Cleveland Heights Renovation Success Story

Cleveland Heights Kitchen Renovation - Before and After Photos - Kitchen

Seller’s Goal:

This Cleveland Heights home seller was living out of the country, tried unsuccessfully to sell their home in Cleveland Heights for two years, decided to rent it and then ultimately, had the tenant evicted. Seller desired to sell without taking a huge financial hit due to the deteriorated condition and state of the market.

Problem:

The Cleveland Heights homeowner tried to sell, unsuccessfully, for two years in 2005-06. They then rented it until the tenant was evicted in May 2008. At the time they found Olsen Ziegler Realty, these sellers from Cleveland Heights were living in New Zealand. They found our website on the Internet and called to ask us to please take a look at their home and to let them know what we thought. We first visited the home on May 29, 2008. While this all-brick, colonial home had lovely qualities such as large rooms, a 3-car attached garage, four finished levels, three fireplaces, and a lovely, large roof deck, it had fallen into serious disrepair due to the tenants disregard for the property. This home had an old, tired kitchen, outdated bathrooms, a wet basement with a distinct, overpowering animal odor, and numerous deferred maintenance issues.

In general, dated, tired, homes in Cleveland Heights in general were not selling unless the pricing was so low it attracted investor interest — which is not an option most sellers can afford to do, let alone desire this outcome should they have the financial flexibility to do so. There are better options…

Olsen Ziegler Solution:

With inventory levels approximately 300% higher than several years ago, most homes on the market were in this type of condition were not (and are still not) selling as the type of homes that were (and still are) selling are either bargain-priced, totally renovated (think Pottery Barn), architectural, or in close proximity to the local retail-shopping areas in Cleveland Heights. Since this home was in absolutely very bad shape and in need of serious updating, we presented the owner with four options to sell:

No investment. Initial asking price: $175,000. Projected sales price: $150,000.
The pros are the home can be put on the market immediately and no investment.
The cons are an uncertain amount of time on the market and a hard to forecast sales price.
5-8K investment. Initial asking price: $200,000. Project sales price: $180,000.
The pros are 2-3 weeks to prepare for market (fairly quick) and a relatively small investment.
The cons are an uncertain amount of time on the market, a hard to forecast sales price and still an upfront investment.
15-20K investment. Initial asking price: $225,000. Projected sales price: $200,000.
The pros are a larger potential buyer pool and perhaps an easier sale.
The cons are 4-6 weeks to prepare for market, a larger upfront investment and while an easier sale might occur, the kitchen still could not be renovated, and this is the #1 feature buyers desire.
30-40K investment. Initial asking price: $250,000-$260,000. Projected sales price: $240,000-$250,000. The renovation work would be managed by us using our resources and would cost much less than for the seller attempting to mange the contractors, work-flow, issues, on their own — especially with the sellers being in New Zealand.
The pros are an extremely competitive home on the market as the condition would be stellar and there won’t be many, if any comparable homes, condition wise, to compete against. This usually shortens the time on the market as well as increases the sales price and ultimately, the seller’s financial bottom line.
The cons are eight weeks to prepare for market and a significant upfront investment.
We evaluated the work required, utilizing our extensive contracting resources to obtain estimates, and estimated a projected total cost of $30-$40K to renovate, restore the home from top to bottom and then home stage key rooms in this wonderful Cleveland Heights home.
After looking at the dismal prospect of selling at a $75-100K loss or not selling at all, the owners decided to trust us (after calling previous sellers whom we have done similar work for and achieved 100% success) and invest the $30-$40K to renovate this fine home. After owner approval, we immediately got to work with a time line of eight weeks from start to finish, a fixed budget and a fixed time line — we wanted the home on the market before summer ended. In the end, we delivered both on-time and on-budget, as all of our projects are.

Total Seller Investment (renovation and staging):

$34,618

Outcome:

+$60,382 Positive Net Return on Investment (ROI) by choosing to renovate and home staging.
Home staging and renovation netted this Cleveland Heights seller an extra $95,000 in sales price for a total $34,618 renovation/staging cost investment, or a 174% return on investment (ROI).

Seller Kudo:

Please read this Cleveland Heights seller’s kudo.

Cleveland Heights Home Staging:

Please read our Cleveland Heights Home Staging Companion page to view this part of preparing this home for sale.

