Mark Piscitelli's Blog

Open House , Sunday May 15, 2016 from 1pm to 3pm

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Thu, 12 May 2016 06:34:06 -0700

376 Bishop Way, Sagamore Hills, OH Get Directions Click HereDescription Photos Maps & Local Schools Print Brochure My Reviews$ Click for current price 4 BEDROOMS | 3 (2 full, 1 half ) BATHROOMS | 2144 SQUARE FEET Charming Pulte built colonial. Nestled on a gorgeous nice size private lot in desirable Eaton Estates. Home features formal living room w/ newer carpeting and formal dining room. Eat-in kitchen w/ newer stainless steel appliances. Kitchen overlooks deck and serene setting in backyard w/ added green space. Family room w/ fireplace and newer carpeting. 9 ft ceilings throughout 1st floor. Master bdrm w/ vaulted ceilings. All generous size bdrms. ( Newer Furnace and Central Air. ) All appliances included with the purchase of this home. Don't hesitate on this one!Follow This Home! Sagamore Hills Homes For Sale Search All Homes For Sale Homes Close to Where You Work Avoid Foreclosure Free Home ValuesPresented By: Mark Piscitelli RE/MAX Trinity 440-342-9913 Office: 216-432-0444 Schedule a Showing/Request Info Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Putting it in Neutral - 3 Tips for Working with Warring Buyers

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 04:23:28 -0800

We reach the end of a day long look at homes, and the situation is ugly. Seven houses and no agreement. The husband and wife (if they're still talking), are not exactly holding hands with starry eyes and planning for life together in their new home. Then the dreaded moment comes. They turn to me and ask, "Well, what do you think?" Me? I think these two should have walked backwards out of the church instead of up to the altar on the day they wed! I've watched HGTV a lot. Any given show features a wife and husband with different wants in the home buying/renovating decision. There is maybe a minute or two devoted to them squabbling over their differences, then the magical host steps in with a few sage words and forty-five minutes later the couple is standing in a home that fulfills everyone's wishes. It's so easy in tv-land. In my real corner of Ohio where I show real homes to real people, the reality is seldom so smooth. Get two people in the same room and they're bound to disagree on something. Get two married people in the same room and start discussing room sizes and there may be a jihad brewing. I don't have all the answers. My wife and I are at loggerheads all the time over decisions involving our home. But here are some tips I have found over the years: 1. Find out what differing wants/needs are causing the friction BEFORE going out to show homes. If one of the spouses wants a huge yard and the grass-cutting spouse wants a postage stamp lot, there's bound to be trouble if you show properties with tons of acreage all day. There is an "in between" here - a lot that's roomy but not vast. Homes in this grey area of acreage may end up satisfying both parties. No matter what the issue may be, a good Realtor should be able to find a property that straddles both wish lists. 2. Help a couple to understand how many facets there are to the home. One spouse may not end up with the dreamed of wine cellar, but may be benefiting from an enormous room for a home office. Just because the home isn't perfect for one or another of them doesn't mean there aren't lovely, valuable and useful qualities there that will make it a great home for BOTH of them. 3. Stay neutral! The last thing a sticky, argumentative situation needs is two people ganging up on the third. Learn the fine art of being Swiss and keep your opinions out of their home search. It's always fine to be a good listener and empathize with buyers. And advice of a professional nature is appropriate, too. After all, that's why buyers hire a Realtor to help them buy a home. But trying to convince a wife that her husband really needs a king-sized media room is neither empathizing nor advising. It's digging your own grave. Meanwhile, I'm standing in home number seven with two people who have just asked me to take sides in their war. A steadying breath and I answer them, "I think we've seen a lot of homes today. I think this is a major purchase. I think you're frustrated with each other and the homes we've seen. I think it's time for you to take a break. Most importantly, I think you will find a home. We may have to revise criteria and look some more, but in the end, I think the two of you will find a house you'll be happy to call home." Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Scandal!

