Considering Selling Your Home?

There seems to be one issue that realtors and buyers alike are currently running into – lack of inventory.

Before the pandemic, there was an inventory shortage. Now, that’s an understatement; in fact, in many parts of the U.S., inventory is less than half of what it was this time last year.

A survey by Lending Tree looked at the behaviors of potential homebuyers. The results indicated that 58% of home buyers are more likely to purchase a home within the next year, EVEN amongst the current health crisis (Keeping Current Matters).

The main reasons buyers are willing to purchase a home this year include:

• Low mortgage rates
• Reduced spending
• Re-evaluating their current space (Keeping Current Matters)

To view the article, click HERE.

Given these factors, demand for housing will continue to grow this year. What does this mean for you?

If you wanted to purchase a home this year, you have a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates (and these rates are expected to remain low for a while).

If you had planned on selling your home before the pandemic or are considering it now, your home is likely in HIGH demand due to increased buyer interest and low inventory. This might be the perfect time to list your home.

Why Choose The Flood’s Real Estate

When choosing which REALTOR® you want to sell your home, the decision should not be taken lightly. After all, selling your house is a HUGE life change and you want to ensure you hire one that is both knowledgable and hard-working and also has your best interest in mind. When you hire The Flood’s Real Estate to sell your home, we strive to make the selling process not only successful for our client but also as smooth and stress-free as possible so the entire process goes seamlessly.

“When getting help with money, whether it’s insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman.” – Dave Ramsey

Here is a brief breakdown of what is included when hiring us to list your home:

• Seller’s Guide – You’ll receive an in depth Seller’s Guide that walks you through the entire process from start to finish (figuring out the price, marketing, closing, what information we need from you, etc.).
• Net Proceeds Sheet – We will provide you with a net proceeds sheet which will give you an estimate of the amount of money you will take away from selling a home.
• Comps – We’ll supply you with comps in order to help you understand how we’ll figure out the best price for your home in the current market and be able to price it competitively.
• Professional Photography – We did a post on this a few weeks ago on our Instagram (@thefloodsrealestate) and cannot express how strongly we feel about getting professional photos taken of your home to show it in the best light online. After all, it’s where the majority of buyer’s (52%) will initially see your home and decide whether or not they want to tour it.

• Staging – Susan Flood of The Flood’s Real Estate is a certified stager and can give you tips and advice on how to prep your home to sell, as well as how to best stage your home so it appeals to a wide range of potential buyers. You will also receive our Staging To Sell Guide.
• Marketing – We’ll put on the full-court press when it comes to marketing. Your home will be posted on multiple online sites such as the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Coldwell Banker Schmidt FOC’s website, Zillow, realtor.com, Redfin, The Flood’s Real Estate’s website, etc. It will also be posted across all of our various social media platforms. Other forms of marketing that will be considered to get your home sold fast and for the best price include post cards, email campaigns, online ads, coming-soon campaigns, video tours and drone shots (if needed). We customize our marketing plans to fit each client and their home.
• Broker’s Open and Open Houses – With your permission, we will hold a broker’s open and open houses to get your home as much exposure as possible.

Ready to get your house sold? So are we! Give us a call or text us at 440.558.8841 or email us at sfloodrealestate@gmail.com!

All Things CLE

Whether you’re from Cleveland or relocating here, there are so many reasons to love The Land, one of which is real estate. Whether you’re buying your first home, selling your beloved home, relocating here or want to invest in real estate — Cleveland is a great place to live.

Cleveland is located in northeast Ohio on the southern shores of Lake Erie and is about 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border. Greater Cleveland sits along Lake Erie for about 100 miles and runs  40+ miles inland. It incorporates Cuyahoga, Lake, Medina, Geauga and Lorain counties and includes more than 70 suburbs, such as Lakewood, Bay Village, Parma, Westlake, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, Strongsville, East Cleveland, Euclid, Fairview Park, Garfield Heights, North Olmsted, Rocky River, Avon, Avon Lake and more.

The city of Cleveland has a population of 381,009 (census.gov) while Greater Cleveland has a population of around 2.1 million (worldpopulationreview.com) making it the 32nd largest metro area in the U.S and the second largest city in Ohio (behind Columbus).

