Great home with great location - Sylvania School District!

Feature Home - Area! In-Ground Pool, Shed, Patio w/ Cov
$268,900
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Front View
Address: 5325 Carlingfort Dr.
City/ST: Toledo, OH
Zip Code: 43623
Location: 5325 Carlingfort
Property Type: Single Family Home
Category:

To see this beautiful home, call Victoria at 419-460-5587 today!
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12775 County Rd 5

Beautiful Home with many features. Country location, close to shopping and entertainment, airport, and highways.
Feature Home - Many Updates! Great Floor Plan!
$219,900
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Front View
Address: 12775 County Rd 5
City/ST: Delta, OH
Zip Code: 43515
Location: 4139 Grantley
Property Type: Single Family Home
To see this wonderful home, call Victoria at 419-460-5587 today!
Email: victoria@luxuryhomesintoledo.com
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4139 Grantley, Great Home with Great Location!

Beautiful Home has Sold!
Grantley Toledo,Oh.

I can find you a Similar homes for Sale, call Victoria at 419-460-5587 today!
email: victoria@luxuryhomesintoledo.com

My Listings: www.luxuryhomesintoledo.com

Great home with great location - close to Downtown Toledo

Great Curb Appeal!
$63,900
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Front View
Address: 3545 Dixie Dr.
City/ST: Toledo, OH
Zip Code: 43611
Location: 3545 Dixie Dr.
Property Type: Co-op


Square Footage: 1003
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1
MLS# 4645835
SO Convenient! Charming Home with great Drive & Walk Score. This home has a great location, close to downtown and expressways. This home has two great places to relax, including a 3 season room and an enclosed porch. The large modernized kitchen has tons of cupboard space and looks great against groceries. This large family room is designed for informal gatherings with can lighting, carpet, and a ceiling fan. The large master bedroom & full bathroom is updated and has a whirlpool tub. This home also has a conveniently located first floor laundry room with vinyl flooring. The 3 season room in the rear of the house is very private and has slider doors. This home also has an enclosed porch in the front of the house. Outside of this beautiful home, you will love spending time in your back yard with a shed. This home is located in a family-friendly neighborhood close to downtown and expressways. This home also has a built-in alarm system. To see this wonderful home, call Victoria at 419-460-5587 today!
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Beautiful Newer Ranch!

Beautiful newer ranch for sale in Perrysburg. Great area, close to the excellent-rated Perrysburg school system, grocery stores, a YMCA, and Levis Commons mall.

Priced Right: $184,900

Relax and stay in this beautiful newer ranch on Scarlet Oak Dr. in Perrysburg. Throughout this home, you will find many "news" such as new carpeting, new Hunter Douglas shades, new exterior paint (25 year life), a newer roof, and newer hardwood floors. This home also has french doors and crown molding throughout. Enter the home through an inviting foyer with ceramic tile floors. The kitchen looks great against groceries with its hardwood floors, oak cupboards, and can lighting. The charming living room has hardwood floors, a gas fireplace, crown molding, and french doors. This home also has a beautiful sun room with ceramic tile floors, a ceiling fan, and paneling. The formal dining room has hardwood floors and french doors. Your own oasis! The master bedroom suite has crown molding and will be your own haven at day's end. The master bathroom has ceramic tile flooring. This home has three total bedrooms with ceiling fans and crown molding. This home also has three full bathrooms. The functional laundry room has a sink and an extra cabinet. Outside of this charming home, you will love spending your afternoons on your patio, soaking in the park-like setting of your private back yard. The back yard is fenced and nicely landscaped. This home also has a wood comp. exterior. This home also has a house fan that keeps the house cool and saves on the electric bill. Located in a great neighborhood, close to the YMCA, mall, and grocery stores, this home has an excellent location. This home is also located in the excellent rated Perrysburg school district. You will pay no city taxes in this home. To see this charming home, call Victoria at 419-460-5587 today!
email: victoria@luxuryhomesintoledo.com

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How long should selling your home take?

As a real estate professional in the Toledo area, I have sold many homes in this tough market. Often, sellers get distressed over the amount of time it takes to sell their home. The important thing is not to get upset or distressed over your home not selling, but to try to understand why it is not selling. There are many reasons for a home not selling right away. Here are some common reasons:
1. The right price. This is probably the most important reason why a home won’t sell. Many buyers who go out to see homes have an idea in their mind of how much money they want to spend and how much/ what kind of house they expect to get with that money. If a house is overpriced, a buyer will often see that right away and immediately dismiss the home. It is important to consider the houses in the same price range as your house because they may or not be in a better condition than your house.
2. Curb appeal is very important. Most of the time, the picture on the MLS is the front photo of a house. Buyers choosing houses to see from the MLS will sometimes immediately dismiss houses with poor curb appeal. It is important to have a good front photo taken that displays your home’s charm and appeal accurately.
3. Market demand. An over abundance of homes for sale in your price range means it is a “Buyer’s market.” This means the buyer has many choices to choose from; therefore the chances of your home selling are less. This is completely beyond your control, yet it is still an important reason for a home not selling.
4. Economic reasons. Fluctuating interest rates can affect how long it takes your home to sell. Also local company layoffs can affect the market because there would be less people looking for houses. A poor economy can often affect whether or not a home will sell.