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 11:12:20 -0800

I found the following blurb in the Multiple Listing Service today:

Available Finance:	Cash, Conventional, FHA/VA
Broker Remarks:	Agent has relations with owner

I'm sure it's a beautiful love story, but seriously, let's keep it clean for the Realtors out there checking this property out . . . Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Back in the Saddle Again

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 00:03:46 -0800

Christmas day I packed the family into the car and we set off on the road with Sarasota, Florida as our destination. Almost a month later, I am back home, and back at the office as a new year launches in life and in real estate. It was hard to leave this: And this: But coming home to sellers and buyers who needed my help eased the sting of a frozen return to Northeast Ohio. It looks to be a robust year in our real estate market! I am excited to be back in the saddle again. Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

My, How You've Grown!

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 21:18:57 -0800

Have you had a look this week at the interest rate? In the Real Estate industry we certainly have. The interest rate, our dear, tiny friend since 2008 is standing against the wall and marking a new pencil line for its growth. Now, the sky isn't falling and loans aren't going to change right away. The Federal Reserve wisely nudged rates up ever so slightly so as not to shock our newly recuperated economy. Baby steps are very important when the ripples of rate hikes spread out through a fragile, global marketplace. I will not counsel my buyers to put down the eggnog, stop wrapping gifts, and purchase a home before interest rates sprout up like a six year old child. Inventory is low, folks are busy, and it's going to be okay to wait until our market comes back to life in February to buy a home. At the same time, it's good to know that the cost of borrowing is climbing. All good things (and bad things, for that matter) must come to an end. The magnificently low interest rate served its purpose. Our real estate market was wounded, and the tremendous buyer incentive of a rock bottom rate helped it to heal. I'll take the vigorous market and incremental rate increases. It's a good place for real estate to be. Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Introducing Miss Spelling

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 09:01:21 -0800

I searched through the multiple listing service tonight for my buyer who is desperate to find a home in this quiet "holiday" housing market. What was encouraging was that I found two or three very strong candidates for her. What was discouraging was that I found two homes listed that had "dinning rooms" instead of "dining rooms."Really?I don't want to sound like the grouchy grammar nazi, but misspellings on that order are pretty egregious. Whenever I am helping folks buy or sell homes, I assure them of my awareness that this is one of the most expensive transactions of their lives. This means that the care and attention I give them throughout the process needs to be equal to the amount of their investment. If I'm listing a home and putting it on the multiple listing service for potential buyers, it behooves me, and does service to my client if I check to see if dining room is spelled with one "n" or two.And that's about all I have to say on that subject. It's almost Christmas time, and I don't want to destroy the good cheer in the air. Besides, I need to get down to the kitschin and clean up, then put my car in the garaszhe in case it rains tonight . . . . Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Honesty is the best policy in selling a home!

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 00:35:11 -0800

When I was a youth, my parents always taught me to be honest. Not just with them, but others as well. I find that to be so true, as I look at my recent years of my real estate career.I've had 80% of my listings sell within 21 days or less. That comes out to over 100 homes in the past 5 years. All of which the sellers took my advice on pricing the home at fair market value. The sellers that wanted to overprice the home, sat there for the next 30 days until we reached fair market value and finally sold.When I started back in 2001 as a Realtor. I just wanted to list anything I got my hands on. Overpriced or under priced. Just take it! Really doing a disservice to my sellers, just because I wanted the listing. As with anything, with age comes wisdom. Ironically, I went back to my childhood roots of being honest to sellers and told them with what their home was really worth. Whether they liked the price or not. This has completely changed my career. Sales have never been better. It's hard going into someones home and telling them their home isn't worth where they have it listed at. But by overcoming the fear of losing a listing. Ironically in most cases, you'll get the listing and it will sell fast! I'm not sure if agents or anyone for this matter. Would be admitting they lied in the past, and blog about it. Make it a new years resolution in trying to be more honest with others. The dividends you reap will be immense. Honestly I wouldn't write about it, if I didn't believe it! Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

