Monthly Archives: July 2009

The unused room “DOWN THERE”

Posted on 07/20/2009 | 2 Comments

I dislike basements! There I said it. I’m saying that as a homeowner … not as a Realtor®.

As a Realtor®, I know they’re a necessary evil because selling slab homes is tough in central Ohio. Even if people don’t finish them, they use them as extra storage space. Once in a while people use them for a place to go to when there’s a tornado warning. I would go DOWN THERE if that need ever arises.

But on a personal level, I don’t use my basement except to store Christmas trimmings and a few other items. I’ve got plenty of storage space on the upper two floors. I only go DOWN THERE every couple months to change the furnace filter.

The "DOWN THERE" Space

My basement is decent-sized – over 1300 sq ft – so there’s lots of empty space – and some might view it as “having potential”. I’ve shown homes of the same floor plan as mine with the basement finished and they’re very nice. But having mine finished – NAH!

My kids have viewed my basement as “having potential” also. They see all that open space as potential to store their extra stuff. Call me a mean Mom, but I’ve resisted that idea as well.

crutches I really could make it even barer. I have a 10-ft Christmas tree that I haven’t used since my youngest left the nest years ago. The box is too heavy to carry upstairs, so I have to make several trips carrying the piece-parts up. It takes me two days to set it up and decorate, plus, I risk life and limb on the ladder reaching-leaning to decorate the top half. It would really look nice in my great room but …

Help … I’ve fallen and can’t get up!

A little Porsche pedal car is DOWN THERE. It was a gift I gave my oldest granddaughter when she was a toddler. Somehow I got it back. She’ll be 24 next month and got married last year so at some point I’ll likely be able to give it back to her.

At a previous home I had a deck. The furniture for that deck is DOWN THERE. I didn’t like the furniture then and I don’t like it now. I’ve tried to convince my kids to take the furniture, but they don’t need/want it either.

My golf clubs are DOWN THERE. I used to play lots of golf but the clubs haven’t been used for years. Just haven’t had the time to devote the 5 hours required to play a round.

I’ve had clients ask if I had room to store their stuff when their home sold quicker than they thought it would and their new home wasn’t quite ready. Well, yes I do have room DOWN THERE … but, I give them a coupon to PODS instead.

Hello … 1-800-GOT JUNK? … I have some stuff I want you to carry away …

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.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Central Ohio, Commentary, Humor

Tagged basement storage

Tartan Ridge Parade of Homes in Dublin was busy today

Posted on 07/18/2009 | Leave a comment

I worked at the New England Homes model this afternoon at the Parade of Homes in Dublin. There were many people who walked through, often saying that it was their favorite model. I took photos of some of the models as well as a portion of the interior of the New England model.

This year’s parade included 11 homes. The styles are unique in that the Parade site developer requested that the homes resemble styles from the late 1700′s to early 1900′s. Many of them have been designed to look like the original home has been “added onto” with them being much deeper than they are wide. Several of the homes are already sold, but I’m 100% sure that if you want one, the builders will gladly build YOU a new one.

COMPASS HOMES: $599,000 for 3516 sq ft
COPPERTREE HOMES: $644,000 for 3780 sq ft
DANI HOMES: $849,230 for 4454 sq ft
DUFFY HOMES: $789,900 for 4849 sq ft
GOSSING CONSTRUCTION: $769,000 for 4400 sq ft
KEVIN KNIGHT & CO: $949,000 for 5000 sq ft
LAKEWOOD BUILDERS: $765,000 for 5100 sq ft
M/I HOMES SHOWCASE: $799,000 for 4700 sq ft
NEW ENGLAND HOMES: $850,000 for 5566 sq ft
ROMANELLI & HUGHES: $917,000 for 5700 sq ft
STAFFORD GROUP: $895,000 for 5381 sq ft

The Parade lasts until July 26 so there is still time for you to visit.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Central Ohio, Dublin Ohio, Franklin County, Homes, Homes for sale, New home builders

Tagged 2009 Parade of Homes in Tartan Ridge, Dublin Ohio

Friday’s Are For Fun

Posted on 07/17/2009 | Leave a comment

Pig w-lipstick It’s Friday.

Friday’s are for fun.

I’m a Realtor®.

Therefore, I’m working on putting lipstick on the piggy real estate market. OINK!

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Central Ohio, Commentary, Realtors®

Tagged central ohio real estate market

Will my house be in violation of Delaware County zoning codes?

Posted on 07/14/2009 | 3 Comments

Tiny bird nest

My home is zoned for single-family residential. I think it might be in violation of the zoning code. It’s become a multi-family home.

I took a Sunday off from the usual open house stint, to do some mulching, edging and pruning. When pruning the flowering crab apple tree, I noticed a tiny bird nest.

At first I thought I had finally found a hummingbird nest since they’re regular visitors. However, although the nest was tiny, I don’t think it was small enough for a hummingbird. May belong to the chickadees or goldfinches.

I got my ladder to take a close up photo. When I was “in” the tree, I noticed a second nearby same-sized nest. I was a little surprised as I thought birds didn’t build their nests so close together.

