8 Cool Weather Energy Savings Tips

With the chilly temperatures and the leaves swirling around the roads, it's impossible to ignore that autumn is upon us. Many of us have already turned on our heaters and lit fires in our fireplaces, excited for the comfort, coziness, and warmth that this new season brings.

What happens, though, when the dropping exterior temperatures cause your energy bill to rise? If you're like those of us at The Property Shop At The Lake, you're not a big fan of steep energy bills. Fortunately, you may be able to avoid high energy costs this fall with these simple but effective energy saving techniques!

1. Check The Insulation In Your Attic
Your attic is probably responsible for at least 15% of your home's total heat loss. Heat rises, so ensuring that you have proper insulation in your ceiling and attic is crucial if you want to keep your heating costs down!

2. Seal Around Windows And Doors
Cracks around windows and doors are other prime spots for heat loss. One way to test for cracks is to hold a candle in front of the window/door; if the flame flickers, it's a good sign that there are cracks that need to be sealed up.

3. Use Space Heaters
You'll still have to burn electricity to run your space heaters, but these small, portable heaters use significantly less energy than your overall heating system. The space heaters allow you to focus the heat on the rooms you're in, rather than heating your entire house.

4. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
During the summer months, you probably had your ceiling fans set to pull warm air upwards. Now that fall is here, you should reverse your fans so that they push the warm air back down to where you are. Make sure your fans are rotating in a clockwise direction until summer returns.

5. Turn Down Your Hot Water Heater
There's no point in paying to heat water hotter than you need! Most experts recommend setting your hot water heater to 120°. If it's hotter than this, you risk scalding yourself. Lowering the temperature protects both you and your electric bill.

6. Replace Your Air Filter Every 2-3 Months
Your HVAC system works by recycling the air in your home to warm it back up (or cool it down, as the case may be). As it does this, all of the air must pass through the filter. If the filter is clogged or dirty, your system has to work harder to pass the air through it - thus increasing your electric bill. Don't make your heater work harder than it needs to!

7. Lower The Thermostat When You Sleep Or Leave Town
Why should you spend lots of money on heat when you're not there to enjoy it? If you go out of town, we recommend dropping your thermostat to around 55-58°. When you sleep, consider setting it between 60-65°. It will make a big difference.

8. Open Curtains During The Day And Close Them At Night
Take advantage of the sunlight by opening all your curtains and blinds during the day to let the sun naturally heat your home. When night falls, close them to add an extra layer of insulation over your windows.

What Did We Miss?
If you have another tried-and-true energy saving tip, leave us a comment and let us know! We always love hearing new ideas.

Contact The Property Shop For All Your Real Estate Needs!

If you're in the market to sell or buy a house at the Lake of the Ozarks, contact our team of experienced Missouri real estate agents. We would be honored to help you in any way we can! We look forward to working with you in the near future.

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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8 Awesome Benefits Of Owning A Swimming Pool

On a hot summer day, there are few things as enticing as the idea of slipping into a private swimming pool in your very own backyard. If you think that buying a house with an in-ground swimming pool (or installing one on your own) sounds like a great idea, you'e not wrong - but did you know that the benefits go beyond having an easy way to cool off or a pretty landscaping addition? Your friends at The Property Shop At The Lake are here to point out some of the unique added benefits of having a home with its own swimming pool.

1. Home Value
A private swimming pool is a great example of a home improvement project that increases the monetary worth of your property. A pool becomes a permanent fixture, and it will appreciate in value just like anything else!

2. Entertaining
A swimming pool turns a normal backyard into an ideal location for entertaining family members and friends. Pool parties, barbecues, birthday parties... it doesn't matter what event you're planning - your new backyard will be the perfect venue!

3. Exercise
While your physical health does not have any impact on your home, your home can have a big impact on your physical health. Swimming is great way to exercise without putting a lot of strain on your body. Having your own private pool can be a great incentive to stay on top of your exercise regime! 

4. Staycations
Why travel far away for a vacation when you could have one right here at home? Preparing for a big trip can be incredibly time-consuming (not to mention expensive). "Staycations" are mini-vacations that happen right here at home - and having your very own swimming pool can be a great way to make your staycation even more enticing!

5. Stress Relief
Study after study has shown that being around water greatly lowers our stress levels. Not only that, but being around happy, laughing kids can be a great way to ease our stress. Having a pool in your own backyard offers easy access to both of these great stress-relievers!

6. Incentive To Get The Kids Outside
A lot of parents today are becoming increasingly concerned about the amount of time their children spend indoors playing video games. If you have a private swimming pool, however, chances are that your kids will be much more excited at the idea of spending time outside!

