School was canceled once again today at Dublin City Schools. I’m pretty sure they haven’t had a full week of school since before Christmas. Lucky kids. We got about 4 inches of snow in Dublin early Monday morning. And it wasn’t just snow, there was a nice layer of ice under it along with chilly temps. I kind of thought we might get lucky and not get any more snow this winter. We barley had any snow in December and I’m pretty sure up until yesterday no snow in January. But then again, winter in Dublin, Ohio, starts in October and lasts until April. This week marks the 37th anniversary of the Blizzard of ’78, also known as the White Hurricane, was a historic winter storm that brought more than 28 inches of snow. Which as you can imagine brought the city to a standstill. While Central Ohio lucked out with this storm, there is more sleet/snow coming on Thursday. Hopefully, it will blow though quickly. But, the North East of the county hasn’t been so lucky. Winter Storm Juno hit them hard. They have seen hurricane force winds of 70 mph and 7.8 inches of snow in central park and up to 24 inches of snow in Long Island. The mayor has stated that this could be the biggest storm New York has ever seen. The area is shut down. In a state of emergency. They do not want any one traveling (all airports have been closed), schools canceled, grocery shelves cleared. Power outages have been reported as well. So if you are stuck at home here are some fun things to do to keep you busy! 1. Go outside Let's start with the obvious - kids like playing in the snow. Adults usually aren't quite as excited about the prospect, but why not embrace it? You're probably going to have to go out there and shovel snow anyway. Here's some suggestions for games: my favorites include blowing bubbles and allowing them to freeze, and busting out the beach toys for sculpting sand to use in the snow instead. And speaking of shoveling, why not suggest the kids help you out? If you have shovels small enough that they can use, enlist their help in clearing the sidewalks. The reward can be using that excess snow to make the walls of a nice snow fort. There's always the old standards for playing in the snow - making snowmen, snowball fights, and of course sledding. My advice: save the snow angels for last. Nothing makes me want to go back inside like intentionally laying down in snow. 2. Bring some snow inside The worst thing about snow? It's so darn cold. So why not bring some inside with you where it's nice and warm? Grab a few buckets full of snow and dump them into the bathtub. Let the kids have an indoor snow day of digging and sculpting with (hopefully) minimal mess. The sheer novelty of inside snow ought to keep them entertained for awhile, and everyone will stay lot warmer. Dolls, cars and action figures can now play in a winter setting without having to be carted outside. And once it all melts, just let it flow down the drain. 3. Play some games Board games and puzzles were designed for days like this. Bust out the classics - especially the ones that take forever, like "Candyland" or "Monopoly." You've got the whole day to get through it, provided everyone has the patience for that. And if you're like me, you've probably got a box of their toys hidden away somewhere - things thrown into a closet because you just didn't know where else to put them. Old toys are suddenly far more interesting if they haven't been seen for awhile. Today's the day to drag out that box. There's also classics like building a blanket fort and Don't Touch The Floor Because It's Made of Lava. The latter is a personal favorite. 4. Get their help with chores No, seriously. You're going to have a day at home. You're probably looking around at all of the things you need to get done, on top of thinking about the catching up you'll need to do when you get back to work. So why not relieve some of that stress and keep the family busy at the same time? Of course, no one enjoys chores. But kids will often be a lot more willing to help out when they see themselves as helpers rather than laborers. Now's your chance to do the old Tom Sawyer "painting the fence" routine - letting them do something they're usually not allowed to do, like run the vacuum clean or help with the cooking, helps to convince kids they're being rewarded rather than punished. 5. Arts and crafts You don't have to be Martha Stewart to keep kids amused. Fold up some paper and cut out snowflakes. Grab some paper plates, cut out holes for your eyes, and design your own masks. Or just find some of those coloring books and sit down with a pile of crayons. If you're a bit more confident in your crafting skills, you can do things like make some homemade play-dough. And speaking of edible crafts: since we've already talked about bringing snow inside, you can also try making snow candy. Just don't use the snow that you've all been playing with in the bathtub. 6. Escape with electronics It's likely that the whole family has access to several screens worth of electronic entertainment these days. Even families without home video game consoles are likely to have several amusing apps on their phones. | |
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After much anticipation the NHL All-star game is this weekend. Along with the game comes lots of activities for kids and adults alike. There is the NHL Digital Lounge for adults to hang out in and the Kids Zone for the younger ones, or just young at heart. Check out the other details. It looks like a fun filled weekend in Columbus, Ohio!
