by John Kalinowski on February 7, 2010
If you’re familiar with the city of Cleveland Heights point of sale inspection, you know how difficult it can be to earn the city’s approval to sell your home. They’ll inspect every nook and cranny, and will often require many repairs or updates before the home can transfer to a new buyer.
Here’s your chance to pick up a completely updated, remodeled colonial, close to The Cleveland Clinic and University Hospital. The best part? The seller already completed all city-required repairs, so this home is violation-free and ready for you to move in!
Click through to see what’s inside 3293 Washington Blvd. and enjoy the tour!
by John Kalinowski on January 18, 2010
It’s been rather busy around Liquid Blue with a few new sales over the holidays and the addition of three more agents who are perfect additions to our company. I’m proud to announce that Jody Conner, Ashley Candan, and Nicolette Kuebeler recently joined our team, bringing our total agent count to nine, which is very exciting considering we’re just over a year old and have kept a fairly low profile in regard to actively recruiting new agents.
Jody Conner and I worked together during my early days at ReMax, and she was recently with Russell Realty in Brecksville. Jody wasted no time getting up to speed with Liquid Blue, selling one of her own listings just a couple weeks after joining! Jody lives in Parma Heights, and has extensive experience working with buyers and sellers in all the surrounding counties.
Ashley Candan lives in Mentor and came to us from Century 21 Homestar. She’s originally from Massachusetts and has lived in New York and overseas, and brings a wealth of experience in the bank-owned and REO market. She works with several investors, and also buys and rehabs her own properties with the help of her husband and their own construction company. Ashley already brought a couple of listings in Cleveland Heights, which helps to expand our East Side presence.
Nicolette Kuebeler lives in Strongsville and moved to Liquid Blue from Keller Williams Greater Cleveland Southwest. She is originally from the Akron area where she worked with Coldwell Banker, and recently moved to Strongsville with her family. Nicolette has extensive experience working with both buyers and sellers, and also owns several rental properties in the Akron area.
Jody, Ashley, and Nicolette are perfect additions to the Liquid Blue Team. They understand technology and are eager to implement our unique strategies with one goal in mind – helping our buyers and sellers complete their transactions on time, with the least amount of stress, and at the best price and terms possible. Welcome aboard!
by John Kalinowski on December 3, 2009
One year ago today I opened an envelope from The State of Ohio containing the official brokerage license for Liquid Blue Realty. As you can imagine, that was a moment filled with anticipation over the start of an exciting new venture, with of course a tinge of fear over what the future would bring. Pounding those first blue signs into the ground on a freezing cold, snowy December day, left me grinning from ear-to-ear like a little boy. Just ask my friend and neighbor, Mike Barth, who I drafted to help install the signs! Little did I imagine that a year later we would have six agents on our team, with two more joining soon, and a slew of Liquid Blue Realty Custom Yard Signs on display across town.
Our concept is simple; we don’t advertise our agents’ faces, or talk about ourselves when we market our clients’ homes. We use the sign to attract potential buyers by printing inside photos and property details right on the sign. We also create a special website for each listing, making it easy for prospective buyers to find additional information. Sellers who are tired of the typical, agent-centric real estate marketing understand our approach and many have already witnessed the results our unique signs generate. We’ve had a great year so far in 2009, and helped many sellers move on even in a challenging market.
I can’t express how excited I am for 2010! It will be a big year for Liquid Blue Realty as we continue to grow and bring our unique marketing approach to more sellers. Our buyers are smiling too, as they’ve experienced the many benefits a professional buyer’s agent brings to their transaction.
Thanks too all involved in making Liquid Blue Realty’s first year a great success!!
by Liquid Blue on October 9, 2009
Looking for a unique contemporary home with beautiful wooded valley views, but close to the center of North Royalton? You’ve stumbled across an amazing find!
Contemporary design originally built in 1948 with additions in ‘78 and ‘99, surrounded by 3.85 glorious acres. Adjacent 5.91 acre vacant land also available.
Includes nearly 4,800 square feet, a tennis court, and a 20×40 heated inground pool.
Click through to see what’s inside 14599 Bennett Road and enjoy the tour!
by Liquid Blue on October 9, 2009
by John Kalinowski on August 21, 2009
We just finished installing the custom sign in front of this delightful Cape Cod in Olmsted Falls. With over 2,200 square feet, you’ll find it’s much larger than the typical Cape or Bungalow. Viewed from the front, the actual size can be deceptive, as there’s a large family room addition on the West side of the home, plus a finished basement rec room. The current owners were born with green thumbs, and you’ll see the results of their efforts as soon as you open the back gate. In case you want to try your own hand at planting a few bulbs, the greenhouse will stay behind!
Click through to see what’s inside 26735 Bagley Road and enjoy the tour!
by John Kalinowski on February 13, 2009
Could this be the end of a PC icon? I’ve enjoyed the print version of PC Magazine for many years, so I was quite surprised when I opened my last issue to see a Letter from Editor-in-Chief Lance Ulanoff . He explained that this issue, Volume 28, is the last printed edition of PC Magazine!
