Spring Home Selling In Ohio

Many sellers wait until the spring season to put their home up for sale. Why? There's this belief that home buyers want to purchase when the weather is warm and children are about to get out of school. That belief holds true for a section of the buyer population in Ohio, but the truth is: It's time to put your home on the market only if it's right for you and your home.

And then there's this... "It's a bad time to sell. I'll never get my home sold. Nobody is buying right now. The market is horrible for sellers!" That may be somewhat true. A lot depends on your home, your personal situation, your expectations and your bottom line. 37,000 homes sold last year in Northeast Ohio alone (15 counties.) Someone is buying and homes are selling every day. Check your city's current market statistics here to get an idea of overall values at the moment.

Home buyers right now are faced with incentives to purchase like never before. New home buyers will now receive an $8,000 tax credit if they close before December 1st, 2009. Many will want to cash in on that. Interest rates are incredibly low. That won't last forever. There are FHA loans that allow down payments to be gifted by others. Home buyers need to be aware of what's out there and they can always contact us for mortgage loan or new program information. We're always in the loop with new ways to assist home buyers.

There are still and always will be people looking for a home. It's one of those things in life we sort of need. You know, food, water, oxygen, shelter? It's still a need regardless of what the six o'clock news tells you. Putting your home on the market in the spring/summer season means a bit more competition, due to the belief and many sellers waiting until the tulips are in bloom. You'll be successful if you have get your home in order... and your facts.

• There are a lot of homes for sale in Ohio and around the country: Fact.
• We're showing homes all over Northeast Ohio every single day to a large amount of serious buyers: Fact.
• Homes sit on the market due to either being over priced, lack of marketing or they aren't in good condition or updated: Fact.
  
• Your home will sell if it's priced correctly and in good condition: Fact.
• You have to be able to bend a little with terms and repairs like moving dates and the home inspection: Fact.
• You need to listen to your Realtor and/or a home stager when they give you advice and make recommendations: Fact.
• De-cluttering your home and making necessary upgrades and repairs before it goes on the market is necessary: Fact.
• Neutralizing your colors, decor, landscaping and living spaces is a must: Fact.
• Removing personal items, religious items, photos, odors, signs of pets and your outdated wallpaper or carpeting: Fact.
• It takes a little elbow grease, work, determination and cooperation to sell a home: Fact.
• Pricing the property correctly the first day it's on the market and not waiting until the activity is dead is the right way to list: Fact.
• Each home and situation is unique and needs to be addressed and handled accordingly: Fact.
• Having an experienced Realtor and company behind you actually marketing your home outside of the MLS with extensive local and Internet presence is a priority: Fact.
• Getting your home and photos in front of every potential home buyer not just in the Cleveland area but around the globe for those relocating is a must: Fact.

Bottom Line: The fact is...Anytime is a good time to sell your home. There will always be people looking to move in any season including spring. As long as your home is clean, updated, priced correctly, aesthetically pleasing, and marketed properly, it will appeal to the masses and stand out in the crowd. It will sell... and that's a fact.

Our team of agents at Howard Hanna have the best tools to market your property. Contact us to get the process started or to discuss our marketing plan. Let us show you how we dominate the internet by being the Cleveland, Ohio area's largest Realtor website. We have thousands of home buyers visiting our site monthly in our database. We match their needs daily. If you're selling a home, it needs to be in our list. Email or call anytime, 216.323.4620






Cecilia * Andrew * Judy * Diane * Rich * Cindy

Curb Your Curb Appeal

Whether you are trying to sell your home or just make it more appealing, the exterior is the first thing buyers or guests will see. It is important to make sure that from the curb your home is aesthetically pleasing. It does not really matter what the inside looks like if the outside is an instant eye sore or turn off. Adding charm to the exterior also adds value and overall attractiveness to the entire property. Make sure you are not overdoing it or going about it the wrong way. Overkill is not necessary and unfortunately it is prevalent. Learn to let go and curb your curb appeal.

As a Realtor, I can not tell you how many times I have walked onto a property with someone, and the first words were “Uh oh, I hope the inside looks better.” Or “Wow, so far, so good.” Let us focus on the dos and don'ts of proper curb appeal.

Siding should be well kept and painted if needed. Carefully choose a proper color to accentuate the style or features of your home and neighborhood. Bold colors are chancy and have to be selected with caution. It doesn't matter where you are in the country, Every location is different. Some Victorian or traditional homes here in Ohio, in areas such as Lakewood, Rocky River, Cleveland Heights and Beachwood, are best suited for bold colors. If your home is modern, earth tones may clash. Cold colors such as blues and purples typically do not work well with brick homes while pale or neutral colors may drown out a home’s architecture depending on the surroundings and other homes on the street.

Pressure-wash any dingy siding, decking, awnings and porches and replace siding sections that may have dents or flaws. Any mold or moss growth should be removed (Bleach and pressure-wash). Old television antenna or satellite dishes should be taken down and chimney caps in place along with proper flashing.

Windows and screens should all be in tact and cleaned regularly. A stiff bristle hair brush works well for screen build up. New storm doors are a great way to add appeal for a decent price. If your current doors/screens are in need of paint or replacement, it may be something to consider.


Windows in today’s market are looked at seriously and replacement windows are almost expected. New windows can add a wow factor instantly. If you can’t quite swing it, at least make sure your existing windows are sparkling, free of cracks, functional, and there are no missing storms or screens. Paint the window trim if needed. No paint should be chipping or pealing including on the home, porch, awnings, or windows.

The yard should always be looking its best. Bushes and landscaping should be neat and trimmed so that the beauty of your home is seen. The lawn should be edged and flower beds maintained if present. Patches on the lawn should be filled in and weeds removed on a regular basis.

Proper watering is necessary to maintain the work and money you’ve put in. Wild flowers purchased in quarter packets should never be planted if they are going to become overgrown and not kept up. If you have had mulch in the past but have not freshened up the beds with new mulch recently, replace or remove. Ferns on the porch or planted flowers in pots that are now wilting or dead should be removed instantly and flower color choices should not clash with the home’s color scheme.

Too many different style bushes, trees or flowers bunched together can clutter and overcrowd the beauty of each group individually. Complement the landscaping and space accordingly. Large porches should have large planted pots. One small hanging basket on a wrap around country porch is best put away. A happy medium of colors/sizes of flowers and plants is key.

Large trees that are or are starting to hang onto the home or garage should be watched and trimmed often. Not only can it cause harm to your roof but it scares potential buyers away and looks neglectful. Gutters should not have plants growing inside of them. I’m serious. I have seen gutters that have not been cleaned in so long that there is build up and growth.

Make sure all outdoor items that are not being used are put away neatly, including lawnmowers, toys, hoses, garbage cans, and couches and refrigerators on porches. If it does not belong outside, it should not be there.

Address numbers should be the proper size and color for your home or location it is placed. Adding new address numbers or a new mailbox is a cheap and effective way to spruce up the home.

Lighting is also a crucial part of exterior appeal. Solar or ground insert lighting along flowerbeds or walkways should all have bulbs. If one is blown out, the entire effect is ruined. Keep with the same lighting choice. If you’re working with amber lights, stick with amber. Place accent lights near doors and make sure the home looks welcoming after dark.

A home buyer looks at the exterior first. If the items mentioned above are not addressed properly they view it as neglect. If you are neglecting the outside, what should they expect on the inside? Don’t let them raise eyebrows before even stepping foot on the inside. Guests, visitors and neighbors will appreciate your efforts and notice your attention to detail and maintenance. Most importantly, you won’t be coming house, you’ll be coming home. You will reap the benefits and be pleased with your work and homes curb appeal.