: Private home inspections are often a part of the process of buying a home. Guest Bob Bowling from Buyers Protection Group Inspections shares that the number one goal of a home inspection is education; to educate buyers about the condition of the home they are about to buy. From a buyers perspective we share what is and is not covered during a home inspection, what you should look for when searching for an inspector and about how much an inspection costs. For sellers, we talk about what you can do to help the inspection go smoothly, what information is helpful for the inspector to have and the #1 thing sellers should do before an inspector comes out (hint: in involves your furnace).

Special Guest Brad Ward, Vice President of Public Policy and Legal Affairs shares what has been happening behind the scenes in Lansing to help protect private property and homeowner rights this year. He talks about the importance of electronic notary to help real estate deals close at a time of social distancing. Issues like the ability to rent out a seasonal home and a first-time homebuyer savings accounts, which became back-burner issues in 2020 may come back as priorities for advocacy in 2021. We also discuss the recent state decision by the Michigan Supreme Court about Executive Orders, election results and what all this means for real estate moving forward.

If you are a buyer or seller your agent may be recommending you purchase a home warranty to protect yourself. But what does a home warranty cover and is purchasing a warranty right for you? We cover the differences between home insurance and a home warranty and what is covered by a home warranty. Guest Brian Heath from America’s Preferred Home Warranty takes us through the process when you need to use your policy and how the repair is made and paid for and addressing some common myths about home warranties. Once used primarily by those selling their home, we also share how today current homeowners are using home warranties to manage repair and maintenance costs.

When you walk through the door of a home you are considering buying it is easy to get caught up by the colors currently in the home or the floor plan but those aren’t the only things you should be looking for. We share how to look for signs of previous water damage and which cabinet doors to be sure to open to look for signs of mold. The importance of paying attention to closet and storage space is also discussed so you don’t fall out of love with your new home right after you move in. And let’s not forget the neighbors as we give tips on how to check out your privacy, the neighbors and neighborhood.

Photos, videos, social media, yard signs, websites, apps! All of these options and even more can be used to effectively market a home today so we break down what is working now when so many buyers are doing even more research online. When it comes to photos, we share why honest photos (hint: no weird filters) and descriptions of your home are critical and what type of video does your property need. We also cover social media and why sellers should be asking any agent they interview about what social channels they agent is using to market their home and how agents are making home showing as touch-free as possible.

We are well into Q4 and calendar starts to get a little tricky when you are looking to buy or sell a home around the upcoming holidays. In this episode, we discuss why the market is staying busier than normal this fall and how has buyers our looking. For sellers we share how you can work the purchase or sale of a home around important holiday or family gatherings and some things you can do to make your home more cozy and attractive to buyers at this time of the year. For buyers we point out some things you can be on the lookout for (hint: all the snow has melted on the roof suggested heat loss) during the colder months.

Special guest Shannon, co-host of the Mojo in the Morning show, joins us for a casual conversation about her passion for home improvement and design. We talk about her passion for homes, décor, real estate and home improvement. Topics we cover include wallpaper, bold colors and which room in her home is her favorite. She also shares the sites and stores that are her go-to places when it comes to décor.

Fall is in the air it is the perfect time to prepare your home for the harsher and colder months to come. Grab you favorite pumpkin spice drink or some apple cider and join us as we discuss the important home maintenance checklist you should do on your home right now. We start on the exterior and cover everything from the roof, gutters, sprinkler systems, landscaping and more. We also go inside and turn the focus on the furnace, windows and even the attic. Use the tips we share to create your own checklist so you can address any items that need attention now so you can sit back and enjoy the fall season knowing your home is ready for winter.

What has buyers flooding back into the market? Favorable interest rates and rising rents are making home ownership more attractive to buyers. Even though home values are rising, the current low interest rates are giving buyers across all price points more buying power. We discuss overall market conditions and how the upcoming election may impact the real estate industry. We also take a look at how Covid and quarantines are impacting what buyers are looking for in a home today.

When it comes time to buy or sell a home, it is natural to have questions about what to expect. How much time will it take to sell, how do I make my offer stand out and can I get a loan if I was furloughed earlier this year are some of the common questions folks have these days. Guest Jason Miller with RE/MAX Home Sale Services joins us to share what sellers and buyers can expect in today’s market along with some tips such as this one for sellers that as it may be a great idea to plan a Michigan weekend get-away the first weekend your home is one the market to make access to your home for showing easier on you and potential buyers. We also discuss the competitive conditions buyers face and some things they can do to help their offer meet the sellers needs.