Allied wants you to start preparing early for your move with our moving checklist. It’s really never too soon to begin planning for a move, and veteran movers have found that a comprehensive moving timeline and checklist is the best strategy to ensure a smooth relocation. Our moving checklist and timeline is also a great way to involve the entire family in the move and to spread some of the responsibilities to each person, including your children.

Timeline for Moving: Eight Weeks Before Move

• Contact your mover to make arrangements for moving day.
• Remove items from your attic, basement, storage shed, etc.
• Start to use up things you can’t move, such as frozen foods and cleaning supplies.
• Contact the chamber of commerce or visitor’s and tourism bureaus in your new community for information on your new city.

Timeline for Moving: Six Weeks Before Move

• If you’re moving at an employer’s request, verify what expenses and responsibilities are theirs and which are yours.
• Contact the IRS and/or your accountant for information on what moving expenses may be tax-deductible.
• Begin to inventory and evaluate your possessions. What can be sold or donated to a charitable organization? What haven’t you used within the last year?
• Make a list of everyone you need to notify about your move: friends, professionals, creditors, subscriptions, etc.
• Obtain a mail subscription to the local paper in your new community to familiarize yourself with local government, community and social news and activities.
• Locate all motor vehicle registration and licensing documents.
• If some of your goods are to be stored, make the necessary arrangements now. (Your relocation consultant should be able to help.)
• Contact schools, doctors, dentists, lawyers and accountants and obtain copies of your personal records. Ask for referrals where possible.

Timeline for Moving: Four Weeks Before Move

• Submit a Change of Address form to the post office.
• Arrange special transportation for your pets  and plants.
• Contact utility and related companies (gas, electric, oil, water, telephone, cable TV and trash collection) for service disconnect/connect at your old and new addresses. However, remember to keep phone and utilities connected at your current home throughout moving day.
• Contact coverage companies (auto, homeowner’s or renter’s, medical and life) to arrange for coverage in your new home.
• If you’re packing yourself, purchase moving boxes  from your local mover. Pack items that you won’t be needing in the next month.
• Plan a garage sale to sell unneeded items or arrange to donate them to charity.

Timeline for Moving: Three Weeks Before Move

• Make travel arrangements and reservations for your moving trip. However, don’t make plane reservations for the same day that you’re moving out. House closings are often delayed, and other unexpected situations often arise.
• Collect important papers (coverage, will, deeds, stock, etc.).
• Arrange to close accounts at your local bank and open accounts in your new locale.

Timeline for Moving: Two Weeks Before Move

• Have your car checked and serviced for the trip. Also, make sure that your automobile is prepared (filled with the necessary antifreeze/coolant, for example) for the type of weather conditions you’ll be traveling in.
• If you’re moving out of or into a building with elevators, contact the building management to schedule use of the elevators.
• Contact your relocation consultant to review and confirm all arrangements for your move.

Timeline for Moving: One Week Before Move

• Settle any outstanding bills with local merchants.
• Don’t forget to withdraw the contents of your safety deposit box, pick up any dry cleaning, return library books and rented videotapes, etc.
• Take pets to the veterinarian for any needed immunizations. Get copies of pets’ veterinary records.
• Drain gas and oil from power equipment (lawn mowers, snow blowers, etc.).
• Give away plants not being moved.
• Prepare specific directions to your new home for your moving company. (Include your itinerary, emergency numbers, etc.)

Two to Three Days Before the Move

• Defrost your freezer and refrigerator. Block doors open so they can’t accidentally close on pets or children.
• Have your major appliances disconnected and prepared for the move. (Again, your relocation consultant can help with arrangements for a third party to provide these services.)
• Pack a box of personal items that will be needed immediately at your new home. Have this box loaded last or carry it with you in your car.
• Organize and set aside those things that you’re taking with you so that they don’t get loaded on the van in error.
• Contact your relocation consultant to confirm arrival time of the moving van, as well as to notify them of any last minute details.

Timeline for Moving: Moving day

• Make sure that someone is at home to answer the van foreman’s questions.
• Record all utility meter readings (gas, electric, water).
• Read your bill of lading and inventory carefully before you sign them. Keep these — and all related papers — in a safe location until all charges have been paid and all claims, if any, have been settled.
• Follow the Allied Timeline for Moving
• You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment as items are checked off of your moving checklist. Moreover, as the weeks roll by, your moving timeline will help ensure that nothing has been overlooked or omitted from your planning, and that alone will go a long way toward relieving some of your anxiety.

Click here for link to the Allied website:

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REALTORS® are licensed professionals and this is what we do everyday.  REALTORS® subscribe to a stringent code of ethics and standards.  Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime.  Even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change (and vary by state); that’s why having a professional REALTOR® on your side is critical.

