Keeping In Touch with Your Realtor

Realtors® Sharon & Crist Fanning  ~  Lake of the Ozarks Real Estate

In today’s real estate market, keeping in touch with your Realtor® is vital for both home buyers and home sellers.  Keeping in touch with your Realtor® or real estate agent is the only way to completely stay informed of current market conditions.

Today, we communicate with everyone in our lives in a whole different way than we once did.  We now use text messaging and email more than anything.  They are both impersonal yet a quick and effective way to get one’s point across.  Therefore, you want to make sure you can get in touch with your Realtor® at all times when you have important questions that you may want answered. 

Realtors® are there for buyers and sellers to make their buying or selling experience easier.  So keeping in touch is very important during the entire process.

Many new buyers and sellers actually believe that the Realtor® will do everything and they don’t have to do anything; however, that isn’t the case.  The Realtor® will do most of the work, but there are some things the buyer and seller will also have to do.  One of the most important things the buyer or seller will need to do is keep an open line of communication with their real estate agent.   Just like you want to be able to get in touch with your Realtor® at any time, they also want to be able to get in touch with you at any time.

For buyers, an open line of communication with their real estate professional is more important than that of the seller.  When buying the home of your dreams, you will need to have this open line of communication to let your real estate agent know what you need in a home and what you would like to have in a home.  

Also, whether buying or selling, keeping in touch with your Realtor® will help you stay on top of current market conditions, which is more important than ever in today’s economy.  Your real estate agent can give you special tips and advice in several types of market conditions that will suit your needs in your personal situation. 

Regardless of the fact that many real estate agents stress the importance of keeping in touch, many buyers and sellers still don’t.  But, with today’s technology, there’s no reason not to stay in touch. 

Get your Realtors® email address and cell phone number and make sure they have yours too.  This way, there can be an open line of communication at all times.  And, if you find yourself pressed for time, there is no better way than a quick text or email from the cell phone.

There are a number of ways to keep in touch with your Realtor®.  You just have to make an effort to keep the lines open.  The buying and selling process will go so much more smoothly when everyone is on the same page at all times.

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Buying a Home with Savings You Can Count On

In recent months, we hear this statement over and over again: “The time to buy a home is now.”  And this is very true.  The time to buy really is now.  It couldn’t be a better time with low property prices, low interest rates and huge tax credits for first-time homebuyers.  However, because of new stricter lending practices, many banks are requiring a down payment of 3% to 5% of the property value.  The fact is that the majority of Americans don’t have any savings plan.  We would like to share some great ways to help you build a savings you can count on for buying your next home.

Money saving tips:

·         Forgo prepackaged foods as much as possible.  Prepackaged foods and snacks are the most expensive foods in the grocery stores.  Instead, try buying individual ingredients in bulk size.  This will cost more in the beginning, but over time, you will save money because these ingredients will go much further.

·         Pass up packaged drinks such as bottled water, sodas and other bottled or canned drinks.  These items can easily be substituted for individual sports bottles that you can take on the go with you.  If you are a big coffee drinker, brew your coffee at home and take it with you in a travel mug.  You will save hundreds each year by simply doing this.

·         Car and home repairs are some of the most expensive fixes to hit our wallets.  When you need something repaired, do your research first.  Shop around for the best possible price.  For cars, this will usually mean an independent shop.  Car dealer repairs are the most expensive, unless your car is under warranty.  For the home, a local handyman can usually get the job done for much less than a company you see with advertisement all over the city.  However, be sure to get several referrals before you let him do any work and never pay for a job before it is complete.

·         Credit cards have always been important to help build one’s credit.  This still holds true today.  Be sure to pay your bill on time each month to avoid late fees and always pay above your minimum balance to pay it off faster.

·         If you don’t have free checking, search for a bank in your area that does.  Most banks do, so don’t settle for one that doesn’t.  Also, watch your account balance to avoid having to pay hefty overdraft fees.  If you can, set up overdraft protection.  Avoid using ATMs that charge you any fees.

·         Stop your newspaper and magazine subscriptions.  You can go online and find any newspaper and magazine for free.  If you don’t have to carry the printed version with you, there is no need to buy it.  Do your reading online from now on: it’s free.  You already pay for the Internet, so use it.

It’s small things like these that will help you effectively change the way you spend and save money.  And, saving money can help you afford the home of your dreams through economic times like these.

If you like these tips, you can find more here.

