Barb Szabo's Blog: December 2010

Whenever a home finally goes under contract, inspections can be expected. When we talk about inspections, we focus largely on the buyer. Which inspections will they have, general home? pest? radon? mold? pool? When will they have them? What will they cost?

But sellers need to be active participants as well. No, I'm not suggesting you be present at the inspection. In fact, in our area, the seller is usually not there. What I am suggesting is that you prepare your home for the inspection.

Here are some action items a seller can do that may make "inspection day" go a little smoother:

*If it is winter, make sure the driveway and walkway are shoveled

*If it is summer, try to get the cars out of the driveway and the garage so that the concrete can be thoroughly inspected

*The inspector will spend a large amount of time in the basement or near the mechanicals if there is no basement. Make sure that there is easy access to the furnace and hot water tank

*If there is a pull down attic, whether in the home or the garage, pull down the stairs in advance. If the attic is being used for storage, try to move items away from the outside walls of the attic so the inspector can see what he needs to see. He will want to look for proper ventilation in general and if anything is venting in there that shouldn't be, like a bathroom vent

* If you have had the roof, furnace, A/C, patio, deck, etc.. replaced, leave a copy of the scope of work and when it was done

* Make sure pets are removed from the house or are not underfoot.

*Remove any of those scented plug ins. I know I can't be the only one in the world that gets a headache from them.

These are just a few action items and I am sure more can be added to the list. Remember, if you have come this far, it means that you have a very good chance of CLOSING THE SALE and in today's market, that is an accomplishment!

 

 

If you would like to buy or sell a home in the southern communities of Cleveland Ohio, please call me at 440-263-7496, or you may want to visit my website for more specific information on the communities I service: Brecksville Ohio Real Estate, Broadview Heights Ohio Real Estate, North Royalton Ohio Real Estate Independence Ohio Real Estate, Seven Hills Ohio Real Estate, Parma Ohio Real Estate, Parma Heights Ohio Real Estate and Middleburg Heights Ohio Real Estate.  Information is obtained from Neohrex (Northeast Ohio Real Estate Exchange) and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale, rental, or other status changes. All properties that are advertised as being listed or sold by Barb Szabo are in conjuntion with ReMax Trinity.

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas as I did. I was once again blessed with a holiday that included my parents, and everyone else I love so much. Christmas Eve we went to my Mom and Dad's for a lovely dinner followed by our tradition of blessing their home. My father prepares a wonderful smelling incense, which evokes the most beautiful memories, and then we walk through every room in the house, with the incense and holy water, while praying the rosary.

After wards we sang some Christmas songs, both in English and Slovenian and then we opened gifts. Then we went to midnight Mass, which really was at Midnight!  It was a beautiful service as usual. On Christmas day everyone came to our house to keep the celebration going.

Aside from the beautiful gift of my family, the best gift I got was from Lou and Erin....a compilation CD by my favorite artist...Erin Szabo!!!!!!!

 

 

If you would like to buy or sell a home in the southern communities of Cleveland Ohio, please call me at 440-263-7496, or you may want to visit my website for more specific information on the communities I service: Brecksville Ohio Real Estate, Broadview Heights Ohio Real Estate, North Royalton Ohio Real Estate Independence Ohio Real Estate, Seven Hills Ohio Real Estate, Parma Ohio Real Estate, Parma Heights Ohio Real Estate and Middleburg Heights Ohio Real Estate.  Information is obtained from Neohrex (Northeast Ohio Real Estate Exchange) and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale, rental, or other status changes. All properties that are advertised as being listed or sold by Barb Szabo are in conjuntion with ReMax Trinity.

Perception is reality. Mike states that very well in his blog about price reductions. The defintion of market value is what a buyer is willing to pay for the item. It's no different for housing!

 

 

If you would like to buy or sell a home in the southern communities of Cleveland Ohio, please call me at 440-263-7496, or you may want to visit my website for more specific information on the communities I service: Brecksville Ohio Real Estate, Broadview Heights Ohio Real Estate, North Royalton Ohio Real Estate Independence Ohio Real Estate, Seven Hills Ohio Real Estate, Parma Ohio Real Estate, Parma Heights Ohio Real Estate and Middleburg Heights Ohio Real Estate.  Information is obtained from Neohrex (Northeast Ohio Real Estate Exchange) and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale, rental, or other status changes. All properties that are advertised as being listed or sold by Barb Szabo are in conjuntion with ReMax Trinity.