Downtown Cleveland has been revitalized over the last five years, with an estimated $19 billion in development already completed or planned in the last ten years. Occupancy rates are at 98% while home sales are up around an impressive 12% year after year (Real Wealth Network).

For more Cleveland real estate stats, click HERE.

There are some major factors that make Cleveland a great place to live and purchase real estate including:

• “#1 City to Buy Home for Best Rental Return” – CNBC
• “#4 City Where Your Paycheck Will Go the Furthest” – Forbes
• “#10 Best City for First Time Home Buyers” – Business Insider
• “Cleveland Real Estate Market Trends” – Movoto
• “Ohio Best State for Start-Up” – Forbes
• “#84 Best Place to Live” – U.S. News

(realwealthnetwork.com)

Some great aspects contributing to Cleveland’s economy include:

• It’s home to the fastest growing healthcare economy in the country (home to well-known Cleveland Clinic). The healthcare sector serves as one of the leading employers in the area.
• 10 Fortune 500 companies have their headquarters here, one of which is Sherwin Williams.
• Cleveland is home to the second largest live theater district (Playhouse Square) in the country, behind New York City.
• Cleveland has three major sports teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians.
• The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is located in downtown Cleveland.
• You can find the famed “A Christmas Story House” in CLE.
• The Cleveland Orchestra consistently ranks as one of the best orchestras in the world.
• Cleveland is home to the NASA Glenn Research Center.

Wondering what there is to do around Cleveland? The answer is PLENTY.

The city offers residents and visitors alike tons of things to do:

• Grab some delicious food from one of the many amazing restaurants
• Spend the day in Little Italy
• Catch a game at one of the many great local bars
• Indulge your culinary side at the West Side Market
• Tour the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
• Go to a Browns, Indians, Cavaliers, or Monsters game
• Shop at the 5th Street Arcades
• Tour the “A Christmas Story House”
• Spend a relaxing Saturday or Sunday morning at a farmers market
• Catch some sun at one of the many beaches
• Spend the day on Lake Erie
• Play some golf
• Watch a play at Playhouse Square
• Take a hike in the Cleveland Metroparks
• Spend the day at a local brewery
• Drink some wine at a local winery
• Go fishing
• Go shopping at Crocker Park, Eton Chagrin Boulevard, Legacy Village or Beachwood Place
• Spend the morning relaxing or working in one of the local coffee shops
• Indulge your love for sweets at a local bakery
• & so much more

While Cleveland really does have so much to love, our favorite part of this wonderful city is the pride that the we have in it. Clevelanders aren’t fair-weather fans when it comes to how much they love their city (or their sports teams lol).

If you’re relocating or considering relocating to Cleveland, send us an email at sfloodrealestate@gmail.com for a copy of our free Relocation Guide.

For a copy of our Moving Guide, click HERE.

Fall Decorating on a Budget

There’s just something about decorating for fall that gives us the warm fuzzies! It may be the promise of cool, crisp evenings with brilliant sunsets, or the fact that fall decorating is all about creating a cozy atmosphere in your home. The fun thing about fall decorating is that it’s easy and inexpensive. Here are a few of our favorite fall decor ideas that are easy to accomplish on a shoestring budget.

