Cleveland Ohio Tri-C Jazz Fest - Celebrating 30 Years! - 02/28/09 08:15 PM
The Cuyahoga Community College (also known as Tri-C here locally) which serves the Greater Cleveland, Ohio area, is celebrating it's 30th year for the Tri-C Jazz Fest!
Please visit the official website for details.
My father was a huge jazz fan, and we saw Dizzy Gillespie at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C. back in the 1980s, and saw Stan Getz over in Copenhagen, Denmark, among others.  I developed an interest in Jazz based on his intense love for all things Jazz.
Read about the 22 events and more.
Greater Cleveland, Ohio has an absolutely amazing performing arts scene!
 
Content copyrighted … (0 comments)

Pay a visit to the Brecksville Recreation/Community Center…aka “the Rec” - 02/28/09 07:21 PM
As I write this post, I am sitting in the beautiful gymnasium at the Brecksville Rec Center (officially known as the Brecksville Community Center.)  It is a Saturday afternoon and my almost 8-year old son is a big basketball guy.  He has played basketball in various camps and sessions around the area over the last few years, including the Brecksville league which starts in 2 weeks.  There are at least 5-6 different sets of people shooting hoops—from a group of 7-8 year olds (my son included) to older adults, with groups of middle and high school boys thrown in.It is a … (0 comments)

Cleveland Museum of Art…Art for the Community - 02/28/09 07:08 PM
We enrolled our son in art classes at the Cleveland Museum of Art a few years ago.  Here you are, entering one of the most prestigious art museums in the country, with your 5-year old son in tow, for an art class--how cool is that? 
The classrooms are big and bright and there are a multitude of art supplies all over.  The instructors were just great and they taught a variety of art media -- there was always something different coming home.  What a wonderful opportunity to meet kids from all over the area and work on art projects together.  The … (0 comments)

Baldwin Wallace Summer String Camp…an Incredible Opportunity - 02/28/09 07:01 PM
I know you may have read my other post about the Brecksville Broadview Heights Middle School and High School Orchestra night, and if you did, you will know how much we enjoy the fact that this music program exists in our fine school system.  The other tremendous opportunity that I want to write about is the Orchestra program offered at Baldwin Wallace college, a private college in Berea, Ohio, about 15 miles from Brecksville via the Ohio Turnpike.
Our daughter enrolled in the spring strings program last year.  She went through the audition process and was entered into the second level … (0 comments)

Echo Hills Easter Egg Hunt - 02/28/09 06:49 PM
Every year there is an Easter Egg Hunt in our neighborhood, Echo Hills.  Because we have such a wonderful playground area and picnic area, it is easy to gather tons of kids and their families to hunt for Easter eggs.   The way it works is that the hunt is divided by age groups, so the very youngest have their small area, the not too young have their larger area, and the somewhat older are more spread out.  It works just great.  There are lots of refreshments and the adults get to stand around, drink coffee, eat all the doughnuts they want, … (0 comments)

A musical night at the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School - 02/22/09 07:16 PM
I have written a lot about the arts in Brecksville and now, music gets its day. I had a wonderful experience last week as I was able to attend the combined Middle School and High School Orchestra event held at the Brecksville-Broadview Hts. High School.  Our daughter is a viola player and has been in the Orchestra since 4th grade, which is when it is initially offered in the school system.  She has enjoyed playing and we are just thrilled with how far she has come.  
What really struck me during this wonderful event was the number of students involved … (4 comments)

Onaway Real Estate Market Report February 2009 - 02/22/09 03:58 PM
Welcome to the first installment of market statistics for the Onaway neighborhood for the real estate market in Shaker Heights, Ohio. 
As the year progresses, I will include sold statistics for 2009 as well.  More comprehensive, yet understandable statistics will be developed and reported in the future.
I welcome your feedback if you have any suggestions for improvements, clarification or any other suggestions you have, as this data is for you.
Please note that these are simply "averages" and hence, an individual home may fare far worse or better than the averages.  If you are thinking of selling your own home, … (0 comments)

