Getting Ready to Move ??This is a Primer on what to do  as soon as you  decide to sell your home, BEFORE you call the Realtor to consult about listing it.No. 1       TRY TO SEE YOUR HOME AS A VISITOR DOES. I know this is a difficult assignment but you really have to do this.  Visitors to your home are not sentimentally attached to the evidence of day to day living and family life, as you are.  Their eyes won't mist over when they see the evidence of your late dog's scratches on the door nor will they appreciate the Christmas tree that is still up in July.  If you remember back when you moved into your new home, you had all kinds of plans for improvements you would make. Then life gets busy. Your kids... 12/22/2007

The Cascade Township Public Library serves a large demographic area. It serves Cascade, Ada, Alto and Forest Hills primarily, but Caledonia is probably served by this library as well.  The building is fairly new and has just had a new wing and additions added this year because of the heavy traffic and use.       It is "The Place to Go for Info" if you want to : work on a computer shop for used and over stocked books read the latest magazines check out the new DVD's check out the new music CD's Check out a bestselling book Check out a classic book Look something up in the reference section Go on the world wide web via the internet See what local book clubs are reading        And all these activities are free!        If you find yourself bored this winter, without a good book to read or ... 12/22/2007

Invite them over.  We have two family members who've been recently widowed.  Just yesterday (slap forehead) it dawned on us that they need some new Christmas memories or the holiday will be unbearably depressing.  Their branch of the family had previously had their own celebrations.  Now, due to the deaths and people moving, they're the only ones left.  We've invited them to where there will be a big gathering of people.  Babies, noise, good food, and wine.  We're hoping it will be therapeautic.Is there someone you should call?  image from holidays.net/christmas/cards.htm 12/21/2007

 Just got in from a great Christmas Party at the New JW Marriott.  The occasion was the 20th Anniversary and Christmas Celebration for Rockford Construction.  The setting was fitting.  Rockford Construction was selected along with the Pepper Construction Group out of Chicago to build theJW Marriot, the latest contemporary addition to the Grand Rapids, Michigan skyline!  Rockford Construction was established in 1987 by John Wheeler and Michael VanGessel.  Today, the company provides "one stop" construction shopping to clients in over 20 States and 450 cities across the United States.  But the company still considers West Michigan "home."It is this commitment to the West Michigan community, a hallmark tradition of Grand Rapids visionaries which sets Rockford Construction apart.  Service t... 12/20/2007

I was doing some end of the year type organizing, preparing a mailing that I always send after Christmas to every client I had a closing with in that calendar year.  Thanking them again for entrusting their buying/selling process to me, wishing them well and giving them another copy of their HUD-1 closing statement in case they misplaced theirs in the move, and as a reminder that their closing could have some tax implications.  It's also a way of showing them that I've got their back, even after the closing is a distant memory.I started looking at the files, cross checking my sale spreadsheet and though.. that wasn't so bad.  So out of curiosity I clicked on the 2006 sales spreadsheet.  I was surprised (probably shouldn't have been) to note that I only had ONE LESS sale in 2007 than 200... 12/18/2007

 The call came into our office as a referral.  A former client was recommending us to assist her good friend who needed to purchase a home quickly!  Now, who doesn't relish that kind of call?  I contacted the individual who confirmed that she was indeed ready to buy a home right NOW.  However, there were a few issues.  She indicated that she was loosing her home although she didn't own it.  She could sense my surprise over the phone and answered my question before I could verbalize it, "You're wondering how I can loose a home I don't even own right?"  "Yes," I said, "Please, Explain."She proceeded to explain that several years ago, they had made an agreement to rent with an option to purchase a great home. The family had enjoyed living there for several years, but recently began to get ... 12/18/2007

A Simple Guide to Help Avoid Overpaying for Your Next Home     Simply put, PAYING TOO MUCH can jeopardize the integrity of your investment. Here's vital information to help you avoid overpaying for your home. Whether you are a first time buyer or an old pro at the real estate game, buying a home can be a daunting process. It's an emotional time filled with difficult choices - and each decision you make has money riding on it, your hard earned money.    Finding the right home to meet your family's needs is hard enough. But knowing how to avoid paying too much for that home once you've found it is another job entirely. As someone who has helped countless buyers find their dream homes and save money at the same time, I've developed this guide to help you avoid the pitfalls inherent in the ... 12/18/2007