When it Hurts to Say Goodbye - Three Tips for Decluttering a Home

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 03:45:40 -0800

Until this week I felt guilty when I would strongly, strongly suggest that clients declutter their homes before putting them up for sale. How could I be asking them to get rid of their china dog collection in four glass fronted curio cabinets when I had my own secret - my basement? When we moved into this home, we had a two year old and a baby waiting in the wings. Two years later our youngest child was born. Moving in was a huge whoosh, then life started happening in a cumulative way. For anyone who has not been blessed with children and a large, loving family on both sides, let me tell you, birthdays and Christmases are times when clutter invades the home like a horde of barbarians. From board games to remote controlled fire trucks with real sirens (deafness is a blessing if this is ever a gift to your son), to books, clothes, dollies, and bicycles, there was an endless procession of stuff into our home. Being the organized and careful people that we are, we threw everything in the basement, said a prayer that it would disappear, then shut the door and went on with our lives. At some point recently I decided I could no longer sternly advise clients to get rid of junk while my own basement was two Christmas ornaments away from bursting. One night after supper we all went down together and faced the ten year old monster. Several hours later, standing in the clean, cavernous space, I had an empty basement and three valuable tips on decluttering that I can now honestly impart to my sellers: 1. Start by getting rid of items with no sentimental strings attached. One of the boxes in our basement was marked "infant shoes." We opened it and found several pairs like this: Needless to say, as my wife held these tiny shoes and cried for a moment over years gone by and babies grown older, I knew we wouldn't be tossing them into the big, black trash bag. So we moved on to the ten thousand pound dehumidifier that no longer did anything but take up space. No one complained. No one cried. The dehumidifier was out in the trash and we moved on with no regrets. Eventually, as we reached the end of the chore, my wife and I both agreed that the sweet, teeny baby shoes would look precious on our brand new niece. Starting out with tossing the bona fide junk paved the way for dealing with the objects that held a stronger claim on our hearts. 2. Decide what the actual function of every item is. Do we cook? Yes! So a pot would seem to be very useful. We found three of them in the basement. But they had been there for years, and we've never lacked for vessels in which to prepare our oatmeal, vegetables, or fudge. These pots are good objects, but not necessary for us. We have what we need in the way of cookware. Which leads to the next point: 3. Donation eases the sting. So many stuffed animals - fuzzy, cuddly toys that our children really don't use were packed away in the basement. At first the kids howled in protest when we said we were giving them away. But we helped them to understand that there were boys and girls who would cherish and play with these sentimental relics of their childhood. They got excited to think that they might be "secret santas" for some other child's Christmas morning. We have bags and boxes on our front porch waiting for the Purple Heart truck to come take them away, and we all feel pretty good about that. Lots of our possessions are going on to live useful, productive lives in other homes. I came out of my basement a new man; a new honest man who can look clients in the eye and say, "Get rid of some of the stuff in this home." There are no more clutter skeletons in my closet . . . or in my basement. Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Balancing Act

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 01:47:36 -0800

There was a day like any other recently. It involved the classic plot line of a beautiful day, a super busy parent, and children begging to go hiking in the woods. As this one played out, the parent abandoned responsibility, put on sturdy shoes, and answered the siren song of a 75 degree day in November. We ended up down by the Cuyahoga River and my children skipped stones for a while. Then they decided to use the rocks as building blocks and pile them up like some modern Tower of Babel. If you've never built a rock tower, well, take lessons from my kids. Joking aside, this is an exercise in patience. A rock seems flat until you have six others piled on top of it and they all come crashing down. And my rock structures were like something from the neolithic age compared to the finely wrought creations of my small, busy builders. My youngest daughter ended up with a lovely striated formation and asked me to come see it. That's when i snapped this photo. This picture is the wallpaper on my desktop. Every time i look at it my eyes stop in the foreground. What looks like just a pile of stones is really a picture of time spent and balance achieved. In the background is a little girl who is pleased to the ends of her small fingers and toes. She is in nature. She is building. She is spending time with family, and she is delighted. We can't walk out into the woods every time our lives are stressful or hectic. Some days being the good adult means ignoring what seems fun to make sure our clients needs are met. But there are times when it is right and good to go down by the river or up a mountain or wherever else you find peace and escape. Just like that tower, a breath way from tumbling, life is about equilibrium. If we can play and work in meshing measure, there will be a harmony in our days. We will live in the beautiful space of balance. Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Are You Kidding?