Before & After Photos:

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - Before and After Photos - Kitchen
Grimy, home-made cabinetry from the 1950s with navy blue ceramic countertops from the 1970s is no longer desirable by many of today's home buyers. We quickly and beyond cost-effectively renovated this kitchen with new maple cabinets, granite counter tops, new appliances, refinished the hardwood floors, ceiling fan, and a few accessories and home staging took this kitchen from drab to fab in short order. Kitchens and baths sell homes!

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - Before and After Photos - Kitchen
Grimy, home-made cabinetry from the 1950s with navy blue ceramic countertops from the 1970s is no longer desirable by many of today's home buyers. We quickly and beyond cost-effectively renovated this kitchen with new maple cabinets, granite counter tops, new appliances, refinished the hardwood floors, ceiling fan, and a few accessories and home staging took this kitchen from drab to fab in short order. Kitchens and baths sell homes!

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - Before, During and After Photos - Kitchen
Grimy, home-made cabinetry from the 1950s with navy blue ceramic counter tops from the 1970s is no longer desirable by many of today's home buyers. We quickly and beyond cost-effectively renovated this kitchen with new maple cabinets, granite counter tops, new appliances, refinished the hardwood floors, ceiling fan, and a few accessories and home staging took this kitchen from drab to fab in short order. Kitchens and baths sell homes!

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - Before, During and After Photos - Kitchen
Grimy, home-made cabinetry from the 1950s with navy blue ceramic counter tops from the 1970s is no longer desirable by many of today's home buyers. We quickly and beyond cost-effectively renovated this kitchen with new maple cabinets, granite counter tops, new appliances, refinished the hardwood floors, ceiling fan, and a few accessories and home staging took this kitchen from drab to fab in short order. Kitchens and baths sell homes!

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - After Photo - Kitchen
Another view of this fabulous kitchen renovation.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - After Photo - Kitchen
Another view of this fabulous kitchen renovation.

: Cleveland Heights HRenovation Remodel - After Photo - Kitchen
Another view of this fabulous kitchen renovation.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - After Photo - Kitchen
Another view of this fabulous kitchen renovation.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - After Photo - Kitchen
Another view of this fabulous kitchen renovation.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - After Photo - Kitchen
Another view of this fabulous kitchen renovation.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - After Photo - Kitchen
Polishing the new stainless steel sink can take an ordinary sink and make it look like a high-end Franke sink. Attention to the little details in certain areas when combined together, can make quite an impression on a buyer. Even selecting a subway tile which respects the 1920s era this home was built in as opposed to leaving the back splash drywall, a 4" granite, or even a square tile wouldn't have the same end result. The saying: You don't get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression -- is a very important concept to keep in mind when selling a home.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - Before and After Photos - Full Bath
A new light fixture and switch (only a pull chain existed before), medicine cabinet, vanity, sink, faucet, toilet, paint and window treatment took the old fixtures from peachy-pink to clean, crisp, new for very low cost.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - Before and After Photos - Master Bath
This original master bath had seen better days. We had the tub and walls cleaned and resurfaced, new sink, faucet, mirror, light (with new light switch to replace the old pull chain), paint and a couple of minor accessories and this bathroom was transformed from grungy to spiffy in three days for a fraction of the cost of a total gut/rebuild remodel.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - Before and After Photos - Master Bath
This original master bath had seen better days. We had the tub and walls cleaned and resurfaced, new sink, faucet, mirror, light (with new light switch to replace the old pull chain), paint and a couple of minor accessories and this bathroom was transformed from grungy to spiffy in three days for a fraction of the cost of a total gut/rebuild remodel.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - Before and After Photos - Master Bath
Which tub would you want to take a bath in? Would the "before master bath tub" keep you from buying this home if most of the home was in this condition?

