Realtor's Work - Even on Vacation

My beautiful wife and I are working in a coffee shop knocking out the work (very nice place - www.cambridgecoffeebar.com) in Portland, Maine. We are on vacation for our 27th wedding anniversary, but we still need to handle email, advertising proofs, etc. We had a wonderful discussion with the owners who work from 3 am to after 5 every day to make their business work. Owner Vick Cambridge and her husband work hard to run their own business - as do Realtors. They take pride in their small business.

Most Realtors are sole proprietors. They work under a Broker such as Howard Hanna, but each is an independent business owner paying for the majority of their advertising, supplies, etc. Realtors work very hard - and each has their own style, marketing methods, and like us some pay for additional advertising venues. Ask! What do you offer above what your broker offers! How will you provide additional marketing for your market area, region, and this property!

The Hisey Group, LLC doesn't make ANY money but incurs many expenses marketing our listings. We ONLY MAKE MONEY if we sell your home or property - so we work very hard to sell it! Call me today to explain what Howard Hanna Real Estate Services and The Hisey Group LLC can do for you at 440-315-6000.

Lake Erie Islands and Shores Stuff

All kinds of stuff happening along our islands and shoreline.

• The Lake Erie Watersnake is officially "rebounded" and off the endangered species list. I know I personally have seen far more snakes in recent years.
• Kelleys Island Ferry has landed a $2.7 million federal grant for a new 160 foot ferry boat. I've read that other states were also after the money - but it came to Ohio! This is in addition to 1 million obtained previously. Publications are reporting that the ferry will cost approximately $6 million.
• A $790,000 grant has been awarded for improvements on the South Bass Island ferry dock.
• Lonz Winery talks continue - we'll see if a company is willing put up a large amount of money and take a risk with turning the winery into usable space. It is currently sitting and deteriorating. Improving the key historical features and preserving them while integrating a newer structure may be the best option if we want a usable structure rather than historical ruins. We'll keep you updated.
• Coming to visit the area? I received two emails asking what a perfect weekend vacation would be if you only had two days to enjoy in "Ohio's Vacation Land". I suggested a number of things because there are so many options! I think a day at Cedar Point, a ferry ride on the last ferry to South Bass Island with a night at one of the fine Bed and Breakfasts within the Village of Put-in-Bay would be a good start. Then spend the next day enjoying many of the activities, shopping, and entertainment options the Lake Erie Islands have to offer.
• Enjoying summer fishing in Lake Erie's world class fishing grounds? Consider ice fishing when the winter weather hits. There are many ice fishing guides that can help arrange your trip. (lets hope that ice takes it's time getting here : )

Social Networking - Today's Marketing Takes Place Online!

Business today increasingly starts online, and then moves to other arenas. Where can you find the Hisey Group, LLC with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services online marketing your real estate and promoting our region?

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/HiseyGroup

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/HiseyGroup

E-Newsletters:
http://community.icontact.com/p/hiseygroup

LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/leehisey

Websites:
http://www.LeeHisey.com
http://www.ErnieHisey.com
http://www.HiseyGroup.com
http://www.MiddleBassIsland.info
http://www.OhioBoathouse.com
http://www.OhioWaterfrontCondos.com
...................... and many more.....................

Planning on Selling Your Ohio Vacation Home? Selling a Second Home can be Different!

Planning on Selling Your Second-Home? Check out the following tips to sell your Ohio vacation home more effectively:

A good Virtual Tour is a MUST!

More than any other property you should have a quality virtual tour with views of the surroundings, key development or area highlights (marina, lakefront, pool, beach, etc), and the home and grounds. Buyers need to be able to visualize the property more so than primary homes. Often they must schedule a trip from out of town just to see the second-home. Don't waste your time or theirs.

