ActiveBob.....It's always Raining!

Want to meet for coffee?!?!?!?!?!?

Beans to Brew Cafe at 6177 Lake Michigan Drive in Allendale, Michigan isn't your average run-of-the-mill coffee shop!! It is special in so many ways!  Marcia VanderMolen, who owns Beans To Brew with her fiance Jim Wood, has been the propritor for two years but it has been in the Allendale area for about 10 years.  She says it has the atomosphere of the show Cheers in that it seems you can always run into someone you know .

~~Chocolate is an Essential Nutrient~~

As you walk in the door you can almost feel the four walls calling you, "come in, sit down, relax with your friends have a cup of coffee".  And if that isn't enough, the comfy sofa off to the side says, "bring a book, read and have a Raspberry Cloud".  The coffee house is comfy and welcoming from the second you walk in the door.  The quotes stenciled around the walls are so whimsical and fun.

~~Life's to Short for Bad Coffee!~~

The Signature coffee's are the best.  If these coffee names don't make your mouth water, I don't know what will.  How about a Milky Way, Sugar Daddy, Caramel Decadence, Snow Cap, Kahlua Mocha or a Mocha Blanca?  Or if you are one that watches your sugar like I am, try the Catwalk Skinny, Nutty Buddy, Chocolate Lovers Latte, Leprechaun, French Kiss or a Coco Beach.  Am I making you thirsty yet? . .  .Don't worry, Beans to Brew is ready to serve it up with a smile.

                                                                     ~~Lifes is too Short, Eat Desert First~~

But wait . . .    They also have a complete menu, from sandwiches to paninis, salads, desserts and pastries.  On this particular visit they had recently introduced the Laker Club with ham, turkey, lettuce and tomato with ranch-mayo dressing on a wheat tortilla.  Are you hungry and thirsty now?

Beans to Brew is a favorite place for friends to get together, laugh and enjoy themselves.  On this particular day, I walked in to find my neighbor who lives behind me enjoying coffee with her friends.  Their laughter was contagious and I got an opportunity to apoligize to her for my leaf burning from the week before--truly I wasn't trying to smoke her out!!! 

                 ~~A balanced diest is a cookie in each hand~~

It is also a warm and welcoming place for business people to meet their clients, which is what I was doing that day.  Like so many, I work out of my home so I land at Beans To Brew on a regular basis to search for homes in West Michigan with my clients or discuss our next plan of action to get their home sold.  Beans to Brew is a perfect place to meet for a business lunch as they provide free wireless-- a must in today's technological world.

                   ~~Eat well, laugh often, and love much~~

Marcia is getting married on November 30, 2008 so stop in and say congratulations!

To celebrate she is offering a free cinnamon role with the purchase of a double or triple signature drink. To get your cinnamon roll, all you have to do is print this blog and bring it in for your free cinnamon roll.  Offer good  through the end of the year--December 31, 2008.

Hours are:   Monday - Thursday 7-7, Friday 7-6 and Saturday 7:30-4  CLOSED  SUNDAYS  Phone:  616-895-9099

**Update: Beans to Brew has been a fatality of the economy and closed its doors 12/30/08.

"Market value is what a buyer in any given market is willing to pay for your home given the current conditions... based on what other homes are available and who is looking to buy at that particular time."

I coorelate market value to a credit report, it can change frequently and it just depends on the day the credit report is pulled.

In the Ann Arbor area marketyour house ABSOLUTELY had to be "priced to sell". The market is changing and CMA's need to be updated every couple of months.

For instance, I sold a home in Meadowinds, in June for 380,000. (yes that is the correct legal spelling) It sold in 4 days and was listed at 385,000. It was owned by a decorator and the colors were wild. Her daughter's bedroom was orange, the gathering room was purple.  Nice home, on a cul-de-sac. But, obviously the new owner was going to need to paint.

Because I was able to get a contract so quickly the neighbors next door trying FSBO, called me. There house was in much better shape, neutral decor, better floor plan. I listed it at 398,000. (Their price as a FSBO) This was at the end of July; we reduced to 389,900 a few weeks later. Then we reduced it again to $385,000.

We had 5 offers on it all around the $365,000.

I convinced my sellers on offer number 5............"Look, the market has spoken". All five offers are coming in at the 365,000.00 range.

So only a few months later, in Meadowinds Subdivision, the second home sold for much less than $389,900.00 The second home had a better floor plan, less work to do, same square footage, both with finished walk-out basements sold for less.

In Ann Arbor the market peaks in July every year. We experience over 74% of our closings by the end of August. What happened? 

Market values change, it is a moving target.

Rationally one would expect to get the same value or higher on the more updated home, with more amenities and less work. Yet, the market spoke at $365,000.00.

Again: "Market value is what a buyer in any given market is willing to pay for your home given the current conditions... based on what other homes are available and who is looking to buy at that particular time."

Current homes in Meadowinds are priced at: $328,000.00 and $298,000.00

Other homes the Missy Caulk TEAM has sold in Meadowinds are:

1956 Harley

1980 Harley

1930 Harley

1968 Harley