Welcome to Petra's Columbus Real Estate Blog...
what it's like to live, work and play in the Columbus Ohio Area

Killer Icicles on Columbus Ohio Building

Record snow storms in February 2010

The four snowstorms in February 2010, dumped a total of 30.1 inches of snow in Columbus Ohio, which broke the previous 100 year record set in 1910 for total snowfall, in the month of February.

The February 2010 record snowstorms, in Columbus Ohio, caused a variety of problems for Central Ohio home owners, especially ice damming.  I can’t remember ever seeing so many long icicles hanging from gutters of homes and businesses all around Columbus.

Ice Damming Advice for Columbus Ohio Home Owners from a Home Inspector

Ken Harrington, an ASHI Certified Home Inspector and owner of Kustom Home Inspection, shared the following information on how to properly deal with ice damming, in response to the many calls and emails he received from maintenance employees, real estate agents, real estate brokers, and homeowners wanting to know what to do about the icicles and snow on their roofs.  Some home owners are experiencing leaks as a result of the ice damming.

Ken put together a list of Do’s & Don’ts that I hope will give you some guidance on these issues.

Don’t shovel snow off of the roof

First of all, never, ever, ever shovel snow off of your roof. Not only is it dangerous, but it could remove the outer layer, or granules, of the shingles and cause MORE damage than the snow. Don’t worry about the snow-load on your home. Most homes are built to withstand greater loads than what we have now, and that occasional creaking sound is most generally normal expansion and contraction of rafter joists or substrate materials.

Remove icicles from above frequently used doorways

DO remove the icicles from above doorways and areas that are used frequently by family members, but it is best to leave the rest alone. Their removal is not only dangerous, but you could damage the gutters and/or fascia board they are attached to. When water freezes it expands. Knocking the icicles loose could loosen the gutters and allow water to get behind them. During a freeze/thaw cycle it can exert hydrostatic pressure against the gutter system, forcing them away from the wall. When it thaws the water can leak between the gutters and the wall and can seep into the interior of your home through soffits and fascia.

Keep a constant eye out for gutter damage

With all of the weight from the snow and ice atop the gutters, you might experience some damage to the gutters, or they may loosen from the fascia. Be vigilant and keep a close eye on them, and have them repaired at the first sight of damage. When you do experience seepage onto an interior ceiling or wall, check your gutters in the area adjacent to the seepage first, but remember that water can and does travel along substrates before it finally drips.

Check around chimney flashings

The most frequent seepage from ice-damming is from around chimney flashings and other penetration points of the roof.  So be sure to keep an eye on the area around that fireplace.

Keep downspouts clear

Gutter leaks and wet basement diagram

Of greater consequence is where the snow and ice goes once it begins to melt. If you have exposed downspout drains, or surface drains, DO keep them clear of snow and obstructions so the water can flow out away from the home.

Keep snow away from heat pump

If you have a heat pump, DO keep the snow banks cleared away from the base of the unit. These need airflow to work properly, and an accumulation of deep snow on and around the appliance can result in needless waste of energy and expensive repair bills.

Remove snow from foundation

If you are physically able, consider removing the snow away from around your foundation. 5 feet is the magic number that should allow enough space between the melting snow & your foundation to allow most of the water to seep into the ground & not against your foundation wall. Snow blowers are worth every penny for this use alone.

Remember safety precautions

Don’t put a ladder on a snowy surface. The ladder could slip and cause serious injuries. Leaks, gutters, and roofs can be repaired, the loss of limbs or life cannot.

Check your sump pump

Basement drainage diagram of a newer home

DO check your sump pump. This little guy gets rid of all the water that seeps below the basement floor from this melting snow. If it is not working your basement could flood. If the sump discharges into the storm drain and the discharge line is tightly connected on the outside, leave it be. If it discharges on top of the grade, DO clear the snow from the area where it drains. This exercise helps prevent the water from freezing at the exhaust point, backing up in the discharge line and freezing and cracking the discharge line.