4 Things You Should Know About Electrical Systems

Hello everyone! I found this great article in Realtor magazine online about Electrical Systems. I just wanted to share it with you. It was written by Leslie Banker in August 2008.

Home Electrical Systems: 4 Questions You Should be Able to Answer
Practically all of your listings will have an electrical system. Whether working with buyers or sellers, it pays to understanding the basics.
By Leslie Banker
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August 2008
These days, every house or apartment is going to have an electrical system of one sort or another. Understanding the basics of these systems will help you evaluate homes and knowledgeably answer questions from prospective buyers.
Electricity typically is generated at a power plant and travels to transformers, which lower the voltage to a level that local distribution systems can handle. From there, electricity travels over local distribution systems to individual homes.
One problem in this method of delivery is that quite a bit of electricity is lost in the process of traveling from the plant to its final destination. An alternative is generating electricity on site by solar electrical systems, wind turbines, or generators.
So what else do you need to know about electric systems? While it’s best to leave the big questions to electricians, these are some basics that you should know.
1. Does the home have 220 volt service?
If the home was recently built, the answer is almost always yes. Most houses today have two 110 volt wires and one neutral wire running into the house from the local distribution system. These wires can run underground or above ground. If there are two 110 volt wires running to the house, then the house has 220 volt service and appliances, such as dryers and air conditioners.
Older houses were usually built with 110 volt service; if the electrical system hasn’t been upgraded, it won’t be possible to use some models of appliances (though alternatives can be found).
It’s possible to upgrade a house from 110- to 220-volt service. How much it costs to upgrade will depend on the particular house and the location. If a buyer is interested in upgrading, an electrician can give an estimate for what the work will entail.
2. What’s the difference between a fuse and a circuit breaker?
Fuses and circuit breakers are both found in the electrical panel (or sub-panel) of a house. They both serve the purpose of cutting the flow of electricity when a circuit gets overloaded—a potentially dangerous situation. Circuit breakers will be found in most houses built after the 1960s or in older buildings that have had their electrical systems upgraded.
Fuses have a thin strip of metal that literally blows when there’s too much electricity flowing through it. When this happens, the fuse needs to be taken out and replaced.
Since the 1960s circuit breakers have been used instead of fuses. They are more convenient, as they just need to be flipped back on if they are tripped. Unlike a fuse, they don’t need to be replaced.
Both circuit breakers and fuses are rated according to how much electricity can flow through them before they trip and shut down the circuit. A 15- or 20-amp fuse is typical for regular light fixtures and such. If the right fuse or circuit breaker isn’t used, it can cause a dangerous situation. Clearly, if a fuse or circuit breaker becomes problematic, an electrician should be called in to look at it.
3. Where’s the “main panel?”
This is where all the circuits in the house originate from and it’s usually near where the electric power enters the building. It will be filled with circuit breakers (or fuses in an older building). The main panel has a rating that determines the total amount of current that can flow out to the circuits at one time before the main circuit breaker shuts the entire system down.
Most moderately sized older houses have 100 amp service, though a smaller house might only have 60 amp service. Larger new houses are often built with 200 amp service to accommodate all the electronics used these days. If a buyer is thinking of adding on to a house or just modernizing an older house, one consideration will be if the electrical system is big enough to handle the additional electrical requirements. It’s possible to upgrade the main panel to handle more amps. Again, an electrician can give a buyer an idea of how much work this will be in a particular house.
4. Are the outlets grounded?
These days most electrical outlets that you see accept three prong plugs. This means, almost always, that the outlet is grounded. A grounding wire, which connects to the round third hole, protects against electric current escaping from the circuit and causing shocks.
Older houses might only have two prong outlets, meaning there’s no grounding protection in the circuits. Upgrading an electrical system to include grounding wires involves opening the walls and can be a significant amount of work. How much work it is depends on the size, construction and layout of the house.
GFI outlets (GFI stands for “ground fault interrupter”) are typically required by building codes when installing an outlet near a water source or a damp location. These are the three prong outlets that have two buttons on them reading “test” and “reset.” Since water and metal handles and spouts conduct electricity, it makes a ground fault particularly dangerous in wet locations such as a bathroom. A ground fault is where the electricity goes astray despite the grounding wire. If this happens the GFI quickly cuts the power. GFI outlets are also called GFCI, or ground fault circuit interrupter.
Knowing how to talk the talk about a listing’s electrical system will help to put a little spark in your sales pitch. The important thing to remember is that for a price, electrical systems can be upgraded and expanded to meet the needs of the buyer as well as building code requirements.

How to Repair Your Credit

Here are some steps for repairing your credit and buying the home of your dreams.

1. Make a budget. Calculate your income and your expenses make a budget for your household.
2. Look at your credit report and be aware of your score.
3. Talk to your creditors. Do this as soon as you realize you are getting behind in your payments. 4. You can work with them to reduce your payments before you get too far behind.
5. Always get any agreement in writing. Make sure you get a letter when you negotiate lower interest rates and payments.
6. Stop using credit cards. Only buy what you know you have money in the bank for.
7. Gradually cut off credit accounts. All of a sudden cutting off all credit accounts makes others think you are financially unstable.
8. Try a secured credit card. This means you supply money up front as collateral. For instance, if you deposit $400 in the bank, you will have a $400 limit on your secured credit card. This is a safe way to build your credit.
9. Join a credit union rather than a bank. They are more likely to give you a loan than a bank is.
10. Always make payments on time. Payment history is the number one thing that determines your credit score.
If at all possible, always avoid bankruptcy. Bankruptcy shows up on your credit for 10 years.

