Olentangy Living

Home not selling? Maybe it's NOT dog friendly.

2008-07-05T09:50:24Z

Over the years I've found it amusing to learn what "objects" people buy homes "around". For instance, sometimes they have or want-to-have a big TV, so they'll look for a suitable wall and ample space for the sofa or chairs that seem to go with TV viewing.

Others might have large dining room sets so the dining room becomes critical. If the seller's home doesn't have space for these things, then they either may not get the showing or the home will be rejected during the showing.

The other 'object' that people buy homes "around" is THE DOG! (I'm guilty of this one when I was owned by Dobies. ) This is a "dog people' concern ... not a concern for "cat people".

I've had listings NOT sell because they weren't suitable for THE DOG. Mostly the consideration is getting the dog to the back yard and the size of the back yard. THE DOG must have room to run and play you know! THE DOG may also need a fence or the ability to add one. And, of course, they sometimes consider whether the muddy feet will be coming back into the house and walking over carpet. I had one listing where half the showing feedback comments were that there were too many steps down to the ravine below. (think snow & ice on the steps)

I think over the years, I've received more feedback comments regarding "not suitable for THE DOG" than I have "not suitable for the kids". Guess Pedigree's slogan DOGS RULE is right on target.

I understand completely! Heck I even gave up driving sports cars and switched to a Cherokee 20 years ago when I got my first Dobie who grew - and grew - and grew- and no longer fit in the 2-seater unless I had the T-tops out. Now that I have The Little Murph, do you suppose I could fit For-Sale yard signs in a Mini Cooper??

If you would like more information on the Central Ohio area,
then I recommend these links to pages on my web site or blog:

Average central Ohio home prices by school district - updated monthly
Average central Ohio home prices by suburb subdivisions - updated monthly
View a list of Central Ohio new home builders
Powell Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Lewis Center Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Dublin Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Worthington Ohio area map
Hilliard Ohio area map
ElaineReese.com for lots of helpful info for home buyers and sellers
ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com (my blog) for more personalized info for buyers & sellers
View videos of Elaine's listings

This post and photos are the property of Elaine Reese, Real Living HER, Worthington Ohio 43085.All material and photos are considered copyrighted and may not be used, copied or stolen by any other parties. Plagiarism is against the law!

Delaware County home prices may be better than you think!

2008-06-30T17:57:12Z

As real estate agents, we're often confronted with having to inform sellers that the price their home might sell for now is perhaps less than they paid for it, especially if they haven't owned it very long.

Since I live in and primarily work in southern Delaware County, I decided to check average home prices since 1997 when I purchased my home. Delaware County has also gone through substantial developmental growth during that period as well. People moved to the county in droves during those years, buying new homes in all the subdivisions that builders eagerly built to meet the demand.

The first chart shows the average price of the homes sold in Delaware County for the period Jan 1 thru May 31 for each of the years 1997 to 2008. In 1997, the average price for the county was $215K. It reached a high in 2007 of $300k. For 2008, the average has declined to $278K (-7.6%), but that also represents an INCREASE of 29% since 1997. So depending on when the seller purchased the home or whether they've added equity loans, they may or may not have difficulty selling and paying closing costs.

The second chart shows the actual NUMBER of homes sold in the county during the same time frame. We tend to think that fewer homes are selling than in past years, but not so says the graph. In 1997, only 525 homes sold during the Jan-May period. For this year, 712 homes have sold ... a 36% INCREASE! The highest number of homes sold in 2005 when 934 sold during this period.

Bottom line is that we're not in as bad a shape as we "feel" like we are. We just need to remember to keep things in perspective.

If you would like more information on the Central Ohio area,
then I recommend these links to pages on my web site or blog:

Average central Ohio home prices by school district - updated monthly
Average central Ohio home prices by suburb subdivisions - updated monthly
View a list of Central Ohio new home builders
Powell Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Lewis Center Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Dublin Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Worthington Ohio area map
Hilliard Ohio area map
ElaineReese.com for lots of helpful info for home buyers and sellers
ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com (my blog) for more personalized info for buyers & sellers
View videos of Elaine's listings

Hoover Reservoir (near Galena Ohio) provides nearby homes with sounds of Nature.