3 causes of water seeping into basements

The 3 main causes of water seeping into basements most generally are: gutters, grading, and groundwater. We call them the 3G’s. We can see and assess two of the three, and if you do what you can to keep them in proper working order, you will be less likely to experience trouble and will minimize damage caused by them. Attached I have a cut-away view of the typical basement and drainage system of a home, as well as an illustration of one of the causes of damp basements. Hope this helps.

Complete Columbus Ohio home inspection services

If you’re looking for a good home inspector in the Columbus Ohio area, I recommend Ken Harrington of Kustom Home Inspection.  They have completed over 3,500 home inspections throughout Central Ohio, are members of the BBB and have won the Super Service Award from Angie’s List.

Kustom Home Inspection is a one stop shop for all your Columbus Ohio home inspection needs.  Their home inspection services include: VA, FHA, HUD and bank owned foreclosure homes, licensed termite inspectors, gas line inspections, radon test, septic and well tests.

Feel free to contact Ken if you have any questions.

________________________________________

Ken Harrington, ASHI #212440
Owner Kustom Home Inspection
614-507-1061
kustomhomeinspection.com
Director, Ohio ASHI Board of Directors
V.P. OHASHI, Chairman Education Committee
Ohio Dept. of Agriculture License #90779
Mets Labs Certified Mold Specialist
U.S. FEMA Certification #28824
Ohio Dept of Radon License #RT683

WINNER ANGIE’S LIST SUPER SERVICE AWARD 4 YEARS RUNNING

RASCAL UNIT - AFFORDABLE COLUMBUS OHIO VETERINARIAN

If you have a puppy and are looking for affordable veterinarian services in the Columbus Ohio area, you’ll want to take advantage of this extremely low price to spay your puppy.

Rascal Unit Spay Day 2010 - Spotlight: Puppies

On February 23, 2010 (National Spay Day) Rascal Charities and Rascal Unit will celebrate by sterilizing 50-60 puppies. We want to educate pet owners about the benefits of early sterilization and the importance of wellness care and training.  There are still some surgery appointments available for this event. If you have a puppy or know of someone that has a puppy, have them contact us for more information.

We will be scheduling puppies between 3 and 6 months of age. For a cost of $25 per puppy, we will offer:
- Sterilization surgery
- Deworming and heartworm prevention (Interceptor puppy pack)
- 24 Pet Watch Microchip (includes registration)
- Flea treatment if fleas are noted
- Information on training

Pet owners scheduling at the Rascal Unit office must show proof of financial need (see items 2 & 3 on our guidelines page at http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=309645845&u=3454050). To check availability, contact us at event@rascalunit.com.

Our sponsors for this event are the Franklin County Dog Shelter, Pets Without Parents, and the Powell Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). More information about this event and links to our sponsors are available at our website http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=309645845&u=3454051.

Thank you for your continued support. Together we can do our part to fight pet overpopulation in Ohio.

We have used Rascal Unit to have our dog spayed and for routine preventative veterinary care and have found them to be the most affordable veterinary services in Columbus Ohio.   They are providing a great service for pet owners in the Columbus Ohio area, with much needed savings in these economic times.

Rascal Unit Spay Day 2010 Was A Success

The Rascal Unit and Rascal Charities Sterilized 49 Puppies During Spay Day! On February 23, 2010 both Rascal Unit trucks were full of young dogs presented for surgery. In celebration of National Spay Day, we sterilized 49 puppies at a cost to the owner of $25. The puppies also received an update on vaccines, a dose of heart worm preventive, and a microchip. Our goal was to help spread the word about the importance of early sterilization and proper puppy care.

I’m sharing the RE/MAX article below, because it applies to the Columbus Ohio real estate market.  While there are many distressed properties for sale in the Columbus Ohio area, banks slow response to offers on short sale homes is making it difficult to close these properties within the normal 30-60 day time frame.  I have seen many Central Ohio short sale properties take more than 6 months to close.

