NEW LISTING IN GAHANNA!

JUST LISTED!

~900 Trifecta Ct.~

WELL MAINTAINED TWO-STORY HOME! 

Nestled onto ~1/4 acre cul-de-sac lot! Two-Story Foyer. Sunken, 1^st floor Den with cathedral ceilings. Spacious island Kitchen with oak cabinets, new stainless steel appliances & bay wall. Sunken Family Room with wood-burning fireplace walks out to 14x16 Florida Room & Deck. Giant, vaulted Master Suite with walk-in closet & private Bath. Updated roof, vinyl siding, some carpet, garage door, & opener, some lighting & more! 4 BR’s & 2.5 Baths. Over 2,300 SF! Gahanna Schools. Only $217,900! Call DeLena Today!

Tips to ensure your shower upgrade doesn't turn into a leaky mess

(BPT) - Bathrooms are certainly among the busiest rooms in any home. But a bathroom can be so much more than just the place where you get ready during your hurried morning routine. One of the hottest trends in home decorating and remodeling is creating a bathroom that serves as a spa-like retreat.



Soothing colors and natural materials are right on trend, but if you really want your bathroom to be an oasis of calm, it also needs to be low-maintenance. If you're worried about your beautiful new shower leaking, it's hard to enjoy the experience. Instead, start by taking steps that ensure you don't have to worry about leaks and the damage they cause.



Whether you're a DIY expert or hiring the job out to a professional, it's important to carefully review the plans for a new shower. If you're bringing a contractor on for the job, ask what kind of materials and practices they'll be using to ensure that they're not cutting corners. If you're up for a do-it-yourself job, carefully consider the materials you'll use - look for options that make your job easier but don't skimp on quality. For instance, the new Shower System from USG is designed to streamline installation without compromising on performance.



Keep these tips in mind to ensure that your shower is as durable and leak-proof as possible:



* The shower tray: Having the right base in your shower makes all the difference. There's a perception that the best way to ensure a leak-proof base is an expensive and labor intensive mortar bed. But there are solutions that can cut down on cost and labor. The pre-sloped, high-density, molded-foam shower tray in USG's DUROCK Shower System, for instance, has a 2 percent slope that makes it easily compatible with a wide array of tile shapes and sizes, offering comfortable flooring and simplicity of installation.



* Waterproof membranes: No matter how beautiful your tile, it's what's underneath that counts. Using a waterproof membrane ensures far better performance long term. A strong (tear-proof) and thin waterproof membrane over a durable backerboard, such as DUROCK cement board ensures that your shower stays waterproof, even beyond what your eye can see.



* The drain: A securely fitted drain will help keep water flowing where it's supposed to go. If you're installing a shower system, consider using the proper drain assembly that goes along with it. Systems like the USG DUROCK Shower System offer a versatile drain assembly and wide range of drain grates in 52 designs and finishes. Elegant and functional grates integrate with shower systems but still allow homeowners to choose the style that's right for them. Keep in mind that grate height might need to be adjusted to match tile thickness and the DUROCK Shower System offers maximum flexibility.



A carefully constructed shower will hold its beauty for a long time. And that means your bathroom will remain a retreat where you can think about relaxing instead of repairing. For more information about waterproof shower installations, visit www.durockshowersystem.com.



Courtesy of BPT

December 2013 Real Estate Update!

December 2013

DeLena Ciamacco

Included in this blog post is a link to my Real Estate Update Newsletter. Please click on the link below to get the latest Real Estate Update for December! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call or email my office.

http://realtytimes.com/181/DeLenaCiamacco

The Holiday Season is here!!

 

I want to wish you a Happy Holiday Season and safe New Year’s celebration!  I realize the Holidays can be an extremely stressful time for many people and twice as difficult when you are attempting to sell your home or other Real estate investments.  With that being said, remaining informed and educated about the “Real Estate Market”, in general, is paramount.  Part of my job is to keep you informed and to let you know what to expect this “Winter/Holiday selling season.”

Historically October through February/early March are the slowest months of the year for real estate sales.  As expected, showings will noticeably decrease during this time of year, and they already have dropped by at least 30% over the last month.  However, this by no means indicates your property will not sell!!  In fact, November through February (although they are reportedly the slowest closing months of the year) is not far behind the “prime selling season”.  We tend to have less “lookers” and more serious Buyers during the fall/winter months.  We are looking for Quality of Buyers and not Quantity of Buyers. 

In addition, November through February tend to be strong relocation months. Many major companies fiscal year-ends tend to occur through the months of December and January (and, of course, June).  The people relocating usually HAVE to buy.  It will be important for us to make your listing as available as possible during this time of year. 

Rest assured my entire Team and I plan to do everything possible to put/keep your listing at the forefront.  Fortunately, these trends tend to be cyclical.  I expect it will pick up again in the very near future!