2008-05-03T09:26:00Z

I spent a couple hours yesterday taking exterior photos of my listing east of Hoover Reservoir, near Galena, for the fourth time. This time was to capture some of the Spring flowers AND to take new GREEN photos (vs snow or gray skies) before the trees totally leaf out. Once they do, I won't be able see the home.

The grass is now a very beautiful, lush green because the seller is an avid user of Scotts® products (good curb appeal). Many of the flowering trees were in bloom and some of the perennials. Many more plants around this exceptional home are yet to do their thing.

You can see the new, pretty outside photos in the slide show I did for the original post on this home. I've updated that slideshow with the new photos.

I love going there to do the photography since it's such a pleasant, relaxing environment. I enjoy listening to and watching all the birds. During this last trip I decided to take some video so I could capture the sounds of nature. Actually, most of the sound comes from a bunch of cardinals that live around the home. Some squirrels were chattering at my intrusion on their territory, but they stayed out of view of the camera.

Another bird that frequents this home - per the seller - are pileated woodpeckers. They come in force to the suet feeders, but they didn't visit while I was there. These woodpeckers are the Woody Woodpecker variety with the big red top.

It was a pretty breezy day, so I apologize for the wind noise over the camera's microphone.

So, if you'd like to hear some relaxing bird sounds and view some gorgeous landscape as well as a breath-taking home, click on the video below. And if by chance, you want to BUY this home, give me a call.!

If you would like more information on the Central Ohio area,
then I recommend these links to pages on my web site or blog:

Average central Ohio home prices by school district - updated monthly
Average central Ohio home prices by suburb subdivisions - updated monthly
View a list of Central Ohio new home builders
Powell Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Lewis Center Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Dublin Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Worthington Ohio area map
Hilliard Ohio area map
ElaineReese.com for lots of helpful info for home buyers and sellers
ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com (my blog) for more personalized info for buyers & sellers
View videos of Elaine's listings

Stunning 1st Floor MBR Home For Sale in Stratford Woods, Delaware Ohio

2008-05-02T15:46:56Z

This is a truly awesome, spacious home at a very affordable price of only $232,900 considering all the upgrades and bells & whistles that it offers.

The first thing you'll notice is the outstanding condition and attention to detail for the upgrades. This soft contemporary open plan has a large owner's suite and laundry on the first floor for easy living. It also has a central vac system and step-lighting for further convenience. With the large size (2477 sq ft), there's plenty of space for entertaining family or friends.

When guests enter they'll be impressed with the open vaulted ceiling view of the formal dining room into the Great Room. Beautiful open staircases lead to the finished lower level or upstairs to the loft and two bedrooms. It has "WOW" factor!

The kitchen is gorgeous with its customized ceramic backsplash and WilsonArt counters. The soffits are covered with the same material as the window coverings in the nearby rooms. Extra lighting is provided by undercounter lights, a half moon window, track lights, plus there are outlets above the soffit area.

The first-floor owner's suite is vaulted with a plant ledge that also has outlets for extra lighting. The bath area is quite large and includes a whirlpool tub, walk-in closet with custom shelving system and separate commode area.

You'll love the finished lower level with built-in cabinets and entertainment center. There is also a hobby area with table, shelves, extra lighting and a creative awning treatment around the windows. There's even a camera monitor that is wired to a TV (not included) in the kitchen to monitor smaller children (or teens or husbands if you're so inclined). The mechanical area has a built-in workbench.

Some of the other extras include: surround sound in the Great Room and deck; sound insulation from the Great Room for the owner's suite and half bath; Levelor cordless blinds in all rooms (ex bsmt); ceiling fans in all bedrooms; 6-panel doors; Home and Gas warranties for the buyer.

This home is located in the popular tree-lined Stratford Woods neighborhood south of the city of Delaware, and very convenient to Polaris, Powell, Dublin, Westerville and Worthington. Be sure to check it out if you've been looking for a wonderful 1st floor owner's suite home in a great neighborhood!

If you would like more information on the Central Ohio area,
then I recommend these links to pages on my web site or blog:

Average central Ohio home prices by school district - updated monthly
Average central Ohio home prices by suburb subdivisions - updated monthly
View a list of Central Ohio new home builders
Powell Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Lewis Center Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Dublin Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Worthington Ohio area map
Hilliard Ohio area map
ElaineReese.com for lots of helpful info for home buyers and sellers
ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com (my blog) for more personalized info for buyers & sellers
View videos of Elaine's listings

For those who don't want to buy a FlipVideo ... yet

2008-04-07T14:18:01Z

I read Katerina's post on her frustrations with her new FlipVideo. Over the past several months I've read other's reviews noting that it was a terrific tool for us to use. Like others, I've delayed spending the extra money at this time.

