Nine Ideas to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home

Posted on May 25, 2020 by susanaknabe

Homes with curb appeal draw in buyers and make them want to see what is inside. Here are nine tips to make your home’s curb appeal irresistible to them:

1 – Lots of Mulch
During warmer months, mulch makes garden beds look pleasing. Heavy mulching looks even better.

2 – Add Trim
Add more trim to windows and doors. Trim elevates something very basic and makes the home more special. Consider adding trim around your front door to make a grand entrance. Depending upon your home style, you may also want to add shutters to windows as a decorative element.

3 – Add Color
During warmer months, be sure to have a splash of color in your year. Seasonal flowers will look wonderful. Think about adding a colorful bench or chair on the front porch.

4 – Mailbox
Upscale your mailbox, house numbers or address plaque.

5 – Camouflage an Eyesore
If you have a large electrical box, piping or wires, paint them the same color as your home and they will be less noticeable. Add a small fence around your air conditioner or garbage area.

6 – Window Boxes
A window box filled with flowers can transform a so-so window into a showstopper.

7 – Create a Walkway
A simple stone pathway adds character to your yard.

8 – Update the Garage
It you have a plain garage door, consider purchasing a hardware kit to make your doors look like carriage-style garage doors.

9 – Lighting
Landscape lighting sets an ambiance for your yard in the evening.

Need assistance with your home curb appeal project? Contact Sibcy Cline Home Services for recommendations of vetted professionals.

Look for homes for sale here.

A Buyer’s Guide to Virtual Open Houses on SibcyCline.com

Posted on May 21, 2020 by susanaknabe

Virtual open houses are not brand new in real estate – but during the current COVID-19 situation they have become very popular. With record low inventory and many homes selling before multiple buyers get a chance to peek inside, we suspect they are here to stay.

A virtual open house gives buyers access to many of the benefits of a physical open house without having to get off the couch on Sunday afternoon or manage the schedules of a busy household. No hand sanitizer or mask necessary, this type of tour is as close as you can come to an in-person open house. They are a perfect opportunity to get details on the special features of a home, context on the floor plan and information on the community in an interactive way with the listing agent.

At every Sibcy Cline Virtual Open House, you can interact with the agent via chat, but you don’t have to be on camera. In most cases agents will automatically turn off video for all participants, but in all cases you have the option to keep your camera off. You can expect to see photos or live/pre-recorded walk-throughs of the home or neighborhood, statistics for the area, and other relevant information regarding the property.

Sibcy Cline Virtual Open Houses are held live at a scheduled time, but many of our agents can provide a recording of their Virtual Open House if you were unable to attend at the scheduled time. Just ask!

How To Attend a Sibcy Cline Virtual Open House
On sibcycline.com, click on the Open House button in the navigation bar and select an area of interest. All available Sibcy Cline virtual open houses will be highlighted by city/suburb. From there, select a listing of interest and you can look all of the photographs and details on that page. Click on “Virtual Open” (highlighted in gold). You will then complete a form to register for the event and receive an email with the event details like the time and date of the virtual open house, the platform it will be hosted on (most often Facebook or Zoom) along with the link and password to access (if applicable).

Of course, you can always schedule a personal home showing with your agent. (Real estate is deemed an essential business.)

Happy house hunting – online, virtually, and in person!

16 Ideas to Celebrate Memorial Day 2020 from your Home

Posted on May 19, 2020 by susanaknabe

Memorial Day 2020 is not to be the year for community parades or memorial services. We hope you enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend at home and still honor those who have served and protected us with your own celebration. Here are 16 ideas to celebrate Memorial Day 2020 from your home:

Plan an at-home BBQ or picnic. Food always smells and tastes best served from the grill! If this is the first time to fire up your grill for the warmer season, go here for some grilling tips.
Decorate your home with red, white and blue. Go to Pinterest for ideas.
Write a letter to a soldier. Learn more on how to do that here or here.
Send a care package to a soldier.
Take a virtual memorial tour. Or watch “The National Memorial Day Parade: America Stands Tall” (ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox stations) The Vietnam Veterans Memorial will have an online commemoration at 1pm on May 25.
Explain Memorial Day to your children.
Learn how to fold the U.S. flag.
Fly your flag! (Flag etiquette here.)
Listen to veterans’ stories.
Make a red, white and blue dessert. See recipe ideas here and here.
Decorate bicycles with red, white and blue – and ride them throughout your neighborhood (while social distancing.)
Play yard games with your family. Here’s an idea on how to create a DIY ring toss. Play “Lawn Twister” in the grass. Try a bean bag ladder toss. Here is a link to more outdoor game ideas.
Host an outdoor movie. Learn how to create your own outdoor theater.
Camp in your backyard. Set up a tent, add blankets or sleeping bags along with pillows. Tell stories and gaze at the stars!
Roast s’mores from your fire pit! (No fire pit? Use a terracotta pot!)
Walk/run! “Wear Blue” in a virtual Memorial Day walk/run.

