Lakeshore Learning Center on Chagrin is Not Just For Teachers

August 31, 2011 in Area Information | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lakeshore Learning Center recently opened a new store in Woodmere on Chagrin Blvd.  Located in the same plaza as Verizon, Lakeshore Learning Center is not just for teachers.

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Lakeshore has materials for infants & toddlers through the 6th grade.  From awesome crafts to imaginative play and blocks this store really has great stuff.  Plus every Saturday is free craft day for kids.  

Lakeshore is a great addition to our community.  If you have young kids you should check it out today!

More information about Lakeshore Learning Center

 

If you would like to get started buying or selling your Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, Solon, Cleveland Heights or Chagrin Falls home please contact Ellen Weiner at 216-789-9368 or email Ellen@NoPlacelikeCleveland.com

Shaker Heights Residents do you Want to be in the Movies?

August 25, 2011 in Luxury Sellers | Leave a comment

Shaker Heights residents do you want to be in the movies?  Here is your chance.

Starting in January the city of Shaker Heights will begin celebrating their centennial anniversary.  To jumpstart the milestone birthday year, the Shaker Heights Centennial Committee and Second Story Productions are creating a dynamic, fun video designed to showcase and highlight all the things that make Shaker Heights so extraordinary – residents, architecture, lakes, parks and landmarks – set to the quintessential Shaker song “Simple Gifts.” We need YOU to sing in the Grand Finale!

Who: YOU, your neighbors, family, and friends!
What: Grand Finale of Shaker Sings “Simple Gifts”
Where: Horseshoe Lake Park
When: October 1 (Rain date: October 2) from 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
How: Register online at http://bit.ly/ShakerSingsSimpleGifts to reserve your spot! Once you have registered, we will provide the music and lyrics. All you need to do is practice and arrive ready to sing!

Each participant must register separately unless under the age of 18. All participants under the age of 18 must register with a parent.

There are other events going on as well.  Click here is see some of the celebration events.

If you would like to get started buying or selling your Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, Solon, Cleveland Heights or Chagrin Falls home please contact Ellen Weiner at 216-789-9368 or email Ellen@NoPlacelikeCleveland.com

 

Why Is Solon the Third Best Place To Live In The Nation?

August 15, 2011 in Luxury Sellers | Leave a comment

Money Magazine just came out with its annual report on the top places to live in the U.S.  Solon ranked number 3 on the list.  So why is Solon the third best place to live in the nation?  Let’s take a look at what makes Solon such a great place to live.  

The report sites things like solon’s unemployment rate, and proximity to good health care.  They also mention Solon’s great schools and cultural opportunities.  Did you know that Solon has its own philharmonic orchestra?

Solon residents are proud to live here as well.  They appreciate all the above statistics, but they might also be quick to point out the great recreation center in the heart of Solon’s downtown as well as the proximity to highways, and downtown.   

Solon also has a wide range of real estate choices.  Home prices range in Solon from under $100,000 to over $1,000,000.  Making it a great suburb for everyone. 

What are some of the things you like best about Solon?

If you would like to get started buying or selling your  Solon, home please contact Ellen Weiner at 216-789-9368 or email Ellen@NoPlacelikeCleveland.com

Top 15 Rules for Staging Your Home

August 4, 2011 in Luxury Sellers | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

I recently came across an article on Agent Genius about Staging your home.  According to a Study by Duke University here are the top 15 rules to scientifically staging your home. 

Photo taken by Real Estaging

Top 15 staging rules

According to the scientific study by Duke University, these are the top 15 staging rules listed with the most importantly ranked at the top of this list:

  1. Removal of personal items from bathrooms.
  2. Using rooms for their intended purpose.
  3. Removing evidence of pets.
  4. Turning on every light in the home during showings.
  5. Vacant homes should be furnished.
  6. Removal of garbage cans.
  7. Removal of personal photographs.
  8. Removal attention-grabbing or personal art or accessories.
  9. Neutral paint colors on all walls.
  10. Removal of appliances from kitchen counters.
  11. Never placing the back of furniture facing any room entrance.
  12. “Tell a story” with staging (breakfast tray with mugs on bed).
  13. Sheer or no coverings on all windows.
  14. Use of scented candles, plug-in air fresheners or potpourri.
  15. Chocolate chips baking in oven during showings.

