Using Ceiling Fans in Winter

When it gets cold, your ceiling fan can help.  Here in Michigan, we can use all the help we can get.  The recent cold weather burst reminds us that, to quote Game of Thrones, "Winter is Coming."  As Family Handyman reminds us, we can use our ceiling fans to help keep the house warmer and reduce those awful heating bills.  They were even kind enough to include a video.

Link:
http://www.familyhandyman.com/video/v/62195686/ceiling-fans-and-saving-on-winter-home-heating-bills.htm

Video Thought for the Day (with Me!)

Update on Lake Jumping House--It Burned Down (w/video)

In a sad update to a previous post, the owner of the house falling into Lake Whitney in Texas has had to burn it down.  Apparently the dubious nature of the cliff it was perched on precluded using the usual heavy equipment to demolish it and waiting for it to fall into the lake below on its own was too dangerous.  Our own Fox 2 news has the story, which includes video, of course.

What could be an amusing tale is tainted by reports that the owner of this $800,000 house sank all of his retirement money into it and the home is not insured for this kind of hazard.  On top of that, he will have to pay out of pocket to remove the demolished home from the site.



Links:
Previous post: http://downriverhomes.blogspot.com/2014/06/lakeside-house-follows-request-to-go.html
Fox 2 News story: http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/25770013/luxury-cliffhanger-lake-whitney-home-set-to-burn-at-10-am

Lakeside House Follows Request to Go Jump in Lake (w/Video)

South of Fort Worth, Texas, an $800,000 home is falling into a lake.  Piece by piece.

Apparently, the hillside house is losing its hill, as part of the cliff it was built on crumbled away.  Underneath is Lake Whitney. The family noticed problems in February and moved out and the home is now empty with signs posted to keep people away.

 Somebody miscalculated here and no doubt the lawsuits will be flying.  The home was built in 2007.

We have a link to the story on Fox 2, which has video from the Fox affiliate in Texas, but we also found this video on YouTube, without commentary, which is a more detailed view of how things look.





Link:
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/25755293/luxury-home-will-soon-fall-into-north-texas-lake

When Should I Buy My First Home? (Video)

Happy Easter! (video)

Get Your First Rental Property in 90 Days (w/video)

There is a reason we keep going to Bigger Pockets for our Landlording articles--they are constantly putting up some pretty great stuff.  Here is a great post from them detailing the steps to get that first rental property.  They even have a video to explain it for you!

I won't paste the video in because I want you to pull it from their site, but I will tell you that I endorse this method.  Step One, getting pre-approved for your financing, is a big one.  No point in looking at $100,000 rentals if you won't get a mortgage on them.

Link:
http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/03/08/buy-rental-property/

Fatal Brownstown Fire Provides Smoke Detector Lesson (with video)

A fire claimed the life of a 67-year old woman in Brownstown recently.  Although the fire department arrived within minutes of being called, it was too late to save her.

This tragedy could have possibly been avoided if there was smoke detectors in the house.  There were not.  Hopefully this will inspire you to check your own smoke detectors today and make sure they work.

Here is a helpful video on that:




Link:
http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2014/02/24/news/doc530bd74a3d205031993153.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Here is an electric DIY project you can do yourself.

Video: Latest News and Analysis from the Packard Plant

Video: Grouting Tile Right

Grouting tile, you'd think it was easy.  It's not.  At least if you want to do it right.

Why William Hults Will Not Buy the Packard Plant

In which, for the first time, I do a blog post via video.  Forgive the scruffy appearance, but I am not at work today.  Don't forget there are plenty of pictures of me in a suit and tie if you want to look at that.

Hoarder Tenant

Click the link below for the video.  Thank goodness this was not my tenant.

http://youtu.be/DkaIQoAV2v0