I have helped several buyers purchase short sale properties, many get frustrated at the lengthy process and tire of waiting on the bank to respond to their offer.  I just recently sold a home in Worthington Ohio as a short sale through Suntrust Bank and it took over a year to finally get it closed.  I had 4 different buyers make offers on the home and most got tired of waiting on the bank to respond.  Finally by the time I got the 4th offer, the bank had ordered the BPO (broker price opinion) and it still took about 30 days for them to approve this offer and another 30 days to get it closed.   That is simply too long.

Some home buyers don’t want to look at short sale properties because they are afraid they won’t be able to close in time, to take advantage of the home buyer tax credit.  Due to the current market conditions, many home buyers are looking for a bargain and distressed properties can often attract multiple offers.  However, that does no good if banks won’t respond in a timely manner.  Helping home owners avoid foreclosure by selling their home through the short sale process benefits everyone involved, the seller, the bank and the buyer. So banks should really make processing short sales a smoother and quicker process.

More expensive for banks to foreclose than to work out a short sale

Banks incur a lot more maintenance expenses and legal costs when they foreclose on a home rather than working out a short sale.  Typically less damage occurs to a property when a seller voluntarily sells it through a short sale, which means the bank may get more for the home and the buyer will feel more comfortable buying the home.  When a home goes through the foreclosure process, they often sit empty for an extended time without utilities working.  Homes that sit empty without utilities during the winter months often have plumbing pipes that burst causing extensive water damage to a home.  Homes sitting empty during the summer without proper cooling or ventilation can quickly develop mold.  Without electric, basement sump pumps don’t work which often causes water backup and mold issues in basements.

Banks should be especially motivated to process short sales as quickly as possible because it is in their best interests to get the most money out of a home.  So I just don’t understand why they remain so slow at dealing with these distressed sales.  I wish banks would start taking short sales more seriously.  Hopefully real estate professionals and  industry advocates like RE/MAX  who help to educate the public, banks and politicians will eventually make a difference.

RE/MAX Urges Lenders to Release Properties

Record Foreclosure Numbers Need to Be Tackled Head On

(Denver, CO, February 10, 2010) - Dave Liniger, RE/MAX International Chairman and Co-Founder, urged government and economic leaders to push lenders to release foreclosures to help speed the housing recovery. Liniger made his comments as a featured speaker at the Five Star Government Forum in Washington D.C. The Forum brought government and industry leaders together to share ideas for building stability in the nation’s housing market.

“Most of us feel that there is a tsunami of properties out there. I can assure you in the hardest hit areas of the country, there are bidding wars going on,” said Liniger, the only speaker representing a real estate company. ”So, for those lenders who are here listening, now is the time to release properties, because you’ve got the Homebuyer Tax Credit that’s driving buyers into the market, and a limited window of opportunity to get these properties sold before the credit expires this year.”

Liniger explained that in some markets experiencing high foreclosure rates, homes in price ranges that qualify for FHA financing are attracting a lot of attention. In these areas, there are multiple offers from investors and first-time buyers, which indicates there’s a real shortage of available homes.

The Five Star Forum focused on the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), and the challenges facing mortgage lenders in modifying loans under the program. It brought this group of influential leaders together to begin the hard conversation on how better to keep more Americans from losing their homes.

Over the past year, RE/MAX International has led the way on the housing recovery.  Liniger and other RE/MAX representatives met with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, as well as officials with FHA, Fannie Mae, the Treasury Department, and the Homeowner Preservation Office. RE/MAX offered recommendations for streamlining the Short Sale process, some of which the Treasury Department adopted when it announced a new process last November.

In 2009, RE/MAX trained more than 10,000 agents to handle Short Sales. More RE/MAX agents have earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation than agents with any other real estate company. Surveys show that after earning a CDPE designation, agents are twice as likely to be able to keep families in their homes. And, if the best route is a Short Sale, CDPE agents are much more successful at completing the transaction.