2491 Mission Hill, Perrysburg, OH

Feature Home - Away from the turmoil of traffic!
$499,900
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Front View
Address: 2491 Mission Hill Dr.
City/ST: Perrysburg, OH
Zip Code: 43551
Location: 2491 Mission Hill
Property Type: Single Family Home


Square Footage: 3977
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3 full, 1 half
MLS# 4642921
Tucked away on a quiet cul-de-sac, you will love this custom home in the Sanctuary in Perrysburg. This home has a great open floor plan with large rooms, perfect for entertaining. You will find fresh paint and lots of casement windows throughout this charming home. The towering 2-story foyer leads you to the rest of the home. Recipe for success: efficient style plus inviting warmth in this large gourmet kitchen. The kitchen also has granite countertops, tile floors, a double oven, and lots of cabinets. The window over the sink overlooks the back yard, the perfect way to keep an eye on the kids! The kitchen is also open to the beautiful family room with crown molding and a fireplace. This home also has a living room with crown molding. Need an office? This home also has a den with judges paneling and crown molding. Hardwood steps lead you upstairs. You will love the large open hallway with built-in shelves. The main suite provides a soothing oasis of special conveniences and comforts at day's end. This huge master bedroom has a tray ceiling, rope lighting, and a ceiling fan. Relax in this luxurious master bathroom with a garden tub, built-in sound system, tile floors, a separate shower, and a dual sink vanity. This home has four bedrooms plus a bonus room with vaulted ceilings. This home also has 3.5 total bathrooms including a jack-n-jill bathroom. One of the bedrooms is large with vaulted ceilings, crown molding, and double doors. Another bedroom is also large with a window seat and two closets. This home also has a guest bedroom with a private bathroom. This home also has a first floor laundry room with tile, a sink, and storage. The large finished basement will be the perfect spot for entertaining with its built-in surround system and custom bar. Outside of this amazing home, you will love entertaining others in the large, private, wooded back yard with a beautiful deck. This home has a three car garage with a private stairway to the basement. You will absolutely love the quiet neighborhood with a wooded walk path and a pond. To see this wonderful home, call Victoria at 419-460-5587 today!
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New Listing! 27 Acres!

Feature Home - Your own Oasis in the Country!
$725,000

Address: 5146 St. Rt. 224
City/ST: Ottawa, OH
Zip Code: 45875


New or Resale: Resale
Square Footage: 4534
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 5 full, 1 half
MLS# 4642769
Claustrophobia? You will absolutely love this home in Ottawa. With 27 acres of land and over 4500 sq. ft. of living space, you will have no problem fitting in. This home could be used as a Bed and Breakfast with a pool house suite and two additional bedrooms with private bathrooms. You will love the peaceful, scenic, comfortable sanctuary this home provides. This home was built with quality materials and is low maintenance. With many updates such as a newer roof, 4 newer A/C units, newer electric, newer carpet, newer appliances, and fresh paint, you will have nothing to do! Enter the home through a warm and inviting hardwood foyer. The gourmet kitchen looks great against groceries and has tile floors and tile countertops. The eat-in kitchen also has a dual level island, a built-in desk, french doors, raised panel cabinets, and pull-outs. Dine in style in this soaring 2-story dining room with a 2-story fireplace. The dining room also has a spiral staircase that leads to a loft. The large living room has hardwood floors, beams, barn-style paneling, a bay window, and french doors. This living room also has a bar and a fireplace. The master bedroom suite is huge with his/her closets, crown molding, and a large sitting area. Relax and stay in the luxurious master bathroom with its abundance of space, tile flooring, dual sink vanity, and a dressing counter. This home has 4 total bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms. Some of the amenities in the bedrooms include crown molding and chair railing. Many of the bathrooms are tiled. This home also has a finished basement with a huge arched bar, living area with a large stone fireplace, tanning room, full tile bathroom, and tile sauna. Outside of this stunning home you will find your oasis. With a 48 x 28 in-ground pool, hot tub, and brick patio, you will love spending your hot summer days outside. This home also has a pool house with a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, and large tiled area. Saddle set? This property has 27 acres, 4 of them are wooded. This property also has a pole barn, 5-6 fenced pastures, a riding arena, and many other barns. You will love the wildlife. This home has a 6-car garage. Rest assured with a built-in alarm system and intercom. To see this postcard setting, call Victoria at 419-460-5587 right away!
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Home Energy Saving Tips

Here are some helpful tips for saving energy in your home.