• Hit your local nursery, grocery store and fabric store for fall color. Place potted chrysanthemums, pansies, croton, purple fountain grass, or flowering kale on your front porch, in your foyer, or around your fireplace to add color. Tuck some mini pumpkins, Indian corn, or gourds around the base of the plants. Instead of spending money on pots, wrap the plant containers in fall print remnants from the fabric store.
• Scavenge your yard for fresh ornamental cuttings. Put on your gardening gloves, grab your cutting shears and a basket, and head outside for some free decor. Fall leaves, small branches, ivy, ornamental grasses, flower blooms, pinecones, and seed pods make great accents. Arrange cuttings on your mantel or dining table with LED flameless candles and small gourds, or place branches and blooms in a large mason jar or vintage pitcher.
• Get creative with pumpkins. There are lots of fun things you can do with a pumpkin besides carving a jack-o-lantern. Try painting some pumpkins in fall colors that coordinate with your home’s decor (we’re big fans of white pumpkins). Or wrap a few large pumpkins in light strands to light up your front porch. Make pumpkin topiaries by stacking three or four on top of a planter, largest to smallest, and wrap then in garland or light strands.
• Create a focal point in your kitchen. In lieu of spreading fall decor all over your kitchen, pick a counter & decorate that! Fill a vase with some wheat, add a few pumpkins & a candle for an adorable look!
• Get cozy with it. Place a few fall-inspired throw blankets around your house in plaids or other fall hues. This not only adds some fall vibes but it’s also practical for when temps start to drop.
• Spruce up your living room seating. It’s so easy to spice up your living room by throwing some fall-colored pillows on your sofa & love seat. Whether you prefer to keep them cohesive throughout the room or want as many pillows as you can get, you can’t go wrong.
• Candles, candles, candles. Fall-scented candles are a must when it comes to fall decorating tricks! You can add them to any room. Try to go for candles with pretty packaging so they can serve as cute decorations as well!
• Fill baskets with fall decor. Pick up some woven or metal baskets to display & store your favorite fall items. Whether you toss in fall-colored blankets or pillows or store some pumpkins in there, you can do no wrong with this simple, yet effective decor idea!
• More ideas for fabrics. You don’t need a sewing machine to make use of fall fabrics. Many fabric stores stock fall prints or have remnant pieces for quilting. Fold a couple of yards of plaid fleece like a throw blanket and drape it over a chair.  Wrap your throw pillows in a yard of a fall print and secure it with craft ribbon or safety pins. Fold the raw edges under and iron to make a simple table runner. Wind strips of fabric around a grapevine wreath or use them to tie big bows around your pumpkin stems.

If you love decorating as much as we do, make sure you tag us on Instagram (@thefloodsrealestate) and Facebook (The Floods Real Estate) so we can see your beautiful fall decorations!

Onto the less fun stuff…

Wouldn’t it just be awesome if all you needed to get your home ready for the fall season was a little home decor and pumpkin spice? While decorating for fall is one of the best parts, there are more important (and less fun) tasks that come with being a homeowner which include prepping your home for the changing season. Click HERE to download a copy of our Fall Home Maintenance Checklist and rest easy knowing your home is fully prepared for the season!

We hope you’re enjoying the new season as much as we are. If you have any real estate questions or we can help in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Happy Fall, y’all!

Vacation Home or Rental Property?

If you are thinking about purchasing a beach house, city condo, mountain cabin, or other vacation property, let us help you do your due diligence. There is a lot to consider when owning a second home and you want to enjoy the property, not be burdened by it.

The first thing to consider is what your goals are for the property. Will it be strictly a retreat for your family and friends, or do you want to earn rental income when you are not using it? If you are entering the rental market, find out what months are the high and low season for visitors. Will this conflict with your personal use of the property?

The size of the property is another consideration if you want to rent it out. You may need three bedrooms for your family to vacation comfortably, but the rental market may be much higher for two-bedroom properties. You need to weigh what is more important to you.

When figuring your budget, you need to know what resort fees or taxes you will be required to charge visitors, liability insurance policies you may need, costs for regular repairs and maintenance, and refurbishing household items that disappear or wear out often.

Make sure you know the area laws or neighborhood rules on renting your property. Some neighborhoods do not allow short-term rentals of less than a month, others don’t allow less than a week. Some restrict the time of year, the number of people, or whether pets are allowed.

If you will want to rent your property, make sure you get a referral to a reliable property manager, handyman, and cleaning service that can assist you in between guests.

As you shop for properties, find out what HOA or deed restrictions are in place. If you are looking at condos or townhomes, are assessments charged for major improvements like a roof replacement, storm damage, or structural repairs, and when is the last time that happened?

Is there planned construction or development in the area? You don’t want to fall in love with the view off the porch of your cabin, only to find out a new complex is planned to be built below you.

Consider the ease of getting there. If you can load up the family, a few bags and groceries, and get to your vacation home with relative ease, you will be far more likely to use it often than if everyone arrives stressed out. Ideally, you want to have recreational gear and some basic provisions stored at the home so you can just pack a few clothes and perishable goods.

