Vanessa V. Simmons~Realtor

Ready to sell your Central Ohio home, but the kitchen needs an update, and you are on a tight budget? There are tons of things that can be done to bring your dead kitchen back to life.

Clean:

Removing wallpaper and borders are quick ways to update the look of your kitchen a little elbow grease water and vinegar will do the trick.

Wipe down walls that do not need painting. Don't forget doors baseboards and switch plates.

Clean oven, refrigerator and degrease backsplashes and appliances.

Paint:

Paint is always an inexpensive way to liven up a tired kitchen. As always you want to stay with neutral colors and perhaps try out some of the new "Green "paint products.

Cabinets and Counter tops:

Change hardware on drawers and cabinets. Replace hardware or consider removing and painting for a truly inexpensive update.

To update stained or damaged countertop try laminate sheets. These sheets come in a variety of colors and styles and are inexpensive and easy to install.

Remember to keep the countertops as clutter free as possible. Anything that is not in use should be removed.

Floors:

A quick easy fix for tired kitchen floors in your Central Ohio home are self adhesive vinyl tiles. These tiles can be installed over existing linoleum flooring.

Appliances:

Can't afford the popular stainless steel or have miss-matched appliance consider painting them. Painting appliances can be an expensive fix for problem appliances.

Faucets:

If you cannot replace the entire sink replace faucets for a quick fix. Faucets come in a variety of colors and styles.

Backsplashes:

Backsplashesare a forgotten area that, if taken advantage of, can allow creativity and flare. Backsplashes can be installed quickly and easily and makes a dull kitchen look finished and polished.

If you are looking for more cost effective tips to help your home sell call me at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com

We all know the toll that the foreclosure crisis has played on the economy and the housing market. There has even been much reported on foreclosures impact on pets, but what about the children?

In a recent report conducted and published by First Focus , it is estimated that 1.95 million children will be affected by foreclosure over the next two years. The report reveals some startling revelations about the impact foreclosure has on the success of school aged children:

•1. Each time a child moves to a new school it takes an average of 6 weeks for them to adjust.

•2. Children who move 2 times in a year are half as likely as their peers to read proficiently.

•3. Children of foreclosure have a higher chance of being held back a grade.

•4. Excessive Mobility reduces the chances of graduation by 50%.

Also affecting the class room, this study finds that children, who are forced from their homes, are more likely to display behavior problems and aggressive behavior. Children are just one more compelling reason to get a handle on the escalating problem of foreclosure. The long term societal implications are staggering.

To see the full report of how foreclosures impact children in Ohio and other states CLICK HERE

For foreclosure options please give me a call at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com.

We are finally at the end of February and here in Ohio we are enduring another long winter. Time to start thinking spring and here are 5 Ways Easy Ways to "Green" Your Central Ohio Landscape

•1. Make a compost pile using kitchen and garden waste. Mixing them together in a bin in your yard will accelerate the process. The compost material, used in your gardens, will increase water retention and provides nutrients for plants.

•2. Plan to put an automatic timer on your water hose. Installation is quick and easy and requires no wiring or digging and is an excellent way to reduce water consumption.

•3. Consider the use of solar powered lightinginstead of electric lighting to reduce energy cost and still maintain safety and aesthetics.

•4. In a few weeks when it is time to fertilize do so carefully. Do not wash fertilizer spills into the street or down sewer drains. Consider using compost or organic materials instead of commercial products for fertilizing.

•5. Research the use of Biological pest control for a natural chemical free way to rid you gardens of unwanted pests.

These are a few quick and inexpensive ways that you can think green this spring in your landscape. If you are looking for more cost effective tips to help your home sell call me at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com

With everyone talking about foreclosures and with how much they have been in the news lately, it's easy to get worried about the future of your Central Ohio home. The silver lining here is that you often have plenty of warning from your lender before they foreclose your property.

Ohio has judicial foreclosure which basically means that your lender will have to go through the courts system to implement the foreclosure. Currently the system is so bogged down that it is taking 8-10 months to complete the entire process.

The Foreclosure Act is when the lender takes legal action to repossess your home if you default on the loan.

The process begins when you miss the first payment. Your lender will call make efforts to reach you to arrange to get the loan current. It's very important to talk to your lender at this point. If you're having trouble making the payment due to a temporary problem, your lender may be able to offer options like Forbearance on your loan for a month or two.

With a second missed payment or a failure to meet the arrangements made from the first missed payment, the lender will begin to call you more often demanding that you catch up on the loan. Typically by this point, your mailbox will be overflowing with letters from the lender telling you to become current or they will take appropriate legal action.

If you continue to fall behind on your mortgage, and remain unable to catch up on you payments, you'll receive a different kind of letter from your lender. You will receive a Notice of Acceleration from the lender telling you to become current on your payments by a certain date, or the entire amount of the loan will become due and payable. If you are unable to pay up, the lender will begin the judicial foreclosure process on your Central Ohio home.

Remember, lenders do not want to be in the real estate business and would prefer working with you to avoid the whole foreclosure process and keep you in your home. The key is to stay in contact with the lender and diligently work with them to avoid foreclosure.

With it taking so long to process the foreclosure you have quite a bit of time to try to come up with a way to become current to stay in your home or pursue sale options to help you avoid a foreclosure on your credit.

This is an area I specialize in so if you have more questions please feel free to contact me at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com. Subscribe to my blog to automatically receive free real estate advice and tips.


LINKS:
Foreclosure: http://credit.about.com/od/df/g/foreclosure.htm
Forbearance: http://www.allbusiness.com/glossaries/forbearance/4951290-1.html
Notice of Acceleration: http://dtbfinancial.com/glossary.html
Judicial Foreclosure: http://www.investorwords.com/2677/judicial_foreclosure.html

OUCH!!

Was all I could muster after that shocking statement from a fellow agent in my office. My daughter plays basketball for Pickerington North High School's freshman team. They had an undefeated season this year, doing far better than their male counterparts, I might add.

Pickerington, Ohio is known for girls' basketball, being the home to a few state championships. Several graduates have gone on to play for The Ohio State University and other great institutions.

I would be the first to admit that back in the late 70's when I played high school sports our fan base consisted of a few faithful followers and often not even our own parents. But today these girls have elevated their game and are pulling in a crowd. Not yet to the level of the boys but a definite improvement and getting better...

So before you succumb to old assumptions do yourself a favor and check out the Lady Panthers and The Lady Tigers ........they have some real Ballers!

Looking for a Central Ohio Home in please feel free to call me at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com