For a couple personal videos that I've done, I've merely used the 'MOVIE' setting on my Nikon CoolPixP2. Last week for the first time, I decided to try (test, practice) it with the exterior of a listing that happens to have great views. I used a tripod, thinking that would be preferable to holding the camera. However, I found it hard to SMOOTHLY pan the camera using the swing handle of the tripod. The camera also picks up any noise from panning the camera on the tripod.

I'll be taking new photos of this particular home in another week or two when the leaves start to appear on the trees. When I do that, I'm not going to use the tripod, so we'll see how it goes. What I do like about doing a video on this home is that it captures the birds' sounds. In one of the clips that I ended up not using, I can hear the little stream, so I'll make sure I record that the next time. I also liked the overhead shadow of one of the large birds that happened to fly over during the first movie clip. This home's interior really focuses on the nature views so capturing the soothing sounds of the birds will enhance the true "feel" of the home. There's also a water fountain that is near the Florida Room, so I'll have the owner turn it on for that pleasant sound when I reshoot.

I'm not familiar with the online program that Katerina used. I've always used OneTrueMedia.com to do my photo or video uploads to YouTube. With OTM, I can edit the individual frames of the videos or add text slides. I find it real easy to do ... and like Katerina ... I'm all for EASY! I can also embed direct from OTM (as shown below) because I've found the quality of photos or movies deteriorates quite a bit during the YouTube upload process. As a note, I edit the html code in the embed code to remove the OTM hyperlink that would appear below the the video screen. I don't want it to show, so I remove it.

Here's how my recent movie looks.

So for those of you who, like me, want to use what you've already got and not spend more money right now, you can try this method.

I bought a handy-dandy gadget today.

2008-03-14T20:13:15Z

I had to stop by the camera store to buy a larger memory card for my digital camera. While there, I saw what looked like a really neat gadget for taking better photos.

It's called a Gorillapod, made by Joby. It's a small tripod with bendable arms ... the package calls them prehensile legs.

I have a regular tripod but seldom use it because I find that too often there's just not enough room for the extended legs or I'm trying to lean over a loft or squatting on the floor to shoot upward ... you know the funny positions we get in for the BEST photo.

I also have difficulty, especially in our cloudy, gray weather, getting the room bright enough so I often have to set the camera for backlight. That means NOT moving the camera while the shutter is open, something that can be hard to do when you're hanging over a loft! So I'm hoping that this little bendable tripod helps me in those circumstances.

The box says it will hold up to 6lbs. This old Chinon camera is rather heavy for the tripod, but my small digital camera that I really use, works great.

The white stripes are kind of rubbery to make it anti-slip. I paid $49.95 at the camera store so it may be cheaper elsewhere. They had an even smaller version, but the legs looked just too short to be able to bend around much of anything.

Now if I ever need to hook a camera on a door knob ... I'm all set.

One-of-a-kind, distinctive home for sale in Galena Ohio near Hoover Reservoir - under $1 million!

2008-02-26T23:43:03Z

This new listing is a very distinctive California contemporary home situated on 3 wooded acres east of Hoover Reservoir, near Galena. Custom designed by a CA architect to take full advantage of the spectacular views from all rooms in all 3 levels. Complementing the natural beauty of the land is extensive professional landscaping that will be gorgeous in all seasons.

The foyer, on the entry level, treats guests with a view of the sunset patio, the Great Room 2-story window and an alcove. Off the foyer is the Family Room with access to a small patio. Another wing leads to a BR wing with 2 BR's, laundry, study room & bath.

The lower level contains the Great Room, kitchen and Florida room. The Great Room features a pit with wood-burning stove, built-in cabinets and mirrors lining the upper railing. The Florida Room offers a view of the flagstone steps and a mini waterfall landscape feature. There is a small flagstone patio off this room for grilling. The eat-in kitchen has many oak cabinets with pull-out shelves, pantries, and Corian counters plus, a planning desk and range top.