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 05:12:30 -0700

Last night I received a text I wish had been a joke. It was an agent asking me, "Mark, what is a radon mitigation system? You stated that there's one in your home for sale on Deep Cove." It's often said that there's no such thing as a stupid question, but coming from a seasoned agent on a high production team, that was a stupid question. I texted back that the system was in place to treat high levels of radon that had previously been found in the home. The agent texted back and said, "Oh, OK, I'll show my buyers the house down the street then. That one doesn't have a mitigation system." Oh, dear . .. . . We build our homes in Northeast Ohio on top of the Marcellus Shale, a massive underground bed of marine sedimentary rock that is a reservoir for oil and gas reserves. All of this shifting rock fills our basements with naturally occurring, carcinogenic radon gas. A mitigation system is quite simply, a diverter, sending radon gas out of a home and into the outside air where it dissipates harmlessly. A Florida Realtor doesn't need to know that much about radon mitigation. Homes built on sand don't have high radon levels. A little league baseball player is also off the hook for not being aware of radon. He or she just needs to know where the best place is for getting post-victory ice cream. But an agent in Northeast Ohio must know about radon and understand mitigation systems. This doesn't just affect our clients' satisfaction in a home-buying situation. It affects their longevity. Exposure to high radon levels is directly linked to lung cancer. Understanding radon and educating clients about it is protecting their health. One of our fiduciary responsibilities to our clients is "reasonable care and skill" in the performance of our job. We don't have to understand the finest nuances of every issue related to homeownership, but we do have to care enough to be educated Realtors. And if there are gaps in our knowledge, we have to remedy that. A doctor can't tell a patient who is complaining of stomach pain, "I can't help you with that. I'm not sure about all of that stuff south of the cardiothoracic cavity .. . ." And in the event that we are ignorant of some term or situation when representing a client, there's always Google to enlighten us. It saves us from what happened to my fellow agent last night - better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and dispel all doubts! Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Hottie

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 02:10:05 -0700

Last night about 11:00 I finished uploading this listing into the MLS: By 11:00 this morning I had seven showings scheduled for the property. I think it's safe to assume that we will be under contract soon. As always, a home in a desireable location that is priced fairly won't be on the market long. Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Guilty by Affiliation

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 12:01:18 -0700

Contintuing education yesterday was great - all about Facebook advertising and how it can be leveraged. I felt like I learned a lot.Until the title company treated us to appetizers and drinks afterwards, and that's where I really learned the lesson of the day.You see, the conversation turned to the recent Dodd-Frank decision and the changes it entailed. Whoa, Junior! This is a scary subject!Are you part of a pod? Or, if you prefer the language of acronyms, do you have an ABA with a title company? I do. I should say, "I did." From what was buzzing around the table, I gathered that an affiliation with a title company can end up costing way more than the quarterly dividends it pays.The CFPB - ahhh more acronyms - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a new, hungry, monstrous mouth of government oversight, and their agents of doom .. ahem . . . their helpful employees need to be paid. That's where our industry comes in. An affiliation with a title company, if scrutinized and prosecuted could mean that you're paying someone's salary at the CFPB for the next six months.I have three children who want allowance money, so I don't feel like i have a lot left over for Joe or Jane Investigator. The CFPB has a five year window to look back from the enacting of the new regulations. I can't change my title company affiliation in the past. But I can hope that I'm not one of the arbitrary agents they chose to guillotine. And I can discontinue my affliation from this point forward.How about you, my fellow Realtors? What are your thoughts? Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Leave it to Beaver

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 23:22:11 -0700

We spent a beautiful afternoon this week at Beaver Marsh, an area within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It is a wide vista of cattails and marsh grass with a wooden boardwalk that runs through. It is a lovely, serene place to watch herons fishing, ducks dabbling, and lily pads spreading out their hopscotch invitation to walk on water.But this paradise used to be a junkyard. It had started out as part of the Ohio and Erie Canal, but by the 1980's was an auto repair lot - a decrepit graveyard of twisted metal and rusting cars. When the National Park Service bought the land they didn't know how they were going to use it. And that's when beavers gave them the answer. Beavers, which had been gone from the Ohio Valley for almost a hundred years, began returning. They set about their work - felling trees, building dams, and turning an ugly swath of scarred land into a 70 acre wetland. I read that the drought stricken people in California are considering "importing" beavers to help restore critical water supplies. To some, that might seem like a fantastical scheme. But when I think about our Beaver Marsh, I know that they are calling out the perfect crew for the job. Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Champagne Dreams