7. Better Sleep
Insomnia and other sleep problems seem to be a big issue for a lot of people in today's world. Having an at-home swimming pool will give you an easy excuse to get outside and be more physically active, both of which will tire you out and help you to sleep better.

8. Get Family And Friends To Come To You
Tired of always making the drive to see the people you care about? Having a swimming pool instantly makes your home more appealing to everyone in your social circles - before you know it, everyone will be coming to you (instead of the other way around)!

No matter whether your decide to buy a house at the Lake of the Ozarks that already has a pool or put one in yourself, it's easy to see why having your own private swimming pool could be a great idea! If you're ready to buy a new house at the Lake, we hope you'll reach out to the team at The Property Shop. We would love to help you find your dream home!

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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Get To Know Rhonda Lettow!

We are proud to have the best real estate agents at the Lake of the Ozarks! Our agents work very hard to help people find the perfect new homes and sell their existing homes for the best possible prices. This week, we'd like to introduce you to one of our newer team members, Ms. Rhonda Lettow. Rhonda is an outstanding real estate professional at the Lake of the Ozarks and she would love the chance to get to know you better!

Q:  How long have you lived at the Lake of the Ozarks?
A:  After being a "weekender" for years, my husband and I decided to take the plunge and move full time at the beginning of 2015.

Q:  Where did you go to school?
A:  I grew up in Southwest Missouri and attended Missouri Southern State University in Joplin.

Q:  How did you first get started in real estate?
A:  I have always been interested in real estate and got my license for the first time when I was in my early twenties. I've been through the building process, flipped houses, and owned vacation properties. After raising my family and running other businesses, I decided to come back to real estate in 2013.

Q:  What is your role at The Property Shop?
A:  I love our close-knit team of agents. I see my role as one of support and service to my teammates and clients.

Q:  What do you love the most about your job?
A:  I love meeting new people and exploring new properties. I love the challenge of matching the two up and getting everyone through the process.

Q:  If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
A:  I love to travel and still have some places on my bucket list. My daughter is moving to New Zealand this year, so that is where I want to go next.

Q:  Who is your family?
A:  My husband and I have four grown children and eight beautiful grand children. We are also close to our parents and our siblings. We are quite a large clan when we gather.

Q:  What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A:  (Other than travel and my grandchildren) I love life at the Lake... trying out a new restaurant or listening to a great band... a sunset cruise, or just sitting on the deck watching the boats.

Rhonda's 8 beautiful grandchildren

Contact Rhonda To Help You Buy Or Sell Your Next Home!
Next time you find yourself ready to buy or sell your house at the Lake of the Ozarks, contact Rhonda Lettow! She would be more than happy to help you fulfill your real estate dreams. Feel free to stop by our office and introduce yourself any time!

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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Idiot's Guide To Understanding Real Estate Terms

Closing costs, appraisals, contingencies, earnest money... The real estate world definitely has its own language! If you're new to real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks or if you've been out of the market for a few years, you might feel a little overwhelmed by all of the terminology being tossed around - and understandably so. But never fear! The team at The Property Shop At The Lake is here to help you make sense of all of these confusing terms with this glossary of a few common real estate terms.

Appraisal
The official valuation of a property that determines the home's current market value. The appraisal takes into account several different factors, including the home's condition, finished and unfinished square footage, and the actual sale prices of comparable properties.

Closing Costs
The one-time costs associated with the purchase of your new home at the Lake of the Ozarks, such as title search costs, underwriting fees, and title insurance. Your mortgage lender will attempt to provide a realistic estimate of these costs in your good faith estimate.

Contingency
A requirement or condition that must be satisfied before the contract can be considered legally binding. For example, many buyers make their offers contingent on financing, meaning they must be approved for a home loan before they will follow through on their offer to purchase the home.

Conventional Loans
Mortgage loans that are not backed by any government organization.

Debt-To-Income Ratio
The ratio that compares your outstanding debts to your current income. This information will be used to determine the loan amount you can qualify for. The debts and incomes will be evaluated for every person whose name is on the loan application.

Earnest Money
The money that the buyers include with their offer to show that they are serious about the purchase of the home. Generally, the earnest money amount ranges from 1-3% of the home's purchase price.

Good Faith Estimate
The document that outlines the estimated cost of your mortgage loan. This estimate should include the closing costs, interest rates, and total amount of money that will be required to pay back your mortgage loan.

Inspection
A thorough evaluation of the condition in everything in and around the property. The inspection is intended to warn buyers and lenders of potential hazards with the property before the sale of the home is complete.

