Whether you are new to the area or just looking for a new school for your child, Greater Cincinnati has a wide variety of education choices with many resources available to help you decide.

We’ve provided some links below to get you started!

Cincinnati Magazine’s Schools Guide 2011 is a fantastic source of easy to read details about nearly 400 schools in the Cincinnati area, including data from Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.  The site requires you to join the “Cincinnati Magazine Insiders”, which is a free service that allows you to receive emails only for the topics you are interested in.

Links to ratings of Cincinnati public, private and suburban schools (including Northern Kentucky)

Great Schools has a long list of area school information.  Check the “nearby cities” list to find the Northern Kentucky city of your choice.
Elementary
Middle
High

Public
Private

Cincinnati Public Schools official site lists info about its neighborhood, magnet and Montessori schools.

A listing of Cincinnati Private schools

Northern Kentucky Schools - Northern Kentucky’s guide to local schools, public and private.

A listing of Kentucky private schools

Bestplaces.net’s Cincinnati school listings

General information (including schools) from Money Magazine’s “Best Places to Live”

Most schools have open houses scheduled during the school year and many will allow you to take a private, scheduled tour to learn more.

In case you’re not quite sure what you’re even looking for in a school for your child, here are a few links to articles with information to help!

Great Schools – Defining Your Ideal School

Great Schools – Considering Your Child’s Needs

CNN Living

PBS Parents

Related...

• May 18, 2010 -- Futures of Some Local Schools Being Discussed
• August 26, 2009 -- Ohio School Report Card Released

When you’ve done everything to get your home ready to sell and it just isn’t moving, it’s time to think about your next move.  It’s important to know when to adjust the price, especially in declining markets and buyers’ markets.

In his Real Estate Blog, LeRoy Houser provides some clues that it’s time to drop your listing price.

Related...

• June 10, 2010 -- Existing Home Sales Rise in April
• March 30, 2010 -- Sellers: Avoid These Pricing Mistakes
• August 25, 2009 -- The Market: on a Road to Normalization?
• December 19, 2008 -- Not Happy With Your Hamilton County 2008 Market Value?

The Amy B Sells team is excited to announce the addition of Sara Buck to our Team! As we grow, it’s important to us that we maintain the same high level of communication and service that you’ve always experienced with us, and Sara is here to help us accomplish that. Please welcome Sara to our growing Real Estate Team!

Sara was born and raised in Cincinnati and graduated with honors from the University of Cincinnati with a BA in Marketing/Real Estate. For the last 5 years, she has worked for one of the area’s largest home builders while interacting with sales, purchasing, construction, finance, and outside vendors.  She also worked as a Realtor and Leasing agent for Keller Williams Advisors Realty. Sara will join the Amy B Sells Team as our Executive Administrator, managing and coordinating all of the teams’ communications, transactions, and administrative details, allowing us to offer the high level service our clients are used to, while continuing to grow each year.

Sara starts next week and will be learning all about how our Team works and supports our clients on a daily basis. We expect her to be a fully productive and up-to-speed team member by the first of March, when spring kicks Real Estate into HIGH gear!

As you may know, last year 95% of our business came from referrals from you and your family, friends, and co-workers. We appreciate your sharing us with your friends and encourage you to tell more people about our work as this year gets off to a great start! Let us know how we can help your friends, family and co-workers through a successful buying or selling situation! We are always here and never too busy for you!

Other Posts

• April 22, 2009 -- Earth Day: HGTV Green Home
• February 2, 2010 -- CVG Fares 11th Highest – Lower Overall
• October 8, 2010 -- 1548 Butler Ct. Florence, KY 41042
• November 14, 2008 -- Have we hit bottom yet?

Welcome to Green Tip Tuesday!

Each Tuesday, we’ll give you one tip (big or small) to help you be a little greener in Cincinnati.

Many holiday gifts require batteries, and this is an easy opportunity to go green and save a little green too!  Using rechargeable batteries has less impact on the environment than disposable/alkaline batteries.  Rechargeable batteries can be recharged up to 1,000 times which reduces the need for repeated manufacturing, transporting and packaging for sale.  Though rechargeable batteries have a higher initial cost (you also have to purchase the charger), the average family can save about $80 a year by switching from disposable to rechargeable!

Check back each Tuesday for more tips on going green in Cincinnati!

Related...

