Real Estate Laundry » 2007

Archive for May, 2007

Location, location, location - New condos offer the best of Columbus living

May 29th, 2007 categories: Columbus, Condos, Dublin, Local Communities, New Construction, Real Estate News

If a condominium in Northwest Columbus is on your wish list, look no further than Broadway Condominiums. Upscale amenities, prime location, and affordable pricing make this a true winner.

Located between Hayden Run Rd. and The Mall at Tuttle Crossing Broadway offers unbeatable access to freeways, shopping, dining and entertainment.

Several floor plans are available such as the Broadhurst model seen below.

Broadhurst floor plan

Loads of customization options are available including:

marble fireplace surround
ceiling fan in great room and master bedroom
Mannington Adura® luxury tile and plank flooring
Stainmaster® carpet
solid surface or quartz countertops
plumbing fixtures
lighting package
numerous levels of carpet upgrade
General Electric® appliance upgrades, incl. washer & dryer
humidifier, media air cleaner and electronic air filter
security system

With lake views, first and second floor units and a range of pricing from the mid $100’s you are sure to find what you are looking for in maintenance free living.

If staying in shape and having a great time doing it are important to you, you will fall in love with The Barn. As a Broadway resident you will have access to all The Barn has to offer.

Lagoonpool

“This is a new kind of country club for the fit and fun-loving,” said Pete Edwards, chairman of Edwards Communities. “Our members want a space to socialize with each other and their guests, yet don’t want to travel far to do so. The Barn is the perfect way to address their needs.”

You have probably noticed that condo construction in Columbus is booming. Perhaps you have wondered if condo living is right for you. If convenience, low maintenance and the best location in Northwest Columbus are on your list of criteria, Broadway Condominiums just may be the answer!

Realtor - Not a 24/7 job!

May 24th, 2007 categories: About Realtors, Real Estate News, Real Estate Professionals

Somewhere along the line Realtors have become known as working round the clock. Always available, never asleep, and ready to spring into action like a firefighter to the fire pole.

Unfortunately, this characterization is one which glosses over the true professionalism required for a Realtor to represent his or her clients as a trusted advisor and fiduciary.

Do you think you would be able to reach your attorney or medical professional by phone at 10 PM?

Probably not.

And to tell you the truth, this is best.

No one can work around the clock and be effective. We all need rest and we all need balance. I will take the well rounded physician who spends time with family, enjoys recreation and travel, is active in the community and runs a successful business any day over the burned out 90 hour a week doc who has no time for life itself.

Busy phones

“Call me anytime 24/7! I am here for you.”

The Columbus Real Estate Community has many, many agents who illustrate the possibilities of enjoying a vibrant family and personal life while providing phenomenal services as a real estate professional.

The following are reasonable expectations for any Realtor’s performance:

Communication – Clients should know where things stand at all times
Timeliness – Deadlines are important and need to be adhered to
Systems – The only way to truly manage the myriad of details in a real estate transaction
Professional Network – One person can not do it all
Honesty – Set expectations and deliver on them

Believe me, if these standards are met you will not need to reach your Realtor at all times of the day or night. Using technology and strong systems, today’s real estate professionals can manage large volumes of business while providing exceptional, personalized service.

A typical agent today might employ Top Producer for contact and transaction management, Zipforms for contracts and negotiations and Centralized Showing Services for scheduling and feedback. All of these applications streamline the transaction process while providing excellent methods of contact and communication between Realtor and Buyer/Seller.

These and other applications have helped usher out the days where an agent is so bogged down with details he or she barely has the time to return calls. Be sure to ask your prospective Realtor how he or she is taking advantage of available technology and what benefits will be provided to you.

Most importantly, think about how you will interact with your agent on a personal level.

Do your personalities fit well together?

Does his or her communication style fit yours?

Do you feel they are trustworthy?

Buying or Selling a home is a business decision, but it brings with it personal and emotional implications. There is nothing worse than working through the potential pitfalls of a real estate transaction with someone you don’t “click” with.

All the technology in the world will not take the personal aspect out of Buying or Selling a home. To ensure a successful experience, be sure to look at the whole picture beyond the mechanics of the transaction.

