Monthly Archives: January 2009

Staying positive when your nose hairs are frozen

Posted on 01/18/2009 | 4 Comments

OK … that title may be a little gross, but sometimes we have to tell it like it is. I try to be a relatively positive person and try to view the glass as half full.

So what’s to be positive about the winter we’ve been having?

BUGS!!!!!

With those extreme cold temps we just had, there SHOULD be fewer bugs this summer because they, too, will be frozen. Sometimes our winters aren’t all that bad and the insects that overwinter in the upper few inches of the soil, will survive quite nicely. Then when warm weather comes along – finally – we’re deluged with fighting masses of insects.

I’m just hoping that the layer of snow on the ground isn’t offering a form of insulation for the creepy crawlies.

Any entomologists out there to give an opinion on whether it’s been cold enough – long enough – to kill the critters?

Copyright © 2009. Elaine Reese, Real Living HER. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com then the material has been stolen without permission. Violators will be reported.

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Posted in Central Ohio, Commentary, Homes

Tagged frozen soil, insects

Needed: Southern Delaware County Handymen (handyperson?)

Posted on 01/16/2009 | 3 Comments

“Don’t Realtors® have a list of handymen?”

I received a call yesterday from someone wanting to know who they could call to remove the 6½” of snow we got on Wednesday in Delaware County. When I told him I was trying to find someone also, he said, “I thought Realtors® had lists of people who can “fix” things.

Well yes we do to some extent. We have lists of roofers, plumbers, electricians, home inspectors, radon mitigators, etc. The list that isn’t so good are the general contractors, the all-purpose handyman, painters, people to mow lawns, and yes, people who will remove snow.

We keep a “vendor” book in the office where each of us can add the name of some company or person that we’ve used who did a good job. I checked the book yesterday for “snow removal”. No names.

need a smow plow for Delaware County The other problem we (agents) have is that since many of these routine maintenance companies are individuals, when we call their phone, they are often no longer in business.

So, here’s my request. If you know someone who does routine maintenance, handyman-type work or SNOW REMOVAL, please email me with their information. It would be helpful to include whether you’ve personally used this person or know someone who has who can provide a referral. While I love kids, please, confine your referral to adults with appropriate insurance.

BTW, the snow removal person that I need NOW for at least two homes, should have either a truck with a blade or a small tractor with a blade. Both drives are too big to merely use a shovel.

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Posted in Central Ohio, Delaware County, Delaware Ohio, Dublin Ohio, Fix-ups, Franklin County, Galena Ohio, Homes, Lewis Center Ohio, Powell Ohio, Real Living HER, Realtors®, Worthington Ohio

Tagged general maintenace, handyman, lawn mowing, painters, snow removal

Feeding the birds in the winter – the good and the bad

Posted on 01/15/2009 | Leave a comment

This is the month when the European Starlings swoop down on the ornamental fruit trees to deplete the tiny fruits. They fly in large flocks moving in unison reminiscent of a scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s movie “Birds”. The past few days they’ve hit the neighborhood’s crab apple trees … mine included. They were attacking this ornamental pear outside my bedroom window today. Those “blurs” are the birds as they flew away when I approached the window to take the photo.

starlings-winter-feeding

These fruits are the only food that starlings receive from me. They’re a nasty, noisy bird. I make sure that the bird seed I provide does not contain corn. Some cheap seed mixes contain corn which attracts not only the starlings but also grackles. They are both such agressive birds that they will keep other “nicer” birds away, plus, they eat a “ton” of food. Remember that if you’re not getting the type of birds you want at your feeder.

Also avoid those “economy” mixes that contain red millet. From everything I’ve read, NO birds like that seed so you’re just left with a lot mess below the feeder as the birds push it out of the trays in the feeder. Afterall, why pay for seed that merely acts as useless filler. Cheaper isn’t always a good deal.

I buy my bird seed from Wild Birds Unlimited at either the Riverside Dr store or the Westerville store on State St, depending on which is closest to where I’m driving during the day. The people at both stores are very knowledgeable and can tell you exactly what type of seed to buy to attract specific birds. Copyrighted - chipmunk in Dublin Ohio Of course, sunflower oilers appeal to the most, but if you want to watch birds go absolutely CRAZY, try the “No-Mess Blend“. They love it!

However, be warned that THIS LITTLE GUY loves it too!