“In our industry, we talk about distressed properties, but we’re dealing with distressed sellers, distressed human beings,” said Liniger. “They’re humiliated by their situation, and that’s why 70% of them never pick up the phone to help themselves when they’re faced with a foreclosure. That’s where Short Sales come in. They provide a better way for both the homeowner and the lender.”

While some cities and markets are experiencing a recovery, as both home sales and prices rise, others are not faring as well. Overall, the real estate industry is in a correction, according to Liniger, who sees distressed properties making up the majority of sales for the next three to five years.  And, after that, another housing boom may be on the horizon.

“Once this correction is over, we have a whole new generation of homebuyers waiting to get into the market.  But we have to get through this first, and the best way to do that is to take it head on.”

© 2010 RE/MAX International, Inc. RE/MAX Affiliates may share this article, provided they do not charge for it and this notice is included. All other rights reserved.

$100 OHIO FHA HUD Down Payment Program Discontinued

Effective February 12, 2010, any Central Ohio HUD properties listed and or sold with FHA financing are no longer eligible for the $100 down payment incentive.

Also, the sales allowance bonus of $2500 for owner occupant buyers will be discontinued effective February 12, 2010, for all new contracts accepted on or after this date.

HUD will still pay buyer’s closing costs

When buying a HUD home in the Columbus Ohio area, you can still request HUD to pay up to a 3% contribution toward your closing costs.  However, the amount you ask HUD to pay for your closing costs will be factored into your bottom line bid price.  For example if you bid 100,000 on a HUD home and ask for $3,000 in closing costs, HUD will consider your bid to be $97,000.

Many bargain distress sales in the Columbus Ohio area

If you’re looking for a bargain, keep in mind that HUD foreclosure properties are not the only distressed properties for sale in the Columbus Ohio area.  There are many other “distressed” properties such as bank owned foreclosures and short sales including homes and condos for sale throughout Central Ohio. You have to know what to look out for though, because not all foreclosures are a good deal.

Foreclosures Need Work

Most foreclosure homes need a minimum of a good cleaning, paint, carpet and flooring updates.  However, some need so much work that they may not be a good deal by the time you are done making all the repairs, on top of the cosmetic fix ups.  Often there are hidden defects that not even your home inspector will be able to detect and are not discovered until after you live in the home.   So it’s wise to budget for additional repairs beyond what can be seen.

HUD will allow you to finance repairs of less than $5000 when getting an FHA mortgage.   FHA 203k rehab loans offer an alternative for other homes that need more than $5,000 in work and allows you to finance money for repairs into your mortgage.  Keep in mind that FHA 203k loans often have slightly higher interest rates and closing costs than traditional FHA mortgage loans.  I can recommend a local Columbus Ohio mortgage banker who offers FHA 203k loans, if you would like more details on this loan option.

Non-foreclosure homes can be a good deal too

Due to the nature of the current buyer’s market in Central Ohio, I have found many sellers are motivated to sell and there are opportunities to get a good deal on a non-foreclosure home or condo as well.  I’ve seen many sellers list their homes for less than they paid when they bought the home.  Your home buyer’s agent should help you evaluate the property value depending on the home’s condition and current market factors, enabling you to make a wise decision on any home you buy.

Rely on an experienced Columbus Ohio Realtor® and Accredited Buyer Representative

As an experienced Columbus Ohio REALTOR® and Accredited Buyer Representative, I’d be happy to help you find a good deal on your ideal home anywhere in Central Ohio.  Best of all my services are FREE to you.  You pay nothing to have a buyer’s agent represent your best interests when buying a home in Central Ohio.

To learn more about buying a home anywhere in the Columbus Ohio area visit:

ColumbusCastles.com/Buyers or CONTACT PETRA at 614-895-0496 to get started or complete our FREE HOME FINDER SERVICE REQUEST to receive daily email updates of new Columbus Ohio real estate listings in the Central Ohio area.