Contact us if we can help you with your Greater Cleveland real estate search or to assist you in finding a buyers’ agent.   Also, click here to check out our post “Are Your Relocation Employees Giving Up Their Negotiating Power?

Jim Norbuta, Realtor®
Accredited Buyers’ Representative (ABR)

website: http://www.jimandjoan.com

The White House has not yet confirmed on their website the signing of the above agreement.  In an appearance late this morning, the President did announce that he had signed the bill.

This certainly impacts all realtors and all real estate companies in Ohio.  If you are planning a relocation home purchase, you will want to read the details.

The best article we have found so far, comes from the Baltimore Sun:

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/business/realestate/blog/2009/11/home_buyer_credits_pass_senate.html

It explains the expansion of the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit to the benefits offered to most home buyers.  Here are a few of the most important details:

–$8,000 for first-timers signing contracts through April 30 and closing by June 30. That credit was due to expire at the end of the month.

–$6,500 for repeat buyers who have “lived in their current residence for five consecutive years out of the last eight,” the Los Angeles Times reports.

–Individual tax filers making no more than $125,000 and joint filers making no more than $225,000 could take the full credit, a significant increase of the income cap. The credit would decrease in value for people making more than those amounts, phasing out completely after $145,000 for singles and $245,000 for couples, the Times says.

–If the home you’re buying is priced over $800,000, you can’t partake.

The impact stretches beyond the first time home buyer, and will soon effect Ohio real estate prices.  We believe that all home buyers/home sellers should read the post on negotiating power:

 http://www.findingclevelandhomes.com/2009/11/04/are-your-relocation-employees-giving-up-negotiating-power/

Contact us for the latest details.

Contact us if we can help you with your home search or to assist you in finding a buyers’ agent. 

Jim Norbuta, Realtor®
Accredited Buyers’ Representative (ABR)

website: http://www.jimandjoan.com

The next step is calling agents about homes they like, or going to open houses on their own.  Even in the process of relocation, home seekers often don’t want to bother an agent until they find a home or community they have an interest in.

This is why you need to be aware of the real estate laws in your state.  In Ohio, by contacting a listing agent and visiting a home they have listed without your (buyers’) agent, you are giving up your negotiating power.  If you visit an open house or schedule an appointment without your buyers’ agent, you are, in essence, hiring the sellers’ agent to represent you.   

Even though the employer may have contract with a relocation company or real estate brokerage to represent the corporation, the individual employee is likely to be unrepresented according to Ohio Real Estate Law. 

What is the solution?

Home buyers should select a buyers’ agent to represent them prior to beginning their search.  We strongly suggest they select their agent with the same care they would in selecting a listing agent.  Sign a simple agreement with the buyers’ agent.  This will protect the home buyers’ negotiating power. 

For relocation without a relocation company:     contact your home town real estate agent and ask them to refer you to a buyers’agent in your new city (they have the expertise to do the research for you and find an agent specific to your likes and needs). 

For local moves:  do the same due diligence in finding a buyers’agent as you would in finding a listing agent.

——————————————————————————————————————————————-

REALTORS® are licensed professionals and this is what we do everyday.  REALTORS® subscribe to a stringent code of ethics and standards.  Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime.  Even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change (and vary by state); that’s why having a professional REALTOR® on your side is critical.

Contact us if we can help you with your home search or to assist you in finding a buyers’ agent. 

Jim Norbuta, Realtor®
Accredited Buyers’ Representative (ABR)

website: http://www.jimandjoan.com

This is a relocation question recently posted on LinkedIn:

Is there any market at all for ‘modern’ homes in Cleveland suburbs? My wife and I would love to build a home in a lake or geauga county suburb that looks like it belongs in LA, Miami, or NYC. Would a “highly-modern” home be hard to sell down the road given the real estate trends in Cleveland?

Here is our reply:

What a terrific question. We recently sold a home in the Bainbridge Township /Chagrin Falls/Aurora area that looked like it belonged near Biscayne Bay or North Miami. We will add the photo of the house to the front page of our website for your review: http://www.findingclevelandhomes.com/
The style is Mediterranean, and very unusual for the Cleveland Market. However, this builder has sold a number of homes of this style in our area. The interior features included a home theatre, wine cellar, audio system, zone heating…we could go on and on. It was green built and 5 star energy rated.
It was unusual for our community, but we wouldn’t call it modern. Oh, by the way, the exterior features include a covered veranda with fireplace and a 2 story water feature. It is a spectacular home and in a community of upscale homes, each with their own unique architectural design. We’ll be glad to take you to see this area. There are additional lots available.

We still haven’t answered your question…because we would have to ask you a few more questions about your definition of “highly modern”.  However, caution would be advisable in the Cleveland market.