Community Memorial Day Events:

Centerville, Ohio
May 25, 2020 –9am
The city is hosting a private ceremony that will be live-streamed from Facebook.

Fairfield, Ohio
May 25, 2020 – Special Parade Brought to Veterans’ Homes
A drive-by parade (with vehicles from the police, fire and parks’ divisions) will pass by local veterans’ homes starting at 10am. Lights and sirens will mark their arrival. A private ceremony will also be streamed onto the Fairfield Facebook event page.

Florence, Kentucky
May 22–25, 2020. Y’alls Animal Farm
UC Health Stadium at 7950 Freedom Way, Florence, KY 41042
Drive-thru animal farm from Honey Hill Farm.

Milford, Ohio
May 25, 2020
Bring an American flag to wave during one of these ceremonies:
9:30am – Memorial Park
10:00am – Greenlawn Cemetery
10:30am – St. Andrew Cemetery
Ceremonies will also be broadcast on Facebook Live.

Park Hills, Kentucky
May 25, 2020 –11:30am
Online flag-raising ceremony is scheduled.

Sibcy Cline Realtors Ranked as the Largest Residential Real Estate Company by the Business Courier for the 27th Year in a Row

Posted on May 18, 2020 by susanaknabe

For the 27th year in a row, Sibcy Cline Realtors has been ranked as the largest residential real estate company by the Business Courier. Rankings were based on 2019 sales volume.

Sibcy Cline has over 1,000 real estate agents and over 200 employees. Founded in the 1930s, the company has been a family-run firm since that time. Sibcy Cline is a full-service company with real estate, mortgage, relocation, insurance, title and home services divisions.

Enjoy a Movie at an Outdoor Theater This Spring and Summer

Posted on May 14, 2020 by susanaknabe

Everyone has been binge-watching Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video from home this spring. If you are in the mood to see a first-show film, consider going to a local outdoor theater. Many of them will be opening with the warmer weather in May. (Theaters will be complying with COVID-19 social distancing recommendations, of course.) From the comfort of your vehicle, you can watch a couple of movies under the stars. Be sure to bring your blankets and pillows!

Outdoor theaters were very popular in the 1960s and 70s. You watched two movies with a 10-minute intermission that included cartoons. Most theaters had a play area to enjoy before the movie began. (Anyone remember Woodlawn Outdoor Theater on Springfield Pike, Oakley Drive-In on Madison Road, Mt. Healthy Drive-In on Compton Road, Twin Theater in Bond Hill, Jolly Roger Drive-In in Sharonville, Ferguson Drive-In in Western Hills or the Holiday 28 Drive-In in Loveland?)

Here is our list of local outdoor theaters where you can enjoy a movie:

27 Drive In
South Highway 27, Somerset, Kentucky
Two screens available. Follow on Facebook.

Bel-Air Drive-In
Highway 421 in Versailles, Indiana
This theater has been around for over 60 years!

College Hill
College Hill East Parking Lot at 1538 Cedar Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
Mobile outdoor projection events

Dixie Twin Drive-In
6201 N. Dixie Drive, Dayton, Ohio
Two large screens with a digital projector.

Holiday Auto Theatre
1816 Old Oxford Road (Ohio 130) in Hanover Township
Open year round and in business for over 60 years.

Melody 49 Drive-In
7606 Pleasant-Plain Road, Brookville, Ohio
This theater has been showing movies since 1966 and has two screens.

Sidney’s Auto Vue Drive-In
1409 Fourth Avenue, Sidney, Ohio
This theater has been showing movies under the stars since 1956.

Starlite Drive-In
2255 State Route Ohio (125), Amelia, Ohio
Seasonal theater (Opens April 14, 2017 for the season)
This theater originally opened in 1947.

