Bruce Bylsma’s Blog

Have you heard the phrase “you never get a second chance for a first impression”?

In today’s market this is particularly poignant when it comes to kitchens.   Many sellers are letting a potential sale get away because of their kitchen.

Why? Consumer research shows that 64% of potential buyers say the kitchen is very important in making a decision in the home purchase.   Interestingly potential buyers only spend an average of about a minute and a half in the kitchen when touring homes.  

How do you keep buyers in the kitchen?   Buyers have many different ideas for the use of their kitchen.   What are they thinking while they are touring the home?   Some are thinking of the kitchen as a place for entertaining, some as a place for family, some as the “hub” of the house where everything from crafts to homework is done, and then there are the few who do not see the kitchen as an important part at all, they are busy with careers and don’t have time for this.

If you want to keep buyers in your kitchen longer put your merchandising hat on.   Create some interactive things in the kitchen  that compel them to open drawers and doors, check out appliances, and look through the window into the back yard.  

First of all turn the lights on and make sure the bulbs are offering a well lit showing.  Next bake some cookies and place them on a decorative platter with a sign that says “please enjoy a cookie”.   That will get them to  pause  for a bit and take the time to look around.   Place other points of discovery signs around to show special features.   Self closing soft touch drawers, slide out shelving, deeper pot and pan drawers, and other special features you may have.   If your oven is convection a sign posted there to show that feature would be a good idea as well.   Maybe your refrigerator is the style that has the larger shelf space or adjustable door shelves – point  this out to your potential buyers.  

Special features are easy to miss on a walk through, moreover they  help to  show value to the buyers.

Lastly it is a good idea to look around and see if there is anything that could be a detraction to the buyers.   Do you have tons of pictures, magnates, and to do lists on your fridge and cabinets?   Are there file organizers with papers and envelopes?   These are things that take your potential buyers eyes and their minds off the things you want them to notice.

Last of all, I like to remind my home sellers to go outside, turn around and re-enter their home and look at the kitchen through the eyes of a buyer.

Be prepared for your showings with great first impressions.

SWIM! Is the idea that  Bruce  and Jan Bylsma  developed to help teach children how to swim.  

It is a result of the sadness we feel every time we see that one of the children in West Michigan has drowned as well as a recent column in the GR Press written by Tom Rademacher.     Tom™s column œSummer is perfect time to teach kids life-saving skill  struck a nerve and motivated us to get moving.

Tom wrote a follow up column regarding the response and the nonprofit organization called SWIM!  

The response has been in Tom™s words a ripple effect to the column in both requests for the need for lessons and offers to help.  

We have started our efforts to match funds with needy non-swimmers.  

This will be a nonprofit organization that we will contribute to and also open the door for others to contribute to as well.   The funds will go to swimming lessons for those who cannot afford it.

The SWIM! Story.

When I was young water was an important part of our family recreation.   My dad taught me how to swim at an early age.   One day while on my uncle™s boat we pulled up to the shore in Holland near our family cottage and everyone was to jump in and walk to shore.   I was the first one in.   The water was deeper than expected.   I jumped in and was unable to touch bottom.   I bobbed up and yelled “dad I can’t touch”.   He yelled “swim!    My dad’s teaching worked!    I swam to where I could touch.

I am thankful for knowing how to swim and taught all my children and now all 11 of our grandkids love the water as well.  

Our goal is to help to eliminate the sadness of losing a  loved one  due to drowning.

Donations can be sent to:

SWIM
 2035 28th Street SE Suite R
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
info@goswimsafe.org

Prices seem to be stabilizing in some cases, interest rates are ticking upward, new home prices have begun to creep upward, and inventory is coming down.   All confirmation that this may be the time to jump in.  

Here is a great post by Tara-Nicholle Nelson on “4 Signals It Might be Time to Buy (vs. Rent) Your Home.  

Real Estate has been a hot topic for the last few years hasn’t it?   It certainly has taken its share of ‘hits” as far as its reputation is concerned.  

 In some ways it has failed us, decreasing in value and not living up to it’s reputation as being a “friend” on the investment side.   However if we own a home and are as comfortable there as we were 10 years ago then maybe we need to think about it in a little better light.  

As  Icomplete my market snapshots every month I continue to  cautiously encouraged about values.   I see areas that have leveled off in values, and I have even seen some increase in values in some areas.     Not a big increase but the direction is at least good.

