Cleveland Real Estate And More

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman are agents with Howard Hanna, the area's largest real estate company. They live in Solon Ohio and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

LET'S CONNECT:

Taking The Stress Out Of Home Inspections is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©April 2012

Signature of Solon - Home For Sale

Fri, 11 May 2012 11:32:43 -0700

Solon Ohio Home For Sale - 7357 Shelford Drive, Solon, OH 44139

JUST LISTED - SIGNATURE OF SOLON

IMPRESSIVE LUXURY HOME IN PREMIERE GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY

OFFERED AT $750,000

Welcome to the Signature of Solon lifestyle! This premiere gated golf course community offers golf, tennis, swimming and social events for all ages. Upon entering this gracious home, you will immediately be impressed with the open floor plan and high end finishes. The entire home is thoughtfully designed and is perfect for everyday living as well as grand scale entertaining. The lot is one of the best around offering privacy and plenty of space for play. The finished lower level boasts an indoor sport court along with a rec room and full bath! There is a first floor master bedroom and 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths upstairs. This home is located in close proximity to downtown and the airport. Solon was recently rated the #3 best place to live by Money Magazine. Come see a great home in a wonderful community.

MAP

Solon - A Special Community

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman specialize in Solon Oh Luxury Homes and both have designations pertaining to their expertise in selling luxury homes. Dan is an Accredited Luxury Home Specialist and Amy holds the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation.

For Ohio and Solon Oh real estate and luxury homes see Solon OH Real Estate

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

LET'S CONNECT:

Signature of Solon - Home For Sale is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©May, 2012

Solon OH Real Estate 44139 - Quarterly Market Report First Quarter 2012

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:27:53 -0700

Solon Ohio Real Estate 44139 - Quarterly Market Report First Quarter 2012

Here is our first quarter market report for homes in Solon OH for the zip code 44139, excluding Glenwillow. We will first provide a list of all the homes that sold in Solon during the first quarter of 2012, give a comparison to the same time period in 2011, and then give our commentary.

ALL SOLON HOME SALES FIRST QUARTER 2012

30120 Miles Rd $60,500 34185 Maple Dr $82,500 5701 Spring Grove Dr $94,000 5683 Spring Grove Dr $108,000 6879 Highland Dr $122,500

6671 Glenallen Ave

$142,000 33035 Arlesford Dr $142,800 35890 Aurora Rd $152,000 7218 Selworthy Ln $194,000 5700 Janet Blvd $195,000 5162 Cheswick Dr $214,000 5067 Cheswick Dr $216,000 32785 N Roundhead Dr $225,000 6445 Windy Willow Dr $237,000 32200 Miles Rd $247,000 34850 Solon Rd $250,000 32520 Seneca Dr $261,000 34175 Ada Dr $262,000 39839 Alsace Ct $266,400

32900 Aspen Glen Dr

$300,000

30151 Wedgewood Dr

$314,000 6541 Woodbury Dr $334,000 36317 Blue Grass Oval $360,000 37171 Landings Dr $420,000 39840 Alsace Ct $425,000 38595 Flanders Rd $519,000 6683 Winston Ln $600,000 32965 Brighton Park Blvd $710,000 37450 Broadstone Dr $920,000

All Sales # of homes sold Ave. Sales Price

March 2012 9 $260,322

March 2011 16 $188,958

1st Quarter 2012 29 $288,748

1st Quarter 2011 30 $255,838

*source NEOHREX ( Regional MLS )

COMMENTARY:

The numbers don't accurately reflect the current state of the market, which has been strong over the past 60 days. These first quarter sales are a result of market activity that took place during at the end of 2011 and very beginning of this year. Basically, the above sales occurred before the market started to pick up steam.

