4 Things To Do In Central Ohio This December

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Central Ohio Homes

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:

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.
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.
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.
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.

6 Ways to Prepare Your Home For The Cold Weather

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Central Ohio Homes

6 Ways to Prepare Your Home For The Cold Weather – We just experienced our round of snow for the year and many homeowners are preparing for the cold weather. Preparing your home for the change in season can be very helpful to you in the long run, and even keep your home looking and feeling like new. Here are six ways to prepare your home for the cold weather this year.

Use Plastic on Your Windows

Covering your windows with plastic might sound crazy to some, but it will help to cut down on your energy bill this season. Some homes are draftier than others, but keeping the warm air in and the cold air out will always be helpful.

Clean The Gutters

Whether you’re home is near trees or not, be sure to clean out your gutters before the weather becomes too cold to do so. Natural things accumulate in your gutters throughout the year, so cleaning them before snow starts falling can help to prevent ice dams and other potential damage.

Boost Lighting

Winter tends to be a dark and dreary time, so boost the lighting in your home for days like that. It will keep you more energized and ready for each day.

Reverse Your Ceiling Fan

Reversing your ceiling fan will help it do the opposite of what it does in the summer times, it will help to keep the warm air circulating throughout the room. This works particularly well in rooms with very high ceilings, but has the same effect all over.

Inventory Your Supplies

Nothing is worse than not having a snow shovel or a brush for your car when you’re trying to get out of the driveway. Make sure you have the things you need before the weather becomes bad and it’s too late.

Prepare For A Storm

The weather is a unpredictable thing, so make sure you are prepared for any scenario. If there is a winter storm and the power goes out, how will you keep warm or prepare food? Being prepared for a situation like that will keep you more calm in the long run.

To learn more about how to prepare your home for the cold weather, visit here.

4 Ways to Hide Speakers Throughout Your Home

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Central Ohio Homes

4 Ways to Hide Speakers Throughout Your Home

Instead of using one large speaker, you can use small ones throughout your house to achieve the same experience! Walking into a room and not even knowing where the noise is coming from might even increase that experience for the better. It might seem tricky if the space is small, however, there are a few fast and easy ways to hide these smaller speakers. If you do not have the money to buy new speakers, you can always use the things around your house or even transform them into something that could work better!

Hang them on the wall to look like a light
1. Triad Speakers:
  1. Look like wall sconces but are actually speakers
  2. Ear level and perfect for surround sound

Find more information here

Hide them in the ceiling fan
1. Soundolier Speakers:
  1. Nobody will guess the sound is coming from the ceiling fan
  2. With the fan in the middle of the room everyone will hear it

Find more information here

Practically invisible speakers
1. TruAdio’s Ghost Speaker:
  1. As small as 4.5 inches
  2. Hides the frame of the speaker and makes it look smooth

Find more information here

Use your own furniture
1. Cabinets with transparent faces make great spaces for hiding speakers
2. Use furniture to hide wires behind
3. Blend speakers in with things like picture frames

Nobody has to know where the sound is coming from, as long as it is there! If you do not have the money to afford new hidden speakers, just use the furniture around your house to disguise your old ones.

4 Things To Do In Central Ohio This November

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Central Ohio Homes

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:

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.
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.
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.
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!

5 Ways to Make a Small Living Room Look Bigger

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Central Ohio Homes

No one wants a cluttered home or to feel like they have a small living space, right? Especially if you are house hunting, you want more space for your money. If you have a small room in your home or want to make your rooms appear bigger than they are, here are 5 tips for you…

Floor To Ceiling Curtains

To make the ceilings appear to be taller, hang your curtains higher than the windows. By putting rod higher than the window itself, you give the illusion that the windows and ceiling are bigger and higher than they really are.

No Bulky Furniture

When furniture is too big for the space or there is too much furniture in the room, the room can appear smaller than it really is. Declutter and stick with appropriately sized furniture to keep the room spacious, light and bright.

Neutral and Light Colors

With a smaller room, it’s important to stick with light, neutral colors. If you put dark colors and accents in a small room it can close the space making it appear smaller that it really is. Let the light in and the space open up with the right color sceme.

Oversized Mirrors

A newer trend, this trick can make the room appear bigger than it really is by using the reflection of the light, neutral colors and the room itself. Strategically place the mirror on a wall that reflects the incoming light and also provides the proper illusion.

