Livingston Reporting - page 291

The Importance Of Spring Roofing Inspections

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

When spring weather hits after a long, cold Northern winter homeowners start to get the itch to revamp their homes. This includes interior and exterior improvements ranging from replacing roofs to complete kitchen renovations.  Improvements that we will use and enjoy everyday always seem like the choice we want to make when allocating funds to renovations.  When contemplating what renovation to do next it isn’t always about what we want but sometimes what our home needs.  Your roof is your homes umbrella; if you need roof repair or roof replacement it is important that this is completed to prevent damage to the structure of your home.

A new roof is a big investment financially.  Roofing contractors can help you better understand the importance of keeping your roof’s structure and shingling in top shape.  A roof that has damage to the roofing materials including the underlayment and shingles is more susceptible to costly repairs down the road.  Leaky roofs lead to mold and water saturation that can compromise the structural integrity of your home.  As costly as replacing your roof can be structural damage to your home is worse not only on your pocket book but also the disruption to your life.

To save yourself from the stress that can be caused from a leaky roof or other roof damage it is important to hire a roofing contractor to inspect your roof at least once a year.  As a homeowner it is crucial you do regular visual inspections for obvious signs of roof damage but a thorough inspection once a year by a licensed roofing contractor is critical.

A roofing contractor knows exactly what to look for when it comes to damage to your roof; especially when the damage is not obvious and is just beginning to occur.  As a homeowner look for obvious signs such as streaking on the shingles, buckled and curled shingling, missing granules from the shingle, rusted flashing, moss and mold.  Also inspect the attic to look for any signs of water damage or leaks.  If you notice any extra moisture a roof inspection by a professional is an absolute must.  Keep track of your energy bills as well.  If you see a large jump in energy use this is a pretty good sign you need to have an inspection done on your roof.

As a homeowner it is essential that you maintain your home.  The same is true for your roofing.  I mention this as it is not as obvious as maintain something visual like your homes landscaping.  Often the roof maintenance is overlooked.  At least once a year, if not twice, you should venture up on the roof with the sole purpose of cleaning your ventilation system and exhaust vents.  This is also a great time to caulk any areas of wear around pipes and vents as well as painting any metal that is exposed and rusting. This is also the perfect time to maintain your gutters.

Many homeowners focus too much on the interior of their homes especially when they are considering putting the home on the market.  This is a huge mistake.  The curb appeal and first impression that a buyer has of your home plays a vital role in the emotions buyers feel touring your home.  A fresh, clean well maintained exterior can sway a buyer because let’s be honest the idea of redoing the kitchen is more appealing to buyers and their extra funds than adding a new roof.

Home Pro Roofing MI

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Home Maintenance Tips For Spring

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Spring has finally sprung in the North!  The thirteen weeks between winter and summer are the busiest time of the year for home improvements and maintenance.  After homeowners have been stuck inside for months we become anxious to get outside and enjoy the sunlight.  The one drawback, the sunlight enhances the gutters filled with decaying leaves, the burnt out landscaping, moldy roof line and deteriorating deck. Thirteen weeks till summer fun starts so prioritize and get a move on the important repairs.

The first place I like to start is with the gutters.  Especially in spring when everything is melting and rain is inevitable.  Check your homes gutters to ensure they are secured to the house.  Clean all debris from the gutters and make sure that they are flowing free of debris.  When gutters are not performing properly water can build up and cause improper draining into the crawl space or basement.  It is also important that your downspouts are in working order and draining away from the house.

Water pools in areas that are low lying within your yard.  These pools of water tend to create damage if too close to your homes foundation not to mention they foster bacteria growth and insect infestations.  Any low area in your lawn, especially those close to the home should be assessed and soil brought in.  Compact soil in low lying areas will help to create a secure foundation for your home.

Wood around your home needs to be thoroughly checked over.  One way to check for soft or rotting wood is to carry a screwdriver around and press the wood around windows, door walls, railings and decking.  If you come about a soft area it is time to replace the wood.  It is cheaper to maintain then to replace.  This is especially true with decking.  If you notice spots of your deck getting weak, replace the wood and use a sealer to minimize future wear.

