The Perks of Being Pet-Friendly

For many, dogs are less like pets and more like important members of the family. They’re best friends and constant companions, helping cultivate love, warmth, and joy. And, according to the data, no one likes to leave their four-legged family members behind when they travel.

The number of guests traveling with dogs is increasing year over year. According to a recent TripAdvisor survey, 53% of pet owners take their furry friends with them when they hit the road. However, only 25% of vacation rentals are willing to accommodate pet owners. With so many guests searching for dog-friendly rentals, switching over may be the competitive edge you need to earn more.

Read on to learn about the benefits of becoming a dog-friendly Northern Michigan Escapes…

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4 Benefits of Joining a HOA (Homeowners’ Association)

Joining a homeowners’ association can be an added perk of living in certain communities. In essence, a homeowners’ association allows a community to agree to share the costs of the extra benefits of living in said community.

HOAs are common in gated neighborhoods with special accommodations like a pool, tennis courts, regular lawn service, and more. They can also afford greater security and fund neighborhood maintenance problems that may arise.

With shared community amenities, a local body to keep the neighborhood uniform and safe, and a community fund to help with issues around the neighborhood, HOAs provide a kind of safety umbrella for neighborhood members.

HOAs can make a neighborhood more pleasant and livable by allowing for shared…

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5 Green Energy Home Trends for 2019

Utilizing renewable energy is a great way to both lower your bills and reduce stress on the environment. Through some high and no-so-high-tech methods, there are more and more ways to efficiently save and even create energy.

Residential Solar Panels

As the efficiency of solar power technology increases and costs of installation decrease, more homeowners are adding electricity-producing panels to their roofs. Doing so often allows users to sell their surplus power back to their utility company and recoup their panel investment even faster.

With government entities sweetening the deal with tax credits and subsidized rebates, many homeowners are saying ‘yes’ to producing their power.

Smart Energy

Thanks to technologies like…

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Staging Tips to Get Your Northern Michigan On The Market

Selling your home requires more than simply sticking a "For Sale" on the front curb and hoping for the best. With a little bit of work and some affordable enhancements, you could be saving yourself loads of time and money in the long run. The last thing any seller wants is for their home to linger in the market for too long and become stale, so here are a few easy ways to get your home in great shape and ready to please prospective buyers.

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF CURB APPEAL
Before a buyer sets foot in your door, they have to pass through the front yard first. As with many things in life, making a good first impression is the first barrier to successfully showing your home. That initial impression will be hard to change unless…

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Ironton Ferry

Save Time with the Ironton Ferry

Ironton Ferry is a four-car cable ferry that crosses a narrow point on the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix in the U.S. state of Michigan in the unincorporated community of Ironton.  The Ferry connects Ironton, located about 5 miles from Charlevoix, Michigan, to Boyne City, Michigan.  The ferry crosses the lake about 100 times a day.  The current vessel went into service in 1925.  The ferry is 50 feet long, 30 feet wide, and weighs 43 tons. 

It's powered by a diesel engine with a hydraulic drive system that features propellers at both ends. Two different cables are guiding the ferry since it doesn't have any rudders.  The slack in the cables drops 25 feet below the surface to allow boats to pass. The ferry has the…

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Keys to Buying A Vacation Home

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Vacation Rental Management - Northern Michigan Escapes

We began with one home and one idea

Our Founder Brook Walsh and his wife, Rachel, realized they could provide better and more cost-effective services to homeowners than other property managers could, A LOT better. Brook used his background as a Chief Information Officer, and a customer-first approach to business, to make vacation rentals easier and better for both guests and homeowners - that’s how Northern Michigan Escapes was born. 

Elevating the Vacation Rental Experience

Earn More
On average, owners who switch to Northern Michigan Escapes earn 21% more in their first year.* We build your online profile, set the right price, and market your home better than anyone else Dynamic pricing gets you the highest nightly rate and strategic…

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Is A Homeowner Association (HOA) Good for Me?

If you’re shopping for a new home to lease or purchase in Northern Michigan, you may wonder whether homeowner’s associations are worth your while.

It’s usually easy to educate yourself about what specific HOA communities provide and allow. Before taking the financial plunge, take some time to learn about what Northern Michigan HOA communities offer.

To some, the benefits of having a quality HOA far outweigh the fees and restrictions. Paying a simple, recurring fee can mean time saved from menial tasks, more fun activities to do around your community and no obscure-looking houses or fences that are a blight on the surrounding community, spoiling the immaculate beauty of the rest of the neighborhood.

On the other hand, some believe HOA…

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The Challenges of Home Insurance

Homeowners should know what is generally covered before submitting a claim. However, all too often a claim is denied or homeowners find out that coverage is surprisingly lacking. Those that have been subject to floods have often found far too late that food damage is not covered in a standard policy. This is why it is important to learn more about home insurance. Depending on the area and typical weather conditions, homeowners may want to expand their coverage to avoid a potential issue. What are some of the common home insurance issues? (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a financial advisor before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

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Disruptive Technology: Building Homes for the Future

Chances are good that robotics, drone imagery, and digitized collaboration will play a large part in the design and construction of future homes and business structures, and a variety of other construction improvements may not be far behind. (Click here to see Northern Michigan's finest collection of vacation rentals)

Already, there is some evidence that buildings of the future may be constructed of "self-healing materials" and that plant-based component will create new design and energy flexibility. Tomorrow's built environment may not resemble today's buildings any more than the great stone structures of the past have anything in common with today's steel and glass high-rises. (Click here to see all Northern Michigan Waterfront Lifestyle…

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