The first home I purchased (1987), was a new build. I was so excited watching as it went from just a hole in the ground, through the framing stage to ultimate completion. I had a blank canvas on which to put my touch both inside and out. And, boy, did I take advantage of that for the eight years I lived there.
By the time I sold it in ‘95, the backyard was a jungle, and there were no white walls inside. You see, since my plans were to one day retire to Tucson, I decorated my OHIO home in the way Tucson homes were decorated. I wanted to “feel” like I was living there even though I wasn’t there yet. The colors we associate with Arizona – turquoise, pinks, oranges – are the colors of the soil (caliche), so the homes are actually camouflaged. Obviously, we don’t find those colors here, so … well … it just looks weird here.
When I was ready to sell, I selected a very nice agent that had been recommended to me. Normally, Jim is a quiet person with mild expressions. However, when we met to sign the listing papers and do the walk-thru of my home, I still chuckle at the look he had on his face when he walked into my bedroom. While he was too nice and quiet to ever say it, I’m sure he was thinking “OMG“!
I had painted the upper walls the color of the AZ ground, with a special AZ-style wallpaper and co-ordinating border. I had to flip through LOTS of wallpaper books before I found just the “perfect” one. 
The purpose of the wall mural was to make me feel like I was looking out on a lanai when I woke up in cold winter mornings.
As if the bedroom wasn’t bad enough, the adjoining bath used the THIRD version of the coordinating paper. Don’t ya’ just love it!
I agreed to repaint some of the other rooms, but I told Jim that I didn’t have time to redo this room. I remember telling him that the buyers would either like it or they wouldn’t. (I was a “bad” seller) Now that I am a Realtor®, I can fully appreciate what Jim must have been thinking.
Apparently, the buyers liked the rest of the home, and I’ve no idea what their thoughts were on this room, but we went into contract in 13 days at full price. So kudos to Jim for a job well done.
My advice for today’s sellers … don’t do what I did. It’s an entirely different market than it was in ‘95, and today’s buyers want neutral because they’re too busy to undo your “custom” decorating.
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.
Real Living HER continues to be the #1 real estate broker with their agents selling far more homes than others. In many of the districts, their market share has continued to increase. The 2009 market has been tougher to get homes sold, so no doubt the extra programs that Real Living offers to both buyers and sellers has helped get homes sold.
Ana winds prevail, although I’m not sure. I do know that when we rounded a curve on the freeway east of LA, we saw mile after mile of probably hundreds of tall turbines. Some were turning while others were stopped. I learned later that whether they rotate or not, depends upon the demand for electricity.
Elaine Reese
614-825-8860Real Living HER
Help Pet Organizations Help Pets In Need
12/11/2009 · Leave a Comment
Not every dog leads the comfortable life that The Murph does. They don’t have sweaters or coats to keep them warm when they go outside. They may not have a warm bed to sleep in, but may have to sleep on the cold ground. They may have to go to bed with an empty belly and frozen water bowl.
YOU CAN HELP!
With the tough economy, people are being forced to turn their pets into the shelters because they can no longer afford to feed or care for their pet. A local pet day care (Camp Bow Wow) is having a donation day tomorrow to assist the Pet Pantry and Columbus Dog Connection to help needy people with pet food and supplies so those people don’t have to surrender their pets for financial reasons.
Take your donations to Camp Bow Wow, 5100 Nike Dr, Hilliard on Saturday, Dec 12 between 10am-2pm. See their web site at www.campbowwow.com for the list of requested items.
The Columbus Dog Connection web site also has a donation page that lists the needs for other shelters in other counties. If you help with Habitat for Humanity, perhaps you can also help with Habitat for Dogmanity by helping to build dog houses for pets without outside shelter, or to give the materials to build such houses.
You can also check these web sites which have “wish list” requests for their shelter animals: Capital Area Humane Society, Franklin County Animal Shelter, Delaware County Humane Society
If you’re like me, you may have leashes, collars, bowls, beds, sweaters, coats, that were used for pets that are now sadly gone. I know I have such items from my three Dobies that are way too big for The Murph. I think it’s time to give them to other pets.
Categories: Central Ohio · Commentary · Delaware County · Dog Tails · Franklin County
Tagged: dog shelter donations