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 13:02:27 -0700

Today, another agent held a Broker's Open at one of my listings. One of my listings throughout the summer, that is. But it expired in September, so I guess she had every right to have that Broker's Open there today.It stung to lose this one. It was a townhome in a desirable complex, priced at about half a million dollars. You folks in California may be wondering why I would be miffed about losing such an insignificant listing, but in our market, that's a plum property.I had the home listed for six months and poured my heart and soul into getting it sold. Eventually, though, I had to let the seller know three uncomfortable things about his property:1. The walls were terribly scuffed and buyers were vocal about noticing it.2. The unit was an end unit and overlooked a dumpster and a decrepit gas station.3. At a price point of half a million dollars, buyers expect granite in their bathrooms and working light fixtures throughout the house.Don't shoot the messenger, right? Well, I got shot after so gently explaining why we would have to adjust the price on the home to get it sold.A new agent has taken over the listing, at the same price. It has been on the market now for another month and some change, so she hosted a Broker's Open today. It was a champagne tasting for the agents touring. I thought about going just to get my free glass of champagne. At least I'd be walking away from the listing with some tiny, happy bubbles instead of a loss of time and energy. But I toured a few homes that I actually could sell instead. I am curious to know if getting agents drunk sells houses. I guess I'll find out as i continue to keep an eye on "the one that got away." Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Change of Plans

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 10:58:00 -0700

I was supposed to host two open houses today. The first one was supposed to be on this property: It sold yesterday. The later open house was to be held at this property: It sold yesterday.I was anticipating two open houses today and held none. Wouldn't you be disappointed if that happened to you? I wasn't either. Yes, open houses are a great way to find new buyers. It's also an effective way to show sellers that you will do whatever it takes to get their home viewed by more people - even give up an afternoon of watching football in the height of the season. Our home team is the Browns, so that's not much of a sacrifice, but still, the spirit is willing.But really, I identify myself as a listing agent, primarily, and getting a home sold is as. good. as. it. gets. for me.I hope, if your plans for the day were cancelled, the reason was just as good for my unexpectedly free afternoon. Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

The Wright Path to Success

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 06:10:56 -0700

Wilbur Wright, is known for inventing the airplane. Along with his brother Orville, he put a tremendous amount of study and work into the machine that put Kitty Hawk on the map and thousands of people in the air. When asked about how he arrived at this nadir of innovation and invention, he is quoted as saying, “If I were giving a young man advice as to how he might succeed in life, I would say to him, pick out a good father and mother, and begin life in Ohio.” These are wise words for new Realtors as well, but in their broadest sense. I certainly don’t want all the new agents in the USA moving here to Ohio. I know in business speak more boats are supposed to raise the level of the water, but we don’t need a tsunami on the shores of Lake Erie. The first idea of picking out a good father and mother is one of the crucial parts of success for a new Realtor. None of us pick our biological parents. But when we’re poised at the open door of a real estate career, it’s critical to pick a great broker – our parent in the office. The first months, and even years, of selling can be difficult, discouraging, frustrating, overwhelming, or a wicked combination of all those things. A broker who dispenses encouragement, wisdom, (leads!), is as valuable to a newbie Realtor as a good mom or dad is to a child struggling through the shifting sands of adolescence. And adolescence is a good parallel for the new Realtor’s place in his or her career. So much of what is done is brand new – first home inspection to contend with, first irate client, and first deal that falls apart leaving the agent feeling broken. These things WILL happen. But there will be successes like the sale of a home, meeting a lifelong client, and the joy of putting keys to the front door in a new homeowner’s hand. The good broker will be there through all the downs . . . and downs . . . and the bright, shiny moments of up in that time of real estate adolescence. He or she will help the rookie shed their awkward newness and blossom into a seasoned and successful agent. Begin life in Ohio? In terms of a fledgling Realtor, I take this part of the quote to mean: there’s no place like home. A rookie agent needs to remember where home is and work in that area. Someone who’s been licensed for a month simply does not have the experience to be a great agent, so they must work from a different skill place. They must work out of their knowledge and comfort zone. On my first deal in real estate, I forgot to write my commission into the contract. That was a disappointing and non-existent pay day! But I sold the home in less than a week. I did not have the easy facility with contracts to know how to get myself paid, but I knew the home I was selling. It was in a beautiful area with great schools and parks. It was on a street where neighbors were friends. Although I held a real estate license for only three weeks at that point, I was a voice of authority on that particular neighborhood. One day every new agent who perseveres will be an agent with skills, experience, and an established place in the real estate market. They won’t all have good fathers and mothers. They won’t all have started out in Ohio. But by Wilbur Wright’s or anyone else’s measuring stick, they will be successful. Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Five Ways to Make a Home Photogenic

