Category Archives: Central Ohio

Pros and Cons of FSBO

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Pros and Cons of FSBO – Once you’ve deciding to sell your home, some choose to work with a real estate professional and some choose to sell “For Sale By Owner” or FSBO. Ultimately, you don’t have to sell your home using a real estate professional but there are definitely pros and cons of selling your home FSBO. Here are a few to help you decide the right path for you…

Pros of Selling a Home FSBO:

  • Save Money – You won’t have to pay 2 real estate agents. Instead you will only be in charge of paying the agent of the buyer unless you work with the buyer directly.
  • You Are In Control – You can control how your home is staged, marketed, when you show the home, etc.
  • It’s Your Home – You know the home better than anyone. You can point out the amenities and items in the home like no one else.

Cons of Selling a Home FSBO:

  • No Help – Without an agent, you are in charge of marketing, pricing, showing, staging, negotiating, finding a buyer, doing the paperwork, etc.
  • Pricing – This is a touchy subject. Too high and you lose interest. Too low and you lose money. Real estate pros know the strategy and how to negotiate the best price for you and your home.
  • Less Visibility – This is what real estate pros do. They have a marketing strategy for your home to get you the most exposure and to target the right buyers. Without the right marketing you have less visibility.
  • Contracts – Real estate pros tell you what you need, what it means and handle the leg work for you. When you sell a home FSBO, you can get that info from a title company or an attorney but you will still most likely pay a fee for that information.

There are pros and cons to every situation. It won’t hurt to interview a real estate professional to get your questions answered and to see which route is best for you. It’s important that when you want to hire a real estate agent that it’s the right one. We recommend you interview a few to find the right one for you.

 

Things to do in Central Ohio – January

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Things to do in Central Ohio – January There are so many things going on in the Central Ohio area this month, so ring in the new year with all of the events and activities available to you. No matter what you’re looking for, you will have no trouble keeping your time occupied. Here are five things going on near you this month.

1. The John Schwab Band

When: The first Friday of the month

Admission: Free to attend

Leave the kids at home and gather your friends for a night out on the town. Live music and happy hour prices are a great way to wind down after a long week, so make your way out to LaScala for a good time.

2. Worthington Historical Society Antiques Show

When: Saturdays and Sundays this month

Admission: $8

Whether you’re into antiquing or not, this will definitely be a not-to-miss antiques show. There will be an amazing selection of high-quality items available for purchase with a number of new exhibitors.

3. MAC Short Film Night

When: January 7

Admission: Free

If you’re looking for a different way to spend your date night, this is definitely worth checking out. You will have the opportunity to view locally made and inspired films at the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington.

4. Hear & Now Author Series: Marja Mills

When: January 29

Admission: $5 – $10

Make your way out to the McConnell Arts Center in Worthington to hear from Marja Mills. She will share tales of her life in Alabama, living next door to the amazing author Harper Lee.

5. Westerville Symphony Orchestra Tunes and Tales

When: January 31

Admission: Free

If you have children between the ages of 3 and 8, this is perfect and directed towards them; however, no matter how old your kids are bring them out to the Westerville Public Library. The library, in partnership with Westerville Symphony Orchestra, will present an integration of musical adventure and storytelling, Ferdinand the Bull.

For more information on all of the great events and activities available to you in Central Ohio, visit here.

How Do Interest Rates Affect my Ability to Buy a Home?

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How Do Interest Rates Affect my Ability to Buy a Home? Many factors can affect your ability to buy a new home, it just depends on each individual home buyer and situation. Interest rates can have an immense effect on any given person’s ability to buy a home, and home loan interest rates have been increasing recently. Here are some ways you might be affected by interest rates, and some ways you can act on it.

Home loan interest rates have been rising in the recent past, and this can affect the home loan you can qualify for. You might not be able to take out as significant of a loan if the interest rates are higher than you expected. This, in turn, can affect the type of home you can afford.

The higher cost of money, or interest rates, leaves you with several options when you’re searching for your new home. If you’re a homebuyer, you can alter your search terms, and look for houses that will be less expensive and more affordable for you in this situation. If you’re a home seller, you might consider lowering the cost of your home, or the buyer will have to pay higher monthly payments. If the buyer cannot make higher monthly payments, they ultimately will not be able to afford this particular home.

