Energetic, funny, positive, witty. Who in your life fits that description? Would a realtor be at the top of your list? Probably not! And yet if you choose Claudine Sherman Steinfurth of Coldwell Banker Hunter Realty, that’s exactly who you’ll meet! My conversation with her was so disarming, I actually felt as though I had known her for quite sometime – like meeting up with an old friend I hadn’t seen for years. When finished, I thought, “What fun to have someone like Claudine to take you around the neighborhood and show you homes!”
As a resident of Auburn, even with her 25 years of combing through neighborhoods, she has high praises for her home county.
“Geauga County is a great place to live. We have close proximity to suburban and urban areas, airports, art museum, galleries, theatre, restaurants, and the graceful enjoyment of the countryside.”
Claudine primarily serves the Northeast Ohio counties of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Portage, and Summit, but she has also fulfilled requests to go beyond these areas and researched those markets to accommodate the needs of the client with information to best represent them and their needs.
How did she get started?
“I was teaching business at Akron University and they asked me to take the real estate courses so that I would be able to teach them. The interest had always been there, and then there was momentum to pursue,” she says. Eventually she left the University to pursue real estate full time.
When it’s time to buy or sell a home, choosing an agent can be a bit difficult. What should you look for? What should be number one on the list? “Connection!” says Claudine. “Do you feel comfortable with the person and trust them? Honesty and trust are the crux of a good real estate transaction relationship.”
Here are other important questions you should be asking, and which Claudine can help you with, especially if you are trying to sell:
- Are you open to the reality of the marketplace?
- Are you as a seller playing real estate person and competing with yourself?
- Are you setting expectations of value that are not aligned with the marketplace and your property’s condition?
- Are you selling because you are upside down?
- Are you relocating?
- Are you realistic?
- Are your needs greater than the property warrants in actual value of return?
With her many years of experience and long list of credentials, Claudine offers you full service, a trusting relationship, and a brokerage that allows you access to QR codes (Quick Response) to allow people to obtain information about a property with their Smartphone. Pretty cool!
Claudine’s sincerity is revealed in this statement. “To be honest, there are many good agents out there who do what is done by me and do it as well. And there are those that may do less. It depends upon what the client wants and the ability of our aligning that to create a win-win transaction. My business is primarily by referral.”
According to Claudine, the services offered by Coldwell Banker Hunter are exemplary with regards to their use of marketing imagery and promotion of a seller’s property as well as the internet exposure and website content offered for both buyers and sellers.
All jobs have their ups and downs, but with Claudine’s perky outlook and upbeat personality, I imagine there are many more ups! What does she find most rewarding? “Relationships, new friendships, satisfying people’s needs, hopes, and a little magic dream dust…”
The housing market has been through the ringer these past few years. Here is Claudine’s candid insider’s view of the current conditions:
“The market place is bristling a bit more at this time. Inventory of units in good price point and condition may be limited in some communities. Interest rates remain workably low. Qualifying may be challenging for some due to credit issues, etc. Banks and Lenders are not as gracious as they once were to buyers; appraisals can often become an issue in the value game.”
“There continue to be a number of challenged homeowners who are upside down and owing more than is able to be realized from their property thus unable to re-finance in many cases. This leads some to even abandon their properties, which creates further challenges to marketing them and allowing for a realistic buyer position with large repair expenses.”
Honest – that’s Claudine! And a whole lot of fun along the way! If you have questions regarding the sale of your home or are looking to relocate, down-size, go to the countryside, find property for your llamas (Yes! She does that!) then get in touch with her at Coldwell Banker Hunter Realty. You’ll find the answers you seek AND enjoy the experience of meeting her as well!
Claudine Sherman Steinfurth
Coldwell Banker Hunter Realty
Agent
216-409-4039
claudine.steinfurth@cbhunter.com
