Monthly Archives: December 2010

The painting is done … next week the floors.

Posted on 12/10/2010 | Leave a comment

Last Saturday I wrote about my plans to update my home in the way I instruct sellers when they’re planning to move. Well, I’m not planning to move, but I desperately needed to replace the original builder-paint and carpet.

I briefly thought about doing the painting myself but after about a half-second decided there was no way I could handle painting a cathedral ceiling. I have a 16-ft extension ladder, but start to feel uneasy about half way up. So I called the pros.

Painting cathedral ceiling The 3 painters began their work on Wednesday morning – bright & early – at 8:00 AM (zzzzzzzzzzzzz). Ceilings were done first. It pays to have the right equipment. Doesn’t hurt being a tall, strong twenty-something, either. You’d be picking me up off the floor if I had tried this. My arms would have given out after just a few rolls.

painting a stairwall Opposite the high wall is an open staircase. They had a special thingy that fits on stairs so it can hold a ladder to reach the top of the wall along the stairs. The left wall up in my loft/office kind of hangs out in the open and I couldn’t have managed that either without falling down into the Great Room.

Painting a high wall The real test was in painting the wall at the top of the peak (~16 ft) while painting a straight line. The wall now has two coats and it looks wonderful.

The guys taped, caulked and painted all 9 rooms, 2 halls and ceilings, giving everything two coats and sanding in between coats. Plus, they helped me move the furniture that I couldn’t and helped install replacement blinds. I have a little over 2000 sq ft and they finished mid Friday afternoon. They were WONDERFUL, very efficient and didn’t waste time. I highly recommend them!

The company is Dynamic Painting in Lewis Center. Call them at 614-554-5630. They do both interior and exterior; residential and commercial. They are bonded and insured; rated by Angie’s List and the BBB. Follow them on Twitter @dynamicpainting. Their website is DynamicPainting.net.

Mention that you read about them on this blog, and they’ll give you a 10% discount! How’s that for an added benefit to reading my stuff. LOL

Copyright © 2010. 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, Delaware County, Delaware Ohio, Fix-ups, Homes

Tagged central ohio real estate market news, lewis center home painter, painting a home

I’m doing what I tell my sellers to do

Posted on 12/04/2010 | Leave a comment

When I first meet with sellers prior to listing their home, they ask what they should do to prepare their home to show well to buyers. Many times my answer is for them to replace worn carpet and paint. Scuffs on woodwork may also need to be addressed.

Once in a while the sellers balk at spending the money to do it. They’re hoping the buyer will want to do the work themselves. Not true. Why would a buyer pay a good price for a home that they then have to make improvements that the seller didn’t want to.

When buyers find a home they are interested in, if it needs new carpet or paint, the buyers will usually discount the price far more than the cost of the flooring or paint. It happens all the time. Or they may not even bother to write an offer, because the home needs “too many updates”. There is simply too much inventory for buyers to choose from that they don’t have to settle for a home that needs work.

I’ve decided that it’s time for me to “put my money where my mouth is“. It’s time for ME to get rid of the builder paint and flooring.

PAINTER. I called two painters that were recommended by other agents. Only one returned my call, so he’s coming Monday to give me an estimate. I’ve picked the colors and will be using three shades of taupe - light, medium, dark. I don’t mind painting but I want the ceilings done and the ceiling in my great room is over 16 ft high. I don’t have or want to buy a step-ladder that tall plus, I’m not good with heights.
FLOORS.I went to America’s Floor Source for the three types of flooring I want. They offer a discount to Realtors® and our clients. I picked out a cream California berber for the bedrooms and loft. They had a roll that was being discontinued so it was a good price. I had wanted hardwood for the great room – $$$$ - but opted for an engineered wood which means the hardwood is thin, and can’t be sanded. Last, I selected a textured vinyl for the kitchen and my bath.

It was amazingly easy to get everybody scheduled before Christmas. PEOPLE NEED WORK! So I’m doing my part to support local businesses. AND I’ll have a better appreciation for the costs when I tell the sellers to fix up. It’s not cheap but it’s less than what buyers discount the price when the work isn’t done.

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Posted in Central Ohio, Delaware County, Delaware Ohio, Fix-ups, Homes

Tagged real estate fix-ups

Real Living HER has a new web site

Posted on 12/01/2010 | Leave a comment

Real Living HER switched over to their NEW extensive website today. They have always beat out the competition with a high-traffic, very user-friendly site used by millions. This new design is even better, providing even more information on each listing. Remember, all broker’s listings are included – not just Real Living’s – through agreements called Broker Reciprocity.

REAL LIVING HOME PAGE

You can set up your own personal search based on the criteria you want in a home, then save it. When new listings (or a price reduction) come on the market that match your criteria, you’ll be notified via email immediately.

When viewing a home that is for sale, you will be able to view an extensive amount of info for the neighborhood or city where the home is located. Look for the tabs located below the photo box. You’ll also be able to see many photos of the home if the listing agent has added them. To see an example of a listing click on the following link.

POWELL OH HOME FOR SALE

Each Real Living agent has been provided a section on the main website. Click the link below to visit my section. When on my site, you can set up your home search, designate me as your agent, or email me. If you click on the Local Information tab, you can enter an address, such as your own, then view the same type of demographics as is available with each of the homes for sale. That’s a rather fun exercise for your own home. See what the stats are for schools, crime, environment, income/education, and walking score. If you’re thinking of moving to another city, you can check the stats for that city as well.

ELAINE REESE SECTION OF REAL LIVING WEB SITE

A lot of work went into this new web design, however, since it’s brand new, there may be some start-up glitches for a few days. The development gurus have also told us that they’ll be adding even more features or pages of information in the coming months. Of the things that I’ve checked, it seems to be working OK so far. So, go ahead, give it a test drive.

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Posted in Buyers, Central Ohio, Columbus Ohio, Delaware County, Elaine's Listings, Franklin County, Homes, Homes for sale, Powell Ohio, Real Living HER, Realtor® selection, Realtors®, Sellers, Technology, Wedgewood