The EPA and the Ohio Department of Health have named January as the Radon Action Month in order to make homeowners more aware of the risks of high levels of Radon and its possible effect on health, particularly the links to lung cancer.

Clean the gutters and make sure the downspouts are running freely.

Remove ivy from house, it is a termite conduit and destroys the mortar between the bricks

Put bleach down the floor drains in the basement, it prevents bugs and sewer gas from entering the home

Paint all exterior flaking paint

Make sure the storm windows are in the closed position for winter. Make sure that the screens have no holes in them for summer.

Make sure the the baffles in the ductwork in the basement are in the correct position, for winter or for summer.

I am the happy owner of a turn of the century home which was falling apart when we bought it.  We were really fed up with having to rebuild our 1930's English Tudor every time we wanted to improve it and decided that our next home would be built by craftsmen and built well.  So we embarked on a two year search for a craftsmen built home.  We found it in Cincinnati's Mansion District, North Avondale.

If you are ready to move and are wondering how to find a great agent, here are 10 things an agent should be up to speed on!

Buying a home can be a hair-raising experience. You will experience a roller coaster of emotions while finding the right place, securing the loan and finally moving in.  For most of us, the first time home purchase is the largest investment we've ever considered. The emotions of purchasing something so expensive and personal can often cloud our business judgement.

Here is a rule of thumb, it's not accurate to the penny because a lot depends on the price range of the house.  In some price ranges you must have granite counter tops, whereas in lower price ranges, formica is just fine!

Kitchen remodel, major                           115%

Kitchen remodel, minor                             96%

Family Room addition                                78%

Fireplace addition                                    100%

1. Failure to Determine your time frame for your investment

Flips are often over budget and time. There is a carrying cost of the money invested in a flip and if your run over the time schedule, you will eat into your profit.

Buying to rent in the Cincinnati Real Estate Market currently might be a better strategy.  However, if you have to rehab first, the above is also true. All the time you have a vacancy because you are fixing up the apartment, you are eating into your profit.

I'm not listing my house over the holidays or in the winter, it won't sell.  This is a familiar refrain from would-be sellers, who see no value in having their home on the market over the fall and winter.  Is this a valid argument?

In Cincinnati Ohio, Hamilton County at least, believe me you are not alone. I saw a statistic recently that said that Hamilton County has the most foreclosed homes than anywhere else in the country.

You don't have to wait for the bank to come and demand the keys to your home though.  Here are some ideas that might help you manage your credit and get your house off your back.