Their reply:   Interesting. Thanks for the insightful thoughts!

If you have any questions about real estate or relocation, you can e-mail them to us from our website.  You’ll receive a prompt reply. 

Jim Norbuta, Realtor®
RE/MAX TRADITIONS
RE/MAX RELOCATION
OUR PEOPLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE ONE MOVE AT A TIME ®

Serving the Greater Cleveland communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities of Greater Cleveland.

YourClevelandRealtors.com website contains information on mortgage rates, lenders, and  local community groups.  Our services are designed for Executive Relocation & Luxury Home Market and are provided to all of our clients.

(The following is specific to one area of Greater Cleveland.  If you are a home buyer or home seller, and especially if relocation is the reason for your move, this detail is extremely important to you.  Please do not make financial decisions without knowing the facts about your community. If you are buying or selling a home, this same type of analysis will be done for your community/neighborhood. )

44022     CHAGRIN FALLS      44023

INVENTORY REPORT FOR July 30, 2009

Price Range                  Active&Contingent     Pending& Sold        Current Inventory

$150,000 – $300,000         137                             87                                 9 months

$300,001 – $500,000        137                              71                                 12 months

$500,001 +                      106                             29                                  22 months

….TOTALS……..              380                           187

Total Homes for Sale                 380

Average Sales/Month                 31.2

Months of Inventory                 12.2

First impressions might cause you to think that sales are increasing dramatically in the Chagrin Valley area.  The truth is that fewer homes are being listed in CHAGRIN FALLS 44022 & 44023, while rate of sale stayed virtually the same at 31 homes per month.  The same could be true for Solon, Twinsburg, Aurora, and Russell.  If you need to know this information for your specific area, for developments like Laurel Springs, Barrington, and Canyon Lakes, give us a call.  The above numbers may be eye openers for many of you.  If you are currently selling your home, you may not be aware of these recent changes.  Most importantly, ALL BUYERS AND SELLERS should be aware of them for your street, neighborhood, and community.  The numbers can change dramatically by location, even within your local community.  There are also significant variances between price groups.

If you are looking to purchase a home in the next few months, please give us a call.  We show all properties listed by any real estate broker and most for sale by owner homes.  If you find a home on any website, we can schedule a showing for you.  Most importantly, our purchase analysis for buyers includes the street, neighborhood, and the local community facts.  All the details you need to make a good decision.

This past week we assisted a buyer in purchasing a home in the Chagrin Falls/Bainbridge area.  They had narrowed their search to 2 homes.  One home was a tremendous value, and the other was a home that fulfilled their dreams.  They selected the home of their dreams.  The other home is still available, and we would be excited to show it to you.  It’s priced in the $400-500,000 range and will fulfill someone’s dream home requirements.

For families and individuals involved in a relocation transfer, you’re timing is excellent.  The Greater Cleveland Community has so much to offer and is one of the most affordable major metropolitan areas in the country.

YouClevelandRealtor.com website contains information on mortgage rates, lenders, and  local community groups.  Our services are designed for Executive Relocation & Luxury Home Market and are provided to all of our clients.

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtor
RE/MAX TRADITIONS
RE/MAX RELOCATION
OUR PEOPLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE ONE MOVE AT A TIME ®

Serving the Greater Cleveland communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities.

44202     Aurora      44202

INVENTORY REPORT FOR October 10, 2009

Price Range                  Active&Contingent     Pending& Sold        Current Inventory

$150,000 – $300,000                 104                             40                          16 months

$300,001 – $500,000                  65                             27                           14 months

$500,001 +                                  46                               6                           46   months

….TOTALS……..                         215                          73

Total Homes for Sale                  215

Average Sales/Month                  12.2

Months of Inventory                   18

This is your tracking report for Aurora.  Average months inventory was reduced 2 months since our July report.  Improvement has been seen in Chagrin Falls, Solon, Bainbridge, Auburn, Twinsburg, Aurora, and Russell.  You need to know this information for your specific area.  The above numbers may be eye openers for many of you.  If you are currently selling your home, you may not be aware of recent changes.  Most importantly, ALL BUYERS AND SELLERS should be aware of them for your street, neighborhood, and community.  The numbers can change dramatically by location, even within your local community.

If you are looking to purchase a home in the next few months, please give us a call.  We show all properties listed by any real estate broker and most for sale by owner homes.  Most importantly, our purchase analysis for buyers includes the street, neighborhood, and the local community facts.

If your interest is in homes priced above $500,000, the above chart indicates an inventory of 58 months.  If you are ready to negotiate, there are still excellent values available in every price range.

