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Naked sidewalks, walkways, and driveways via de-icing materials

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty, Ann Arbor, MI

I was looking at my stats a minute ago and realized the blog I wrote about finding innocent sellers at home in the Ann Arbor area, naked, was the one that overwhelmingly had the most number of comments.  Let's see if "naked" works the same magic here.

The topic is not about naked really, it is about de-icing materials.  They do make yourUMich law quad in ice surfaces naked of ice but it is far less sexy than the commonly recognized naked, I know.  Today at my BNI meeting (Business Network International) one of our members talked about the differences between the de-icing agents that can be used on surfaces.  Some are good at certain temperatures.  Some will not pit your concrete.  Some are colored so you can see what you have spread.  Some will melt ice dams on your roof and not damage the shingles.  Some are environmentally friendly to your plants that line the paved surface you hope to clear from ice.  It was a VERY informative 60 second commercial.  (Those of you in BNI groups know exactly what I mean there.)  Many of us wanted the details and pricing so the representative sent out a mass email to the members to be sure she didn't miss anyone.  I would like to share my new-found knowledge.

Rock Salt:  economical, effective snow and ice melter

Extreme Melt:  Sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium.  Fifteen naturally-occurring trace minerals and soil buffers that protect vegetation.  Easy to apply, less corrosive, instant traction.

Landscapers Choice:  Melts to -8 degrees.  Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA).  No adverse affect on soil, vegetation, or environment.  Biodegradable and nitrogen enhanced to provide plant support and boost spring growth.

Beneath Zero:  Melts to -15 degrees.  Naturally occurring crystal/liquid product.  Prewetting technology (Swift liquefy).  Fast acting, less corrosive.  Safer for pets, vegetation, rooftops, concrete, asphalt, metal, environment.

Mercury (Calcium Chloride/CMA):  Melts to -25 degrees.  Highly visible SolarGlo orange marker for less tracking and waste.  Dustec dust control.  Nothing melts snow and ice faster.  Safe on concrete and vegetation.ice crystals

Another of our BNI members commented that this was good information to have for her homeowner's insurance clients - slip and fall is a lawsuit waiting to happen.  I'm thinking it is good information to include in our buyer and seller packets so our clients can protect rather than damage their properties in the sincere effort to do the right thing.  For those of us in northern climates, ice is no joke.

Thanks to Lisa Amador of Bushel Center of Hollow Trucking, Belleville, MI for providing this information.  Her company provides all kinds of landscape supplies.  Contact her at lamador@hollowtrucking.com.

Thanks also to Kristine Reed of CM Insurance, Ann Arbor, MI for noting the liability issues regarding home ownership and icy conditions.  She is an independent insurance broker and can be contacted at Kristine@cminsurance.com

Goods and service providers interested in joining a BNI network group, please consider my Ann Arbor chapter, The Referral Source.  We have many open categories we would like to fill.  Please contact me for details, and visit the BNI websites below for BNI information.

www.bni.com

www.bni-mi.com

 BNI promo

         

Comments(13)

Lindsey Hasford
Edina Realty - Elk River, MN
Bringing you home...
Hmmm. Got me to look... but I'm not sure that it was the naked part.
Dec 14, 2007 05:38 AM
Susan Walters
Keller Williams Realty, Ann Arbor, MI - Ann Arbor, MI
Darn, Lindsey, there's another brilliant idea gone up in smoke....
Dec 14, 2007 05:45 AM
asdf zcxv
Keller Williams Realty - Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor Area Real Estate

Okay I'm communicating via AR because when I tried to e mail you it bounced back.  Remind me and I'll tell you my thoughts about it later.  Nice blog.  I love informative blogs and this one is great.  The environmental one is now on my list.  Thanks.

I do agree catchy titles work, but its all just puttin' in the time w/this blogging stuff. ;-)

Dec 14, 2007 05:56 AM
Susan Walters
Keller Williams Realty, Ann Arbor, MI - Ann Arbor, MI
Karen, thanks for the comment.  I loved getting this info particularly since we pitted our new concrete driveway by using the wrong product.  (I promise to use "naked" in the future only when referring to actual nakedness in real estate, though I hope that too was a one time occurence.)
Dec 14, 2007 07:04 AM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Oh, you should see my s porch. Thanks for reminding me. We hardly use the front door. But, Domino's just left and Kevin, aka computer guru at KW was here today. I need to get some, no I WILL get some.
Dec 14, 2007 08:31 AM
Susan Walters
Keller Williams Realty, Ann Arbor, MI - Ann Arbor, MI

We don't use our front door much either...the KW guy was there?  Hmm, but I'm out of the loop anyway.

Dec 14, 2007 11:52 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital
Wow!  Deicing is a huge thing with listings around here - at least when we get ice.  So many lawyers
Dec 14, 2007 03:57 PM
Susan Walters
Keller Williams Realty, Ann Arbor, MI - Ann Arbor, MI
Patricia, I checked where you were from and I KNOW you have a bigger ice problem than we do.  Our weather in Ann Arbor is similar to our old Philadelphia home and I know when we got snow, out DC relatives often had ice.  Ice is a bigger problem than snow, in my opinion - snow gives you some traction usually.
Dec 14, 2007 04:38 PM
Eric Kodner
Wayzata Lakes Realty: Eric Kodner Sells Twin Cities Homes - Minnetonka, MN
Wayzata Lakes Realty: Twin Cities, Madeline Island

Susan, I learned a lot from reading this post.

In Minnesota, it seems the State just hauls out the salt and sand.  My car looks like a salted peanut during half the winter.

What do they use on roads in the Upper Peninsula?

Dec 14, 2007 04:49 PM
Susan Walters
Keller Williams Realty, Ann Arbor, MI - Ann Arbor, MI
Eric, I don't think I can answer that until my son is up there at Michigan Tech in September, but I have connections there and they can probably advise - I'll try to remember to get the info for you.
Dec 14, 2007 05:03 PM
Kris Wales
Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI
Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI
Susan, you just reminded me, we're out of deicer at home.  Thank you!  You are absolutely correct, it's a must have in our area.  Be careful today and tonight, it's supposed to get pretty wicked out there again. 
Dec 14, 2007 09:37 PM
Paul Gapski
Berkshire Hathaway / Prudential Ca Realty - El Cajon, CA
619-504-8999,#1 Resource SD Relo
 

Thank you for sharing your blog; we need Real estate Professionals to share their comments and information regarding their markets and experiences. Thanks again from beautiful Sunny San Diego

Oct 03, 2012 01:03 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

You just got #12's generic cut and paste! On one winter snow shovelling post he embellished the comment with a special paragraph. 

Hope we have another mild, less snowy winter in the Great Lakes States and do not need the deicer.  Most years we need a lot here and I know we get less snow than you do.

 

Oct 03, 2012 02:41 AM