• December 13, 2011 -- Green Tip Tuesday: Holiday Shopping at Park + Vine
• October 24, 2011 -- Cincinnati Area Trick or Treat Times
• April 20, 2010 -- Five Creative Ways to Go Green
• January 19, 2010 -- Green Living: Stats and Tips

Related...

• December 20, 2011 -- Green Tip Tuesday: Rechargeable Batteries for Holiday Gifts
• November 29, 2011 -- Green Tip Tuesday: A Home Energy House Call
• October 24, 2011 -- Cincinnati Area Trick or Treat Times
• June 24, 2011 -- Greenarama Continues this Weekend

Many companies offer relocating employees a bonus for selling their home quickly, as part of the benefit package.  The Amy B Sells Team will ensure your house sells as fast as possible to help you get your relocation pre-buyout bonus.  Our team has an average of 35 days on market for our listings and sells those listings at an average of 97% of the list price.  Nearly every time we sell a home, we beat the area’s average list to sale rate.  Let us help you sell fast and for the most money!  Amy focuses 100% of her time on the listing side of the business, and with a focus like that you get results!

☐ GET A STORAGE UNIT

☐ KEEP EVERYTHING CLEAN

Outdoors

☐ Clean and revitalize front door and surrounding area
☐ Clean up deck/patio/porch
☐ Remove all outdoor trash
☐ Put away outdoor tools, toys and other clutter
☐ Make gardens look maintained and not dead
☐ Get a new large doormat
☐ Install outdoor lighting if needed
☐ Find a home for garbage cans
☐ Make garage look clean and large
☐ Complete all lingering outdoor repairs
☐ Spray off siding, and use a cleaning agent if needed
☐ Keep the house/driveway/walkway hosed down as needed
☐ Repair cracks in walkways and steps
☐ Clean gutters (and reroute them if they are causing a leaky basement)
☐ Mow your lawn and keep it weed free and green
☐ Trim hedges and put mulch around trees and shrubs
☐ Keep drive and walkways free of snow if applicable
☐ Arrange for these things to be done for showings if you are an absentee seller

Indoors – General

☐ Remove all dirt and grime from every part of your home
☐ Vacuum and dust continually
☐ Tackle all odors and freshen before showings with potpourri or fresh baked cookies (Avoid air fresheners, which are too strong)
☐ Make any needed minor repairs around the home: tighten, patch, replace, etc
☐ Consider putting some furniture in storage: start with large items, dated pieces, or those that lack purpose
☐ Arrange rooms with a clear purpose and natural flow, and maximize space
☐ Store any extra televisions (in kitchen or bedrooms) if possible
☐ Remove as many indicators of your pets as possible, and limit to one area
☐ Make plans for you and pets to be out of the home for showings
☐ Replace burned-out lightbulbs
☐ Assure that maximum light is coming through all your windows
☐ Clean windows and window treatments
☐ Touch up all scratches on walls and/or do fresh coats of paint where needed
☐ Fill nail holes or cracks

Living Areas

☐ Pack away all personal photos, you can replace some with more artistic photos
☐ Remove knickknacks and keep decor taste-neutral
☐ Add fresh flowers to an area
☐ Tidy up entertainment centers, eliminating messy cords and extra DVDs, etc.
☐ Clean up magazines, newspapers and mail
☐ Clean carpets and polish up hard floors
☐ Consider replacing heavily worn or damaged carpet/flooring
☐ Expose original hardwoods if covered by carpet
☐ Find a place for all toys and kids’ items, and limit these to their rooms/playroom

Kitchen/Dining

☐ Scrub all kitchen surfaces
☐ Eliminate most countertop appliances to maximize space
☐ Clear fridge of magnets and papers
☐ Consider new kitchen hardware or faucet if room looks dated
☐ Hide kitchen garbage, or invest in a high quality lidded garbage can
☐ Clean out pantry and cabinets and arrange to maximize space
☐ Keep refrigerator neat and odor-free
☐ Tidy up drawers, and use drawer organizers if necessary
☐ Make the table inviting with a centerpiece, place mats or table runner
☐ Clean or repair any damaged or stained grout/caulk (kitchen and bathroom)

Bathroom

☐ Shine up bathrooms, remove any stains, and keep waste emptied
☐ Consider replacing one or two fixtures in dated bathrooms, such as faucet, sink, hardware, etc.
☐ De-clutter bathroom of toiletries, add plush towels and use a clean shower curtain
☐ Fix leaky faucets, and consider a new shower head if yours is cruddy
☐ Limit items in shower/tub and organize necessities in a small bin or rack
☐ Clean up medicine cabinet, and keep prescription drugs out of sight

