Cleveland Real Estate And More

Sellers - Don't Let This Happen To You - Originally posted at Cleveland Real Estate Blog

If you are selling or thinking of selling your home, please don't make this common mistake as it could cost you a lot of money.

As much as it may hurt you to hear this, your home is only worth what someone will pay for it.  No mater how much you bought it for, how much you owe, or how much you truly love your home, it is only worth what the market will bear.

SAD BUT TRUE

Here's a true story, although we changed some information for confidentiality reasons.

A home was listed for $400,000.  After 500 days on the market, and dozens of showings, it never sold.  The sellers were fixated on getting a specific price for their home and were willing to wait for "the right buyer".  The listing agent advised them to lower their price, but the sellers chose to ride out the market, assuming it would eventually get better.

The sellers then felt like they needed a change, and re-listed the home with another agent for $375,000.  Buyer clients of mine saw the home and liked it, but thought it was overpriced based on the other homes they saw on the market.  They made an offer for $330,000, what they thought was fair and reasonable.

The sellers were a little put off by our offer and chose not to negotiate until we came up higher.  My buyers were afraid of overpaying for this home and ended up buying something else.  This home was then re-listed 5 months later with yet another agent for $349,000 and ended up selling for $300,000!!!

This scenario happens all the time everywhere throughout the country.  We understand that losing money is extremely painful, but holding on to a depreciating asset is a losing proposition. You will lose money every day you continue to own the home.

MORAL OF THE STORY:  Don't let greed or emotions cloud your judgment. When you get a decent offer, try to make it work because you never know if and when the next one will come or what it will be.

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

Here are some others that may interest you as well:

Cool Virtual Tool To Help Pick Out Paint Color

Is Social Media Killing Confidentiality?

Is Your Message Being Tuned Out?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

**************************************************************************************

About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman service the Cleveland, Oh metropolitan area and specialize in Cleveland luxury homes and working with buyers relocating to Cleveland.

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235 or email.

LET'S CONNECT:

Sellers - Don't Let This Happen To You is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©June, 2011

Will Exterior Lighting Help A Home Sell - Originally posted at Cleveland Real Estate Blog

Have you ever given thought to how your home looks after the sun goes down? When people sell their home, most of the attention focuses on how it will look during the day. Curb appeal and overall presentation are obviously important to making a positive impression on potential buyers. However, some buyers really care how a home looks at night and appealing to these folks may help sell your home.

IS YOUR HOME BRIGHT AT NIGHT?

In the past, I never really gave much thought to how a home looks at night. Recently though, one of our luxury home buyers changed the way we now think about the subject. This particular buyer mentioned that having a well lit home was very important to him and was a key criteria for choosing a home. He mentioned several reasons:

First, he worked long hours and wanted his new home to look beautiful when he pulled into his driveway at night. Second, he and his wife entertained a lot and wanted the home to give a positive impression when guests came over in the evening. Finally, he wanted the home to provide an additional layer of security for his family. Even though they were looking to purchase in an upscale neighborhood, the buyer didn't want his wife and young children coming home to a dark home.

WHAT CAN A SELLER DO?

Here are a few tips for home sellers to add to their home's "night appeal":

1. Keep The Lights On - Make sure all bulbs are working and keep the outside lights on during the evening hours while the home is on the market. You never know if a potential buyer will be driving around the area at night checking things out, so be prepared.

2. Make Sure Street Lights Are Operable - In most cases, there will be street lights located strategically throughout a neighborhood. Drive around at night and make sure they are all working properly. If not, have your local city fix them.

3. Add Exterior Lighting - If you don't have anything more than the standard outdoor lighting that came with the home, adding flood lights, pathway lights, accent lights, and other specialty lighting isn't overly expensive, but could have a dramatic effect. There are actually some great "green" options available like LED lighting, and the monthly electric bill for these is minimal.

Getting a home sold is not always an easy task, so looking at every angle to help your home stand out is important. Who knows, you may be just a few lights away from a sale.

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

Here are some others that may interest you as well:

Cool Virtual Tool To Help Pick Out Paint Color

Is Social Media Killing Confidentiality?

Is Your Message Being Tuned Out?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

**************************************************************************************

About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman service the Cleveland, Oh metropolitan area and specialize in Cleveland luxury homes and working with buyers relocating to Cleveland.

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235 or email.

