Tag Archives: luxury homes in central ohio

Did you see me on TV?

Posted on 03/13/2009 | Leave a comment

ABC Ch 6′s Tom Bosco called me a couple weeks ago about a week-long series he was doing on the local housing market. He had visited this blog and wanted to include me for the “Photography” portion of his series. The intent was to discuss the importance of good photos for a home on the Internet. Since this is such a pet peeve of mine, I jumped at the chance. Good photos are so critical when marketing the home on the Internet.

We agreed to meet at my new listing in Galena, east of Hoover Reservoir, to do the interview. I hoped that it would give extra exposure for the home, but alas, very little of the home is shown. My seller agreed to be interviewed as well.

You can see the entire news segment via this link. Since the only way I could capture it was to video it from my TV, some clarity is lost due to the inability of cameras to record a different medium. (It’s why stripes appear on computer monitors when they appear on TV).

The interview includes another agent on a home in her market area, which is probably a small home in Clintonville.

I want to thank ABC Ch 6 and Tom for finally doing a POSITIVE local housing report. It’s much appreciated.

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, Central Ohio, Delaware County, Franklin County, Galena Ohio, Home selling process, Homes, Homes for sale, Internet, Media, Real Living HER, Realtor® selection, Realtors®, Sellers, Television

Tagged ABC Ch 6 news, central ohio real estate market news, Clintonville, Hoover Reservoir, luxury homes in central ohio, Photography

Sq Ft isn’t always home size … sometimes it’s for gardening

Posted on 03/08/2009 | Leave a comment

On this morning’s NBC4′s news show, Ron Specht interviewed Mel Bartholomew, the author of Square Foot Gardening. As Mel mentioned in the interview, this method of gardening is easier as it conserves space and reduces weeding. He mentioned that he previously was an engineer, therefore, views gardening in a “logical” manner.

The concept is a raised square bed. Depending on the plant size, the square is divided into smaller squares. Think Tic-Tac-Toe type of squares. So some of the beds may contain 4 plants while others may contain 16 plants. Interesting concept.

copyrighted-gdn-640 The home that I just listed has an elaborate garden enclosure designed by a professional designer. Inside the enclosure are raised beds very similar to Bartholomew’s concept. The current owner implemented the raised beds as a better means to care for the plants by being able to sit on the raised wood sides, but also as a way to avoid muddy shoes. The walkways between the raised boxes are heavily mulched to reduce dirty shoes. Because the boxes make gardening much easier, the owner has taken care to ensure that it is an organic garden.

The exterior design is a large hexagon, in keeping with the design of the home. Besides blending with the heavily wooded location, it provides an appealing form of art while serving well as its main function of being deer and critter-proof as they would surely love to munch the variety of vegetables grown throughout the year.

Read more gardening articles that I’ve written:

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Posted in Central Ohio, Delaware County, Fix-ups, Galena Ohio, Homes, Homes for sale

Tagged Hoover Reservoir home for sale, luxury garden, luxury homes in central ohio, organic vegetable garden, Square Foot Gardening

Hoover Reservoir Executive-Style Home Is For Sale

Posted on 03/02/2009 | Leave a comment

Executive-style, luxury, contemporary home near Hoover Reservoir (South of Galena) is now for sale. Nestled in 3 wooded acres overlooking a splendid ravine, this home is truly spectacular. Originally built in the early 60′s, it was totally redesigned by a California architect in the mid 90′s, to maintain its unique hexagonal design. You’ve heard agents say it before, but this home really must be seen in person to totally experience the 360° views in the open and flowing rooms, as well as in the many gardens.

No detail has been missed by the architect to provide “windows to the world” in all the rooms. However, even though the floor plan is open, the various wings provide privacy from the main living areas. It’s an excellent home for entertaining with no worry about intruding upon the private quarters.

For best viewing, click the “full” icon.

The cedar-lined home office is equally spectacular with its panels of windows and access to a ‘sunrise’ deck to get the out-of-the-box creative juices flowing. It even offers a separate workroom, perfect for an assistant or for compiling presentations on the open shelves. There is an exclusive entrance to the office wing via an exterior spiral staircase … convenient for visiting clients or guests. This office wing could also serve as an artist’s or photographer’s gallery.

The floor plan of this wonderful home is extremely versatile so new buyers could use many of the rooms different than the current owners. If you need a home for multi-generations, you’ll find it suitable for that as well. You’re limited only by your imagination.

