by Scott Frakes, CMI® | Mar 10, 2026 | Home Inspection, Roofs
Ice dam damage is one of the most expensive — and most overlooked — problems I find in Northern Michigan homes. A single winter of untreated ice dams can lead to roof leaks, structural rot, mold growth, and insulation failure. Worse, the damage often goes unnoticed...
by Scott Frakes, CMI® | Feb 24, 2026 | Home Safety
When Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville, North Carolina in September 2024, more than 100 people lost their lives and damages exceeded $59 billion. A city once considered a “climate haven” experienced catastrophic flooding few believed possible. Northern Michigan...
by Scott Frakes, CMI® | Feb 17, 2026 | Home Inspection, Aging in Place
Summary: Will Your Dream Home Support Three Generations—Or Become a Costly Mistake? Most families don’t discover their ‘perfect’ multigenerational property can’t handle the load until after closing—when the septic system fails or the...
by Scott Frakes, CMI® | Feb 3, 2026 | Home Inspection, Aging in Place
You’ve found it—the Northern Michigan home where you can finally watch every season unfold over Little Traverse Bay, walk to your favorite Petoskey coffee shop, and never worry about another move. But here’s the question most retirees don’t ask until...
by Scott Frakes, CMI® | Jan 20, 2026 | Radon Testing
January is National Radon Action Month. If you work in Northern Michigan real estate, you’ve likely experienced this topic surfacing at exactly the wrong moment — right in the middle of negotiations. Buyers hear the word radon and panic.Sellers worry a test will...