The spring time is the perfect time to inspect the roof and attic.  From the ground you should be able to do a thorough check for missing shingles, loose granules and any other obvious damage from the winter.  If you see any buckling, cracking or loose shingles call a roofing contractor to come out and do a detailed roof inspection.  They will be able to assess if the roof can be repaired or if a new roof is inevitable.

If your home has a fire place and you have stored wood close to the house for the winter spring is the season you should move it.  Wood stored close to the home is a safe haven for a variety of inspects and outdoor pests.  To store the wood to keep it good for later use build a structure that is about a foot off the ground and away from the home.  You can cover the dry wood with a tarp to keep it dry throughout the season.  If you must keep wood close to your home try to move it at least two feet away from the foundation.

Turn the water on under the house for your hoses.  Also do a check of exterior faucets as well as a quick check on your crawl space entry.  Make sure the lines are open and water is flowing freely.  This is good to d once you are sure your area is free of frost and freezing.  Also check to see if the hose has suffered from dry rot if it was not safely stored inside for the winter.

Check and clean household electric and gas equipment such as your mower, weed whip, chain saws and trimmers.  Get these in working order.  This is also the time when you should check your outside grill.  Fill the propane, check the burners and grates.  You can replace defective parts inexpensively without replacing the entire grill. Don’t forget to check the central air as well; before you know it the hot summer will be upon you and no one likes to be too hot or cold when they sleep.

Enjoy the spring and the motivation it brings as you take on your homes maintenance and work to keep up on all the little repairs before they take a turn for the worse.  For instance a roof repair is ten times cheaper than the installation of a new roof.  A mower belt is far less expensive than a new mower.  Spring maintenance saves homeowners a lot of money in the long run.

Home Pro Roofing MI

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The Right Cut In Kitchen Cutlery

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Having the right tools no matter what trade you are in is important.  This is true for everyone from mechanics to artists to chefs.  Quality tools and materials to work with seem to always make every job or task so much easier.  An artist can’t use the fifty cent drug store paint brushes that come in school watercolor kits as the bristles tend to fall out.  A true artist needs a quality brush and top of the line watercolors.  The same is true in the kitchen.

Every kitchen from the novice home kitchen to a five star restaurant kitchen they all need quality knives to prepare food with.  Food preparations are not only made simpler with quality tools but presentation of the food is better as well.  With that said here is some advice on finding essential cutlery pieces for your home kitchen.

At first it is important to be equipped with the basics; a chef’s knife, a utility knife, a paring knife and a knife for slicing.  These are essential knives for all home kitchens.  Not only are these pieces a must but they also must be made of quality materials that work with your style of cooking.

You must first determine if you prefer knives that are forged or stamped.  Most people will have a preference.  A forged knife is made of one single piece of steel and cut and molded into shape.  Forged knives offer a sturdy blade option with a solid bolster and heel that helps to protect your hand during cutting.  A stamped knife is a knife that is made by machine.  They are stamped out and identical to the other knives being produced with it.  Stamped knives tend to be more flexible and inexpensive than forged knives.  Both forged and stamped knives are capable of performing in the kitchen.  They do cut differently and feel different when held so take time to test out both options until you can tell which you prefer.

Another thing to consider when choosing cutlery is the level of care that you will be able to provide when using the knives.  In busy families knives tend to sit in a sink and go unwashed after meal prep or even thrown in the dishwasher both of which are not advisable.  If this describes your busy family consider finding a low maintenance knife that is not prone to corrosion.  Kitchen knives that require regular sharpening are probably not ideal either.  It is important to note that your kitchenware needs to be ideal for you and your family. Quality can be purchased at all levels of care.

One more tip in finding kitchen knives that will help you become a meal preparation master is the handle grip.  When thinking about the four essential knives we spoke about earlier consider that if you purchase a set they will all have the same handle style.  This may not be appropriate for you.  I prefer a larger handle for my chef’s knife with a grip whereas on my paring and slicing knife I prefer a smooth small handle.