I know how busy everyone is this time of year, but taking some time to relax and unwind is not overrated. Stress can cause a lot of ill affects on your health, none of them good. A perfect way to de-stress for me is to take a walk in the park, preferably with my husband and daughter. Not today of course, when it's practically a blizzard outside, but on a calm and sunny day, when you can see the snow glistening like crystal!

Native Clevelanders know all about our wonderful park system, called the Emerald Necklace. This beautiful park system includes over 60 miles of all purpose trails for cycling, hiking, walking, and in line skating.  There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails in the 20,000 plus acres that make up the metro parks.

*There are nature/visitor centers designed to educate people about the parks and the critters that live there
*Lookabout Lodge, in the south Chagrin Reservation, is built from over 300 chestnut logs
*a naturalist on hand daily, from 9:30-5 p.m. to answer your "nature" questions
*Institute of the Great Outdoors is the focal point for outdoor recreation in the Metro parks
*golf, fishing, tobaganning, swimming
*historic audio tours and event calendars
*ongoing programs calendar

 

 

If you would like to buy or sell a home in the southern communities of Cleveland Ohio, please call me at 440-263-7496, or you may want to visit my website for more specific information on the communities I service: Brecksville Ohio Real Estate, Broadview Heights Ohio Real Estate, North Royalton Ohio Real Estate Independence Ohio Real Estate, Seven Hills Ohio Real Estate, Parma Ohio Real Estate, Parma Heights Ohio Real Estate and Middleburg Heights Ohio Real Estate.  Information is obtained from Neohrex (Northeast Ohio Real Estate Exchange) and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale, rental, or other status changes. All properties that are advertised as being listed or sold by Barb Szabo are in conjuntion with ReMax Trinity.

My beautiful Mother turned 88 yesterday! My sister and her husband came over, along with my brother and his wife and 2 of their three children. We had a wonderful chicken parmesan dinner with a beautiful cake from Michaelangelo's bakery!

My Mom was born in Yugoslavia, lived through the depression, came to America, where she learned English and struggled to make a life for herself. She worked as a nanny in Duluth MN until a bunch of her friends told her there was lots of work in Cleveland. My Dad started out in New York, but soon moved to Cleveland as well. They met and the rest, as they say, is history. My father also was born in Yugoslavia, in a city that was about 30 minutes from where my Mom lived, but they met here in the U.S.:)

When we started taking pictures, he moved his chair over to hers to "sit next to the love of my life"!

 

 

If you would like to buy or sell a home in the southern communities of Cleveland Ohio, please call me at 440-263-7496, or you may want to visit my website for more specific information on the communities I service: Brecksville Ohio Real Estate, Broadview Heights Ohio Real Estate, North Royalton Ohio Real Estate Independence Ohio Real Estate, Seven Hills Ohio Real Estate, Parma Ohio Real Estate, Parma Heights Ohio Real Estate and Middleburg Heights Ohio Real Estate.  Information is obtained from Neohrex (Northeast Ohio Real Estate Exchange) and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale, rental, or other status changes. All properties that are advertised as being listed or sold by Barb Szabo are in conjuntion with ReMax Trinity.

The title of our concert this year is "Christ is Born, Nowell"!
We welcome you to take some time from the hustle and bustle that abounds in December to reflect on the true meaning of this blessed season of Christmas.

Listen to the beautiful sounds of the season

at a concert presented by

the music ministry of

Assumption Church

located at 9183 Broadview Rd, Broadview Heights Ohio

on

^{Saturday, Dec. 11th}

at

7:00 PM

This concert will feature both professional musicians and local high school students and will be held inside the church. (And a duet featuring our own beautiful daughter Erin Szabo, with Quillen Fava)

directed by

David Bird

9183 Broadview Rd.

Broadview Heights Ohio

 

 

If you would like to buy or sell a home in the southern communities of Cleveland Ohio, please call me at 440-263-7496, or you may want to visit my website for more specific information on the communities I service: Brecksville Ohio Real Estate, Broadview Heights Ohio Real Estate, North Royalton Ohio Real Estate Independence Ohio Real Estate, Seven Hills Ohio Real Estate, Parma Ohio Real Estate, Parma Heights Ohio Real Estate and Middleburg Heights Ohio Real Estate.  Information is obtained from Neohrex (Northeast Ohio Real Estate Exchange) and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale, rental, or other status changes. All properties that are advertised as being listed or sold by Barb Szabo are in conjuntion with ReMax Trinity.

