Bringing Wolverines Down to OHIO…Crossing the STATE LINE

Love helping new Buckeyes find a home near THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.   Easy assignment as I love selling what I LOVE…OHIO STATE and Central OHIO.  Spent most of my morning yesterday helping a family from Ann Arbor find a REMAX Realtor to list their property in Michigan so they can move to the other side.  After using the REMAX Referral system, interviewing several agents in Ann Arbor, I found the ONE.

Before we got to the topic of REAL ESTATE, we discussed facts, myths, stories related to our respective universities.  I did learn some interesting historical facts and some new words for our fight song.

Of course I reminded him of the Wins and Losses of the last few years… Thankful for the REMAX INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY.  I was able to find a experienced Realtor that had just sold several properties in the prospective Buckeye’s neighborhood.  They are meeting today!  Ann Arbor Realtor got several points for answering his phone on 12/26 and meeting with my client 12/27.

I did not share this photo with my new friend in Ann Arbor yet…But he was impressed that I admitted I will cheer for any BIG TEN team once, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY is out of the game……even that team up North.

Back to REAL ESTATE … LIST AS SOON AS you get your holiday decorations down and your company has gone home.  The Early Bird GETS the Worm.

 

 

Local REALTOR Receives International Award!

So I have your attention!!!

Just as in my previous career, I share family stories when selling properties.  Stories seem to be a fun…hopefully informative way to teach.  As a Realtor, I am teaching and negotiating…the two main skills. I often hear from young parents…OH I HATE TO SEE the BEST years go “bye”  with my toddlers.  And I often share that being a parent gets better every year if you have done your Parenting Homework as your children grow up and are  blessed with a loving community of assistance as the years roll by.

So MY AWARD…….6 days in France with these two!

As they tell me every once in a while…They are grown women.  To me that means George and I are tuition free and they are off our pay roll.

Rooms in our little apartment in wine country.

The view out of a bedroom window…..Cutesville for sure!  My grown women know what I like.

Farm market steps from our apartment…

And time in Paris.   This is the best award…sharing time with my Grown Women.

 

Protecting Real Estate and Menu for Furry Friends

Chipmunks….so cute but such a destructive animal…holes and tunnels but they are so cute…Listed below are remedies that might help.

Suggested by both neighbors…

Menus:  Peanut butter with one blueberry in the middle or Peanut butter sandwich…only the best blueberries…suggest Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods..prefer crunchy peanut butter

Added addition to the MENU:

 

Deer…another pest.  They are so beautiful to watch in the winter but so bold in the summer.  I wouldn’t be too surprised if they were relaxing in lawn furniture on our deck…

Suggestions…change the deer repellent…Inniswoods was my source…

As one friend that saw me using this method …at least they won’t talk dirty???

My latest Deer Repellent!  Just got my hair cut yesterday…human hair in a burlap bag?

Remedy for snakes….Scream!

I do love mother nature but like to see a balance.

Happy Summer MONTHS!

 

 

Families…the BEST Part of BEING a REALTOR

LOVE my job…Yesterday I helped my very first clients close on their retirement home.  Let me explain…the Mrs. grew up in this house, raised their own children in this house, had collected many generations of belongings all stored in a Pole Barn in Delaware County.  Years have passed and I have enjoyed working for them through several DOWNSIZING moves!  Yesterday after closing, I offered my advice for their future!  It is time for them to go go, before they have to slow go, and then no go.  We all promised to meet at BOB EVANS for lunch or dinner soon.  They have thanked me many times but I hope they know as my first sellers, they taught me so much.  I was blessed with an amazing couple who have become my friends.

Thank you to my clients for your patience while I was in Ca. being a grandmother.  And thank you Evie and Eli for keeping me informed so I can help my clients and their children when touring and selecting homes.

Eli, Fire Chief, turns 3!  Grandpa and Gaga go WEST!  Our daughter threw together a Hot Party in a few minutes.

Fireman Says…

SAVE the Animals in the Fire!

Cool Down…

And Evie was also celebrating…Thank you to Mike, Andi, Eli, and Evie for a great visit!

New listings coming soon.  Duffy, all brick, four bedroom in Highland Lakes, Olentangy Schools, and R&H built home off Bethel, minutes from OSU, Riverside, Battelle.

