CincinnatiInPhotos.com

Cat in the Case

Everyone has heard of or read the the Dr Seuss book "Cat in the Hat". I have a strange cat that will climb into anything and loves to lay in my brief case. Hence, Cat in the Case.

As a Realtor I need many tools. I carry my digital room measure as well as my tape measure, my real estate calculator, brochures, pens, markers, business cards, legal pad of paper, working files for the day, business cards, contracts, disclosures, addendum's, maps, my lock box super key as well as several other regular keys (office keys, HUD keys) credit card, my digital wide angle camera, insurance card, check book and many other Realtor things like my Realtor code of ethics and Standard of Practice manual. I also like to carry a real estate dictionary with me...just in case.

It takes a lot of stuff to do my job. I couldn't begin to carry everything it takes to be a good real estate agent. I definitely can't carry my cat around with me. So I let her have her way for a while then have to pick her up out of my brief case and close it up before heading out.

There are many things that cannot be carried in my brief case. Directional and yard signs. My computer and printers, Scanners and fax machines. My coffee maker is an important part of my office. I need my fresh brewed coffee first thing in the morning. Not Starbucks either Yuk! (my own opinion).

These are all things we take for granted in doing our day to day business. If any one of these pieces of equipment were missing or lost or forgotten I wouldn't be able to do my business properly. My digital wide angle camera is going bad. The sensor is shutting down from years of use and I am looking at replacing it. Of course there are better quality cameras with more bells and whistles at a better price today than 4 years ago when I bought this one. So Ebay here I come.

My database is carried on my Blackberry Storm. That is something I have learned I cannot do without. My cell phone is a lot more than a phone. I have my entire schedule, database of names, addresses and phone numbers, email, internet to keep up with Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn throughout the day. It's amazing how we have adapted to the needs of modern technology.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week. I come.

Historic places in Cincinnati Area

Cincinnati has a lot of history and historic places tucked away where you would least expect it. For example this wooden covered bridge.

  

I was out last week knocking on doors trying to meet folks whose homes are scheduled for a sheriff sale. I wanted to discuss helping them with their problem mortgages and try to help them avoid foreclosure.

As I turned off Hamilton Avenue in Mt Healthy I was faced with crossing the creek through this wooden covered bridge.  WOW...it was a sight for soar eyes, as they say. Of course I had my trusty Nikon D70 ready to shoot.

It is called Jediah Hill Covered Bridge and was listed on the National Registry for Historic Places on March 28, 1973.

The Jediah Hill Covered Bridge was constructed in 1850 over the western fork of the Mill Creek. It was named for it's builder and was renovated in 1956 and again in 1981.

I ended up meeting 3 people that afternoon in trouble and one of them didn't have a clue as to what was next for them. I scheduled to sit down with them next Tuesday afternoon to go over their options. As for the other two...they think they have things under control. After asking many questions I figured out that they are convinced they will have their lender do a loan modification for them and cancel the sheriff sale. Lets hope that works for them. We have too many foreclosures happening in today's market.

If you know anyone in danger of or facing a foreclosure have them get in contact with me. I have a solution that can avoid them going to foreclosure.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Sunday's Church

I have several mentors. My blog my mentor is Teresa Boardman author of  St Paul Real Estate Blog. She is absolutely the best. I spoke to her and communicated via email several times while first setting up my blog. She invited me to copy any of her ideas.

One of her ideas I found interesting was her Saturday Church post. So I started a weekly post called Sunday's Church. Theresa was forced to stop her church posts because it became the go to place for people wanting sell or buy churches. She didn't have a commercial Realtor to refer to and Church listings was out of her league as would any primarily residential Realtor.

Well, I don't have that problem ...yet. And Cincinnati has an abundance of beautiful churches of all types, sizes and faiths to highlight.

This week I am featuring St Cecilia Parish Church at 3105 Madison Rd in Oakley.

St Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians and church music because when she was dying she sang to God.

St Cecilia church is a Gothic style of architecture and is built in the shape of a cross. The vaulted ceiling points toward "heaven." The stone material used is Indiana limestone and a German painter created and painted the ceiling symbols. The church building won an award for architecture when it was built in 1928 (the placard is on the wall in the rear of the church).

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

All Aboard!