The third floor has a gathering alcove with access to the sunset deck. The owner's suite wing is off this alcove and contains a spare room, a dressing area, the bath suite with whirlpool tub, and the large bedroom area with nearly 180-degree window view.

Also off the alcove is the extremely large office area, designed for a home business with access to the outside driveway. Nearby is a full bath. This portion of the third floor could be used as a nanny or parent suite if needed.

If you enjoy being soothed by Nature, then you're sure to love the fabulous views in all rooms. There are many birds that stop by as well as other wildlife. It's a terrific home for relaxing or for entertaining. If this appeals to you, and you've been searching for a home with a huge office, then be sure to consider this home.

The home has 5190 sq ft with three levels, 4BR's, 4½ baths and is priced at $824,900

If you would like more information on the Central Ohio area,
then I recommend these links to pages on my web site or blog:

Average central Ohio home prices by school district - updated monthly
Average central Ohio home prices by suburb subdivisions - updated monthly
View a list of Central Ohio new home builders
Powell Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Lewis Center Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Dublin Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Worthington Ohio area map
Hilliard Ohio area map
ElaineReese.com for lots of helpful info for home buyers and sellers
ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com (my blog) for more personalized info for buyers & sellers
View videos of Elaine's listings

Classic 4 Bedroom Home For Sale In Stratford Woods, Delaware, OH

2008-02-16T22:27:52Z

You're gonna' love this one! It's in excellent condition ... just move in. It offers you plenty of room to live in or to entertain.

There is a formal living room for more intimate conversations with a nearby holiday style formal dining room. But as we all know, the guests will gather where the food is ... around the large center island in the kitchen. As a special note ... there's lots of space around the island so everyone has the required elbow room for chip-dipping.

If you have or want a big screen TV, the Family Room has the wall space for it with plenty of space leftover for the big, comfortable furniture. An atrium door leads to a huge deck that has professional landscaping around it.

Upstairs are 4 big bedrooms. Wait till you see the awesome closet in the owner's suite. The owner's bath offers a raised 2-sink vanity, soaking tub, corner windows and a shower stall. It has a full basement with a half bath rough-in, in case you want to finish it for a rec room.

This home is located in the popular Stratford Woods neighborhood, with meandering tree-lined streets, south of Delaware. It's located conveniently to Polaris, Powell, Dublin, Worthington or Westerville. Priced to sell at only $199,900 for 2120 sq ft.

If you would like more information on the Central Ohio area,
then I recommend these links to pages on my web site or blog:

Average central Ohio home prices by school district - updated monthly
Average central Ohio home prices by suburb subdivisions - updated monthly
View a list of Central Ohio new home builders
Powell Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Lewis Center Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Dublin Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Worthington Ohio area map
Hilliard Ohio area map
ElaineReese.com for lots of helpful info for home buyers and sellers
ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com (my blog) for more personalized info for buyers & sellers
View videos of Elaine's listings

Wonderful wooded, cul-de-sac home for sale in Stratford Woods, Delaware, OH

2008-02-07T22:47:36Z

UPDATED: Sold in 21 days for 98% of list price. Sold for $220,000.

You won't feel cramped in this spacious soft contemorary with a wonderful open floor plan. With its 2-story foyer, vaulted Great Room that's open to the Dining Room, there's plenty of room to spread out. Even the overhead moon window keeps the rooms light 'n' bright.

The kitchen is amazingly large with plenty of maple cabinetry and earth-toned counters. Carved molding near the soffit is an extra touch. Plus, all the appliances are staying. Neaby, in the hall, is a laundry for extra convenience.

The owner's suite offers you a walk-in closet, a view of the wooded back yard, and a bath area with a 2-sink vanity, shower stall and separate water closet.

Go up the open staircase to the extra large loft area which would make a great home office. Upstairs there are also two more bedrooms and a bath.

This lovely home is located on a cul-de-sac with a relaxing front porch to view the landscaped island where neighbors often gather to chat. The backyard is quite large and wooded with an entertaining sized deck to watch the antics of the visiting squirrels.

This is a wonderful neighborhood, south of Delaware and very convenient to Polaris, Powell, Dublin, Worthington or Westerville. Priced to sell at $224,900.

