Monthly Archives: February 2009

Warmer weekend … visit an open house!

Posted on 02/06/2009 | 2 Comments

copyrighted - Elaine Reese, central ohio Realtor open house signs

In Central Ohio, we’re to get somewhat of a breather this weekend with temps in the 40′s. Even the forecasted rain is to be gone by Sunday morning. So what to do?

Plan now to visit an open house. I’m sure there will be many homes open since we’ve had such a shortage of decent weekends lately. You can view a complete list of Real Living HER’s open houses here.

I’m holding a listing open at 6481 Bellbrook Pl in Worthington from 1:00-4:00 on Sunday afternoon. Stop by to see this custom built home or to just say ‘hi’. (See Map) (See photos)

I’ll have FOOD! Now, that should get your attention.

Chocolate Roses for the first 9 guys
to give to your sweetie!

Thanks to all the nice people who visited my open house this afternoon. It was nice chatting with you.

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Posted in Buyers, Central Ohio, Franklin County, Homes, Homes for sale, Worthington Ohio

Bad MLS Photos … Pitiful or Fun.

Posted on 02/03/2009 | 4 Comments

I’ve written before about the importance of having GOOD photos in the MLS or on agent web sites. I wish I could post some of the worst here, but that would violate copyright laws since using other’s photos is illegal.

When you’re searching for homes online, have you seen homes or rooms that make you laugh or just cause you to shake your head? Watch for these offenders …

Photos so dark you can’t see the room. The agent didn’t turn the lights on or they don’t know how to adjust their camera settings.
My personal pet peeve is a fridge loaded with magnets. Messy, messy!
Photos with the agent’s books, listing papers and car keys on the table or center island. There’s a local agent that does this all the time.
Agents taking a photo of themselves taking a photo with a blast of the flash. Usually this occurs in bathroom mirrors.
I saw one for an upscale home with a cat in the middle of the frame. The cat was sitting on the kitchen counter near the sink. I think I’ll pass on eating any food at THAT home. Having a cat’s rump and litter box feet on a counter is just yucky.
“Leaning” walls and cabinets. You see this mistake a lot. It’s totally avoidable by lining up the frame box in the view finder, and can be further adjusted in the imaging program that comes with cameras. It’s just a matter of caring about quality.
So how do you like viewing baths with the toilet seat up and wet towels draped over the shower bar?
I personally think that trash cans and cars in the driveway enhance curb appeal. NOT!
Blurry photos. Perhaps the agent needs to use a tripod if they can’t hold the camera steady.

When you’re “interviewing” agents online, critique the photos they post on their listings. If you don’t like what you see, pick another agent. If your current agent is using bad photos, tell them you want new photos.

What’s some of the funny or pathetic photos that you’ve seen?

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 Advertising, Buyers, Home selling process, Homes, Homes for sale, Internet, Realtors®, Sellers

Tagged MLS photos

Super Bowl is over … now we’ll sell houses.

Posted on 02/01/2009 | Leave a comment

I’m glad the Super Bowl is over.

Why, you ask?

Well, historically the real estate market begins to cut loose once the Super Bowl is over. It’s a phenomenon that local real estate agents discuss. What does a football game have to do with buying or selling a house? We don’t understand the connection, but every year the market starts to pick up after the game is over. Maybe it’s because by now people have a good case of cabin fever and their current living quarters just seem too small and cramped. Perhaps, there’s nothing else to do in February other than search for homes.

The snowbirds often start returning later this month or early in March. Some of them have made the decision to sell their northern home in order to live full time in the South. I have some clients who have called to let me know they are planning to do just that.

Judging by the traffic to certain posts or pages that I have here on my blog, I can tell that people are already checking prices and sales in the area. That traffic began its normal increase that I see each year at this time. We (agents) think there is pent-up demand this year by those people wanting to move or buy, but resisted either due to the weather or waiting to see how things go in the economy and the new administration.

If you’re ready to start your online search, I strongly recommend using a local broker’s site, such as Real Living HER, rather than one of the national sites. The data is more complete, more up-to-date and it includes all the CBR’s MLS listings … not just Real Living’s listings. Plus, it’s just so much more user-friendly than the national sites. Give me a call if you need assistance.

Read a related article on the Super Bowl effect.

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Posted in Advertising, Buyers, Central Ohio, Home selling process, Homes, Homes for sale, Internet, Real Living HER, Realtors®, Sellers