Realtors® Sharon & Crist Fanning  ~  Lake of the Ozarks Missouri

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Decluttering and Staging Your Home

When getting ready to put your home on the market, there are many important factors that can help make a quick and easy sale.  We would like to focus on two very important factors to help you market your home to its fullest potential.

Both the decluttering and staging of a home are very important.  First impressions are what stick in a buyer’s mind when they walk into your home.  You want that impression to be that it can easily be their home.  Therefore, removing your personal items is a huge bonus. 

There are many ways to go about decluttering a home.  One of the most convenient and popular ways is the PODS container.  When you’re ready to place your home on the market, pack up all your personal belongings and have a PODS container delivered to your home.  You can load it right in your own yard.  The PODS container will then be kept on your property or moved to a different location of your choice.  This eliminates the need for extra packing and unpacking.  If you are moving long-distance, PODS is perfect for that as well.  They will deliver your belongings to your new home in the very same PODS container that you packed at your old home.  You can also use a local storage building if that works better for you.

When you’re ready for staging, you can do it yourself or hire a professional stager.  We suggest using a professional.  Many sellers are reluctant to spend the extra money on a professional.  However, study after study shows that the sale of a staged home far outweighs the cost of having it staged.  Professional stagers can turn a cold and lifeless looking property into one that is warm and inviting.

Decluttering your home can reduce the sell time by up to 2 months and staging the home can shorten the sale cycle by 50% and even increase the sale by 17%.  Simply put – decluttered and staged homes sell faster and for more money.

Realtors® Sharon & Crist Fanning  ~  Lake of the Ozarks Real Estate

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Protecting Your Investment

It can be exciting to buy a new home, whether it’s your first home or your third home.  However, we must never let our excitement keep us from protecting this precious investment.  It is important to perform regular maintenance on your home annually.  Therefore, we offer the following tips to help you prevent some of the most costly repairs that homeowners face when they neglect their investment.  These tips can also help you save money on your monthly utility bills.

Spring is the best time of the year to give your home a good once over.  So each spring, go through this list:

·         Check for water or moisture damage in the basement, crawl space or attic.  If you find any leaks, have a professional come out to fix these right away.

·         Have your chimney cleaned before or after use each year.

·         Change the filters on your heating/cooling unit regularly and have the unit serviced annually.

·         Have your dryer vent cleaned out by a professional annually.

·         Change the batteries in each one of your smoke alarms at least twice a year.  The best times are in the spring and fall.  A great way to remember is to change batteries at the beginning and end of Daylight Savings Time.

·         Check all your plumbing for leaks.  If you find any, have a professional come out to fix it right away.

·         Drain two gallons of water from your hot water heater twice a year to extend its life.

·         Repair any tile grout in need of repair annually.

·         Check the foundation of your home for cracking.

·         Replace any weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows that may be missing.

·         Clear gutters and downspouts in the fall and spring.

Following these simple tips will help you protect one of the most precious, life-long investments you will make.  It will also help keep costs down on repairs if you find yourself wanting to sell your home.

Realtors® Sharon & Crist Fanning – Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri Real Estate

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Celebrate Your Easter in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, at the Lake of the Ozarks, there is always something happening.  Therefore, we thought it would be the perfect time to blog about the Easter celebrations that will be going on around Lake of the Ozarks this wonderful spring season.

·         Easter Brunch – April 12^th at the Country Club Hotel & Spa, Lake Ozark.  For more information, call (573) 964-2222.

·         Easter Brunch – April 12^th at the Resort at Port Arrowhead, Lake Ozark.  For more information, call (573) 365-2334.

·         Easter Brunch at HK’s and Easter Egg Hunt – April 12^th at the Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark.  For more information, call (573) 365-3000.

·         Easter Egg Hunt and Pictures with the Easter Bunny – April 12^th at the Lake Ozark Christian Church, Lake Ozark.  To highlight the day’s activities, the Easter Garden will open with an Easter Egg hunt.  For more information, call (573) 374-6594

Each activity sounds like it will be a lot of fun for the whole family.  We hope everyone gets out and enjoys as many activities as they can.

Realtors® Sharon & Crist Fanning – Lake of the Ozarks Real Estate

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Choosing a Real Estate Professional to Handle all Your Real Estate Needs

Buyers and sellers alike who do their research when it comes to finding a real estate professional can experience a smooth mental and financial transaction and save thousands of dollars.  Therefore, never waste what time and resources you have.   Use your time and all your resources wisely.