You must sing this to the tune of "Up On The Housetop" at the top of your lungs or the fun factor will be severely reduced!

Upon the roof there is a leak
Inspector says come take a peak,
may be some mold to go with that
I slip on the ladder and fall down flat.

Ho ho ho,this may not close
Ho ho ho, this may not close,
Oh up on the roof there is a leak,
Delay to close is at least one week.

First comes the stocking of little Nell,
Oh dear Santa fill it well,
Looks kind of shaky like it might fall
that's cause the termites are having a ball.

Ho ho ho this may not close
Ho ho ho this may not close
Oh up on the mantel the termites eat
now Nell's stocking is by my feet.

Down to the basement is our next stop
On our way we hear a pop
Inspector says, "A fuse just blew"
I look at the buyer and say "who knew?"

Ho ho ho this may not close,
ho ho ho this may not close
oh  now in the house there are no lights
Kind of bad for the termites.

Off to the seller to give the news
I'm afraid this deal I'll lose,
He says "Yes I'll make repairs"
Gone in an instant are all my fears.

Ho ho ho this deal will close
Ho ho ho this deal will close
Oh I have a buyer with a new home
Now they must pay back the loan!

 

 

If you would like to buy or sell a home in the southern communities of Cleveland Ohio, please call me at 440-263-7496, or you may want to visit my website for more specific information on the communities I service: Brecksville Ohio Real Estate, Broadview Heights Ohio Real Estate, North Royalton Ohio Real Estate Independence Ohio Real Estate, Seven Hills Ohio Real Estate, Parma Ohio Real Estate, Parma Heights Ohio Real Estate and Middleburg Heights Ohio Real Estate.  Information is obtained from Neohrex (Northeast Ohio Real Estate Exchange) and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale, rental, or other status changes. All properties that are advertised as being listed or sold by Barb Szabo are in conjuntion with ReMax Trinity.

I know I am not alone when I say that I am not always as careful as I should be when meeting clients I have never met before. Many of you heard of the recent murders of 2 agents in our area. Police reports concluded that one was a vendetta for a deal gone bad, but the other was simply a horrible murder.

I like to think that I get smarter with age. Yesterday I met a client I had never met before who said that he would be coming with his wife. My first decision was that if he showed up alone, I would not even get out of my car. I then called the office, and my broker, and gave them the name of the clients, the address of the home I was showing and the time of my appointment. The office was also to call me shortly after 1:00p.m. and we had a code phrase set up in the event I was in trouble. All this "preparation" did not take more than 5 minutes and I think I am worth that!

Fortunately for me, the client did come with his wife and is a retired police officer. As we got to talking, we got into this topic. Both he and his wife commended me for the actions I took, but also said that before I got out of my car, I should have called the office again with the make, color, and model of their car. Great advice!

Today on LinkedIn,  Mike Valerino, the Marketing director of the Cleveland Area Board of Realtors posted this new form and I think it's great!

And here is information on a great phone app by Moby from right here on AR. I think it will be Christmas present to myself!!

Let's be smart and safe out there!

 

 

If you would like to buy or sell a home in the southern communities of Cleveland Ohio, please call me at 440-263-7496, or you may want to visit my website for more specific information on the communities I service: Brecksville Ohio Real Estate, Broadview Heights Ohio Real Estate, North Royalton Ohio Real Estate Independence Ohio Real Estate, Seven Hills Ohio Real Estate, Parma Ohio Real Estate, Parma Heights Ohio Real Estate and Middleburg Heights Ohio Real Estate.  Information is obtained from Neohrex (Northeast Ohio Real Estate Exchange) and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale, rental, or other status changes. All properties that are advertised as being listed or sold by Barb Szabo are in conjuntion with ReMax Trinity.