2020 Guide to Farmers’ Markets in Southeastern Indiana – Buy “Virtual” from Many Farmers

Posted on May 11, 2020 by susanaknabe

There is nothing like eating fresh produce! Be sure to find a local farmer’s market in Southeastern Indiana to patronize. Most are open through October and offer local, fresh fruits and vegetables as well as flowers, jams and other homemade foods.

Before heading out to your favorite farmers’ market, be sure to check on their way of handling crowd control during the COVID-19 situation. Some markets are accepting prepaid pre-orders only.

Our list is in order by day. If you see a local farmer’s market that is missing, please let us know at sknabe@sibcycline.com and we will add it!

DAILY
Busse’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm
7096 State Road 48, Aurora, Indiana (mid June – October 2020)
You will also find them at the Lawrenceburg Farmers’ Market

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TUESDAY
Madison Farmers’ Market
Broadway Fountain at corner of Main Street and Broadway, Madison, Indiana (April – October, 2020)
8am–12pm

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WEDNESDAY
White’s Farm – Flea and Farmer’s Market
6028 Holland Rd (US 52), Brookville, Indiana 47012 (year round)
Daylight to 12pm

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THURSDAY
Madison Farmers’ Market
Broadway Fountain at corner of Main Street and Broadway, Madison, Indiana (April – October, 2020)
8am–12pm

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FRIDAY
Bright Farmer’s Market
Providence Presbyterian Church at 23983 Salt Fork Road, Bright, Indiana (June – early October, 2020)
3pm–6:30pm

Brookville
Brookville Treatment plant in Brookville, Indiana (June 12 – October, 2020)
3:30pm–7pm

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SATURDAY
Batesville Farmer’s Market
Downtown Batesville, Indiana (May – October 2020)
8am–11am

Lawrenceburg Farmers’s Market
Newtown Park (along US 50), Lawrenceburg, Indiana (June – mid October, 2020)
9am–1pm

Madison Farmers’ Market
Broadway Fountain at corner of Main Street and Broadway, Madison, Indiana (April – October, 2020)
8am–12pm

Richmond Farmers’ Market
Order online from vendors for cashless transactions and arrange for delivery/pick up.

Rising Sun Farmer’s Market
Corner of Main and Walnut Streets, Rising Sun, Indiana (May-October, 2020)
8:30am–12pm

2020 Guide to Local Farmers’ Markets in Dayton and Springfield, Ohio – Buy “Virtual” from Many Farmers

Posted on May 11, 2020 by susanaknabe

There are many great reasons to live in Dayton, Ohio and local farmers’ markets is one of them. Most of these markets are open throughout the growing season into October, so be sure to check them out. There is nothing that compares to a fresh tomato bursting with flavor.

Before heading out to your favorite farmers’ market, be sure to check on their way of handling crowd control during the COVID-19 situation. Many markets are accepting prepaid pre-orders only.

Here’s our list of Dayton farmers’ markets including the days and times they are open. If you know of any local markets that aren’t featured on this list, please let us know (sknabe@sibcycline.com) and we’ll add them.

TUESDAYS

West Carrollton Farmers’ Market
833 E. Central Avenue, West Carrollton, Ohio. (June – Mid October, 2020)
3:00pm–6:00pm

Xenia Towne Square Farmers’ Market
Parking lot of Devil Wind Brewing at 130 South Detroit St., Xenia, Ohio. (June – October 2020)
2pm–6pm

Mechanicsburg Farmers & Artisans Market
Unity Park at North Main Main St., Mechanicsburg, Ohio. (June– early September 2020)
4:00pm–6:30pm

Dayton VA Farmers Market
Dayton VA Medical Center at 4100 W. Third Street in Dayton, Ohio (mid June – September, 2020)
10am–2pm

Miami County Farmers’ Market
First Place Christian Center at 16 W. Franklin Street, Troy, Ohio (Year round)
5pm– 7pm
Virtual market. Place your order online then pick up your order.

