Monthly Archives: September 2014

5 Ways to Spruce up Your Home For Fall

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5 Ways to Spruce up Your Home For Fall– Why not try some Fall cleaning this year? Don’t save it all for the Spring! Take advantage of the last bit of warm weather and spruce up your home as you prepare for winter.

  1. Autumn Accents– Don’t have the time or budget to commit to permanent home changes this Autumn? No problem! Update and spruce up your home with some seasonal accents. Fall colors like deep red, burnt orange and mustard yellow will bring your home to life. Add some new hand towels in the kitchen or some new, seasonal pillows for the living room.
  2. Bring the Outdoors Indoors– Are you sad to see the beautiful summer flowers go? Fear not, there are many beautiful Autumn flowers that can be cultivated outdoors and indoors. Spruce up your living space with some indoor plants. Don’t let the colder weather discourage your green thumb!
  3. Clean Your Outdoor Living Space– There is nothing worse than letting your outdoor furniture sit all year to have it be ruined the next budding Spring. Make sure to clean up your outdoor living space and to put away any unused outdoor furniture for the winter. Cold temperatures and harsh conditions can deteriorate your furniture, making it unusable for the next warm season. Hose down porches, rake leaves, and start fresh for the next season!
  4. Check Your Windows– During the summer and early Fall months, it is easy for creaky windows to go unnoticed. Before the cold weather rolls through, be sure to double check that all of your windows and doors are sealed and working correctly. This will help you with future costs and trouble.
  5. Unclutter Your Home- During the cold months, you and your family will be spending a lot more time indoors. Don’t overlook clutter and live in disarray! Clean up the odds and ends and prepare for a new season. Try donating any items you don’t want or need. Give your home a fresh feel and contribute to your community.

Make the transition into the colder months less stressful this year. Be proactive and spruce up your home this Fall. Have any other cleaning or improvement tips? Let us know in the comments below.

Rita Boswell was extremely helpful in getting my house sold in a couple days!

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Home sold was in Dublin…

“Rita Boswell was extremely helpful in getting my house sold in a couple days. I signed her up on a Thursday at Noon, had showings the very same day and had two offers by the end of the day on Friday. We showed the home thru the weekend to about a dozen prospects and I accepted an offer the following Monday. She gave me excellent advice with regards to prepping the house for showings and how to get rid of the many items I needed to part with. Thanks a bunch Rita for the extra effort.”  -John Wallace

 

4 Home Updates That Will Hurt You at Selling

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4 home updates that will hurt you at selling

4 Home Updates That Will Hurt You at Selling- Updating your home is something that everyone wants to do, but thinking that they will make a positive return on their investment isn’t always accurate. Customized updates might be the best thing for you and your vision, however, they might not be the most practical option. Here are four home updates that will ultimately hurt you when you explore the options of selling your home.

 

Personalization

Personalizing your home might seem like the right idea for you; however, it won’t provide you with a positive ROI. It has the possibility of inhibiting the potential buyer from picturing themselves in your home, and therefore not purchasing it in the long run. To avoid an over personalization of your home, give it non-permanent personalized touches like furniture and accent colors.

 

 

Home Office Renovation

Many homeowners dish out a lot of cash to create their very own home office. Unfortunately for them, that isn’t necessarily an important feature that potential home buyers are looking for. To avoid this costly mistake, make updates to your home office that won’t necessarily be permanent. You want to give the person who buys your home the option of converting the room into a bedroom, or recreational room of their choice.

 

Additions

Additions to your home, like a sun room or additional garage, might end up hurting you in the long run. The extra space has the potential to hook the potential buyer into being a homeowner; however, they will not want to foot the bill of your expensive renovation and expansion.

 

Luxury Upgrades

Any type of luxury upgrade to your existing home sounds like it would be a benefit and provide a positive turn on your investment, right? No, not every luxury upgrade is beneficial. Unless you have a very high-end home, making upgrades like marble floors and custom bathrooms, will likely not pay off in the long run.

 

Customized updates to your home might be the best thing for you at the time, however, it might not be the best option for you to get the best return on your investment. To learn more about home updates that will hurt you when you sell your home, visit here.

Why Should Someone Choose Rita As Their Realtor?

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Why Should Someone Choose Rita As Their Realtor? Buying or selling your home is a huge task. Whether this is your first time, or you’ve done it a million times, a little help from a professional can always help you in the best possible way. Rita Boswell prides herself on the communication she has between herself and her clients. She’s an expert on residential real estate sales and listing, single family homes, condominiums, distressed properties, short sales, downsizing, relocation, and working with buyers and sellers. She is a great resource when it comes to the real estate market, and you can always expect honesty and integrity from her – something that isn’t true for every agent you work with in your lifetime.

About Rita

Rita may not have started her career as a real estate professional; however, that has been a great benefit and has given her a broad background and set of skills that not many professionals have. She began her career as an accounting and support operations manager, where she learned business skills that she applies to her life in the real estate business today. As a native of central Ohio, she is familiar with the area and can provide the best possible advice to buyers and sellers.

Location

Rita’s office is located in the heart of Worthington, Ohio. She serves a number of communities surrounding central Ohio, including: Clintonville, Delaware, Dublin, Gahanna, Galena, Hilliard, Lewis Center, Powell, Sunbury, Upper Arlington, Westerville and Worthington. Working and living in the area gives her an extra advantage when it comes to being a great resource for her clients. Her knowledge digs deeper than the surface, making her a reliable and trusted real estate professional.

What she has to offer

Rita has plenty to offer to individuals and families who are looking to buy or sell their home. Not only does she have extensive knowledge of the real estate industry, but she is familiar with the ins and outs of central Ohio, and keeps your best interest at heart as a homeowner. Her listings range from condos to single family homes to rentals and everything in between, and she works to ensure that her clients are happy and satisfied with their home in the area.

 

To learn more about Rita, and all of the wonderful things she has to offer that will help you sell your home and find your next home, visit here.

6 Tips To Budget For Your First Home

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6 Tips To Budget For Your First Home – There is a lot to consider when buying your first home. Don’t just save for the down payment, consider other hidden costs. Don’t forget about the home inspection, repairs, closing costs and even moving expenses. Follow these next few tips when buying your next home.

1. Home Inspections – Home inspections are highly encouraged in order to make sure that there are not any major issues with the home you are buying.You never want to buy a home without an inspection. Inspections can cost $300 and upward depending on the type of inspection you get. Remember, the more thorough the better.

2. Closing Costs – According to bank rates annual survey, the average closing cost for a $200,000 home is about $3,754. Talk with a lender to get a general idea of what those costs will be. Closing costs usually cover lender fees, title fees, appraisal, and more.

3. Try Auto-Saving – Did you know that most banks can set up automatic transfers to your savings account from your checking account each month? You can also request that a certain percentage of each paycheck be deposited into your savings account. These are both effective strategies when saving for a big purchase and will add up before you know it!

4. Down Payment – Talk to your lender to get a general idea of what your down payment for your next home will be, as well as your loan options. The percentage of a down payment can vary greatly from buyer to buyer, but it is generally more cost effective to put down a higher rate. A larger down payment can save you on interest in the end depending on the home you choose, the loan you choose, and the money you have saved up. Talk to your lender about your options so you can plan.

5. Moving Expenses – Moving expenses are usually overlooked and end up costing more than anticipated. Planning ahead can help you avoid extra costs. Ask friends and family for help or do research on the most cost effective options in your area.

6. Decorating Expenses – Buying a new home is a very exciting process, especially once you are moved in and ready to decorate. Plan a budget for decorating costs as they can add up quickly as excitement increases.  Furniture and large items can be purchased on credit to avoid up-front costs, as long as you plan on making regular payments. Always plan ahead and do your research but don’t forget to have fun!

Keep these tips in mind as you think about your next home purchase. It is essential to have a set budget and to plan ahead. Let us know in the comment section how these tips have helped you or if you have any tips of your own!

 

5 Things To Do This September In Downtown Columbus

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5 Things To Do This September In Downtown Columbus – Can you believe it’s already September? This time of year, the weather is perfect and there’s plenty of fun to be had downtown! Check out our

1. Whetstone Park of Roses

Details: One of the largest municipal rose gardens in the U.S., this 13-acre park features more than 11,000 gorgeous rose bushes and specialized gardens for herbs, daffodils and perennials.

Where: 3923 N High St, Columbus, OH 43214

2. Shadowbox Live

Details: Live performers that are also your waiters and waitresses! Enjoy a meal while being entertained with performances and music.

Where: 503 South Front St., Columbus, OH 43215

3. COSI

Details: A fun spot for children young and old. Experience all things science. Come anytime, but be sure the check the calendar for special exhibits and shows.

Where: 333 W Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215

4. Columbus Brew Adventures

Details: Columbus Brew Adventures offers small group tours of breweries, brew pubs and distilleries in Columbus.

Where: 201 West Hubbard Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43215

5. Scioto Mile

Details: A waterfront park right in Columbus! Enjoy fountains, gardens, and trails winding along the Scioto Riverfront.

Where: 233 Civic Center Drive, Columbus, OH

Be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming events! What events are you looking forward to this month? Are you planning on attending any of these events? Comment to share with us!