Due to these rising interest rates, more buyers are being forced out of the market because they cannot afford the cost. What does this mean for sellers in this market? Well, they won’t be able to sell their homes at this cost. With little competition, you will either need to take your home off the market, or sell your home at a significantly lower value.

If you are serious about buying a home, there will be no stopping you. Interest rates affect everyone and each situation is different; however, there is often a solution if you work with your real estate professional, who has knowledge of the area and market..

To learn more about how interest rates affect your ability to buy a new home, visit here.

Ice Dams: What They Are and How to Avoid Them

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Ice Dams: What They Are and How to Avoid Them – Colder temperatures means less lawn care, but the cold and snowy weather can lead to several serious problems for your home. These issues can be troublesome and costly while adding stress to your life. One such problem is ice damming, which if left untreated can damage your roof, gutters, paint, drywall and structure extensively and even lead to mold. In this post, we’ll discuss what ice dams are, how they form and offer several tips to help you avoid them.

What are ice dams?

Ice dams occur when melting snow runs off your roof and refreezes at the edge, causing water to become trapped on your roof and creating a larger ice dam. They form most often after a large snowfall because the snow acts as an insulator. The heat from your home makes your roof warmer than the freezing point and the snow begins to melt, then refreezes in the cold winter air.

How can I prevent ice dams?

The best way to prevent ice dams during the winter is to reduce or get rid of any sources of heat in the attic of your home and ventilate the attic space of the roof. The goal is to make the roof of your house the same temperature as the eaves, so water won’t freeze at the end of your roof. There are several things you can do to properly ventilate the area under your roof and prevent heat from escaping:

  • Cap the attic hatch or whole-house fan with weatherstripped caps made from foil-faced foam board held together with aluminum tape.
  • Make sure all exhaust goes to the outside, preventing heat from warming the roof.
  • Add more insulation on the attic floor.
  • Seal and insulate your ducts.

If you’d like to learn more about how to prevent ice dams, this article from This Old House offers good advice.

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be able to prevent ice damming, keeping your home in top shape this winter.

Do you have tips for winterizing your home? Leave them in a comment below and we could feature them in a future blog post.

4 Things To Do In Central Ohio This December

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4 Things To Do In Central Ohio This December  – Tis the holiday season! It’s a festive time of year, and it’s such a fun time to be here in Central Ohio. The spirit of the season is everywhere and there are plenty of fun things to do. If you’re looking to get out of the house between decorating your tree and baking holiday goodies, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite events and activities going on in December below. Check them out and get ready for a great month!

Here are 4 events taking place during the month of December:

  1. Illuminating Shopping Event, December 4, 6 p.m., Downtown Worthington: Want to start your holiday shopping? This fun event in downtown Worthington will be fun for all! The streets are lined with luminaries while shoppers enjoy wine and cheese, live music, carriage rides and special sales. Visit the city’s event posting for more information.
  2. Holly Days in Historic Dublin, December 6, Downtown Dublin: Start the holidays off right with this fun event in Dublin! Enjoy festive activities for adults and children, food, drink and live entertainment. See this website to learn more.
  3. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, December 4-6, multiple times, Columbus Children’s Theatre: This classic Christmas tale comes to life at the Columbus Children’s Theatre! A couple struggle to put on a church Christmas pageant and hilarity ensues. Visit the theatre website for more details.
  4. Holiday Carriage Rides, through December 23, Easton Town Center: Enjoy the beauty of Easton Town Center decorated for the holidays with an exciting carriage ride! Cost is $10, with children riding free with an adult. See Easton’s website for more information.

Have a safe and happy holiday season! Tell us about your plans by leaving a comment below.

4 Things To Do In Central Ohio This November

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4 Things To Do In Central Ohio This November – November is here! We love this month because the weather is still warm enough to enjoy, plus the craziness of the holiday season hasn’t started. It’s time to get out of the house before the winter weather hits. Luckily, there are several fun and exciting events going on in Central Ohio during November. We’ve outlined a few of our favorite things to do below. Check them out and enjoy!