WEDNESDAYS

Downtown Miamisburg Farmers’ Market
1146 E. Central Avenue at Miamisburg Christian Church, Miamisburg, Ohio. (July-October 2020)
3pm–7pm

Fairborn Farmers Market
Corner of Main Street and Grand Avenue (Fifth Third Commons parking lot) in Fairborn, Ohio. (April – November 2020)
10am–2pm

THURSDAYS

2nd Street Market
600 E. 2nd Street, Dayton, Ohio. (Year round)
11am–3pm

Centerville Farmers’ Market
892 S. Main Street, Parking lot of Centerville Shopping Center, Centerville, Ohio. (May – October, 2020)
3pm–7pm

Lebanon Farmers’ Market
Corner of Main Street and Sycamore Street, Lebanon, Ohio. (mid May – mid October 2020)
3pm-7pm

Market Wagon CinDay
Free pickup of local fresh produce at a Market Host location every Thursday

Piqua Community Farmers’ Market
High Street in front of the Piqua Public Library (Fort Piqua Plaza) in downtown Piqua, Ohio. (May 28 – mid September 2020)
3pm–6:00pm

FRIDAYS

2nd Street Market
600 E. 2nd Street, Dayton, Ohio. (Year round)
11am–3pm

Sugarcreek Township Farmers’ Market
Kettering Sports Medicine Center at 6438 Wilmington Pike, Sugarcreek Township, Ohio. (Mid May – Mid November 2020)
3pm–7pm
Winter Market: December – April. Every third Friday from 3pm–5pm

SATURDAYS

2nd Street Market
600 E 2nd Street, Dayton, Ohio. (Year round. Outdoor market: June-October)
8am–3pm

Beavercreek Farmers’ Market
4051 Indian Ripple Road, Beavercreek, Ohio (June – October 2020)
8:30am–12:30pm

Greenville Farmers Market
4th and Broadway in Greenville, Ohio. (June 1 – mid October 2020)
9am–1pm

The Heights Farmers and Artisan Market
6178 Chambersburg Road, Huber Heights, Ohio (May – October, 2020)
9am–1pm

This Old Farmer’s Market in Beavercreek
3930 Dayton Xenia Road in Beavercreek, Ohio (grounds of This Old Couch store). (mid May – mid October, 2020)
12pm–3pm

Downtown Franklin Farmers Market
1 Benjamin Franklin Way in Franklin, Ohio (May 30 – September 12, 2020)
9am–1pm
Carry-out and delivery available from vendors during COVID-19.

New Carlisle Farmer’s Market
113 W. Jefferson Street (downtown New Carlisle, Ohio (mid June 15 – end of September 2020)
10am–2pm

Oakwood Farmers’ Market
22 Orchard Drive at 22 Orchard Dr., Dayton, Ohio. (June 6–August 29, 2020)
Harvest Season through October 17, 2020
9am–1pm

Shiloh Farmers’ Market
5300 Philadelphia Drive, Dayton, Ohio. (early May 4 – 3rd week of October, 2020)
8am–1pm

Springfield Farmers Market
North Market Place (117 N. Fountain Ave), Springfield, Ohio. (June – end of September 2019)
9am–12:30pm
Indoor market January–March: 11am–2pm at Mother Stewarts Brewing Company

Trotwood Farmers Market
Northeast corner of Shiloh Springs and Salem Ave. Trotwood, Ohio. (June-October 2020)
9am–2pm

Downtown Troy Farmers’ Market
S Cherry Street and Main Street, Troy, Ohio. (June – September 28, 2020)
9am–12:00pm

Yellow Springs Farmers Market
228 Xenia Avenue in the Kings Yard Parking lot behind the Ye Olde Trail Tavern, Yellow Springs, Ohio. (May – September, 2020)
7am–12pm
Except 2nd Saturdays in June and October: Moves to Sunday 8am–12pm
April, October and November: 8am–12pm (Check website. It was closed for Covid-19 in early April.)

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SUNDAYS

2nd Street Market
600 E 2nd Street, Dayton, Ohio. (Year round. Outdoor market: June-December)
11am–3pm

Front Street Outdoor Market
1001 East Second St., Dayton, Ohio. 3rd Sunday of each month: (Starting April 19, 2020)
11am–4pm

Northmont Community Market
4810 Balzono Boulevard in Clayton, Ohio (June- October, 2020)
11am–3pm

This Old Farmer’s Market
3930 Dayton Xenia Road in Beavercreek, Ohio. (May 17, 2020 – mid October 2020)
12pm-4pm

3rd on Third Dayton
1121 East Third Street, Dayton, Ohio. (Third Sunday from April – October, 2020)
(11am–4pm)z

Updated April 14, 2020

Sibcy Cline Blog

Real estate news. Local updates for Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana.