What if I told you that I bought, sold, and renovated a home with a 6 week old baby and lived to tell the tale? What if I told you that if given the chance, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Why? Because home is important to me and my family. It’s where we’re at our best, our worst, and everything in between. To me, living somewhere that makes me feel creative, comfortable, and vulnerable is on the priority list and I will leave 'survival' mode for it.

If you’re in the market for a place to call home, here are some real-life pros and cons that you may not have thought about if you’re contemplating a move in ready vs. a fixer upper.

Sure, we could of added a roof line or an addition to the house, but not on our shoestring budget. After looking at several different options (Retractable awnings, Sun Shades, Canopies, etc.) we decided on a pergola. It added dimension at a minimal cost.

We purchased a pergola kit from Menard's and had to alter a couple of things to make it work for our house. We wanted it to attach to the house to add the dimension we were looking for. We have three large windows that overlook our backyard and we didn't want the view to be obstructed by a large structure, so it was imperative that the Pergola sit above the windows as you can see below.

It is officially Spring in Michigan! The snow is (hopefully) gone, plants are starting to sprout up through the dirt, and the sunshine is getting people excited for Summer. This is the busiest time of the year in Real Estate. People have been mulling over the idea of moving over the winter, and now that they are done hibernating in the cold temperatures, it's time to make a move!