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 06:07:39 -0700

Oh how I love to list a home in June! Looking through the lens of my camera, I get the front of the house in focus. It all lines up beautfully; clouds framing a blue sky, forming the backdrop for a sun-dappled home that's rising from beds of blooming flowers and grasses. That's a money shot.Here in Northeast Ohio, summer is lovely but fleeting, and houses need to go on the market even when we're in the deep freeze of January or the dirty, gray snowy residue that persists throughout March. Here are five tips I've learned (besides getting creative with photo editing) to take the best street shot of a home even when the weather outside is frightful. 1. Dress up the front porch. Even the least creative homeowner can make a front porch look inviting. In fall, pumpkins pack a pop of color on a porch step. In winter, an old fashioned sled with mittens draped over it is charming on a snowy stoop. Wreaths for any season can be made or purchased at very low cost to brighten up doors. When we drive through neighborhoods my children often play a game where they rate the decorating on the front porches. If they're noticing, with no intention of buying a house, imagine what an impression a dressed up entryway makes on potential buyers. 2. Make sure windows are shiny. This one is easily overlooked. It shouldn't be. Clean windows are attractive, inviting, and instantly brighten a home's appearance. I carry window cleaner and paper towels in my car whenever I'm taking photos of a home. If it means a better photo, I magically transform from a Realtor into a janitor. 3. Turn the yard into a "space." My small son is a passionate birder, so the small cherry tree in front of our home is dripping with bird feeders. Your seller may not want feeders or a birdbath, but there are many other ways to turn a yard into a staged space. Old benches can be given a spray paint and placed in a bed. Windchimes or a flag flying bring color and livliness to a yard. Tasteful yard statuary makes a lawn into a gallery. A photo of a home with a dynamic yard is a lot more inviting than an image of a house in front of an expanse of unbroken grass or snow. 4. Look to the light. Suggest that your sellers place a row of solar lights in the front beds. Or have them put electric candles in the windows. Especially in the winter when daylight is done by late afternoon, light gives buyers a feeling of warmth and comfort. As with all of the other suggestions, the lighting of a home doesn't have to be expensive. I had one homeowner put up Christmas lights in early November - not because he was festive. I took his home's exterior photos in late afternoon, and the colored lights made his listing photos stand out in a sea of grey, Novemberish houses. 5. Put a coat on it. Especially in the colder months, painting the front of a house is probably not a real option. But painting trim is a morning's work and delivers a huge dose of "wow" to the front of a home. A coat of spray paint to shutters is also an easy task that offers a huge reward in terms of freshening a home's look. Hanging windowboxes is a little more involved, but they can be filled with seasonally appropriate flowers or decorative items. Sellers always tell me that they're going to make their homes more attractive to buyers by baking cookies or plugging in fragrance. But getting buyers into the home comes way before that. Help your sellers put their best foot forward in photos and soon they'll be inviting buyers in to see the rest of the picture. Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Three Ways to Break a Sales Slump

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 23:57:16 -0700

If you've never had a dry spell in sales, this post is not for you. You're all still reading, right? There's no shame in admitting that real estate sales is a career with ups and downs built right into it. I happen to be on week six of no homes sold (not that I'm counting, mind you), and I thought it would be timely to remind myself and any of you who are also slumping, of some good ways to break out of a sales rut. 1. Scream with frustration and tell everyone around you how nervous/unhappy/discouraged you are.OK, so this may not seem like anything other than venting, and how could good old fashioned complaining help? Firstly, telling someone else about what's eating at you often helps you feel better - dramatically better. I've heard it said that sharing our problems with another person cuts them in half. That holds true every time i get in a funk and start to moan to the people who haven't yet wised up to my lamenting and run away in time to avoid it. After a session with a colleague, friend, or family member, I usually start feeling like maybe, just maybe, my career isn't over and that i might sell another home someday. 2. Pick up the phone.Yep, this is the hard one. We think of picking up the phone, imagine making cold calls, and quickly decide that lining up all of the screwdrivers in the garage by size is way too important to ignore any longer. So don't cold call! Use the phone to ring up past clients, especially ones you really enjoyed. See how they're doing. Catch up on their life. Close the conversation by asking them if they know anyone who needs a great Realtor. After a few of these calls you might have a lead. You may have even gotten so comfortable that you find you're now warmed up enough to do some cold calling. 3. Be a rookieHow did you get to the point where you would be selling so consistently that not selling could be called a "slump?" At the beginning of your real estate path, each and every sale was a hugely exciting victory. You sat open houses, worked floor time, answered every phone call and email, and let everyone know that you were a Realtor who was open for business. In a sales drought, get back to that mindset. Wake up early. Get in to the office. Work hard. Maybe you won't sell a house on day one, but by the end of month one there should at least be prospects to close. -Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro, Cuyahoga and Summit County Realtors Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 22:33:48 -0700