Twenty five years ago when I first started in real estate the reason for buying was location, condition, and price.   As years went on we added a fourth reason and that was “investment expectations”.   Well we are back to the basics.

Renters are finding that payments are better than rent and that after taxes the net payment can be impressive.  

This is great news! Consider the young couple who I met with today.   Married for a year and renting, they  have worked hard to save up a down payment for a home.      They are mapping out their strategy for their new life together and a home fits into the picture.   This provides an opportunity to get into a great location for them and their future family, a great selection of homes, and price and terms that are the best in many years.  

Check out my BUY VS RENT CALCULATOR   to see if this opportunity could work for you.

Not all news regarding real estate is gloomy.   I have been sellling homes for many years and this is starting to feel like the first years I began in real estate.   There was a conservative feeling that real estate would be a smart move for many people.   I  called it a HOUSE and  a HOME.

The HOME is where the heart is.   Building memories, great times with friends and famliy.   All the warm fuzzies that go along with being in a home.    For me sitting on the deck  with a cup of coffee on Sunday mornings before getting ready for church, or having friends over for appetizers and drinks, or decorating for Christmas.   I love the “welcome home” feeling of driving up the driveway during Christmas time with the tree lights on and the sparkling of the snow in  the reflection of the  light.

The HOUSE is where the money is.   Buying a house with the idea of staying there for anywhere from  7 years up to retirement, and watching the equity build and maybe a  two to  three percent appreciation per year on top of  that.    Moreover  realizing the tax benefits that  accompany home ownership in a positve way for personal finances.    

Notice i used the word conservative in my first paragraph.   Buyers were not  buying to speculate, flip or make a fast buck.   They were thinking about a great place to live in a location that works for them with long term financial benefits.

The excitement about NEW HOMES continues to build.   We have seen suppliers, manufacturers, trades people, and everyone else involved in the building process make huge efforts to roll back pricing to the early 1990′s.   The value in new homes is huge.   Buyers have realized that they can get into a brand new home competitively priced  against used homes and experiencing the peace of mind that new home warranties and Energy Star construction brings.  

Buyers are finding that they can build new and stay in budget with Eastbrook Homes seamless selections process for building their new home.   Eastbrook offers the Home Creation Studio  where a wide array of selections are  available.    Imagine the thrill of building new, in budget, personalized selections, and no worry’s about a roof or furnace replacement next year!

There recently was a great piece in the WALL STREET JOURNAL regarding 10 reasons to buy a home.  

What do you think?

• Do you see conservative values coming back in real estate thinking?
• Do you think it feels like “normal” real estate is returning?
• Do you feel like the American Dream is still alive?

What is Title Insurance?

Title Insurance is an insurance policy that protects you agains any losses that may come up due to problems connected to the title of your property.

Your property most likely has gone through a series of ownership changes.   This can be referred to as the chain of ownership. This chain started when the property was land and continued until the present.   This chain can at times have a weak link that could  cause problems for the current owner. For example someone could have fraudulently transferred a title by forging a signature.   There could also be leins on the property due to unpaid taxes or claims against a prior owner that resulted in a lien.   Your title insurance will cover you for any claims including legal fees  that come up due to problems of this nature.

My next post will address is title insurance mandatory?

 Has this helped answer your questions so far?

I received a call from one of my buying clients asking questions about an easement that is noted on the survey of the property they are considering.

In our area most often an easement  is referring to the area usually across the front of the property granting access to utility companies for electric, water, cable, and sewer lines.   We also see drainage easements on property.   This refers to a specific portion of the property that was designed for the proper flow of rain water.   This keeps the rain water flowing to the place where the developer wants it to go rather than toward homes (basements)  or areas of the property intended for recreation.  

We also see easements on properties granting access or “right of way” for a homeowner to travel across a property to get to their home or property.   The owner of the property with the easement has granted the adjacent landowner the right to travel across his property.   This right to travel cannot be denied or interfered with.

I have also seen easements across land owners on lake front home sites  granting access to non lake front home sites to the lake.   Again, the owner of the lot with the easement is not allowed to interfere with the intended use.

If you have questions or doubts about your property you should get a survey and  possibly consult an attorney to make sure your questions are answered.

Please post a comment if this has been helpful or if you have a story you would like to tell regarding your easement experience.

Welcome to Bruce Bylsma’s Blog! This blog will provide you with valuable information, tips, and general insight into the real estate market in Grand Rapids.