Ok, I admit it.  I'm a Christmas nut.  Love the lights, the music, the quest for the perfect gift.  I also love the movies and this is in my top three.  The other two are White Christmas and A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott as Scrooge.The particular value of this one, however, is that it picks me up when I'm down in the holiday dumps.  George Bailey gives up his dreams of traveling the world to take over his family's savings and loan business, where things are NOT going well.  He attempts suicide.  A goofy angel-in-training helps him to see his life from a different perspective. That's the part I love best.  How often could we change everything that's bugging us if we could change our point of view?  And how could that enrich our lives?  This movie always inspires me to ask myself... 12/18/2007

 This past weekend, the Today Show spotlighted an interesting segment titled "The Science of Selling Real Estate."  As science was a part of my "past life," prior to real estate state, this title held particular fascination.  The focus was an interview with the Redfin CEO, Glenn Kelman who shared several "scientific" insights about Selling Real Estate. According to the segment's introduction, ...Seller's should forget EVERYTHING their real estate agent had ever told them.  Kelman who was being interviewed by Meredith Vieira clarifies at the beginning of the segment that Redfin (presumably the Redfin programmers) are computer scientists NOT sales people.  The segment's stated aim was to separate the Sales Voodoo from the True Real Estate Data. So, without further ado, we now compare the ... 12/17/2007

 The Truth is Very Powerful!  It's more powerful than Spin.  The Truth about the Grand Rapids, Michigan housing market is the primary means by which home owners can escape being held captive to the whims and negative judgements of dooms day predictors and naysayers.  In the housing market in Grand Rapids, Mi this year, the Truth has sometimes seemed obscured by all the negative news.  Well, it's about the end of year and time to take a look at the TRUE numbers for sales in and around the Grand Rapids area.Here's a Summary of the Housing Market in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Just over 10,116+ homes have Sold so far this year. This was against a backdrop of approximately 34,000 Listings for the year. Over half of the sales for the entire Grand Rapids, Michigan real estate board were priced b... 12/17/2007

                         Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army by Jeremy Scahill     This is such a bonechilling book, I must caution you to consider  before starting it, especially in this holiday season, you will probably be running around bah-humbugging everyone and everything after you read it.   The rise of this mercenary army just in time to be a major player in the Iraq War is a story every US citizen should read and be aware of. The favoritism and monetary greed that feed this war is on a scale never seen before in our government.The implications for future " dirty little wars" is a wake up call for all of us.  Read this book and try not to be alarmed!                                                                                              12/17/2007

                                                Peppler Memorial Park in Downtown Rockford Michigan At one-half acre, Peppler Memorial Park is located just west of the Rockford Dam. It has a fishing platform, picnicking opportunities, and it provides for a walk across the dam.  It is just a nice place to visit and spend a few moments comtemplating nature.     Wonderful access to the Rogue River which is touted as one of the finest steelhead rivers in the state.In 2005, Peppler Park was improved with a new overlook, railings, access ramp, landscaping, and stairs to Bridge  Street.                                                                                                                                                         Photographs by Bonnie Westbrook 2007                      ... 12/16/2007

                                                             Rockford Dam Overlook Park Ideal for picnicking and watching fishermen catch steelhead,among other local fish,  this park is truly the gem of downtown Rockford. Squires Street adjacent has wonderful shopping all year round. Beautifully renovated, the Rockford Dam is one of the highlights of Rockford and provides a spectacular view of  the Rogue River.  There is direct access to the river. It is located on Bridge Street.                               There is direct access to the river.  It is located on Bridge Street.           Photographs by Bonnie Westbrook                                                                    Westbrook Realty                                                                                       ... 12/16/2007

I was at a holiday party last evening and ran into Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell and his wife Susan.  As we were talking, I remembered that I'd seen an article in the Grand Rapids Press that the Grand Rapids Public Schools Student Advancement Foundation  has launched a campaign to raise funds and accept donations for musical instruments to update/upgrade the inventory so that all of the students who wish to play in band, have that opportunity.It's a worthy program and wonderful goal!  Music can change the life of a young person, and there are many among us who may have a gift and a passion, but for purely lack of financial means, may never discover it.  In my travels through people's homes as they are preparing to move, it seems that the majority have some sort of musical instrume... 12/16/2007

