PURE Blog

Your home is one of your largest assets. When it comes time to sell it, maximizing your return is essential to your financial well-being. One of the most important decisions sellers must make is where to set the asking price. When homes are priced too high, they can sit on the market, which can impact a buyer's perceived value. When a home is priced too low, sellers can leave money on the table. The key is to find the sweet spot.

Our real estate agents are experts at helping sellers find the right asking price. Here are some tips we often offer to our clients:

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Considering a move to Cleveland? Northeast Ohio has a lot to offer, and the area is reemerging as a popular place to start a new career or build a family. Located on the shore of Lake Erie, Cleveland became a significant manufacturing hub over the past century. Today it's known for its world-class healthcare system, recreational activities, and diversity. Our real estate agents are always bragging about the great things Cleveland has to offer. Here are some of the top reasons why people love living here:

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Buying your first home can be a learning experience. From choosing a real estate agent to signing the closing documents, brace yourself for an on-the-fly education on the real estate market. Our real estate agents know buying your first home can be challenging at times, but we help clients through it every day. Here is a list of tips to help you survive the process:

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As discussed in our past blog posts, one of the main players in Cleveland's sustainability mission is the local organization, Sustainable Cleveland. They have put together 9 areas of sustainability with each of the individual topics featuring checklists of ways residents can make a difference at home. In this week's blog post, we will take a closer look at Sustainable Cleveland's detailed breakdown of encouraging an energy efficient lifestyle at home. 

So what does Energy Efficiency mean?

Sustainable Cleveland describes Energy efficiency as using less energy to provide the same level of energy service. Our homes represent a huge opportunity for us to take small steps to reduce our impacts on the environment. The following tips will help you become more energy efficient and also save you money.

1. Schedule an Energy Audit with Cleveland Housing Network's Home Weatherization Program and make recommended improvements.
2. Use a Power Strip and turn off electronics when not in use. Reducing phantom energy can save you up to 10% on your electric bill.
3. Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLSs or LEDs.
4. Buy Energy Efficient Appliances. Purchasing Energy Star Appliances helps you save money without sacrificing performance.

But why stop there? Here are some additional ways we found to incorporate energy efficiency practices in your home and day-to-day life:

1. Wrap your hot water tank. Reduce heat loss by wrapping your hot water tank with an insulation blanket. Click here for an example of what to buy. 
2. Seal your ductwork. Hot air can escape through joint ductwork which can lead to inadvertently heating places you don't want to such as your basement or cellar. Click here for an example of what to buy.
3. Test windows and doors. Make sure all windows and doors are properly sealed to avoid wasting energy when you are heating or cooling your home. Use caulking to seal any cracks or gaps around the opening. This will help conserve energy when you are heating or cooling your home. Click here for an example of what to buy.
4. Start composting! As discussed in our previous blog post, Rust Belt Riders is a local composting company that started community programs allowing for residents to sign up for compost pick-up at home or drop-off at designated collection sites. Rust Belt Riders was started in 2014 right here in Cleveland and has been working with people and organizations across Northeast Ohio to provide them with a clean and timely alternative to landfills for their food waste. Click here to learn more or join the program.

Pro-tip: create space in your freezer and place a medium size bowl or container for collecting food waste. Line the container with small compostable bags for easy collection. Once the container is full, remove the bag, tie off and either take it to your nearest drop-off location or place it in Rust Belt Riders' designated collection container for pickup. This will prevent any unpleasant smells that can sometimes result from saving your food waste.

As we discussed in our last blog post, Cleveland has been making waves in several industries over the past several decades with accolades in medicine and tech. With Cleveland making an impact in sustainability, a lot of those efforts are being implemented in the real estate and development sector.

In addition, we also highlighted the impact and efforts that Sustainable Cleveland is making to support the city's sustainability mission. The local organization put together nine areas of sustainability topics with each of the individual topics featuring checklists on ways residents can make a difference at home. Click here to access the individual checklists for each of the 9 sustainability topics determined above. In addition to the extensive discussion on sustainability, the organization has partnered with a number of local programs for residents to promote sustainability practices in their everyday life. Here are some local programs to look into if you are interested in increasing sustainability practices:

1. City Recycling Program. FREE 

Program enrollment is available online for residents of the City of Cleveland. To enroll, complete the online form by clicking here. 

2. Summer Rain Barrel Program. FREE 

This program is currently temporarily on hold but if you would like to be notified of when the program will resume, click here. 

3. Composting Program. Membership Fee 

Started in 2014 right here in Cleveland, Rust Belt Riders has been working with people and organizations across Northeast Ohio to provide them with a clean and timely alternative to landfills for their food waste. Click here to learn more or join the program.

4. Tree Canopy Revitalization Program. FREE 

Did you enjoy last week's blog post about how the presence of one healthy tree can increase your property value by 30% or more? The City of Cleveland started the initiative in an effort to replenish the city's tree canopy. Click here to request your tree installation.

5. City Fresh CSA Program. Membership Fee

City Fresh creates and promotes a more healthy, vibrant, and equitable local foods system. Pickups available at several locations across Cuyahoga and Lorain county. Click here to join!

Have we missed any local sustainability programs? Let us know!

Cleveland has been making waves in several industries over the past several decades with accolades in medicine and tech. Another industry Cleveland is making an impact in? Sustainability. And a lot of those efforts are happening in the real estate and development sector. In fact, in 2021 Cleveland became a Leed Silver Certified city which indicates leadership in energy and environmental design. One of the main players in Cleveland's sustainability mission is the local organization, Sustainable Cleveland. They have put together 9 areas of sustainability with each of the individual topics featuring checklists of ways residents can make a difference at home. Click here to access the individual checklists for each of the 9 sustainability topics determined above. Below is a breakdown of each topic with a short description. In following weeks, we will take a closer look at each topic and provide additional helpful resources. 

