I recently completed a second trip to Michigan to check out potential properties, and had one walk-through. I like to talk to people I meet along the way, both to find out local information and to get a general feel of the area.

Pam has termed these conversations “George Chats” in memory of my father, who also liked to talk to the people he met on trips. So, here is a report of my latest trip along with some results of my George Chats.

There were a total of 12 properties I drove by or checked out. Many were eliminated as “potentials” due to remoteness, overall condition, or physical challenges. (Homes over garages with a lot of steps, for example.) A few were interesting enough to warrant more research, and one was worth a walk through.

The walk-though was on Campbell Road near the town of West Branch. Pam was attracted to it because of it’s walk-out basement, a nice feature for us because it would aid in letting the dogs out for their walks. The property also featured a two-car garage, something many properties lack.

Unfortunately, the house had not been well maintained and would need quite a bit of TLC to bring it up to a higher standard. (I found this to be a common trait on almost all the places I looked at.) The price was high, partly due to the 15 acre lot the house sits on. The lot was not all that attractive, being mostly low and covered in brush, although it did have a few trees on one end.

The listing did have an unusual feature, a hot tub. Realtor: “Hot tub needs a new motor, otherwise works fine!”

I had video-taped my walk through, and once Pam saw the video she pretty much ruled out this place. Note the lack of treatment of any kind on the wood around the tub. This was generally indicative of the lack of maintenance on the entire house.

Another house, probably too expensive for us at its current price, appeared to be in much better shape.

Enough beds and bathrooms, but no outbuilding, this place features a cobblestone driveway and sits on a small rise, overlooking a few farm fields. It may be part of an estate, and Pam will keep an eye on it to see of the listing price drops to a more reasonable level.

One place with potential had a creek bordering one side. However, once I arrived at the address, the road noise became a disqualifying factor. Once again, maintenance had been neglected but the water, outbuilding, and large lot had put this on the potential list in the first place. This is why an in-person visit is so important; you can’t get all the information you need from a listing.

Paved drive and outbuilding, house to the left. Creek is to the right.

It was with some sadness that I recommended this place be taken off the potential list. Once Pam heard the road noise on the video, she agreed.

We will keep looking at new listings, numbers of which are reduced this time of year, and see if anything else of interest pops up.

All along the way I had my “George Chats” with neighbors, motel operators, waitresses, and even a few of the property owners. What did I find out? A few things of interest.

For one, there is a snow belt in Michigan. West Branch, where I viewed most of the listings, is south of it. Grayling and Gaylord, both north of West Branch, are in it. Useful to know.

The major food chain in the area is Meijer (Pronounced Mayor) and West Branch has a large store. Pam was impressed with the pet area:

The store also has a large deli and bakery. Pam had provided me with a list of groceries to check availability of, and this store had everything on that list. (Except Raisin Nut Bran, which seems hard to find in most locations.)

Other odds and ends gleaned from my chats: Rust in wells is a problem, so check the water supply for evidence of rusting pipes. Internet services are generally available, with Spectrum being the most often mentioned. A couple companies offer garbage pickup, although some townships provide this service. Taxes are higher in towns than in townships. Recycling is almost non-existent, although a few places offer walk-in drop off spots. Big Boy restaurants have good breakfast meals. ATV and snowmobile trails are all over the place. Gas prices are average.

I covered 2,030 miles this time around. Econolodge offered the best rates, but the Tri-Terrace Motel in West Branch is a good alternative if you would like an old-school (with a real key!) motel with a small pond out front.

It was an interesting trip, but my general observation is that people are not prepping their properties to sell very well, and some listings are a bit less than honest in their descriptions. People want too much for houses that need a lot of TLC. In short, the “Right House” has not yet made an appearance so the search continues.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

This Michigan trip involved an interesting process. Himself was working from a three-ring binder containing property listings and information. He would send me photos – and text – regarding each listing as he visited it; I would respond by text and also look things up on the home computer in real time. Two or three houses he drove by were not in the binder but, as they were located on one of the routes he would be driving, I was able to text him the property info to spontaneously add those locations to his journey. (That’s how he ended up at the house next to the water, with the road noise.)

I also asked Himself to visit a bank and credit union along the way, grocery stores, even a piece of undeveloped land. (On several occasions, to prove he was on a serious house search, I do believe he produced his binder of instructions as “evidence.”) Plus he did frequent checks of how many telephone “bars of coverage” were available at the locations visited. And I had encouraged Himself to interject his “George Chats” along the way, to garner even more information.

We are starting to close in on one or two specific areas in Michigan with our livability features, which helps me in the ongoing property search. I continue to monitor real estate listings, but expect the search will slow to a crawl during the winter and pick up again in the spring.

Happy Trails.