D-19 in Howell is Getting a Name Change

The City of Howell Council Members have decided to move forward with changing the name of D-19/Pinckney Road to South Michigan Avenue.

Howell Mayor Gerri Moen indicated that the change was needed due to the high level of confusion among visitors and new drivers.

It is estimated the process to make the name change complete will take at least a couple of years.

New Listing: 5504 Woodruff Shore Drive

5504 Woodruff Shore Drive
Brighton, MI 48116

Two bedrooms, three and a half baths
1576 square feet, 700 additional in the lower level

Enjoy the sunset views from this lake front condo. You'll love the open floor plan and secluded setting. A very nice kitchen has stainless appliances and tile floors. Two upstairs master suites. The finished lower level walkout is perfect for entertaining- get your friends and gather around the wet bar. Then head out to the lakefront for a ride in the pontoon, which is included in this sale. Includes a one car attached garage and a one car detached garage.
Click here for this home's Virtual Tour







If you are interested in previewing this home or any of our other exceptional listings, call us today at 810.229.7000. We'd be happy to provide you with more information.

10 Ways To Save on Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners Insurance is essential. For most of us, our homes are the single largest investment we will ever make. It's a good idea to protect your home, protect your belongings, and protect the assets you’ve worked so hard for!

Having homeowners insurance isn't required by law, however most mortgage lenders require you to have homeowners insurance in order to borrow money from them.

The price you pay for your homeowners insurance can vary by hundreds of dollars, depending on the size of your house and the insurance company you buy your policy from. Here are some ways to save money.

1. Explore Your Options
Ask friends, check the internet, and open your phone book. Get quotes from several different companies. Evaluate your price comparisons with the service each company offers. Quality service may cost more financially, but might eliminate headaches later should you need to make a claim. Check the ratings of companies with AM Best or Standard and Poors.

2. Raise Your Deductible
Deductibles are the amount of money you have to pay for a loss before your insurance company pays. Deductibles on homeowners policies typically start at $250. Increase your deductible to:
$ 500 -- save up to 12 percent
$1,000 -- save up to 24 percent
$2,500 -- save up to 30 percent
$5,000 -- save up to 37 percent

3. Buy Your Home and Auto Policies from the Same Insurer
Some companies that sell homeowners, auto and liability coverage will take 5 to 15 percent off your premium if you buy two or more policies from them.

4. When You Buy a Home Consider How Much Insuring It Will Cost
A new home’s systems and structure are likely to be in better shape than an older home. Insurers could offer you a discount of as much as 8-15% if your home is new. Avoiding flood zones could save you about $400 a year for flood insurance. Also the closer you are to a fire hydrant also makes a difference on you premium.

5. Insure Only What You Can Rebuild
Don’t include the value of the land underneath your home when deciding how much homeowners insurance to buy. It is not at risk from theft, or natural disasters or other perils. If you do, you'll pay a higher premium than you should.

6. Take Advantage of Security and Safety Discounts
You can get disounts of up to 5 percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm, or dead-bolt locks. Some insurers will discount if you install a fire and burglar alarm that rings at the police station or other monitoring facility.

7. Stop Smoking
Since smoking accounts for more than 23,000 residential fires a year, some insurers offer premiums for non-smokers.

8. Seek Out Discounts for Seniors
If you're at least 55 years old and retired, you may qualify for a discount of up to 10 percent at some companies.

9. Stay With an Insurer
You may receive special consideration if you have been with the same company more several years. Several insurers will reduce their premiums by 5 percent if you stay with them for 3 to 5 years; or by 10 percent if you remain a policyholder for 6 years or more.

10. Review Your Policy Each Year
Have you made any upgrades or improvements in the last year? You might need to adjust your policy. Double check and make sure you aren’t spending money for coverage you don't need.

10 Ways To Get Your Home Ready For Fall

Now that summer vacations are over, the kids are back in school, and the temperature is getting cooler, take some time to get your home ready for Fall. iVillage offers some easy organizing and decorating projects for inside and out that are both simple and satisfying.