EVENT HOURS: Thursday, January 22: 7:00pm - 10:00pm (private event for Blue Jackets season ticket holders) Friday, January 23: 3:00pm - 10:00pm Saturday, January 24: 10:00am - 7:00pm Sunday, January 25: 10:00am - 4:00pm The National Hockey League (NHL) will transform the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) into 200,000 square feet of interactive hockey fun for NHL Fan Fair, January 23-25, 2015. As the official fan festival of the 2015 NHL All-Star Weekend, NHL Fan Fair will offer hockey fans of all ages three days of family friendly interactive games and attractions, special appearances, trophy and memorabilia displays, live TV and radio broadcasts, music, food and dozens of other dynamic activities. All attractions will be included with the price of admission. Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime experience where you can: • Meet the NHL Mascots • Check out the NHL Trophy Showcase presented by Discover • Take a picture with the iconic Stanley Cup • Test your hockey skills in the Honda NHL All-Star Skills Zone • Meet and greet legends of the game as NHL players past and present sign autographs • Visit the Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit featuring "Hockey in the State of Ohio" • Test your shooting accuracy at the Bridgestone Shoot Out • Visit the McDonald's Kids Zone designed for hockey's youngest fans • Create your own personalized hockey trading card presented by Upper Deck • Collect rare hockey memorabilia at the 2015 NHL All-Star Trading Card & Memorabilia Show presented by Upper Deck • Relax, recharge and learn all about the new NHL mobile app inside the NHL Digital Lounge. Plus watch the best games of the season with NHL GameCenter LIVE presented by Xbox One • Spend some time sharing memories and insights with current and former NHL players and hockey insiders in Q&A sessions inside the NHL Theater • Lights, Camera, Action! You Make the Call with NHL Tonight™. NHL Network™ and Dish Network are giving you the opportunity to get in front of the camera to host your own segment of NHL Network's popular nightly highlight show • Take a journey through the History of the NHL All-Star Game: Through The Decades powered by Constellation where guests are taken on an imagery tour of the history of the NHL All-Star Game, highlighting moments from 1934 to the present with the use of photography, audio and lighting powered by Constellation • Find your All-Star souvenir! Shop officially licensed NHL All-Star merchandise as well as 30 team assortments at All-Star Weekend's flagship store, located within NHL Fan Fair. And much, much more ... EVENT MAP › Join the conversation using #NHLFanFair "ADVANCED" TICKET PRICES: (tickets on sale now) $12 Adult $10 Children (Ages 3 to 12) $10 Seniors (Ages 65 and over) $10 College / Military (must show ID at entrance) Children 2 and under: Admittance is FREE "EVENT DAY" TICKET PRICES: $16 Adult $12 Children (Ages 3 to 12) $12 Seniors (Ages 65 and over) $12 College / Military (must show ID at entrance) Children 2 and under: Admittance is FREE BUY TICKETS › So you're getting ready to put your house on the market. You want to be sure that it is staged appropriately. Staging your home to show off its qualities can only add to your final selling price. Did you know that on average, people receive $2 in increased sale price for every $1 put into home staging? Huh...that sounds like a good deal to me!
