Real Talk!

Cottage Buyers generally have a “wish list” that’s a mile long, when asked to describe their ideal cottage property… often times, that list has been created from experience… memories of time the Buyer has spent at other cottage properties.

While Buyers know they will likely have to compromise, certain items on the “wish list” will often be critical. Time and time again, the “must have” list is strikingly familiar…

While there are always be Buyers for the different/unique/quirky properties… there are a few things that most Buyers will ask about. While some are things that can’t be controlled- like “good neighbours”… and other stuff that are nature or luck….

Sellers considering any sort of fix-up or pre-sale renovation might want to consider the average “wish list” items, before taking on a project.

Road Access:

Some cottages are accessed by boat... others via unopened road allowances... or trails... right-of-way across other properties... old decrepit roads... most people prefer a nice cottage road that leads to their property.

Sandy/Child-friendly Beach:

There are variations on this theme... some people just love a rocky shoreline... but most people prefer safe, weed-free, shorelines, suitable for swimming.

Dock and a Floating Raft:

Everybody loves to walk out and look into the water, from the end of a dock. Many people like to have a dock to keep their towels, books, sunscreen and other "stuff" handy, while they're at the beach. Floating rafts are super for sun-worshippers and kids playing.

Nice Grounds:

Many folks request a "level" lot, although that does sometimes comes at the cost of a view. Most folks like big, shade inducing trees and no grass to cut... a place to sit and watch the water and a nicely located firepit are always winners, too.

Western Exposure (sunset views):

People will always pay a premium for the due-west exposure. Those Buyers and Sellers who don't have the luxury of sunset views might consider placing a sitting area where they can optimize the sunrise or at least part of the sunset.

Privacy:

Everybody has a different definition of privacy... but it is one of the most common words that Buyers use to describe their ideal cottage property... I suppose, most people look at the cottage as an escape and prefer to have some control over who is in their face!

A Nice View:

Most people want to see something nice out their cottage windows or from the shore of their waterfront lot. Some people are downright fussy about it! It's a welcomed change from a cityscape!

A Good Sized Deck &/Or a Screened Porch:

The deck is where we like to have our morning coffee or orange juice... and our after dinner conversations... it's the perfect place for entertaining guests, too. On buggy days & nights... or rainy days, a screened porch is the next best thing!

Interior features:

High Ceilings, a rustic feel and a fireplace of some kind are way up on the list.

INDOOR PLUMBING:

Even the most adventurous outdoor enthusiasts are happy to have an indoor shower and particularly an indoor bathroom at their cottage!

It all began in May, 1934, when Chris Baker opened a beer and sandwich restaurant. His son Clarence Baker began to work for him at the age of 15. Five years later, Clarence took over the management of Baker's following his father's stroke in 1939. Baker's was located at the end of the bus line in a rural neighborhood, on Livernois at 8 mile, where cornfields were more common than houses. At that time he nor anyone knew that seven decades later it would claim to be the longest running jazz club anywhere in the world.
In the late thirties, Clarence had installed himself as entertainment director, and began booking solo pianist into Baker's. Suddenly, there were lines outside the door. What began as a neighborhood spot serving steaks and chops, now, was a little jazz club.

The main attraction up until 1954 was local pianist Pat Flowers, who was so popular that Clarence no longer served food as the principal means of support, he provided entertainment nightly. The room was enlarged, and Pat had Clarence change the name to Baker's Keyboard Lounge. By the fifties Baker was booking jazz trios and quartets, such as Fats Waller, Meade Lux, Errol Garner, Art Tatum, Tommy Flanagan, and George Shearing.

During this period, Baker's Keyboard Lounge had become a main link in the American jazz circuit. As a result, the respectful and always swinging atmosphere was centered around the 7-foot Steinway piano that Art Tatum picked out in New York and had shipped to the club. Next he turned his little club into an acoustic jewel. He installed Italian tile which had the highest acoustic rating in the world, the walls were lined with flannel and artist Harry Carew painted murals around the walls. In 1957 the club's trademark was the piano shaped bar with mock piano keys swirling around its edges was installed.

The fifties thru the seventies proved to be the clubs golden era. Everyone who was anyone in the world of jazz; the young Dave Brubeck, the man who turned jazz upside down, John Coltrane; the era's premier pianist, Oscar Peterson. There was Krupa and Corea, Calloway and Betty Carter. There was Gerry Mulligan and Sonny Stitt and Kenny Burrell, Barry Harris, Donald Byrd, Earl Klugh, Pepper Adams. In short we had the finest musicians in the world.

The names goes on, especially the local musicians who symbolize the impressive array of extraordinary musicians who played at Baker's. Equally as exciting as the jam sessions, have been the unexpected surprises. Like the night Nat King Cole came to the club and sat in on the piano; or the time Ella Fitzgerald stopped in to see Tommy Flanagan and stayed to sing. Or the time when Liberace came in to see the famous keyboard shaped bar and rushed home to his Beverly Hills Mansion to install a piano-shaped pool in his back yard.

But nothing lasts forever; Clarence tried to get out of the business several times from 1973-1996 because of health problems. Then finally in 1996 he sold the club to John Colbert and Juanita Jackson. The club still maintains its intimate setting, great acoustic sound, and hipster vibe that have made it a favorite for jazz aficionados for 72 years. Baker's still takes an active interest in national and international artists as well as many Detroiters who make performing at baker's a rite of passage for eventually moving abroad.

