The Hocking Hills Tourism Association has just published a list of freebies across southeast Ohio....from loads of free naturalist programs at Hocking Hills State Park, to browsing the Decorative Arts Center and Ohio Glass Museum in historic Lancaster, or the Bowen House in Logan, or riding the Hock-Hocking Adena Bike Trail from Nelsonville to Athens (Ohio University).
http://www.1800hocking.com/whattodo/admission_free
Whether you're an agent or a buyer, after you've been out looking at/showing properties make a stop or two along the way home at places where walking is welcome....whether it's a park trail or just a off-the-track downtown or square. Aside from the exercise benefit, doing so will also better acquaint you with the surrounding area, no matter how well you think you might know it....just try to be in no hurry to get where you're going next....
And if you're planning ahead, don't forget the annual Shoot the Hills photography contest, brought to you by the Friends of the Hocking Hills....it will be here next month....for details, visit http://www.shootthehills.com/
There's always something new to learn in real estate, and perhaps a little more if you work with clients who own or want to buy vacation or second homes (or who leave their primary homes for extended snowbird trips). The recent winter storms probably can teach us a lot about what folks should or don't know, and suggest things you can do to truly provide service after the sale (or after the listing).
You're most likely dealing with private water systems, so double check to make sure your clients know what a well pump does and why it's best to switch it off when a home goes unused for an extended period of time...and not just in the winter, as last September's wild winds taught us.
You're also likely to find that clients figure it's best to crank down the heat (or worse, turn it off) during the winter months....not a good choice, for lots of reasons. Showing and selling a cold home is an unwelcome task, and the colder the home, the quicker the drop to freezing-level interior temperatures should power go out for more than a few hours. And, like us, houses really don't take well to being downright cold for long lengths of time...has anyone ever lost a potential sale due to an unknown "mold" problem?
You might also suggest to clients that they keep basic plumbing supplies on hand...whether they'll be using the home or not. A couple of gallons of RV antifreeze can come in very handy if plumbing needs a quick winterizing treatment, along with a hose for draining a hot water heater or service lines. Pipe wrap/insulation can also come in handy.
And as a sidebar, you'll find it almost impossible to find a backup propane heater when you really, really need one....and propane heaters don't need electricity. Better builders will include them in the design of a home, or at least suggest adding one.
And how about a door key? Even if they're not particularly handy, a good agent will be more than willing to check on second homes...if only to ensure the client's peace of mind when they're many miles away from the action. Don't be afraid to ask your agent if they will be willing to periodically visit the home they're asking you to list. And you might also advise clients to not hide the key somewhere where it might be difficult (or expensive) to reach...such as on a locked porch, for example, or a location that might be subject to ice build-up.
Another issue for our times is vacant homes, although that's probably a topic for another blog entry. We were normally surprised at agents' lack of attention (or knowledge) about their REO listings, until we wound up dealing with some ourselves. We've had a lender flat-out tell us that we can look after such a listing (originally listed with the home's private owner), but there would be no guarantee that we'd be paid should we bring them an offer. With that kind of thinking, it's depressing to think about what we're likely to find across the country as more homes fall out of the traditional sales market.
Doug (& Karen) Parker, http://ikarensell.com
Another Annual Winter Hike has come and gone at Hocking Hills State Park....if you missed it, join the cast of thousands next year (third Saturday in January)....and here's a Visual Tour stroll through this year's event. And for more information about you can help ensure the future of the park, please pay a visit to The Friends of the Hocking Hills (http://www.friendsofhockinghills.org)... the friendly folks who bring you those handsome yellow donation boxes you'll see at the park.....
Updated 1/18/09....here's the Visual Tour of 2009's Winter Hike.....
It might be a bit nippy, but the cold will no doubt make for some incredible "special effects" from Mother Nature during this Saturday's Hocking Hills State Park Winter Hike. If you're at the park on Friday, you can start things off at the park's dining lodge for the fireside pre-walk talk and "winter hike game"...doors open at 5:30pm. The hike itself gets underway Saturday morning beginning at 9am, through the Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls areas. Parking will be available in various locations; you can expect the lot across from Old Man's Cave to fill up fast and first.
If you're there for the hike on Saturday, please stop by the booth set up by The Friends of the Hocking Hills...members will be happy to tell you more about how to become more closely involved with the parks, along with the planned astronomy center and the upcoming annual "Shoot the Hills" event.
For a look at how things looked a year ago, take a look at Hocking Hills State Park - Winter Hike 2008.
Doug & Karen Parker, www.ikarensell.com
Friends of The Hocking Hills, an all-volunteer non-profit group dedicated to ensuring the future of the scenic and historic region's Ohio state parks, is moving forward with its plans for a new Astronomy Park. The park will be adjacent to the existing Lodge, located near Old Man's Cave just off Route 664...where you'll find one of the most "light-free" areas in the state. It's a most ambitious undertaking, with the members looking forward to raising well over a million dollars to fund the building, telescope, and other equipment necessary, along with an endowment to keep things running for generations to come. The group has now put over $7,000 in its Restricted Funds Account for the Astronomy Park. Group members will be available to discuss the project, as well as others, at the upcoming Annual Winter Hike on January 17, 2003....always a highlight of the year for the state parks and their visitors.
The initial case statement provides more information about the whats and whys of the project, prepared by The Friends and the Philanthropy Group of Ohio, a firm selected to assist with fundraising efforts.
Planning for a sibling sort of project is also underway, with primary surveying mostly completed on the projected re-routing of highway 664 where it curves for about one mile through the primary destination area of Hocking Hills State Park. If you visited Old Man's Cave this fall, you might have noticed some of the surveyors at work. The goal is to eliminate the traffic-pedestrian hazards that have grown so significantly along with park visitors in recent years. Re-routing will also minimize air and noise pollution and help reduce vibrations that can destabilize the gorges and rock formations that make the Hocking Hills Region so famous. It can also provide more space for additional public facilities.
If you need a bit of encouragement to leave the TV and make the trip, here's a sampler fall tour of Hocking Hills State Park - Old Man's Cave!
©2008, Doug Parker, ikarensell Enterprises Inc. http://www.ikarensell.com
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We Kare'n Sell ('n Live!) primary & vacation homes, log homes, land, Hilliard to The Hocking Hills & Hide-a-way Hills. Hilliard Chamber of Commerce,Hocking Hills Tourism Assn, Friends of Hocking Hills.
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