Decide what is important to you when looking for a real estate professional.  You want to look for someone who specializes in your area.  Are you buying, selling, relocating or investing?  Whatever your choice, if you choose the right real estate agent, they will be able to help you.

A great place to start your search is by asking family and friends if they can refer a Realtor® to you.  If not, then begin your search in the community where you are planning to buy or sell.  Take a drive through the community and neighborhoods.  If you begin to see the same name pop up over and over again, that is a good indicator that the agent specializes in that community.

Find out if that real estate professional has a website.  If so, they should have an abundance of information on their site.  For starters, there should be an “about me” or “about us” page giving details about who they are and their history in the real estate business.  Some real estate professionals have helpful community information on their websites, giving you a complete break-down of the communities they serve.  Does their website offer buyer/seller tips, local school information, property searches, links to their other website(s) or other useful links?  If you’re looking to relocate, does this real estate professional offer a relocation package?  Another thing to look for is a real estate blog link on their website.  If they have a real estate blog, this means they are working extra hard to keep consumers up-to-date on the communities they serve, current market conditions and real estate trends along with giving real estate tips and advice to buyers, sellers and homeowners.

Always keep in mind that, when looking for a real estate professional to handle all your real estate needs, you want someone who specializes in the area you live or are interested in moving to.  We can’t stress enough how much easier this will make the buying or selling process go.

We wish all buyers and sellers luck on their real estate professional search.

Realtors® Sharon & Crist Fanning - Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri Real Estate

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Lake of the Ozarks 2009 Shoreline Spring Cleanup

Spring is getting ready to spring upon us already.  We really can’t believe how fast it has come.  But, nevertheless, it’s here and it’s time to do some Spring cleaning around the lake.  Therefore, the Lake of the Ozarks is calling upon its brave souls to help clean up the lake’s shoreline.

This year, the annual Shoreline Beautification Cleanup is scheduled from March 15 through April 15.  Adopt-the-Shoreline organization is seeking volunteers to help spruce up the lake in time for the summer swimming and boating season.  So far, there are over 600 volunteers expected to turn out, but there is always a need for more help.

Clean up will consist of cleaning the shoreline, transporting floating material from the lake and stacking debris for later pickup.  Adopt-the-Shoreline provides all supplies, administrative work and disposal of trash.  Volunteers will only handle the clean up. 

Since the annual Shoreline Beautification Cleanup began, there has been between 120 to 240 tons of dock foam and other junk removed each year from the lake’s shoreline.  In the past, around 90% of the debris removed from the shoreline was old foam.  We have blogged about the removal of non-encapsulated foam docks in the past.  There is now a ban on non-encapsulated foam docks so, hopefully, we won’t have to be cleaning up so much loose foam in years to come. 

If you would like to volunteer, you can call the Adopt-the-Shoreline office at 573-365-9252.  There are several volunteer zones around the lake, so be sure to mention which mile marker you are closest to and the volunteer office will direct you to the closest zone to you.

Realtors® Sharon & Crist Fanning – Lake of the Ozarks Real Estate

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Building Green Saves Money and Energy and Creates Jobs

In today’s world, we are beginning to hear the term “going green” more and more.  We read about it, see news reports about it and watch television programs geared toward it.  Now we have a President and an administration that seems to understand the importance of that term and how it effects our economy.  Therefore, we are seeing experts from both sides of the playing fields demanding a recovery plan that will focus on green jobs and infrastructure, especially now that consumers are striving to cut their living costs and live in more economically sustainable homes and businesses are looking to cut operating costs.

Plain and simple, the key to a prosperous future is sustainability.  That is extremely important as we move forward.  In order to coexist with our environment, we must develop systems that encourage cleaner indoor air, reduce water and recycle almost everything we use.

Here’s some good news we found in recent studies: 75% of commercial real estate builders, rental building owners, engineers, developers, engineers and architects say they will not let the credit crunch discourage them from building green.  Most of them plan to seek LEED certification for buildings and plan to build within the next few years.  Almost 70% of homebuyers are also interested in buying a green home over the conventional home.  In fact, many homebuyers that bought a green home had an annual income of less than $50.000.  So, it’s not as expensive to buy a green home as many buyers may think.

The opportunities for going green today are nearly endless.  And the more homeowners and home builders that go green, the more jobs that will be created.