For families and individuals involved in a relocation transfer, you’re timing is excellent.  The Greater Cleveland Community has so much to offer and is one of the most affordable major metropolitan areas in the country.

YouClevelandRealtor.com website contains information on mortgage rates, lenders, and local community groups.  Our services are designed for Executive Relocation & Luxury Home Market and are provided to all of our clients.

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtor
RE/MAX TRADITIONS
RE/MAX RELOCATION
OUR PEOPLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE ONE MOVE AT A TIME ®

Serving the communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities.

44202     Aurora      44202

INVENTORY REPORT FOR July 30, 2009

Price Range                  Active&Contingent     Pending& Sold        Current Inventory

$150,000 – $300,000                 99                             31                           19 months

$300,001 – $500,000                 64                           26                           15 months

$500,001 +                             39                             4                            58   months

….TOTALS……..                         202                           61

Total Homes for Sale                  202

Average Sales/Month                  10.2

Months of Inventory                   20

This is your tracking report for Aurora.  Yes, there are a lot of properties for sale, but things are improving.  Improvement has been seen in Chagrin Falls, Solon, Bainbridge, Auburn, Twinsburg, Aurora, and Russell.  If you need to know this information for your specific area, for developments like Laurel Springs, Barrington, and Canyon Lakes, give us a call.  The above numbers may be eye openers for many of you.  If you are currently selling your home, you may not be aware of recent changes.  Most importantly, ALL BUYERS AND SELLERS should be aware of them for your street, neighborhood, and community.  The numbers can change dramatically by location, even within your local community.

If you are looking to purchase a home in the next few months, please give us a call.  We are in our show all properties listed by any real estate broker and most for sale by owner homes.  Most importantly, our purchase analysis for buyers includes the street, neighborhood, and the local community facts.

If your interest is in homes priced above $500,000, the above chart indicates an inventory of 58 months.  If you are ready to negotiate, there are still excellent values available in every price range.

For families and individuals involved in a relocation transfer, you’re timing is excellent.  The Greater Cleveland Community has so much to offer and is one of the most affordable major metropolitan areas in the country.

YouClevelandRealtor.com website contains information on mortgage rates, lenders, and local community groups.  Our services are designed for Executive Relocation & Luxury Home Market and are provided to all of our clients.

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtor
RE/MAX TRADITIONS
RE/MAX RELOCATION
OUR PEOPLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE ONE MOVE AT A TIME ®

Serving the communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities.

Also, visit our post, Signs that the Market has Turned:  http://www.findingclevelandhomes.com/2009/07/14/signs-that-the-real-estate-market-has-turned%e2%80%a6/

(The following is specific to one area of Greater Cleveland.  If you are a home buyer or home seller, and especially if relocation is the reason for your move, this detail is extremely important to you.  Please do not make financial decisions without knowing the facts about your community. If you are buying or selling a home, this same type of analysis will be done for your community/neighborhood. )

44022     CHAGRIN FALLS      44023

INVENTORY REPORT FOR July 30, 2009

Price Range                  Active&Contingent     Pending& Sold        Current Inventory

$150,000 – $300,000         185                              90              12 months/last month 15

$300,001 – $500,000        178                              65               16 months/last month 20

$500,001 +                      178                             34             31 months/last month 51

….TOTALS……..                     541                            189

Total Homes for Sale                 541

Average Sales/Month                 31.5

Months of Inventory                 17

This past month reflects tremendous improvement in the sale of homes in CHAGRIN FALLS.  The same is likely to be true for Solon, Twinsburg, Aurora, and Russell.  If you need to know this information for your specific area,  for developments like Laurel Springs, Barrington, and Canyon Lakes, give us a call.  The above numbers may be eye openers for many of you.  If you are currently selling your home, you may not be aware of these recent changes.  Most importantly, ALL BUYERS AND SELLERS should be aware of them for your street, neighborhood, and community.  The numbers can change dramatically by location, even within your local community.

If you are looking to purchase a home in the next few months, please give us a call.  We are in our show all properties listed by any real estate broker and most for sale by owner homes.  Most importantly, our purchase analysis for buyers includes the street, neighborhood, and the local community facts.

If your interest is in homes priced above $500,000, the above chart indicates an inventory of 31 months, a dramatic improvement of 48 months  just 30 days ago.  If you are ready to negotiate, there are still excellent values available in every price range.

For families and individuals involved in a relocation transfer, you’re timing is excellant.  The Greater Cleveland Community has so much to offer and is one of the most affordable major metropolitan areas in the country.

YouClevelandRealtor.com website contains information on mortgage rates, lenders,and  local community groups.  Our services are designed for Executive Relocation & Luxury Home Market and are provided to all of our clients.