Make sure everyone is all in. Nothing spoils a good time faster than having to force the idea on your children or spouse. If everyone is complaining about having to go rather than looking forward to the next trip, you have a problem. There are different philosophies on family vacations. Some families like to explore new places all the time. For them, a vacation home may not make sense. But, if your family philosophy is revisiting the same beloved place year after year, and creating memories there, then a vacation home may be perfect for you.

If you have made the choice to look into a vacation property, we would love to help you locate the perfect property or refer you to a trusted real estate agent in that area.

It’s no secret that purchasing a home is a big step — especially if it’s your first home. With that said, if you know what to expect, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or confusing and can actually be an enjoyable process. Below we have gone over some common first time homebuyer FAQs and linked our First Time Homebuyer FAQ’s Sheet to help answer any questions you might have!

Our Top First Time Homebuyer FAQ’s Answered

Mortgage-Related

1. How do I know if it’s time to buy instead of rent? If you know where you want to live, have a steady and secure income, and are ready for the responsibilities of homeownership, then it’s a great time to invest in property.
2. How much do I need to save up for a down payment? A conventional loan down payment is usually 20% of the sales price, but other types of financing require as little as 3.5% to 15%. A mortgage lender can tell you what types of loans you qualify for.
3. How do I know if I qualify for a loan and how much I can afford? Contact a mortgage lender to get pre-approval for a loan. The lender will ask you some basic questions about your income and debts and can tell you what amount you can be approved for, and how much your mortgage payments will be.
4. What does the lender need from me to give me a loan? Usually, you are asked to provide your last two tax returns to show proof of income. You should also provide recent bank and credit card statements and proof of your current pay rate. You will also be asked for your social security number so they can run a credit check.
5. What’s the difference between pre-approved and pre-qualified?  While often used interchangeably, these terms don’t mean the same thing. Pre-qualification is an estimate of what you may be approved for based only on the verbal information you provide. Pre-approval means the lender has verified your income and debt information and run a credit check.
6. How do I know which mortgage option is right for me? Your mortgage lender is the best person to advise you on this question. Their products and qualifications change from time to time, so they would know best what products are available to meet your needs.

Searching for a Home

1. What should I do when I see a house online that I like? Call your buyer’s agent: the agent you are working with to find your home. It’s best that you work with one real estate agent throughout your search because that person learns what you like and dislike and will invest a lot of time vetting properties for you. That person also represents your best interests only. When you call the agent advertising the home, you are dealing with the seller’s agent, so, while they can assist you, they are also trying to get the best price for the seller.
2. Can you show me a house if it’s not your listing? Absolutely. As a buyer’s agent, I can show you any house listed in our MLS system, and I will contact FSBO sellers on your behalf. As mentioned above, working with me as your buyer’s agent ensures that your interests are protected.
3. How do we write an offer? When you find the property you want to make an offer on, I will run a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to help you determine a fair offer amount. I will also guide you through the additional terms of the contract, such as the escrow amount, closing date, and any additional terms you want to be added to the offer. I will write the offer on a contract form and submit it to the seller’s agent.
4. What if I want to back out of a contract? You always have the right to back out of the purchase, but you may lose your escrow deposit. If the contract is contingent on a property inspection, you usually have the right to cancel for any reason during the inspection period. Once the inspection period has passed, you cannot back out and keep your deposit unless the seller agrees, or an additional term has not been met.
5. What happens if there are other offers on the house I love? If a seller receives multiple offers on their home, usually their agent will inform the buyer’s that multiple offers have been received and the buyers have another opportunity to alter their original offer to present their “highest and best” offer. Keep in mind that many factors may influence the seller in addition to the offer price, such as the down payment amount, closing date, and inspection terms.
6. What happens when my offer gets accepted? Once both parties have agreed on all terms and signed the contract, your escrow deposit must be made and you should schedule the home inspection. Your lender will receive a copy of the contract and will begin processing your mortgage application.

We’re Under Contract!

