Who Offers The Best BBQ in Columbus???

Here We Go Again! …………. Best Bites Barbecue

When Columbus Underground throws a party you know you are in for a treat! Thursday we attended the Best Bites Barbecue at the The BoatHouse. Adding to the delicious food was a spectacular view of the Scioto River.  Seventeen area restaurants treated us to their best barbecue dishes and sides.

We have gone to quite a few of these events, burgers, pizza, tacos, etc they are always well attended, friendly events and this one was exceptionally laid back. Our table had a lively bunch of no longer strangers and we enjoyed conversation as well as comparing dishes and making recommendations for what to taste next.

As usual I could not name one favorite, the dishes served were imaginative and great combinations of textures and flavors. One of my favorite food trucks dazzled us with their bourbon glazed BBQ brisket taco – Paddy Wagon offers this regularly on their food truck – it’s a not to miss treat! I think one of the biggest surprised was a potato skin with grilled chicken topped with Hawaiian style slaw – it was the perfect combination of sweet and crunchy on a potato skin – I would never think to put these items together and it was pure heaven, thank you Aloha Streatery! To break up the heat from jalapeo corn bread and hot sauce was Sho-Oh serving up Snoballs in amazing flavors! 

And to think all this eating was for a great cause! The beneficiary of the a portion of the ticket sales was CelebrateOne! This agency actively educates parents on ways to reduce the factors that contribute to infant mortality. Thank you to all who worked so hard to make this event pure pleasure!

$$$$ It's A Seller's Market $$$$

This year has proven to be very challenging for buyers. Rates are still low, rents are high and going higher and for sale inventory is low. The average first time buyer price range is especially competitive. So what does this all mean for sellers?

Sellers this year can typically expect multiple offers and expect about a 6% price increase over last year - this is an average some areas are more, some are less. Does this mean as a seller all you have to do is plant a sign in the yard and buyers will throw money at you? Well if that were the case there would be many more homes on the market. Despite the low inventory, sellers still need to properly prepare their home. Most buyers are still looking for a home that they can move into with minimal work.

Preparing a home to go on the market is labor intensive, however the return on the time invested is amazing. Clean, DeClutter, Paint and Stage - these rules still apply today. Create a plan, call a Realtor and have them assess your home. If your short on time, hire a yard company, cleaning company and don't forget to get your windows cleaned. Do you have lots of stuff? Box is up and rent a storage unit short term - the garage is not a good place to put the overflow. Spruce up the front path and make sure your door is well maintained - the curb look is your first impression - the front door the second.

If you are looking for expert, honest advice on your Central Ohio home, call me for a no obligation market analysis, 330-304-9015.

Fresh, Local and Fun! Summer Time Is Farmer's Market Time!

No summer is complete without exploring area Farmer's Markets. These dedicated vendors offer fresh vegetables, fruit, baked goods, herbs, flowers the list is endless and ever changing! What a great way to spend some down time browsing the selections and talking with the vendors. The atmosphere is always charged with energy and very social experience. So go on put down your phone and get out there and check out your local Farmer's Market!!

Tuesdays:

Pearl Market       http://downtowncolumbus.com/home/what-s-happening/pearlmarket/
10:30am-2pm

Columbus Square Farmers Market  July 9th - October
161 and Cleveland Avenue
4pm-6pm

Wednesday:

Uptown Westerville Farmer's Market   http://www.marketwednesday.com/
May 1 - Oct 30
3pm-6pm

Franklin Park Conservatory   June 1 - September 7
http://www.fpconservatory.org/The-Experience/Events/For-Adults/Farmers-Market
3:30pm - 6pm

Clintonville Farmer's Market   http://www.clintonvillefarmersmarket.org/
North High between Orchard Lane and W Dunedin Road
Thur Aug 14th
4pm-7pm

Dublin Farmer's Market   http://www.dublinfarmersmarket.com/
May thru September in the parking lot of the Oakland Nursery
3:30pm-6:30pm

Thursday:
 
Reynoldsburg Farmer's Market   
http://www.ci.reynoldsburg.oh.us/departments/parks-and-recreation/farmers-market.aspx
1520 Davidson Drive - Huber Park July 11 - Sept 26
3:30pm-6:30pm

Bexley   http://bexleyfarmersmarket.com/
2111 East Main Street
4pm-7pm

Easton Town Center    http://www.eastonfarmersmarket.org/
June 6 - Sept 12
4pm-7pm

Friday:


Pearl Market       http://downtowncolumbus.com/home/what-s-happening/pearlmarket/
10:30am-2pm

Saturday:

North Market    http://www.northmarket.com/meet-the-market.aspx
59 Spruce St - Short North
8am- 3pm

Olde Worthington Farmer's Market   http://worthingtonfarmersmarket.blogspot.com/
644 N High Street
8am - 12pm

Enjoy!

How To Survive in a Highly Competetive Market

As any serious buyer knows the number of buyers far outnumber the listings. It feels like the minute a home in good condition hits the market several offers are being considered and the home goes under contract. It's a race to get there and put in the winning offer. Often buyers are barely looking at the house and the idea of due diligence goes right out the window.

So how do you compete and at the same time make a well informed decision? First really know what you want in a home, know the ideal location and features you must have. Don't waste time on homes you are not going to buy. Your agent can set up listing alerts with the area you want, features such as you must have a basement or need 4 bedrooms - looking at homes you are not going to buy in an area you don't want to live in makes the search even more frustrating. If you are looking in a lot of areas time to think about what is really important to you are there amenities you want and does one area more ideal for you? Are you willing to take down wallpaper, paint, put in new flooring? If not pictures tell the story eliminate homes needing that type of work.