1. Try lowering the thermostat and dressing warmer. Just lowering the thermostat 1 or 2 degrees can make a change in your energy consumption.
2. Lower your thermostat at night and whenever you are not in the house. Also, try closing off and not heating rooms that you don’t use.
3. Make sure your refrigerator is set between 37 and 40 degrees F. Also, keep your refrigerator stocked because it is much easier to keep a stocked refrigerator cool than an empty one.
4. Try lowering the temperature on your electric water heater to 120 degrees F. Also, try turning it off when you are leaving for an extended amount of time.
5. Consider buying a new refrigerator if yours is over 10 years old. New refrigerators use much less energy than older refrigerators.
6. Try air drying your clothes instead of using a dryer. Also, wash with cold or warm water but rinse with cold water.
7. Only wash full loads of dishes and let them air dry.
8. Turn off computers, lights, and other electronic devices when you leave the house. This will make a big difference.
9. Try using a microwave or toaster oven to cook smaller items.
10. Try taking shorter showers and install a low-flow shower head.

Top Scams on Homeowners and How to Watch Out For Them

Homeowners are the targets of many scams. Here is a list of 10 homeowner scams:

1. Bogus Health and Fitness Claims
2. Misleading Prize Offers
3. Unscrupulous Moving Practices
4. Identity Theft
5. Unwanted Office Supplies or Bogus Directory Scams
6. Work at Home Scams/ Bogus Employment Services
7. Overpayment Schemes
8. Door-to-door Sales Schemes
9. Lottery and Sweepstakes Fraud
10. Unscrupulous Used Vehicles Sales Practices

Mortgage fraud can be the result of identity theft. Here are some helpful tips for avoiding identity theft:

1. Never leave receipts in random places such as bank machines, gas stations, or trashcans.
2. Always sign your credit cards. Never give your credit to someone else to use. Report lost cards immediately. Keep an eye on your monthly statements to see if anything shows up that shouldn’t.
3. Shred important documents, such as pre-approved credit card applications, bills, and credit card receipts.
4. Avoid keeping written record of any of your credit card information. This is an easy way for someone else to get a hold of them.
5. Never give others personal information, such as your social security or pin number, over the phone, unless you initiated the call.
6. Always get your mail immediately. Don’t leave it in the mailbox for long. Never leave mail lying around.

Furnishing Your House on a Budget

Here are some steps and tips to furnishing your house on a budget:

1. Look for auctions! You can find these in newspapers or free shopper papers. You can find anything from small knick knacks to major appliances. This is a great way to find just about anything for a reasonable, cheap price.
2. Also try looking at classified ad listings. You can find many low cost items here. Most of the time you can find “bigger” items such as furniture and appliances in the classified sections of the newspapers.
3. Yard sales and garage sales are also great places to find deals on furniture and other household items. Check your local newspapers for information on garage sales. Sometimes, you can find entire neighborhoods that are having garage sales.
4. Antique stores are also great places to find items. Some people are afraid to try antique stores because they think they are too expensive. But really, you can find some great deals. Also, don’t be afraid to bargain with the salesperson. This is how business is done!
5. Keep an eye out for vintage buildings. During renovation, fixtures and other items may often be sold for a cheap price.
6. Try a fresh coat of paint. This is often a great way to spruce up a room. Also, you can find in-store specials on paint.

Tips for Negotiating the Purchase of Your Dream Home

1. To start off, offer close to the asking price. This is a good idea because you will not offend the seller by bringing an offer too low. The seller may either accept the offer or counter for a slightly higher offer.
2. Don’t fall in love. It’s important to not love the house so much that you end up paying way more than you can afford due to a bidding war. Prepare yourself to walk away when the counter offers are not coming down enough. There are other fish in the sea!
3. In a slow market, it is a good idea to offer as much as you can afford. Sellers are usually unmotivated in a slow market so give them your best offer so that they don’t get offended and refuse to work with you.
4. Try some bargaining tactics. If the seller seems highly motivated, use some terms such as repairs to bargain with them. If this happens, the seller may accept a lower offer if you say that you will make some of the repairs.
5. If you do fall in love with a home that you feel is overpriced, offer a low amount but be prepared to go higher. You may find yourself with a desperate seller that will just counter a little higher than your offer, and you could get the house for less than you imagined you could.
6. Research the neighborhood. Check out what other, similar houses have sold for. Also consider how long the house has been on the market. If the house has been on the market for a while, you may want to bid low because the seller may just accept it.
7. Keep in mind that a lot of sellers are advised not to accept the first offer, so don’t be too firm! Be prepared to accept more than your original offer.
8. Don’t get caught up in the emotion! Be prepared to walk away from the deal if you have to. This is a good way to make sure that you don’t pay too much for your home.
9. Always do your negotiating in writing and NEVER accept verbal offers.

The negotiation process can get very tricky sometimes. Make sure that you are prepared. If this seems overwhelming, don’t worry. A real estate agent is the best person to help you negotiate. They’ve done it many times on either side of the table and they sometimes can guess what the seller is thinking. They will be able to give you advice on what to do during the entire process. But don’t feel like you have to listen to everything your real estate agent says. In the end it is 100% your decision!

If you need any help finding a home, please don’t hesitate to contact me! I would be happy to help you negotiate!