1. What does “under contract” mean? Under contract means that all parties have agreed on terms, have signed the contract, and the signed contract has been delivered to both buyer and seller. Payment of the escrow deposit is expected but is not a requirement to make a binding contract.
2. What is escrow? The escrow money, escrow deposit, or good faith deposit is money that is offered with an offer, or as soon as an offer is accepted, to show the seller that you are serious about moving forward with the purchase of the home. Because you forfeit this deposit if you back out of the purchase for any reason not allowed for in the contract, the larger the escrow deposit, the more seriously your offer is taken.
3. Do I need an inspection? We always recommend that you have a home inspection done. In the scheme of things, paying a few hundred dollars to have peace of mind that there are no hidden dangers or problems is well worth the money.
4. How much are inspections? The cost of the home inspection depends on the size of the house and additional inspections requested, such as swimming pool, septic tank, termites, insurance four-point (HVAC, plumbing, roof, and electrical,) wind mitigation, and radon. An average home inspection, without additional inspections, is about $300.
5. What if my loan doesn’t get approved? If you have gone through the pre-approval process and have been forthcoming with all the information requested by your lender, it’s unlikely you will be turned down, but it does happen. Make sure you do not change jobs, purchase big-ticket items on credit, take out a car or boat loan, or open any other new credit accounts while your mortgage is being processed. If your loan does fall through, talk with your lender about changing to a different loan type.
6. When can I start moving? When you have the keys! When you are financing your purchase, it takes four to six weeks for your loan to be processed. Once the lender gives the all-clear, closing is scheduled. You will sign your loan documents and both parties will sign documents transferring ownership to you. Unless other arrangements have been agreed upon by both parties, the sellers should have completely vacated the home when they sign the closing papers. You can have your belongings ready to move, and a moving company scheduled before you go to closing. At closing, you will receive the documentation you need to provide utility companies with proof of your new residence.

For a copy of our full First Time Homebuyer FAQs Sheet to have this information on hand, plus Vocab and more! Click (HERE) to download your free copy!

If you are thinking about buying a home this year and aren’t sure if you will qualify for a mortgage, there are several actions you can take to improve your chances of being approved for the amount you wish to borrow.

Lenders look at more than just your credit rating. They want to know that you have a steady income and are responsible with your money. Before you start home shopping, take some time to make sure you are fiscally stable.

1. Stay at your present job. The bank will want to see, at minimum, your last two tax returns. If you want to buy a home this year, it’s not the time to start over in a new industry. If you are just getting started in the professional world, you may need to work a while longer in order to show a history of steady income.
2. Put off buying a new car. Be careful about buying big-ticket items like a new car or boat or on credit until after you have closed on your home.
3. Pay down credit debt. If you are carrying a balance on credit cards, work hard to pay those down or off. Try not to use credit cards if you can’t pay the balance off monthly.
4. Pay your bills on time. Incurring late payments will reflect poorly on your credit report, so keep track of deadlines or set up automatic payments before they are due.
5. Save up cash for a down payment. You have a better chance of being approved for a lower amount, so try to save up for a down payment to reduce the loan amount.
6. Say no to cosigning for others. Now is not the time to cosign on any loans with family members or friends.
7. Throw those credit card offers away. Each time you apply for credit, the provider will pull your credit history, which affects your score.

Let’s not sugarcoat it — buying your first home can be intimidating. But owning your home is such an incredibly rewarding feeling. If you’re thinking about buying a home, now is a great time! Rates are low, and inventory is high. Give us a call or txt us at 440.558.8841 and let us guide you every step of the way.

One of the most stressful situations when searching for a home occurs when other buyers are competing for the home you want. To make an offer on the perfect house only to find out you have entered a bidding war is certainly frustrating.

It’s common to feel helpless as you wait for communications to come back through the agents involved, hoping for some good news. To that end, we’ve put together some tips for how to make a multiple offer situation as comfortable and successful as possible for my buyers.