10 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Fall

Passenger Rail Still on Track, Awaiting Grant

"WALLY", the proposed Washtenaw/Livingston commuter train that will link Livingston County to Ann Arbor is still on track, and awaiting a $1 million federal grant. The 27-mile line is expected to have stops in Howell, Chilson Road at Brighton Road in Genoa Township, the old village of Hamburg, Whitmore Lake and Ann Arbor. It will have both express and five-stop service.

The rail project is getting wide support from local government officals and state legislators. It has already received a three-year commitment from the University of Michigan and Environmental Protection Agency to pay fares for employees that use the train.

Michael Cicchella, the Northfield Township supervisor, was quoted as saying "If the commuter train could get 1,700 people off US-23, it would be like adding a lane to the highway".

Eventually Cicchella would even like the passenger rail to extend even further to Toledo and Traverse City and Petoskey.

We are excited about this great service coming to our county, and what it could mean for the commuters in our area.

Free Wireless Internet Service Headed Our Way

"Wireless Livingston", the initiative to create free wireless access throughout Livingston County, is set to launch in our area by the end of the year. Initially the service will only be available in the City of Brighton and Green Oak, Hamburg, and Brighton townships.

The basic free service is 128-kilobytes. Upgrades are available- with the Broadband 512 service at about $20 a month, and the 1.5 megabytes "upload" and 750 mb "download" service around $40 a month.

To connect, you will need a computer that is no more than two years old, since most do include a built-in wireless card. Older computers need a separate wireless card, or a wireless antenna.

Service will be available to the remainder of Livingston County within two years.

New Listing: 914 State Street

914 State Street

Brighton, MI 48116

Two bedrooms, one bath

924 square feet

We are excited to list this charming ranch in the City of Brighton. This home is open and airy, and has been well-maintained. Recent updates include the kitchen, gutters and downspouts, water heater, fence, electrical service panel and more. Beautiful outdoor space- including a stone walkway, landscaping and yard. Nothing to do here except move in and enjoy the proximity to downtown Brighton activites.

Livingston County Leads The State In Housing Growth

On Friday, September 14, 2007 the Livingston Community News reported that despite a slowdown in the housing growth throughout Southeast Michigan, Livingston County remains the leader in growth in Michigan.

The number of housing units in Livingston County rose over 20 percent over the last 6 years, from 2000 to 2007. Census figures also indicate that the average price of a home grew more than twice the rate of household income in Livingston County since 1990.

However, the recent economic downturn is taking it's toll- in the one year period between July 1, 2005 and July 1, 2006, Livingston County saw housing growth slow to just more than 2 percent.

Top 10 Reasons We Love Livingston County

There is so much to love about Livingston County, recently the Buckley Jolley staff brainstormed and came up with the reasons we feel so passionate about living here. I am sure you have a few of your own!

1. Great recreational sites- Metroparks, State Parks, playgrounds.
2. Wonderful commuting proximity to both rural and city environments.
3. Adorable smaller towns with "hometown" feel and good downtowns.
4. Proximity to shopping. No need to drive to Novi or Ann Arbor any longer for a great mall!
5. Lower taxes than many other surrounding communities.
6. Lots of Downtown festivals …Howell, Brighton, Fowlerville.
7. Great activities for children through community supported sports and cultural organizations, and local businesses.
8. Many dining options, and more arriving all the time.
9. Although we are the fastest growing county in the state, you wouldn't tell by the great green space we retain.
10. Good, kind-hearted people who make this a safe and friendly place to call home.

Save The Planet And Your Money Livingston County!

I’m pretty sure that we, here at Buckley Jolley, have never been accused of being tree huggers. I’m also pretty sure we’ve never been accused of being preachy either (except for maybe pricing homes correctly in today’s market!). So I hope that you will consider the source when your read today’s post.

I reluctantly watched An Inconvenient Truth about six months ago and was surprisingly moved. After watching the movie, I found myself doing research online, in books, and on TV learning more on the topic and wondering what I can do. I can honestly say that my wife and I have spent many hours on this topic.

