Vance Shutes, your Saline, Michigan blog

When you see the term "Associate Broker" after my signature, what does that mean?In each Real Estate sales company, there can be one, and only one, Broker.  In my case, the Broker is "Real Estate One", a Michigan corporation.  Yes, an inanimate corporation can be a Broker - Michigan allows such a...

Oooh, that smell!  Can you smell that smell?Other than being a great song from Lynrd Skynrd, it's not something we, in the Real Estate business, ever like to hear.One of the things my parents taught me, from an early age, is that you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.  Th...

When it comes time to sell your home, one of your options is to sell your home yourself.  Since it's always a good idea to consider the "flip side" of your decision, let's look at your "for sale by owner" (FSBO) from the perspective of a buyer.Buying FSBO real estate has its own particular proble...

When you see the letters GRI as one of my professional designations, what does that mean?Developed for members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and offered through State REALTOR® Associations,  the GRI designation is obtained by attending a specific, intensive series of a minimum of 90 ho...

Don't Buy a Home.What?  Are you kidding?As a Realtor®, my job is to help people to buy or sell their real estate.  When someone wants to hire me to solve their real estate needs, I am very gratified.But sometimes, it's better for my client to NOT buy (or sell) a home.  How so?You've probably hear...

When you see "e-Pro" as one of my professional designations, what does that mean?e-PRO Certification is an online training program offered by the National Association of Realtors®  to certify real estate professionals as Internet Professionals. Now, as an "internet professional", having the e-Pro...

OK, I have to get something off my chest!We live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.  Lately, though, it seems that we want less of each - less freedom, and certainly less bravery.  For example, we are willing accomplices as we allow our local, state, and federal governments to tra...

What the heck is an HOA?It is an abbreviation for Home Owner's Assocation, which Wikipedia defines as "the legal entity created by a real estate developer for the purpose of developing, managing and selling a community of homes."But what is it, really?I've never lived in a place where I was under...

Back in November, a blog auther (Doug Quance) whom I follow posted a fascinating piece about a car wash.  So how does this relate to selling a home in today's market?  Read it here to find out:There's a lesson in all this, I promise youIn a transitional part of Atlanta, there now stands a brand s...

Once your offer to purchase has been accepted, a few things must happen relatively quickly, including the home inspection by an inspector hired by the buyer.  A home buyer has a period of time, as outlined in the purchase and sales agreement and generally 7-10 days, to have the home inspection pe...