If you would like more information on the Central Ohio area,
then I recommend these links to pages on my web site or blog:

Average central Ohio home prices by school district - updated monthly
Average central Ohio home prices by suburb subdivisions - updated monthly
View a list of Central Ohio new home builders
Powell Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Lewis Center Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Dublin Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Worthington Ohio area map
Hilliard Ohio area map
ElaineReese.com for lots of helpful info for home buyers and sellers
ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com (my blog) for more personalized info for buyers & sellers
View videos of Elaine's listings

Terrific cul-de-sac home for sale with wooded lot in Stratford Woods, Delaware Ohio

2008-01-13T10:31:02Z

EDITED: IN-CONTRACT IN 9 DAYS! SOLD FOR 97% OF LIST PRICE FOR $242,900!

Here's a new listing that offers so-o-o many benefits to buyers and has a lot of the features that today's buyers want.

No view of homes behind. The cul-de-sac lot views a 15-acre city park where neighbors jog, walk, or watch their children play on the gym equipment.

Mature trees offer cooling shade in summer or pretty view during changing seasons.

Extra space to actually use and live in. There's a huge bonus room on the 2nd floor that can make a 'hang-out' room for teens, a playroom for smaller children, or a huge game room for hosting football-watching parties. The basement has been finished with a built-in TV cabinet, bar, bar cabinets, and sink.

Need space for a home office? There's a den off the 2-story foyer, separated by French doors for privacy.

Need a big wall to place an entertainment center? Unlike many homes, this home actually has TWO walls in the Great Room that are large enough to place an entertainment center.

Got a gourmet cook in the group? Huge U-shaped kitchen with center island offers substantial counter space, plus upgraded stainless appliances. The casual dining area sits near a boxed-bay, so it doesn't intrude into the food prep section of the kitchen. There's also a nearby pantry area for even more storage space for food or large dishes or appliances.

Dream of a front porch to meet and greet neighbors? This home has one, and in this neighborhood many residents take evening walks on nice evenings. There's also a landscaped circle just across the street which provides a pleasant view from the porch.

If any of these features are important benefits for YOUR next home, then you MUST check out this home. At 2371 sq ft plus the finished basement and large yard, it's offers a great buy at $249,900. Check it out!

If you would like more information on the Central Ohio area,
then I recommend these links to pages on my web site or blog:

Average central Ohio home prices by school district - updated monthly
Average central Ohio home prices by suburb subdivisions - updated monthly
View a list of Central Ohio new home builders
Powell Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Lewis Center Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Dublin Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Worthington Ohio area map
Hilliard Ohio area map
ElaineReese.com for lots of helpful info for home buyers and sellers
ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com (my blog) for more personalized info for buyers & sellers
View videos of Elaine's listings

Year-end home prices for 5 years by central ohio school district

2008-01-10T09:57:23Z

This report shows the 5-Year Average Home Price comparison by central Ohio school district. It shows that central Ohio DOES NOT have severe falling prices like California and Florida.

Our growth here in the Columbus metro area has been quite conservative over the years. There was some minor decline in 2007, caused by all the media hype and higher than normal inventories. Builders have cut back the number of specs and we're getting some of the resale inventory sold, so things are improving.

We're probably not out of the woods yet, but the market is looking like it might improve a little over last year. For the economy's sake nationwide, let's hope so.

The percent change of the 2007 average home price versus the 2003 average home price for each of the school districts, is as follows:

Buckeye Valley +23%
Upper Arlington +22%
Olentangy (Powell area) +19%
Worthington +17%
Dublin +14%
Olentangy (Lewis Center area) +12%
New Albany +10%
Marysville +8%
Gahanna +7%
Hilliard +7%
Delaware +5%
Westerville +4%
Big Walnut (2%)

One thing to keep in mind is that these are the average SALE PRICES for the school district. It does not represent the price increase a given home might experience. It only represents the prices that buyers are paying for a home in that district.

Regarding Buckeye Valley, most likely the increase reflects the new development that is occurring there. The newer homes would be more upscale than the older rural homes that are prevalent in the district. Big Walnut's data is apt to also be skewed as to whether a new development was selling heavily during one of the years.