 LET'S CONNECT:

Will Exterior Lighting Help A Home Sell is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©May, 2011

In today's market, you have to be able to sell a home on line. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors®, close to 90% of all buyers are using the Internet for their home search. The cold hard fact is that if a buyer doesn't like how a home looks when they are searching on line, they will simply cross it off their list.

So why then are there so many awful pictures out there? I'm not trying to be negative, but there are a ton of bad photos being used by agents, even on high-end homes and from folks who are supposedly top notch professionals. Here is an example:

If you were looking to buy a home, would you be more compelled to see this:

Or this:

Both of these homes are very nice, in the same price point and located within the same community. However, the second home will likely get passed over simply due to how it looks on line.

YOUR HOME WILL BE JUDGED BY THE PICTURES

Fair or not, your home will be judged by how it looks on the Internet.  I know a lot of agents say that a buyer's first impression when viewing a home in person is the most important thing, but if they don't like how it looks on line, they will never get to that point.

So why do sellers allow their home to be marketed with bad pictures?  I'm convinced that many sellers don't completely understand the importance of good quality photos. Many probably don't even look on line to see how their home appears on different websites.  If they did, they'd be horrified.

SIMPLE ADVICE FOR HOME SELLERS

Before putting your home for sale, check out an agent's work before you hire them.  Ask to see samples of their listings to get an idea of how your home would be marketed. Ask who will be taking the pictures and what kind of equipment they will be using. If you have a luxury home, you may want to insist on using a professional photographer.

While it is often said that pictures are worth a thousand words, using great quality photos to sell a home will lead to one special word: SOLD!

**************************************************************************************

About The Author

The above information pertaining to Cleveland Real Estate News was provided by Amy Schuman of The Schuman Team Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland.  Amy is an Accedited Staging Professional and can be reached at 216-403-9189 or via email,  amyschuman@kw.com.

The Schuman Team services the Cleveland, Oh metropolitan area and specialize in Cleveland luxury homes and working with buyers relocating to Cleveland.

 LET'S CONNECT:

Are Your Home's Pictures Keeping It From Selling is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©May, 2011

Originally Posted At Cleveland Real Estate Blog

As a real estate agent who specializes in home staging, I need to stay on top of current trends.  My listings need to look fresh and current in order to appeal to today’s buyers.  One of the easiest and least expensive options to make a huge impression is paint, but people often have a tough time deciding what color to choose. Today, I'm going to let you all in on a little secret.

Benjamin Moore has a line of Pottery Barn Colors.  They come out with a new palette each season and are always the latest colors that are good safe choices.  This is such a great place to start and you can find this on their website.  Here you can not only see the latest color palette, but also see it in decorated rooms to better help you envision it in your home.

Many decorators will tell you that Benjamin Moore paints are their favorite.  “The colors are more saturated and always look better,” they’ll say.  While I do prefer Benjamin Moore myself, and as a disclaimer I do not represent them in any way, there is no reason you can’t use those Pottery Barn color swatches to choose a comparable color in a less expensive brand of paint.  My only warning is to be sure the similar color has the same undertones or you may be sorry when it is all over your walls.

Whether you are looking to sell your home or just want a new look, check out the Spring Pottery Barn colors at Benjamin Moore. 

If you liked this post, please subscribe to our blog. We always appreciate having new readers and more importantly, enjoy making new friends.

If you enjoyed this article, here are some others that may interest you as well:

Is Social Media Killing Confidentiality?

Is Your Message Being Tuned Out?

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

Is Zillow Really Accurate? Take A Look For Yourself

**************************************************************************************

About The Author

The above information pertaining to Cleveland Real Estate News was provided by Amy Schuman of The Schuman Team Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland.  Amy is an Accedited Staging Professional and can be reached at 216-403-9189 or via email,  amyschuman@kw.com.

The Schuman Team services the Cleveland, Oh metropolitan area and specialize in Cleveland luxury homes and working with buyers relocating to Cleveland.

 LET'S CONNECT:

Designer and Staging Secret To Choosing Paint Colors is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©March, 2011

You Call That A list of Improvements - C'mon Sellers, Get Real!

When showing homes, we are often presented with a lengthy list of recent "improvements" made by the sellers. Now I understand that in today's market sellers are doing everything they can to justify their price, but it seems like these lists are getting more questionable every day.

Sellers need to realize that padding their list of improvements is like a job applicant embellishing their resume. Buyers and their agents can see right through it. Here are a few "improvements" we have come across lately, and I'm sure our peers and their buyers could probably add to this list.