As the photos indicate, the home is very large, just under 5200 sq ft with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. There are 3 patios and 3 decks. Professionally landscaped with an unbelievable organic veggie garden with an enclosure designed by a professional landscape designer. Convenient to the Polaris area, the airport or downtown Columbus (~30 min). Compare that to the prices on “cookie cutter” houses and you’ll make this your next home! SOLD for $542,000. Google Map

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Posted in Central Ohio, Delaware County, Elaine's Listings, Galena Ohio, Homes, Homes for sale

Tagged "home business", California contemporary home in Ohio, home office, Hoover Reservoir, luxury homes in central ohio, organic vegetable garden

Newspaper reporter loves “enchanting modern home”

Posted on 02/28/2009 | Leave a comment

I listed a unique exec-style home yesterday. The seller happened to have an old newspaper clipping from The Dispatch that was written perhaps in the late 60′s or early 70′s when the newspaper featured the home in its HOMES section. There’s no date on the yellowed article, so we’re not sure when the home was actually featured.

Since the home was totally updated and remodeled in the 90′s, keeping with the original unique design but adding on a 3rd floor, it was interesting to read the newspaper’s take on the design. I enjoyed (was amused) at some of the descriptions used by the Dispatch writer:

“Enchanting design – more than a mere conversation piece.” (yes, very true!)
It has a “myriad of nooks, crannies and turns and its elastic use of space, the plan is a child’s delight; an adult’s idea of enchanting excitement”. (I’ve no idea what an ‘elastic use of space’ is … so don’t ask!)
“At one side, the ceiling soars, the floor falls away and you have a bird’s-eye view into a “well”, which is the lower level living room.” (Perhaps, having a floor ‘fall-away’ is not quite the description I would use …)
“… the eye finds fascination in angles and spaces.” (OK, I agree with this.)
” … to cozily encompass a one-step dropped area rimmed with built-in seating.” (the home has a step-down conversation pit around a wood stove which is a wonderful place.)

I doubt that this Dispatch reporter is still in the business, but I really did enjoy reading her article. I’ll be posting on this home tomorrow or Monday. I’ll have to remember to add some of these phrases … right after I determine what that elastic phrase means … perhaps “versatile”? I do like the “eye finds fascination” as this home is one of those where you want to stand in one spot and do a 360° turn in many of the rooms to totally capture the entire “bird’s-eye view“.

I would LOVE to have this same reporter see the home since its major remodel in the 90′s. It’s even more spectacular now … or as she would say, “even MORE of an enchanting design“.

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Posted in Central Ohio, Delaware County, Galena Ohio, Homes, Homes for sale, Media, Newspaper

Tagged California contemporary home in Ohio, central ohio real estate market, Hoover Reservoir, luxury homes in central ohio

Columbus is home to 187 homes over $1 million.

Posted on 11/24/2007 | Leave a comment

Yesterday on the Today Show Barbara Corcoran (real estate agent) featured three ultra expensive properties that are for sale. One was priced at $100 million and the other two were $75 million.

I decided to check the MLS to see what our highest prices were here in Central Ohio. In the Columbus MLS, there are 187 homes priced over $1 million. There are 28 homes priced over $2 million. And there are nine homes priced over $3 million with the highest price nearly $9 million.

The two most expensive homes were in New Albany. The home priced just under $9 million has over 17,000 sq ft, 8 bedrooms and baths, and sits on 15 acres. The second home is priced around $7.5 million, has over 13,000 sq ft, also has 8 bedrooms with 9 baths, and sits on 22 acres.

Two upscale homes were in the Olentangy school district. The one priced over $4 million has over 9000 sq ft with 4 bedrooms and baths, and sits on 9 acres. The second home in this district is priced at just over $3 million, with 5 bedrooms and baths offers nearly 13,000 sq ft on a 2 acre lot.

Dublin is home to 3 of the premium homes – all priced at around $3.5 million. The most expensive is nearly $3.5 million with 13,556 sq ft, 5 bedrooms, 6 baths and located on nearly 13 acres. The second most expensive is $3.4 million with 6 bedrooms and baths, nearly 9000 sq ft sitting on 1.5 acre. The third most expensive is $3.2 million with 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, just under 11,000 sq ft, situated on 3 acres.

The Hilliard school district has one of the upscale homes. It is priced at $3.5 million with 8 bedrooms, 6 baths, over 9000 sq ft, sitting on 10 acres.

Columbus (near Bexley) is home to one of the upscale homes. This home is priced at $3.7 million and offers 6 bedrooms, 5 baths, over 12,000 sq ft, and situated on 1.8 acre lot.

When I became a real estate agent nearly ten years ago, there were few homes even priced over $1 million. Now that we’ve got over 187 homes in this price range, says something for the growth, demographics and strength of this market. That’s exciting!

Copyright © 2007. 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, Homes, Homes for sale

Tagged luxury homes in central ohio