Category: General
Listing your home during the holidays
If you’re ready to make a move you may be hearing, “Wait until the spring market”. What really happens to potential buyers for your home over Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and even DEER HUNTING SEASON?!? When exactly is the spring market?
Grand Rapids has been a global corporate relocation area for quite some time with people coming and going from the other side of the state, other states, and from across either ocean. Ask any human resource manager if they’re furloughed in November, December, and January and you will hear a resounding “NO” and an occasional “I WISH”. People still retire, change careers, and accept transfers during the holiday season. Home inventory is low, so there are less homes to choose from and these homes are full of warm and cozy feelings allowing potential buyers to get a real idea of what life could be like for them in any given home. As a seller you have less casual lookers and more serious buyers who mean business and your home is already looking fantastic with greenery, decorated mantles, tinsel on the Christmas tree, and 2,500 LED lights hanging from the trees and soffits welcoming them in the door.
Let’s talk about the spring market….. 1,613 homes were sold and closed in Kent County during the months of January, February, and March in 2015? This means they were shown and under contract during or shortly after the holiday season. If you recall, the last two winters weren’t exactly dry and balmy. Compare moving in winter with its crisp dry air and clean fresh snow vs. fall and spring with rain and mud, or summer when it’s so hot you could fry an egg on your washing machine as the movers bring it into your house. Moving is moving. You can use the winter months to unpack boxes and arrange your furniture so that when spring and summer come around you can hang out at the beach while your neighbors vie for the attention of buyers with 2 or 3 times as many homes competing for their attention.
Now then, are you ready for us to pop over with that “for sale” sign?!? Cheers!!! Continue reading “Listing your home during the holidays”
2 Real Estate Agents and a City at Robinette’s
Fall …gorgeous color, crisp falling leaves, pumpkins, cider and warm donuts. What better place to spend part of an afternoon than at Robinette’s, one of the 19 Kent Harvest Trails locations throughout the Grand Rapids area. Robinette’s is open year round but Fall is special with hayrides, a corn maze, Jumping Pillow, and apple picking.
We parked our cars and the heavenly aroma of baking donuts immediately lured us into the bakery (no surprise there) where we had fresh baked pumpkin spice and chocolate covered donuts. A variety of pastries, pies, fresh cider and full homemade lunches are served daily by their friendly and efficient personnel.
In the adjoining cider mill there are over 10 variety’s of apples, packaged soups, candy, truffles and pre-packaged mixes of all kinds.
Next door in the Barn are more treats and gifts, even clothing and purses to purchase! The Barn also offers a nice loft area for wedding or baby showers, business meetings, etc., with space for as many as 60 people. Appropriately enough, we ended up in the winery with Robinette’s tasting room staff, and our new friends…. Kare, Jonah, and Karen. Kare, who has 25 years experience, delighted in educating us on the grapes and wines. Cheers!
Karen and Robbie’s picks for July 4TH weekend!!
It’s the holiday weekend! Great weather is forecast and fireworks are everywhere. Please be considerate of your neighbors who have served our country and may be dealing with PTSD.
Here is what we have so far: Wednesday, July 1 Get an early start at the celebration in Ionia at the Ionia Fairgrounds 317 Dexter St.
Friday, July 3 on the riverfront in Allegan and at our favorite, Firerock Grill at Stonewater Golf Course. Enjoy special appetizers and great food.
Saturday, July 4 Ada/Cascade Fireworks, 7590 E. Fulton St. (near corner of E. Fulton/Ada Drive) Allendale Fourth of July, Allendale Township Park, 6676 Lake Michigan Dr. Here’s a fun one for race fans Berlin Raceway 2060 Berlin Fair Dr., Marne, dusk after the race. Caledonia Independence Day Celebration, CalPlex, 5401 100th St., Caledonia. East Grand Rapids John Collins Park over Reeds Lake, 650 Lakeside Dr. SE, 10:15 p.m. Grandville 4th of July Celebration, Grandville Middle School, 3535 Wilson Ave. SW. and here’s the BIG one Grand Rapids Amway Family Fireworks, Ah-Nab-Awen Park, 303 Pearl St. Kentwood 4th of July, Kentwood City Center, 4900 Breton Rd. SE. Gun Lake Fireworks, over Gun Lake, 2104 S. Briggs Road, Shelbyville, 10:20 p.m.
