I got a phone call today from a potential customer seeking a home inspection. She did have some very relevent questions and was well informed about some of the aspects a home inspection should include. However, her first question was what do I charge. I gave her my rate and then she told me that
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03/09/2010
The 30th annual Great Bear Chase is just around the corner. For anyone interested in Cross Country Skiing, this is one of the premier events of the winter season, and is held annually in Historic Calumet, Michigan. This year, the race will be on Saturday, March 13th, and will have three classes
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03/02/2010
The Home Inspection Business has been a mainstay in many staters for decades. It has been popular in Lower Michigan now for over 20 years. In the Upper Peninsula though, it really began to take off in late 2006 when I first began promoting myself as an inspector in the UP. I was in a good posi
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02/27/2010
One of the great things about my job as a home inspector is seeing so many places; traveling to out of the way communities and seeing the wide diversity of both rural and urban areas. Since I do travel so much, I also have a pulse on one issue in particular that some peop
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02/23/2010
I know we are all waiting for spring. For now, it is important to keep the weather in mind when searching for your dream home. Ideally, the driveway will be shoveled or at least there will be a clear path to the front door. I do run into situations where this is not the case. The buyers for this
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02/26/2009
It is still a buyers market in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The question is, what does that mean for those of you who are looking at a possible purchase? First, it does provide you some very specific leverage. As a Home Inspector, I found it quite common over the years to see homes in need of r
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02/10/2009
I was fishing last weekend on Lake Superior contemplating the Real Estate market in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Things have definitely slowed down. It is time for me to meet my realtors again face to face. This is no easy task since I work with Realtors in 7 counties. Still, people prefer
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10/16/2008
A few weeks ago, I was sitting in the office of a very successful Realtor after completing a Home Inspection for one of her clients. I asked her how she was doing in sales. She smiled, pointed to a stack of pending closings, and mentioned that six would close by that Friday.It got me thinking. Wh
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04/26/2008
Many of us know a number of good building contractors. I certainly do in my area. A long time friend of mine is the Associate Director for St. Jude's Research Hospital (Dream Home Program) Nationwide. Since I am a member here, he asked if I could inquire with other inspectors in the Detroit or La
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08/09/2007
This is the first in a series of articles about Upper Michigan that I am writing on behalf of those considering relocating or returning to this area. I have traveled or lived in much of the world (23 countries) and also spent a fair portion of my growing up years in the UP. Having returned for
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05/25/2007