Welcome To Livingston

Say the letters HOA to a room of homebuyers and watch the faces change. Some people run from them. Others will not buy without one. This week, Don and Angela sit down, just the two of them, to break down what an HOA really is and how it affects the way you live, buy, and sell in Livingston County.

They walk through the questions they hear from clients all the time: Can I put in a fence? What about a shed, a pole barn? Who picks up my garbage? Along the way, they cover which rules to look for in the bylaws, why most HOAs need architectural approval before you build a deck or add a pool, and the surprise fees that can show up at closing when a management company handles the paperwork.

Don also shares what it was really like serving as an HOA board president for seven years, from handling neighbor complaints to hosting block parties. They talk through the case for HOAs, including protecting property values and keeping a neighbor’s junkyard out of your view, and the case against them, with honest advice on how to decide if one is right for you.

Whether you are buying your first home, thinking about selling, or just got a notice from a brand new board, this episode will help you know what questions to ask.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Understanding HOAs

04:26 Fences, Sheds, and Outdoor Structures

08:12 Upkeep Rules, Blight, and Company Vehicles

10:52 Garbage Pickup and Trash Cans

14:33 Serving on an HOA Board

18:02 Rule Changes, Approvals, and Fees

22:48 Pets, Businesses, and What Dues Cover

27:45 Being a Good Neighbor

30:40 Buying Tips and HOA Fee Range

34:02 Lakes, Community Amenities, and Closing Thoughts

 

Show Links

For more information on the Putkela Group and how to get connected, visit the links below:

 

Sponsor Links

Thanks to our amazing sponsor! Visit their social media pages for more information.

 

James Paquette

Mortgage Sales Manager

Lake Michigan Credit Union - LMCU

NMLS ID# 533633

Direct Phone: (810) 263-6000

Cell Phone: (734) 604-2611

 

Website: https://www.lmcu.org/jamespaquette

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamespaquetteLMCU

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesapaquette/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LMCU

Food insecurity exists in Livingston County. It is more common than most people realize, and it looks nothing like what most people imagine.

Don and Angela welcome back Katie Choat, Senior Director of Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan, for her second appearance on the show. Katie was last on in Episode 88 when she was just finding her footing in the role and the difference between then and now is remarkable. The passion is undeniable.

In this conversation, Katie walks through everything Gleaners does for Livingston County, from their client choice pantry where guests shop like a grocery store, to the Wednesday fresh market where volunteers load up banana boxes with fresh produce, eggs, and milk for drive-up pickup. She covers their 17 pantry partners across the county, monthly school food mobiles in Fowlerville, Howell and Pinckney, and a remarkable collaboration with Trinity Health that brings a community health worker right into the pantry one day a week.

The numbers are staggering. Nearly 2 million pounds of food were distributed in Livingston County alone last year. 200 appointments every single day at Shared Harvest. And 70% of their shelf-stable inventory comes directly from community food drives.

Whether you want to donate, volunteer, host a food drive, or simply know that the resource exists if you ever need it, this episode is for you.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Gleaners’ Purpose

05:45 Reaching the Community and Fresh Markets

11:00 Getting Involved Through Volunteering and Donating

16:45 Community Partnerships and Impact

22:00 Accessing Services

Guest Links

https://www.gcfb.org/

https://donor.gcfb.org/page/mowdownhunger

5924 Serling Drive, Howell, MI 48843

https://www.facebook.com/Gleanersfan/

https://www.instagram.com/GleanersFoodBank/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/gleaners/

 

For more information on the Putkela Group and how to get connected, visit the links below:

 

Sponsor Links

Thanks to our amazing sponsor! Visit their social media pages for more information.

 

James Paquette

Mortgage Sales Manager

Lake Michigan Credit Union - LMCU

NMLS ID# 533633

Direct Phone: (810) 263-6000

Cell Phone: (734) 604-2611

 

Website: https://www.lmcu.org/jamespaquette

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamespaquetteLMCU

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesapaquette/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LMCU

This week, Don and Angela step back from their usual format to celebrate this milestone with a clips episode! Looking back at the small businesses, restaurants, health and wellness companies, nonprofits, events, and personal moments that have defined Welcome to Livingston across 200 weeks of showing up for this community.