Heading to Lake Michigan? Grand Haven 4th of July, Waterfront Stadium, 1 N. Harbor Dr., Grand Haven. Always a fun one with the boats and dingy’s in the channel Holland State Park, Holland State Park over Lake Michigan, 2215 Ottawa Beach Rd. Muskegon Fourth of July, Heritage Landing, 1050 7th St. Saugatuck Fourth of July Celebration, over the Kalamazoo River, Saugatuck.
Have fun and be safe!!
Weekend IN THE CITY 6.19-6.21
TGIF ! Here are Karen and Robbie’s picks for the weekend in Grand Rapids!
Friday It is a beautiful, sunny Friday. It’s beach time!!! Spend the day enjoying the sun, and the evening driving the shoreline of Lake Michigan from Grand Haven, eat dinner at The Kirby House, then go to Saugatuck and have dessert at The Sweet Shop.
Saturday Just maybe the large opening crowds have thinned out a bit and it’s time to visit the new Japanese Gardens at Fred Meijer Garden 9-5 Saturday and 11-5 Sunday. Simply breathtaking!!
Sunday Happy Fathers Day to all of the dads! Have a fun family day with the kids and go see Kuza, Yuri & Nika at the updated tiger exhibit at John Ball Zoo! The trail is phase 2 of the habitat and has expanded the exhibit by 2,000 square feet.
Weekend in THE CITY 6.11-6.14
Karen and Robbie’s picks for the weekend in Grand Rapids!
Thursday Eat Shop Rock ! 6-9pm shopping, music,food,drinks in Eastown. Karen recommends you start at Harmony with a lavender martini
Eat Shop Rock ! Events
Friday Storms predicted, so it may be a good day to make it to the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Now through August 30th you can see T. J. Wilcox’s stunning installation of “In The Air” a panoramic film installation of the New York City skyline. In The Air
Saturday bring the kids to DeVos Place between the hours of 10-5 for 10th anniversary of the Children’s Hospital. Lots of activities including interactive displays and games. 10th Anniversary Event
Sunday it’s the opening of the Fulton Street Farmers Market’s Sunday Artisans Market 11-3. Find a great gift for a friend or a piece of art for yourself while supporting over 100 local artists. This is something to look forward to Sunday’s throughout the summer. SHOP !!!!
2 Realtors, A City and the Weekend
Happy Wednesday!! it’s time to plan for the weekend in Grand Rapids!
FRIDAY: Movie showing at Ah-Nab-Awen Park on E.T. Grab your blanket and be there at dusk http://bit.ly/1S8Le55
THIS SATURDAY is the 12th Annual Local First Street Party!! From 3pm – close in front of Bistro Bella Vita, ENJOY Founders beer, local food trucks, all types of ART, dancing, and MUSIC throughout the day. Best of all, the Street Party is FREE & open to EVERYONE!! For more info, go to:http://goo.gl/Tm0P4u
And of course there is Festival of the Arts all weekend. Click to check the schedule Festival of the Arts
Throughout the weekend Broadway Grand Rapids presents eight shows of “Kinky Boots,” winner of SIX Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Or Go see Kuza, Yuri & Nika at the updated tiger exhibit at John Ball Zoo! The trail is phase 2 of the habitat and has expanded the exhibit by 2,000 sq. ft.
Launching 2 Real Estate Agents and a City
Karen Jason-Gill and Robbie Bosch are officially launching 2 Real Estate Agents and a City in Grand Rapids, MI. Why? Because there is more to life than the house in which you live. There is your neighborhood, your community or association area, your schools, your events happening throughout the city, and we want to be a part of ALL of that!! So, while our passion remains in listing, marketing and selling homes, we want to be a part of the bigger picture. We will do that by slides, pictures and video’s of select West Michigan homes and learning from the best in the tools of our trade including mortgage lenders, home inspectors, handi”men” 🙂 radon mitigators, surveyors and more. We will also be attending FUN events, trying different restaurants, shops, and venues. So follow us as we move around the city!!!
Thanks also to Alicia VanHeulen and Thomas Birks for your major assistance in video editing and production.We’d like to thank Katie L Smith Consulting/Business Services for all her help in social media strategizing! You are awesome and we appreciate your continued support and advice.