So follow these 5 GOLDEN rules and you and your home will be good to go...and hopefully with a SOLD sign in the yard soon! 1. De-personalize. I know you love your family and friends and you want to keep all of your pictures out for display or your kids, but to the buyer it's a distraction that prevents them from seeing a home for their family. Let them picture themselves in the house. 2. Maximize. Declutter and maximize the space in your home. Closets packed tight with all of your clothes makes it look like you lack closet space. Consider moving some of your items into storage so it doesn't look like the closet is overflowing. You want to show off the storage pace. 3. Sanitize. This may be my #1 rule. I hate walking into a house that is dirty. You can literally feel the dirt on your skin when you walk in. Or you peek in the shower and there is mold growing in the tile grout. This is the easiest and cheapest way to stage your home. just CLEAN it!! It's well worth the elbow grease in cleaning the floors, walls, baseboards, ceiling fans, windows and bathrooms! 4. Modernize. Unless your home as exceptional period built-ins, all homes could benefit from some updating. if someone feels the home is dated, they will reflect that feeling in a lower offer. Consider simple changes like swapping out gold fixtures for nickel or chrome. 5. Neutralize. Color can make or break a buyers interest in your home. You may love that shocking red wall, but all the potential buyer sees is a great deal of painting in their future. Painting is one of the most inexpensive ways to change the look of a home. So with just a few simple tweaks it can increase your home's selling price by hundreds, or even thousands of dollars. Follow these 5 Golden Rules to stage your home effectively so you get the most for your home! Yep, today is National CHEESE day! Who doesn't love cheese? Well as long as you're not Lactose Intolerant you probably do! Well today is the day to celebrate! Americans are definitely fans of the sometimes salty, sometimes smooth treat.
In fact the average American consumes more than 30 pounds of cheese each year. And, that is nothing compared to the French, they eat an average of 50 pounds every year. We don't blame you if you have a hard time choosing a favorite to celebrate today's special occasion, because there are more than 900 known cheeses in the world. But my favorite is Feta :)
Thinking about flipping houses? Here are the top 5 mistakes that makes a flip...a flop from www.investopedia.com
House flipping has become the day trading of the 2000s. But in the rush to make a profit, far too many would-be real estate moguls overlook the basics and end up failing. In this article we'll look at the five biggest mistakes investors make in this market and how to avoid them. 1. Not Enough Money Dabbling in real estate is an expensive proposition. The first expense is the property acquisition cost. While low/no money down financing claims abound, finding these deals from a legitimate vendor is easier said than done. Also, if you're financing the acquisition, that means you're paying interest. Although the interest on borrowed money is tax deductible, it is not a 100% deduction. Every dollar spent on interest adds to the amount you will need to earn on the sale just to break even. Paying cash eliminates the interest, but even then, there are property holding costs, such as taxes and utilities. Renovation costs must also be factored in. If you plan to fix the house up and sell it for a profit, the sale price must exceed the combined cost of acquisition, the cost of holding the property and the cost of renovations. Even if you manage to overcome these hurdles, don't forget about capital gains taxes, which will chip away at your profit. (To learn more, read Fix It And Flip It: The Value Of Remodeling.) 2. Not Enough Time Renovating and flipping houses is a time consuming business venture. It can take months to find and buy the right property. Once you own the house, you'll need to invest time to fix it up. Before you can sell it, you'll need to schedule inspections to make sure the property complies with applicable building codes. If it doesn't, you need to spend more time and money to bring it up to par. Next, you'll need to invest time to sell the property. If you show it to prospective buyers yourself, you'll spend plenty of time commuting to and from the property and meeting with potential buyers. "" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" style="border: 0px currentColor; border-image: none; vertical-align: bottom; display: none; visibility: hidden;">If you are able to make a 10% profit on a house that cost $50,000, you'll make a $5,000 profit. For many people, it might make more sense to get a good job, where they can earn that kind of money in a few weeks or months via a steady paycheck - with no risk and a very consistent time commitment. 3. Not Enough Skills Professional builders and skilled professionals, such as carpenters and plumbers, often flip houses as a sideline to their regular jobs. They have the knowledge, skills and experience to find and fix a house. Some of them also have union jobs that provide unemployment checks all winter long while they work on their side projects. The real money in house flipping comes from sweat equity. If you're handy with a hammer, enjoy laying carpet, can hang drywall, roof a house and install a kitchen sink, you've got the skills to flip a house. On the other hand, if you've got to pay a professional to do all of this work, the odds of making a profit on your investment will be dramatically reduced. 