Do I Need an Agent to Help Me Sell in a Sellers’ Market?

Let’s see… baby boomers have decided to stay put in their large family homes, landlords are making a killing as rents skyrocket, homeowners who bought when rates were low aren’t about to trade their low interest rate for a higher one and home builders are either idle or building more expensive abodes. Is it any wonder that finding a home to buy in Brunswick is a bit like trying to find Waldo?
Selling a home right now, on the other hand, is a brilliant financial strategy. Our MLS charts the equity gained by local homeowners, depending on when they bought their homes. Now, these figures “reflect price and principle payments since purchase,” and they’re quite intriguing.
For instance, homeowners who bought 10 years ago are sitting on an average of nearly $64,000 in equity. To get your hands on that equity, however, requires that you get the maximum amount of money for the home that the market will allow.
Can you do that without a real estate agent? Perhaps, but, unless you have access to the information and knowledge that agents possess, the odds are against you. Let’s look at just some of the ways the right real estate agent goes about ensuring you sell your home for top dollar.

How do you plan on coming up with a price for the home?
After marketing prowess, a listing agent’s most valuable skill is in knowing the current market value of a home. Not only do most homeowners lack the skill, they also don’t have access to the tools and data used to calculate a home’s value.
Homes that aren’t priced right condemn the homeowner to one of two fates:
•You will lose money if you price it too low.
•The home may not sell if it’s priced too high. By the time you drop the price, the home is stigmatized and may very well end up selling for less than you’d hoped.

So, again, how will you determine your list price without the aid of an experienced real estate agent? With a Zestimate? Don’t be fooled. Zestimates are highly inaccurate, nationwide. In fact, Zillow publishes their accuracy rate and we’ve seen them as high as almost 15 percent off the home’s actual value. On a $200,000 home, that’s a significant sum of money.
The moment the home hits the market is the most crucial period in the home sale process. This is when it will receive the most attention, but only if it’s priced right.

Do you know how to position the home to get the most attention possible?
One of the most significant price influencers is the home’s presentation—curb and interior appeal. 
We work with homebuyers daily and we understand what they like and don’t like in homes. Without an agent’s assistance when you sell, you’re flying blind, which could waste both time and money.
To get it right, you’ll need to know who the most likely buyer will be and then target your home’s presentation to lure them in.

Marketing involves a 
lot more than sticking a sign in the yard
Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, Inc. said that he “used to believe that a good product sold itself.” But not anymore. Because “now we understand that the most important thing we do is market the product.”
Although homes are flying off the market, they aren’t selling themselves. It requires strategic, target marketing to sell a home, at least if you hope to get the most money the market will allow.
Your competition on the market is most likely in the hands of a real estate agent who will, with professional marketing, lure buyers to his or her listing and away from yours.
Marketing is an art and it requires both experience and a robust marketing budget. We happen to have both, and we get results.

Can you negotiate on your preferred price and terms?
Another large stumbling block that unrepresented sellers face is the mountain of legal paperwork involved in the sale of a home. From laying their hands on it to understanding it, for-sale-by-owners claim that the paperwork was a major headache.
The purchase agreement is one of the most important contracts you’ll use and understanding the terms that the buyer is seeking can be a challenge.

Finally, if you want to get more money from the sale of your home, yes, you need a real estate team to help you sell it. According to a National Association of REALTORS survey, the average FSBO home sold for $190,000 while the average sellers with a professional team behind them brought in $249,000. 
Go it alone and you’re leaving nearly $60,000 on the table. Not a wise move.  


Brunswick Real Estate News: July 2018



Click here to read the Brunswick Real Estate News.
Take a break someplace cool with something cold to drink and read the Brunswick Real Estate News, July edition.
Our cover story answers the question "Should I hire a real estate agent in this seller's market?" Ever wonder the difference between damsel and dragonflies? Bring the kids to the Susan Hambley Nature Center to find out about these intricate creatures. Details are on page two. In addition, you'll also find some great travel and decorating articles, as well as a delicious recipe from Wolfgang Puck.
We hope you enjoy reading our paper as much as we've enjoyed publishing it. Let us know your thoughts, and don't forget to check out our listings on the back page! Thanks, Brunswick!

Damsels and Dragons: Fantastic Insects and Where to Find Them

Can you tell the difference between the damselfly and dragonfly? Both tend to fill us with wonder, and the facts about these insects are just as fascinating. Bring the kids to Damsels and Dragons at the Susan Hambley Nature Center to take a closer look at the intricate world of these creatures. This unique event is held from July 13 to July 15, and invites you to explore the lives of these jewel-like insects up close and in-depth. Learning should always be this fun!

The Secret Lives of Dragonflies and Damselflies
Though somewhat similar, these two creatures have distinctive differences. Damselflies have thinner bodies and less prominent eyes than dragonflies. They have two pairs of wings that tend to be of the same size. Dragonflies also have two pairs of wings, although the upper set is larger than the lower. When at rest, dragonfly wings remain open, while damselflies tend to neatly hold their wings down their backs when they land.
According to the University of Florida, dragonflies and damselflies are among the most popular kinds of insects with both amateur and professional enthusiasts. This isn’t so surprising — it’s always delightful to see them flitting about ponds, streams and backyard retreats.
There are so many other amazing facts to learn about dragonflies and damselflies. For instance, certain species molt up to 17 times before reaching adulthood. That’s a lot of molting!