If you poll local real estate agents, especially in the Solon market, they will concur with us that the market has really started to strengthen. The fact that there are currently 55 homes under contract backs up our position. Furthermore, 28 of these current "pending" sales took place when the home had been on the market for less than 60 days. We personally have been involved with a half dozen sales this year when the days on market of the home had been less than 40 days. We are even starting to see buyers fight over homes in terms of multiple offer situations.

Moving forward, it's too early to tell if the latest increase in activity is going to be a long-term trend, but buyers certainly seem to be feeling much more confident about the economy and the housing market.

While we are not yet ready to declare this a sellers market, the pendulum is certainly starting to swing ever so slightly in that direction.

Below Are Other Articles Of Interest Relating To Solon OH:

Money Magazine Ranks Solon Top Places To Live

Newsweek Ranks Solon On Top Schools List

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman live on the East side of Cleveland and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Solon Oh real estate and homes see Solon OH Real Estate

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

LET'S CONNECT:

Solon OH Real Estate 44139 - Quarterly Market Report First Quarter 2012 is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©April, 2012

Thornbury Of Solon - Home For Sale

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:13:14 -0700

Solon Ohio Home For Sale - 6658 Winston Lane, Solon, OH 44139

JUST LISTED - THORNBURY ESTATES

LUXURY LIVING IN IDEAL NEIGHBORHOOD!

OFFERED AT $619,000

As you drive through the popular Thornbury neighborhood, you will be impressed by the picturesque homes and manicured lanscaping. It is a highly sought after area of Solon, Ohio, recently rated as the #3 best place to live in the US by Money Magazine. This wonderful home boasts an ideal open floor plan with upgrades throughout. The gourmet granite kitchen with large dinette opens to a huge family room with soaring ceilings, wall of windows, and a fireplace with beautiful woodwork. The formal dining and living rooms adjoin, allowing for large family gatherings or grand scale entertaining. The spa-like master suite has two walk in closets and the perfect glamour bath comlete with granite counters. Three other large bedrooms with spacious closets and two other well appointed full baths are located on the the second floor. The lower level is extremely well finished with an amazing rec room complete with a built in bar and theater area. The lower level also features a bonus room ( great for guests or an exercise room ) and an additional full bath. The expansive private back yard with trex deck and stone patio is just the icing on the cake of this ideal home.

MAP

One Question That You Absolutely Must Ask Your Clients

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About The Authors:

For Ohio and Solon Oh real estate and luxury homes see Solon OH Real Estate

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

LET'S CONNECT:

Thornbury of Solon - Home For Sale is the property of The Schuman Team, including all photos, and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©April, 2012

2011 Solon Real Estate - The Year In Review

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:48:19 -0800

Solon Real Estate Market - Year In Review 2011

The following is our 3rd annual year in review for Solon Ohio real estate. Here, we will provide a comparison between this past year and 2010, show you a specific breakdown based on different price bands, and offer commentary.

ALL HOMES

Year # of Homes Sold Ave. Sales Price Price/Sq. Foot Sales Price/List Price %

2011 227 $287,205 $101.32 94.24%

2010 202 $292, 547 $103.92 94.61%

NON BANK OWNED HOMES

Since there have been a large number of bank owned sales over the past few years, which can often skew the statistics, we have included figures below that exclude all bank owned homes.

2011 212 $291,708 $103.26 93.50%

2010 192 $293,265 $105.41 94.53%

LUXURY HOMES ( sales price over $500,000 )

2011 29 $626,888 $137.98 94.58%

2010 25 $645,830 $139.06 94.17%

2011 FIRST HALF VS. SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR

FIRST HALF 99 $282,575 $102.99 94.40%

SECOND HALF 113 $301,013 $104.37 94.11%

Here is a break down of all 2011 sales by specific price bands:

Source: NEOHREX

COMMENTARY

While the last few years have been challenging to say the least, this past year showed us some positive signs. Below is a list of 5 important things that the above statistics tell us:

1. More homes sold in 2011 vs. 2010 ( when the federal tax credit articifically inflated sales )

2. Average sales price relatively unchanged

3. The market IMPROVED during the second half of 2011

4. A well priced home can expect to receive approximately 94% of asking price

5. The $200,000 - $350,000 price range has the most buyers

So, what can we take away from all of this? Market stabalization has positively affected the entire local real estate market for both buyers and sellers.