Market Value
The amount that a home will actually sell for in the current local real estate market.

MLS
Multiple Listing Service - the service that encompasses all local real estate listings.

Preapproval
The process by which a buyer is preapproved for a mortgage loan. The lender must evaluate all the documents the buyer submits (tax returns, bank statements, pay stubs, etc) to provide a valid estimate of the loan the buyer can be approved for.

Prequalification
A rough estimate of what type and how big of a loan a buyer will qualify for, based on the information the buyer gives the lender.

Unconventional Loan
Mortgage loans that are backed by some sort of government association, such as USDA loans or VA loans.

USDA Loan
A mortgage loan backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These loans are reserved for below-average income families in designated rural counties. (Camden, Miller, and Morgan counties should qualify!)

VA Loan
A mortgage loan that is backed by the Veterans Administration. These loans are only available to military veterans, active duty personnel, and (in some cases) their surviving spouses. These types of loans have a unique benefit in that they are sometimes available for 100% financing.

Happy House Hunting!
If you're ready to buy a house at the Lake of the Ozarks or simply want to peruse some of the waterfront properties for sale, give us a call! Our team of real estate agents at the Lake of the Ozarks will be working all weekend to help you find the home of your dreams. We look forward to working with you!

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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Meet Annie Glascock Faulstich!

Welcome to the third installment of our Get To Know The Property Shop blog series! This week, we're highlighting one of the core members of our team, Mrs. Annie Glascock Faulstich. Annie truly passionate about real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks (and life in general!), and we're excited for you to meet her!

Q:  How long have you lived at the Lake of the Ozarks?
A:  My parents bought a weekend cabin at the Lake when I was two years old. They then decided to move here full-time in 1984, when I was four years old.

Q:  Where did you go to school?
A:  I graduated high school from Camdenton R-III.

Q:  What is your role at The Property Shop?
I am an independent Broker Sales Agent at The Property Shop at the Lake of the Ozarks. I work directly with both buyers and sellers.

Q:  How did you first get started in real estate?
A:  When I was growing up, my father was a general contractor, owning and operating a very successful construction company here at the Lake. I always had a love for the industry and the Lake. After returning the to the Lake in my mid-twenties, I had the opportunity to build two homes and renovate a third. Those experiences of buying and selling homes at the Lake of the Ozarks, as well as the guidance of my good friend Tonia Grein, another Real Estate Broker at the Lake, helped me find my passion.

Q:  What do you love most about your job?
A:  The people!!! I have always been in the people business. I truly enjoy all of the people and the families that I get to meet every day.

Q:  If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
A:  My husband and I love to travel. We have a growing list of places we want to go and see. Right now Spain is at the top of the list. There are several places in Spain I would love to see for the architecture and scenery.

Q:  Who is your family?
A:  I am married to Jesse Faulstich. Jesse was also raised at the Lake - we attended kindergarten through graduation in the same class. Jesse and his family have owned and operated Controlled Heating and Cooling in Osage Beach since 1983. It was not until thirteen years after graduation that we reunited over HVAC work and got married. I am step-mother to Garrett Faulstich, who is 6 years old. He attends kindergarten at Heritage Elementary. I have two older sisters and one sister-in-law, three awesome nephews, and one more niece or nephew on the way. Jesse and I are fortunate to have both our parents still with us as well, and we make family time happen as much as possible.

Q:  What is your favorite childhood memory?
A:  I had an amazing childhood living on the Lake of the Ozarks, but by far my favorite memories are the times when my family I would go out boating and skiing. At times, we would take excursions over the weekend, staying on the boat and covering many miles of the Lake. I spent most of my childhood barefoot in a bathing suit going from the house to the dock or on the boat. Still to this day, the sound of a boat motor and the smell of sunblock brings a smile to my face every time.

Q:  What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A:  Spending time with my family and friends is by far what we enjoy most. Boating, backyard BBQs, you name it! Garrett, our 6 year old, is a wrestler, plays baseball, and races dirt bikes, which we have fun with throughout the year. We LOVE listening to live music! My husband and I also recently took up golfing and have been very much enjoying that when we can. It has been a great sport we can do together while getting outside relaxing to peace and quiet.

Q:  If you won the lottery, what would you do?
A:  Traveling would be way up there! I can honestly say that even if money was of no concern, I would continue to sell real estate here at the Lake and/or other waterfront, vacation area locations. Helping families make lifelong memories at a vacation home together makes me the happiest. Homeownership is one of the most rewarding things in life, and the fact that I am able to make that dream come true for a job makes me feel very blessed.

If you are ready to buy or sell, give Annie a call today!