1. "Professionally Cleaned All Windows"

2. "Security Light Added To Rear of Home"

3.  "New Carpet In Family Room"

4.  "Air Filters Recently Changed"

5.  "New Garbage Disposal"

6. "Air ducts Cleaned and Sanitized"

7. "New Smoke Detectors Installed Upstairs" 

8. "Upgraded fuse box"

9. "Part of Roof Repaired"

10. "Gutters Recently Cleaned"

Letting a buyer know about real improvements like a totally updated kitchen or new roof are important and certainly worth mentioning.  However, giving us a list of fluff won't help your cause. If anything, it will give buyers and their agents a good laugh and provide me with material for my blog.

Here are other articles written by the authors:

Real Estate Agents Are Not Just Door Openers

How Much Can I Get That Home For? 

Moving Up In A Down Market Makes Sense 

*******************************************************************************************

About The Authors:

This information is provided compliments of Amy and Dan Schuman, The Schuman Team Keller Williams Realty. The Schumans are residents of Solon OH and have worked with numerous professional athletes, business owners, and executives who are relocating to Cleveland.

If you are looking to buy or sell Cleveland OH real estate, including the surrounding suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team at 216-346-3235. 

SEE ALL CLEVELAND OH AREA HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW:

 CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

You Call That A list of Improvements - C'mon Sellers, Get Real! is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©September2010    

Cleveland Ohio Home Staging - Things That Get A Buyer To Say "YES"

So, we're still in a buyer's market and despite the lowest interest rates in history and homes selling at deep discounts, we are still seeing lots of "lookers" but not enough "buyers".  As an Accredited Staging Professional, I regularly counsel both those currently trying to sell a home or those looking to maximize home improvements for future resale.  Here are the things that really get a buyers attention:

1.   Updated kitchens - What sells?   

*Stainless steel appliances are always a hit in any price point and make any kitchen feel more current.

*Counter tops that make sense.  Granite is always a winner - and is expected in higher end homes.  But even in a humble abode, there are inexpensive ways to replace or improve on counters. 

2.   Wood floors - This is something that never goes out of style and works with traditional as well as modern décor.  Plain fact - buyers love wood floors.

3.   Beautiful Baths -  Second only to the appearance of the kitchen - baths can be a huge deal killer - or can seal the deal.  They need to be neutral, immaculately clean and feel like a spa.  Even small bathrooms can be made lush with some small improvements and fresh towels.

4.   Don't Forget the Fixtures - Homes feel stylish and updated when the fixtures reflect this.  Change out dated light fixtures.  The same goes for tired faucets.  Little improvements can take you far.  It's better to spend a few hundred dollars to make the house look its best then having to lower your price to get their attention.  "Buyers only know what they see, not the way its going to be"*

5.   Brighten up! - Do whatever it takes to make the house feel light and bright.

•        Open all window treatments for showings

•        Wash all windows  inside and out

•        Make sure all light bulbs are working and at the highest safe wattage.

•        Leave lights on for showings.

Consulting a professional home stager is the best way to maximize your results and get your home sold.  Please feel free to contact Amy Schuman with questions or to help you locate a stager near you.

*  quoted from Barb Schwarz - the creator of Home Staging and StagedHomes.com

*****************************************************************************************

This post is provided compliments of The Schuman Team, Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland. The Schumans specialize in luxury homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and home staging.

For Ohio and Cleveland OH real estate and homes see Cleveland Oh real estate.

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235.

SEE ALL CLEVELAND OH AREA HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW:

 CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Cleveland Ohio Home Staging - Things That Get A Buyer To Say "YES" is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©September2010  

Safety Tips When Selling Your Cleveland OH Home

While recently preparing for a class I was presenting to other real estate agents on Realtor® safety, I thought about the importance of reviewing safety tip with clients as well.  Here are some tips that you should keep in mind when putting your home on the market.

Tip 1 - Unfortunately, during the process of selling, you will have a stream of strangers walking through your home - both with agents and during any open houses.  Most sellers know to put away any of the obvious valuables - jewelry and money - but don't forget about prescription medicines and any personal information or documents that could be used for identity theft.  Also, you may want to put away anything precious to you that could accidentally be broken. 

Tip 2 - Be careful who you let in.  All of your showings should be scheduled in advanced through your agent, their office, or their showing service.   Do not let in anyone who stops by unannounced - even if they tell you that your agent sent them.  Instruct them to set an appointment and point them to the phone number on your For Sale sign.  Never allow a buyer inside your home without their agent present.