BUYERS AND SELLERS BOTH FEEL BETTER

The numbers indicate more buyers and sellers coming together and overcoming the numerous challenges presented by the market. First time buyers are feeling a little more confident as are the local move-up buyers. Those looking to sell and buy a larger home are realizing that selling their existing home is now a realistic goal and no longer have as much fear. This is epsecially true for those selling a home in the $200,000-$350,000 price range.

Sellers have come to better understand that the major correction in the local real estate market has brought prices to where they were about 10 years ago. I'm certainly not indicating that sellers are happy about this, but they now have more realistic expectations regarding price.

CHALLENGES MOVING FORWARD

The improvement in the local real estate market is a very slow going process. While the market is certainly seeing more activity, it will still take some time for consumers to regain total confidence in real estate.

It will still be difficult bringing buyers and sellers together when it comes to price. Sellers often have unrealistic expecations and buyers simply refuse to overpay for a home. That being said, homes are still selling in all different price points.

The key thing for a seller is to be flexible and reasonable on price. As shown above, a home can on average expect to receive 94% of the listing price. There are a ton of buyers out there, many who really do want to buy so sellers must be wise when pricing their home.

Buyers need to be more realistic as well in terms of expecatations. The have been given a slight sense of entitlement by the media, who has consistently been telling of a huge buyers market. Yes, while most price points here still have quite a bit of inventory, the nice homes stand out and multiple bid situations are not uncommon. Buyers must understand that the pefect home does not exist, in any price point.

The increased second half of 2011 is a good sign moving forward. It indicates that people are feeling more secure financially to move forward with their purchase goals.

View Solon Ohio in a larger map

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman live on the East side of Cleveland and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Solon Oh real estate and homes see Solon OH real estate

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

LET'S CONNECT:

Solon Ohio HOme Value Report 2011 is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©February, 2012

Is Your Customer Service Really That Good?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:03:13 -0800

If we polled 100 real estate agents, I bet over 95% would say they give great customer service. But are we really as good as we think we are?

What prompted this post was a bad experience I had recently as a consumer. It even made me evaluate whether we were really doing everything possible to provide legendary service to our clients.

WHAT WENT WRONG

I was never asked questions up front regarding what I wanted in terms of service.

To make matters worse, when I told the owner I was unhappy, he was shocked and a little defensive. He truly felt that his company was giving me great service. The main problem was that he confused giving a great price as providing great service. They are not always one and the same.

COMMON MISTAKES THAT COST US BUSINESS

I noticed several mistakes that were made by this particular company when dealing with me. They:

1. Failed to ask up front what was important to me.

2. Committed the mortal sin - Told me how swamped they were every time I called, making me feel that my business wasn't important.

3. Didn't communicate with me proactively. I always had to call them for a status.

4. Didn't offer to correct the problem.

5. Failed to recognize that they gave me a bad experience.

Let's face it, all of these mistakes could have been avoided and it wouldn't have cost a dime, just a little effort. Too many people are simply so pre-occupied with building their business that customer service often gets put on the back burner.

IN ORDER TO EXCEED SOMEONE'S EXPECTATIONS, YOU MUST FIRST DEFINE WHAT THEY WANT

It all starts with communication. Ask your clients in what manner and how often they would like to hear from you. Do they prefer email, text, or face to face interaction? Do they want to speak daily, weekly, or as needed? Don't assume to know the answers, you must ask!

Be proactive. Always stay one step ahead. If a client has to call you for a status before you call them, you failed.

Remember, just because you work hard for your clients doesn't mean you are giving them great service. By asking the right questions up front and communicating effectively throughout the process, you can avoid the mistakes that many business people make.