Many stores provide a knife testing station.  It is important that before you put money into a set of cutlery that you are happy with the way it performs and handles with you.  When testing knives work with a variety of mediums from meats to fruit to herb; this will allow you to see how well the knife performs for a variety of purposes.

KnifeMule.com is an online retailer specializing in a variety of kitchen cutlery including chef knives, paring knives, slicing knives and more.  For more information on brand name knives, cutlery and specialty gear visit https://www.knifemule.com/category.php?cat=Kitchen+Cutlery.

 

Knife Mule

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Choosing A Solid Folding Knife

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Folding knives are perfect for any man or women. They are practical and can function as a tool and for security.  A folding knife can be easily stored in a pocket or backpack.  The blade folds perfectly into the handle of the knife for safety.  When using this invaluable tool you will find it practical to carry at all times no matter what you are doing.  A folding knife is good for inside functions such as opening boxes and cutting off tags and outdoors for cutting rope and fishing line.  This is the only type of knife that is practical for all people from laborers to politicians.

When it comes to choosing the right folding knife there are several characteristics that are important to note. Take some time to learn and research different brands and components available in a quality knife.  The more you know about exactly what you are looking for in a pocket knife the easier it will be to narrow down your choices.  Below are some key characteristics to consider before making a folding blade knife.

Blade Material

Steel: A steel knife blade is one of the sharpest blades available.  Steel is simple to sharpen and holds an edge well. The major disadvantage to a steel blade is the wear and tear; steel blades tend to rust, stain and corrode over time and use.

Laminate: Laminate folding knife blades are popular because they use a combination of metals layers together to create your blade.  The use of multiple metals layered together gives you the benefits of each type while alleviating the major pitfalls.

Titanium: Folding knife blades created out of titanium are the most expensive available.  Although they are expensive you will find that titanium is incredibly resilient, wears well and tends to give more than steel does.

Ceramic: If you are looking for a lightweight knife to carry in your purse or pocket one with a ceramic blade will be desirable.  Ceramic is highly fragile however can be easily maintained for years with proper care.

Forged vs. Stock Removal

Forged: A knife blade that is forged is made with one piece of metal.  It is shaped using a press or hammer while the metal is very hot.

Stock Removal: This method creates a knife blade by shaping the blade using grinding away the metal. Stock removal is a simpler method of making knife blades and therefore knives made from this method tend to be less expensive than forged knife blades.

Knife Handle Material

Wood: A wooden knife handle provides a stable grip that stays warm in the user’s hand.  The one disadvantage of wooden handles is that they tend to wear quickly when not properly maintained.

Plastic: Plastic handled knives tend to be slippery but offer the benefits of being easy to care for and inexpensive.

Rubber: If you are looking for highly durable knife that offers a cushion a rubber handle may be right for you.

Stainless Steel: For durability, reliability and low maintenance a stainless steel knife handle is your choice.  The one thing to be careful about though is when using the knife around heat.  A metal handle will conduct heat and become too handle if exposed to heat for a fair amount of time.

Opening/Locking/Closing Mechanisms

The mechanics of the knife are one of the most important points involved in folding knives. You must determine how easy or difficult you want the knife to be to open and close.  Do you want the knife to lock in place when open or be held in place by a spring mechanism? When closing the knife do you want to press a button or slide the blade into position?  Carefully examine the different option mechanisms available for opening, locking and closing your folding knife blade.

KnifeMule.com is an online retailer specializing in a variety of specialty knives including folding knives made from a variety of materials.  More information on brand name knives, cutlery and specialty gear can be found by visiting https://www.knifemule.com/category.php?cat=Folding+Hunter+Pocket+Knives

Knife Mule

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Survival Mistakes to Avoid

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Surviving in the wilderness is not something many of us will ever have to experience.  Most hiking and outdoor adventures go exactly as planned.  You hike into the wilderness, explore and proceed out without incident.  However, there are times in exploring the great outdoors that your adventure goes awry and there are some mistakes you should be aware of so that you can avoid them.