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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Get To Know Bruce Phillips!

Get to know the Property Shop team! We work hard to be the best real estate team at the Lake of the Ozarks, but we believe that quality legal transactions require a two-way street: in order to help our clients find their dream homes at the Lake of the Ozarks, we want to give our clients the opportunity to get to know us a little bit better. 

Last month, we had a blog dedicated to helping our clients get to know Tina Stotler, broker / owner of The Property Shop at the Lake. This month, we invite you to get to know one of our valued team members, Mr. Bruce Phillips!

Bruce and his wife, Karen

Q:  How long have you lived at the Lake of the Ozarks?
A:  I have lived here at the Lake my entire life. It has everything I look for, so why move?

Q:  Where did you go to school?
A:  I went to Missouri Southern on a golf scholarship and received a degree in Business Administration.

Q:  How did you first get started in real estate?
A:  I was a golf pro for over twenty years, and I wanted a career change. A good friend gave me the opportunity for this and I love it.

Q:  What do you love the most about your job?
A:  One of my passions is helping people. When I was a golf pro I helped people enjoy golf, now I get to help people find their perfect home.

Q:  If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
A:  I really want to travel to Australia. I love the remoteness and beauty of it.

Q:  What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A:  My free time is very busy. I am a gym rat, and I also love being outside. Golf will always be a passion. From October through December, my wife hardly sees me because I'm deer hunting!

Q:  Who is your family?
A:  I have the best family any man could ask for. My wife of twenty-nine years, Karen, is the Director of Applications at Lake Regional Health System. I have a twenty-three year old son, Cory, who is almost done with pharmacy school. I also have a beautiful daughter, Jordan, who is in her second year at UMC getting a Masters in Psychology.

Q:  If you won the lottery, what would you do?
A:  If I could do anything, it would be to explore every unexplored place on Earth!

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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Meet & Greet with Tina Stotler, Broker/Owner at The Property Shop!

Are you passionate about meeting new people and about the Lake of the Ozarks community as a whole? If so, then you have a lot in common with our Broker/Owner at The Property Shop at the Lake, Ms. Tina Stotler! Tina has been a resident of the Lake for many years and she loves helping people find their own places to call home here in our beautiful community. We hope you'll enjoy this opportunity to meet Tina and get to know her a little bit better!

Tina and her significant other, Kevin!

Q:  How long have you lived at the Lake of the Ozarks?

A:  I've lived here part-time all of my life, but I've officially lived here full-time for eight years.

Q:  How did you first get started in real estate?

A:  I was originally in Medical Software Sales, and I was looking for a career change. I ended up in real estate - and never looked back!

Q:  If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

A:  I would travel to Italy - I have family heritage there.

Q:  Who is your family?

A:  My significant other is Kevin. I have a son named Matthew, a daughter named Michelle, a son-in-law named Jeremy, and a granddaughter named Gillian. I also have one brother and four sisters - I come from a very large family!

Q:  What is your favorite childhood memory?

A:  Water-skiing and boating on the Lake of the Ozarks... What else?!

Q:  What do you love the most about your job?

A:  I love meeting new people and helping them buy or sell their properties at the Lake of the Ozarks. I'm helping them fulfill their dreams and make memories, and I'm so grateful to be a part of their lives!

Q:  What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

A:  I love boating and golfing.

Q:  If you won the lottery, what would you do?

A:  I would spread the wealth among my family and friends... and keep on selling real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks!

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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4 Benefits of Hosting An Open House

Recently, some people have been questioning whether or not open houses actually help your home sell more quickly. While some people may disagree, the team at The Property Shop believes hosting an open house is an integral part of selling your Lake of the Ozarks home. Here are a few ways hosting an open house can help your home sell faster.

1. Open Houses Attract Buyers Who Didn't Know They Were In The Market

Have you ever been casually walking down the street when something in a store window caught your eye? Better yet, have you ever walked in and decided to buy this item that you previously didn't know you needed, simply because it was right there in front of you?

For some people, open houses work the same way. They may have thought they were several months away from actually buying a home, but they're attending various open houses in order to start getting a feel for the types of homes they like. It's very possible that one of these people will attend your open house at the Lake of the Ozarks, fall in love with your home, and end up submitting an offer.

2. Potential Buyers Can Bring Their Friends And Family.

When is the last time you consulted one of your friends or someone in your family when you were about to make a big purchase? Humans are social creatures, and very few of us feel comfortable making big decisions without at least mentioning it to someone we care about.