Read more about staging your home here.

If you would like to get started buying or selling your Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, Solon, Cleveland Heights or Chagrin Falls home please contact Ellen Weiner at 216-789-9368 or email Ellen@NoPlacelikeCleveland.com

 

The 3 ‘R’s To Selling Your Home

June 16, 2011 in Luxury Sellers | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Intorducing the 3 ‘R’s to selling your home in today’s Pepper Pike real estate market. We have all heard the 3 R’s of recycling: reduce, reuse and recycle.  Here are the 3 ‘R’s to selling your home.

Reduce:  You need to reduce your price so that it is competitive to what a buyer wants. A lot of  buyers today are void of emotion.  When it comes time to write a purchase agreement they are thinking with their heads not with their hearts.  They want to make sure they are getting a deal.  If they feel they are not, they will go to the house down the street.  There is so much inventory (homes for sale in each neighborhood) buyers don’t need to get their heart set on one house. 

Rent:  Have you thought about renting out your home?  Maybe you could find a renter that wants to stay 2 or 3 years. Here are some more tips to renting out your home.

Remain:  Not willing to reduce, or rent, well then I am sorry to say you better be willing to remain in your house.  If you can not reduce your price, and you don’t want to find a renter then you might as well take the sign out of your yard and stay put another 5 years. 

This is the harsh reality of  todays market.  But it doesn’t have to be all bad news. Here are some advantages to a buyer’s real estate market. 

 

If you would like to get started buying or selling your Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, Solon, Cleveland Heights or Chagrin Falls home please contact Ellen Weiner at 216-789-9368 or email Ellen@NoPlacelikeCleveland.com

Home Prices Down Another 1.8% In Cleveland

May 31, 2011 in Luxury Buyers, Luxury Sellers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The S&P/Case Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan cities is out and the numbers are not good. Home prices have fallen even more, this time to lows not seen since 2006.  In Cleveland home prices are down 1.8% from February to March.  These numbers are due to high amounts of foreclosures and less demand.  David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Indices says “Home prices continue on their downward spiral with no relief in sight.”  The S&P/Case Shiller  index has been down for 30 straight months.

Do the lower home prices make you more or less likely to buy a  new home?  Are they an incentive to get a great deal, or do they make you nervous that the market is still going to get worse?

If you would like to get started buying or selling your Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, Solon, Cleveland Heights or Chagrin Falls home please contact Ellen Weiner at 216-789-9368 or email Ellen@NoPlacelikeCleveland.com

Have a Deck you Can Be Proud Of!

May 24, 2011 in Luxury Sellers, Neighborhoods, Other | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Here are some quick tips for staining your deck, so you can have a deck you can be proud of this summer. 

Deck Stain Applying

Clean The Deck Before you Start:  Make sure to prepare, prepare and prepare,the surface of your deck.  A great product that wont harm your plant life or you for that matter is Sodium percarbonate wood cleaner.  This is a great way to prep your deck for the stain. 

Don’t forget to use a Wood Brightener:  This is the most skipped step in staining a deck.  Wood brighteners open up the surface to improve penetration of the stain.  They also neutralize any stain strippers.  Best of all, you just spray it on and rinse it off.  No scrubbing is necessary. 

Stay away from the Cheap Stuff: As always you get what you pay for.  Better ingredients cost more money.  Stay away from the cheap stuff if you expect the stain to last. 

Using a Paint Brush is Still Best Method:  Sherwin-Williams give instructions here  for applying the stain.  A paint brush is best for working the stain into the pores of a board.  Make sure you keep one handy.

Let the Deck Dry for 24 hours and enjoy your beautiful deck with friends and family all Summer!