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtor
RE/MAX TRADITIONS
RE/MAX RELOCATION
OUR PEOPLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE ONE MOVE AT A TIME ®

Serving the communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities.

Also, visit our post, Signs that the Market has Turned:  http://www.findingclevelandhomes.com/2009/07/14/signs-that-the-real-estate-market-has-turned%e2%80%a6/

The key change, in my estimation, is what the sellers are doing with offers that come across the table. 

Buyers and sellers (buyers agents/sellers agents) would normally use the same market facts to arrive at what they determine to be fair market value for a property.  Somehow, and in about 90% of the cases, there would be a significant discrepancy in the values reached by buyer and seller.

In today’s market, sellers have changed.  While still not willing to listen to low ball offers, sellers are now compelled to see the picture from the other side of the table.  When they do, transactions have been the result.

That’s the way we find it in the suburban Greater Cleveland market.

Good reasons to buy now…low mortgage rates, home prices have dropped, tax credit for 1^st time buyers, more properties available, and MOTIVATED SELLERS.   

Now is a great time to contact us…   

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtor

RE/MAX TRADITIONS

Serving the communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities in Ohio and beyond.

Fabulous Condo! Well-maintained! One-floor Plan! Vaulted Ceilings, Wood Floors, Terrific Master Suite W/Jetted Tub, Lots Of Storage, All Appliances. Come See All The Special Features Of This Home.                    $199,000

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtor

RE/MAX TRADITIONS

Serving the communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities.

FIREWORKS

BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
July 5, 2009 – 6:30 PM
Festivities begin at 6:30 P.M. with Food and Entertainment. Fireworks begin at Dusk. RIVER ROAD PARK

JULY 4th CEREMONY

07/04/09            9:30AM – 10:30AM                

Look forward to seeing you this weekend.

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtor

RE/MAX TRADITIONS

Serving the communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities.

In case you haven’t heard, a bill has been introduced in Congress to increase the stimulus for the residentail real estate market.  In it’s currrent form, the incentive is for all home buyers and does not have income limitations.  This means that everyone can benefit from this plan…even if you stay where you are.

Should this bill pass before Congress adjourns in August, will you be among the “movers and shakers?” 

Can you think of anything else that would create more jobs?

Your response is important to us….

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtor

RE/MAX TRADITIONS

Serving the communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities.

(The following is specific to one area of Greater Cleveland.  If you are a home buyer or home seller, and especially if relocation is the reason for your move, this detail is extremely important to you.  Please do not make financial decisions without knowing the facts about your community)

44022     CHAGRIN FALLS      44023

INVENTORY REPORT FOR JUNE 30, 2009

Price Range                  Active&Contingent     Pending& Sold        Current Inventory

$150,000 – $300,000            167/17                     17/57                      15  months

$300,001 – $500,000            167/10                     12/40                      20 months      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            $500,001 +                         182/7                       4/18                      51  months           

…………….TOTALS……..         516/34                     33/115                  22.3 months

                        Total Homes for Sale                 550

                        Average Sales/Month                24.6 

                        Months of Inventory                 22.3

                        Pure and simple, there are a lot of homes for sale in CHAGRIN FALLS.  The same is likely to be true for Solon, Twinsburg, Aurora, and Russell.  If you need to know for your specific area, even for developments like Laurel Springs, Barrington, and Canyon Lakes, give us a call.  The above numbers may be eye openers for many of you.  If you are currently selling your home, you are probably very well aware of them.  Most importantly, ALL BUYERS AND SELLERS should be aware of them for your street, neighborhood, and community.  The numbers can change dramatically by location, even within your local community.

If you are looking to purchase a home in the next few months, please give us a call.  We show all properties listed by any real estate broker and most for sale by owner homes.  Most importantly, our purchase analysis for buyers includes the street, neighborhood, and the local community facts.

If your interest is in homes priced above $500,000, the above chart indicates an inventory of 4 years.  If you are ready to negotiate, there are excellent values available in every price range.   

 For families and individuals involved in a relocation transfer, you’re timing couldn’t be any better.  The Greater Cleveland Community has so much to offer and is one of the most affordable major metropolitan areas in the country.

Our website contains information on mortgage rates, lenders, local community groups, details about us and our services, and helpful information for living or moving to the Chagrin Valley.   

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtor

RE/MAX TRADITIONS

Serving the communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities.

Fabulous Condo! Well-maintained! One-floor Plan! Vaulted Ceilings, Wood Floors, Terrific Master Suite W/Jetted Tub, Lots Of Storage, All Appliances. Come See All The Special Features Of This Home.                    $199,000

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtor

RE/MAX TRADITIONS

Serving the communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities.