Without a shelter of some type you are exposed to all of natures elements; the dangers of weather and critters.  Staying dry is the first rule in survival and this is hard to manage without a shelter or the know how to create a shelter out of the tools that surround you in nature. Exposure to the elements be it sun, snow or rain are all very dangerous.  Don’t make this mistake.  When backpacking, hunting or on any outdoor adventure no matter how short the trip is meant to be pack a light tarp; this small piece of equipment could very well save your life.

Don’t ever go on any outdoor travels without proper navigation tools.  A map of the area and a compass are tools that cannot fail you when navigating unfamiliar territory.  Experienced or not any one can get turned around in the thick of the forest.  When it comes to navigation have a back up method that leads you to safety.  A GPS is good for some situations but if the battery fails or the signal is lost you will need a fall back.  This is why a map and compass are always good tools to have in your backpack.

Carry with you a flint and some waterproof matches.  Fire represents life in the wilderness.  Maintaining a fire is important for heat and for food and water preparations. Knowing how to create a fire as well as hunt for food, signal for help and prepare water are all important survival skills to have.  Don’t make the mistake of relying on others in your party’s knowledge of the outdoors; you never know what will happen when forced to be in survival mode.

No matter how many people are with you make sure someone that is not with you knows where you are going and what your plans are.  This way if you don’t arrive back when you were supposed to someone knows to alert the authorities.  Simple father son fishing trips can go wrong at the drop of a hat so be prepared by always having a contact person that knows where you were headed and what your plans are.

Dress appropriately.  Your clothing choice should always include an extra layer that can be taken off and stored in a back pack.  The day might start out beautiful and shorts and a t-shirt might be appropriate but if you find yourself lost and out after the sun has set you will appreciate the extra clothing.  Once you have caught a chill it is almost impossible to warm up when you are in survival mode.

Always carry a water filtration system or water purification tablets in your backpack.  Water is even more important than food in survival efforts.  Dehydration will make you weak, unpurified water can make you sick leading to faster dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea.  Water purification tablets make even the most disgusting water drinkable.  Also, creating a fire and boiling water will help as well.  If possible boil the water you wish to drink and then add a water purification tablet or run it through a filtration system.

Last but not least an outdoor adventure should never be gone on without having a knife on you.  A pocket knife is an essential tool but even better prepared outdoorsman will carry a fixed blade knife in a sheath on them.  A solid, full tang knife can be used to kill food, cut brush for a fire, skin fish, and help create a more stable shelter and so much more.  A quality knife is essential; not carrying one is a huge mistake when it comes to surviving in the wilderness.

KnifeMule.com is an online retailer specializing in a variety of specialty knives including fixed blade survival knives.  For more information on brand name knives, cutlery and specialty gear visit https://www.knifemule.com/category.php?cat=Fixed+Blade+Knives.

 

Knife Mule

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Different Types Of Business Insurance Policies and Risk Management Procedures

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

What type of insurance needs does your business have?  Below you will find a brief explanation of different types of insurance protection for your business.

Asset Protection: Asset protection provides insurance coverage for the premise of your business, equipment, vehicles and contents as well as business equipment.   As with all insurance policies there are different policies that are in effect for different assets.  Your liability insurance might cover certain assets such as the premise and equipment used to do business but will need a separate asset policy plan to protect your vehicles and their contents from theft or accidents such as fire or flood.

Key Person Insurance: When it comes to small businesses most often the loss of one key staff member could be devastating to the overall business activity. In most cases this refers to the owner of the small business.  If the business is wrapped around the owner’s skills and abilities without that key person the business will be drastically affected.  The revenue will decrease and the value of the business most likely collapses as well.  With insurance covering the businesses key person, partners and shareholders are covered from an overwhelming loss.