From a $26,000 toilet to wood-fired pizza, from nonprofits serving 25,000 neighbors a year to events drawing 50,000 visitors to downtown Brighton, from their kids taking the stage in middle school theater productions to their son breaking down how to choose a college, this episode is a love letter to Livingston County and everyone who has been part of the journey.

Don and Angela also share what this show has meant to them personally, why giving small businesses a free voice has always been at its heart, and what they are looking forward to in the next 200 episodes.

If there is an episode you loved that did not make the highlight reel, they want to hear about it. Reach out at [email protected] or find them wherever you listen to podcasts.

Timestamps

00:00 Celebrating 200 Episodes of Livingston

04:43 Spotlighting Local Small Businesses

11:24 Culinary Gems of Livingston County

15:58 Health, Wellness, and Fitness Highlights

20:47 Impactful Nonprofits and Community Support

26:15 Celebrating Local Festivals and Events

32:08 Personal Reflections and Family Involvement

36:38 Looking Toward the Future

 

Show Links

For more information on the Putkela Group and how to get connected, visit the links below:

 

Sponsor Links

Thanks to our amazing sponsor! Visit their social media pages for more information.

 

James Paquette

Mortgage Sales Manager

Lake Michigan Credit Union - LMCU

NMLS ID# 533633

Direct Phone: (810) 263-6000

Cell Phone: (734) 604-2611

 

Website: https://www.lmcu.org/jamespaquette

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamespaquetteLMCU

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesapaquette/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LMCU

This week, Don and Angela are recording live on location at the Smokin' Rock-N-Blues Fest in Downtown Brighton. Music in the background, ribs on the grill, people waving as they walk by, and all the good vibes that make this community so special.

In between festival sights and sounds, Don and Angela take a walk down memory lane through all the Downtown Brighton businesses they have featured over nearly 200 episodes, from Running Lab and Ivory Vines to Great Harvest Bread, Culture Beer and Cheese, Lake Michigan Credit Union and more. If you have ever driven past any of these and wondered what was inside, this episode is your sign to stop in.

Fair warning: you will be hungry by the end of this one.

Timestamps

 04:38 Shoutout to local downtown businesses

08:33 Festival vibes and social districts

13:45 More local events

 

Show Links

For more information on the Putkela Group and how to get connected, visit the links below:

 

Sponsor Links

Thanks to our amazing sponsor! Visit their social media pages for more information.

 

James Paquette

Mortgage Sales Manager

Lake Michigan Credit Union - LMCU

NMLS ID# 533633

Direct Phone: (810) 263-6000

Cell Phone: (734) 604-2611

 

Website: https://www.lmcu.org/jamespaquette

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamespaquetteLMCU

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesapaquette/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LMCU

This week Don and Angela are going to hell. Literally.

Adam and Evelyn Aberline, longtime Livingston County residents and friends of the Putkelas, recently became the new owners of Hell, Michigan, the quirky little hamlet just outside of Pinckney that draws visitors from as far as England, Scotland, and Oregon. In just a few weeks of ownership, they have already hosted four weddings, welcomed five ash scatterings, had sixty Mustangs show up unannounced, and learned that waffle cones are harder to make than they look.

Don and Angela sit down with Adam and Evelyn to hear the story behind the purchase and what they are doing to breathe new life into one of Livingston County's most beloved and recognizable destinations. This one is funny, heartwarming, and a little bit unexpected — just like Hell itself.

Timestamps

04:30 Shopping, Ice Cream, and Mini Golf

08:32 A Community Destination for Everyone

12:15 Hosting Events and Engaging Locals

16:15 Life as New Small Business Owners

 

Guest Links

https://www.gotohellmi.com/

https://www.facebook.com/gotohellmichigan/

https://www.instagram.com/gotohellmi/

 

Show Links

For more information on the Putkela Group and how to get connected, visit the links below:

 

Sponsor Links

Thanks to our amazing sponsor! Visit their social media pages for more information.

 

James Paquette

Mortgage Sales Manager

Lake Michigan Credit Union - LMCU

NMLS ID# 533633

Direct Phone: (810) 263-6000

Cell Phone: (734) 604-2611

 

Website: https://www.lmcu.org/jamespaquette

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamespaquetteLMCU

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesapaquette/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LMCU

Summer is winding down, and Livingston County is about to shift into a whole new gear. This week, Don and Angela talk about everything families and community members should know heading into the new school year.

