New Year's Resolutions For Your Home

Being a homeowner comes with a great deal of responsibility. Only you are responsible for keeping your home in good condition, and the state of your home will directly reflect the level of care you put into it. With 2016 just around the corner, The Property Shop at the Lake is here to help you brainstorm new ways to keep your home in pristine condition in the coming year. Whether you're readying your home for the real estate market at the Lake of the Ozarks or simply want to make it a more enjoyable place to live, here are a few New Year's Resolution ideas you are sure to love.

1. Seal Your Ducts

According to House Logic, sealing your ducts can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system by as much as 20%. Just because your air ducts are tucked safely within your walls does not mean they're energy-efficient; sealing small holes/leaks and insulating with fiberglass insulation may make a big difference. If you don't feel like tackling this project yourself, you can always hire a professional heating and cooling contractor to help you.

2. Install A Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats allow you to "program" specific temperatures for different times of day, which in turn allows you to save energy by cutting high energy usage where it isn't necessary. For example, consider turning your thermostat down at night while you're asleep or during the day when your family is at work/school. By programming your thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature, you don't have to worry about remembering to do it yourself.

3. Upgrade To LED Light Bulbs

The fact that LED light bulbs are much more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs is common knowledge at this point, but that doesn't change the fact that most homes still rely heavily on incandescent lighting. This year, make a dent in your energy bill by upgrading all of your interior lighting to LED bulbs.

4. Cut Costs Wherever Possible

Just because you've always done something one way doesn't mean it's the most effective (or most affordable) way to continue doing it. Now is a great time to look critically at your home and your expenses to find ways to cut unnecessary spending. Can you find a home insurance provider that will offer a better rate? Is your mortgage rate higher than 5% and should possibly be refinanced? Don't be afraid to ask your providers these tough questions.

5. Get Organized

Clutter has a tendency to accumulate, but you can take back control this year by picking one room per month to organize. Spacing out your efforts this way will help prevent you from becoming overwhelmed with the task of organizing your entire home at once, but the end result will be just as effective.

6. Make Necessary Repairs As They Arise

Things break, leaks happen, and repairs are a normal part of life for homeowners - and procrastinating on these repairs is just as common. Unfortunately, putting off certain repairs an actually cause them to worsen, resulting in a more costly repair. Making it a point to tackle repairs as they arise can keep your home in better condition and keep the cost of repairs down.

7. Get Your Whole Family Involved

Family time is incredibly valuable. Don't fool yourself into thinking that home improvement projects need to come at the expense of spending time with the people you care about the most! Double your efforts (and your fun) by inviting your kids to help with your home improvement tasks. Your kids will learn valuable lessons about caring for the home, and you will make special memories together at the same time.

Happy New Year from The Property Shop!

From all of us at the best real estate agency at the Lake of the Ozarks, we hope you and your family have a truly wonderful new year! If you are thinking about buying a new house at the Lake of the Ozarks in this coming year, we hope you'll remember The Property Shop. Happy New Year!

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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5 Simple Tools To Make Your Home STAND OUT

When you're selling your home at the Lake of the Ozarks, you're competing against hundreds of other homeowners. Repainting your rooms, upgrading your appliances, and fixing any obvious repairs are important tasks, but if you want your home to sell quickly, it's important to pay attention to the little details. The Property Shop at the Lake is here to help you succeed with these simple reminders.

Details Matter

When it's time to sell your home, paying close attention to every little detail is crucial. Your goal should be to create a welcoming environment that every buyer is drawn to and feels at home in. Pay close attention to the current season and strive to make your home staging efforts reflect the time of year. If you're trying to sell your home now, for example, display extra blankets, warm colors, and anything else you think will make your buyers feel comfortable and cozy. If you plan to try to sell you home in the summer, on the other hand, your decor strategies should be cool, breezy, and summery.

5 Year-Round Staging Tools

No matter what time of year you plan to sell your house in Osage Beach, there are a few timeless strategies you can use to make your home stand out above the rest. Here are a few tricks to keep up your sleeve.

1.  Window Treatments
Nothing dresses up a room quite like window treatments. Whether you opt for blinds, curtains, or a combination of the two, dressing up your window can be a great way to give your home a little extra appeal. If you have outdated and/or flimsy blinds, consider upgrading to nicer treatments. 

2.  Lighting
When it comes to selling your home, using the proper lighting is so important that we recently dedicated a whole blog to it (if you missed it, you can view it here). As a quick summary, it's important to use as much lighting as possible. Turn on all the overhead lights and lamps, and open all the blinds to let natural light in before every showing.

