Dawn Isenhower Sibcy Cline Realtors

Whenever I look at a potential listing, the subject of paint is sure to come up. Either the homeowner has already painted, and the walls are fresh ready to go, or I make the suggestion that a fresh coat of paint will do wonders in making the home feel new. Recently, I walked-through a potential new listing and made the suggestion that a few rooms needed painting, along with the basement. The rest of the home looked updated and beautiful- shouldn't the basement look great too?

My son has had the dream of a lemonade stand for the last few years. With starting my own business four years ago, I didn't really have the time to help him until this year. Starting this week, with cookies and drinks left over from my "Open Lots" on Sunday, my kids opened their first lemonade stand.

In just a few short days, they have learned the following:

1.How to attract attention to their stand.

2. How to deal with those customers once they stop

Short-Sale or Traditional Purchase? I would say that it depends on the condition of the property. Most short-sale properties are sold "As Is" because the sellers do not have any money to put into repairing and maintaining the property, and the bank will not make repairs either. Since most first-time home buyers depend upon financing, the property must be in such a condition that an appraiser will give a positive appraisal.

I recently had a showing on a sweet, bank-owned home on a private street in Cincinnait. This home was a lovely old home, loaded with charm. It had beautiful, original hardwood floors, a magnificent front door, high ceilings, and original woodwork throughout. The kitchen and baths had been updated. There was a breakfast room off of the kitchen with the classic, large window that one would expect. A home that had remained true to its architecture and design!

On another real-estate site, this question was posted. Earnest Money is not legally required in Ohio, but, if I am advising a client on an offer that is not accompanied by Earnest Money, I question the financial strength of the buyer. If the buyer has no cash flow, then the entire burden of the transaction is on the seller (who in most cases is already paying the real estate commission).The seller will be asked to pay closing costs, any and all repairs that are required by inspections, etc.

I have been looking at properties with a buyer in a specific area for quite some time. She is set up through my MLS auto-prospecting, and a certain house caught her eye one day. The house had charm, but had a few issues that we asked the seller to address. Since the property had been rehabbed, we thought that the items could be handled by the investor and his crew.

I hear it all of the time. Buyers do not want a house that requires too much work. Many want to be able to turn the key, and walk right in. What a wonderful feeling! It lasts for a period of months or years-until something finally goes wrong. Welcome to home ownership.

My husband and I had very little trouble for the first 4 years that we owned our current 30-year-old home. When we purchased, we were told that the roof was 7 years old, the appliances were relatively new, and we would not have to stain the cedar siding for a few years. We were happy.

My husband and I looked at quite a few houses before we settled on the house that we currently own. During that process, we saw several that could have worked for us. They were nice enough, but some were a little too dark, or felt cramped, or just didn't seem right in some other way. When I walked into my house, the rooms were spacious and it was bright. Even though it was vacant, it still felt very right for us-like home.

I just assisted a client in finding a great deal on this bank-owned property in Franklin, OH, and I can help you too. Feel free to contact me today!

Dawn Isenhower
Realtor

Coldwell Banker West Shell
Milford Office
dawn.isenhower@cbws.com
office: 513-831-8001
cell: 513-236-1254
www.dawnisenhower.com

I have an elephant's head on the side of one of my kitchen cabinets. I think that it is supposed to be a dish towel holder, but it is not just a little hook-it is a large elephant's head that takes up the width of the cabinet. It is brown, so it blends in with the cabinet, but we really should have asked the question when we first looked at the house, "Does this come with the house?" To take it down now would leave us with a ruined cabinet.