They cover which districts start before Labor Day and why, the return of free lunches for all students, school-of-choice options you may not know exist, and the alternative schools quietly changing outcomes for students who need a different environment to thrive. Don also draws on his experience as a former high school teacher at the Bridge Alternative School in Brighton to explain why these programs matter more than most people realize.

They also get into the big sports news! This is the final year for the KLAA conference, with Howell, Brighton, and Hartland all moving to the Southeast Conference together next school year, and they make a strong case for getting out to a Friday night football game if you haven't in a while.

Want to hear directly from the high school principals of Brighton, Howell, and Hartland about their schools and programs? Don and Angela sat down with all three last summer:

🎧 Howell High School Principal — Episode 147: https://youtu.be/zfJZm-l1jQM

🎧 Brighton High School Principal — Episode 151: https://youtu.be/CObnS7q130s

🎧 Hartland High School Principal — Episode 153: https://youtu.be/GeT3NIh4jmM

Timestamps

05:05 Navigating Back to School Logistics

09:28 Understanding School of Choice Options

13:36 Alternative Education and Learning Resources

17:13 High School Sports and Community Spirit

22:00 Athletic Conference Changes and Supporting Kids

27:01 Fall Festivals and Local Events

 

Show Links

For more information on the Putkela Group and how to get connected, visit the links below:

 

Sponsor Links

Thanks to our amazing sponsor! Visit their social media pages for more information.

 

James Paquette

Mortgage Sales Manager

Lake Michigan Credit Union - LMCU

NMLS ID# 533633

Direct Phone: (810) 263-6000

Cell Phone: (734) 604-2611

 

Website: https://www.lmcu.org/jamespaquette

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamespaquetteLMCU

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesapaquette/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LMCU

Most people have insurance. Very few people actually know what it covers, and that gap can cost a family everything on the worst day of their lives.

Don and Angela sit down with Blake Williams of the Herndon Family Agency Farm Bureau Insurance right here in Brighton to talk about the real conversations families need to be having about their coverage. Blake shares the deeply personal reasons he got into insurance. They dig into the most common gaps Blake sees: from homeowners who renovate without updating their policies, to Michigan drivers who opted into lower PIP limits without understanding what they gave up, to young families who assume life insurance through work is enough. Blake also walks through coverage most people never think about.

Whether you are a homeowner, a business owner, a new parent, or someone who has never sat down with a local insurance agent, this episode will make you want to pick up the phone.

Timestamps

01:16 Personal Motivations and Insurance Basics

05:12 Identifying Common Gaps in Coverage

08:48 The Value of Educated Insurance Planning

12:22 Navigating Claims and Specialized Coverage

15:11 Bundling Policies and Business Insurance

18:44 Understanding Life Insurance Options

24:13 Planning for Life’s Unexpected Events

29:15 Proactive Planning

Guest Links

https://chamber.howell.org/list/member/herndon-family-agency-farm-bureau-insurance-18840

https://www.michfb.com/insurance/find-an-agent/geoffrey-herndon-210-s-east-st-ste-1

Phone: (248)486-4160

 

Show Links

For more information on the Putkela Group and how to get connected, visit the links below:

 

Sponsor Links

Thanks to our amazing sponsor! Visit their social media pages for more information.

 

James Paquette

Mortgage Sales Manager

Lake Michigan Credit Union - LMCU

NMLS ID# 533633

Direct Phone: (810) 263-6000

Cell Phone: (734) 604-2611

 

Website: https://www.lmcu.org/jamespaquette

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamespaquetteLMCU

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesapaquette/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LMCU

Most people have heard of bidets. Very few have actually tried one. And almost nobody knows there is a showroom right here in Livingston County where you can walk in, try seven different models, and leave with one the same day.

Don and Angela sit down with Daniel Johnson, founder of Many Bidets, to talk about the business he started back in 2013, long before the 2020 toilet paper shortage made bidets a household conversation. What began as a personal health solution for Daniel has grown into the only bidet showroom in the United States where customers can try before they buy, drawing visitors from as far as California, Alabama, and Pennsylvania.

They dig into everything from entry-level seats starting at $300 to a $26,000 toilet that truck drivers reroute their deliveries just to use, the health and mobility benefits most people never consider, and why a bidet could actually extend the life of your septic system.

Whether you are curious, skeptical, or just ready to upgrade, this episode will change the way you think about one of the most visited rooms in your home.