Incredible 29 Acres Located on route 306, less Than 1/4 Mi From Route 422. Utilities On Property or at the street. Public Sewer at the street.   Currently Doing Business As A Nursery.  Located only 35 minutes from downtown Cleveland and Cleveland Hopkins Airport.  Family Compound?  Business Opportunity?

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtor

RE/MAX TRADITIONS

Serving the communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities.

Wonderfully updated gracious southern colonial located just outside the Bainbridge Township Historic District. Car enthusiasts and hobbiests will appreciate the 6 CAR GARAGE. This 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath home is charming throughout with hardwood floors, crown molding, open kitchen and dining room. Updates include roof, gutters and garage doors in 2009, siding and total kitchen remodel, downstairs bath remodel, new well pump and interior paint in 2008. Hot water tank in 2006, wrap-around composite porch 2004 and chimney in 2002. Set back on 1.5 acres, this charming home is a must see!    $239,000

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtor

RE/MAX TRADITIONS

Serving the communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities.

HGTV has brought together some of the top real estate experts to compile the definitive list of the biggest mistakes we all make when buying and selling our homes.

Do not buy a house based on its current decor.

25. Buying a House for Its Decor

Remember that you are buying the house, not the things inside it, so make sure you see beyond the decorations and look at the bones of the home. Focus on the floor plan and the square footage. You also might want to measure the dimensions and graph out how that’s going to work with your belongings.

24. Not Providing Easy Access for Showings

Make your house easily accessible to potential buyers. If there’s nowhere to park or it’s difficult to get into, buyers may just skip it and look at someone else’s property.

23. Not Researching the Neighborhood

It’s absolutely critical that you research the neighborhood before you buy. Check out the area, amenities and the school system to be sure that your address corresponds with the correct school district. Also attend a community meeting, if possible. You’re not just buying a house, you’re buying a piece of that real estate and the land around it.

22. Losing Money With Auctions

While the starting bidding price for a house on auction might be a good deal, it doesn’t mean the final price will be. Make sure that you are very strict with your budget when you are bidding; do not go over your final price because you got wrapped up in the excitement of a bidding war. Another thing to keep in mind is that when you buy a property at auction, you aren’t able to get any of the warrantees or guarantees, and you are not able to do a home inspection. Find out if the auctioneer is going to add those charges on top of the sale price as well as if there are any liens on the property. You could be responsible for paying the property taxes on that house you just bought, which could make what looks like a good deal into a really bad deal.

21. Trying to Make the “Hard Sell” While Showing

If you are selling your house, you really shouldn’t be around at the open house. You might want to try to sell the place on all the reasons you think the house is great, but that might not translate to the buyer. If you leave, you allow the buyers to give unbiased objective feedback to the agent, which is only going to help you in the end.

You don’t have to wait until the weather is nice to put your home on the market. That’s a common real estate myth.

20. Waiting Until Spring to Sell Your House

Spring is the busiest real estate activity period, but that does not mean that people don’t buy houses 365 days of the year. That doesn’t mean you can’t emphasize your home’s seasonal amenities.

19. Treating Real Estate Like the Stock Market

When the real estate market is really hot and is appreciating really fast, people tend to look at it like it’s the stock market. But playing real estate is nothing like the stock market; when you invest in real estate, you really need to take a long-term approach.

18. Failing to Market Your Home in Different Ways

Don’t market your home with just a “for sale” sign. Explore other marketing tools as well. Talk to your real estate agent about the marketing that he or she will do. It’s something that should be set up from the initial signing of a contract with an agent. Some homes have virtual tours and photographs online. If you choose to go that route, don’t forget to include the floor plans. That way, people can see the layout of your home and know if it’s right for them.

17. Not Thinking About Resale

When you are decorating and renovating your home, you need to think about what is going to appeal to a broad section of buyers when it comes time to sell it. Buying houses and being in the real estate market is like chess: You always want to look two or three steps ahead in the game.

16. Buying Without Actually Seeing the Property

It’s really easy to buy a house without seeing it because of the Internet and virtual tours, but virtual tours can be deceiving. Plus, it’s really hard to actually get a sense and feel of a home by only looking at it online. You need to actually walk through the place yourself. If that’s just not possible, hire an inspector to go look at the property and provide you with an assessment.

15. Trusting Everything a Real Estate Advertisement Says

Don’t assume every ad is fact. Learn to decipher real estate lingo. For example, “cozy” means small, and “as is” means it’s a fixer-upper. If there are a lot of exclamation points in an ad, it’s because there is so little to say about the place. Follow the old adage: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

14. Picking the Wrong Agent

Treat meetings with agents like a job interview because that’s really how it works. Keep in mind that the person is going to be working for you. Talk to your friends who’ve sold houses and had good experiences with their particular agent, and go to open houses and observe how that agent interacts with other people. It’s also a good idea to meet with the agent in their office. It allows you to see how organized he or she is, what kind of environment they work in and whether that’s conducive to being able to do a good job for you.