Ten Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector

1. How long have you been in the home inspecting business? How many home inspections have you done? It is important to have a home inspector with a lot of experience so that you can be sure that all parts of your future home are thoroughly inspected.
2. What does your home inspector cover? You should make sure that all state requirements are met for your home inspection.
3. Do you offer repairs based on the home inspection? Sometimes the home inspectors are able to repair some of the problems they may find.
4. Do you have experience in residential inspections? It is important that your home inspector has experience in residential inspections. Construction and engineering experience is helpful, but residential experience is a must.
5. How long will the inspection take? The average time is 2-3 hours.
6. Will I be able to attend the inspection? If the inspector refuses to allow this, you may want to reconsider your choice. This could be a red flag. It is a good idea to see your future home with the help of an expert on your side.
7. What kind of inspection report do you provide? How long will it take to receive this report? Most inspectors provide their report within 24 hours of the inspection.
8. How much will it cost? A typical range is between $300-$500.
9. Are you a member of a professional home inspector association? Request to see their ID. Make sure your home inspector is qualified.
10. Do you work to continue your education in order to keep your expertise up to date? The inspector’s commitment to furthering his/her education is a good measure of their professionalism.

Are you facing foreclosure?

Are you facing foreclosure?
You May Have A Better Way Out!
There are countless hardships that can turn home ownership from a joy into a burden. The loss of a job, medical bills, or an unexpected hike in monthly payments can all make a mortgage unaffordable. But ignoring the bills will not make them go away, it will only make things worse.
If you need help, there are approaches that can help, but you may not be familiar with them. One of these is a “short sale.”
In an approved short sale, the lender agrees to accept less than is owed for the property, and the homeowner is relieved of the debt. A lender may be willing to do this because it spares a lot of hassle and expense involved in executing a foreclosure. And typically, a short sale does far less damage to the homeowner’s credit than a foreclosure does.
Visit www.AvoidForeclosureToledo.com for more information about “short sale.”

What is flipping a house?

The key to making money in real estate is learning how to flip a house. Any experienced or inexperienced person can flip a house. You don’t even need help from anyone else! Here are the key steps towards flipping a house.

Begin by buying a HUD repo which allows you to buy a house with no money down. Now, you can begin working on flipping this house. Make all of the updates and upgrades. Then put the house on the market, preferably with a Realtor. Once this house is sold, you can go straight into buying another fixer-upper. This time you can buy the house with all cash. Work on flipping this house, put it on the market, and once it sells you will have even more money collected and can buy another house to flip.

One of the key things that makes this formula work is buying the right house. The key is to buy a house that needs only cosmetic repairs, not structural changes. Cosmetic repairs include painting, updating lighting fixtures and plumbing fixtures, and installing new carpeting and flooring.

If you use this formula to your advantage, you can make as much profit as $100,000 a month! The key is getting started. Don’t believe others when they say that in order to successfully flip houses, you need a lot of starting money. You can a buy a house with no money down and the sellers can often help you with closing costs.

If you have any questions about flipping a house or would like to start flipping houses, feel free to contact me. I can help you find the best houses to flip and can also help you sell them with maximum exposure once they are flipped. You can email me at luhring@bex.net or call me at 419-460-5587.

Helpful Home Staging Tips

Here are some helpful tips for staging your home for maximum profit. Although small things like adding a vase of flowers or painting a room will not always deter a potential buyer, many buyers have an easier time imagining themselves in the home when there are things that make the home look “homey.” As an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP), I have been professionally trained in home staging and I am available to help you stage your home for maximum profit. If you should choose to list your house and would like me to do it, I would be happy to help you and give advice to you about staging your home. For now, here are some helpful tips:

1. Try to clean up all clutter in your home. Buyers who are looking at a cluttered home maybe distracted by the clutter and not even give the home a chance. If the home is clean and tidy, the buyer can look at the important things in the home, like if they like the layout.
2. Curb appeal is very important. Make sure the “drive-by” view of your home is appealing. Try planting some simple flowers and making sure your lawn is freshly mowed before a showing.
3. Take a walk-thru of your home and notice what items your eyes catch. If your eyes are drawn to an unsightly spot on the wall where your 2-year old got a hold of a crayon, maybe you should consider painting the room.
4. Clean, clean, clean. Always make sure your home is clean for a buyer. Like I said before, buyers can better imagine themselves in a clean and tidy house.
5. Find someone to make the minor repairs in your home, a fix-it person. Make sure no taps are dripping and all cupboards shut and open properly. If they don’t, find someone you trust to help you fix these. Or do it yourself!
6. Stuffiness is bad. Let some air into your home before a showing (especially if you are not using air-conditioning). No one likes to walk through a stuffy house.
7. Try staging your home with fresh flowers. They let in a light, pleasant scent and are visually pleasing. They make the home seem fresh and up-kept.
8. Let some light in. Natural lighting always looks better than artificial lighting. Try opening your blinds or pulling them up. Let the outdoors in!
9. Try playing some soft, pleasant music in the background for showings. It’s normally better to have a CD in rather than a radio station because some people don’t like to listen to the commercials. And make sure it is not turned up too loud, so that the buyers and the buyers’ real estate agent can talk about your home without shouting.