Buying a home works the same way. Your buyers are about to make one of (if not the) biggest purchase of their lives, and they might want their friends or family to be able to look at the house with them and provide input. Having an open house creates a relaxed environment where buyers can bring people along with them. Who knows? One of those friends might just end up convincing the buyer to move forward with the purchase!

3. Open Houses May Give Your Buyers A Sense Of Urgency
Are you trying to sell your home quickly? Of course you are. Most sellers are in the process of looking for a new home of their own, and the sooner they can get out of having to pay for a second mortgage, the better. 

If a buyer comes through an open house and sees several other potential buyers looking at the same home, he may feel the need to act quickly if he does not want to lose the home.

4. Open Houses Give REALTORS A Chance To Get To Know Your Home
Have you ever gone to see a house simply because your real estate agent suggested it? It's your agent's job to know the homes for sale around the Lake of the Ozarks and to connect you to the homes that could be a good fit for you. By hosting an open house, real estate agents all over the Lake will have a chance to view your home. If you have several agents familiar with your home, you will likely get many more showings after the open house.

Convinced? The team at The Property Shop can help you get started!
If you're ready to set up an open house, contact your real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks to set up your very own open house. We can help you aggressively market your open house in order to attract a wide number of both buyers and local agents. We look forward to working with you!

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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Polar Bear Plunge 2015!

Break out those swimsuits! It may be February, but that won't stop us from having some fun at the Lake of the Ozarks. The Polar Bear Plunge returns to the Lake on Saturday, February 28th - and the real estate agents at The Property Shop at the Lake, LLC are excited to participate!

The Property Shop - Proud Supporters of the Plunge!

All of the team members at The Property Shop are huge supporters of the Polar Bear Plunge, and look forward to participating every year. As proud sponsors of this event, we donate $100 from every closing to the Plunge. This year, we started out with an initial donation of $7,500. From there, we have continued to raise donations that currently total well over $10,000! We are working towards a goal of $20,000, and there is still time to donate. If you would like to donate towards this great cause, we would love your support! Follow this link to donate to The Property Shop's campaign.

The Polar Bear Plunge - Lake of the Ozarks

The Polar Bear Plunge is an annual event at the Lake of the Ozarks designed to raise money for Special Olympics Missouri, a great organization designed to "promote acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities through year-round sports." Special Olympics Missouri hosts Polar Bear Plunge events all across the state. The one at the Lake of the Ozarks is scheduled for Saturday, February 28th, 2015 at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park / Grand Glaize Beach. 

Participants in the Plunge raise a minimum of $75 each, and then plunge into the frigid Lake of the Ozarks waters on the big day. Participants can also take part in the Polar Bear Strut (a 5k) or the all-new Pee Wee Plunge (a Plunge for little kids that will take place at the indoor pool at Tan-Tar-A Resort).

This is always one of the best annual events at the Lake, and your Lake of the Ozarks REALTORS can't wait to Plunge this year!

See You On Saturday!

It may be a little snowy this weekend, but that won't stop us from having a great time at this year's Polar Bear Plunge. Our real estate agents at the Lake of the Ozarks love to see you at the Plunge - bring the whole family and come on out for a fun day at the Lake. This link will take you to the Polar Bear Plunge schedule of events. 

See you at the Plunge!!

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

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Welcome To The Property Shop's New Blog!!

Hello, everyone! Welcome to the very first blog post from the Property Shop at the Lake, LLC - the Lake of the Ozarks' top real estate agency. We're excited to reach out to you, our current clients and our prospective clients, and begin building relationships with each of you via our new blog.

Your Local Real Estate Agency at the Lake

The Property Shop is a boutique real estate company at the Lake of the Ozarks. At The Property Shop, we place great importance on the qualities we believe are essential to high-quality real estate services:

• Knowledge
• Trustworthiness
• Respect
• Accessibility
• Confidence
• Positivity, and...
• GREAT Attitudes!

Armed with these great attributes, The Property Shop's real estate agents are ready to help you find the homes and condos of your dreams!

Connect With Us on Social Media

In order to better serve our clients, we've taken it upon ourselves to revamp our social media presence. We will be posting about real estate trends, buying and selling homes at the Lake of the Ozarks, and events taking place in our wonderful community. Follow our social media channels to ensure that you don't miss out on any of this great info!

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Buying? Selling? We Can Help!

Our dedicated team members have the experience and the skills you need to conduct a successful real estate transaction at the Lake. Next time you're thinking about selling your home or buying a second home at the Lake, be sure to give The Property Shop a call!

The Property Shop at the Lake

2086 Horseshoe Bend Parkway

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 693-1100

(573) 480-7760

Follow Us On Facebook

Tweet With Us On Twitter

+1 With Us On Google+