13. Not Hiring an Agent

There’s a lot more to selling a house than just putting a sign on the front lawn. If you don’t have an agent, you will not get on the multiple-listing service (MLS). That means that other agents are not going to know that your property is for sale. Another thing to consider is if you are willing to show the house each time someone wants to come by and look at it. If you do plan to sell your house on your own, be sure to have a lawyer present at the closing. It’s really important to have someone on your side who understands all the complexities.

12. Buying the Most Expensive Home on the Block

The most expensive house will only depreciate in value over time, rather than appreciate, which is what you want. Also, those houses are often not the first house to sell because they are usually overbuilt to the neighborhood. It’s absolutely critical that you research the neighborhood before you buy to find out what the price point should be.

11. Not Setting a Realistic Budget

Just because the bank prequalifies you for a loan amount of $400,000 doesn’t mean you can afford to make that payment every month. Before hitting the streets for a house hunt, you should sit down and make a monthly budget of what you spend every month. Come up with a number that you are comfortable spending on your mortgage payment, aside from those other expenditures. An easy way to do this is to take a third of your gross income and have that figure be the number you spend on the house. It is also a good idea to have six to nine months of mortgage payments in the bank, plus a little extra if you have any repairs that you might need to do.

10. Visiting the House Only Once

It’s important to visit a house more than once because the neighborhood itself may be very different, depending on the day of the week and the time of day. It’s also a good idea to go home and think about it, even sleep on it, before you go back again.

9. Not Being Pro-Active at Closing

The best thing to do when going into a closing is to get all the paperwork ahead of time. All that information should come from a mortgage broker or banker. They have what they call a HUD (Housing and Urban Development) One form that lists all the charges, and you can legally get it in your hands 24 hours before closing. Schedule the closing for in the morning, so you have a fresh mind and plenty of time to go over everything and to ask questions. The final walk-through is another imperative part of the process. You may want to have a home inspector accompany you.

Don’t feel like you have to tackle major renovations before placing your home on the market. Touch-ups here and there, especially outside the home, typically do the trick.

8. Doing Major Renovations/Remodeling Before Selling

Minor upgrades usually have a higher return on your money than tackling major renovations before placing a home on the market. The main reason? Huge construction projects always cost more than you think they will, and they also take longer than you expect. The best place to spend money is outside. Research shows that increasing the curb appeal often returns the most value on your money. It’s what gets buyers inside the house.

7. Skipping the Loan Pre-Approval Step

When you are pre-approved, the bank is saying, “we will give you a mortgage of up to this amount, so now all you have to do is find your home.” Some sellers only allow real estate agents to show their house if someone has a pre-approved letter. That indicates that the shopper really is serious about buying a home.

6. Falling in Love With the First Property You See

Many homebuyers, particularly first-time homebuyers, fall into the trap of falling in love with the very first house that they see. You need to at least look at three more houses in the area to get an idea of what the comparables are in that price range. You want your real estate agent to show you homes comparable to what you saw. At the end of the day, re-evaluate.

Be sure to hire a home inspector to thoroughly check out a house you are interested in purchasing.

5. Buying a Home Without a Professional Inspection

There are a lot of things a home inspection can reveal about a property that are not visible to the naked eye. Be sure to hire someone who comes with a good referral basis, who’s been in the business a while and knows what to look for. Look up the American Society of Home Inspectors and get a list of qualified home inspectors in your area. Once you find an inspector, insist that they compile a written report, complete with photos. Photographs are important because there are areas a home inspector will go that you might not look at.

4. Overlooking the Extra and Hidden Costs

Buying a home is not just about the money that you spend upfront; it’s about all the rest of the money you have to spend beyond that. Find out what the property taxes are, what your water bill might be and what a standard electric bill is in that home, especially if you have electric heat instead of gas heat. You also need to factor in furnishings you may need to purchase before you can move in.

3. Buying What You Want, Not What You Need

Look at the space that you are already living in. It will help you to realize what you have been missing and what you need in your next home. Make a list of those needs and then ask your agent to start shopping based on those needs. On average, Americans live in a house for about nine years. Remember, you can always trade up a few times before you find the ultimate home.

2. Setting Too High of a Sale Price

As a seller, it’s really important to do your research. To come up with your sale price, look up what comparable homes in your neighborhood have sold for. Figure out what the going price is and try to put yours right in the middle of that, unless you have something extra-special to offer. It’s always better to price a home that way than to start too high and have to reduce. Once you reduce, it always looks like something is wrong with the home.

