Phone: (810) 333-0394 | Warren, MI

Ryszard Wojtuniecki

Farmington Hills, MI

Commercial Building

Pre-Screening Candidates by Ryszard Wojtuniecki

by Ryszard Wojtunecki

As a Property Manager, I have seen firsthand the need to pre-screen tenants. Just as tenants research before landing on a property, property managers need to do the same. My screening methods may differ depending on the type of property I am looking to fill. The first step to pre-screening can simply be the language in the listing. Including pricing, size of the space, and a note that a background check is required can set a good standard. Once you contact a potential tenant, determine a list of questions that help you and the tenant learn if the space is a mutually good fit. Be sure to talk about dates, any deposits or fees, and any concerns with the space during this conversation. Having a list ready to go beforehand will ensure you touch on all topics and keep the conversation on track. Although things can always come up during a lease period, setting the correct expectations during pre-screening communications can help ease the minds of both the tenant and the property manager. 

Moving Tips by Ryszard Wojtuniecki

by Ryszard Wojtuniecki

Moving can be an exhausting process. The process can seem overwhelming, from packing up your belongings and labeling boxes to finding a place for everything in your new home. I have a few tips to make things a little easier next time you have a big move coming up.

  1. Take Inventory: Before you move, make a list of everything you plan to take to the new home. Identify items that can be donated or thrown away, and clean those out first. Categorize the smaller items you are taking, and designate a place for them in the new home. Make a list of things that you are bound to forget in advance. Keep adding to the list as you go.
  2. Give Yourself Time: Start packing as soon as the details of your move are finalized. Decide what you won’t need before moving and pack those items first—moving in the summer? Pack the winter clothes first and get those ready to go. Save the more minor things you will need until the last minute and leave a box for them. Let that be the last box you tape up.
  3. Identify Your Items: Take the boxing process seriously. Label all boxes with things that you will remember. Try to avoid abbreviations or phrasing that you may forget by the time you are unpacking. Commit to the names on the box, resist the urge to throw a small bedroom item into the box labeled “kitchen.” These small things will save you time in the long run.
  4. Have a Timeline: What time will you load the trucks? How long is the drive to the new home? What time do you hope to complete the move? Don’t stress about sticking precisely with the timeline, but allow it to work as an outline for the day to help stay on track.
  5. Embrace Change: Your new home is bound to look different. Don’t stress if something does not have an exact space like it used to. Allow yourself time to settle into the new home and make it your own.

The Housing Market Explained by Ryszard Wojtuniecki

by Ryszard Wojtuniecki

If you find yourself in the market for your dream home, you may notice that home prices are rising like never before in Michigan. Your search for homes within your budget may have become smaller within the past year and a half, and you are certainly not alone.
People spent more time in their homes in 2020 than ever before, leaving people longing for more space and anxious to leave small apartments in highly-populated cities.
During the height of the pandemic, inventory was low, and buyers were eager to have their offers accepted. Slowly but surely, we are seeing more and more houses come on the market, with bidding wars occurring more often than not. According to Realtor.com, median listing prices were up 10.3% from 2020 to 2021. In fact, according to Realcomp, Michigan’s real estate prices are the highest they have been since 2003. With a quick and aggressive rise, buyers and sellers are curious to see if a burst is coming.
For buyers, house prices are high, and offers are often coming in high above asking, which could make buying your dream home more complicated than it used to be. On the plus side, mortgage rates are low, making those high home prices more attainable.
For sellers, it is exciting to see the potential worth of your home continue to rise. Buyers are coming in fast and furious with offers, sometimes cash, often opting to fast-track the sale, waiving inspection, or allowing the sellers more occupancy time. According to Realcomp, the “average days on the market until sale” is now 18, down from 33 in 2020.
Both parties have pros and cons during this unprecedented time, but almost everyone is wondering just how long this could last.
An article on Forbes.com predicts that the hungry market may flatten in 2022. Although, experts are hesitant to refer to this as a ‘bubble,’ as the demand is justified this time around. (https://www.forbes.com/sites/billconerly/2021/07/27/the-end-of-the-housing-boom-will-be-when-mortgage-rates-rise-in-2022/?sh=3196cc716770)
Keep an eye on the real estate market in your town. We are in a unique period, and neighborhoods and changing quickly.