Four Seasons Real Estate Market Report February 2009 - 02/22/09 12:56 AM
Welcome to the first installment of market statistics for the Four Seasons neighborhood for the real estate market in Brecksville, Ohio. 
As the year progresses, I will include sold statistics for 2009 as well.  More comprehensive, yet understandable statistics will be developed and reported in the future.
I welcome your feedback if you have any suggestions for improvements, clarification or any other suggestions you have, as this data is for you.
Please note that these are simply "averages" and hence, an individual home may fare far worse or better than the averages.  If you are thinking of selling your own home, … (1 comments)

Hidden Canyon Real Estate Market Report February 2009 - 02/22/09 12:19 AM
Welcome to the first installment of market statistics for the Hidden Canyon neighborhood for the real estate market in Brecksville, Ohio. 
As the year progresses, I will include sold statistics for 2009 as well.  More comprehensive, yet understandable statistics will be developed and reported in the future.
I welcome your feedback if you have any suggestions for improvements, clarification or any other suggestions you have, as this data is for you.
Please note that these are simply "averages" and hence, an individual home may fare far worse or better than the averages.  If you are thinking of selling your own home, … (0 comments)

Emerald Woods Real Estate Market Report February 2009 - 02/21/09 11:48 PM
Welcome to the first installment of market statistics for the Emerald Woods neighborhood for the real estate market in Brecksville, Ohio. 
As the year progresses, I will include sold statistics for 2009 as well.  More comprehensive, yet understandable statistics will be developed and reported in the future.
I welcome your feedback if you have any suggestions for improvements, clarification or any other suggestions you have, as this data is for you.
Please note that these are simply "averages" and hence, an individual home may fare far worse or better than the averages.  If you are thinking of selling your own home, it … (0 comments)

Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Geographical Information System (GIS) - 02/21/09 10:26 PM
The Cuyahoga County Engineer's Geographical Information System (GIS) is an exceptional new tool (made available to the public in 2008) that should be used by both Greater Cleveland real estate agents as well as home sellers and buyers alike to find out more about a general area, as well as very detailed information about neighborhoods and individual properties.
If you are familiar with the term GIS, type in "Geographical Information System" into Google and look at the various descriptions -- you will be amazed at the features this three-letter acronym represents.
Cuyahoga Countyis the GIS system for the county surrounding the … (0 comments)

The three “Ps” - 02/21/09 09:27 PM
There used to be the four "Ps" of real estate: Place a sign in the yard, Put the home in the MLS, Put an ad in the paper, and pray that it sells!
Selling your Greater Cleveland, Ohio home today has become the ultimate waiting game...one that requires (in our opinion) the three "Ps" - planning, preparation, and patience. 
Planning is essential in any market, and especially in the current market.  Before you just select the first agent you talk to and the sign goes in the yard, make sure that agent has given you a complete, comprehensive presentation on what … (3 comments)

Asking for references…I can? - 02/21/09 06:17 PM

You want what?  Say again?  You want references?
How many homes have you bought and sold over the years? 
 
How many job interviews have you had over the years? 
 
Why are these two questions linked in some way? 
 
 
Because sellers and buyers need to be more like interviewers and less like interviewees when it comes to real estate.  Real estate agents need to be held to the same standards as other professionals seeking employment.
Why?  Because you are hiring one of them to perform a job for you, and a very important one, with serious financial … (1 comments)

Pay a visit to Handel’s Ice Cream & Yogurt… - 02/15/09 10:46 PM
For over 60 years, Handel’s has been serving homemade ice cream in all kinds of assorted flavors.  We discovered Handel’s when we moved to Brecksville.  It is actually located in Broadview Heights, about 13.6 minutes down the road from our house—yes, we have it timed.  All we have to say to our kids is “how about going to Handel’s?” and they move faster than a squirrel chased from the birdfeeder by our Labrador retriever!
Here’s the thing—Handel’s was rated by Chocolatier Magazine as "One of the Best Ice Creams in America.". 
Here’s another thing--they are open all year round!  We just … (4 comments)