The ability to provide excellent service will make a huge difference to your business.

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 of our others posts that may interest you as well:

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About The Authors:

LET'S CONNECT:

Is Your Customer Service Really That Good is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©February 2012

Solon Ohio Home On Land - Chagrin Highlands

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:58:50 -0800

Solon Ohio Home For Sale - 38735 Gaelic Glen, Solon, OH 44139

JUST LISTED - CHAGRIN HIGHLANDS

PRIVACY AND ELEGANCE!

OFFERED AT $500,000

Driving through the picturesque Chagrin Highlands neighborhood will leave a lasting impression on you. Once you pull up to this stately colonial, you will want this to be your next home. Located on one of the finest cul-de-sac lots around, you will be overwhelmed by the peace and serenity this home has to offer. The warmth and elegance of the interior is equally as impressive. Between the gourmet kitchen with stunning granite counters and elegant over sized dining room, you can entertain in grand fashion. The second floor bonus room offers limitless possibilities and is currently being used as an enormous play area. The walk-out lower level has a 5th bedroom, full bath, craft room, and rec room. The back yard makes a great play area yet also offers privacy. Solon was recently rated the 3rd best place to live in America and this fine home at 38735 Gaelic Glen is the best buy in town. Schedule your tour today!

MAP

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About The Authors:

For Ohio and Solon Oh real estate and luxury homes see Solon OH Real Estate

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

LET'S CONNECT:

Solon Ohio Home On Land - Chagrin Highlands is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©January, 2012

Solon Ohio Luxury Home For Sale - Thornbury Estates

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:41:21 -0800

Solon Ohio Home For Sale - 6678 Winston Lane, Solon, OH 44139

JUST LISTED - THORNBURY ESTATES

COME HOME TO LUXURY!

OFFERED AT $644,900

The excitement builds as you drive through this premiere luxury home subdivision and arrive at one of Thornbury Estates finest homes. This picture perfect home will exceed your expectations. Impressive in every way with all the upscale amenities you deserve along with a highly functional floor plan. Tucked away from the center of the home on the first floor is a 5th bedroom with adjoining full bath perfect for an in-law suite or out of town guests. It is currently being used as a private office. The expansive finished lower level and spacious back yard are perfect play areas for both kids and adults. Thornbury's community playground and walking path top off this truly special neighborhood, a place anyone would be proud to call home. Schedule an appointment today to see your new dream home.

MAP

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About The Authors:

For Ohio and Solon Oh real estate and luxury homes see Solon OH Real Estate

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

LET'S CONNECT:

Solon Ohio Luxury Home For Sale - Thornbury Estates is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©January, 2012

Mayfield Heights Oh Home For Sale

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:37:25 -0800

Mayfield Heights Home For Sale - 1228 E. Miner, Mayfield Heights OH 44124

JUST LISTED

CUTE AND UPDATED!

OFFERED AT $128,000

This is a warm and inviting bungalow that you'll love to call home! May major updates have already been done, such as the newer roof and windows. The wood cabinets look great with the included stainless steel appliances. There is a stylish full bath on the first floor and bonus half bath upstairs. This wonderful home boasts plenty of closet space including a large cedar closet. The back yard offers a little privacy within this desirable neighborhood. There is an extra parking pad in back. This fine home is located in close proximity to shopping, the highway, and Mayfield Community Playground.

One Question That You Absolutely Must Ask Your Clients

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman live in Cleveland Ohio and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

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 or email.

LET'S CONNECT:

Mayfield Heights Oh Home For Sale is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©January 2012.

Pepper Pike OH Real Estate - Year In Review 2011

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:49:28 -0800

Pepper Pike OH Real Estate Year In Review 2011

Here is our official 2011 year in review for Pepper Pike Oh real estate, complete with a comparison to 2010. We will provide commentary after giving statistics on the Pepper Pike housing market.