Dragonflies and Damselflies Living in Brunswick
Ohio is home to more than 150 documented species of damselflies and dragonflies. Even though these insects seem abundant in our area, it’s important to note that some species are endangered. Researchers continue to look for new species, and work towards learning more about how we can conserve those that are threatened. You can find out more about this important work at the event.

What to Expect at Damsels and Dragons
Damsels and Dragons is open to people of all ages. It’s also totally free! No need to register or reserve a spot — just come ready to learn and have fun. There will be dragonfly- and damselfly-themed games and crafts, and lots of other activities to give you a truly hands-on learning experience.
The event is organized by the Medina County Park District. Located in Brunswick Lake City Park, the Susan Hambley Nature Center is surrounded by unspoiled wilderness and features 200-year-old tree specimens. After you get your fill of damselflies and dragonflies, stick around for a bike ride or walk along the lush Brunswick Lake Trail, which crosses through wetlands and floodplains.

Damsels and Dragons will be held at:
Susan Hambley Nature Center,
1473 Parschen Blvd,
Brunswick, OH 44212

Make Your Bathrooms Picture Perfect!

Our Listing Manager, Ashley Varner, discusses how to make your bathroom pictures phenomenal with our professional photographer, Melanie Hetzel, of Melanie Hetzel Photography LLC.

To make your bathroom pictures perfect:
1. Clean it up! You want it to sparkle in the pictures.
2. Put everything in the shower away. Shampoo, loofas, razors, etc., all need to be put under the sink or in a different location.
3. Keep everything off the sinks.
4. Make sure mirrors are clean.
5. Put your toilet seats down.
6. Put a new roll of toilet paper on the holder or leave it empty. It photographs better that way.
7. Put medicine away.

Interest Rates

Linay Lencioni, from BOLD Real Estate Consultants, sits down with Don Jarecki, a lender from Cross Country Mortage, and discusses how interest rates will affect your home buying process.

With interest rates going up, how does that affect a buyer's buying power?

Jarecki says, "The best time to buy a house was yesterday because everything yesterday was cheaper, including interest rates and the home itself." He follows along with the explanation that even a rise of 1% can cost you over $10,000.

Our Featured Listing

37972 Pebble Lake Trl
$254,900   
North Ridgeville, OH 44039
The family room also features plenty of space for your family to gather around the cozy gas fireplace, with great sight lines into the eat-in kitchen. The kitchen offers lots of cabinet and counter space, new backsplash, and white appliances that remain with the home. Head upstairs to the spacious master suite with walk-in closet. The master bath has a large double vanity, shower/tub, and linen closet for storage. Three additional bedrooms feature large closets and share a full bath to complete the second floor. Check out the large, professionally landscaped, private backyard. 





Two reasons You Should Buy a Home Now Because...

1. Interest rates are rising
Rates are always a hot topic, but especially when there are significant increases combined with a thin housing inventory. We have seen a steady increase in rates since last fall when you could find the average 30-year rate hovering somewhere in the 3.875% range. The current 30-year average rate according to www.MortgageNewsDaily.com is running north of 4.6%. A 1% increase in rates can decrease a buyer’s maximum qualifications or “comfort level” by 10%. Rising rates often create motivation for buyers who might otherwise hold off a while longer to move up their search. The goal may be to find the house they want at today’s price and today’s rate rather than risk further rising rates and prices. -Don Jarecki, Cross Country Mortgage.

2. The 2018 market is stable
Across the US, our housing market has finally reached a year of stability. While nationwide home prices are still rising in 2018, they aren’t predicted to increase above 3.2%, according to experts. This figure is substantially lower than the 5.5% increase we saw in 2017. Overall, it’s a good time to explore Ohio’s real estate market without worrying about skyrocketing prices.

If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in the Brunswick area, Bold Real Estate Consultants can help you. We will work with you every step of the way and provide expert, personable help. Get in touch with Bold Real Estate Consultants today at 440-879-7260

Photography Tips for Bedrooms

Melanie Hetzel describes how to get your bedrooms ready for our photography sessions.


  • Make your bed.
  • Use decorative pillows.
  • Clean your floors.
  • Clear your nightstands of clutter.
  • Hide cables.
  • Use a bed skirt or place items under the bed elsewhere.
  • Close your closet doors.

Brunswick Real Estate News: June-Issue 2, 2018



Click here to read the Brunswick Real Estate News.
In case you missed it, click to read the June (part 2) 2018 edition of the Brunswick Real Estate News!
On the cover, you'll read about why you should choose to buy now! On page two find out about cool events happening this summer in the Brunswick area. In addition, you'll also find some great travel and decorating articles, as well as a delicious recipe from Wolfgang Puck.
We hope you enjoy reading our paper as much as we've enjoyed publishing it. Let us know your thoughts, and don't forget to check out our listings on the back page! Thanks, Brunswick!