          John Collins Park is at 650 Lakeside Drive and has 2.7 acres of land bordering scenic Reeds Lake.                                                                        John Collins Park is located between the GR Yacht Club and Rose's Restaurant near downtown East Grand   Rapids.                                                                       The park does have a public boat launch accessing Reeds Lake which is 283 acres.  The park is situated on 2.70 acres located on the  shores  of Reeds Lake which is one of the largest lakes in Kent County.       Park Amenities include Benches, a Boat Launch, Lake Frontage, Restrooms, and  Picnic Tables. ADA Accessible walkways border the lakeside,  Fishing Docks are available for the angler, and Summer Concerts are offered at the Par... 12/16/2007

                                                  Caledonia Lakeside Park near downtown Caledonia  Just minutes from the small town hub of Caledonia is Emmons Lake. A beautiful feature to the local area. For your recreation, there is a ball park, picnic tables, and plenty of shoreline on the lake to launch a boat,  cast a line, or dangle your feet in the water and just let the minnows nibble your toes.                           Caledonia Lakeside Park is on Emmons Lake and offers gorgeous views of the lake and surrounding natural resources  for recreation, picnicking, or maybe trying to catch a fish or two for supper.                                                                     Westbrook Realty                                                                  Grand Rapids Real Est... 12/16/2007

Cascade Township Park is a 55 acre haven for recreation in Cascade Township.   Whether you are walking your dog, watching or participating in a soft ball  game, playing tennis or just watching  your kids play on the play ground equipment, Cascade Township Park is the place to go.         Have you ever tried Disc or Frisbee golf? There is a 9 hole Disc Frisbee golf course here as well as a one mile pedestrian  path.  In addition, there is a multi-purpose field for soccer/football, four horse shoe pits, a sand volleyball court, 4 tennis courts, and  two softball/baseball diamonds.  There are also two large play systems for children  with a shelter adjacent to the play area. A pavilion and gazebo offer additional shelter at either end of the park.  Picnic tables are scattered all over the ... 12/16/2007

Leslie E Tassell Park is a wonderful retreat on the shores of the Thornapple  River in the heart of Cascade. The Park has a 3.2 acres on the Thornapple River just south of the dam at historic Cascade Michigan.  It has many mature hardwood trees, gorgeous landscaping, sculptures, an interactive water fountain, a high water sculpture,  a fire pit, two shelters and a public restroom.  Picnic tables and benches are  located throughout the park.                 There is a riverfront boardwalk where fishing is allowed.  A canoe or river landing is  easily accessible.  There is a dam overlook and two separate parking areas to access the park.     The Wisner Pavilion can be reserved with a permit for up to 50 people and for events through the Township Planning Department.       It is located at... 12/16/2007

            Ada Township's Roselle Park is a fantastic slice of preserved natural habitat on the Grand River.                                           Roselle Park is unique in many ways.                It includes 240 acres of land and over one mile of frontage on the Grand River. The park will eventually have over one mile of paved trail from the park entry back to the Grand River,  a barrier-free boardwalk and river overlook, canoe landing, benches, litter receptacles and seasonal toilet facilities.                          Grants, private donations and township funds will provide $277,000 for development of this unique park. Improvements are already in progress to restore wetlands and wildlife habitat in the park, through a "Partners for Fish and Wildlife" project jointly undertake... 12/16/2007

  What makes Grand Rapids Michigan such a special place to visit? And even better- to live? I am sure I can come up with a lot of wonderful attributes that make Grand Rapids a stand out but what I think makes it so special is #1 the friendly people and #2 the variety of things to do and see within a relatively small radius. I will write a subsequent post about the later of the two but for this post I will focus mostly on the subject of the people in GR.I would like to share with you an article that I came across, written by a visitor to GR, who agrees with me about the people here in our fair city. This person is admittedly not a world traveler but has visited other large cities across the nation. Her name is Joann Fizpatrick. She is the former editorial page editor for The Patriot Ledg... 12/15/2007