1. Failing to Showcase Your Home and Making Small Cosmetic Changes

When you are selling your house, you have to really look at it objectively and think about it from the viewpoint of the house hunter. Make minor enhancements to the house and maybe hire a professional stager to come and arrange your furniture. Staging is about decorating your house for the buyers’ taste, not yours. A great place to start is with the front of the home and the main entryway. Home staging is designed to increase the potential selling price and reduce the amount of time the house stays on the market.

This is a very good article that we think you will find helpful.  In our opinion, here’s one that they missed:

When shopping for a mortgage, be sure that you understand your total cost, not just your interest rate… and you don’t want any surprises 6 hours before closing.  Ask a lender for a HUD-1 statement so that you understand the total cost of your loan.

Can you think of another that HGTV missed ?      We hope that you’ll share it with us.

Many Blessings,

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtor

RE/MAX TRADITIONS

Serving the communites of Aurora, Auburn, Bainbridge Township, Chagrin Falls, Solon, Twinsburg, and all of the Chagrin Valley.  Call us for referrals to outstanding RE/MAX agents in other communities.

Today’s Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that home sales for May 2009 are generally lower than for May 2008, with Cuyahoga, Lorain, and Lake Counties showing a 7 to 9 % drop for the year to year comparison.  The State of Ohio is showing an 18% decline.

Geauga County is the exception, posting a 15% increase over May 2008.  Jonathan Hall, President of the Ohio Association of Realtors stated:  ”With favorable pricing, attractive interest rates and sellers more realistic in their expectations, the market is poised for a rebound due to the ideal conditions that exist.”

Reports for Portage County-Aurora and Summit County-Twinsburg are inconclusive due to the merger of the data services of the two multiple listing services.  These figures do include the Chagrin Valley areas of Chagrin Falls,  Solon, Bainbridge Township, Auburn, South Russell, and Chesterland.

Contact us if you have any questions.

Jim & Joan Norbuta

Realtors

REMAX Traditions

Are you ready for this….it’s a possibility that we will see a $15,000 tax credit for ALL home buyers.  As reported in USA Today, there are many potential changes to the housing bill that currently gives first time buyers an $8,000 tax credit, depending on their income.

The proposed bill would change the amount of the credit to $15,000, eliminate the income restrictions, and give access to ALL HOME BUYERS. 

Along with the terrific interest rates that are still available, this would certainly give a boost to home sellers.  We do business on the southeast side of Greater Cleveland (Chagrin Valley), focusing on Solon, Chagrin Falls, Bainbridge Township, Twinsburg, Aurora, and Chesterland.  If you are relocating, check out the relocation section of our website.  We can also refer you to outstanding REMAX realtors in any part of Greater Cleveland.

Contact us if you have any questions.

(The following is specific to one area of Greater Cleveland.  If you are a home buyer or home seller, this detail is extremely important to you.  Please do not make financial decisions without knowing the facts about your community)

44022 CHAGRIN FALLS 44023

INVENTORY REPORT FOR JUNE 12, 2009

Price Range                  Active&Contingent     Pending& Sold        Current Inventory

$150,000 – $300,000            163/13                     17/53                      15  months

$300,001 – $500,000          163/10                    14/40                     19 months      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            $500,001 +                            179/6                       10/13                      48  months           

…………….TOTALS……..         505/29             41/106               21.8months

                        Total Homes for Sale                 534

                        Average Sales/Month                24.5 

                        Months of Inventory                   21.8

                        Pure and simple, there are a lot of homes for sale in CHAGRIN FALLS.  The same is likely to be true for Solon, Twinsburg, Aurora, and Russell.  If you need to know for your specific area, even for developments like Laurel Springs, Barrington, and Canyon Lakes, give us a call.  The above numbers may be eye openers for many of you.  If you are currently selling your home, you are probably very well aware of them.  Most importantly, ALL BUYERS AND SELLERS should be aware of them for your street, neighborhood, and community.  The numbers can change dramatically by location, even within your local community.

If you are looking to purchase a home in the next few months, please give us a call.  We show all properties listed by any real estate broker and most for sale by owner homes.  Most importantly, our purchase analysis for buyers includes the street, neighborhood, and the local community facts.

If your interest is in homes priced above $500,000, the above chart indicates an inventory of 4 years.  If you are ready to negotiate, there are excellent values available in every price range.   

 For families and individuals involved in a relocation transfer, you’re timing couldn’t be any better.  The Greater Cleveland Community has so much to offer and is one of the most affordable major metropolitan areas in the country.

Our website contains information on mortgage rates, lenders, local community groups, details about us and our services, and helpful information for living or moving to the Chagrin Valley.