Here are our top things to do during the month of November:

  1. Worthington Farmers Market, every Saturday, 8 a.m., Downtown Worthington: Enjoy the last of autumn’s fresh apples, squash and more by visiting this weekly farmers market, located in scenic Downtown Worthington. See the city’s event post for more information.
  2. Hot Chocolate 15K/5K, November 16, The Arena District: Are you a runner? Chocolate lover? Both? If so, this race is for you. Run through Columbus’ Arena District and enjoy the post-race party, complete with plenty of chocolate, inflatables, music and more! See the race website for more details.
  3. Veterans Day Program, November 11, 11 a.m., Village Green Park: Honor and remember our veterans, both past and present, at Powell’s annual Veterans Day celebration. See the event’s page on the City of Powell website to learn more.
  4. Holiday Open House, November 30, 12 p.m., Downtown Worthington: Celebrate the beginning of the holiday season at this open house event in Downtown Worthington. Stop and visit Santa at the Worthington Inn, enjoy musical entertainment and refreshments, plus much more. See the city’s event page for more information.

What are your favorite things to do in November? Tell us by leaving a comment below!

3 Halloween Events To Attend in 2014

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Halloween can be such a fun time of year. What other time can you dress up and eat as much candy as you want? Here are a few events in the Central Ohio area you should definitely check out this year…

 

Boo at the Zoo

When: October 18-26th

Where: The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

The Zoo offers family friendly fun such as a haunted train ride and candy stations throughout the Zoo. Visit with the animals and also meet the fortune tellers and magicians while you are there.

 

Halloween at Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

When: October 25th and 26th

Where: 1777 East Broad Street, Columbus Ohio

Dress up and come to the Conservatory for fun activities, trick or treat, arts and crafts, and more!

 

North Market Halloween Party

When: October 26th, Noon – 2pm

Where:North Market

This annual event attracts many little goblins where they can enjoy trick or treating in a safe family friendly environment. Guests of all ages can participate in trick or treating and enjoy crafts, music and a special appearance from Columbus Children’s Theatre cast of Super Sidekick.

 

What’s your favorite Halloween event? Are you dressing up this year?

 

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.

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!

 

10 Tips To Save Money On Landscaping

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10 Tips To Save Money On Landscaping – The outside of your home is the first impression people see. Whether you’re trying to sell your home, or just update the look, landscaping is a great way to create more curb appeal for your home. Landscaping can be an expensive project, but with the right tools you can make it work right within your budget. Here are ten tips to save money on landscaping.

1. Make A List

Make a list or a picture board of inspirations and looks you want to create for your home. That way you will have a better idea of what you need to purchase.

2. Do Your Research

Conduct research to figure out where you can the things you need at the most inexpensive prices.

3. Avoid Impulse Buys

When you go to the store to purchase the materials you need, don’t get suckered into buying something you don’t need because you think it will look cool. Stick to your list – and your gut – to purchase only the things you’ve planned to buy.

4. Don’t Overplant

Make sure you don’t plant too many flowers or shrubs in your front lawn, it can look tacky and crowded. Stick to a minimal look and wait until it grows in. If you still want more after that, add it.

5. Talk To A Pro

You don’t necessarily have to hire someone to do the landscaping for your home; however, hiring a pro for a consultation will be well worth the money.

6. Cheaper Isn’t Always Better

Don’t assume that buying cheaper will help your budget. Cheaper isn’t always better and you might end up paying even more money to fix the mistake.

7. Shop End-Of-Season Sales

If you shop at the end of the season, you will have cheaper and more materials to use the following season.

8. Be Neighborly

There is a chance that you’re not the only one in the neighborhood working on your landscaping. If you’re renting equipment offer to split the cost and share it for a day.

9. Check Out Craigslist

Some people are willing to just give things away. Check out Craigslist before you buy anything, who knows, you may find it for free.

10. Make Your Own Compost

You can convert kitchen and garden refuse in a hommade compost to improve the soil’s tilth, aeration, and water-holding capacity.

To learn about more ways to save money on landscaping, visit here. Keep these money saving tips in mind when updating your landscape before fall! What do you think of these tips? How do you save money on landscaping? Comment to share with us!