About Lorain County, OH

Here are some tips I have gathered over the years to help people in my area of Ohio to prepare their home for sale.

The one thing I want to start with is that it really does not take as much as others tell you to get your home ready for sale. I wil not talk here about putting in a new kitchen or bath. Though I may share the importance of cleaning and updating those areas.

A thorough cleaning, a fresh coat of paint, and yard grooming are the ABC's of preparing for a sale. First impressions are important and a neat, clean look gives a good first impression to buyers.

Some additional ideas which you may want to consider:
Plan a yard-sale, or a tax-deductible donation to remove old furniture and toys, appliances and other clutter material. Your attic, garage, closets, cupboards and storage space will look so much bigger, and moving will be easier for you,

• A newly painted wall (in a light or neutral shade) is a canvas to the eye of prospective buyers; and clean windows brighten and enlarge each room.
• With painting walls look at trend colors if you want to get away from nuetrals. Current trend colors are light pastels of greens, oranges, browns, and yellows. Go to a home depot and look at their paint brochures for ideas.
• A well clipped yard - free of scattered toys - allows viewers to focus on the neatness of the home.
• Fix dripping faucets and repair any caulking cracks. Bathrooms are a key selling point.
  

If you are prepared to invest some money to improve your home's presentation, start with the most cost-effective projects and remember to keep a journal of jobs and receipts. Home improvement costs are often deductible (when costs are incurred 90 days before the sale and paid within 30 days after the sale). While lawn-mowing and weekly cleaning bills do not qualify according to IRS regulations, new paint, a new water heater, or new gutters usually do apply. Some hints:

• Replace broken gutters and shutters.
• New paint indoors or out is usually approved by the IRS for deduction if completed and paid for near the time of sale.
• New floor coverings (in neutral shades) on kitchen and bathroom floors may be another affordable investment which can speed a sale by appealing to buyers' desire for a property that is ‘ready to move in,' particularly if the current style of colors are dated.
• Repair broken woodwork, loose planks, and creaky stairs. No buyer wants a home that needs structural repairs.
• Hardwood floors are a plus. If you have hardwood floors, consider removing the floor covering, especially if the carpet is worn.
• Look at your kitchen cabinets. Can they be refinished and just have new hardware. The hardware alone can make a kitchen look a whole lot different. Brushed metal is popular now.
• Counter tops can get warn and be aged with seams not lining up. IF they look dated consider the investment of replacing them. I always tell people to ask an honest opinion from a friend, or better yet your honest Realtor.
• Look at your lighting. Is it up to the trend. Hall lights, dining room lights, and bathroom lights are critical points to look at.
  
• You may want to reconsider more ambitious jobs, however, if you are thinking of selling the home any time soon. While bathroom and kitchen up-grades generally help appreciation, not all home additions will add value to the property - other than that value which you personally enjoy. Not everyone wants a swimming pool that could be a safety hazard for young children, or an island kitchen design that restricts kitchen traffic flow. A new deck may recoup its installment costs, but new kitchen cabinets come in a variety of designs and styles that the buyer should choose.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider hiring a professional for yard care or housecleaning until your house sells. The dollars you spend on curb appeal will often come back through a higher sale price.
• Some homeowners choose to rent a storage unit while their house is on the market, putting in some of their extra furniture and other belongings. Don't just pile stuff in the garage--buyers will want to inspect that, too.
• Put brighter bulbs in all your lamps. Turn them on, even in the daytime, to brighten the house.
• Give up smoking. You probably can't smell it, but your house reeks of smoke. Have drapes, curtains, upholstery and carpets professionally cleaned. If you decide to continue smoking, do it outside-- and don't leave an unsightly bucket of butts next to a door.

In staging the home for sale:

Depersonalize the space by removing family photos, trophies, posters, etc.

Clear high-traffic areas of excess furnishings to maximize feeling of space. The decluttered rooms may appear bare to the seller, but the buyer won't think so. Remember, we are not selling your things.... We are selling the space

Decide from the doorway. Since would-be buyers will get their first impression of each room from the doorway, homeowners should use that perspective to judge their staging work. "Do your work, go back to the doorway. Do some more, go back to the doorway

Highlight key features in each room, and make sure they are not obscured by plants or furnishings. You would place three items-say, a lamp, a plant, and a book-on top of a larger hard surface, like an end table. "You take away the plant and the book, it's too bare," she says. "[But if] you put 10 things on it, it's overdone." The three items should be closely grouped together in a triangle shape. "I draw a triangle for my clients,. "I say, 'Here is the end table-let's superimpose a triangle on top of it.' " For hard surfaces with less area, however, a single item will do.

A properly staged home should be immaculate. The purpose of ensuring the house is spotless is more than simply making it presentable. If a home is unkempt, a buyer will wonder what other, less visible problems may come with the property.

Hope these ideas help.

Stan Stepak

The answer is ... 290 Vinewood in Avon Lake. 3 bedroom, 4 baths, 3100 square feet of living space in the Reserves. List Price of 375,000 is $80,000 Below Acquisition! Upscale throughout . . . more than you will see in other homes in the neighborhood, but priced comparatively. You will experience the magnitude the moment you walk in the front door w/the spacious 2-story foyer & dining room embellished w/columns & crown molding. 1st floor master bedroom w/vaulted ceiling, palladium window & sitting area. Travertine countertops & flooring, 2-person jacuzzi & mounted TV included in attached master bath. Outstanding 23x14 kitchen w/Fischer & Paykel 5-burner gas cooktop, double Jenn-Air oven, cherry cabinetry, granite counters, travertine flooring, full granite backsplash, center island & lighted built-in buffet. 3/4 Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring through foyer, dining room, great room & 2nd floor hallway. 2 additional bedrooms upstairs + bonus rm w/2 additional baths on 2nd level. Sprinkler & intercom systems and pre-plumbed for central vac & basement bath. Lot is over 1/2 acre. . . Who Could Ask For More!