If you would like more information on the Central Ohio area,
then I recommend these links to pages on my web site or blog:

Average central Ohio home prices by school district - updated monthly
Average central Ohio home prices by suburb subdivisions - updated monthly
View a list of Central Ohio new home builders
Powell Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Lewis Center Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Dublin Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Worthington Ohio area map
Hilliard Ohio area map
ElaineReese.com for lots of helpful info for home buyers and sellers
ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com (my blog) for more personalized info for buyers & sellers
View videos of Elaine's listings

Our Wish To Rainers

2007-12-22T23:48:19Z

We're wishing you all a Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy the time with your family and friends.

Elaine and The Murph

Looking for the beauty in a Central Ohio snowstorm ...

2007-12-16T11:13:26Z

It's weekends like we're having this weekend that I'm glad I have a home office and don't have to make a trek out on the roads. My Cherokee (aka the WEENR-mobile) doesn't have a problem in the 6" of snow that Delaware County has received so far, but I'm not so confident with others on the road around me.

Staying home allows me the opportunity to see the "beauty" of the snow. I always find it amazing how the tiny flakes are able to stick together on the smallest twig to transform it into a piece of artwork.

The row of evergreens that provide my home with privacy, as well as shelter for birds and rabbits, don't need tiny lights to turn them into Christmas trees.

Of course, The Murph, with his short legs, has a rougher time of it although he LOVES to run through the snow - leaping through it like a rabbit.

Someone sent me a very funny poem about a "Dachshund Tunneling Through Snow". I would love to post it here but it's not quite G-rated, so I'll resist. It focuses on the "parts" that get really cold.

Today we're supposed to get more snow with 45 mph winds, so stay inside and look for the beauty around YOUR yard.

Then go inside and get warm with a cup of hot cocoa.

If you would like more information on the Central Ohio area,
then I recommend these links to pages on my web site or blog:

Average central Ohio home prices by school district - updated monthly
Average central Ohio home prices by suburb subdivisions - updated monthly
View a list of Central Ohio new home builders
Powell Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Lewis Center Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Dublin Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Worthington Ohio area map
Hilliard Ohio area map
ElaineReese.com for lots of helpful info for home buyers and sellers
ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com (my blog) for more personalized info for buyers & sellers
View videos of Elaine's listings

Luxury condo in Village at Kinsale in Golf Village, Powell Ohio

2007-12-09T01:22:54Z

If you play golf or like to be near those who do, then this is your perfect home. It has the best location in the Village at Kinsale complex with complete tee-green view of the Kinsale golf course. Designed to have great views of the course, rather than other condos, you'll enjoy the view from many rooms.

Live in total luxury with rich natural cherry floors and cabinets, over $100,000 in upgrades throughout, and wonderfully soft carpet to pamper your toes. There are many Amish custom built-in cabinets. The center of activity is the gorgeous gourmet kitchen with an expanded granite countertop for serving. Diagonal ceramic tile backsplash and under-counter lighting add to the warmth.

The first-floor owner's suite is located privately away from the entertaining rooms. Relax in the jetted tub with diagonal tile surround or freshen up in a shower with floor-ceiling marble walls. The 2-sink vanity is raised for greater ease. A custom closet storage system keeps clothing well organized.

Upstairs is a loft to use for a home office, plus, there is a special craft nook to keep supplies organized and out-of-site. The lower level is finished, adding another 1000 sq ft to the 2750 sq ft on the main floors.

If it's time for you to live the good life or if entertaining next to a fairway suits your lifestyle, then make this your next home. Offered at only $364,900 it's an extremely great buy!

If you would like more information on the Central Ohio area,
then I recommend these links to pages on my web site or blog:

Average central Ohio home prices by school district - updated monthly
Average central Ohio home prices by suburb subdivisions - updated monthly
View a list of Central Ohio new home builders
Powell Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Lewis Center Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Dublin Ohio area map showing key subdivisions, zip codes, growth area for new development
Worthington Ohio area map
Hilliard Ohio area map
ElaineReese.com for lots of helpful info for home buyers and sellers
ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com (my blog) for more personalized info for buyers & sellers
View videos of Elaine's listings

The innocent victims of high foreclosure rates!

2007-11-01T23:01:38Z

Ohio is 5th in the number of foreclosures. It appears, at least locally, homeowners aren't the only victims.

Tonight on the local news they reported on a story that made me sick.

In one section of the Columbus metro area, where many new homes are being foreclosed, people are packing up their belongings ...

and leaving their pets in the home to die.

The Capital Area Humane Society has seen an increase in this type of abandonment.

