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Showing posts from March, 2016

10 Steps to Prepare Your Home for a Successful Showing

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First impressions are everything when you are selling a home at the Lake of the Ozarks . You are staging your home for potential buyers and want them to feel comfortable. They should be able to picture themselves living there. Each time you have a showing, your home should look its best. To achieve this, lets look at 10 ways to prepare for a showing: 1. Mini Mop Up Sweep the kitchen, bathrooms, and entryway floors. If needed, use a sponge or wet towel to remove any spots or debris. A mop that uses refillable wet cloths works good for quick jobs. 2. Quick Dust Quickly wipe down the furniture, TV screens, and computer monitors to make them shine. Anywhere else in your home that tends to collect fingerprints should be wiped down also. Check for smudges if you have stainless steel appliances. 3. Clean Off Countertops All countertops should be cleaned and cleared off. Remove clutter such as knickknacks, mail, papers, and magazines. Small appliances such as toasters or

6 Tips to Get Your Home in Shape This Spring

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Spring is a great time to re-charge our batteries. Why not do the same for your home at the Lake of the Ozarks ? Make a checklist of things to do to maintain a happy and healthy home. Then you can relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor this spring. Here are 6 tips for homeowner's at the Lake of the Ozarks to get your home in shape this season: Deep Clean Rugs and Carpets Like the rest of your floors, carpets and rugs get a significant amount of wear and tear in the winter. Muddy boots from melted snow can leave them dingy and unattractive. Deep clean your rugs and carpets with a steam cleaner. If you don't want to call in a professional or don't have your own steam cleaner, there are many grocery stores and home improvement stores that rent them. Reverse Your Ceiling Fan Direction Once you are no longer using the heat in your home, flip the switch on your ceiling fan to rotate counter-clockwise. The air should push downward, creating a cool breeze. The airflo

Extra Expenses First Time Home Buyer's Need To Know

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Buying your first home can be one of the most exciting times of your life. Home ownership can bring an enormous sense of pride. However, there are several things to consider before you sign on the dotted line. For most people, buying their first home at the Lake of the Ozarks will be their biggest financial decision. At Devine & Associates , we are educated on the home buying process and can help you with your first home purchase. There are more expenses than just the price of the home. It is important to go into your new home feeling confident you have the financial means to owning your first home. Below are some additional items to budget in: Home Maintenance If you rented previously, you probably had a landlord to take care of all the maintenance involved in the home. By making a phone call, any issues were most likely resolved at no extra expense to you. When you are a home owner, you will be responsible for any repairs and upkeep of the home. Whether you will be maintai

6 Reasons to Get Your Home on the Market This Spring

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Spring is considered a prime home-selling season in most areas. In addition, spring is typically the time when homes that were previously taken off the market are re-listed. If you plan on selling your home at the Lake of the Ozarks this spring, contact  Devine and Associates .  We can tell you what to expect based on the current market and provide you information on comparable homes sales in your neighborhood. Here are 6 reasons spring is a good time to put your home on the market: Bigger Sale Price in the Spring Many sellers take their home off the market in the winter under the assumption that there are less buyers. Consequently, more buyers are likely to shop during the spring, when the weather warms up and the days are longer. Buyers looking for  second homes at the Lake of the Ozarks  will start coming back to the area to shop for vacation properties. The urgency to purchase a home before the summer will create higher demand. This can result in higher sale prices.

How to Know If Your Home is Overpriced

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Putting your home on the market can be an emotional experience, no matter what your reasons are for selling. One of the most common mistakes in the home selling process is overpricing your home. By pricing your home too high, you could ultimately end up with less money in your pocket. If you do happen to make the mistake of overpricing your home, it is crucial that you work with your realtor at the Lake of the Ozarks to adjust the price. There are actually some signs that may indicate you have priced your home incorrectly for the market. If you have experienced any of the red flags below, it may be time to make a price adjustment. Your Home Is Priced Much Higher Than Your Neighbors In most neighborhoods, home values will be relatively the same. There are very few things that would cause your home to be priced extremely higher than a comparable neighbor's home. When listing your home with a realtor, ask for a comparative market analysis (CMA). This is a detailed breakdown of