We have starting working on these TO DO’s but have been pretty quiet about them unless talking with family and friends. Some of which have come close to wondering about my political leanings for even uttering the words “global warming”, “greenhouse gasses,” and “Al Gore.” I keep saying that this is not a political issue, but some people like their fingers in their ears. Love you Dad!

Today, I read a headline on usatoday.com: “Ice shrinks, Northwest Passage opens up.” Ouch. (that last word was mine, not theirs). Once I saw this, I felt I needed to finally come out. I am a closet “Save The Planet” guy.

Since my everyday is consumed with homeownership, I just wanted to list a few ways to help reduce CO2 emissions and save money. My family of five has implemented most of the items listed below related to our home and I pledge to you that we will complete the list by the end of ’07.

* Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. They use 60% less energy and last much longer.
* Replace furnace filter regularly.
* Turn you thermostat down 2-3 degrees in the winter and up 2-3 degrees in the summer.
* Wrap you water heater in an insulation blanket.
* Unplug electrical devices when not in use. I was surprised to hear a plugged in cell phone charger uses electricity even if the phone is not connected! The same holds true for other items.
* Recycle, recycle, recycle. If your current waste removal company does not recycle, make a switch!
* Buy fresh foods instead of frozen. Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce.

Source: http://www.climatecontrol.com/

Along with the list above, I also pledge to buy the first American-made Hybrid minivan model, whenever it becomes available. This would be our family car. We would love to find a couple “green” PT Cruisers for the team if anyone knows of an source for that! Buckley Jolley has also made it a goal to reduce paper use in the office significantly in the months to come.

Call me an optimist, but I do feel that one person can make a difference. The US does need to lead by example. Others will eventually follow, but let’s face it, we’re already following about 1/3 of the world in this matter. Like I mentioned, I feel this is not a political issue, but rather a moral one. I’d like for my kids to be able to visit the Florida Keys when they’re my age, not snorkel or dive them!

I will continue to become more educated on the subject and I hope you will also. Please let me know if you’ve found other things that I can do to save money and be more “green.” I’d love to hear them.

Sincerely,
Todd Buckley
The Buckley Jolley Real Estate Team
(Just a guy with kids who feels it’s important that the world be habitable in their old age.)

Hartland Celebrates Its Heritage This Weekend

Head to Hartland this Saturday, September 15th, for a fun-filled day of events promoting the community.

On the agenda are wagon rides, a square dance, and a classic car show. Local wood carvers, weavers, and other artists will be displaying their works. Members of the local high school athletic teams will be on hand, and district school students will be participating in a Civil War skit.

Most of the activity is planned for the historical village area off Avon/Hartland Road, although concurring events will be happening at the Waldenwoods Resort and Conference Center, Spicer Orchards, the Parshallville Cider Mill, and at the Hartland Educational Support Service Center on Highland Road.

Back To School

School is back in session, as indicated by the number of buses we have seen hitting the road in the last week. If you are like me, the start of school and the beginning of Fall always seem like a great time for renewal and change.

If you are thinking of making a change in school districts, use these links to help get a better glimpse of the schools in your area.

Brighton Schools
Howell Schools
Hartland Schools
Pinckney Schools
Fowlerville Schools
South Lyon Schools

The Buckley Jolley Real Estate Team Welcomes Two New Members

Kimberlee K, Buyer Specialist and Sara Hufnagle, Lead Coordinator

Kimberlee is passionate about helping families find a new place to call HOME! Her experience in Real Estate and Customer Service allow her to professionally represent the best interests for her clients.

Kimberlee enjoys working with a wide range of buyers. She begins with the buyer consultation, which focuses on assessing your needs and reviewing the purchasing process of our Team.

Kimberlee has been a full time Realtor in Livingston County since 2003. Her Real Estate experiences have extended to Wayne, Washtenaw and Oakland Counties. Kimberlee and her family live in Howell where she is a member of the Howell Chamber of Commerce.

Sara Hufnagle has taken on the role of Lead Coordinator. Sara works with both the Listing Specialists and Buyers Specialists to assist them in maximizing lead development for potential listings and buyers. She also works side by side with the Closing Manager with pre and post closing tasks.