What to do when Buying a House

Buying and owning a home is a dream for many people. But there are so many things you have to put in order for the transaction to go smoothly. You want the purchase of your dream home to be as perfect as possible. Here are some tips for a smooth transaction:

1. Make sure your credit is strong. It is a good idea to resolve any credit disputes and pay off all credit cards prior to buying a house. Also, check your credit score. You can easily do this online for free. This will give you an idea as to what your credit score is like and will let you know if you need to do something to improve it.
2. Use a mortgage calculator to determine how much you can afford in the purchase of your home. Then make sure you get pre-approved by lender you trust. Many home sellers will not accept offers from buyers who are not pre-approved.
3. Meet with a loan officer before contacting your real estate agent. This way, you can have a better idea of how much you can afford in a home before you see houses and become attached to one.
4. Sign up for a MLS (Multiple Listing Service) alert service so that you can see all of the homes for sale in your price range and criteria. This way you can pick out the ones that are the most attractive to you and schedule a showing.
5. Make the decision from the beginning that you will not “fall in love” with a house until you have closed. This way you can be sure to get the best price for the home and not have your emotions mixed in with your decision making process.
6. Research the areas and find the one that best suits your needs. It is a good idea to really put some time and effort into choosing the right area based on school districts, entertainment, grocery stores, and other shopping. You want to find the perfect area before you begin shopping for your dream home.
7. Make sure you are detailed in describing what you want in a home. You want to make sure that you find the home that has as many of the amenities you seek as possible.
8. Take your time. It is important to not rush into something, unless you don’t have a choice. If you have the time, shop around.
9. Look at many things when considering a home, from the area to the potential problems. It is important to consider the resale value of your home in order to make a confident decision.
10. Always schedule a home inspection. This way you can have a professional expert look at the house before you buy it. You can always back out based on an inspection, as long as it is within the inspection deadline. It is a good idea to have many types of inspections, such as the general inspection, pests, dry rot, radon, flood plains, and hazardous material. Also make sure you check into crime rates and local sex offenders lists.

Summer Safety Tips

FINALLY summer is here! Now is the time to spend your spare hours outside in the sun or in the water. With kids begging to play outside and out of your sight, it is important to teach them how to take care of themselves and protect themselves against the sun and other outdoor dangers. Here are some helpful tips for staying safe outdoors this summer.

When it comes to the heat, most people will seek relief in a pool or lake this summer. With this in mind, it is important that you and your children know how to swim. Take some swimming lessons at the local pool or YMCA. Also, teach your children to always swim with a friend, or to always have someone watching them. Never swim alone!
Swim in supervised areas only and make sure to obey all swimming rules. These rules are probably there for a reason.
Don’t mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol impairs your judgment, coordination, and balance, and also reduces your body’s ability to stay warm.
Never swim during a storm. If you plan on going swimming later on, check the local forecast to see if any bad weather is coming.
When boating, beware of weather changes. Choppy water and wind shifts are a good indication of bad weather. Always bring a radio to check the weather throughout your trip.
Make sure you are prepared with all of the appropriate supplies, such as sun tan lotion, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and extra sunglasses.
Always tell someone where you are going and who you are going with.
Make sure you check your boat, supplies, boat balance, engine and fuel supply before you leave.
When it comes to the sun, make sure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Take frequent breaks from working in the sun. It is important to give your body a break from the sun and heat.

For more summer safety tips, visit the American Red Cross website. Click Here!

Victoria Luhring is an ASP (Accredited Staging Professional)

Victoria Luhring has been certified as an official ASP, or Accredited Staging Professional. She has taken the two day class that taught her many techniques important in staging a home for a quick sale. ASP real estate agents are true professionals who have been trained under strict guidelines that have been developed for over 30 years.

Here are some simple home projects that could greatly increase your chances for a quick sale of your house:

93% of ASP staged homes sell in one month or less, compared to the average market time of 160 days for non-ASP staged homes. This is why it is important to have a professional like Victoria on your side.

Click Here to go to the official ASP (Accredited Staging Professional) Website

How to Plan a Neighborhood Block Party!

Spring and summer are the perfect seasons to plan a neighborhood block party, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to initiate such an adventure. Some of us haven’t talked to our neighbors in months or have yet to even say hi to our neighbors. Planning a neighborhood block party is hard to do alone, so it’s a good idea to get some of your neighbors involved. Here are some helpful tips for planning a neighborhood block party.

The first step is to get reacquainted with your neighbors. This means you need to actually talk to them to see what they think about having a neighborhood block party. If you can’t meet them in person, send out flyers to the whole neighborhood. This is a great way to get the most people involved in the party as possible. You won’t only find people to help you, but you will also find out how many people plan on attending the block party. The initial meeting is to generate a small group of people to help plan the party.
The next step is to pick the date. This is a great thing to discuss while meeting your neighbors in person. Choose the date when the most people will be able to attend.
Depending on where you live, you may need to let your town or city officials know about your block party. This way they may be able to barricade your street during the party to ensure safety.
Once you’ve chosen a date, now you need to decide what kind of block party this will be. Should people bring their own food? Or should you have it catered? A lot of this decision boils down to funds. When it comes to paying for the food, you can have people pay a small fee up front. Maybe you could have people pay a small fee for hamburgers and hot dogs, but also have them bring a dish to pass around.
Once the date is set, it’s time to send out the invitations. Make them colorful and fun. Be sure to include the obvious information, such as the date, location, and time. But also include information about the food, such as a request for them to bring a dish.
Next you need to plan some activities for the party. There will probably be many types of people at your party, from children to elderly people. It’s a good idea to have games for young children, older children, teenagers, and even adults. You may need to find some people to actually run the games at the party. Some great ideas for games can be corn hole, or bean bag toss, horse shoes, and even volleyball ( if the location permits).
Finally, make sure you have some people to help clean up after the party. It’s no fun to be stuck at the end of the party cleaning up everything. It’s a good idea to plan ahead and have some people stay after to help clean up.

