Northwest Indiana Acreage Specialist Blog

Earth Day 2008

John & Kathy Sipple (Coldwell Banker Res. Brokerage) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:30:38 -0500

John and I put on our rain gear and headed out to Sunset Hill Park in Valparaiso on Saturday to check out the Earth Day festivities. We dodged the raindrops and made our way to the music tent to enjoy music by our friend Mike Lenich. Mike usually plays with Eric Lambert but was joined on Saturday by his friends Mary and Jim Grosso from Oak Park, IL. They played an eclectic mix including some covers of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison as well as some gospel and blue grass thrown in for good measure!

Mike and his wife Linda are among the happiest, most positive people I've met recently--maybe ever! I think this is because of their simple approach to living that allows them to live out their passion. Their story was included in the book Getting a Life. It was great to catch up with them and see some other friends as well. FYI, Mike will be playing again in the area at Taltree Arboretum on June 29th at 3:00. I encourage you to check it out!

Some other favorites we saw in the Exhibitor's Tent included:

Creme de la Crop - community supported agriculture right here in Valparaiso, available in half and full shares, now with locally grown fruit also available! Even if you have the space to grow your own fruit and vegetables, you may find this to be a very convenient alternative.

A look at the MILES ZX40S electric car - Cute! and surprisingly affordable. Limited applications for most drivers though since it needs to be charged every 40 miles and has speed capacity of just 25 mph.

Consider signing up for a nature hike sponsored by the Shirley Heinze Land Trust. "Dragons and Dragonflies" is coming May 10th in Portage, Indiana. Group size is limited so sign up soon. Check their schedule for other dates and options.

If you have a soft spot for our animal friends, consider donating your time or money to the Moraine Ridge Wildlife Rehab Center, located in Valparaiso. They are an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization focus on the rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned native wildlife.

We also met from fascinating people who are developing alternative fuel called Browns Gas, fuel based on water.

If you're looking for an environmentally friend camp for your child this summer, check out the offerings from Dunes Learning Center...where nature nurtures knowledge.

Want to do more to protect your watershed? Install a rain barrel! There is evidence that collecting and storing rainwater for use is an old practice--perhaps as long as 2000 years ago. Water from rain barrels is better for plants because it contains no chlorine. Residential irrigation can account for up to 40% of domestic water consumption, so rain barrels can really reduce the demand. Contact Save the Dunes Conservation Fund to find out more about the Porter County Community Rain Barrel Program. This is your chance to get a rain barrel for only $10; typically they cost more than $100.

More to follow soon in another blog entry... I need to go sell some houses right now! Admittedly, I am a little on the pale green side right now, but am trying to do more and more to help do my part for the environment. Learning about what we can do is the first step. Even small actions can have big results!

Selling Your Acreage Property During Autumn & Winter

John & Kathy Sipple (Coldwell Banker Res. Brokerage) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:14:11 -0500

Many feel that homes are sold most easily during the spring and summer months, "before school starts." While that old adage is true for many families, those looking for larger acreage parcels may do well to look during the cooler months when the trees are bare and the underbrush is at a minimum.

We once had to get very creative to get a look at a mostly land-locked 40+ acre property bordering a small lake... We chartered a small aircraft from the Porter County Airport to try to get a look at it from the air because the access was so overgrown with thorns, poison ivy, fallen trees, etc. Although that gave us a good overview, it still wasn't enough so we launched our canoe from the dock of a very nice and cooperative woman who owned a neighboring property.

Although such measures are sometimes necessary, these extremes are usually not required between late fall and early spring. The moral of the story? Keep your property listed and don't lose potential buyers during what could be a key selling time.

If your property is listed during times when overgrowth is prevalent, cutting a 5-6' swath to allow access to the site's most buildable and/or scenic areas can help the buyer evaluate the property more effectively.

Well, What Do You Know?

John & Kathy Sipple (Coldwell Banker Res. Brokerage) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:56:05 -0500

What do you know about wells? Mark Kroening of Mark's Well Service in Westville (219-448-0761) can help if you need to dig a well or have a well repaired or inspected.

Just this week, Mark saved the day when a buyer client needed a last-minute well inspection the day before closing to ensure that a water leak inside the house was not originating from the well.

Nice guy that he is, Mark agreed to meet us on relatively short notice and put the buyer at ease with his expertise and his calm approach.