Some pets are found in time by neighbors who hear the animal, knowing the humans have vacated. There was one German Shepherd puppy left in a crate in the garage that did not survive. They showed another dog, left in a bedroom, that was seriously malnourished.

There are many shelters around town, and most would understand the circumstances as to why the owners can no longer afford to care for the pet. There's no cost to drop the pet off at the shelter.

But there's just no good rationale for leaving an animal alone in a home to starve and die! That's just awful!

This could be a FUN client closing gift idea.

2007-10-29T12:06:16Z

You know how we often DO one thing that leads us to THINK of something else and that leads to another IDEA? Well, that happened to me over the weekend.

Sunday I took the afternoon off because I needed to rake leaves. Being the faithful blogger, I took some photos to use for a post on my WordPress blog.

As I selected one of the photos to include in the post, I happened to think that it would make a terrific photo for a challenging "Where's Murphy" puzzle for a fun Christmas present for my granddaughters.

That lead me to think about doing something similar for presents for clients.

Shutterfly.com makes puzzles out of submitted photos. The cost is $24.99 plus S & H for a 10"x14" puzzle. That's a reasonable cost for a special closing gift. (I only give closing gifts that are "lasting", and have been giving fleece throws with "Warm Wishes from Elaine Reese" embroidered on a corner.)

The puzzle photo could be of the client's home or a unique landmark of their area or just a popular scene that is representative of their 'old' area if they're moving to another locale. I did a quick review of some of the photos I've taken and came up with several that would be good for a challenging puzzle.

Being a "dog person", I often take photos of client's dogs and then give them the jpg file. Making a puzzle of their special family member will be treasured for years to come. Since we're more experienced in photography, and may have better cameras, the photo YOU take may be better than any they have. If so, they'll really appreciate what you've done.

(Hint: when I know a client has a dog, I always take liver treats to the listing presentation to get in the dog's good graces and make a hit with the client.)

If you decide to make a puzzle, you might want to "sign" your work (logo, name) in the bottom corner, the way an artist signs their painting. That way, you'll be remembered for years after the closing. Hopefully, the piece with your logo, won't be "that ONE missing piece"!

We take lots of photos of our client's homes, plus, as bloggers we take lots of photos of our local area. Coming up with photos that might be meaningful to a specific client should be easy to do. Maybe it's their favorite golf hole, or bike trail. Just let your imagination run wild.

Turning that photo into a puzzle may be that welcomed gift that keeps the kiddies busy as Mom & Dad unpack in their new home. You'll be a hero!

Motivational speakers ... gives me shoes or knives and I might bite!

2007-10-25T22:22:20Z

Are you as suspicious of real estate motivational speakers as I am?

They come in to incite us into action ... give us a lot of razz-ma-tazz ... rah-rah-rah sis-boom-bah ... the whole eye of the tiger thing!

They tell us that they were Realtors^® once upon a time and now they're sharing ALL their knowledge so we can become good, fired up agents ready to change into top producers.

My skepticism has always been that if they were such good agents, why aren't they still in the business.

Um-m-m, could it be that they realized they could make more money being on the speaking circuit and selling their "system" and DVD's to those of us who want to be "just like them"!

Let's see now ... who's REALLY going to benefit from this? I think we know.

My broker had one of these speakers for us a few weeks ago. Today, the Board had one for our Sales Associate Day. The guy my broker hired was very good and very entertaining. Today's speaker was neither good nor entertaining.

Both speakers were presenting materials on how to gain clients in this down market. What I found amazing from both of them was that neither really addressed blogging as a way to gain business or make an early connection with prospects. Neither mentioned the importance of knowing or learning SEO as a way to effectively reach potential clients. They both mentioned the word 'internet' but didn't give it the importance it should be receiving.

Now, I realize that their goal is to speak to the masses, and as we know the masses aren't ready for blogging. But how can these "pros" suggest tactics that they used ten years ago? I wonder how successful they would be in today's techie world if they tried to actually get business the "old-fashioned" way they used when they were agents long ago.

And, most of all, why in the world do I want to spend hundreds of dollars for their out-dated system! I'm always amazed at the agents who gleefully pull out their credit cards afterwards.

They're called motivational speakers and they do a good job at motivating agents to make THEMSELVES richer. I just don't understand why people will spend their money on these DVD's but won't bother to devote TIME to learning how to blog.