Overall, this year has been as steady as we could hope for real estate sales and it appears it will continue to appreciate into 2014. 

As always, I welcome your call (or email) if you would like to discuss any issue in detail.  Please remember, I would be happy to provide a market analysis (or current comparable sales) for your review, at your request.  I continuously monitor local, state and national market conditions (as they pertain to Real Estate) and will advise if any changes are necessary.

SHOULD YOU LIST YOUR HOME DURING THE HOLIDAYS?

 Getting cold feet about having your home on the market during the holidays? Check out this article by Brendon DeSimone from Zillow of reasons why you SHOULD be on the market and/or STAY there!

Should You List Your Home During The Holidays? 

Also, just a word of advice, if you are thinking of selling or are already on the market be sure to keep the holiday decor  as neutral as possible and at a minimum. 

Holiday shopping online? 3 tips to avoid common scams

Sometimes the best way to find that perfect holiday gift is to search and shop online; it's quick, easy and convenient. And more and more people are doing it: It's anticipated that sales for November and December will grow to $54.5 billion this year, according to eMarketer.



As you venture into unknown online territory in your quest for that perfect gift, it's important to shop with a heightened sense of security. There are undoubtedly countless honest and hardworking sellers who peddle goods over the Internet, but there are also scammers looking to take advantage of unwitting victims.



Help protect yourself from scammers by following three simple rules:



1. Never use a money transfer service to pay for something online.



'Money transfer services are convenient and simple ways to send cash to people you personally know, but you're better off paying by credit card or using an escrow service when you're buying goods online from someone you don't know or you haven't met in-person,' says Shelley Bernhardt, director of consumer protection at Western Union.



Western Union is not an escrow service provider and does not guarantee the delivery or suitability of goods or services. Once you send a money transfer, it can be paid out to the receiver within a short time. After the money is paid, it's gone and the odds of getting it back if the gift you thought you purchased never finds your doorstep are slim.



If an individual seller or online retail website only accepts money transfers as payment, be wary and look elsewhere. And don't be fooled, even if the seller appears friendly and offers a reasonable explanation as to why he or she only accepts money transfers - fraudsters are well-trained in gaining your trust.



2. Never email any financial information.



It's a red flag if a seller asks you to email a credit card number or checking account number. If you're paying for something online, use a secure money exchange service like Paypal or use the secure payment portal on the seller's website.



3. Read product descriptions carefully, including the fine print, and determine exchange and return policies before you purchase.



If the seller or website you bought from doesn't have an exchange policy and the product you buy ends up being something different than what you expected, you're likely out of luck if you try to return it.



You can shop online safely and securely during the holidays or anytime of the year. But make sure you're a savvy shopper and protect yourself from scammers by approaching your purchases with the required amount of scrutiny.



For more information on avoiding common scams, visit www.westernunion.com/stopfraud or www.ftc.gov/moneymatters and click on 'Scam Watch.'



Courtesy of BPT

Family fun that is quick and delicious, easy and nutritious

Making your own version of your favorite take-out meals at home means you can control the amount of sodium and fat your family is consuming without compromising on flavor. If you stock your freezer with whole-wheat pita and your pantry with healthy pasta sauce, you will always have the base for a perfect Pitazza at a moment's notice.



Healthy cooking tip: To add protein to your Pitazza without the extra sodium, roast a whole chicken. Remove the meat and store in your fridge. Freeze the bones for when you have spare time to make your own, low-sodium chicken broth.



Prep time: 8 minutes



Bake time: 15 minutes



Serves: 2



Serving Size: ½ pita



Calories per serving: 202



Ingredients:



• ½ cup (125 mL) Healthy Choice Garlic and Fine Herb pasta sauce



• 1 90g whole wheat pita, split in half to make 2 circles



• ½ cup (125 mL) finely sliced peppers (red, orange and/or yellow)



• ½ cup (125 mL) sliced mushrooms



• ¼ cup (50 mL) minced red onion



• 2 tbsp. low-fat feta cheese crumbled or your favorite low-fat cheese



Directions:



• Preheat oven to 400F/205C.



• On large baking sheet arrange pita bread



• Spread ¼ cup (75 mL) Healthy Choice Garlic and Fine Herb tomato sauce evenly on each pita half



• Top with ¼ cup (50 mL) each: peppers, mushroom and 2 tbsp.(25 mL) red onion.



• Evenly sprinkle crumbled feta cheese; bake for 12 minutes or until the pita crust is golden.



• Slice Pitazza into two pieces, serve with garden salad.



Tip: Top with diced chicken for an extra protein punch



Tip: Make it Naanzza using low fat, low sodium naan bread



Courtesy of Newscanada