Year # of Homes Ave. Sales Price Sales Price/List Price Ave. Days on Market

2011 89 $402,418 88.22% 194

2010 85 $435,535 91.99% 159

Here are all 2011 home sales in Pepper Pike broken down by price points:

Source: NEOHREX

COMMENTARY

A great year in 2010 was followed by even higher sales in 2011. However, as opposed to last year when we saw an increase in both sales AND average sales price, the average sales price of a home in Pepper Pike decreased from last year. The activity in the luxury home market ( those priced over $500,000) was decent with 25 sales. Although not as strong as 2010, it was much better than the 14 luxury homes that sold in 2009.

In addition to looking at Pepper Pike statistics, we also think it's important to note real estate activity in the other two suburbs that are also part of the Orange School District ( Moreland Hills and Orange ). Both Moreland Hills and Orange saw an increase in the average price of a home in 2011. Moreland Hills saw an increase in sales compared to 2010 while Orange saw sales numbers decrease.

Overall, the numbers indicate that the worst is behind us although the local real estate market is still moving along very slowly. There have been some positive signs in the economy which will hopefully help the local housing market.

There are some fantastic deals on homes in Pepper Pike right now, and continued low rates make this a great time to buy.

Pepper Pike is a very small community on the east side of Cleveland. It is in close proximity to the airport and downtown Cleveland, making it a popular destination for people relocating to Cleveland.

View Pepper Pike Ohio in a larger map

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman live on the East side of Cleveland and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Pepper Pike Oh real estate and homes see Pepper Pike OH real estate

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

LET'S CONNECT:

Pepper Pike OH Real Estate Year In Review 2011 is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©January, 2012

A LinkedIn Tip Sure To Wow

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:06:55 -0800

A LinkedIn Tip Sure To Wow

While it is often overlooked compared to Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn can be quite effective. For those of you on LinkedIn, we will be sharing a special tip that can have a huge impact on your sphere and perhaps your business as well.

We'll start out giving you our tip and explaining how it can be good for you.

*** RECOMMEND SOMEONE ***

On Linked In, there is a function that allows you to recommend one of your contacts. It is on the right hand side of your contact's main page and looks like this:

Why Recommend Someone?

It helps build their profile
It may help them obtain business or get a job
The recommendation gets announced to their contacts
A way to show appreciation to someone that has been good to you
It will make their day and they will remember you for it

Who should You Recommend?

Co-Workers
Former Colleagues or Co-workers
Affiliates such as inspectors, lenders or anyone else you do business with
Current Or Past Clients
Fellow board members or people that network with you
Someone with less than 3 recommendations, as this may significantly build their LI profile

All you have to do is click on the "recommend" link as shown above and you can write a recommendation for someone in about 2 minutes, it's that easy and the impact can be huge.

So, go log into your LinkedIn account, look through your contacts, and recommend a few of them. They will be notified that you did this as well, so don't be surprised if you get a thank you phone call or lunch invitation from a very grateful contact.

We hope you find this little tip to be helpful, and that paying it forward will be a win-win for you and your Linked In contacts.

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

Also, if you think your readers would enjoy this article, please feel free to re-blog by hitting the green button at the top of the post.

Here are some of our others posts that may interest you as well:

One Question That You Absolutely Must Ask Your Clients

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About The Authors:

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 or email.

LET'S CONNECT:

A Linked In Tip Sure To Wow is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©November 2011

Stop Negotiating Like A 5 Year Old

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:24:08 -0700

Stop Negotiating Like A 5 Year Old - Originally Posted at Cleveland Real Estate Blog

Bringing buyers and sellers together is more difficult today than ever before. Buyers want it all and sellers are sick and tired of seeing their equity disappear. Negotiating in this market can be especially challenging when one of the parties or even the other agent negotiates like a child.

Don't get me wrong, children can be great negotiators, especially when it comes to wanting an extra dessert or staying up past their bedtime. However, when adults start acting illogical and downright child-like, well, it's just not good.