Product Liability: Product liability insurance is purchased to cover legal actions sought to collect from death, injury or damage that has been caused by the product that your business produces.  A special add on policy to your product liability insurance is recall liability which covers losses that happen when a product is recalled.

Professional Indemnity: If you are in the business of offering professional advice, indemnity insurance can be purchased to provide personal protection against claims arising from your advice. Professional Indemnity is usually purchase by providers of medical and legal advice as well as financial institutions as well as contractors.

Public Liability: If you or one of your employees is liable for injury, death, damage or negligence to a third party on the premise of the business public liability insurance will cover you from financial claims to your business.  If an employee causes an accident on site you will be covered from liability with this type of insurance.  It is also important if someone is hurt on your premises, public liability insurance will help with legal fees as well as settlement costs.

Revenue Protection: Revenue protection covers your if there is a disruption in business leaving you unable to protected against loss of revenue in situations such as floods, fires, earthquakes and other natural disasters.

Workers’ Compensation: This is the coverage that will protect your employees as well as you from hardship financially if injured while working or a work related injury that has developed over time.

Risk Management: Insuring your business is one part of planning for the adventures that can help when you own your own business.  The other part is preventing, managing and reducing the risks in your business.

  • Asset Maintenance: Take care of your business assets, including machinery, vehicles and office equipment.
  • Computer and Data Loss: This includes backing data up on a regular schedule, supplying surge protectors and preventing the installation of software or data until it is checked for viruses.
  • Premise Maintenance: Regular inspections and maintenance of the building and areas throughout the building will create a safer environment.  This includes the interior and exterior of the building.
  • Security Risks: Adding an alarm system and entry access systems are a few ways to detour the wrong people from accessing your business.
  • Theft and Fraud: Security cameras, regular inventory and a system of checks and balances with all finances will help prevent theft internally as well as from external sources.

For more information on business insurance throughout Livingston County, MI contact Cobb-Hall Insurance. We are experts in all types of insurance needs and look forward to helping you with all of your insurance needs. Check us out online at http://www.cobbhall.com/business.php

Cobb Hall

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Choosing Your Level Of Risk To Protect Your Business

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

There are so many benefits to owning your own business.  On the other hand there are some major drawbacks as well.  One major disadvantage to owning your own business, especially a small business is the risks involved.  When it comes to the risks involved in owning your own business there are a few ways to deal with it.  The first and worst method is to just accept all the risk and face the consequences when something happens.  The second method is to approach risk and to eliminate and manage as much of it as you can.  The third approach in handling the risk involved in business is to purchase an extensive and all encompassing insurance policy.

There are advantages and disadvantages with each approach.  For instance in the first method where a business owner chooses to do nothing but accept all the risk and consequences involved the advantage is the initial savings in overhead spending.  If you don’t do anything to manage or insure the risk it will cost you nothing, to begin with at least.  The problem with this approach, especially in business is that you are risking your livelihood, the way you bring income in that supports the rest of the things in your life.  Without the ability to make money you put yourself a t risk for bankruptcy and worse; a lifetime repaying a debt that could have been avoided.

The second method of dealing with the risks of owning your own business is with managing or eliminating the risks.  This approach in handling business risk involved decreasing the risk associated with your business practices.  Risk management in short involves a regular review of company procedures and making sure that policies are in place that reduce and eliminate the risk to your staff, customers and business in general.  This could be something as simple as replacing the batteries in your fire detectors to something more complicated such as credit management and debt collection policies and procedures.

Handling risk in business with proper insurance coverage seems like a no brainer for some but others do not see the importance of paying extra premiums for special business policies.  The fact is that most businesses operate with risk.  Insuring your risk alleviates the burden of litigation and repayment from falling all on your shoulders.  Insurance premiums for businesses vary from general liability to workers compensation to product liability.  There are a wide range of insurance policies for businesses.  Not every policy applies to every business and industry.  It is important when seeking insurance coverage for your business to meet with an insurance company that provides comprehensive business insurance coverage for a variety of industries.