Find a realtor you trust.
Find a Realtor you like.
Find a Realtor you believe will represent your best interests at all times.

If you do so you will be well on your way to your next housing destination and enjoying the ride!

Authored by Eric | Discussion: 2 Comments »

Condo is NOT a dirty word!

May 17th, 2007 categories: Condos, Local Communities, New Construction, Real Estate News

Buying a Condo in Columbus Ohio involved far fewer options 5 years ago than today.

I recall a Buyer who asked me to show her condos in Northeast Columbus in the $200,000–250,000 range. At the time there were none.

Condos

Today it is a much different story. Every corner of Columbus seems to offer a range of condominium living opportunities. The demographic of the condo Buyer has also changed to include:

Empty Nesters
First Time Homebuyers
Retirees
Single Parents with Children
Young Professionals

………and many others

The beauty of condominium living seems to be convenience which can mean many things to many people. Just a few of the conveniences that a condo offers are:

Exterior maintenance and lawncare handled by the condo association
On site pools, workout facilities and event centers
Locations designed to fit certain lifestyles such as the young professional working downtown or the empty nester desiring a golf community
Luxury finishes and amenities often out of reach in a single family home
Lifestyle suited to those with busy schedules or frequent travelers

The Columbus Condominium market offers properties beginning under $50,000 and rising to well over $1,000,000. Finding the right fit for you just takes some thought and research.

A good real estate professional can help you establish a price range that makes sense, narrow down your areas of interest and then expose you to the properties available that fit your criteria. Today there is lots of new construction as well as re-sale inventory. Your needs and objectives will help determine which makes sense for you.

Over the years many have believed condos are not as good an investment as single family homes. When considering which is right for you be sure to look at the whole picture.

Get some advice on the market. Visit or drive by some communities to see which offer the amenities you desire.

Most importantly, remember the benefits of the maintenance free lifestyle are hard to put a price tag on and may well be just what you are looking for!

Westerville � A Community Growing for the Better?

May 11th, 2007 categories: Local Communities, Westerville

The Old

I grew up in Galena, Ohio, just a few minutes north of Westerville. At the time, driving to Westerville for entertainment, shopping, and meals provided very few options and little fanfare. The typical trip consisted of shopping at Gold Circle, a few video games at Funway Freeway, maybe a movie and then a tasty meal at Buzz Cockerell’s (now Graeter’s). Obviously, my parents never chose a cocktail prior to dinner as that option did not even exist until the Old Bag of Nails Pub secured the first liquor license in Westerville since the whiskey wars. As a kid, however, it seemed like a visit to the big city!

The New

Today Westerville is clearly a different animal. Subdivisions have sprouted in all directions, new schools have been built, and shopping and dining options abound. I now live in Westerville and quite enjoy raising a family here. We can ride our bikes from our house to the community center without having to contend with traffic, thanks to a wonderful stretch of bike paths linking the parks dotted throughout our town. Sure, traffic can be a challenge from time to time, but with the additions of Maxtown/Polaris, County Line Extension, and the recent completion of Gemini Parkway, north of the Polaris Mall, drivers are given a number of options to lessen congestion.

As for the temperance movement, it is dead in Westerville, Oh.. In my estimation this change has only served to draw dining establishments which had been missing from our community for far too long. We have a long way to go as far as quality and number of restaurants, but I might even propose Westerville is creating its own “scene”. I certainly don’t see blatant negative effects of booze in Westerville.

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Biking in Westerville has become a joy with miles of bike trails connecting parks throughout the community.

The Future

Clearly, Westerville’s growth spurt is not over. Surely the city will continue to face growing pains and tough decisions as to how to grow in a controlled and quality fashion. Office, commercial and medical development opportunities are plentiful, while residential growth seems to be somewhat limited.

Sure, we can all identify effects of growth that are not to our liking. From my perspective, however, in a world that seems to be racing forward at breakneck speed, we have the best of it all here in Westerville. The comforts of a small town environment, great access to a culturally expanding metropolitan area and a community committed to its future all blend to create what is and will continue to be a great place to live!

Authored by Eric | Discussion: 2 Comments »