Tip 3 - Protect yourself from liability.  Shovel walks in the winter, secure your pets, and just be aware of anything that could put a prospective buyer in danger of an injury.

Tip 4 - Talk to your agent about their policies on safeguarding your home.  This may include how they conduct an open house, lockbox security, and anything else that is of concern to you.  Make sure that your home is never listed or advertised as "Vacant" as this is an open invitation for trouble.

Tip 5 - Always trust your instincts.  If something doesn't feel right, don't do it. 

*******************************************************************************************

About The Authors:

This information is provided compliments of Amy and Dan Schuman, The Schuman Team Keller Williams Realty. The Schumans are residents of Solon OH and have worked with numerous professional athletes, business owners, and executives who are relocating to Cleveland. They specialize in the Cleveland Ohio luxury home market and also enjoy working with first-time buyers as well.

If you are looking to buy or sell Cleveland OH real estate, including the surrounding suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team at 216-346-3235. 

SEE ALL CLEVELAND OH AREA HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW:

 CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Safety Tips When Selling Your Cleveland OH Home is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©March2010    

Thinking of Selling Your Home - Why Wait, The Buyers Are Out There Now

First time and move up buyer tax credits set to expire April 30^th and buyers are out in full force looking to take advantage of the $8000 or $6500, courtesy of Uncle Sam. The problem is that much of the current inventory here in Greater Cleveland has been on the market since the fall and there is nothing new or exciting for the buyers to see. Today's buyers are demanding a totally finished product.   Most of the homes sitting on the market haven't sold because they either need too much work or are outdated. However, if you offer them what they want, they will buy.

Have you been thinking about selling your home, but were afraid that there may not be interest?  Concerned you may not get the price you want because of the slow market?  Now may be your golden opportunity, especially if you a have an updated home.

While many sellers like to wait until the spring, this may be a bad move this year. Buyers are out there now, and the longer you wait, the more competition you will face.

This is especially true in some of the areas that we service, such as Solon, Orange, Moreland Hills, Pepper Pike and Beachwood. We recently had over 50 different buyers see one of our listings. Many of them are still out there looking and waiting for something new to come on the market. 

If your home is a nice, finished product and you are thinking about a move, you should seriously consider putting it on the market now while demand is high. In fact, many experts predict a temporary sellers market during the month of April, as the tax credit deadline quickly approaches.

You have nothing to lose, so get your home ready and sell it now. The buyers are waiting.

See Other Articles Of Interest

Tips When Selling A Home In The Winter

Solon Luxury Homes - 2009 Year In Review

Solon Real Estate - 2009 Year End Home Statistics 

****************************************************************************************

About The Authors:

This information is provided compliments of Amy and Dan Schuman, The Schuman Team Keller Williams Realty. The Schumans service primarily the Eastern suburbs of Cleveland have worked with numerous professional athletes, business owners, and executives who are relocating to Cleveland. They specialize in the Cleveland Ohio luxury home market and also enjoy working with first-time buyers as well.

If you are looking to buy or sell Cleveland real estate, including the surrounding suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team at 216-346-3235. 

SEE ALL CLEVELAND AREA HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW:

 CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Thinking of Selling Your Home - Why Wait, The Buyers Are Out There Now is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©Feb2010  

Cleveland Ohio Real Estate - Tips When Selling A Home In The Winter

For a variety of reasons, many home owners here in Cleveland have decided to put their home on the market during the winter months. With cold temperatures and an abundance of snow, we have decided to give some tips that may help you with your home sale.

1.     Always keep the driveway plowed - While this may seem like common sense, a poorly plowed driveway is a negative first impression for a buyer.  Equally important is making it easier for the buyer and their agent to get into the home.

2.     Keep walkway clear and ice free - Efforts should be made to make sure the path leading to the entrance of the home is clear. This serves mulitple purposes. Most important, as mentioned in #1 above, it is part of the first impression. Also, you want to avoid someone slipping and falling while trying to get into your home.   A clear drive and walkway also mean less snow being brought into the home, a major plus for the homeowner.

3.     Have plenty of rugs/towels available in entryway - This is ideal to eliminate snow being brought into the home. While many homeowner typically keep a mat or rug in the entryway of their home year round, adding additional reinforcement would be a good idea. We also recommend having a place to keep boots as well.