• Pick a real estate agent who is well organized and an exceptional communicator. A lapse in communication could be interpreted as disinterest. Don’t get overlooked because your agent didn’t communicate with the seller’s agent in a timely manner.
• Have your pre-approval letter or proof of funds in hand. You may have a great offer to submit, but if you can’t back it up with proof you are qualified to purchase the home, the seller may just move on. Make a cash offer if you are able. If not, make as large a down payment as possible, and use a lender that communicates effectively with all parties.
• Offer more than the asking price. Your agent should do a comparative market analysis (CMA) to give you a good idea on the home value as soon as you decide to make an offer. If it’s not too out of line with the CMA or your budget, offer more than the asking price.
• Keep your offer clean and simple. Don’t ask for contingencies that aren’t necessary to closing the transaction.
• Shorten the inspection period. Asking for a 5 to 7 day inspection period instead of the traditional 10 lets the seller know that you aren’t going to waste anyone’s time. Find a home inspector who has availability to schedule your inspection as soon as your offer is accepted.
• Have your earnest deposit ready. Offer an earnest deposit that sends the message that you are serious about your offer and have the funds ready to turn in as soon as your offer is accepted.
• Offer flexibility with your closing date. Convey through your agent that you are willing adjust the closing date to suit the seller’s needs.
• Include a personal letter. Let the seller know who you are, what you like about the home, and that you intend to take good care of their former residence. Let them know what it is about the home that has already made it special to you.
• Consider an escalation clause. Let the seller know your offer isn’t the highest you will go by including a clause stating that you will increase your offer, up to a set price, if the seller shows you a higher offer from another buyer.
• Be diplomatic with negotiations after your contract is signed. Remember that the seller has other interested parties to fall back on. If you turn ugly after the contract is signed, making additional demands or not following through with your promises, the seller may hand you back your deposit and work with someone else.

Is buying or selling on your mind but not sure what’s going on in your local market? Check out our Neighborhood News.

It’s the best way to stay connected to what’s happening in the real estate market in your area. By signing up for Neighborhood News, you will be able to:

•See homes that are for sale or have sold recently.
•Find out if home sales in your area are trending up or down.
•See what houses near you are currently selling for.

To simply sign up and receive a monthly neighborhood market report, click HERE.

For our step by step Buyer’s or Seller’s Guides, email Sfloodrealestate@gmail.com or contact us at 440.558.8841.

Brickhaus Partners & 700 Lake

If you live in Cleveland and even if you don’t, chances are you’ve heard of renowned luxury home developers, Brickhaus Partners. Their impressive resume includes:

• Brownstones of Derbyshire – Cleveland Heights
• 27 Coltman – Little Italy
• Eleven River – Rocky River
• Clifton Pointe – Lakewood
• Riversouth – Fairview Park
• 95 Lake – Edgewater
• One Seventeen – Edgewater
• Riverhaus – Chagrin Falls
• Twenty Four Hundred – Beachwood
• 700 Lake – Rocky River

Have any of these residences caught your attention or want to find out more about Brickhaus in general? Head to the company’s website,  HERE.

If you’re looking for style, sophistication, and elegance in Cleveland – all of Brickhaus Partners’ projects fit the bill by combining luxury, ground-breaking technology and eco-friendly practices. They raise the bar in not only design and livability but functionality and sustainability as well. Their latest venture, 700 Lake, epitomizes this.

To learn more about these exceptional residences, visit their new site dedicated solely to 700 Lake, HERE.

“International Partners Andrew Brickman and Alexandra Yonkov combine bold planning with classic architecture to create the most progressive lakefront residence between New York and Chicago. Mindfully designed to deliver unparalleled luxury, every surface, every angle and every viewpoint of the 25 condos and 8 townhomes forges a connection with the natural beauty of Lake Erie. 700 Lake is driven by the history of Rocky River and its scenic shores, embodying classic design and a health-focused lifestyle that redefines lakefront living.”

This masterpiece was designed with remarkably innovative ideas, refined crafting and top-of-the-line materials. As mentioned above, 700 Lake includes 25 condos and 8 townhomes.

Features of the condos include:

• Lake views
• Pool right on Lake Erie
• Square footage ranging from 2,220 – 3,600
• 3 bed & 3.5 bath
• Spacious, open floor plans
• Private outdoor living spaces

Features of the townhomes include:

• Rooftop terraces
• Square footage ranging from 2,000-2,200
• 3 stories of open floor plan living
• 3 bed & 2.5 bath
• Customizable finishes
• 2-car garages

Not impressed enough yet? See all the awards and nominations Brickhaus has received, HERE.

