SW Michigan Real Estate Community Voice

It is getting that time of year when everyone is looking forward to spring and summer and fun activities on Lake Michigan. Navigating Lake Michigan is different for paddle boarders, kayakers and canoeists then the inland lakes. Here are some safety tips to help keep you safe. Always check the weather in your starting point and ending point Never go out alone. Always use the buddy system. Leave your route information with someone reliable and stick to the route. Always wear a life preserver and pack a waterproof container with a cell phone and waterproof flashlight or flares. Know how safe your craft is and how to handle your craft. Try to stay out of the shipping lane to avoid being hit or capsized. Keep the shoreline in sight at all times. Try to stay away from break walls so as to not get capsized.  Take a safety course with your local paddles club. I have more safety tips and special non profit blogs on my Val Cares web page. Valerie Bomberger ABR, AHWD Re/Max Harbor Country.

  I wanted to share with you the steps I am taking  to keep my clients safe. These are unprecedented times, and I understand the uncertainty that many are experiencing. While we all take a break from what was our normal, it's important to remember to take this time to stay healthy and remember what matters most is you and those you love.  We are seeing historic low mortgage rates and new buying opportunities emerging in markets across the U.S. When the time is right, I'm here to help you - whether it's to navigate your local real estate market, help you buy a new home, or sell your current one. My website offers a number of useful tools and features that will help you with your real estate mission when you're ready. We are all in this together, and I'll be right here when things have settled down. Here are a few things that I am doing to try keep my buyers and sellers safe. I am doing virtual open houses only  I have  adopted a policy of having  all buyers needing

A couple of days ago I got my Remax Real Estate Advisor for February. I get one every month along with my clients. This month it was titled What Type of Contractor Do I Need? It had a lot of great information on contractors. I wanted to pass this on along to anyone out there who is thinking about doing any contracting work on their house. Right now we are in a sellers market. A lot of people are looking to spruce their homes up to sell. I hope th is article will be of help. If you like the article and would like to sign up for a free monthly copy of the Re/Max Advisor please contact me or Text/Call  269-208-4750. What Type of Contractor Do I Need?  Home improvement projects can be daunting, especially if you don't know what you're getting into. For many homeowners, hiring a contractor for a project is a must. It shouldn't come as a surprise that there are many different types of contractors and specialists (just like there are many different types of home improvement proj

         Brownington Pond in Brownington Vermont     My sister in Vermont reminded me today about being careful on the ice. She lives with and takes care of our dad on a small pond in Vermont. A couple of teenagers were out fishing on the pond and fell through the ice. Berrien County has a lot of lakes for ice fishing, snowmobiling and ice skating.  I thought that it might be a good idea to touch on some ice safety info .   When ice fishing or snowmobiling on frozen water you should have 2 ice picks or they are sometimes called ice claws with you at all times. Ice varies from area to area on lakes and ponds. It is never the same thickness. Temperature, underwater springs and water currents can affect the thickness and stability of the ice. Stay off the ice if it is covered in snow or slush on top. Snow on top of the ice insulates the ice and slows its freezing.  If there is slush it means that the ice is no longer freezing from the bottom. It is never a good idea to take a car or tru