Stage your vacation home!
Sellers frequently forget to stage their vacation home. It's their place to relax - and sometimes housekeeping is put on the back burner - and THAT'S OK! You should relax on vacation. But now it's time to sell so lets get down to business and stage your home as if it were your primary residence. Use table clothes, fresh flowers when possible, and make it sparkle! Wash outdoor furniture, patios and decks and stage their placement. Fresh paint is a plus. Keep the lawn and gardens trimmed and plant plenty of flowers. Eliminate clutter. Think of it as a vacation rental - and stage it as you'd expect to find a home you were spending money to rent.

Property also a Rental? Include an income history.
Make sure it is available if not included in the marketing material. Buyers may want to know if they can get help with the payments or even property improvements through rental income.

Include the Furnishings
Some buyers will want to purchase everything from scratch, but many want to be able to move in and enjoy the property THIS SEASON. They may want to replace some or all items - but on their own schedule and within their own budget. Make it an option, and let us know up front what items are definitely NOT included.

Post lots of photos
The Hisey Group posts a large number of photos. We take high quality photos using a 35 mm camera. Pocket cameras and disposable cameras are ok for initial pictures but the final pictures for your home or property should be of high quality. I handle all of our final photography and photo editing, and I can take as many as 350 pictures of a larger home. I look for the best of the best to post online, on fliers and in advertising. Often Internet sites require us to reduce the quality prior to upload - but we always use the highest quality permitted. Vacation property is often purchased from a distance so pictures are very, very important. We've actually sold several lakefront properties from the pictures and virtual tours alone.

Write a great description
Vacation Property descriptions should include more info regarding the area than most primary residence descriptions. Often the location is even more the reason the buyer is purchasing the home. We try to include local hot spots such as amusement parks, water parks, fishing, wineries and microbreweries, and restaurants. Describing the view is often included. Buyers of second-homes are looking for an escape, and we use language that supports that desire and the properties attributes. Pool, boating, biking, tennis, fitness facility? Include them in the description.

I hold my "Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist" designation as a Realtors®. If you are listing in Northern Ohio give me a call! If you are listing in another part of the country contact me and I can get you in contact with a Second-Home specialist. Second homes generally take longer to sell so be prepared. Contact me today at 440-315-6000 or LeeHisey@HowardHanna.com for more information.

North Coast Real Estate Stuff

Another toasty morning in Northern Ohio! The sun is shining through the windows at Rios in the beautiful lakefront community of Avon Lake and it's going to be a fantastic day.

• They said they couldn't go lower - but they have! Home mortgage rates are diving even lower with the average 30 fixed rate at 4.39 percent, and the average 15 year to 3.54%.
• The Benson Ford Shiphouse on the western shores of South Bass Island (Put in Bay) will be on MTV's "Extreme Cribs" television show. It's already been on HGTV, the Travel Channel, and multiple other media venues. The local landmark is a portion of a freighter positioned at the top of a cliff at the edge of Lake Erie.
• We have our newest little website up and running at http://www.OhioBoatHouse.com. I'll be adding more information to include a history page as the website progresses. If you are interested in purchasing or selling a boathouse along Ohio's beautiful shores contact me. We'd love to add your info and virtual tour to our pages - and a sign rider with the URL at the top of your "For Sale" sign.
• Congrats to Ohio for bringing back the headquarters of Wendy's Co.
• I'm seeing a large number of comments online that we should push Asian Carp recipes and the use of them as a food of choice to help control the population of the fish. Suggestions? Recipes? Has anyone every tried it?
• People are buying more fuel efficient cars and it's making a difference. I'm loving my Prius and yes I get around 50 mpg. It's nice to see American based companies finally catching up. Didn't you see it coming?? Congrats to GM and the Cruze! Great fuel efficiency and the company is making money from it - see it CAN be done!!
• Considering purchasing or selling your Northcoast home or property? Contact me today at LeeHisey@HowardHanna.com. Real virtual tours, custom fliers, and regular communication. You have a question - you call us and we WILL call you back.