I love Cincinnati. There are so many little nooks and crannies with small unique shops and restaurants all around, you just have to look for them. This is a real fun spot near the center of greater Cincinnati in Madeira. It's called Choo Choo's. Well named because the railroad tracks run alone side.

      

You can stop by for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They have something for everyone and you will not break the bank to fill up at this fun eatery.

Once inside you will not be board. It is decorated to the hilt with old school memorabilia. On nice days you can choose to sit outside on the patio and watch the goings on downtown Madeira.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Our Family reunion

Fridays are for fun and this post is about the fun I had at our family reunion last Sunday. This really has nothing to do with real estate. It has a lot to do with family values. It is primarily for my family on my wife's side. But you can all follow along if you like. Family values and real estate values can follow some if the same principals..

This past Sunday on August 9th my wife Mary Jo's family the McCarthy clan held the annual family reunion. This was the 2nd year to have it in Blue Ash in the park behind the community center on Cooper Rd just off Reed Hartman Highway. Almost everyone was in attendance including a few favorite boyfriends (Judd & Matt) and a couple of family pets. And most importantly the latest member of the clan...little Alex. 

 Last year I totally forgot to get copies of the family portrait to everyone. So this year lets see who reads my blog. I will still try to make copies and distribute them but this way everyone will have a chance to see it without having to wait a whole year.  Not a bad looking group.

We really have fun at our reunion. Each year a different branch of the family is in charge of entertainment. They are to provide the games to play. Of course we always have the traditional corn hole tournament. Last year however we veered away from tradition and tried Hillbilly golf. We all had plenty of food. Everyone is responsible for their main course and this year everyone brought a dish to put on the share table. That was good.

OK Family...here is the group photo from last years reunion. It's only a year late!

So to make this real simple. Just call me or send me an email with how many of which family photos you would like. I promise sometime before next years reunion to make you copies and send them to you.

Keep reading my blog. I may even post a family album of some of the goings on that happened throughout the day. You know me...I always have my Nikon D70 in hand.

 God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Recycling gone wild

 

Real estate signs are very branded with their own logo's and distinct colors.

You can usually determine what company a particular FOR SALE sign belongs to even from a distance.

This sign gave me a big belly laugh when I got close enough to see that it was a recycled RE/MAX sign being used by a FSBO (For Sale By Owner).

I can understand one reason FSBO's are selling themselves is to save money. However at the expense of someone else seems a little unfair.

 

During the 18 years I was with RE/MAX and now as an agent with GROUP Realtors I am responsible for the purchasing and maintaining of all my own signs. The average For Sale sign cost about $45.00. I take very good care and account for all my signs especially in today's struggling market.

FSBO's definitely need our help...but this is not the usual way to help them out by letting them borrow and recycle our signs for their personal gain.

The REALTOR Magazine offers eight reasons FSBO's need Realtors.

I am always ready and willing to help anyone that asks for my help especially FSBO's. However, if they want to use my signs it comes as a package deal. To get to use my sign they get my expertise in helping them price, market, present, report, negotiate and close the deal for them. That is what I love to do and am very good at it. Just ask any of my past clients.

If you would like to speak to any of my past clients I would be happy to give you a list of those that have offered to share their experience using my services. You can also go to my website and read the many testimonials I have posted. www.GaryRossignol.com

 God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

No movie and popcorn needed with this listing...

Part of my procedure before listing a home I usually loan the seller a professional video produced by David Knox called "Preparing Your Home To Sell".  Steve and Dora didn't need to watch this video. Their home was already in pristine condition. From the first time I stepped in the front door till the day they closed and moved out this home was always kept clutter free and spotless.

   

They were very concerned about two things, the time it would take and the amount of money they would get in today's market. Being realistic they listened and followed my recommendation on list price and made the home available for potential buyers on the buyers time schedule even at their own inconvenience.

It all paid off. They were very surprised that within two weeks of listing day they received an offer. They didn't need to do much negotiating on price and the cash buyer planned on closing exactly the time Steve and Dora were hoping for.

They took a couple of trips to Nashville and with a very good buyers agent I referred them to they were able to find their brand new home and schedule the closing for the day after closing here in West Chester.

Needless to say, Steve and Dora are happy and left unscathed by today's market.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.