4. Not Enough Knowledge To be successful, you need to be able to pick the right property, in the right location, at the right price. In a neighborhood of $100,000 homes, do you really expect to buy at $60,000 and sell at $200,000? The market is far too efficient for that to occur on a frequent basis. Even if you get the deal of a lifetime, you need to know which renovations to make and which to skip. You also need to understand the applicable tax laws and know when to cut your losses and get out before your project becomes a money pit. (For related reading, see Foreclosure Opens Windows For Investors.) 5. Not Enough Patience Professionals take their time and wait for the right property. Novices rush out and hire the first contractor that makes a bid to address work they can't do themselves. Professionals either do the work themselves, or rely on a network of pre-arranged, reliable contractors. (For more tips on how to make money flipping houses, read Top 5 Must-Haves For Flipping Houses.) Novices hire a realtor to help sell the house. Professionals rely on "for sale by owner" efforts to minimize their costs and maximize profits. Novices expect to rush through the process, slap on a coat of paint and earn a fortune. Professionals understand that buying and selling houses takes time and that the profit margins are sometimes slim. Bottom Line Before you get involved in flipping houses, do your research. Like any other business venture, flipping requires time, money, patience, skill, and it will definitely wind up being more difficult than you imagined. Great Pricing & Customer Service TradeKing offers fair and simple pricing. Equity trades are only $4.95 per trade! Plus, our licensed brokers pride themselves on providing great service, short hold times, fast email responses, and instant online chat.Learn more about TradeKing! One of the common contingencies to real estate purchase agreements is a home inspection. Hired by the buyer, an inspector examines the house thoroughly for non-functioning systems, damages, and repairs that may be needed. His detailed report forms the basis for continuing with the purchase, renegotiating the sale price, allowing the seller to make repairs, or for pulling out of the sale. A home inspection is recommended on purchases of new construction as well as re-sales and is a critical component of an escrow timeline.
Structural Components A home inspector climbs onto the roof, pokes at the foundation, and crawls into attic space looking for water condensation or penetration. On homes in hurricane zones, he’ll examine roof trusses to be sure they're connected to the frame as per code. Walls are examined for leakage or mold. Floor cracks are noted, as is separation from the baseboards. The ceilings, especially around electrical fixtures, must be clear of any signs of water leakage. Exterior Faults Close inspection of the exterior may reveal where additional caulking is needed to prevent water seepage. Broken seals on glass, deteriorating tread steps, decking and settlement cracks are a few of the items that require professional repair. Even the garage door is tested whether it's electronic or manual. Roofing The roof is examined closely for loose shingles or tiles, and the flashing is tested for tightness. Tree limbs touching the house provide a passageway for rodents and also can threaten the house during violent storms. Gutter debris is noted, and all drains are tested for a tight connection to the house. Skylights and chimneys also are examined for proper sealants. Plumbing All piping is tested, including drains, vents and waste systems. Water ingress and egress is examined, as are the interior fuel and water distributors and the sump pump, if present. All drains are examined for signs of leakage, mineral deposits and the fitting of proper filtering apparatus. Inspectors may test the water for bacteria. Electrical All the electrical components are examined to ensure they fit and are operating safely. Conductors, grounding equipment and distribution panels are tested for efficient operation. The location of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors also is noted in the inspection report. Heating/Air Conditioning The entire heating and air conditioning system is tested to verify it's in working condition, and the appropriate filters are examined for accumulation. Supply pipes are examined for corrosion. Chimneys must be clear of bird nests, and the chimney frame, whether it's brick or made of other components, is to be sound. Insulation/Ventilation Attic crawl space insulation and vapour retarders are noted on the inspection report. All venting fans that aren’t working also are included. Under-floor insulation, if accessible through the basement, also is examined for deterioration. Interiors/Appliances Doors, floors, stairways, counters, cabinetry, and the number of windows are all cited on the inspection report along with notes on any items that don't function as they should. This also includes testing of all interior appliances that are built-in or included in the purchase contract. Are you a college football fan? Well living in Dublin, Ohio - 20 minutes from The Ohio State University, makes us all HUGE college football fans. Well, if you didn't know they made it to the National Championship game this year...after losing their 1st and 2nd string quarterbacks to injury. This is the first year there is a playoff system, and they made it! We are all so proud of the team and excited for this game. Wish we had tickets to the game!
