INCREASE YOUR INCOME - Provide your clients with more service than they expect .  They will respond positively  http://activerain.com/blogsview/1429302/saugatuck-real-estate-clients-you-gotta-love-them-and WHEN THEY NEED ADDITONAL SERVICES, PROVIDE THEM! 

My clients from out of state recently purchased a foreclosure in Saugatuck Township on five acres.  Now they are remodeling the home.

They asked me to act as their owner's representative, visit the job site once a week, take photos and let them know if the renovation was proceeding on time and on budget.  For these services I am paid a percentage of the construction cost. Thought you might like to follow along with this through my blogs.

Here is the farmhouse as it looks on Feb 22, 2010.  The exterior will remain essentially the same.  There will be a few additonal windows, and the back porch is being redone and the foundation repaired on the west and north. 

Most of the work will take place inside.  The home has essentially been gutted.  We have discovered that there was not much insulation and what there was has been eaten by the critters. 

Why would a farmhouse needed insulation?  There was no plumbing in 1900 and no central heating - usually just a pot belly stove. 

In the process of removing walls, we discovered a newpaper dated May 16, 1909.  That was pretty exciting. 

I feel very comfortable with this assignment as I was the owner's representative at several very large renovations ($32 Millions) during my career in commercial real estate.  I think I can handle the farmhouse. 

The scope of the work includes bidding the job to contractors, helping with the contract with the builder, checking the time line and breakdown of costs, visiting the home once a week for photos, and advising if we are on time and on budget.  I also suggested that a penalty/bonus clause be added to the contract to be sure it was to be completed on time. 

We have had a few surprises which will result in change orders - insulation, more windows in the rear to take advantage of the low Southern sun in the winter, a few rotting boards on the back porch - but all in all, things are proceeding on time and on budget. 

Change orders are the enemy and we try to keep them to a minimum but with a house over 100 years old, they are inevitable.

The purchase price of this foreclosure was very reasonable.  Now we are keeping close control of the renovation dollars.

GOAL - CLIENT WILL GET THEIR FARMHOUSE AT A  VERY AFFORDABLE TOTAL EXPENDITURE, AND THE TOTAL PURCHASE AND RENOVATION COST WILL BE LESS THAN RESALE PRICE.  

Even if they do not want to resell and they don't, Life is a crap shoot so I am determined that the total cost not exceed resale value.

If you would like more information about the process for yourself or for your client, please call me at 616-836-8535 or email me at deedeesaugatuck@gmail.com  I will be glad to help you.

 More to follow as the renovation proceeds.

Here is the link to Renovation Part II  http://activerain.com/blogsview/1522121/saugatuck-mi-farmhouse-renovation-in-progress-part-ii

Here is the link to Renovation Part III   http://activerain.com/blogsview/1570729/saugatuck-mi-farmhouse-renovation-part-iii

 Here is the line to Renovation Part IV  http://activerain.com/blogsview/1614825/farmhouse-foreclosure-renovation-saugatuck-mi-part-iv