Larger bird nest

As I turned around to climb down the ladder, I noticed a 3rd larger nest with some thin plastic woven in the twigs. I’ve seen both robins and doves come out of this tree so this larger nest probably belongs to one of them.

Pyracantha

Another pair of robins seem to favor a pyracantha near the back door. In fact, I planted it for them and the other berry eating birds so they’ll have food in the winter. That’s when they make a run on the orange berries.

This summer “something” else is using the thorny barrier of the pyracantha for shelter. When The Murph goes out the final time at night, there is sometimes “something” hidden in the shrub that scares him. Its movement makes him jump and then run up the steps to come back in the house.

Then there are the chipmunks. They have tunnels everywhere, plus, they bury the birds’ sunflower seeds so I have little outcroppings of sunflower sprouts in most of my landscape beds.

And of course, there are the rabbits! They’ve raised numerous families under the five Norway spruces since I planted the trees years ago. They began living there when I had Brutus, my 3rd Murph & Rabbit Dobie. Brutie never bothered them and they quickly learned that they didn’t have to run when he came into the yard.

Not so with The Murph. When he’s out, they keep a watchful eye, ever ready to scamper under the fence if need be. The Murph after all IS a rabbit-hunting breed. I know when there is a new batch of babies because The Murph sometimes has rabbit fur stuck to his nose from his sniffing around the rabbit hole that is lined with the mama’s fur.

I’m glad that the wildlife has adopted my home as their own, It’s rather fun living in a multi-family home – even if it isn’t zoned for that.

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Central Ohio, Commentary, Delaware County, Dog Tails

Tagged bird nests, rabbits

What’s your house personality?

Posted on 07/11/2009 | Leave a comment

The suburbs around Columbus seem to have “personalities’. People gravitate toward one suburb or another based on the personality they perceive the suburb to have. Those perceptions may be correct or they may not. cookies Some suburbs are similar, yet different.

People who like older homes with nooks & crannies may opt for Worthington, Upper Arlington, Clintonville or Bexley. Those who like newer homes may elect to live in Dublin, Powell or Lewis Center. A suburb like New Albany is for those that enjoy the East Coast Williamsburg look. Some people take comfort in buying a “normal” house that, while it may have some unique features, it’s not so different from others. The home conforms.

Then there’s the eclectic set of people. The “march to a different drummer” kind of folks. Cookie-cutter homes aren’t for these people. They view themselves as unique and want a home to reflect that uniqueness. The typical subdivision isn’t their style either because many subdivisions don’t allow uniqueness.

drum Currently I have a listing that is one of these “different drummer” homes. Today I was checking inventory availability in the Hoover Reservoir area where this home is located. As I looked at the homes and their interior photos, it occurred to me that although the area east of Hoover Reservoir isn’t really like a subdivision, there was some commonality to the homes. The commonality to them is their “uncommonness”.

I began to wonder if people gravitate to this area because of the ability to live within a pastoral setting in a truly custom home that is unlike any other. Most of the homes are built to take full advantage of the outdoor view, be it trees, ravines or the reservoir’s water view. I suspect these are people who are comfortable in their own skin and confident enough to venture outside-the-box with their home’s architecture. Simply because of the terrain, they may also have an appreciation for nature or simply enjoy their privacy.

It’s interesting how birds of a feather flock together, isn’t it. Oh-h … and did I mention how many unique birds – those with actual feathers – flock to this east side of Hoover Reservoir as well?

If you’re the type of person with your own drum and want a home to reflect that, give me a call. I’ve got one that will knock your socks off!

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Buyers, Central Ohio, Delaware County, Dublin Ohio, Franklin County, Home buying process, Homes, Homes for sale, Lewis Center Ohio, Powell Ohio, Worthington Ohio

Tagged architecture, California contemporary home in Ohio, central ohio real estate market, cookie-cutter homes, Hoover Reservoir

Will you be visiting the BIA Parade of Homes?

Posted on 07/08/2009 | Leave a comment

parade-of-homes This weekend marks the beginning of the BIA Parade of Homes. It will be held at Tartan Ridge in Dublin and should prove to have the elegant homes of past years. There are eleven builders participating in this year’s event.

It’s always fun to visit the Parade to view new decorating trends or get ideas for our own homes. I suspect some “honey-do” lists get a little longer after the visits.

The Parade runs from July 11 through July 26. Hours are Mon-Sat 12pm-9pm; Sun 12pm-6pm. Tickets cost $12 and parking costs $2. Kids under 12 are free. Visit the BIA Parade web site for locations offering discounted tickets. Tartan Ridge is northwest of downtown Dublin, off Hyland-Croy Rd near Glacier Ridge Metro Park.

I’ll be there on July 18 working at the New England Homes model. This builder has won awards at past Parades, so be sure to visit it. If you’re there on the 18th, be sure to say ‘hi’.

parade 004

EDITED:

I went to the Parade location today to pick up my pass to work the New England home. Here’s a photo of the New England Homes model where I’ll be on the 18th.

It’s very nice inside with a great floor plan. It’s already sold, but the builder can build one just for YOU!

parade 006 This is the Duffy home model. I thought it was a very appealing style, especially with the copper roof. I haven’t been inside as there were many workers there today making last minute preparations for Saturday’s opening.