3.  Fresh Flowers
Flowers are a wonderful way to add a little life to your home, no matter what time of year it is. To bring your home staging techniques to the next level, we recommend placing fresh flowers in every room. You can vary your floral displays depending on the season, such as using dark red and/or white flowers during the winter and gentle pastels in the springtime.

4.  Pleasant Smells
The sense of smell is more closely linked to memory and emotions than almost any other sense. If your home has an unpleasant smell, selling it will most likely be a challenge. If your home has a pleasant smell, on the other hand, buyers will be subconsciously drawn to it. Bake cookies, burn a few candles, or turn on the Scentsy before a home showing.

5.  Towels, Pillows, and Blankets
Buyers are looking for environments that make them feel comfortable, cozy, and relaxed. Increase your home's appeal by tossing an extra throw over the back of the couch, adding a few accent pillows to your oversized armchair, and displaying plush, clean towels in the bathroom. 

Best Seller's Agents at the Lake!

If you're thinking about selling at the Lake, don't hesitate to reach out to one of our experienced real estate agents in Lake Ozark, MO! We have a great deal of experience representing buyers all across the Lake Area, and we would be honored to help you sell your home for the best possible price. For more information about our services for home sellers at the Lake of the Ozarks, visit our website: www.propertyshopatthelake.com/sellers

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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The Truth About Selling Your Home

We're not going to sugarcoat it - selling your house at the Lake of the Ozarks can be a lot of work. You have to evaluate your home with a critical eye and repair any issues that could pose as drawbacks to potential buyers, and you have to be ready to vacate your home at a moment's notice for showings. That being said, there are a lot of ways your Lake of the Ozarks real estate agent can help take some of the weight off of your shoulders. Keep reading to learn more about getting your home ready to sell.

Truth #1:
Not Making A Repair Is More Expensive Than Making It
If you're thinking about selling your home, money is probably a big concern - especially if you are simultaneously searching for a new home to purchase. You may be tempted to save a few dollars by opting to leave the worn-out carpeting or the leaky faucet as is, but the truth is that not making these repairs will probably cost more than making them. If your home is in prime condition, you will be more likely to secure a higher sale price.

Truth #2:
If Your Home Is Dirty, It Will Sell For Less
Making the necessary repairs in your home is important, but keeping it clean and uncluttered is critical. Deep-cleaning every square inch of your home is your best bet, but keeping on top of even the simplest tasks (sweeping the floors, wiping down the sinks and countertops, etc) can mean the difference between a high and a low offer. You never know when buyers will want to schedule showings, so you should strive to keep your home pristine at all times.

Truth #3:
You Have To Price Your Home Correctly
One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is pricing their home higher than necessary because they are not in a major hurry to sell - they can drop the price at a later date if necessary. However, the truth is that homes typically get the most traffic during their first thirty days on the market. If your home is priced too high in the beginning, you may not be able to get in front of the serious buyers who scratch it off their list simply because it is out of their price range.

Truth #4:
Scents Matter
Some people have more finely tuned senses of smell than others, but the fact remains that if you want your home to smell quickly, it has to smell good. Depending on their source, unpleasant odors can be hard to get out - and buyers may surrender the battle before it even begins by searching for a different home entirely. Before every home showing or open house, bake cookies or burn candles with seasonal scents so that your entire home smells nice.

Truth #5:
Timeliness Is Critical
If you receive an offer on your home, we strongly recommend that you respond as quickly as possible. Buyers will typically give you 24-48 hours to respond to their offer; if you miss this deadline, their offer will be voided. If buyers have questions or need information, it's important that you be readily available to answer them. If your responses are continually delayed, buyers may become frustrated and begin looking for other options.

The Property Shop Agents Can Help You Sell Your Home!

If you are thinking about selling your condo at the Lake of the Ozarks or your home, we hope you will reach out to one of our experienced real estate agents in Lake Ozark, MO. We would be happy to help you sell your home in Osage Beach, Camdenton, Lake Ozark, Sunrise Beach, or any of the surrounding towns, and we promise to do everything we can to simplify the process for you. For more information, give us a call or check out our website: PropertyShopAtTheLake.com

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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Home Staging - It's All About The Lighting!

When most people talk about home staging, they talk about deep cleaning and arranging the furniture so that it highlights your home's best features. While these efforts are certainly critical, they aren't the only secrets to staging your home. If you want to sell your house at the Lake of the Ozarks quickly, you must also ensure that your home has the proper lighting. Here are a few tips to help you stage your home in the best possible light.