Call me for details 440-476-0234 or just seem me there this Sunday November 22 from 12 -2.

Here are the open houses for this week. I will be hosting the Open house on Vinewood. Please come out to this wonderful home and if you get chance I can share with you what is available in the area. This is a great time to buy a home!

			3074718	$159,900	97 Gra Gull Dr	Avon Lake	504	30	11/22/09	1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Hosted
		Comment: Please pre-register your clients w/ Carol @ 440 787-5100
		Directions to Property: East of RT 83 N side of Lake Road
			3076017	$325,000	506 Treeside Ln	Avon Lake	504	44	11/22/09	1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Hosted
		Comment:
		Directions to Property: South of Walker to Treeside (east of Lear).
			3069095	$369,900	764 Lear Rd	Avon Lake	504	67	11/22/09	2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Hosted
		Comment: 3,349 sq.ft.,5 brm, 4bath (2full,2half),1st.flr mstr, stainless appl + granite in kit, frpl, 3 car garage. Blt in 2000, this executive home has an open floor plan for entertaining with custom touches and neutral decor (with a few splashes of color).
		Directions to Property: Just North of the Intersection of Krebs & Lear
			3067084	$375,000	290 Vinewood Dr	Avon Lake	504	78	11/22/09	2:00 pm Hosted
		Comment:
		Directions to Property: W of RT 83 to Moorewood Ave to Crestwood Ave then right on Vinewood Dr.
			3077076	$474,850	31644 Compass Cove	Avon Lake	504	41	11/22/09	1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Hosted
		Comment:
		Directions to Property: Walker Rd, N on Windward,Rt on Leeward, left on Tradewinds, rt on Brunswick, Rt on Compass Cove
			3083713	$551,000	33129 Lake	Avon Lake	504	10	11/22/09	3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Hosted
		Comment: Stunning custom built home! Former model!
		Directions to Property: Lake Road West of Rt 83

Again call me if you have any questions or you just cant get out to see one of these homes. I will be at 290 Vinewood from 12-2.

The answer is ... 290 Vinewood in Avon Lake. 3 bedroom, 4 baths, 3100 square feet of living space in the Reserves. List Price of 375,000 is $80,000 Below Acquisition! Upscale throughout . . . more than you will see in other homes in the neighborhood, but priced comparatively. You will experience the magnitude the moment you walk in the front door w/the spacious 2-story foyer & dining room embellished w/columns & crown molding. 1st floor master bedroom w/vaulted ceiling, palladium window & sitting area. Travertine countertops & flooring, 2-person jacuzzi & mounted TV included in attached master bath. Outstanding 23x14 kitchen w/Fischer & Paykel 5-burner gas cooktop, double Jenn-Air oven, cherry cabinetry, granite counters, travertine flooring, full granite backsplash, center island & lighted built-in buffet. 3/4 Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring through foyer, dining room, great room & 2nd floor hallway. 2 additional bedrooms upstairs + bonus rm w/2 additional baths on 2nd level. Sprinkler & intercom systems and pre-plumbed for central vac & basement bath. Lot is over 1/2 acre. . . Who Could Ask For More!

Call me for details 440-476-0234 or just seem me there this Sunday November 22 from 12 -2.

North Ridgeville Real Estate - 11/16/09 - 34756 Clear Creek Drive ( North Ridgeville, Ohio ) - Wildwood Estates - near North Olmsted, OH - WWW.CJHARRINGTON.COM - 440.336.0612

C J  Harrington | Keller Williams Realty | cjharrington.crs@gmail.com | 440-336-0612     34756 Clear Creek Drive, North Ridgeville, OH North Ridgeville Real Estate - 34756 Clear Creek Drive ( North Ridgeville, Ohio ) - Wildwood Estates - near North Olmsted, OH - WWW.CJHARRINGTON.COM - 4BR/2.5BA Single Family House offered at $200,000             Year Built 1998 Sq Footage 2,040 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size .28 acres HOA/Maint $0 per month   DESCRIPTION Stunning Colonial Has A Family Room With Fireplace. Formal Living Room and Dining Room With Gorgeous Chair Rail And Crown Molding. Kitchen with Island Overlooking Deck And Great Back Yard. Spacious Master Suite with Glamour Bath. Sprinkler System. Refrigerator is negotiable. Cul-de-sac!! Best Customized Real Estate Reports for the Cleveland Ohio Market. Wondering if the Real Estate Market Stabilized? Would you like to know how much homes SOLD for in your Neighborhood? Would you like to gauge how the current Real Estates Market is trending? For more information email us at cjharrington.crs@gmail.com to sign up for a FREE Market Snapshot Report and receive your customized report and value analysis.   see additional photos below    PROPERTY FEATURES - Central A/C - Central heat - Fireplace - Family room - Living room - Dining room - Dishwasher - Stove/Oven - Microwave - Basement - Laundry area - inside - Balcony, Deck, or Patio - Yard     ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo 6 Contact info:      C J  Harrington Keller Williams Realty cjharrington.crs@gmail.com 440-336-0612 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Nov 9, 2009, 9:58am PST