Check out this OSU hype video it is AWESOME. Even if you aren't a football fan it will get you pumped up! And GO BUCKEYES!!! #gobucks #lynnrealtygroup This is a great article on how to keep your pipes from freezing. You can find it here on the Kentucky.com site. I know it isn't an article about Dublin, Ohio, but it has the same great suggestions. Plus, we get colder weather here, so we all should be following these tips regardless! I hope you don't have to experience the bitter cold we are in Dublin (-5 today), but if you are, please prepare your home! You don't want to be dealing with a pipe bursting when its already FREEZING out!!
There are a few precautions that homeowners can take to avoid frozen pipes, loss of water and a costly plumbing bill. But use common sense, plumbers say. Loss of water is an inconvenience but losing your home or your life is worse, said Richard Strange, owner of Richard's Quality Plumbing. "I wouldn't recommend any type of heating device," Strange said. "You can't monitor it and make sure it's working properly." Blow torches on pipes is also another "no-no." Strange said those methods to keep pipes from freezing can result in a fire. On Wednesday, Lexington firefighters were called to a home on Elm Street after a couple used a space heater in a bathroom to keep their pipes from freezing. A shower curtain brushed up against the heater, causing a fire that was contained to the bathroom. "You could lose your life or lose your house," Strange said. Instead, plumbers say keep doors open to any bathroom that has pipes that face an outside wall. "If you have a vanity, keep the doors open to allow the heat inside," said Magedanz. Keep your crawl space sealed. That means making sure that the door to the crawl space is shut tight. Any vents from the crawl space to the outside should be shut. That helps keep cold air out, plumbers said Thursday. If homeowners have pipes that have frozen before, leave water running in those problem areas at just a trickle, plumbers said. That will help keep those pipes from freezing again. And always, always take hoses off of outside spigots in the fall, plumbers said. A garden hose connected to an outside faucet acts like a conduit, said John Blevins, president of Barkley Blevins Plumbing, Heating and Cooling. Blevins said that if there is any water left in that hose, it will freeze, the pipes will expand and then burst. But people don't know that those pipes have burst until spring, when they turn the water back on and water comes flowing out of the wall, plumbers said. "It's very common," said Magedanz of pipes freezing and bursting via a connected hose. "Sometimes, it's the same people every year." If you have a hose connected to an outside faucet, take it off now. But the damage may have already been done, Blevins said. Some people buy warmers for outside spigots. But those warmers or covers for spigots must be put on in the fall well before the freeze, he said. Putting a cover or warmer on now is worthless, Blevins said. "It's like shutting the barn door after the horses are already out," Blevins said. Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2015/01/08/3630574/lexington-plumbers-offer-tips.html#storylink=cpy Come see us as at the Build, Remodel & Landscape Expo this weekend! The expo is being held at the Columbus Convention Center downtown. We will be at booth #712 with our partner Prism Construction Company! We will be representing them on all of their homes.
Here is some more info about the Expo:Back for an amazing 15th year, the wall-to-wall 2015 Columbus Build, Remodel & Landscape Expo January 9 - 11, 2015 is the perfect three-day event to kick-off your New Year and get you closer than ever to making your dream home a reality! From top quality exhibits, to informative seminars, to insightful demonstrations and more, you’ll discover thousands of smart, stylish and cost-effective ways to design or renovate your home – including ideas on the latest in cabinetry and countertops, flooring, sunrooms and additions, basement finishing, waterproofing, smart home automation, and energy efficient windows, exterior products and more. You’ll also meet hundreds of local experts who will be on-hand to answer you questions, and provide you with special “insiders” advice to help you save money, time and stress. Special Expo Highlights Here are some special events during the 2015 Columbus Build, Remodel & Landscape Expo that you won’t want to miss:
In addition to a completely refreshed seminar line-up featuring the latest information and ideas, this year’s Expo offers new and exciting seminars covering everything from new remodeling trends, to working with designers and contractors, and much more. Learn more -> |