Now you’re set to hold the perfect block party! If you follow these guidelines, you’ll be guaranteed to have a successful block party.

Opportunity is Calling You!

Markets across the country have larger inventories to choose from, and a many great homes are available at very reasonable and affordable prices. This means there is a large variety of houses to choose from with very affordable prices! Factor in the recent interest rates drop over the last several months, and we have one of the best buyers markets in recent history. Since many experts believe that interest rates will rise over the next and upcoming years, now is a great time to lock in today's low interest rates and save on your next purchase. Home buyers who take advantage of these low rates can save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of their loan! The time to buy is now!

If you have any desires to look at some houses in the Northwest Ohio area, I can help. I can put you on a search of the entire Toledo MLS that will email you properties in your search criteria as often as you would like. This means you will get the listings as soon as they come on the market. Please contact me if you would like to be set up on an email search of the Toledo MLS. I would be glad to help!

Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent to Work for YOU!

Many people wonder, what are the actual benefits for hiring a real estate agent to work for you? Why go through the trouble? Can't I just do it myself? Here the ten main reasons that hiring a real estate agent is the right choice to make in regards to your real estate transactions.
1. Education and Experience
2. Agents are Buffers
3. Neighborhood Knowledge
4. Price Guidance
5. Market Conditions Information
6. Professional Networking
7. Negotiation Skills and Confidentiality
8. Handling Volumes of Paperwork
9. Answer Questions After Closing
10. Develop Relationships for Future Business
For full descriptions of these top ten reasons to hire a Real Estate Agent, Click Here.

8113 N. Bridgeway, Maumee, Ohio

Feature Home - Stunning Home with all the Amenities!
$359,900
Address: 8113 N. Bridgeway
City/ST: Maumee, OH
Zip Code: 43537

Square Footage: 2850
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 half
MLS# 4636052
Come home to the quiet life in this stunning home on North Bridgeway. Throughout this home, you will find hardwood and ceramic tile flooring, tons of natural lighting, crown molding, and neutral colors. This house also has a great open floor plan and pan ceilings, even in the bathrooms and halls. This home has an entry fit for a palace with its soaring cathedral ceilings. You will find a functional den/office off the entryway. The entryway is also open to a formal dining room where you can entertain in uncrowded comfort. You will find endless storage space for seldom used as well as everyday cook-ware and dishes in this gourmet kitchen. The eat-in kitchen also has Corian countertops, an island with a built-in wine rack, white raised panel cabinets, and fresh paint. The kitchen is open to the 2-story great room with a ceiling fan. The great room also has a gas fireplace with a decorative mantel. The master bedroom will be your get-away with tray ceilings, a ceiling fan, bay windows, and a walk-in closet. The moment you slide into this blissfully serene master bath, the crush and confusion of the day's routine will melt away. The master bathroom also has tile flooring, glass block windows, a Jacuzzi tub, and a separate shower. This home has 4 total bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, as well as a 25x9 bonus room that can be used as an extra bedroom. You will find a first floor laundry room in this home. The finished basement has a large storage area. Outside of this home, you will love the landscaping. The exterior has been painted recently. This home has an attached 3-car garage. Located in Breckenridge, a great neighborhood, as well as in the excellent Anthony Wayne school district, you wouldn't want to live anywhere else! To learn more about this home or to schedule a showing, call Victoria at 419-460-5587 right away!
email: victoria@luxuryhomesintoledo.com
Request Even More Information
More Details and Walk /Drive Score

10 Best Toledo Restaurants!

Having trouble thinking of what to do tonight? Here are some of Toledo’s finest dining options!

1. 31 Hundred - New American Cuisine

2. Ciao! Ristorante - Italian

3. Cousino’s Navy Bistro - Fine Dining, American Cuisine

4. Diva - Trendy, American Cuisine

5. Fifi’s Restaurant - Continental Cuisine

6. Georgio’s Cafe International - Seafood, American Cuisine

7. Gianno’s Italian Bistro - Italian

8. Mancy’s Italian Grill - Italian

9. Poco Piatti - Greece, Middle East, Spain, Italy

10. Rouge Bistro - French

For more information on these great restaurants, Click Here.

Top 10 Things to do in Toledo!

Thinking of moving to Toledo, but wondering what Toledo acutally has to offer? Toledo has many recreational options. Here are some of the top ten things to do in Toledo:

1. Visit the Toledo Zoo

2. See the World Famous MudHens

3. Visit the Toledo Botanical Garden

4. Visit the Toledo Museum of Art

5. Eat at Tony Packo's

6. Drive a little ways, and visit Cedar Point!

7. Visit some of the Toledo Area Metro Parks

8. Enjoy the Maumee River

9. Take a trip to Put-in Bay

10. Take a trip to Kellys Island

For more information on these activities and more, click here.