Realtors® Sharon & Crist Fanning – Lake of the Ozarks Real Estate

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Special Olympics Missouri Support in Lake of the Ozarks with the 2009 Polar Bear Plunge

When my husband Crist and I heard that the Lake of the Ozarks Osage Beach was being honored as the recipient of the 2008 Award of Excellence for the Special Olympics Missouri on January 8, 2009, we were elated.  It’s such an honor for the amazing people who work diligently each year to get everything organized for the annual Polar Bear Plunge.

The community of Osage Beach was honored with the award because of their efforts to raise awareness of and money for the Special Olympics as sponsors of the annual Polar Bear Plunge.  The Lake of the Ozarks has headed up the popular plunge since 1996.  Over these past 12 years, there have been over 5,000 participants in this bone-chilling event.  And the best of all, the event has raised more than $1 million for Missouri’s Special Olympics.  The Polar Bear Plunge brings out the most determined people who are willing to brave the frigid temperatures by plunging into the icy water every hour for 24 hours.

Over the years, the event has been expanded to include a 5K Fun Run, which is now called the Polar Bear Strut.  The Special Olympics is very dear to many people in the region, but it really seems to pull at the heartstrings of many law enforcement.

We have to give credit to Lake of the Ozarks Osage Beach for starting the plunge craze.  Since its start, St. Louis was soon to follow.  Then, came Kansas City, followed by five other communities by 2006.  Now there are 12 locations participating in the Polar Bear Plunge.  Isn’t it great how a trend catches on?

The 2009 Polar Bear Plunge Schedule:

·         Friday, February 27^th at 2:30 p.m. (Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Tan-Tar-A Resort)

·         Super Plunge will begin at 4:00 p.m., with plunging every hour for 24 hours.

Early check-in for pre-registered plungers is Saturday, February 23^rd at 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Osage Beach City Hall. 

Registration and packet pickup for the 5K Polar Bear Strut is at 10 a.m., with the Strut at 2 p.m. at Grand Glaize Beach.

Polar Bear Plunge

·         Registration – February 27^th at 2 p.m.

·         Parade of costumes at 2:15 p.m.

·         Welcome and Announcements – 2:30 p.m.

·         Polar Bear Plunge – 4 p.m.

·         Tan-Tar-A Resort

·         Post Plunge Party Begins

It looks like this is going to be another exciting Polar Bear Plunge.  We hope to see you there.  If you need more information about the event, you can contact the Osage Beach Depart of Public Safety at 537-302-2101.

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Tax Help for Seniors in Lake of the Ozarks

Tax season is here again and the AARP Tax/Aide will have several volunteers in the Lake of the Ozarks area to help prepare hundreds of federal and state tax returns for lake area seniors.  Lake area residents that make up to $50,000 can receive this free quality income tax assistance and tax form preparation.

There are still 64 days left before the deadline date of April 15^th.  However, people are already getting in line to get this free help from the AARP Tax/Aide.  There were over 1,300 federal returns and over 500 state tax returns filed by lake area residents last year alone who qualified for this free assistance.

Taxes can get complicated for many of us, especially for those over the age of 60.  The tax laws, forms and qualifications change each year and can be very confusing.  AARP volunteers have had the necessary training and are prepared to handle all your tax preparation needs.

Some changes you need to be aware of this year are that low income residents may be eligible for a property tax credit.  The government has also raised some income limits.  Be sure to check with your tax preparer to make sure you received the correct amount on your stimulus payment.  They will be able to tell you any possible mistakes and let you know what credit you will qualify for to get the best refund possible.

There will be five locations set up around the lake area.

·         Westside Senior Center – Wednesdays, 9 am-4 pm, 875-5722 (Opens February 18^th).

·         Camdenton Library – Thursdays, 9 am-4 pm, 346-5954.

·         Osage Beach Library – Tuesdays, 12:30 am-6 pm, 348-3282.

·         Golden Age Retirement Center – Wednesdays, 9 am-4 pm (appt. only), 365-7365.

·         Eldon Senior Center on Hwy. 87 – Tuesdays, 9 am-noon, 374-0138.

What to bring:

·         W-2 forms from each employer

·         Copy of last year’s tax return

·         Proof of what stimulus payment was from ‘08 (bring letter)

·         Amount of estate tax paid in 2008

·         If low-income, may qualify for property tax credit

·         If received Social Security benefits, copy of SSA-1099

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