Meet the Team
Craig Kivi
Principal Broker / Owner
(734) 478-5730
Jan Byar
Agent
(734) 657-0396
Arthur Stauch
Agent
(734) 216-4009
REFERENCES
Choose a real estate company, their realtors, agents and brokers, by their references. Call them, all of them. The happy and unhappy. If a company won't give you unhappy references, they're not being honest with you right from the start.
The core of who we really are.
As highly skilled realtors, agents and brokers, we don't need, nor do we pay big marketing companies to create adds, brochures and presentations to exaggerate and overstate our importance.
Our past Clients will tell you how good we are.
We ask that you call our references, all real estate and our lakefront Clients, the happy and not happy (we are are not perfect) - or ask anyone in the community about us.
Here they are!
HAPPY
Jerry and Elizabeth Cyr - Two Listings
(517) 294-5959
Robert and Kathy Lane - Two Listings
(513) 300-8401
Susan Aitken - Listing (734) 883-9059
David Hardesty - Listing and complete estate handling (248) 320-7586
Susan Hill - Listing, and estate consultation (313) 701-7802
Tammy Bogs - Listing (734) 223-3618
Bill Nadela - List and Buy (dual agent)
(734) 883-9214
Donna Cash - Listing (734) 260-6609
Jeremy Regal - List and Buy (dual agent), out of state, complete estate handling – (202) 714-4654
Rob Harr - Owner Signature Oaks Stables, List and Buy (517) 290-0616
Lori Thompson - Buyer (978) 930-2247
Debby Stewart - Listing (734) 323-4272
Cheryl Lyons - Listing, multi-family estate
(810) 588-7587
James Baird, Past Ann Arbor Police Chief - Listing
(734) 323-4684
Jeffery Newton, Past Pinckney Police Chief - Buy
(734) 564-2812
NOT HAPPY
Doug and Brenda Comb - Buy, List, Buy
(243) 421-7149
Tom and Didi Schumm - Listing (810) 522-7202
WE'VE EARNED THE RESPECT OF THESE PROFESSIONALS - CALL THEM.
Attorney - Mark Small, P.C. (248) 376-3110
Terry Campbell – Campbell Survey Engineering
(989) 390-1189
Appraiser – Kurt Schmerberg, Affinity Valuation
(734) 429-8338
Patrick Hoxie – Great Land Appraisal,
(517) 789-9702
Mark Teicher - President Portage Base Whitewood Homeowners Association
(248-420-9144)
What we do
We focus on YOU.
What are YOUR goals? What is success on YOUR terms?
We won't be bragging about OUR number of sales, OUR number of listings, or how we "dominate the market."
These things are not evidence of real estate quality.
Here's a top goal every seller have: To get the largest check possible at closing. Yes, the sale price of your home is important, but so is minimizing the costs! We have the knowledge to do BOTH, and have reduced the costs of our sellers by tens of thousands.
You won't be hearing other agents talk about that.
We do all residential real estate - with a lakefront specialization.
Properties in cities, towns, farm, rurual, condos, etc, all have thier challenges and we do them well - but our real estate skills became razor sharp from all sales on our lakefront and lake access properties. Done right, these properties are three times the work, are extremely detailed, and require integrating multiple experts. We can prove we're the best choice to get your best outcome.
Our network of specialists - for YOU.
We're not out to impress you and we know when to refer you to experts. Agents who talk to impress others without knowledge of specific expertise can hurt you and it's illegal for them to talk outside of their expertise. We have a resource base of over 100 specialists we immediately refer you to when lending, inspection, architecture, structural, electrical, title work, legal matters, accounting, etc. come up. We are a small company, but because of our professional contacts, we are more powerful than most large companies at providing excellent service.
We learn and change rapidly
We're a small independent company, not forced to go by industry norms which benefit the agent and the real estate corporation's bottom line. We watch recent trends closely and listen and when we see a better way to help YOU we change and do it.
See our draft book, "A Journal of Real Estate Experience, How it Really Works" - we promise an incredible, contemporary real estate education which will prepare you for an excellent outcome like no other seller or buyer.
Going beyond - "To excel, do what others won't."
When the chips were down, we rolled up our sleeves and got it done!
Labor shortages, long lead times and high expense for services can jeopardize your sale due to timing pressures. From our wide variety of experience, we've rescued many sales with our own bare hands by shoveling snow, doing minor plumbing, deck, drywall, cement repair, painting, removing garbage, transporting household toxins, cleaning and much more. The words "give up" or "we're too good for that" are not in our vocabulary.
Resources! - Our hand picked service providers
We provide you value every chance we get.
This is a HUGE list of local professionals we have seen produce consistent, excellent service. Per law, you are free to choose whomever you want from any source. We highly recommend you choose from local providers with a strong recommendation from people you know and trust.
IMPORTANT: Unlike most of the real estate industry, we do not have any financial affiiliation with, nor are we influenced by any service suppilers in any way, shape, or form. We recommend them because we know they will help you. Period.