Interested in making a slice of Cleveland heaven your own? Give us a call and we’ll set up an appointment to view their gallery, see state-of-the-art digital presentations, have Brickhaus Partners show us through the project or take us to the site.

Keeping Your Home Clean With Your Furry Friends

We all cherish our precious pets— I mean what’s not to love? The cute facial expressions, affectionate hellos, constant companionship, and sleepy snuggle sessions.

While there’s SO much to love about our fur babies, there is an extra demand of keeping your house clean and tidy.

Handle your pet’s mess like a boss with a few simple tricks:

•Change the air filters in your home on schedule. This reduces pet dander and dust.
•Try taking your pet to the groomer or brushing their coat regularly to help control shedding.
•Put towels near the entryways you use when letting/taking your pup out to wipe their paws after they go outside.
•Consider purchasing a Roomba/Roomba alternative. This has been a lifesaver in our household and there are so many affordable alternatives that work great!
•Give your bud a bath/shower regularly (but not too many as you don’t want to strip essential oils or give them dry skin). This will help keep both your dog and home smelling fresh!
•Make sure you have a few lint rollers around. These are perfect for getting dog and cat hair off pillows, clothes, etc.
•Regularly clean your pet’s collars, dog beds, and toys. These items may be a bit easier to overlook but it’s important to wash these items to keep them clean as well as keeping them from smelling.

For some more tips on keeping your home clean with pets, visit this article: https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/clean-and-organize/cleaning-tips-for-pet-owners-pictures

Considering Adopting a Dog?

Have you been considering making a four-legged friend an addition to the family? If you’re looking to adopt a dog in the Cleveland area, we recommend Oshie’s Tail Wagon Rescue & Transport.

Oshie’s TaiI Wagon Rescue & Transport is an amazing 100% volunteer, foster-based nonprofit rescue that saves dogs that have been abandoned or neglected and are about to be destroyed in kill-shelters. The rescue does not focus on specific breeds and saves dogs of all ages, sizes, predicaments, etc. They believe they have more of an impact on the homeless pet situation by establishing relationships and providing services for shelter & other rescues.

The rescue has great reviews from many people from all over the country and has received the GuideStar Gold Seal of Transparency in both 2018 and 2019.

Ruby’s Story

We adopted our sweet Ruby from Oshie’s and are so glad we did. Ruby had been attacked by multiple dogs and left at a kill-shelter with serious injuries in a laundry basket. She had to have a few surgeries (including over a dozen vet visits) and stitches in four areas.

We adopted her weeks after her attack with her wounds still healing. We weren’t sure what to expect from her after she had been through all of that. Would she be feisty? Timid? Standoffish?…not that we’d blame her, it would be understandable. She was quite the opposite, though. She was happy, vibrant, loving, sweet, and incredibly trusting especially considering what had happened to her.

Ruby celebrated her 1-year Gotcha Day just a few weeks ago and we couldn’t be happier and more grateful to have adopted her. She’s been such a blessing to us. She wakes up everyday, just happy to be alive and her optimism is contagious. Ruby is so thankful to be here and we’re thankful to Oshie’s Tail Wagon & Rescue for allowing us to adopt our sweet pup.

If you have any questions about this organization or our experience with it, please don’t hesitate to reach out and please consider adopting and not shopping. With over 1.4 million adoptable dogs being killed every year in kill shelters, there are plenty of dogs whose lives need saving.

For more information on this rescue, please visit the organization’s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/oshiestailwagon/

Here is a link to the organization’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oshiestailwagon/

Tips for Relocating to a New Town

Moving is always hard work but moving to a new town can be exceptionally hard, even when you are excited about your next chapter in life. As your real estate agent, I can help you find a home if you’re moving to Cleveland; whether you come into town to view homes or I give you video tours of the listings you’re interested in.

If you’re moving from Cleveland to another place, I can refer you to an agent in your new town to help you find your new home, and also give you referrals for other services you will need, such recommendations for hotels, restaurants, child care, and pet boarding while you get settled.