4.     Keep the home warm - While many sellers may turn down the thermostat while they are out of their home, keeping a home nice and warm during showings is a must. You want a buyer to feel comfortable in your home, and having it cold could also send signals that the home is not well insulated.

5.     Have summer photos available - Your home looks totally different when the ground is covered with snow and it is often difficult for a buyer to envision what the yard looks like. If possible, have photos of your home available for buyers to see what it looks like when everything is in bloom.

There are many advantages to selling your home during the winter, including less competition and being able to market to more motivated buyers ( who else is trekking through the cold and snow to see homes ). So if you are going to sell in the winter, make sure to take the necessary steps to make sure a buyer has a positive experience in your home. 

************************************************************************************************

About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman  use their home staging expertise to sell listings quicker and for more money. If you are looking to buy or sell a home in the Cleveland area, please contact the Schuman Team at 216-346-3235. 

VIEW ALL CLEVELAND AREA  HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW:

CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Cleveland Ohio Real Estate - Tips When Selling A Home In The Winter is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©Jan,2010

Selling A Home In Cleveland - The Myths Of Open Houses

While many sellers expect open houses to be a big part of any marketing plan, this article will bring to light the many myths of open houses. Certainly, they do have their place, but putting too much emphasis on them may lead to disappointing results.

To begin, let's look at this graph: ( statistics compiled by a survey by the National Association of Realtors® in 2008 )

WHERE BUYER FOUND OUT ABOUT HOME 

As you can see, open houses didn't even make the list. Their effectiveness has waned over the years and we wanted to give you some facts so that you can decide if you want open houses to be a part of your marketing plan.

Here are some common "Myths" regarding open houses:

1. OPEN HOUSES ARE A POPULAR WAY TO SELL A HOUSE - Based on the graph, the 3 main ways a buyer finds a home is through a real estate agent, through the Internet, or a yard sign, not though an open house.

2. OPEN HOUSES ARE BENEFICIAL TO SELLERS - Open houses are good for the listing agent, not necessarily the seller. Since the odds of a buyer actually buying a particular home at an open house are extremely low, the real benefit of an open house is for the listing agent to capture buyer leads. Anyone who comes to an open house not represented by another agent is a potential client to that agent but the seller benefits are marginal at best.

3. OPEN HOUSES BRING MOTIVATED BUYERS -  In many cases, people who attend an open house usually are just tire-kickers, those mulling around the possibility of buying and are most likely either not able or ready to buy right away. While some open house attendees will buy at some point, the real serious buyers typically have already hired a real estate agent, and won't attend an open house.

4. OPEN HOUSES NEED TO LAST 3-4 HOURS - We see this mistake made often by those trying to sell their own home. Having an open house from Noon - 5PM, for exmaple, is a waste of time. If you are going to have an open house, 1 1/2-2 hours is a sufficient amount of time. If a home is that nice and priced competitively, people will come, and if they cannot attend, they will at least call to make an appointment to see it at another time. If a buyers perceives tremendous value, they will make an effort to see a home.

5. OPEN HOUSES PROVIDE NO RISK TO THE SELLER - Since an open house is "open" to the public, anyone can attend. This means that a seller will have strangers walking through their home and looking at their personal belongings. While most attendees probably have good intentions, thieves are known to attend open houses so they can either take things that day, or "case out the area" for a future robbery. We are by no means saying this will happen, as this is a rare occurrence, but opening up your home to the public does come with risks, however slight they may be. 

While we do feel, based on market statistics, that open houses are not the most effective means to secure a buyer, they still can work. The bottom line is that some buyers don't like to work with an agent and prefer to attend open houses. Therefore it certainly may be worth at least considering the merits of including them as a small part of an overall marketing campaign. Today's sellers simply need to clearly understand the expectations of having an open house so they can determine if it is important that their agent have them.

***********************************************************************************************

About The Authors:

This information is provided compliments of Amy and Dan Schuman, The Schuman Team Keller Williams Realty. The Schumans service both the East and West sides of Cleveland and have worked with numerous professional athletes, business owners, and executives who are relocating to Cleveland. They specialize in the Cleveland Ohio luxury home market and also enjoy working with first-time buyers as well.

If you are looking to buy or sell Cleveland real estate, including the surrounding suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team at 216-346-3235. 

SEE ALL CLEVELAND AREA HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW:

 CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Selling A Home In Cleveland - The Myths Of Open Houses is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©Nov 2009