More Is More!

The famous adage "less is more" may be applicable in many situations, but not when it comes to lighting your home to stage it. When you're trying to sell your home, it should be lit as brightly as possible. Open all the curtains/blinds to let natural light in, and turn on all the ceiling lights and lamps in your home. The brighter each room is, the better.

As you prepare your home for the market, carefully evaluate each area to determine whether or not it is properly lit for its specific purpose. Here are a few pointers to simplify the process, courtesy of your friends at The Property Shop at the Lake!

General Lighting
First and foremost, turn on the lights in all the rooms to make sure the general lighting is warm and welcoming. The lighting should be adequate for day-to-day use, such as playing games, reading books, and entertaining guests. If your rooms are dim, consider adding a few floor lamps or installing higher-wattage bulbs to brighten the space.

Task-Oriented Lighting
There's nothing more frustrating than not be able to see well enough to complete the task at hand. Your prospective buyers will be imagining carrying out their daily lives in your home, and if a lack of lighting will make certain tasks more challenging, they're going to notice. This is especially true in the kitchen. If you don't have a special overhead light above the sink or the stove, for example, you may wish to install one before putting your home on the market.

Accent Lighting
When used correctly, lighting can be a powerful way to play up your home's special features. Installing lighting across the top of your kitchen cabinets can make your ceilings seem higher, for example, and lighting certain home decor pieces can give your home an air of elegance and refinement.

Ambient Lighting
Irresistible ambiance is an incredible incentive. If buyers fall in love with the "feel" of your home, you can almost guarantee that they will place an offer. Ambient lighting can go a long way towards creating a magnetic appeal that can entice your buyers. Floor lamps, table lamps, salt lamps, and other decorative lighting accents are powerful tools that should not be overlooked.

Looking For Help Selling Your Home?
We can all use a little help from our friends every now and then. If you are looking for professional representation when selling your Lake of the Ozarks home, we hope you'll remember The Property Shop! Our real estate agents at the Lake of the Ozarks have the skills and the expertise you need to sell your home quickly - and for a great price. Visit our website or give us a call at 573-693-1100 to learn more!

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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What Is A Short Sale?

If you're looking for a new house at the Lake of the Ozarks, you're probably looking for a great deal. After all, every homebuyer wants to secure a good house at an even better price. However, The Property Shop at the Lake wants you to be aware that if you have found a home that seems to good to be true... it very well could be.

Short Sale Properties

In a short sale, homes are sold for less than the amount that the original homeowners currently owe on their outstanding mortgage, which means that the lender will not be paid back all that is owed to them. Most lenders are (understandably) hesitant to agree to short sales, but they can be attractive options for buyers because the sale prices are typically much lower than that of other properties. However, buying a short sale property can come with its fair share of risks and potential pitfalls. This week, our team of experienced real estate agents at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to help make you aware of some of these potential dangers.

Things To Know About Buying A Short Sale Property

The Deal May Not Go Through.

Short sale properties are infamous for taking a long, long time for the negotiations to be completed - and sometimes for falling through altogether. With so many different factors demanding attention and so many lengthy negotiations taking place, short sales often take a long time from start to finish. If you are anxious to move into your new home in Osage Beach MO, buying a short sale property may not right for you.

The Property May Not Be In Great Condition.

Short sale properties are, essentially, one step up from foreclosure properties. While the current homeowners have not gone all the way into foreclosure, they must be in a dire financial situation in order for their lender to agree to a short sale. As a result, they probably do not have the funds required to keep their home in good condition. As the new owner of such a property, you may be required to pay for expensive repairs or renovations after moving in.

The Home Inspection Will Be Even More Important

Because the home may not be in great condition, the home inspection will be an even more critical part of the transaction process. We encourage you to book your inspection for a time when you will be able to attend. Your inspector should be able to explain all of the important details and point out any potential problem areas that will need careful attention in the future. It's important to go into the transaction with your eyes open!

You Will Need The Help Of An Experienced Agent

With so many important factors and details to consider when buying a short sale home, navigating the process by yourself may be a dangerous proposition. If you are considering a short sale property, we strongly encourage you to talk to one of our Lake of the Ozarks real estate agents. Our team members can help you carefully navigate the process from start to finish. Give us a call at (573) 693-1100 or visit our website to learn more about how our team can help you with your negotiations!

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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