We would strongly discourage the practice of choosing the least expensive supplier. The wrong inspector can compromise your ability to meet your contract obligations as well as cause inaccurate reports, leading to poor decisions. Inexpensive, poor suppliers cost you far more than you save by choosing them for their reduced prices.
When choosing one of the listed service providers, you become their clients, independent of any client relationship you have with your Real Estate Agent, Broker, Lender, or Insurance Agent. Their service, reports and advice are solely your business and no one else has any rights to information provided to you by them.
Please schedule directly with them and be prepared to pay them at the time of service. We will also need to get permission for inspections, and we attend all inspections or evaluations, so be sure to coordinate with us to determine our availability as well. Your attendance is highly recommended, as those we work with have an educational element to their service to provide you with more value.
Please also note that though we have extensive experience in some of the disciplines listed here, we will stay in our lane as your Real Estate Broker. We have our ego in check and will consistently refer detailed questions about inspections, testing, legal matters, financing, etc., back to the experts in their field. This is one of the most important things we can do for you, and makes our service to you very unique, powerful and effective. We're the family doctor, not brain surgeons! We will refer to to the right specialists.
**AGENTS NOTE: COPYRIGHT GOLDEN DRAKE REALTY **
APPRAISERS:
PATRICK HOXIE (517) 789-9702
KURT SCHMERBERG (734) 429-8338
DEAN DRYER - HURON VALLEY (734) 769-9500
ARCHITECT: AARON VERMULEN (734) 904-0805
ATTORNEY (REAL ESTATE) MARK SMALL (248) 376—3110)
ATTORNEY (WATERFRONT) BROOK SMITH (734) 994 - 1337
ATTORNEY (ESTATE AND TRUSTS) PETER CLARK (734) 327-5031
BUILDER: NEW CREATIONS CARPENTRY (810)599-2085
BUILDING SUPPLIES: BEST BLOCK CO (734) 663-3372
BAT REMEDIATOR : CRITTER CATCHERS 248-432-2712 PLATINUM WILDLIFE REMOVAL (248) 667-7796
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE: BILL MILLIKEN (734) 945-5367
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT: LOY, HARTLEY & CO. - MATTHEW LOY (734) 769-0075 EGLE PERMITING: ERIC CALABRO (517-243-5584)
DRAIN VIDEO INSPECTION / CLEANING DYNAMIC DRAINS (734) 215-5811
EXTERIOR HOUSE CLEANING - SABER SOFT (517) 936-5428
EXCAVATING (HEAVY): KNIGHT’S (734) 216-0233
EXCAVATING (LIGHT): MIKE @ AAA EXCAVATION (517) 861-0187
EXCAVATING: NW OF CHELSEA MIKE MURPHY (517) 206-7377
FIREPLACE SALES, CLEANING, INSPECTION: ALPHA & OMEGA FIREPLACE (734) 812-2150 FLOOD/FIRE/SMOKE DAMAGE: SERVPRO (810) 220-5440
FLOOD ZONE SPECIALIST: KAROL GROVE (855) 566-3566
FOUNDATION/CRAWLSPACE: FOUNDATION SYSTEMS OF MICHIGAN (877)DRY-MICH BASEMENT CRACKS & LEAKS (800) 639-1131
FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION: BRUCE DONOVAN (810) 231-3633
SOIL EVALUATION FOR FOUNDATIONS: ROBERT HASTINGS ENGINEERING (517) 546-6121
GLASS REPAIR: UNADILLA GLASS COMPANY 517-294-7218
INSPECTORS: KEN BAKER (734) 216-4672, BAKERINSPECTIONSMI.COM
INSURANCE: LAVEY INSURANCE COMPANY (734)787-3030
LOAN SPECIALIST: ROSS SWIETZER—MORTGAGE ONE (734) 546-0040
MOLD/RADON MITIGATION: TCI REMEDIATION (810) 227-5577
PEST INSPECTOR: KEN BAKER (734) 216-4672, BAKERINSPECTIONSMI.COM
PLUMBING: VINNIES PLUMBING (517) 861-7014
RADON TESTING: KEN BAKER (734) 216-4672, BAKERINSPECTIONSMI.COM
STAKES IN PLACE SURVEY: BOSS ENG., CHRIS FERGUS (810) 343-4369 SURVEYOR: TERRY CAMPBELL (989) 390-1189
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING: FITZPATRICK ENGINEERING (734) 769-0320
ROOFING: TIM BURKE (734) 323-2207
ROOF REPAIR: MIKE BURKE (734) 320-3166