When a Realtor drives through a neighborhood, chances are he or she is looking out the window at yard signs. We love to see what's newly listed, what's pending, what's sitting and waiting for a buyer still. At this time of year, front yard signs multiply exponentially. It's election season, so John Smith for Council is competing with Remax Trinity. A few days ago I saw a sign that made me laugh. Then i had to stop and take a photo. Then i had to thank my lucky stars that i'm not this guy's campaign manager. It would be awfully hard to run with a moniker that seems to confirm a lot of folks worst suspicions about politicians. Good luck to you Mr. Crooks! Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Sunday Run Day

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 10:27:45 -0700

There will be lots of folks hoping for sunny skies and pleasant weather this Sunday, October 11, 2015, for the thirteenth annual running of the Towpath Marathon and 10K. An annual event, the Towpath Marathon is a beloved race for people who love the beauty of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the opportunity to run on what was dubbed "one of the nation's most beautiful race courses" by Runner's World magazine. The race was born in 1992 out of a wish to show off the park's new Towpath Trail, a combination paved and crushed limestone pathway along the Ohio Canal Corridor - a 110 mile stretch of recreational paths for nature enthusiasts on foot or bicycles. Fast and flat throughout, the courses for both the half and the full marathon are described by race organizers as having no hills to speak of, really anywhere along the course. There’s lots of scenery along the way, from the slow-moving canal waters to wetlands in the distance, as well as plenty of trees and vegetation to shade and cool the runners. My personal speed is a comfortable walk, so I'll not be taking part in this weekend's race. I applaud the participants, however, and wish them a lovely afternoon on which to cross the finish line. Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro Cuyahoga and Summit County Realtors Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Snake Charmer

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 01:05:58 -0700

I wish every deal were easy. I wish every client were as sweet as a lamb.But it's real life in real estate, so some of our clients are prickly, angry, demanding, questioning, and dissatisfied.Yesterday we were in the park and I snapped this image of my nature-loving son: This morning, as i work with my various clients, I feel a little bit like him! Theresa Ziebro and Mark Piscitelli Cuyahoga and Summit County Realtors Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Time for the Rest of it

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 10:09:42 -0700

It was a long, crazy, wonderful summer in the Northeast Ohio real estate market. Long days turned over into late nights. The pace was fast and furious, buyers were finding, falling in love with, and financing homes. I was joyful amid the hectic pace, because I loved seeing the real estate market roar back to life. There's a thrill in being part of a robust market, and the phone ringing off the hook meant I was in the middle of a healthy step forward for the economy. In the month or so since kids have been shuttled off to school and carefree summer has wound down into fall, business is proceeding much more sedately. The phone is quieter, showings are down on current listings, and I heard a client use the dreaded phrase the other day, "maybe we'll just wait until spring . . ." I was thinking about this lull yesterday and feeling anxious about it, when i came to realize that a peace was stealing over me. It was afternoon and I was at home, sitting quietly in my upstairs office with none of the sound and fury of summer's rush to rouse me from thought. And i needed those moments - MY moments of restful recharging and reflection. The chaotic dance of meeting buyers' and sellers' needs all spring and summer had left me really fatigued! We are on the cusp of a glorious show of autum foliage. There will be days in October that are tailor made for lazy drives through the hills of Amish country. Another way I enjoy a sunny fall day is at a local orchard where "pick your own" concord grapes hang in heavy, perfumed clusters. Bees bustle and buzz around but are too drunk on the sweet grape juice to even think about stinging. Bluebirds sit at the edges of the vineyard and sing a sweet good-bye as they prepare to fly on to endless summer. No endless summer for me, though I thought I had wanted one. After a small break to stop and smell the roses (or the grapes, apples, and pumpkins), I'll be actively prospecting for next spring's flood of business. -Theresa Ziebro & Mark Piscitelli, Remax Trinity Cuyahoga and Summit County Realtors Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Where There's a Will, There's a Way