If you would like to get started buying or selling your Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, Solon, Cleveland Heights or Chagrin Falls home please contact Ellen Weiner at 216-789-9368 or email Ellen@NoPlacelikeCleveland.com

Little Known Ways to Remodel and Increase the Value of Your Home

May 16, 2011 in Luxury Sellers | 1 comment

Remodeling or updating your home is a great way to increase its value.  Here are the best rooms to fix up. 

Kitchens:  Families spend a great deal of time in the kitchen. That is why fixing up the kitchen is a great place to get your money back. What are you cabinets like?  Are the insides in good condition?  Have you thought about just refacing them? Cabinet refacing is a great way to change the look of your kitchen without bringing everything down to the studs.  Check out this coupon from Sears and get an estimate!

Bathrooms: Bathrooms are the second most important room in a home to redo.  Have you tried to change out a vanity?  Maybe put in a new floor? Even a simple change like switching out the bathroom hardware might make a big difference.  Here are some great tips from Lowes.

Resurface Floors:  Have a lot of carpet in your house?   Have you considered wood flooring?  Wood floors look great in the downstairs of any house. There a so many new variations of wood floors out there too. You don’t have to break the bank to make your home gorgeous.  Many flooring companies are showing a new vinyl wood floor.  It looks just like wood but wears like vinyl.  Check out Marshall Carpet’s supply.

The remodeling ideas are endless. One thing is for sure. Do something because you like it not what someone else will pay for.  Chances are any improvements you make to a home will increase your investment.  Just don’t go over board.

 

If you would like to get started buying or selling your Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, Solon, Cleveland Heights or Chagrin Falls home please contact Ellen Weiner at 216-789-9368 or email Ellen@NoPlacelikeCleveland.com

PlayhouseSquare is the Second-largest Performing Arts Center in The Country!

May 5, 2011 in Area Information | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

PlayhouseSquare located on Euclid in Downtown Cleveland has a lot to be proud of. It is the second-largest performing arts center in the country by audience capacity.  Second only to Lincoln Center.


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PlayhouseSquare is home to 10 performance spaces with a total of more than 9,000 seats.  Yesterday the Wall Street Journal highlighted PlayhouseSquare because in a time when “arts and culture is losing its market share of philanthropy,” Cleveland’s PlayhouseSquare seems to be in better shape than the rest.

The article talks about what makes PlayhouseSquare and its foundation so unique.  I think it is important to highlight the article here because we sometimes forget what a great city we live in.  When is the last time you checked out a show at PlayhouseSquare? Maybe it is time you should.  Here is a link to the upcoming events at PlayhouseSquare.

If you would like to get started buying or selling your Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, Solon, Cleveland Heights or Chagrin Falls home please contact Ellen Weiner at 216-789-9368 or email Ellen@NoPlacelikeCleveland.com

The Secret to Great Curb Appeal: Part 2

April 30, 2011 in Luxury Buyers, Luxury Sellers | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

As we continue our series on the secret to great curb appeal.  Here are a few quick fixes to help you get started.  Close Up Front Door/Porch(Photo credit: http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/exteriors/curb-appeal/ways-to-add-curb-appeal/?page=3)

1. Make a Grand Entry: When buyers are out looking for homes, they usually pause at the front door while the agent opens the lockbox and unlocks the door.  Make sure you front door is a grand entry.  Try adding molding around the door.  Molding acts like an architectural eyeliner when applied to the sides and top of the doorway.

2. Replace Gutters and Down Spouts: Make sure all the gutters and  down spouts are functioning correctly and not rusty.  Rusty down spouts make a home look like it needs work and that could be less appealing to a buyer.

3. Don’t Forget About Lighting: Buyers also like to drive by at dusk to check out a house.  One way to make your curb appeal better is to add driveway or front lights.  Try Solar powered driveway lights.

Click here for Some More Curb Appeal tips

If you would like to get started buying or selling your Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, Solon, Cleveland Heights or Chagrin Falls home please contact Ellen Weiner at 216-789-9368 or email Ellen@NoPlacelikeCleveland.com

 

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