 

 

I LOVE being a REALTOR…Why?

THERE are so many reasons but the PEOPLE I meet help make my day!

I am working for a Veterinarian  that is driving over 5 hours to meet with me to  search for a home.  We share amazing, fascinating, and fun conversations in our travels as we search for that perfect home for her and her two dogs.  1.  She is listening to Audible books while driving to Columbus.  I get book reviews…”Peak Secrets from the NEW Science of Expertise” was this weeks topic.  How do you become an expert?  2.  I have learned that setting up an agility training course for dogs requires a larger back yard with no large shade trees and well established grass.  3.  Work dogs can begin their training herding ducks.  Sheep come much later.

Last week, I spent one day with a family visiting 4 middle schools in 4 school districts.  What fun for a former educator to see what is happening in schools today!  Love working for families that realize selecting a school is one of the most important factors in finding a home.

I never know who is coming through my door…..but I will be ready.

 

Big REVEAL…Local Realtor FEELS the Guilt

This is the picture I see in my mind as I am instructing sellers to declutter their home.  As they share the significance and memory attached to each item (maybe with a tear) , I say “This must be stored or here is a list of places to get rid of stuff!”  I keep seeing this  picture in my head, as I feel the GUILT!  I do share items from my COLLECTION when my stager feels they need a certain extra touch in a room to help save my client $$$ but and you know the rest of the story.  The storage area of our basement is becoming my no cash and carry for enthusiastic friends and relatives.

 

I still have my daughters elementary school papers, art masterpieces, and the list could go on….And just like most adult children, they don’t want any of these precious items filed away for safe keeping.  This year when starting the job of putting away holiday decorations, I threw away the following with tears….A Pretzel wreath, made by Andi at Central College Preschool, a handmade holiday plate designed by Emily at Robert Frost Elementary.  I am somewhat selective, as some childhood items are being used by our grandchildren when they come to OHIO…hoping they want to take them home.

Many sellers want to spend $$$ making improvements they have always wanted to increase the value of their property.  My advice why now, when you are moving on.

CLEAN and DECLUTTERED  is where you begin…and then hire an energetic, honest, caring, experienced Realtor that would be somewhat like ME.

Check out my tips on YOUTUBE!  More on YOUTUBE…NO COST.  Enjoy.

 

Could Have Been EVEN a BIGGER Change at the Yanok House this Christmas!

As most of our friends and family know, we ALWAYS have a real Christmas Tree in our house during the holidays.  George has promised the girls if they come home for Christmas, we will always have a real Christmas Tree.  We have called on friends for many years to get this monster in the house…high school friends, neighbors, and good friends, Bill Irwin, are on call for the delivery.  When the girls were still home, they would help select the tree.  The bigger the better!  Watching George get in the holiday spirit??? while he struggled with the tree, was always  their favorite part of the process.

Because of allergies and sniffles, the day of going to MR. TREE and bringing home our tree is over.

This year George and I traveled to COSTCO to purchase, reluctantly a beautiful artificial tree with LIGHTS already on the tree…they even turn to color for Eli and Evie.  Knowing we needed to get a large tree, we purchased the tallest tree they had.  The box didn’t even fit in our car as a complete stranger overheard us talking about living in Westerville and offered to follow us home in his truck.  What relief we felt!  The tree is pretty, lights already on, it will pay for itself in 2 years as Mr. Tree is getting very pricey, carpet will not have water stains, no watering the tree, the family should be well and the list went on. 

Time passes and we get a call from COSTCO.

The Box the Good Samaritan Helped us Bring Home!

The Second Box that we forgot?????

Thank you to COSTCO for calling…

We can only imagine the family’s reaction if we were missing half of our new tree on December 23?  WAY TOO MUCH Change for the Yanok family.

Speaking of Change…Looking for a new home in 2018?  Get your home on the market now that the holidays are coming.  Less Competition, Only Serious Buyers are Looking During this Busy Season, and Emotion plays a HUGE ROLE in home buying…set the stage with tasteful decorations, no clutter, and help buyers imagine their next Christmas in their new COZY, HOLIDAY HOME.  Let me know if you would like the link to 5 short videos that explain how to list your house with no cost improvements.