Platinum Real Estate The Luxury Home Experts brings both luxury home and buyer together
By Patricia Nugent
The powerhouse team at Platinum Real Estate The Luxury Home Experts has its collective finger on the pulse point of the market for Lake County’s priciest addresses.
Led by owners and experts Mark and Denise Zervos, and industry veterans Erin Paglio and Lee Jarocki, the foursome has earned a reputation as the local leaders in high-end real estate.
“This year has been busier than ever in the $1 million-plus homes market,” says Denise. “We are up 83% over 2023, with 11 homes sold. Surprisingly, it’s not the lakefront where we’re seeing these estates.”
She explains buyers are professionals and multigenerational and looking for estates with guest homes.
“Since the pandemic, people want to hunker down and spend their recreational time at home,” says Erin. “So, a luxury home must have an indoor or outdoor pool, fishing pond, tennis courts, basketball courts, home theater, fitness center and, of course, sit on a lot with several acres of desirable land. Buyers want privacy and a gated entrance. Gone are the days when people want to showcase their home to those who drive by. And since more children are home-schooled or privately schooled, parents aren’t as concerned with the school district as they used to be.”
Concord, Kirtland, Kirtland Hills and Waite Hill are known for prime real estate. Denise points out buyers want to be close to things they love, like golf courses.
“Golf has grown dramatically in popularity,” she says. “We are seeing bigger home builds around the developments near Little Mountain Country Club, Kirtland Country Club and Quail Hollow Country Club.”
If a buyer doesn’t find a fit with what’s currently on the market, Erin says they work with them to find a nice piece of land and connect them with a top-tier builder, landscape architect, etc.
“With the easing of supply chain constraints in the construction industry, people can build their dream home in less time than in the past, as little as a year to year-and-a-half,” she says.
Targeted Marketing
Obviously, the market for a buyer who can afford over $1 million for a home is quite small. For that reason, the priciest homes tend to sit on the market longer.
But the agents at Platinum have made it their business to put a home for sale in front of these big dollar buyers.
“We have a good feel for key buyers’ habits—from the newspapers and magazines they read to which social media they are active on,” says Denise. “Publications we put a luxury home in include the Wall Street Journal, Robb Report and the New York Times. We interface with a global MLS and clearly translate listings into every language, Chinese, Greek, Dutch, you name it. Cleveland is a hot city for international relocation buyers.”
Strategic messaging is important, too.
“Every home has a unique story to tell, a narrative that positions it,” she says. “We create an emotional connection between home and buyer.”
Denise reports that in many cases, luxury homeowners do not want to put their homes on the market. They don’t want photos of their living spaces publicly viewed.
“That’s when we become matchmakers, finding out who the homeowners are that would be interested in selling, and taking buyers through the home, then handling the transfer privately,” she says.
What does $3.7 Mill Look Like?
Follow the QR code here and check out this fabulous estate on Little Mountain Road. Sitting on a lush 10-acre parcel in Kirtland Hills, it’s indicative of what the luxury market currently looks like in Lake County.
“We are thrilled to be the company selling this estate,” says Denise. “With over 13,000 square feet of living space, eight bedrooms, 10 baths, a pool and hot tub, billiard room, mirrored fitness center, a theater room complete with ticket stand, concessions and a karaoke stage, and, of course, a guest house, it checks all the boxes that luxury buyers are looking for.”
The estate is being marketed by Platinum Real Estate Agent Gregg Boehlefeld.
Platinum Real Estate has offices in Northeast Ohio and Columbus, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and Mexico. To get more information, call 844-LUX-PROS or visit TheLuxuryHomeExperts.com.
Your Florida Connection
For many years, the Platinum Real Estate Luxury agents have grown their presence in the Florida market.
With a growing number of offices and agents in Florida, Denise reports they serve their clients looking to make smart investments in second homes or even a permanent change in latitude, and often find themselves flying back and forth to accommodate their desires and help them explore. It is a natural progression and makes for a smooth confidential experience.
“Parts of Florida have become real hot spots for investment, including the Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Anna Maria Island, Marco Island, Siesta Key and Orlando areas,” she adds. “Many of our clients here in Northeast Ohio are looking for an expert they trust to find the right homes for them at the best prices.”