So now you have a better idea of what your next home looks like time to get into  few homes. Make sure you dedicate time to look at homes - many agents put homes on the market on Fridays so cancel your weekend get away plans. Make sure when you are touring homes you look at the bones of the house - don't get hung up on paint colors or bad furniture. Find out about the house hold systems, the HVAC, Windows, Roof,etc these are the items that keep your home intact and will cost big bucks if they need to be replaced. Knowing this information should help you decide if it's a good idea to fight for that home.

Why Didn't My Home Sell? Isn't It A Seller"s Market?

Even with limited inventory there still are some homes that the listing expires and the home is unsold.  Although there are many reasons a home may not sell, there are  3 main reasons, Price, Condition, Accessibility for showings.

Properly pricing your home is really a matter of looking at solid numbers and if necessary go look at a few homes in your area that are at the price point you feel your home falls into. Look at features and condition. Keep in mind your home will sell at market price - trying to get above will only cause issues later when it comes time to appraise the home. Make sure when you talk with an agent they are giving you apples to apples. You deserve an honest market analysis.

Take a good look around your home, if you were walking in for the first time what would you see? Does the home appear clean and well maintained? Is there a lot of stuff around that takes your attention away from the great features of the home and the nice sizes of the rooms? Cleaning and pre-packing your home is essential to properly presenting your home to potential buyers. If your home is not clean, accessories streamlined and maintained buyers are either going to walk away or hit you hard on the price because the home will appear to need work. So clean, touch up, pre-pack and keep in mind you are selling your home and need to present it that way. It's like going into a retail store that is visually appealing, clean and well organized you expect to pay more than at a chaotic flea market.

As agents we know you still in your home and we certainly know how disruptive it is to have to leave your home for showings. So generally speaking, requesting 24 hours notice is not unreasonable. What doesn't work is putting a lot of restrictions on when the home can be shown, when you do that buyers feel like you are not motivated. Hanging around when buyers are walking through is also a no no - they are there to see your home don't make them feel like they are visiting you. Make sure your pets don't greet the agent at the door either, have a neighbor or dog walker remove them prior to the showing, arrange for doggy day care or if crate trained use the crate (remember to add that information to showing instructions).

Although other factors do come into play on unsold homes - the photos, marketing or an agent that doesn't return calls or emails; these are the main reasons a home doesn't sell. If you would like your expired listing analyzed I am happy to take a look at the WHOLE picture and help you go from on the market to sold!

Some helpful web sites to explore:
Staging
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/2661221/list/sell-your-home-fast-21-staging-tips
http://parade.com/275765/leahingram/11-frugal-ideas-for-staging-a-home-for-sale/

Pricing
www.pamkutsick.com

Getting Ready To Sell - How Much Should You Spend?

It seems like there are two kinds of sellers – the ones that are willing to see the flaws of their home and spend money to get I ready for a sale and the ones that fell their home is perfect as is. Finding middle ground with either one of these sellers can be a challenge for Realtors.

So how much is enough and how much is too much? The age old advise of pre packing, cleaning ceiling to floor (don’t forget the windows!)  and arranging your home to maximizes the great features of your house ALWAYS apply. We all have those little things we live with – the dripping faucet, stuck window, possible an outlet that doesn’t work those are obvious things we should address. I recommend my seller’s have the furnace/air conditioner cleaned and serviced. Freshen up exterior doors, the landscaping and any other areas that could use some attention. 

Should you remodel the kitchen? The bath? Replace carpeting? It all depends, on your personal situation. In most cases by doing these things you will receive a higher dollar for your home, now here comes the “but”. Know your market and the demographic looking in your market. You might not get back 100% of your costs for these items. If the countertops in your kitchen are worn and showing their age, new counters are probably a good idea, just make sure they don’t make your cabinets look more dated. Pick and choose your projects carefully – you might be better off pricing your home to reflect the current condition. Certain items are always going to go a long way – new carpets, fresh paint and new storm door.

Your Realtor should be able to guide you on projects – don’t be afraid to check out a few homes in the price range you are hoping to fall into – see what the competition looks like! When selling your home you need to think like a buyer – I know that is easier said then done at times your home contains your memories.  So when it’s time to say goodbye it can be difficult to look at it objectionably. Ask your Realtor to be honest with you.

If you are thinking of selling or buying please consider calling me to help you with one of the most important purchases you will make! Contact me at pamkutsick@gmail.com

Tax Abatement - Good or Bad?

At first glance a Tax Abated condo looks like a really great deal, after all anytime we can pay less in taxes it’s a good thing! However, it is always wise to ask a few questions before jumping into the pool of buyers looking for a tax abated condo.

First question you need to ask is when does the tax abatement end? Do some research if it ends soon and see approximately what the unabated tax will be on the condo. The auditor’s office can generally help you with this type of research. If the abatement ends soon, be prepared to increase your housing budget by that much.

Second question is there a chance the abatement will be extended? If the answer is yes go a little deeper, has the request been made and if so when will they know the answer. Extensions are not a sure thing.

On the positive side if you are looking at a home that is tax abated and it’s going to be quite awhile it can be a really good thing! If you are paying on a $400,000 condo with a tax abatement it drastically reduces your monthly costs. Based on a tax rate of $7000 per year you are knocking off  over $500 in housing expenses per month. So possibly you can get more condo than you expected!

There is a good side to an abatement and a scary side – just be sure you are informed and working with an agent that knows the questions to ask before you  buy. If you are ready to start your home search!

   

When your ready to buy or sell please give me a call for a FREE NO OBLIGATION consultation!

My direct phone number is 330-304-9015 my office number is 614-383-7937