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Educating Sellers: Marketing Promotion Affects Your Homes Sale Price
2007-07-31 18:36:00
There are Four Factors that affect the sale of any home. Those Four Factors, illustrated to the right, determine: How Fast Your Home SellsHow Much Money You ReceiveIf, Your Home Sells At AllNot all agents take the promotion of your home seriously. And, in certain markets they don't have to. For instance, there are professionals that follow what I call the Use-Less Marketing Service and promotion technique. This technique, like the name implies uses less marketing services to sell your home. Agents using this technique basically will pound a sign in your lawn, place the home in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), put an ad in the paper, and pray it will sell. In some markets, this technique works extremely well especially in a sellers market where homes sell in less than 30 days.Another promotion technique, the Worth-Less Marketing Service  promotion involves the use of more services expensive Internet services to provide global exposu...
More About: Promotion , Sale , Homes , Price

Sweet Corn Ready at Long Family Farm, Commerce Township (Updated August 11,
2007-07-29 19:36:00
Sweet Corn is now available at the Long Family Farm in Commerce Township, Michigan. This Oakland County landmark has some of the best corn in the area. Picked fresh daily, you drive through to pick up a dozen or half-dozen ears. One extra ear is included (13 and 7 total) in case one is bad.Before purchasing any corn: tassels (hairs) should be brown on the end and when gently opening the tip, corn kernels shoudl be full and yellow. The darker yellow the kernels the older the corn will be. I've never received a bad ear of corn from Long's but in the begining of the season, lighter colored kernels are not fully developed.According to the signs, a half dozen (7 ears) are $3.00. A whole dozen (13 ears) is $4.50. Prices are slightly increased due to lack of rain this year.Hours of operation 2-7 pm Monday through Friday and noon-6 on the weekends.Updated August 11, 2007Now available: (prices subject to change)Tomatoes  $3.00 per quartGrape Tomatoes $2.50 per pintHoney $4....
More About: Sweet

Michigan State Parks: Ludington State Park
2007-07-19 00:27:00
 I've camped in many placing over the past 30 years. And, my tastes have changed as I grew older. Initially, I was a minimalist. Dry camp mix, sleeping bag, fishing equipment, tarp, clothes, matches, and a few utensils were all that was needed for a stay in the local woods. If this is your first time, here's a Camping Checklist. Don't forget a comfortable collapse-able chair. (For those also "living large" I personally recommend the MaxxDaddy chair.)After meeting my wife, a tent, sleeping pad, and many more "essentials" were added. With each child, our camping practices slowly evolved to staying only in modern campsites. Modern is defined by my wife as having modern restrooms with hot showers and electricity at the campsite. (I was surprised that they actually make a butane curling iron)Michigan 's western shore is currently our favorite short weekend destination. 3-5 hours driving gets you away from the rat-race in S.E. Michigan or Chica...
More About: Park , State , Parks , Michigan State

July Through August is Blueberry Season in Michigan
2007-07-18 02:07:00
 Whether your choice is high bush, low bush, wild, or cultivated; July  through August is Blueberry time in Michigan . Cultivated farm berries ripen early in July. The harvest lasts for weeks. Berry season slowly moves northward with most wild berries along Lake Superior finishing Labor Day Weekend. Blueberries prefer an acidic soil. The wild ones I prefer are usually found in sandy soil near lakes and forest openings. In fact, some of the best wild berries I've ever picked were found at a rest area along I-75. You'll have to guess which one.What to Look For: According to the State of Michigan Department of Agriculture website; "When buying blueberries, look for firm, plump berries that have a powdery, grayish-blue color. To prevent fresh berries from turning soft, wash them just before eating. When storing, wrap tightly and refrigerate. Do not wash them before freezing. If washed, they turn into a solid form and become mushy upon thawing. Instead, blueberries s...
More About: Season , Seas

State Asks for Help Containing Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)
2007-07-16 19:24:00
 Imagine... it's early spring. The ice is finally melting and you're thinking about selling your lakefront home. You have the perfect location, on the southern side of the lake with a terrific view of the entire lake. You spent years maintaining your property. There's a new dock and boat hoist, just enough weeds past the dock to attract fish so you can fish off the dock. Everyday during the summer, you feed fish bread so when family visits the fishing is terrific. Throughout your home are photos and mounted specimens of fish taken over the years.Now imagine, the first buyers arrive to look at your home and there are hundreds or even thousands of dead bass, pike, crappie, and bluegill washed up on the shore. What just happened to the value of your lakefront home? Can't happen, Au contraire, mon frère! Sure, you can spend hours cleaning up dead fish but the smell could linger for days or even weeks along the shore. Not a very pretty picture you present to p...
More About: Viral , State , Sept

8th Annual Hydroplane Races Set for Pontiac Lake
2007-07-16 02:33:00
 Missed the boat races on the Detroit River? Bring your earplugs and suntan lotion. The 2007 "Quake on the Lake " is scheduled for July 21-22, 2007 on Pontiac Lake in White Lake Township. A new feature this year is "Sandblast Volleyball" Saturday and a Silent Auction of sports memorabilia and more. Again this year, the Family Fun Zone features attraction for you and the kids.According to the official website, admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 3-12. Children two years and younger are free. Gates open at 9:00 am. Races are from 11-5. Lawn chairs and coolers allowed NO ALCOHOL. For more information visit QuakeontheLake.org  Several campsites were still available at Pontiac Lake State Park which is located on the north side of the lake. A two night stay is required. Camping may not be within walking distance of the race, please consult the "Quake on the Lake" website before making a reservation.Thinking of living on a lake? Approx...
More About: Drop , Annual

Michigan State Parks: J.W. Wells State Park
2007-07-14 02:21:00
 June 30th was my first visit to J.W. Wells State Park in Cedar River Michigan . Cedar River is located about 30 miles south of Escanaba in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. From Oakland County, the trip was around nine hours including stops and no construction. US 2 follows the southern UP shoreline for many miles before turning inland. Big and Little Bay De Noc's are some of the best fishing sites in the Upper Peninsula. There were about a hundred boats visible on June 30th. The city has most chain stores and excellent shopping.J.W. Wells State Park has very wide spaces. The park was almost full Saturday but only 50 percent full Sunday night. Facilities are very modern and appeared to have been recently renovated. We were able to get a site with a spectacular view of Green Bay. Lake Michigan's shoreline was very rocky and with the lake level being approximately a foot low, several species of plants and trees were growing between the campsite and Lake Michigan.Fi...
More About: Parks , Michigan State