Of course, we're all glad it works that way, aren't we!

Here's my motivation for you. Go blog 'em TIGER!

Now pay me $199 and I'll put that on a DVD for you.

Excuse me, I have to take this call ... it's my dog!

2007-10-12T14:33:43Z

For those Rainers who don't like posts that are animal-related... stop right here. But for those that want to read something funny on a Friday ... well, you might just get a kick out of this.

We have lots of posts that keep us up-to-date on the latest techie toys. I just read about a new techie tool that is projected to be introduced mid-2008.

It's a cell phone for DOGS!

The unit attaches to the dog's collar similar to the electronic fence transmitters. It will cost $400 plus a monthly service fee. It's waterproof and will have a GPS system, which could be a good thing to find a roaming pet.

It will have two buttons on it. One is "Call Owner" ... and I'm assuming that is to be used by a HUMAN who finds the wandering pet ... and not to be used by the pet.

The other is a "Call Center" button. Guess that can be used if the HUMAN doesn't answer their phone.

Now, here's where it gets a little humorous if you let your mind wander with the possibilities.

The phone can be programed to call the HUMAN if the dog strays a certain distance from the home. Imagine sitting in a closing and having to say, "excuse me, I have to take this call ... it's my dog".

The owner can call the dog's number to talk to the dog. In the case mentioned above, I guess the HUMAN could say, "GET BACK IN YOUR OWN YARD!" Or we can tell them to GET OFF THE SOFA because we KNOW that's where they are. Or we can whisper sweet nothings to them to assure them we'll be home soon.

The phone can also be programmed to only accept the HUMAN's calls. This would prevent the dog from receiving 'wrong number' calls or calls from telemarketers. I must admit I find the "heavy breathing" aspect of responding to a telemarketer's calls to be intriguing.

Wouldn't you like to be a "fly on the wall" when the dog gets his first call to watch his head spin around as he tries to see where "the voice" is coming from. You could really have fun messing with their little minds. Think of the exercise they could get by running throughout the house trying to find their HUMAN.

Of course, eventually they may just tire of the new toy, and when they see it's just their HUMAN's number, they could ignore the call. I suppose they'll eventually ask for a vibrate button so they can easily go back to sleep on the sofa.

Wonder how many minutes The Murph would use ... and will those minutes include a ROLLOVER plan?

I won a small victory against a plagiarizer - thanks, Google!

2007-10-11T23:09:28Z

This is an update to a post I did in mid-August about a scraping blog from the Czech Republic stealing 3 of my posts from my outside blog.

I filed a DMCA complaint with Google, carefully following the specific procedure for doing so.

Since the site wasn't located in the U.S. my only option was to complain to Google because it's one of those sites setup solely to earn income from Google Adsense. The site contains ONLY stolen material.

In addition to filing the DMCA complaint, I also emailed many of the other people who had content stolen to advise them of the situation with info on how to file a complaint.

Recently, I received an email from Google saying that while they did not have authority to take down the site, they had blocked my 3 articles from being searchable by Google. They said they would also record the offense in ChillingEffects.org.

So now, when I enter the domain name of the offending site into a Google search, this copy shows up in fairly large letters, at the bottom of each of the 20-some pages ...

In response to a complaint we received under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we have removed 1 result(s) from this page. If you wish, you may read the DMCA complaint that caused the removal(s) at ChillingEffects.org.

Then if someone clicks on the ChillingEffects link, they see the following copy, (protected somewhat since I'm an individual):

Notice Unavailable
DMCA (Copyright) Complaint to Google
The notice is not available.

Chilling Effects serves as a clearinghouse for cease-and-desist notices. Chilling Effects is not the sender of these notices, and is not responsible for removing pages from the web or search engine listings. If you believe a web page or site was wrongly removed, you should contact the ISP or search engine who removed the site. In the case of an improper DMCA notification, you may wish to file a counter-notification.

While my articles are still posted on the offending site, at least they're not generating Google Juice. It's a small victory, but at least a victory.

BTW, I recommend visiting ChillingEffects database to see all the cease & desist complaints filed - mostly to Google. A lot of them targeted bloggers who used plagiarized material. It's an interesting read.

Maybe it will put a little fear into some of the plagiarizers on ActiveRain.