Timestamps

04:44 Bidet Education and Showroom Experience

08:44 Addressing Customer Needs and Concerns

12:48 Installation and Functional Considerations

16:21 Bidet Technology and User Customization

22:02 Health, Sustainability, and Practical Benefits

26:08 Connecting with ManyBadays

Guest Links

https://www.manybidets.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23867106469&gbraid=0AAAAADqtcK8VkVGY1Tunc-cEWwDwJycxH&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-MDTBhCgARIsAKAkdlQolJzyQM38f79uUxXbqwq-hTIUoXdpRWy8pPHwS_P5dw-Z1GroeGwaAnetEALw_wcB

https://instagram.com/manybidets

https://facebook.com/manybidets

https://youtube.com/@ManyBidets

 

Show Links

For more information on the Putkela Group and how to get connected, visit the links below:

 

Sponsor Links

Thanks to our amazing sponsor! Visit their social media pages for more information.

 

James Paquette

Mortgage Sales Manager

Lake Michigan Credit Union - LMCU

NMLS ID# 533633

Direct Phone: (810) 263-6000

Cell Phone: (734) 604-2611

 

Website: https://www.lmcu.org/jamespaquette

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamespaquetteLMCU

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesapaquette/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LMCU

Think selling your home starts with a sign in the yard? Think again. It starts with the photos, and most sellers have no idea how much preparation goes into making those photos work hard for them.

This week, Don and Angela pull back the curtain on one of the most important and underestimated parts of the home-selling process: photo day. From decluttering and matching light bulbs to moving furniture away from fireplaces and hiding evidence of pets, they walk through everything a seller needs to know before the photographer arrives. They also share some insider tips most agents never mention.

Whether you are thinking about selling soon or just curious about the process, this episode is packed with practical, honest advice from two realtors who have been through photo day hundreds of times.

Timestamps

03:08 Preparing Your Home for Photos

08:25 Lighting Tips and Pet Prep

12:18 Furniture Placement and Staging

17:15 Timing and Seasonal Considerations

22:24 Advanced Photography and Strategy

28:15 Final Tips for Photo Day Success

32:16 We're Here to Help

 

Show Links

For more information on the Putkela Group and how to get connected, visit the links below:

 

Sponsor Links

Thanks to our amazing sponsor! Visit their social media pages for more information.

 

James Paquette

Mortgage Sales Manager

Lake Michigan Credit Union - LMCU

NMLS ID# 533633

Direct Phone: (810) 263-6000

Cell Phone: (734) 604-2611

 

Website: https://www.lmcu.org/jamespaquette

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamespaquetteLMCU

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesapaquette/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LMCU

Sometimes the most successful businesses are born out of the hardest moments. After losing her job, Nicole started cleaning houses just to make ends meet. What began as a way to survive turned into Dust to Glory, a thriving cleaning company she now runs alongside her sister Megan, serving hundreds of homes across Livingston and Oakland County.

Don and Angela sit down with Nicole and Megan to hear the full story, from police showing up at a client's house mid-clean to the heartbreaking and hilarious lessons learned along the way about what people really want from a cleaning service. They dig into deep cleans, foundation cleans, post-construction cleans, and the surprisingly personal challenge of figuring out exactly how clean is too clean for any given client.

Whether you are getting your home ready to sell, recovering from a renovation, or just need help keeping up with life, this episode will change the way you think about hiring a cleaner.

Timestamps

03:39 Adventures and Cleaning Challenges

07:54 Normalizing the ‘Mess’ in Homes

11:16 Most Needed Cleaning Areas

13:39 Diverse Cleaning Services and Flexibility

20:33 The Client Consultation Process

26:38 The Heart of Dust to Glory

35:53 Cleaning’s Impact on Mental Health

Guest Links

https://www.dust2gloryllc.com/

https://www.facebook.com/dust2gloryllc/

https://www.instagram.com/dust2gloryllc

Phone: (517)376-8281

 

Show Links

For more information on the Putkela Group and how to get connected, visit the links below:

 

Sponsor Links

Thanks to our amazing sponsor! Visit their social media pages for more information.

 

James Paquette

Mortgage Sales Manager

Lake Michigan Credit Union - LMCU

NMLS ID# 533633

Direct Phone: (810) 263-6000

Cell Phone: (734) 604-2611

 

Website: https://www.lmcu.org/jamespaquette

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamespaquetteLMCU

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesapaquette/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LMCU