The Franklin Park Conservatory, just East of  Downtown Columbus, offers an art experience unlike any other in Central Ohio.  Franklin Park Conservatory is a premier horticultural and educational institution showcasing exotic plant collections, special exhibitions as well as a signature collection of work by glass artist Dale Chihuly and a permanent installation by renowned light artist James Turrell.

Franklin Park Conservatory Palm House At Night

Franklin Park Conservatory Palm House Chihuly At Night

The Franklin Park Conservatory offers a wonderful way to enjoy the Christmas season beginning Wednesday evening, November 25 with hundreds of poinsettias, a traditional 15-foot poinsettia Christmas tree, the delightful model garden railway by designer Paul Busse, the third annual Gingerbread House Competition and display, Candelight Nights, family activities, and special performances all taking place while Chihuly Reimagined Glass Art remains on view.

Columbus Franklin Park Conservatory Poinsettia Christmas Tree

Features the glow of hundreds of votives, the works of glass artist Dale Chihuly under dramatic evening lighting, live musical performances, glassblowing demonstrations in the Hot Shop, and family activities.
Dates: Wednesdays, November 25, December 2, 9, 16 & 23
Time: 5 - 8 p.m.

Franklin Park Conservatory Chihuly Glass Balls in Pond

CHRISTMAS MODEL GARDEN RAILWAY
My son’s favorite exhibit at the Franklin Park Conservatory is Paul Busse’s enchanting model garden railroad. Trains wind around whimsical, miniature buildings and landscapes rendered from natural materials on multi level tracks where kids can find little surprises at each turn.

Illuminated Spaces:Sacred Places - Stained Glass Tour

Columbus Landmarks Presents Illuminated Spaces and Sacred Places Stained Glass Tour Sunday, November 15, 2009 from 12:30P-3:30P

Part II of the popular tour will again feature stained glass in four ecclesiastical spaces in Columbus Ohio:  Congregation Agudas Achim, Bexley United Methodist Church, St. Catharine’s Catholic Church, and Temple Israel.

I love old buildings, especially beautiful churches with stained glass art and what better time than fall - just before the holidays to take a tour of some of Columbus’ beautiful old churches.

The tour will focus on both historic and contemporary stained glass and the history of the windows and sacred spaces. Support provided by Franklin Art Glass Studio, Inc. Tour begins at Congregation Agudas Achim, 2767 East Broad Street in Bexley. Parking is available on side streets or in the parking lot of Broad Street United Methodist Church, one block away at 2657 East Broad Street  A bus will shuttle participants from the second tour stop, Bexley United Methodist Church, to the third and fourth stops and will then return to the Bexley United Methodist Church parking lot.   Tickets are $25.00.

Visit: http://www.columbuslandmarks.org/events/index.php for more info and to get tickets.

Columbus Landmarks 61 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus Ohio 43215; 614.221.0227

Landmarks takes great pride in its quality programs. Our programs are led by professionals in the fields of architecture, architectural history and other related fields. These individuals share their knowledge and expertise with great enthusiasm. Advance ticket purchasing is strongly recommended.

I thought I was the lucky recipient of an Easton Gift card.  Someone gave me an Easton Towne Center Gift card for my birthday a few years ago.  I do remember getting it and was excited about it because Easton is my favorite place to shop!!  However, somehow the gift card got lost in my purse and I forgot about it until now.

I recently bought a new purse which gave me an excuse to clean out the old purse and transfer my purse junk into the new purse.  So as I’m cleaning out my purse, I find this Easton gift card and I’m all excited because I had something I wanted to buy at a store in the Easton Towne Center.

However, I quickly became disappointed when I tried to use my gift card - which was originally worth $50.00 and now was worth only $2.00.  I knew I hadn’t yet used this gift card and couldn’t figure out why there was only $2.00 left.  The cashier said - did you read the small print on the back of the card?  Of course I didn’t read any small print on the back of a gift card.