When it comes to approaching risk within business the best approach is most likely a combination of both risk management and insurance.  When used in combination you can decrease the risks involved in your business and hopefully this will decrease the chances of needing expensive comprehensive insurance.  A prime example of this in action is adding an alarm system to your business decreasing insurance premium costs while decreasing the chance of loss due to theft.  Owning your own business is a balancing act and handling the risk involved in business is all about a well balanced approach of managing and insuring risk.

For more information on business insurance throughout Livingston County, MI contact Cobb-Hall Insurance. We are experts in all types of insurance needs and look forward to helping you with all of your insurance needs. Check us out online at http://www.cobbhall.com/business.php

Cobb Hall

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Small Business Liability Insurance Buying Tips

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Is it important that small business owners have general liability insurance?  Many smaller companies believe that they can operate without insurance.  Small companies are always looking for ways to cut costs and decrease their operating budget but cutting insurance costs is not the best way to accomplish this.  Business insurance protects small business owners from a variety of frivolous lawsuits that are brought against business owners on a daily basis.

When a lawsuit is brought against a small business owner defending the claim alone is often enough to leave a small company with a severe debt if not the need to file for bankruptcy protection.  A great way to avoid this happening to you is to purchase liability insurance for your small business. The small amount of money that is put out to cover the costs of the insurance policy annually could save your business one day.  The insurance premium that is charged will depend on the type of insurance and amount that is needed to properly insure your small business.

To find a great rate on small business insurance premiums you may need to shop around.  Be careful when shopping different insurance companies because many times a significantly lower premium also comes with a considerably inferior policy.  Not all insurance policies are created equal so be sure to know exactly what you are paying for and exactly what is covered.

The rate should not be drastically different from company to company for the exact same coverage.  Do a side by side comparison of the policies you are considering and analyze the service provided by each company.  Sometimes you will find the extra cost is worth the more personal attention you receive.  This will be especially important if you are ever in need of using the policy.

Another consideration is instead of buying several different business insurance policies to cover the various needs you have with to insure consider a business owners policy.  A BOP is a package of insurance policies related to your business industry.  The one tip you will need when purchasing a BOP is to make sure that the coverage meets all of your business needs.  If it does not cover an essential item need in your business coverage you will be better suited to look into individual policy coverage.  Buying all of your business insurance policies from one insurance company often saves you a percentage of the premium as well; this is considered a multi policy discount.

Another tip that is important when choosing a company to handle your business insurance needs is industry settlements.  Unfortunately there is a chance, a considerable chance that the insurance policy will be needed at some point during the process of operating your business.  This will give you look at what your needs are when it comes to settlements and dollar amounts that have been awarded as well as the reasons for the lawsuit and settlement.  Consider your business insurance doesn’t only cover you for costly litigation it also provides a solid foundation on which to build the success of your business.

For more information on business insurance throughout Livingston County, MI contact Cobb-Hall Insurance. We are experts in all types of insurance needs and look forward to helping you with all of your insurance needs. Check us out online at http://www.cobbhall.com/business.php

Cobb Hall

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The Final Steps To Buying Your New Home

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated

After you have gotten your financial house in order, met with a realtor and narrowed down your objectives it is time for the fun part of buying a home.  It is time to sort through the list of inventory available that meet your criteria and actually start to scope houses out.  Your realtor will get a list of homes currently on the market for sale with your objectives in mind and the process of finding the perfect home will begin.

Your realtor will begin showing you houses that meet the criteria.  These homes will be homes that have most everything you are looking for, in your price range while staying in the area that you are hoping to purchase in.  When looking at these homes keep a detailed log of each home. Bring a camera along to document the good and bad points in all of the homes you are seeing.  It can become overwhelming to keep track of everything if you don’t document it somehow along the way.  The first day out is especially taxing; there is so much to consider.

If you have exhausted the list of homes that met your criteria but aren’t meeting your expectations it may be time to reevaluate.  This happens more often that one would think in buying a home.  At first you make think it is so important to have a lake front home however when searching lakefront homes you realize what is really important is land.  To find land and a lakefront might take time; time might not be an option for you.  Priorities change when you are actually exploring different homes.

