Fall is in full swing and winter will be here before you know it.  Now is the time to get your home winter-ready for the cold months ahead.  

Ensure Proper Home Ventilation 
During the winter when doors and windows remain shut most of the time, your home needs regular ventilation.  Make sure to turn on your bathroom fans during showers and continue to run them up to 25 minutes after.  Turn your kitchen hood fan on when you're cooking at the stove.  Many people don't regularly use these fans in their homes, but they can help your home to be well ventilated, which in turn increases energy efficiency and safety. 

Keep Sidewalks and Driveways Clear 
Never let snow and ice build up on your outdoor concrete surfaces.  In some maintenance included homes, snow and ice removal are included, but if your home doesn't include this, make sure to regularly remove snow and ice.  

Maintain Your Fireplace
A burning fire is so comforting and cozy on chilly nights.  Make sure your fire is safe and healthy by scheduling a chimney sweep to clean and inspect your fireplace before using it for the cold months.  If you have a gas fireplace, clean the glass according to manufacturers instructions. 

Drywall and paint cracks.
CGo through your home and caulk and paint any areas that have sustained minor cracks due to changes in temperature.  When summer turns to winter, large temperature fluctuations can cause small cracks in drywall. 

Its finally summer in the Cleveland area and time to get out into nature!  You can find urban vitality and stunning natural beauty within arm’s reach from homes in Cleveland and the surrounding areas.  One of the particular jewels of this area is the availability of the Cleveland Metroparks, also known as the Emerald Necklace.  And summer is the PERFECT time to take advantage of this natural beauty!

If you're not familiar with it, the so-called "Emerald Necklace" is a system of green area that circles around the Cleveland area like a “necklace” encompasses over 21,000 acres of trails, picnic spots, rivers, streams and natural education centers.  The Emerald Necklace gives Clevelanders plenty of space for summer recreation like biking, walking, horseback riding and fishing.  

For outdoor enthusiasts, to be able to live and play in this park area is a dream come true.  Parkview Homes is building nearby in The Woodlands and will soon be building in the Preserve at Parkside – both in close proximity to the Emerald Necklace.  These communities contain estate style homes in Brecksville with large square footage, beautiful nature views and large homesites.

The Woodlands of Brecksville and the Preserve at Parkside are situated in the perfect spot to enjoy the Emerald Necklace.  You can view the park area from many homesites and it is an easy bike or car ride to the trails.  So if you love nature, these Brecksville homes are an excellent place for you to live. 

These new homes in Brecksville range from 4,235 square feet to upwards of 5,660 square feet and can be built on lots going up to an acre.  All homes are fully customizable and come with lots of included upgrades like granite countertops, hardwood flooring, stainless steel appliances and 3-car garages.

Homes in The Woodlands and The Preserve start with a base price in the $500,000’s.  On your next trip out to the Emerald Necklace parks, visit our model at 10,212 Woodlands Drive in Brecksville and see what Emerald Necklace living is like!

When you’re in the market for a new home in Cleveland, you have lots of options.  Whether you are looking at existing homes on the market, inventory homes from builders or new homes built to your personalized style, they all come with pros and cons. 

The appeal of a new construction home is pretty convincing on the surface, but the more you look at the facts for long-term living, a new construction home even further outshines the option of an existing home for many reasons.

One of the biggest pluses for a new construction home is that when you consider the total cost of ownership, you often come out ahead.  With an existing home, you will incur costs to repair and renovate over time, even if the home is in good condition when you purchase.  Problems like roof repairs, HVAC repairs and issues such as termites or other pests can cost quite a bit to solve.

When you purchase a new home, you have the benefit of a warranty period and customer service, so if something goes wrong, there is someone available to help.  Not so with an existing home where shortly after you close, any new problems are all yours to fix.  At Parkview Homes, you have a warranty to cover issues that arise.

For many families, living in a highly rated school district is the number one consideration when buying a new home.  Even if your children are not yet old enough for school, you’ve probably given a lot of thought to their education and want to provide the best opportunity possible.  The location of your home plays a big part in where your children will attend school, so opting to buy in a highly rated school district is pretty important.  

If you are looking for a new home in Cleveland, Brecksville stands out like a shining star when it comes to highly rated schools.  Great Schools (http://www.greatschools.org/ohio/brecksville/) rates the Brecksville school district as a 10 out of 10 and it is an A-Grade district according to Niche (https://www.niche.com/k12/d/brecksville-broadview-heights-city-school-district-oh/)
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The Woodlands community offers many new homes in Brecksville that are perfect for your growing family and located in one of the best school districts around.  Parkview Homes has several custom home plans to choose from, or if you want a fully custom home, you can build from the ground up – truly your home, your way.  And if you’re looking to move quickly to get your family settled before the school year begins, there are some Quick Move In homes available too.  When you live in The Woodlands, you are living in one of the best school districts in Ohio.

For many, the American Dream represents having a large home, with plenty of space for a growing family and entertaining guests.  But if you’ve already had the experience of owning a large home and your children have grown up and moved out, you may be reconsidering all that space and thinking of simplifying your life with a smaller, more manageable new home.  After years of owning a large home, downsizing your square footage or “rightsizing” can be a welcome change that allows you to cut your living expenses.    
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One of the clear choices for rightsizing is a maintenance-included villa home.  These new homes are anywhere from 1,500 to 4,000 square feet with most below 2,000 square feet with 2-3 bedrooms.  Villas are cleverly designed for maximizing space and storage with many featuring open floor plans.  Limited maintenance means that you will no longer be responsible for lawn service or snow removal – a welcome change if you’ve had to shovel your driveway for the past 20 years. 
These homes are also a great option if you plan to spend time traveling in the near future; if you want to become a snowbird or if you’d like to finally go on those big trips you’ve always dreamed of taking.  With a maintenance included home you never have to worry about your lawn growing out of control while you’re away. ​