WELL AND SEPTIC/TIME OF SALE PERMIT: KEN BAKER (SEE ABOVE)
WELL AND SEPTIC: GEORGE ROBERTS (734-320-7771
SEPTIC PUMPING: BOLLINGERS (734) 433 - 1881
APPLIANCE REPAIR: HEYDLAUFFS (734) 475-1221
CARPET CLEANING: WOLVERINE (734) 973-2222
COMPUTER SERVICE: PAUL CHRISTIANSEN (734) 717-2497
COMPUTER SUPPLIES: COMPUTER ALLEY (734) 769-8230 CLEANING SERVICES: ROXANNE'S CLEANING SERVICES (757) 707-5521
CONCRETE: TONY PARKER & SONS (517) 404-5300
CONSIGNMENT: SEAGULL’S NEST (810) 231-1990
DECK DRAINAGE SYSTEMS: UNDER DECK OASIS/JOE SABATE (616) 425-8188 DRIVEWAY MAINTENANCE: ALAN’S ASPHALT (810) 231-1867
ELECTRICIAN: AMERICA'S ELECTRIC COMPANY (810) 355 - 5550
EXTERIOR CLEAN UP: DON NORDMAN (734) 323-6532
FULL ESTATE HANDLING: THE BETTY BRIGADE (888) 742-3889
ESTATE SALES: ESTATE SALE EXPERTS (248) 987-0030
GUTTER SYSTEM: LEAF FILTER (800) 290-6106 ACCESS EQUIPMENT INC (734) 878-9813
HANDYMAN SERVICES/PLUMBING: JOE GREENFELDER (734) 604-4723
HARDWOOD FLOORS: HIGGINS HARDWOOD FLOORS (517) 581-4097 TOM SPARROW (734) 320-3647
HEATING/COOLING: D&R (734) 878-9750
INSULATION CONTRACTOR: JOE ROBERTS (517) 581-9626
INTERIOR DECORATOR: CHERYL KIVI (248) 660-4663
LANDSCAPING (LIGHT): JOYCE WILDE (734) 277-2748
LAWNCARE: PORTAGE LAKE SERVICES/RICK JEDLE (734) 395-9153
LOW-AREA DRAINAGE SYSTEMS: PARJANA /TOM WILKINSON (248) 761-7300 MOSQUITO BARRIER: MOSQUITO SQUAD (810) 714-5900 MOSQUITO JOE (248) 507-4014
FUEL OIL: CORRIGAN OIL (810) 229-6323
PACKING/MOVING/STAGING: THE BETTY BRIGADE (888) 742-3889
INTERIOR PAINTING: JEFF COX (734) 834-3294
EXTERIOR PAINTING: STEVE RAUSER (734) 717 - 8730
REMODELING: DEAN MORROW (810) 599 - 2085 KYLE MILLER (517) 795-5519
SELL ON EBAY: ENCORE ONLINE RESALE (734) 761-6187
SNOW REMOVAL: AM SERVICES (734) 973-0930
TRASH/DEBRIS REMOVAL: CHUCK IT (248) 444-4713
TRASH DROP/DUMPSTER RENTAL: MONROE’S RUBBISH (810) 231-3379
TREE TRIMING: JOE’S TREE REMOVAL 734-678-1705
WATER CONDITIONING SYSTEMS: CULLIGAN/JEFF COLVIN (734) 260-0013
WINDOWS, DOORS, SUNROOMS: SEAWAY MANUFACTURING (814) 898-2255
SEAWALLS: TODD’S SERVICES (810) 231-2778 Natural seawalls, docks, marine construction BOAT LIFT HELPER: Tim Mans (763) 498-7543 Air-lift-bag systems WONDERLAND MARINE (734) 426-4532 Boat sales, service, rentals, slips ED BOCK FEEDS & STUFF (734) 878-3092 General Store (flowers, animal feed/supplies) N&K MARINE (734) 498-2494 Boat sales, service, rentals, slips, fuel, etc. PORTAGE YACHT CLUB/MIDWEST SAILING (734) 426-4155 Sailing instruction, rental, all types of boat slips, park, fine dining
J&M SERVICES: Jason Dickinson (734) 646-9055 Boat and dock storage, hauling, etc.
BOAT FLAGS
RIVERSIDE PIZZA (734) 426-0800 Great take-out food on the Portage Chain
ZUKEY LAKE TAVERN (810) 231-1441 Great dine-in and take-out food and tiki bar
TRADING POST (734) 426-4114 Full party store supplies and grocery store
Michigan Lake and Stream Association web: mymlsa.org
Michigan DNR web: michigan.gov/dnr
Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) for lake permits Eric Calabro, CalabroE@michigan.gov
TITAN - JOHN GIRSCHLE (616) 531-1654 Telescoping flagpoles
ROTH SHIRT CO. ROTHSHIRTCO.COM Custom lake wear
SUNFISH WOODWORKS SUNFISHWOODWORKS.COM Works of designer Bob Batchik
LAKEHOUSE LIFESTYLE: LAKEHOUSELIFESTYLE.COM Miscellaneous unique lake lifestyle gear HELL CREEK FORGE: JAMES ROTH (734) 878-2453 RUSTIC LOG FURNITURE AND MATTRESS IVAN BYLER (989) 376-3778 Made in Michigan VICTOR BANTA PHOTOGRAPHY (734) 417-1930 Weddings and Portraits LAKEFRONT LIFE (734) 646-4386 House rentals on Portage Lake
FIRESIGN FAMILY FARM, RUTH EHMAN (734) 449-0247 Hands-on Farming Experience in Whitmore Lake web: firesignfamilyfarm.com
PORTAGE LAKE AUTO JASON ROOKE (734) 424-3517 Complete auto and light truck service
Call or Visit