John and Juanita attribute the keys to their success for continuing the great legacy of jazz at Baker's to the high performance standard made by the local jazz artists and the operation of the kitchen once again from an absence of more than fifty years.

So if you like traditional jazz, great atmosphere or if you enjoy just stepping into history, Baker's Keyboard Lounge is an experience you won't want to miss.

The above story was liberated directly from Baker's website: http://www.bakerskeyboardlounge.com/

20510 Livernois Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
48221
Phone:
313-345-6300

The truth is, it is an opportune time to be a real estate investor- if you are smart about it and it’s not a bad time to sell, either… if you are smart about selling.

A March survey by the Royal Bank of Canada tells us that 48% of Canadians under 35 plan to buy a home within two years, compared with 36% last year. The first time buyer is a growing sector in the market. First-timers are anxious, but cautious… filled with dreams & worried about nightmares…. In short… they need coaching.

The most important thing for a first-time buyer is to get pre-qualified by a thorough mortgage lender and find out exactly what their prequalification means. Secondly, interview Realtors ® and find one you trust and relate to… and STICK WITH THEM. Sign Buyer Agency. Put a good Realtor ® to work for you… ask questions and get answers. & be honest and upfront with your Realtor ®.

Don’t be rushed… but don’t miss out on a good deal, either! The Canadian Real Estate Association Chief Economist, Gregory Klump recently said, “Increasingly cautious homebuyers and mortgage lenders means that active listings will take longer to sell in 2009 compared to previous years.” What this means is even when you’re prequalified, the property has to qualify, too & once you’ve selected a property, your mortgage lender will want to do a more in-depth application. Buyers and sellers need to allow a minimum of two weeks for lenders to “do their thing”. Be prepared.

Serious sellers understand what they need to do, too. I’m hearing all kinds of “there’s a new reality” stuff… but I don’t buy into the theory that buyers have the upper hand… it’s always been the same story:

A home or cottage is more likely to sell if it looks cared for, if there are no personal photos or implements in sight (hair brushes, tooth brushes), if the dog is absent (and you’ve poop’n’scooped), if the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom are clean and free of any sign of human occupation (dirty dishes/laundry and unmade beds are a huge turn-off), if it smells nice, if it’s tidy & clean, if the obvious stains and cracks have been mended, if the deficiencies have been disclosed and if it is priced well. (I’ve written, many times, about my motel/hotel room theory of home staging…. Because it works!)

Prospective buyers are looking for a good deal… and some are looking for a bargain. Something that has not been addressed is going to make them believe they can negotiate… and sometimes, this is enough to prevent a sale. At risk of sounding like a broken record… deficiencies like peeling paint, holes in the drywall, weedy gardens, carpet stains, ceiling stains, rickety stairs, yucky grout and other maintenance issues, can be overwhelming to a prospective buyer and often they will imagine the cost to remedy in epic proportion.

Sellers have to be objective. Step back and look at your home/cottage from a distance… and ask yourself, “Is this an inviting place?”… “Does it look cared-for?”…. “Have I optimized the appearance of my property?”. If you are brave, ask your friends and relatives for suggestions. Your Realtor ® will have some economical suggestions, too.

Inside, do the same. “Is this an inviting place?”… “Does it look cared-for?”… “Am I making the most of the space?”… “Is it cluttered?”… “Is it clean and tidy?”… “How does it smell?”… “Does it look fresh?”.

If you plan to paint, use neutral colour. Finish up anything you’ve started. Fix those lingering “to do” items. Gather up all of your related documentation…things like surveys, plans, deeds, great photos or maps, current tax and hydro bills, your insurance documents, well & septic certificates. Have your wood-burning appliances inspected. For a cottage: list what is included (and what is not included)… remove anything particularly special (or borrowed).

If you’ve had friends or family show an interest in your property, contact them BEFORE you list with a Realtor®. If you plan to ask a Realtor® for their opinion of the property value for the purpose of selling to an acquaintance, be up front about it.

Information has value.

Get copies of recent “Property Owners Association” or other special area organization publications. If you’ve been renting your cottage out, make a list of renters who may wish to continue renting. Make note of local churches and service times. If you’re on a school bus route, what time do they pick up?

Make notes on “how to operate” things like your pump and toilet, how you deal with your dock in the winter etc.- anything quirky or different about your place.

Mark the breakers or fuses on the hydro panel- make note of your meter number . Make a sketch of where your septic tank/bed is located. (Ensure access to the hot water tank, hydro panel, pump etc… prospective buyers want to see them.). If you know where your property corners are, mark them. Expect a home/property inspection as part of the deal.

Be prepared for all kinds of questions. “Why are you selling?” “What are the neighbours like?” “Do the water levels fluctuate?” “How often do you have to cut the grass?” “Where is the boat launch?” “What kind of fish are in the lake?” “Is there a public beach nearby?” “Where’s the nearest store-nearest gas station?” “Can you dive off the dock?” “What fun stuff is there, in the neighbourhood?”. “Can I use this in winter?”

And always keep in mind the basic definition of fair market value:

The price that an interested & informed, but not desperate, buyer would be willing to pay and an interested & informed, but not desperate, seller would be willing to accept on the open market assuming a reasonable period of time for an agreement to arise.