Sara has lived in Livingston County for the past 16 years and looks forward to assisting you with any questions or needs that you might have.

The Importance of Feedback

At Buckley Jolley we place a lot of value on communication. Our office is structured so that we are constantly communicating with all members of our team. We pride ourselves on making sure our clients have open channels with us as well. We want you to know what we know.

Objective showing feedback is an important part of any sale. It is a great tool to use in interpreting how potential buyers feel about your home, as well as a great way for you to see how you can help market it better. Getting to know your feedback might help insure you a quicker sale.

When your home has a showing, our staff makes every attempt to receive feedback from the showing agent. On the three consecutive days after your showing, seven days a week, we call for feedback. After three days, if we cannot get a response from agent, we will make sure you know that too.

Being able to speak with the showing agent directly allows us to see if there are questions their buyers need answered or any additional documents they might need. We are also calculating their interest level. A positive showing might need a follow-up call in a few days to see where the buyers are in the process of choosing their home.

On occasion, the feedback you receive is not positive. All feedback is worthwhile. Knowing how to use your feedback to your advantage makes you a smart seller.

For example, if you are hearing comments such as “the house seems dark”, for future showings this might be easily remedied by turning on lights and opening drapes.

Our goal for our sellers is to sell their home in the smartest way possible, together we can use feedback to get that job done.

Client Testimonials

After completing a transaction with our clients, we always request they complete a "Client Satisfaction Survey" so that we can learn a little bit about how they feel about the service we provided. We value the insights from our past customers, and are glad to share a few we have received in last month with you here.

"You did a great job in promoting and showing the place. Very satisfied... I would say you listened very well... I had seen your ads and wanted to know if you could deliver. You did. Thanks" - David P.

"Andrea did a great job!" - Mitch Z.

"Always careful to understand our needs... Emily is a standout employee- a definite keeper" - Tim & Pat P.

"Andrea was fantastic. She is extremely knowledgable, professional, prompt at communication & friendly. Also flexible with our schedules... We were entirely pleased with our professional, knowledgable, dedicated service!... Thank you! We appreciate everything!" -Cory & Julie B.

How's the Market?

We can’t help but remark upon how many people ask us each day “How’s the Market?”...

So here goes…The market is still changing. In fact there have been 14% less sales in Livingston County this year compared with 2006 and values are still dipping. However, Buckley Jolley’s business is UP 28% this year and we’ve already helped 85 families. This market continues to be an absolute dream for buyers. Sellers who are motivated and realistic about today’s NEW market are still ideal clients. Most of our sellers understand that once they get over the hurdle of selling their home, it’s pretty darn good to be a buyer!

Have You Seen Our New Commercials?

Our new commercials have now been unveiled! If you haven't had a chance to catch them on your TV, please take a moment to check them out here.

Watch for us on the following stations: CNN, TNT, ESPN (Monday Night Football), ESPN2, TBS, Comedy Central, Spike, and FAM.

Smokin' Jazz & Barbecue Blues Festival Hits Brighton This Saturday

Head downtown Brighton this Saturday for a taste of some delicious BBQ, and good music at Brighton’s second annual Smokin’ Jazz & Barbecue Blues Festival. The event runs from 11:00am until 10:00 pm. Local food establishments Buon Gusto, Stillwater Grill, Taorellos Marketplace, Stonefire Bistro, Chris McGurrin’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, and Tee-Bonez Tavern will be serving up mouth watering barbecue and side dishes along Main Street.

The bands and beer tent will be set up in the Hyne Street parking lot. This year’s musical line-up includes Jesse Palter, Macpodz, Blackman and Arnold, Stacey Barrett, and more.

Other activities include Train Rides from “Have Trains Will Travel”, and a rock wall for kids.

A free shuttle service will be running from 11:00am to 11:00pm from the Brighton High School parking lot (fieldhouse side) to downtown Brighton, at the corner of Main Street and First Street.

For more information please contact the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce at 810-227-5086