Spring is here! Summer is approaching! What are you going to do this season? Toledo has an abundance of activities to offer. This is the perfect place to live! If you need any assistance or would like any more information on the beautiful city of Toledo, don't hesitate to call or email me. My email address is luhring@bex.net and my phone number is 419-460-5587.

5 Steps to "Easy" Curb Appeal

Spring Selling Season - 5 Suggestions for ‘Easy' Curb Appeal

With the traditionally heavy home buying season just around the corner, now is the time to think about putting your house on the market. But with the housing market in a continued downturn, it's more important than ever to choose home improvement projects that will not only add value to your home, but make it stand out in the crowd.

To Read the Full Article, Click Here!

Home Buyers Get Bolder

You should hear what people say behind Scott LeMarr's back. He's a Muskego, Wis.-based home inspector who operates Honest Home Inspections LLC. House hunters call him in to examine a house they want to buy, and his job is to sniff out impending collapse of expensive necessities like the heating system, major appliances, the roof and so on.

To Read the Whole Article Click Here!

4700 Cabriolet Lane, Maumee Ohio

Sold- Impressive! No Expense was Spared!
$289,900
Sorry This One is Sold!
Address: 4708 Cabriolet Lane
City/ST: Maumee, OH
Zip Code: 43537

Square Footage: 2908
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Let me help you find a similar home for sale: Victoria at 419-460-5587 right away!
email: victoria@luxuryhomesintoledo.com
Request Even More Information

The Time to Buy is now!

A Good Time to Buy a HouseIf You Can Afford One
By Shelly Banjo From The Wall Street Journal Online

Finally, it's a buyer's market out there.

For years rapidly rising prices kept many first-time home buyers out of the housing market. But as home values slide further downward and interest rates hover at relatively low levels, it may be time to start looking to buy that first house.

That is, if you have a secure job, can afford higher down payments than were required a few years ago and can meet lenders' much stricter income and credit requirements.

To Read the Full Article, Click Here!

10 Repares to Make Before You Sell

Tackling these basic, inexpensive improvements will help your home stand out from the crowd in a difficult market. By Marilyn Lewis, MSN Real Estate

When you put a home up for sale these days, you're facing stiff competition. In most parts of the country, buyers are faced with huge numbers of homes for sale. Before asking strangers to trade hundreds of thousands of their hard-earned dollars for your little palace, make all the little repairs you've always meant to do but never had the time for.

For The Entire Article, Click Here

Top Places to Live

Best Places To Get Ahead

Feb 26th, 2008 by Real Estate Rama
Move to New York, and you could become an investment-banking millionaire. Head for Los Angeles for a chance at an eight-figure Hollywood paycheck. Or go prospecting in San Francisco for dot-com gold.

Click Here to Read the Full Article

Lower Costs to Renovate Your Home!

It's not the best time to be selling a house in much of the country. But increasingly, it's a good time to build or renovate one.

The housing slump has pushed down prices on everything from lumber and drywall to labor and design fees. Legions of carpenters, tile layers and landscapers are idle. Architects are taking on small renovation projects they once would have sniffed at and contractors are offering their services at a discount. Some people in the building trades are even posting fliers at construction sites to drum up business

To Read the Full Article Click Here!

Maintenance Tips! How to Update Your Home!

Our maintenance checklist was compiled with the help of Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware's home improvement spokesperson and star of the "Mr. Fix-It" show on Chicago's WGN-AM radio, and Frank Lesh, president of the American Society of Home Inspectors and head of his own home inspection company, Home Sweet Home Inspection Co., in Indian Head Park, Ill.Inside Tasks

1. Change your furnace filters monthly. "It's so easy to do but so critical," says Lesh. Clogged filters decrease furnace efficiency and can cause breakdowns.

2. Drain your water heater at least once a year. Sediment will drain out along with the water from the water tank. Removing sediment can prolong the heater's useful life.

3. Clean the coils. If you have baseboard heating units that use hot water, clear dust from the coils inside the units to maximize heating efficiency. Clean dust whenever you see it accumulating. If you have a hot water boiler/furnace, you should also oil the pump inside the furnace twice a year, says Lesh. Look for the three spots on the pump designated for oiling.

4. Check your circuits. Test the performance of the circuit breakers in your electrical circuit box twice a year by flipping them off and back on. If you have a circuit that keeps shutting off with normal daily electrical use, call an electrician. A faulty circuit breaker could indicate a short in the wiring inside your walls.

5. Watch out for drips. Check under sinks periodically to look for leaks or water stains that might indicate leaks. Catching a small problem early can prevent water damage. Use a plunger to clean out sinks and tubs whenever water doesn't drain normally.

6. Replace regularly. Water heaters, furnaces, roofs, and other key components of your home should be replaced before they fail, based on their average useful lives (see schedule below).

The full article can be found at http://www.realtor.org/rmomag.nsf/pages/feature6feb08?OpenDocument

Moving Day Tips

How to make your move as simple and stress-free as possible. Here are some tips to make that busy day successful.

For many families, a car is the second largest investment they have ever made. Getting that investment safely to a new home is an important component of a smooth move.

Relocation: Moving Day Tips: How to Safely Transport Your Vehicle