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Posted in Central Ohio, Delaware County, Delaware Ohio

Tagged bird feeding, Wild Birds Unlimited

Did we have fun today???

Posted on 01/14/2009 | Leave a comment

I was to attend an MLS Committee meeting at the Columbus Board this afternoon. I said “was” because it took me 50 minutes to drive from my home south of Delaware to Worthington – 12 miles and normally a 20 minute trip. My Real Living office is located in Worthington, so I make this trip often. There are lots of stop lights along the way, and everytime they add another light, it adds another 5 minutes to the trek.

jan14-snow-a1

This truck nearly wiped me out. He ventured too far to the right and the trailer wheels started to slide in the snow pile between the lanes. It’s a little disconcerting to look to the side and see this behemoth wriggling toward you.

Most drivers were being very careful and allowing ample time for braking. The problem – in Delaware County at least – was the layer of ice under the snow. When the snow plows scrape off the snow, the ice is left and according to the TV, the temps are too cold for the road salt to work at melting the ice.

Since the WEENR-mobile has 4WD, I’d prefer they would leave the snow as I can trudge through that stuff just fine. I don’t do ice … had a bad, bad accident on ice many years ago, so I don’t like driving on it.

jan-14-snow-c

By the time I finally made it to 270 – which was at a crawl – I said fuggeddaboutit!. I didn’t feel like driving another 15 miles to get to the Board, which is located near Port Columbus. So I turned around to return home.

I think there’s around 4-5″ at my home so far. It’s supposed to stop tonight, then the winds will pick up causing drifting with near zero temps. More snow is forecast for Sat and Sun.

Yesterday, I shoveled snow at a vacant listing and spread IceMelt. Sounds like I’ll need to repeat that this weekend. That’s one of the “glamorous” things we do as Realtors®.

Can I just hibernate for the rest of the winter?

nice neighbors in Stratford Woods, Delaware Ohio

EDITED: I live in a great neighborhood. It’s one of those close knit communities where people watch out for others even though there are nearly 400 homes. Late this afternoon I heard a commotion outside and saw this father and daughter cleaning my sidewalk and drive. They did other homes as well. For those of us “a little older” or without snowblowers, this is appreciated so much!!!!

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Posted in Columbus Ohio, Delaware County, Delaware Ohio, Franklin County, Real Living HER, Realtors®, Transportation, Worthington Ohio

Do you want fries with that massage?

Posted on 01/12/2009 | 6 Comments

Lots of companies are trying to think outside the box to gain new business in these tougher times. A couple days ago I received a large, pretty postcard from a company that certainly should be commended for “trying” a new approach by targeting Realtors®.

The headline of the card read, “Real Estate Market Got You Down?” Nearby was a graphic of a For Sale/Foreclosure yard sign. The middle of the card read, “Thinking of leaving the real estate field? Don’t go back to a 9-5 job. Start a new career in Massage Therapy or Acupuncture.”

Say what !!!

Well … I AM a full-service Realtor® … but giving massages to my clients????

Uh-h-h-h … don’t think I’ll be doing that. Sorry.

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Posted in Humor, Realtors®

2008 Monthly Sales in Delaware County

Posted on 01/12/2009 | Leave a comment

The monthly sales of homes in Delaware County for 2008 followed the same summer spike that is typical in this market. People with school aged children want to move during the summer, so that causes other sellers and buyers to move as well. Rather like musical chairs.

The Sales are substantially lower during the winter months, as might be expected with the holidays and unpleasant weather. This chart shows the month the home closed. If I were to do a similar chart according to the month the home went into contract, the bars would likely move back a month, since many homes go into contract in the month preceding the month the home closes.

Click chart to enlarge.

Not surprisingly, most of the homes/condos sold were in the $200-299K and $300-499K ranges. This is fairly typical of Delaware County, especially the southern part of the county south of Delaware.

One point to notice is that the sales began to increase in March. Those homes likely went into contract at some point in late February. Agents here have always noted that sales pick up as soon as the Super Bowl is over – why we don’t know – but it happens!

If you’re planning to list your home, you might want to have it ready to capture this first blush of buyers. If you plan to buy a home, you might want to consider that the longer you wait to buy, the more competition you’ll have for the homes on the market.

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Posted in Central Ohio, Delaware County, Homes, Housing stats

Tagged central ohio real estate market