Fireplaces…a burning desire - 02/15/09 10:21 PM
I have worked with enough buyers in my time to know that kitchen and baths sell houses, but so do fireplaces.  Whether there is an desire to actually burn wood and listen to the crackling sound or to turn the key and let the gas warm the room, fireplaces are a definite selling feature.  Therefore, sellers should pay heed to this post as many times, there is a fireplace, somewhere in the house, that is a selling feature if only….
If only it was made the focal point of the room.  Because fireplaces add value, staging it is just as important … (4 comments)

The Timbers Real Estate Market Report February 2009 - 02/15/09 10:06 PM
Welcome to the first installment of market statistics for the The Timbers neighborhood for the real estate market in Brecksville, Ohio. 
As the year progresses, I will include sold statistics for 2009 as well.  More comprehensive, yet understandable statistics will be developed and reported in the future.
I welcome your feedback if you have any suggestions for improvements, clarification or any other suggestions you have, as this data is for you.
Please note that these are simply "averages" and hence, an individual home may fare far worse or better than the averages.  If you are thinking of selling your own home, … (0 comments)

Country Woods Real Estate Market Report February 2009 - 02/15/09 09:17 PM
Welcome to the first installment of market statistics for the Country Woods neighborhood for the real estate market in Brecksville, Ohio. 
As the year progresses, I will include sold statistics for 2009 as well.  More comprehensive, yet understandable statistics will be developed and reported in the future.
I welcome your feedback if you have any suggestions for improvements, clarification or any other suggestions you have, as this data is for you.
Please note that these are simply "averages" and hence, an individual home may fare far worse or better than the averages.  If you are thinking of selling your own home, … (0 comments)

Brecksville Real Estate Market Report February 2009 - 02/15/09 08:06 PM
Welcome to the first installment of market statistics for the real estate market in Brecksville, Ohio.  Included in this first report is showing the number of homes that are currently on the market, under contract, and that have sold in 2008 by price range and their average days on the market.
The next section shows a year over year comparison so you can see the trend of what is happening in the community as a whole.
As the year progresses, I will include sold statistics for 2009 as well.  More comprehensive, yet understandable statistics will be developed and reported in the … (0 comments)

Pay a visit to the Paul Duda Gallery... - 02/14/09 09:41 PM
I cannot say enough about the arts in Brecksville. 
I wrote about the incredible opportunities the Brecksville Center for the Arts provides to the community and regional area and at the same time, we are fortunate to have an art gallery with a terrific artist, Paul Duda, right in the heart of downtown Brecksville.  You can visit his website at Paul Duda Gallery, but I wanted to write this post to describe my own experience. 
Our daughter is an equestrian and two years ago she won 4th place in the 2’ jumping classes on her pony in the Brecksville … (1 comments)

Pay a visit to the Brecksville Kiwanis Horse Show... - 02/14/09 09:10 PM
Each summer it is hard to believe that the huge river ford area at the intersection of Chippewa Creek Road and Riverview Road in the Brecksville Reservation is groomed and gussied-up for the annual Brecksville Kiwanis Horse Show.  The meadow is totally transformed by two large show rings, a main spectator striped tent and surrounding seating boxes.  There are also bleachers, a concession stand, and vendors all around.  It is a huge community event and many riders come from all around the area to participate.  The show is held the first week-end of August with Saturday hosting a fun, competitive hunter … (0 comments)

Brecksville lands bald eagles for a third year in a row... - 02/14/09 08:47 PM
The local Sun Courier newspaper just reported that the bald eagle pair has returned to their nest in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park! This makes year three for this wonderful event and hopefully there will be a third “eaglet” in 2009! The Park takes this very seriously and actually makes sure there are no huge disturbances during this time, eg, gawkers, walkers, stopped cars, etc., because the eggs need to stay warm via constant attention from the parents.
How exciting! Somehow it makes me feel like things are looking up when I consider this huge event has happened three years in … (0 comments)

Echo Hills Real Estate Market Report February 2009 - 02/14/09 04:35 PM
Welcome to the first installment for all things real estate and community related in Echo Hills. I will provide regular market status updates regarding the real estate market as well as give you a true sense of what this great community has to offer. Enjoy!
As your local Brecksville real estate agent, REALTOR and also resident of Echo Hills in Brecksville, Ohio, I am uniquely able to showcase this incredible neighborhood. Because I live here, and have sold several homes in this wonderful neighborhood in the past several years, I am happy to showcase the benefits this community has to offer … (0 comments)