Bedrooms

☐ Keep beds made, and use fresh, matching linens
☐ Cut down on bedside clutter
☐ Find a safe place for jewelry and valuables
☐ Make sure dirty clothing in closets is not visible (eg: in an enclosed hamper)
☐ Clean out closets, organizing all items and putting off-season clothing in storage
☐ Tidy up shoes and accessories, eliminate some and use appropriate storage
☐ Eliminate random items from clothing closets that don’t belong there and store away
☐ Attack other closets, removing as much as possible and putting things in storage
☐ Use attractive organizing systems in closets where applicable
☐ Put loose items that must remain in matching solid bins
☐ Kids’ rooms should look like kids’ rooms, just keep them tidy

Office

☐ Tidy office desks, corralling cords and storing seldom used computer components
☐ Tidy CDs, software, books, etc., and put some in storage if possible
☐ File all papers, and keep all sensitive documents safely hidden or shred them
☐ Make sure an office doesn’t look like a junk room — add a seating area if needed

Laundry/Basement

☐ Tidy up laundry area, and keep it free of dirty or drying laundry
☐ Resolve a wet basement, which could involve issues with windows or gutters
☐ If you can’t resolve a wet basement problem, call an expert to address it
☐ Maximize light in basement with light paint, uncovered windows and extra light fixtures
☐ Paint the basement floor if it will help the space look cleaner and brighter

☐ Schedule pre-list cleaning

We hope this list will help get you started.  Call me for more ideas!

Are you moving to Charlotte with Chiquita?  The Amy B Sells Team is an experienced turn-key Relocation Team in Cincinnati equipped to handle any and all Relocation needs. Our team has relocated hundreds of people in and out of Cincinnati.  Our main focus is to make your move easier for you and your family.  Call me for turn key relocation solutions in Charlotte and Cincinnati.  855-936-6832.  You can also visit www.wemovechiquita.com

Related...

• December 1, 2011 -- You Can Choose Your Own Realtor for Your Corporate Relocation!
• November 29, 2011 -- Chiquita Moves Headquarters from Cincinnati to Charlotte
• November 9, 2011 -- Get Stroller Strong in Cincinnati!
• October 24, 2011 -- How to Clear out the Clothes

Protect the Value of One of Your Largest Investments

It can be exciting and overwhelming when you are relocating for work.  The last thing you want to worry about is whether or not your house will sell and making sure there is as little stress as possible placed on the family.

Most companies offer employees contact with local agents to help them sell their house.  But, that doesn’t always mean you’ll get the best price or that they are the best option out there.

The Amy B Sells Team received a letter from Will and Kelly McDonald who had been through the relocation process numerous times.  Amy Broghamer was their Buyer’s Agent when they came to Northern Kentucky.  When the company told them they were moving again, they  were confident she could help them again!

“Amy [Broghamer] took great care of us, was extremely knowledgeable of the area and made the whole process of moving to a new state far less daunting.

Less than a year after we had purchased our beautiful home in KY,  we found out that we would be relocating yet again.  And we immediately knew who our Agent would be!  Prior to working with Amy, we had always allowed the Relocation Company to just send a couple of random agents out for us to interview.  This time was different. When we talked with our Relocation Counselor, we specifically requested Amy Broghamer to be our agent.  We knew we only wanted Amy to list our house and even though we were required to interview another agent, there was no contest!

Amy met with us that week, listed our home and had it sold in less than 45 days!  We were so thankful for her hard work, because we wanted to be together as a family as soon as possible.  My husband had already begun his new position 7 hrs away and the quicker we could be together, the better!  She made all that possible in less time than we ever imagined!  We knew that we didn’t have to worry about a thing throughout the entire selling process, she took care of all the details that I would have certainly become so stressed over.”

Are you moving to Charlotte with Chiquita?  Call me for turn key relocation solutions in Charlotte and Cincinnati.  855-936-6832.  You can also visit www.wemovechiquita.com

Related...

• November 29, 2011 -- Chiquita Moves Headquarters from Cincinnati to Charlotte
• December 8, 2011 -- Get Your Relocation Pre-Buyout Bonus with AmyBSells!
• November 9, 2011 -- Get Stroller Strong in Cincinnati!
• October 24, 2011 -- How to Clear out the Clothes