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 03:25:58 -0700

One of my very favorite places to be is the Cleveland Metroparks, and one of my very favorite curiosities there is "the little tree that could." For years i have marvelled at this tree which started out as a tiny sapling next to a massive boulder. As it grew, it responded to the sun and rain, but the boulder stood in it's way - all 800 or so pounds of it. The tree knew where it wanted to go, wasn't told it "couldn't", and ended up like this: Every time i see this tree relaxing on the rock, I applaud its ability to turn an obstacle into a benefit. This woody stalk pushing it's way upward and growing, then stopping to rest on the unmoveable force in its path has a mighty lesson for me and for all of us.How many times are we faced with an insurmountable problem? It's fair to say that for most of us, that's fairly often. I have thrown my hands in the air on numerous occasions and groaned, "There's NO WAY this can be fixed!" Since i encountered this tree, though, i try to look at life's big problems as if they were that boulder. And the adage is true - "Where there's a will, there's a way." Taking challenges and difficulties in stride, we might just find that they turn into hidden advantages.And even if problems stay problematic and turn out to be more of a thorn in the side than a strong place to rest ourselves, there is grace in trying; in moving forward. We are stronger and wiser and bolder for the effort. By: Theresa Ziebro & Mark Piscitelli, Remax Trinity Summit and Cuyahoga County Realtors Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Real Estate and a Tennis Match

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 08:14:02 -0700

Being an avid tennis player. I can’t help but notice the similarities between the two. In both you have to work hard to get to the final result. The changes throughout the real estate year are very similar to the changes throughout a tennis match. There’s highs and lows with both. There are times when I feel like I’m in a zone with real estate. No matter what I list , it sells in a couple of weeks. Same with tennis. Sometimes no matter what I hit back to my opponent, it goes in. The toughest part is when things slow down in real estate you need to be prepared and keep working hard. Same goes with tennis. Moral of this story. Hard work, practice and dedication in the end will get you the best results in the real estate field and on the tennis court. Overcoming your fears of rejection on the phone and failure to make a shot. Will benefit your real estate career as well as your tennis game or whatever sport you play. Good luck! Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com

Cuius est solum, eius est usque ad coelum et ad inferos

Mark Piscitelli & Theresa Ziebro (Remax Trinity) — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 12:56:43 -0700

Whosever's is the soil, it is there's all the way to heaven and to the depths below. So goes the principle in property law that states that the owner of a plot of land owns what's beneath and above it, too. The waters are muddier now than in the thirteenth centure when this law was said to have been effected. Now we have airplanes, so air space carries restrictions, but more importantly, especially in certain areas of the United States, we have oil and gas wells - they are in the depths below and carry a world of impact for our clients in real estate. Here in the Northeast Ohio area, we are on the cusp of the Marcellus Formation, the largest source of natural gas in the United States. Hardly a neighborhood is without a well, and while gas and oil prices are too low at the moment for new drilling to commence, that will surely change. And the problem for homebuyers is that oil and gas leases are often a "surprise" drawback to their dream home. Sellers are supposed to disclose any existing gas or oil commitments, but in many cases they do not. Or, another example might be that a homeowner signed away their mineral rights and the company has yet to begin drilling. If that property is sold to a new owner, they may get the shock of a lifetime when a drilling begins one day on their land and they have no legal way to make it stop. The bottom line for Realtors is the same as the bottom line always is for Realtors. We need to WORK for our buyers. Sometimes that work is a little bit of sleuthing to make sure that clients indeed own their land to the depths below. Or if not, that there is a clear cut lease agreement that delineates who owns mineral rights, for how long, and how that will affect the property. No one wants to have the rug pulled out from beneath them, literally or figuratively, and we must make sure our buyers are buying a home sweet home that's standing on terra firma . . . . Mark Piscitelli and Theresa Ziebro - Northeast Ohio Realtors mphomesearch.com