Here’s what the small print says: Usable only for purchases at authorized merchants. Not usable for gratuities nor refundable or redeemable for cash or credit,unless required by law. Unless prohibited by law, a nonrefundable $2.00 maintenance fee will be deducted each month from the card balance, starting on the day after the first year anniversary of the date the card is purchased. Purchase or use of card constitutes acceptance of these terms and additional terms in the accompanying Cardholder Agreement (I don’t remember getting a cardholder agreement with this gift card).

Needless to say, I have learned my lesson and will now read the fine print on the back of any gift cards I happen to get.

So I’m recommending to all my friends and family members who might be tempted to get me an Easton Towne Center Gift Card in the future, to please think of something else.  I do appreciate the thoughtfulness, but would rather have something that I don’t have to worry about being devalued if I don’t use it right away.  I’m disappointed that the $50.00 is now gone to nothing and I didn’t get to spend it!!

I’m also sharing this story because I bet there are others who don’t realize that gift cards can lose value over time.  So you may want to consider reading any small print before buying your loved one a gift card.

There were a few Central Ohio school levies on the ballot on November 3, 2009.  School levies typically result in higher real estate property taxes, so you should be aware if you are looking to buy a home in any of these school districts.

Southwestern City Schools levy (Southwestern Schools serve Grove City and Southwestern Columbus)

Yes Votes = 19,591  (51%)
No Votes = 19,178 (49%)

Reynoldsburg Schools levy

Yes Votes = 5,420 (48%)
No Votes = 5,827 (52%)

Westerville Schools levy

Yes Votes = 9,876 (52%)
No Votes = 8,973 (48%

Worthington Schools levy

Yes Votes = 11,435 (59%)
No Votes =  7,936 (41%)

If you’d like to get an estimate on real estate property taxes you can go to the Franklin County Auditor’s website and use the tax estimator tool:  http://franklincountyoh.metacama.com/globalTaxEstimator.jsp.

If you’re interested in buying a home anywhere in Central Ohio, please contact Petra at 614-895-0496.  I am an Accredited Buyer Agent Representative who’s been a Realtor® in Columbus since 2001, with over $50 Million in real estate sales throughout Central Ohio and currently with RE/MAX Connection Realtors®, in Gahanna Ohio.

I’ll work hard to help you find your ideal home and negotiate the lowest possible price, while representing your best interests throughout the process.  Best of all, my services as your personal buyer’s agent are FREE to you!  I appreciate the opportunity to help you buy your ideal home or condo in Central Ohio.

Columbus Ohio Honor Flight Homecoming for World War II Veterans

When: November 7, 2009 8:00 PM

Where:
Columbus Int’l Airport
4600 International Gateway
Columbus, OH 43219

The final trip of Honor Flight for the season, Southwest Flight #8284 from BWI, will be arriving in Port Columbus carrying around 90 Ohio World War II veterans at 8:45pm. Honor Flight is taking them to Washington, DC for the day so that they can visit the WWII memorial, and other sites. For many of them, this is their first and only chance to see the memorial built in their honor.

We would love to have anyone who is able, kids included, come out around 8:00pm to be ready to greet the veterans for their homecoming. Meet us near the SWA ticket counter on the departures level.

Most of them came home from the war only to have a clerk hand them a small amount of cash and a bus ticket. This is our chance to make that right, some 60 years later. There is no need to RSVP.

To learn more visit:  http://www.meetup.com/The-Columbus-Ohio-Glenn-Beck-Meetup-Group/calendar/11749135/

This video just goes to show how crazy or should I say dedicated, Ohio State Buckeye Fans can be.  Since The Ohio State University is located in Columbus Ohio, game days should almost be a holiday because it’s like a ghost town here, everyone is either at the game or watching the game somewhere.  Nothing else much is really going on, on OSU Buckeyes game days.

I think this video says it all:)  GO BUCKS!!!