The Right Coffee Table

Whether it’s a coffee or end table, choose furniture that can also double as a storage space. Whether it has drawers or opens up to store extra pillows, blankets or even your TV accessories, choose your furniture wisely. In a small space this can dramatically declutter a room.

Staging Your Home To Sell: Secrets From The Experts

Posted on October 17, 2014 by Central Ohio Homes

Are you selling your home? You may want to consider staging it to attract buyers and allow them to imagine it being their home.

“Buyers can only imagine what they see, not what it’s going to be,” says Barb Schwarz, a broker who now focuses entirely on staging homes with her International Association of Home Staging Professionals. “If you don’t clean the carpet or don’t take down the flocked wallpaper or the teenager’s walls are painted bright purple, the buyer can’t envision it any other way.”

Staging a home can make the biggest difference in your selling process. Investing in staging can actually bring better returns on a home in the long-run!

Curb Appeal isn’t just a catchy phrase created to boost landscapers’ income. It’s a crucial first impression that can make buyers either wary of stopping to look or else eager to step inside. Make sure that your lawn and garden look great, trash cans and bikes are put away, house numbers are attractive and easy to see, the front door is spectacular (because you’ve replaced or painted it and perhaps updated the hardware), and you have attractive potted plants by the door.

First Impressions come the minute a potential buyer steps inside your home. Coats on a rack, shoes underneath and keys and other doodads in a dish on a console table may show that you’re a fabulous organizer, but this look is not the way to sell a home. Put the coats and shoes in a closet, the keys in your purse and a vase of flowers on the table.

Time To Clean! Or hire a cleaning crew to come regularly while your home is on the market, or at least for a one-time super-cleaning. Don’t skip windows (inside and out), behind the toilet, bathroom grout, under sinks. Actually move your furniture to vacuum behind and under it.

Rearranging Is Key. Arrange your furnishings to frame — not obscure — views, fireplaces and other architectural details. Put tall objects (furniture, vases, paintings or plants) against tall walls. Highlight, don’t block, the traffic flow. Grab a couple of sturdy friends and play with different ways to arrange your furniture. Pay attention to your friends’ opinions.

5 Ways to Spruce up Your Home For Fall

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Central Ohio Homes

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.

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.
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!
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!
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.
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.

Why Should Someone Choose Rita As Their Realtor?

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Central Ohio Homes

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

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Central Ohio Homes

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!

Tips To Strengthen Your Credit Score

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Central Ohio Homes

Tips To Strengthen Your Credit Score – This is always a tricky subject. Just for the simple fact that everyone’s situation is different. To help you out, here are a few tips from Bankrate that will help you move in the right direction…

Watch Your Credit Limit – A way to help strengthen your credit score is to keep the balances on your credit cards low. How much revolving credit you have vs. how much you’re actually using. According to Bankrate, the optimum is 10% or lower.

Reduce The Number Of Cards – This isn’t what you think! This means stop using all of your credit cards. Instead have one or two cards you use for everything. It may hurt your credit score to have a $50 balance on one card and a $30 balance on another. Instead, pay those off and keep to just a few main cards.

Good Debt vs. Bad Debt – Good debt is where you have a long history of repayment records, such as a car loan. Some try to get this removed from their credit report once they pay it off thinking it could be harmful to their score when in fact it can be great for their credit score.

Pulling Credit – When shopping for your next big purchase such as a home, car, etc, these lenders will need to pull your credit score to see what loan options you have. Try sticking to a short time frame when shopping around and pulling your credit score with different companies.

Pay Bills On Time – This might seem obvious but it’s even more important when you are trying to make a big purchase. If you are saving up for a home, don’t pass on paying that electric bill because you need that money for your down payment. Mistakes like this can change your credit score which can effect the purchase of your home.

Don’t Hint Risk – Missing payments or paying less on your credit card than you usually do can hint risk to your card issuer. Taking out cash advances or paying for a divorce attorney can do this as well. Although it doesn’t necessarily effect your credit score, it is still something you should avoid.

Stay Informed – Whether you are looking to make a big purchase or not, it’s still important to know where you stand on your credit report. However, don’t obsess over until the moment comes where you are ready to make that big purchase. Pay your bills on time, keep a low balance on your card and create some consistency. Feel free to monitor your score every four months or so to know where you stand.

With these tips in mind, strengthening your credit score will be an easier process! Do you have any tips to share? Comment to share with us!

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