Thursday, November 17, 2011

Strongsville, Ohio Real Estate and Information Source

Strongsville, OH


City Information and History


Strongsville is a located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, situated about 25 minutes from downtown Cleveland and about 15 minutes from the Cleveland International Airport.  The city's nickname is "Crossroads of the Nation," as this is where the Ohio Turnpike and Interstate 71 intersect. The Strongsville Recreation Center and Senior Center were named after former mayor Walter F. Ehrnfelt. The population was 44,750 as of the 2010 Census, and the city is well known for its school system, MetroParks access, and abundance of shopping and restaurant locations.
Strongsville officially became a township on February 25, 1818, a village in 1923, and was ultimately designated a city in 1961. Founded by settlers arriving in the newly purchased Connecticut Western Reserve, the city was named after John Stoughton Strong, the group's leader. Many of the main streets in the city are named after other principle figures and landowners from the city's history, e.g. Howe, Drake, Shurmer, Whitney.
In the mid-19th century, the Pomeroy House, then called The Homestead, was a stop on the underground railroad. Alanson Pomeroy, the home owner and a prominent Strongsville resident, concealed runaway slaves on his property. From this residence in Strongsville, the runaway slaves were taken to boats on Rocky River for passage to Canada.



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Real Estate


Residents like Strongsville because of its atmosphere and convenient location. The city has homes and neighborhoods to suit most budgets and life styles – whether you are newly married or an empty nester, have a growing family, or are an executive with large space needs. Condominium prices range from $70,000 and up, and homes range from $80,000 to over $1,000,000. The Metro Parks are literally a few minutes away. They offer picnicking, hiking, bicycling, fishing, skiing, and unspoiled nature.

Strongsville is a considered a desirable Cleveland area suburb.  The current real estate market data for the city can be viewed below, which is great information if your looking to buyer or sell a home in Strongsville.  Also provided is full access to all current listings for sale in Strongsville.

Current Strongsville Market Data



Homes for Sale in Strongsville




Helpful Area Links

City Government Website
Demographics
School Ratings
School Board
Area Attractions
Weather Forecast
Utility Providers/City Services
Nearby Shopping, Restaurants, Hospitals, Parks, and more



Thursday, November 10, 2011

Considering Home Staging to Sell Your Home?

So, you're selling your home, or at least considering it.  But how do you compete with the rest of the market around you?  Pricing? Condition? Listing with an agent that knows how to market your home properly?  YES!

For the purposes of this post, we're going to concentrate on the condition of the home...

Why to Consider Staging

As a seller, you want to put yourself in the best position to get buyers' attention and have them perceive a value for your home, in comparison to other homes on the market in the area.  A buyer needs to see themselves living in your home.  Whether you're currently living in your home or have left it vacant, home staging may be what you need to set your home apart from the rest.

The purpose to home staging is to give your home an updated look, and to give a buyer the ability to see what the home would look like in it's best possible condition.  It helps highlight the home's best features, with the goal of appealing to a broad range of buyers, selling faster and for a higher dollar amount.  According to statistics from the Accredited Staging Professional website, the success rate (see below) can be quite substantial.
Home Staging Results Statistics

Return on Investment

Costs can vary, depending on the size of the home and how much staging work is done.  It can be a few hundred dollars to several thousand, but if it results in a quick sale for top dollar, it may prove to be well worth the investment. According to staging professionals, it can provide a 3-7% higher sales price.

The following is a summary of the results of HomeGain's national survey, based on the ten areas of home improvement identified by real estate agents in HomeGain's survey. They are listed from the highest to lowest returns on investment:
Home Staging Return on Investment Statistics

Bottom Line

As I always advise my sellers, if there is something that can place your home above all the rest, it should always be considered.  In regards to home staging, if the results and the return on investment can be achieved, it may be a way for a seller to "beat the market" in a time when the market heavily favors the buyer.