Shores Happenings

home

IMPROVEMENT

TOP THREE AREAS OF YOUR HOME TO INSPECT EACH SPRING

BY CHRISTOPHER REDZINIAK

April is the perfect time to take a walk around your home to identify damage caused by ice, snow and cold temperatures from Michigan winters. Take a moment this spring to protect your investment and make small repairs now that will prevent larger more costly problems.

Take a look at these top three exterior inspections in preparation for summer projects, starting from the top down.

1. Keep an (Undamaged) Roof Above Your Head Roofs can suffer a lot of damage over the winter months from ice, rain and wind. Stand away from the home by the sidewalk to get a view of your roof line. Look for any obvious signs of age, moss or missing shingles blown away over the winter months. Curling edges and popped nail heads that need to be repaired can be seen from the ground without using a ladder. 3. Downspouts, Extensions and Grading Wet weather conditions and freezing temperatures expand and contract materials, even the soil in your yard. Look for pooling water, low areas that slope toward your home, as well as cracks in the brick work and joints.

Seasonal inspections will keep your home well maintained for the year and prevent small repairs from becoming an unexpected inancial surprise. 2. April Showers Bring Sagging Gutters Now is the perfect time to inspect your gutters. Pull out your ladder and clear away leaves and sticks. Look for gutters pulling away from the home. Popping nails make your gutters loose and allows water to seep between the fascia (the transition trim between the home and the roo line) and the gutter. This can cause thousands of dollars in repairs due to rotten wood.

Christopher Redziniak is a co-owner of Red Baron Enterprises, LLC, serving Southeastern Michigan, and is a second-generation handyman. He is active in working within our community, encouraging, and supporting other family-owned businesses in the area.

REAL ESTATE

Think You’re Ready to Sell? Consider These Key Home Updates

BY FLO ABKE, GRI

Whether it’s a strong seller’s market or a strong buyer’s market, homes that look good and are well maintained will always sell faster and for more money. Homes that are not clean and/or not properly maintained are never as popular with buyers.

Neutral paint colors and updated clean loors, including re inished hardwood, pre-cut vinyl plank looring or new carpet, are very important features to most buyers. Many buyers want to move into their new home on the day of closing. If they buy a home that has been recently painted and includes attractive clean looring, they can move right in. Buyers who have children, work long hours or are pursuing advanced college degrees, for example, are among those who are looking for the simplest move possible. For these buyers, move-in condition is a must because they often do not have the time or resources to remodel a home.

Depending on the season, the exterior of your home may need attention as well. If it’s fall or winter, it’s a little easier to get away with a less attractive exterior. However, if it’s spring or summer, you need to make sure the bushes are trimmed, and the lawn is edged. Homes with attractive lowers pop nicely in pictures. Online photos are very important. If potential buyers like what they see online, they are more likely to come and view the home with a positive attitude. Clean homes that include neutrally painted walls, attractive looring and a nicely manicured exterior will grab the potential buyer’s attention much faster than an unattractive, unmaintained home.

A St. Clair Shores native, Broker/Realtor Flo Abke, GRI, is part of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Kee Realty team in St. Clair Shores. She is a member of Grosse Pointe Board of Realtors, Women’s Council of Realtors, Michigan Association of Realtors and National Association of Realtors. Flo has achieved a multi-million-dollar yearly sales level since 1994. She is also a junior sectional judge for United States Figure Skating.