To help make the logistics of your relocation as smooth as possible, here are some to-do items you may not have thought about yet.

1. As soon as you know you will be moving, start to organize your belongings, getting rid of things you don’t want to take with you.
2. Collect used packing materials like boxes and bubble wrap to reduce what you will need to purchase.
3. Start packing items you don’t use daily, like family mementos, holiday decorations, books and décor accessories.
4. Get an estimate from moving companies and schedule a tentative date with the one you choose.
5. Visit your new town, if possible, and arrange a driving tour with a real estate agent that can show you different neighborhoods, shopping centers, and the locations of hospitals, schools, churches, and recreational facilities or parks.
6. When you know what school district your children will enroll in, visit the schools your children will attend to meet the principal and tour the grounds.
7. Once you know what neighborhood you will be living in, join Nextdoor or the neighborhood Facebook page to keep abreast of what’s happening there.
8. Locate and pack your important papers and ID’s so that you know where they are at all times.
9. If your company is offering you relocation services, make sure you know all the terms. Often, they will cover items you might not think about, like the cost of shipping your car or professional organizers to help you unpack. They may also be negotiable in what they cover.
10. Save all your moving expense receipts. If you are moving 50 miles or more from your old job to start a new job, your expenses may be tax deductible.
11. Make a list of services you need to terminate in your old town and services you need to initiate in your new town.
12. If you have doctor, dentist, veterinary, or hair appointments scheduled ahead of time, call and cancel them.
13. Remember to transfer subscriptions for things like magazines, food deliveries, and mail-order prescriptions.
14. Change your delivery address on your Amazon, Target, Shipt, or other shopping accounts so you don’t accidentally ship items to your old address.
15. Schedule an appointment to transfer your automobile registration and driver’s license if moving to a new state.
16. Transfer your voter’s registration right away, especially if your move if close to a major election registration deadline.

As I said, we understand how stressful moving can be, let alone when moving to a new city or state (trust me, we’ve done it). With some preparation & moving/packing tips, you can make the entire process a bit easier on yourself.

For packing tips to make your move less stressful, this article has some great tips: https://www.lifestorage.com/blog/moving/packing-tips-for-moving/

The Floods Real Estate offers a free Moving Guide as well as a Relocation Guide. If you’d like a copy, please don’t hesitate to ask and we’ll be happy to email it to you!

Stage Your Home To Sell

When it comes to getting your house sold, appearance is EVERYTHING. Staging is a strategic marketing tool used by sellers to help buyers imagine themselves living in your home and fall in love with the property. It involves styling your home in a way that enhances its appeal to potential buyers.

Staging is more than just putting a new welcome mat in front of the door and getting new throw pillows – when done correctly, it can help a home sell for more money in a shorter amount of time.

What The Experts Are Saying

83% of real estate agents said staging made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as their future home. (NAR) According to a survey by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 29% of sellers’ agents stated that the sales price for homes that were staged were between 1% and 5% higher than homes that were not staged. Additionally, 39% of seller’s agents reported that staging a home reduces the days a home is on the market.

 Here are some quick tricks:

• De-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter
• Depersonalize every room
• Clean like you’ve never cleaned before
• Replace old, dim light bulbs with bright, new ones
• Upgrade your curb appeal
• Remove or rent furniture; move around your current furniture
• Add neutral and minimal decor
• Clear out any odors and make your home smell good
• Get carpets steam cleaned if there are any stains/odors
• Consider adding some finishing touches such as putting fresh flowers in a vase, placing a bowl of fruit on a kitchen counter, laying a throw blanket across the back of a chair, and adding some folded towels to the bathroom

For more on staging, here is a great article: https://www.trulia.com/guides/staging-a-house/

You don’t necessarily need to hire a staging company but it certainly helps to work with a real estate professional that understands staging. That’s where we come in; Susan Flood of The Floods Real Estate is a certified stager and can help to not only get your house market ready but get it sold fast and for top dollar.

Not only is Susan a certified stager, but The Floods Real Estate also gives their sellers a Staging Guide that walks them through the process.

If you’re considering selling your home, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we’d love to chat!