The Traditional Real Estate Office – The Times They Are a-Changin’ - 02/08/09 11:24 PM
The Traditional Real Estate Office - Dinosaur from a Bygone Era or morphing into_____?
T-Rex is still alive and kicking -- okay...not the real one.  Albeit many forces came to bear to bring the dinosaur to extinction, so too will the economic forces of the changing ways of real estate also come to "eventually" make the current, traditional real estate office unrecognizable in the future.
Just as the Internet in the past ten years has almost exclusively and completely changed how buyers search for homes (amongst a great many other things), so too must the traditional real estate office in 2009, though it has … (7 comments)

Change with the seasons… - 02/08/09 09:55 PM
One thing I have learned over the years of working in real estate is that you cannot pick the time of year in which you will obtain a listing.  Chances are, depending on where you live and work, you will get a home to list in a not so pretty season.  We, here in Cleveland, experience every season and everything in-between. And the way the economy is going, some homes may be staying on the market throughout many seasons.  So, pay attention to your exterior home presentation and photos.
You know that in-between winter and spring season when the snow is … (3 comments)

Get Your Newspaper Here - Read All About It! - 02/08/09 09:32 PM
Newspapers - A Dead Advertising Medium?

I've read and participated in many a debate (friendly of course) with colleagues, both online and in person, about the usefulness of the local newspaper for advertising a seller's home in today's market in 2009. 
While there are valid points to be made on both sides, my personal opinion is that advertising in the local paper is a complete waste of time and money if a listing agent's goal is to:
"Sell the home for which the ad is being placed."
I would love to see a large-scale research study, that is conducted by … (3 comments)

Extreme Makeover in Shaker Heights! - 02/08/09 06:52 PM
Shaker Heights - Closed in May 2008
THE HISTORY--PAST and PRESENT: This stately home on one of Shaker's finest streets was on the market previously for six months with another top Realtor affiliated with a large real estate brokerage. The owner approached us and asked for a second opinion on why this home hadn't sold, nor had any offers in the previous six months.
After touring the home, it quickly became apparent that there were many issues to address:
Typical issues such as outdated carpeting over hardwood floors, Dated paint and wallpaper, and unappealing decor, all of which were easily changed. … (2 comments)

Pay a visit to the local Starbucks in Brecksville… - 02/08/09 05:06 PM
It was a snowy, blustery, cold day and I picked up our daughter from Middle School.  We had 45 minutes to kill before her hair appointment, so where did we head?  To the local Brecksville Starbucks, of course!  We love it there.  While I am not a fan of national chain retail stores, Starbucks is an exception -- their coffee, employees and ambiance are first rate.  While there are other local coffee shops that I frequent and really enjoy on occasion, Brecksville has Starbucks.  The best part is when my daughter orders her favorite coffee drink.  The Starbucks attendant loves it, too, and always remembers it, … (0 comments)

Pay a visit to the Brecksville Donut & Coffee Shop… - 02/08/09 04:00 PM
Best doughnuts Eastern United States - Brecksville, Ohio






"I have traveled the world and eaten at the best bakeries from Italy to Argentina. Brecksville Donuts has by far the best doughnuts I've ever had. Words can't describe how good they are!"  
 
 
 
 
(http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Brecksville.Doughnuts.And.Coffee.Shoppe.440-838-4399)
Not fancy and surely not imposing, the small, retro building sits back across from the Brecksville Shopping Center beckoning customers to come and sample the incredibly tasty donuts!  My son has made me get up at 8:00 am on Saturday mornings many times to make sure we made it … (0 comments)

Cleveland Ohio - Don’t cry me an ice dam… - 02/08/09 12:33 PM
Now that we are in the throes of winter and have had our share of snow-I think there is at least 12-14" of snow in our own yard, there is always that chance of warm-up which can create a multitude of problems from flooding to ice dams.  I was in our local service station just yesterday and another customer was telling us how her roof leaked into her home down through the walls and it is a huge mess.  Why did this happen? Because of an ice dam.
Remember when you were a child and you thought that all those long, … (0 comments)