THE PROBLEM WHEN EMOTIONS RULE

At the end of the day, negotiations are about money and to some extent winning. This alone can make even the most level headed person become emotional. When you let your emotions and ego overtake your logic and decision making ability, that's when you get into trouble.

I couldn't tell you how many times I've seen someone let their emotions get the best of them. They become so wrapped up in the personal side of the transaction that they lose sight of what they are really trying to accomplish. They end up spending more time and energy discussing the other party than the actual transaction itself.

Some folks get so emotional that their behavoir actually becomes child-like, minus the kicking and screaming ( well sometimes they do scream ). If I could record their conversations and play them back to them, I'm convinced they would be quite ashamed at their behavior.

STAY CALM AND GET WHAT YOU WANT

No matter how riled up someone gets, we believe that camler heads prevail. Professionals need to detach themselves emotionally so they can help bring people together.

I realize that our clients want us to fight hard for them, but that doesn't mean we have to take on their emotions to accomplish their goals.

Making demands of the other party or idle threats that "we want this or else" just aren't effective. Those tactics may have worked in the past, but there is no place for them in today's business environment.

If you want to be angry because the buyer or seller isn't cooperating, take it out on punching bag, but not other people. In the end, take a step back, look at the big picture and stop acting like a child. If you don't, you'll end up doing more harm than good.

After all, winning the battle but losing the war is not an effective strategy for home negotiations.

Have you had a client who acted like a child? Please share your experience as we'd love to hear from you.

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

Also, if you think your readers would enjoy this article, please feel free to re-blog by hitting the green button at the top of the post.

Here are some others that may interest you as well:

Home Sellers, Don't Let This Happen To You

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman live in Cleveland Ohio and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

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 or email.

LET'S CONNECT:

Stop Negotiating Like A 5 Year Old is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©November 2011

5 Reasons Why Using A Local Agent Is Better

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:38:40 -0700

5 Reasons Why Using A Local Agent Is Better

Local agents know their towns better than anyone else. We firmly believe that using a local Realtor® is in your best interests and in this post we will give you reasons why local is the only way to go.

5 REASONS WHY USING A LOCAL AGENT IS BETTER

1. Superior Market Knowledge - A good local agent knows the inventory inside and out and will be able to more easily pick out homes that are a good fit for you.

2. They Know The Schools - A local agent will have personal experience with the school system and be able to share valuable information with you.

3. Neighborhood Experts - A local agent not only knows all the specific neighborhoods, but often has friends and clients in each one that can be made available to you if needed. Our clients always appreciate hearing from people who live in the neighborhoods in which they are considering.

4. Strong Relationships With Other Agents - A good local agent will network with other local agents to get information that you will never find on line. We will know about homes that may be coming on the market in the future or learn about a seller who has suddenly become "highly motivated" and is open to offers.

5. In The Know - Real estate gossip gets discussed in small circles in every community, like at PTA meetings and at the local softball field. While most agents will never learn this "insider information", a local agent hears these things and will share them with their clients.

LOCAL IS SAFER

If you are ever looking to buy or sell a home, remember that a real estate transaction is very complicated, involving a lot of money and risk. A local agent is always the safest choice.

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:

Is Your Message Being Tuned Out?

One Question That You Absolutely Must Ask Your Clients

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman live in Solon Ohio and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Solon Oh real estate and homes see Solon OH real estate

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

LET'S CONNECT:

5 Reasons Why Using A Local Agent Is Better is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©July, 2011

Letters Mean Nothing, You Need To SPELL It Out

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:00:39 -0700

Letters Mean Nothing, You Need To SPELL It Out

Many of us have designations we have earned, as indicated by letters next to our names. They are a great thing to have, but the problem is that besides people in our industry, no one knows what the heck they mean.

Does anyone besides a real estate agent know what an ABR is? How about a CRS, or GRI? That's why we should all go out of our way and spell things out whenever possible. And for those of you who want to learn more about the benefits of earning a designation, I wrote a post a few years ago that should be helpful.

