Home and Property Maintenance in Northern Michigan

Up here, houses take a beating. Snow loads, ice, freeze and thaw, damp summers, and for a lot of places, months with nobody home. Small things turn into big things fast if nobody's watching.

Northern Trades keeps an eye on your place and takes care of it. We look after homes, cottages and commercial properties across Charlevoix, Emmet, Antrim and Grand Traverse counties, and we're around Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor, Walloon Lake and Torch Lake all the time.

What we take care of

Repairs. Soft trim, sticking doors, worn finishes, wood rot, and the things that turn up on an inspection report. We fix them before they get worse.

Opening and closing your place. If you're seasonal, we get the house ready before you come up and close it down properly when you leave. We check the spots that gave you trouble last year.

Winter. We clear snow from driveways, walkways and entrances, handle light ice control, and check on things through the season so problems don't sit. Ice dams are their own issue, so see ice dam prevention.

Keeping finishes up. Paint and stain touch-ups, re-sealing, and refreshing walkways and pads. When something needs more than a touch-up, our local painting division takes it.

Rentals and commercial properties. Upkeep and refreshes between guests or seasons, done so the place stays open.

Who we do this for

Year-round homeowners who want one person to call. Seasonal and second-home owners, and the property managers and caretakers who look after places for them. Rental and commercial owners. People getting a house ready to sell, or just bought one.

Things worth a call

Paint peeling, trim going soft, or gaps around doors and windows
Ice building up along the roof edge in winter
A musty smell or new stains after the house has been closed up
Walkways heaving, cracking or holding water
Nobody's been through your place since you left

How it works

We walk the property with you, or with whoever looks after it for you, and make a list. You get a written plan and a quote built around your priorities, with one-time fixes kept separate from seasonal work.

Then we schedule it around your calendar, including when you're away. After each visit you'll hear from us, with photos when they help.

Where we work

Emmet County: Harbor Springs, Bay View, Petoskey, Alanson
Charlevoix County: Walloon Lake, Boyne City, Charlevoix, East Jordan
Antrim County: Torch Lake, Elk Rapids, Bellaire
Grand Traverse County: Traverse City, Old Mission, Williamsburg

And in the lake communities: Bay Harbor · Harbor Point · Wequetonsing

Questions people ask

Can you look after the house while we're gone?

Yes. A lot of our clients are seasonal. We open and close the house, check on it and keep you posted.

Can we have our caretaker or property manager deal with you?

Of course. We work with them directly all the time.

Do you do snow removal?

Yes. Driveways, walkways and entrances, plus light ice control and regular winter checks.

How is it priced?

Every quote is built around your priorities and your property. One-time work and seasonal work are quoted separately so it's clear.

What areas do you cover?

Charlevoix, Emmet, Antrim and Grand Traverse counties, including Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor, Petoskey, Walloon Lake, Torch Lake and Traverse City.

Are you insured?

Yes, Northern Trades is fully insured.

Want someone looking after your place? Call or text (202) 941-1282, or request a quote. Northern Michigan based, serving Charlevoix, Emmet, Antrim & Grand Traverse counties.