Make sure that you keep open lines of communication with your realtor.  If the real estate that you are being shown is in the not what you had envisioned you need to tell your agent sooner rather than later.  It is a waste of your valuable time to be shown homes that you are totally not interested in.  This also may be the time when you start doing driving by the property before your realtor sets up viewings.

Before you know you have found the home of your dreams!  Now comes the part that most home buyers and sellers for that matter dread; the offer and acceptance process.  Thankfully real estate professionals are there to guide you through this process.  This process goes much smoother if both the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent work with their clients on bring reasonable demands and expectations to the table.

After your offer has been accepted you move on to the final steps in the home buying process; inspection, title, appraisal, insurance, escrow and closing.  The final step moves fairly quick as you are preparing to move, setting up utilities and handling all the unexpected events that come with buying a home.  A lot of the final steps are behind the scene and won’t involve a lot of input from you as the buyer.  Your agent and mortgage lender will handle many little details in order to make the transition of ownership easier.  Before you know it you will have the keys to your new home in your hand and will be knee deep in excitement making your new home yours!

Lake and Land Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor out of Pinckney, Michigan serving homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Hamburg, Pinckney and Howell. Information can be found at http://www.lakelandmi.com/buyers-resources.php

C21 Lady of the Lakes

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The Complicated Middle In Between Thinking About and Actually Buying A House

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Once you have the basics covered the next step in purchasing a home is to determine your exact financial situation.  At this point you have gone through your wants and needs in a home.  You have also gotten a basic foundation established of how much you have for a down payment as well as home much you want to spend each month as far as a mortgage payment.  This is the point you need to get down and dirty with your finances.  This is the point in which you retain a realtor that is willing to help you get what you want and a mortgage lender that will address how much you can afford.

To establish a foundation with your finances you must first start by getting a detailed copy of your credit report. The hope is that the report is above 720 if it isn’t you need to work to correct issues that with errors in reporting as well meeting with a financial advisor that can help you increase the rating.  Some tips that may come from meeting with an advisor could be paying down your credit cards or increasing the amount of money you earn.

Getting your financial house in order involves saving for a larger down payment.  A ten percent down payment is standard however some lenders are more apt to provide a lower interest rate to buyers who have a larger down payment. Consider putting twenty percent down to decrease your mortgage interest rate.  When thinking about a larger down payment take into account that you will have closing costs that creep up, expenses for moving as well as the surprises that aren’t accounted for during the inspection process.

Find a mortgage provider that you like once your credit score is in order and get pre-approved.  This will give you a limit on what you can spend on a home.  This is the upper limit on what you can afford.  Most home buyers should seek to find a home for at least twenty percent less than what they are pre-approved for.  Otherwise you are placing yourself in a tight position when it comes to the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.

You should also discuss with your mortgage provider the process of actually getting a loan as well as the different options in mortgage loans available to you.  Key factors involved in determining what loan type is right for you are the following: the required down payment, the interest rate, the costs and fees involved in closing the loan and secondary requirements from the actual lender.  Secondary requirements can include flood insurance, private road agreements, self employment documentation and such. This secondary information is all necessary documentation outside of the cookie cutter information needed for most mortgages.

Different types of mortgages available from lenders can include conventional, adjustable rate, FHA, VA, assumable, balloon and private mortgage insurance.  These are a variety of mortgages to look into and to understand before moving forward with any one type of mortgage.  The process of buying a home requires a whole lot of work before looking for a home can even begin. A reputable realtor will help you with this entire process even before showing you a single home and a mortgage lender will help explain anything and everything you need to know before supplying you with the right loan for your need.

Lake and Land Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor out of Pinckney, Michigan serving homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Hamburg, Pinckney and Howell.  More information can be found at http://www.lakelandmi.com/buyers-resources.php

Lake and Land Real Estate

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