FOR SALE: First impressions are sometimes all you get… - 02/07/09 09:41 PM
Don't get me wrong, I am not going to write about any one particular real estate company's For Sale sign that drives me crazy-I am going to write about first impressions.  I mean, have you taken a good long look at the amount of information and color schemes (whether it be a good combination or bad combination of color is a subjective thing) out there on For Sale signs?  It amazes me that anyone can make sense out of them, let alone actually read them.
And don't get me started on the condition of the For Sale signs.  Isn't it our … (2 comments)

Pets in pictures—are you crazy?? - 02/07/09 09:04 PM
I cannot believe the number of times I have looked at pictures of potential homes for my clients on our local listing service and have actually seen pictures with homeowner's pets in them.  It just happened this morning which is what prompted this post.  Hello... aren't you in the home-selling business, not the pet store business?  It is bad enough to see pictures of houses with stuff strewn all over, or the listing agent's belongings thrown on the couch, or glaring lamps, but a PET??

The one I saw just this morning had a very large cat sitting right next … (7 comments)

Anyone have a shower curtain I can borrow? - 02/07/09 07:53 PM
So here is the problem-the house is somewhat vacant and you are not sure what to do about that.  The main rooms have some furniture, but the bedrooms are sparse and one is actually bare.  The house looks "OK" enough, but it is definitely lacking any kind of WOW factor.  Here is where you have to think creatively.  Don't just throw the sign in the yard and hope that buyers will "use their imagination" or "pretend their furniture is in the house."  Go for it, add some real value to your service and think outside the box.
 
Note: These are … (3 comments)

Cleveland Photographic Society (CPS) – A Native Gem for all things Photography - 02/01/09 08:16 PM
I just finished taking a Photoshop Elements course at the Cleveland Photographic Society, located in Broadview Heights, Ohio.  Lore has it that this is the second oldest photography club in the nation.  The CPS was started in 1887.  This incredible institution has obviously changed and adapted over time, from the beginning of photography, to film photography and now to mostly digital photography.
I am also taking a Fundamentals of Photography class which is 12 weeks long and covers just about everything a beginning or intermediate photographer needs to learn to become a competent photographer.
The collegiality of the members of this … (2 comments)

Take a Ride…Down a Long Hill...in the Cuyahoga Valley - 02/01/09 05:07 PM
It's Sunday, February 1st, 2009 and the sun is shining, the temperature is actually above freezing (first time in about forever) and the world is right....for sled riding.  Load up the kids, the dog, the sleds, and venture down the road a whopping 1 mile!  Yes, one of the best sledding hills around is a mile from our house in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  We discovered it when we moved to Brecksville during one of those winters when a record was set for the most snow - 155" or something like that!!!!

The nice thing about this rather large hill, is … (0 comments)

Extreme Makeover, Extreme Success - Cleveland Heights, Ohio - 02/01/09 12:59 AM
Cleveland Heights - November 2008
THE HISTORY--PAST and PRESENT: This homeowner tried to sell, unsuccessfully, for two years in 2005-2006. He then rented it until the tenant was evicted in May 2008. At the time he found Olsen Ziegler Realty, he was living in New Zealand. He found our website on the Internet and called to ask us to please take a look at his home and to let him know what we thought. We first visited the home on May 29, 2008. While this all-brick, colonial home had lovely qualities such as large rooms, a 3-car attached garage, four finished … (3 comments)

Pay a visit to the Brecksville Center for the Arts - 02/01/09 12:23 AM
What a truly unique place-the Brecksville Center for the Arts (BCA) is a true opportunity for people of all ages-from preschoolers to older adults to find their creative side, enjoy the discovery of  painting, hold a paintbrush or make a piece of pottery for the first time, or just enjoy time with friends at a special art exhibit.. Not only do they offer classes at the Center, but they offer after school programs at the local schools, summer classes and a whole host of events.
Our son enjoyed the BCA summer program. He took three different sessions throughout the summer after … (0 comments)