WHICH IS BETTER?

Dan Schuman, AHLS or Dan Schuman, Accredited Luxury Home Specialist

Dan Schuman, E-Pro or Dan Schuman, E-Pro - Certified Internet Professional

Amy Schuman, ASP or Amy Schuman, Accredited Staging Professional

Think about it, these letters mean nothing unless the person reading understands their significance. When used properly, they can be an effective way to promote yourself and can be put in a ton of places, such as:

1. Our personal email signature

2. AR Signature / footer at bottom of the post

3. Signature when listings are sent to clients from our local MLS

4. Website

5. Business cards

Basically, wherever your name appears, you have an opportunity to highlight your designation.

In addition to spelling things out, many designations offer their own logo as well. Consider getting a copy and using it, especially in places where you have a lot of space, like on your website.

Showcasing our specializations is a good thing. It shows our commitment to education and may also be important to a consumer who is searching for an agent with a specific niche. We worked hard to earn our designations, so there's no reason to be shy about advertising them.

Overall, agents are great marketers, but when it comes to promoting ourselves we sometimes miss the boat. If you want people to know about your area of specialty and differentiate yourself from your competition at the same time, all you have to do is spell it out.

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

Also, if you think your readers would enjoy this article, please feel free to re-blog by hitting the green button at the top of the post.

Here are some others that may interest you as well:

One Question That You Absolutely Must Ask Your Clients

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman live in Cleveland Ohio and specialize in Cleveland Luxury Homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

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 or email.

LET'S CONNECT:

Letters Mean Nothing, You Need To Spell It Out is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©October 2011

It's Not The Market, It's Your Agent

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 08:58:53 -0700

It's Not The Market, It's Your Agent

All agents are not created equal. Selling real estate is more than just marketing a home and showing people houses. It takes an agent with a specific skill set to get the job done right, especially in today's challenging market.

The wrong agent will cause havoc throughout the entire process. They give bad advice, alienate other agents, and can end up becoming a major liability. Sometimes they are the main cause for a deal to fail.

While there are a lot of great agents in every market, there are a few bad apples that can make things difficult for everybody. Consumers need to choose wisely.

IS YOUR AGENT AN ASSET OR A LIABILITY

An agent who gets along well with others can greatly increase your probability of success. This type of agent is often well respected amongst their peers and has an innate ability to put aside their ego for the best interests of everyone involved. Some agents simply are more diplomatic than others.

An agent who "doesn't play nice in the sandbox" can do just the opposite and ruin a transaction. They may have the reputation locally of being a "bulldog", or "ruthless negotiator", a trait you think is important, but that doesn't mean other agents enjoy working with them. This type of agent can actually alienate others and end up being a huge liability.

A GOOD AGENT IS PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT THE PROBLEM

A successful agent provides valuable guidance throughout the entire transaction. They are the rudder of the boat, keeping things focused and on course at all times. They communicate well with everyone and bring solutions to problems. Failure is not an option to these folks.

On the flip side, some agents are truly the problem. They are combative, poor communicators, and can be highly emotional as well. These are traits that perhaps only others will experience while working with your agent, as you may never see this side of them.

Overall, some agents get in their own way, yet don't realize they are doing it. Maybe these tactics served them well in the past when the market was good, but this style isn't best suited for today's challenging market

It'S NOT ALWAYS THE MARKET

While the market is tough, opportunities still exist to achieve your real estate goals, but you need the right agent by your side to make this happen.

When interviewing agents, understand that a good agent brings a lot more to the table than just the basics. They are market experts, have excellent leadership and communication skills, and have good relationships within the local real estate community.

Remember, buying and selling real estate is a large financial transaction and should not be taken lightly. Make sure you hire an agent who will be a tremendous asset and not a liability to you. It's a rough market out there and you need all the help you can get.

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