1. Energy Efficiency. Energy efficiency is using less energy to provide the same level of energy service. Our homes represent a huge opportunity for us to take small steps to reduce our impacts on the environment. 
2. Local Foods. Local food is the production, process, distribution and consumption of food with-in a specific region, usually 100 miles from farm to fork. A focus on local food is essential for a sustainable economy in Cleveland because of its environmental benefits and because it is an economic driver. You can make a big impact by eating local foods at home. 
3. Renewable Energy. Advanced and Renewable Energy Works in Northeast Ohio. Energy use and production is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions in the U.S., as well as one of the most costly expenses for households.
4. Zero Waste. By reducing the amount of waste the city produces and sends to landfills, Clevelanders can improve human health through the elimination of hazardous waste, protect and increase property values and quality of place, as well as save business, government, organizations and the community money.
5. Clean Water. Fresh water resources represent an invaluable local asset that has shaped Cleveland's identity, both in the way that the city has perceived itself and how it has been recognized outside the region. You can help keep our waterways fishable, swimmable and drinkable!
6. Sustainable Transportation. There are many actions Clevelanders can take at home, at work and in the community to help grow sustainable transportation. Actions include biking, walk-ing, taking transit, carpooling, car sharing and much more!
7. Vibrant Green Space. The diverse environmental, economic and social benefits of Cleveland's green space underpin the sustainable development of the city. The expansion of parks and natural areas, community gardens, urban farms, green roofs, landscaped boulevards, bike paths, trails, schoolyards, recreational areas, and other public open green space in Cleveland can help to establish a broad swath of green space. Cleveland has the only national park in an urban setting in the United States and it is the sixth most visited national park in the country. 
8. Vital Neighborhoods. Neighborhoods are the building blocks of a great urban area. They are the real places of daily life — places where people interact face to face, where transactions are made, and where a sense of identity and history is created. By fostering the development of a vibrant public realm for all to share neighborhoods can make affordable, low-consumption lifestyles more convenient and attractive.
9. Engaged People. Sustainable Cleveland's motto, "Together, we're building a thriving green city on a blue lake," emphasizes empowerment, cooperation, action, quality of life, and abundance. People, not programs, are the answer to true and lasting climate action in Cleveland. This means that a whole system, citizen-centered approach will be needed to align climate action with the assets, capacity and priorities of Cleveland residents and business owners.

It is no secret in the real estate industry that curb appeal is a leading factor in attracting potential buyers to a specific listing. So much so that when you research "benefits of curb appeal when selling a home", the search produces millions of blog posts and articles written by experts as well as reputable home websites about the topic. Alternatively, when looking for tips on increasing the chances of selling a home quickly, improving the listing's curb appeal is most often included as a bullet point. 

"Adding one healthy tree can increase property values by 30% or more, according to 1 in 5 real estate agents." (trees.com)

The team at Trees.com took it one step further and gathered data to back up the common belief by conducting a study where they surveyed 1,250 real estate agents across the country. We pulled some additional important data from the study and organized it into an infographic for easy reading. Let us know what you think! Do you believe that landscaping is an important step in preparing a home for sale? Click here to read the full article!

Summer in Cleveland is off to a great start! What better way to enjoy the city than to get out and check out all that it has to offer. Here is a list of our top 5 ways to enjoy Cleveland this summer. Let us know what you try out!

1. Check out the local beaches! Spend the day at Euclid beach or Edgewater beach. Take a picnic, ride your bike, or soak up the sun. Both locations also have fantastic views of the amazing Cleveland sunsets. Check out our blog post on the Top 10 Places to Watch a Sunset in Cleveland.
2. Take a hike on Cleveland's towpath trail or a ride on one of the many connecting bike routes. Click here for more details on what the Cleveland Metroparks has to offer.
3. Enjoy dinner on a patio overlooking the Cuyahoga river in the Cleveland flats. Check out our blog post on Cleveland's Flats East Bank complete with an updated list of restaurants.
4. Check out a local farmers market:
   • North Union Farmers Market Click Here for More Details
     • Cleveland Clinic Main Campus Wednesdays 10:30a to 1:30p
     • University Hospitals Thursdays 10:30a to 1:30p
     • Shaker Square Market Saturdays 8a to 12p
   • Tremont Farmers Market Click Here for More Details
     • Tuesdays 4p to 7p
   • West Side Market, Ohio City Click here for more details
     • Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from 8a to 5p
     • Saturdays from 7a to 5p
     • Sundays from 10a to 4p
   • Old Brooklyn Farmers Market Click here for more details
     • Saturdays from 9a to 1p
   • Kamm's Corners Farmers Market Click here for more details
     • Sundays from 10a to 1p
   • Good Earth Urban Farm Stand Click here for more details
     • Thursdays from 3p to 7p
     • Mondays from 3p to 7p
     • Saturdays from 12p to 4p
   • Coit Road Farmers Market Click here for more details
     • Wednesdays from 8a to 1p
     • Saturdays from 8a to 1p
   • Gateway 105 Farmers Market Click here for more details
     • Fridays from 3p to 7p
     • Saturdays from 1p to 5p
       
5. Go to a Guardians game! Enjoy a great view of the city while supporting a great team. And while you are there, check out some of the great food Cleveland has to offer by visiting one of the many wonderful food stands!