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - Before and After Photos - Master Bath
This original master bath had seen better days. We had the tub and walls cleaned and resurfaced, new sink, faucet, mirror, light (with new light switch to replace the old pull chain), paint and a couple of minor accessories and this bathroom was transformed from grungy to spiffy in three days for a fraction of the cost of a total gut/rebuild remodel.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - Before and After Photos - Main Level Half-Bath
I about fell over when I first walked into this main level half bath. It had a commercial paper towel dispenser hanging on the wall. Removing this dispenser, swapping out the old mirror, tons of elbow grease and a few accessories made this half-bath inviting.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - Before and After Photos - Basement
When I first descended into this basement, I had to stop at the 2nd step down the stairs the smell was that bad between unresolved water intrusion issues and various animals using it for who knows what. The first thing we did was have a contractor rip all the carpeting out, removal all the walls, some of which were wet, and have the space professional cleaned. We then had B-Dry come in and do an entire basement waterproofing job. New electric was run on the walls, new drywall installed, paint and lastly, new carpeting. End result: a fresh, clean, dry and inviting space.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - Before, During and After Photos - Basement
When I first descended into this basement, I had to stop at the 2nd step down the stairs the smell was that bad between unresolved water intrusion issues and various animals using it for who knows what. The first thing we did was have a contractor rip all the carpeting out, removal all the walls, some of which were wet, and have the space professional cleaned. We then had B-Dry come in and do an entire basement waterproofing job. New electric was run on the walls, new drywall installed, paint and lastly, new carpeting. End result: a fresh, clean, dry and inviting space.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - Before, During and After Photos - Basement
This basement alcove-bar area was a mess. Gut to the studs, waterproof, new electrical, drywall, flooring, paint, trim.

: Cleveland Heights Home Staging - Before and After Photos - Stairs to Basement
When I first descended into this basement, I had to stop at the 2nd step down the stairs the smell was that bad between unresolved water intrusion issues and various animals using it for who knows what. The first thing we did was have a contractor rip all the carpeting out, removal all the walls, some of which were wet, and have the space professional cleaned. We then had B-Dry come in and do an entire basement waterproofing job. New electric was run on the walls, new drywall installed, paint and lastly, new carpeting. End result: a fresh, clean, dry and inviting space.

: Cleveland Heights Home Staging - Before and After Photos - Stairs to 3rd Floor
The staircase to the third floor was grungy, dark and foreboding. A simple removal of the old carpet, painting the risers, trim and walls were all that were needed.

: Cleveland Heights Home Staging - Before and After Photos - Front Exterior
Between the out-of-country trying to sell for 2 years, then a tenant which then got evicted, the outside was seriously neglected, to the point where the front door was mostly obscured and inaccessible, let alone overgrown plants and trees which covered the windows, making the home very dark inside due to lack of light. The grass was in bad shape. The backyard was an unmitigated disaster. We had a landscaper crew of 5 work one long day and completely transformed the outside, front and back.

: Cleveland Heights Home Staging - Before and After Photos - Living Room
The living room had numerous coats of paint over numerous layers of wallpaper. Finding a tenacious and cost-effective painter/wallpaper remover (we know a good one) to remove the wallpaper and paint, along with adding a few pieces of furniture, accessories, and light and airy window treatments transformed this space from old and heavy to new, bright, fresh cheery and light-filled and a buyer could envision the space. Counter-intuitive is that adding furniture to a vacant room makes the space seem larger. It also gives the room a purpose, gives buyers a chance to sit down and talk about the home instead of heading out the door, and it gives the buyer a chance to soak in the features and feel of the space. Simple, yet powerful and very effective.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - After Photo - Living Room
The living room had numerous coats of paint over numerous layers of wallpaper. Finding a tenacious and cost-effective painter/wallpaper remover (we know a good one) to remove the wallpaper and paint, along with adding a few pieces of furniture, accessories, and light and airy window treatments transformed this space from old and heavy to new, bright, fresh cheery and light-filled and a buyer could envision the space. Counter-intuitive is that adding furniture to a vacant room makes the space seem larger. It also gives the room a purpose, gives buyers a chance to sit down and talk about the home instead of heading out the door, and it gives the buyer a chance to soak in the features and feel of the space. Simple, yet powerful and very effective.

: Cleveland Heights Home Staging - Before and After Photos - Dining Room
Paint, new window treatments, dining room table and an art piece on the wall were all that was needed to make this dining room feel clean, vibrant, spacious, inviting and light-filled.

: Cleveland Heights Renovation Remodel - After Photo - Dining Room
Paint, new window treatments, dining room table and an art piece on the wall were all that was needed to make this dining room feel clean, vibrant, spacious, inviting and light-filled.

: Cleveland Heights Home Staging - Before and After Photos - Master Bedroom
New paint, added a bed, dresser, chest of drawers, mirror, new ceiling fan and a few accessories.

: Cleveland Heights Home Staging - Before and After Photos - Bedroom #2
Changing the paint color and refinished the hardwood floors was all this room needed.

: Cleveland Heights Home Staging - Before and After Photos - Bedroom #4
Removing the carpeting, refinishing the floors, a new ceiling fan and fresh paint makes this room feel fresh, open, new, and able to be used for a home office, work out room, guest suite, etc.