Like many print media publications, the growing expense of print and delivery made it impossible for PC Magazine to continue on paper, and they’re moving the entire publication online. The advantages a digital publication offers are obvious, but it is amazing to see how quickly the advertising world is changing. Our society grew up sitting around the table in the morning with a cup of coffee, browsing the sports section or the comics. Now, more people every day find their news online or in their feed readers, and we’re moving quickly away from a world of newsprint.
The world of real estate advertising is no different, and it’s evident in the ever-shrinking real estate section of our own Plain Dealer’s Sunday edition. A few stubborn stragglers are still hanging on to their expensive block ads, in the hope of attracting a stray buyer. The reality, though, is tough for many to swallow, particularly those agents who just don’t understand the online message.
Liquid Blue Realty has moved entirely away from ineffective print ads, and we’re focusing maximum energy on making sure our listings are found in the places real buyers are looking. We start by creating a Custom Website for every home we sell, with a custom URL address that’s printed right on the sign. From there, we make sure each listing is fed to every relevant real estate related website on planet Earth (we may be exaggerating here, but only a little). The result? We’re receiving more buyer responses, and more traffic to our listings, than we ever received with print advertisement.
I’m sorry to see you go, PC Magazine. I’ll miss flipping through your pages to dig up the latest PC performance tip, but I can’t say I’m sorry to see print advertisement go the way of the buggy whip . Online advertising offers unique ways to present homes for sale, particularly when you work with a group of agents who understand the best ways to use the Internet to sell your home. Liquid Blue Realty’s agents are tech-savvy like no other group in Northeast Ohio, and we’re ready to work with you to properly advertise your home to today’s buyers.
by John Kalinowski on February 7, 2009
Take a virtual walk through 54 Baker Street, close to the heart of historic Berea, Ohio.
We photographed this picturesque Berea cape cod in the middle of a chilly Cleveland Snowstorm, so we displayed the summer picture. The front view is deceiving, as you’ll find a wide-open family room addition on the back that creates a great room effect.
We create individual websites for every home we sell, and you can see all the details for this perfect Berea choice at 54 Baker Street’s special spot on the Web.
by John Kalinowski on February 1, 2009
After a few buyer showings, sellers often receive feedback about their home’s negative features from a buyer’s or agent’s perspective. This often puts them in the dilemma of whether they should invest any money to update or repair these items. In our current buyers’ market, it’s a reasonable concern, but often it can cost you much more later if you don’t spend the money now. To make a wise decision, it’s important to weigh the cost of repairs against the change in your home’s value. You must also consider that not making certain repairs or updates can lead to a lengthy market time and even cause a pending sale to fail inspection or appraisal!
Understandably, it may be beyond most sellers’ financial means to complete costly repairs or remodeling, but small things can make a big difference. Replacing a broken screen door to add curb appeal, adding stainless steel appliances, or updating a worn kitchen floor with neutral tile can save you market time and attract an offer. If you are not sure what buyers are looking for these days, talk to a Liquid Blue Realty agent. One safe assumption is that if you don’t want to do it, a buyer won’t either! Also take a look at the many decorating sources available online, and you can always see the latest and greatest trends at The Remodel Ohio Show which starts Thursday, January 29th and runs through Sunday February 1st at The Cleveland I-X Center.
In a buyers’ market the home at the best price and in the best condition will sell first. If you spend $1000 on new appliances, $500 on a new floor, and $500 to freshen-up the paint, this $2000 investment might be all you need to sell your home 3-5 months sooner resulting in months of tax, insurance, & mortgage payment savings, which will certainly save more than the $2000 you spent! You will also most likely sell closer to your list price giving you an even better return on your investment. As they say “Time is money” so think about what it’s costing you not to spend!
by John Kalinowski on January 26, 2009
It’s all relative…
Sellers often grapple with establishing a listing price that reflects the current market value of their home. Having access to current sales statistics can take the emotion out of that decision, but too often leaves the seller feeling they’re holding the short end of the stick in this buyer’s market.
That can be true if the seller does not purchase a new home after the sale of their current home. That’s why it is all relative! Sellers who purchase another home in this buyers market may realize a substantial savings, that may be greater than the decrease realized on their sale. They may even be able to see a profit, despite the current market conditions. Yes! I said profit.
For example, Bob owned a split level valued at $171,000 in 2007 which he sold in December of 2008 for $150,000, realizing a $21,000 or 12% decrease in value. He then purchased a newer colonial in January 2009 for $230,000 which had been valued at $262,200 in 2007, realizing a $32,000 or 12% savings, so Bob actually came out ahead $11,000 after completing both transactions.
It is a great time to buy, particularly with the low interest rates available, and if you’re selling a home, and price it right, you too can take advantage of this buyers market!
