

5. Help a buyer buy it- Offer incentives that put money in the buyer's pocket, such as buying down the interest rate, absorbing more of the closing costs or offering seller financing. Talk with your Harbor Country Real Estate agent about other options for incentives as their experience in the towns of New Buffalo, Union Pier, Lakeside, Three Oaks, Grand Beach, Harbert and Sawyer can give you an insider’s guide to what buyers are looking for.

6. Consider renting or offering a lease option- Minimize the impact of two mortgages by renting your house out until you find a buyer. Or offer a lease option to a motivated buyer who doesn't have enough cash to buy a home outright. It may not be ideal, but if you’re feeling the stress of an immediate move; this can be a solid option until you find the right buyer. Renting is a very acceptable option in our vacation environment of Harbor Country!

7. Make the house move-in ready- Throw in the furniture, flat-screen TV, washer/dryer, appliances, AND the kitchen sink. The less money a buyer will have to shell out to furnish the house (especially if it’s a vacation home), the higher the perceived value of your Harbor Country home.

We hope these tips inspire you to take the next step in putting your home on the Harbor Country Real Estate market!

If you’d like to learn more about the selling your Harbor Country home this fall, please contact us today! Our Shoreline Property Advisors and Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents are here to help you get your home sold!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff