Springfield, MO

As REALTORS® in Springfield Missouri, we've seen and smelled just about everything. Lets face it. When you are trying to sell your home, people don't want to walk in the door and get hit in the face with unusual smells. At best it's distracting but at it's worst it will absolutely prevent anyone from seriously considering buying your home. Here are some common odors that can kill the deal.

If your home has any of these odor issues its best to take care of them before listing your home. Sometimes a simple deodorizer will do the trick, but if your home smells of strong deodorizers or candles, they will wonder what you are hiding.

Another idea is to get your carpets professionally cleaned to help them smell fresh. Obviously if you have mold or a leaking gas issue, get them taken care of immediately for health reasons.

If your home smells like smoke, you may need to clean the carpets, drapes, and paint with Kiltz.

For other great ideas to help sell your home in Springfield Missouri, give TeamKnowles a call today!

Casa Grande Drive - North Valley Estates Open House - Springfield Mo Real Estate

Here's a sneak preview of eight homes we will be marketing this week in North Valley Estates. North Valley Estates is a newer subdivision on the northwest side of Springfield. Prices will start from $105,000 - $115,000. Open house will be in a few weeks, giving us time to spruce up these foreclosures.

There will be a few 3 bedrooms, but the majority of them are 4 bedrooms. Seven of the eight homes are ranch style homes. One has a finished walkout basement.

If you are planning to purchase a home in Springfield, take a look at these great homes. Call and we will be happy to help you with your real estate needs.

Have you ever wondered how safe your Springfield MO neighborhood is? Are you moving to Springfield, MO, and wondering how safe a particular neighborhood is? The City of Springfield has a wonderful website where you can view crime reports for burglary, vandalism, rape, domestic violence, automobile accidents, etc. You can access it at Crime Seen.

Here is an example of the burglaries in a portion of South Springfield. Simply zoom in on the map to the area of interest and check which crimes you'd like to search for.

Search for Springfield MO Homes For Sale

According to the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, bankruptcy filings are up 34% over last fiscal year. To find out how your state ranks in bankruptcy filings, see the chart below provided by The Calculated Risk Blog.

I was talking with a family member on Thanksgiving Day about how professions that you wouldn't think would be affected by the current economy are suffering. It seems that nobody is safe anymore. My response was, "The only occupations that are truly safe in a poor economy is funeral director and bankruptcy attorney."

This is the fifth installment in a series to guide you through buying a home in the Springfield, MO, area. If you missed the first four installments, I'm including the links here:

Buying a Home in the Springfield MO Area - Part 1 - Getting PreApproved for a Loan

Buying a Home in the Springfield MO Area - Part II - Selecting a Realtor

Buying a Home in the Springfield MO Area - Part III - Choosing Your Area/Community

Buying a Home in the Springfield MO Area - Part IV - Search For a Home

Now...you're preapproved for a loan, you've selected your Realtor, you've chosen your area/community, and you've looked at homes...what's next? Researching your home of interest.

This is where working with the right Realtor is invaluable. Your Realtor should be able to research your home of interest and give the following information to you:

1. How long has the home been on the market? Has this home lingered on the market more than the average days on the market for its particular area? If so, what are the possible reasons?
   
2. Have there been any price reductions on the home? If the seller has made several price reductions in regular increments, this could be a sign of a very motivated seller. If there have been no price reductions and the home has been on the market for an unreasonable amount of time, this could be the sign of a difficult seller.
3. What have comparable homes in the area sold for? How does the list price of this home compare to the homes that have sold recently? What is the average price per square foot of the homes in the neighborhood? How does this home compare with the homes that have recently sold?
4. Disclosures. Disclosures are very valuable when looking at the history of the home. Has there ever been water in the basement or crawlspace? Has the home been treated for termites? How old is the roof? What equipment and/or appliances stay with the home? Has the home ever been tested for radon? When was the septic last serviced?
   
5. How much did the current seller pay for the home? When did the current seller purchase the home and how much did they pay? How does that compare with the current list price?
   
6. What upgrades has the seller made to the home? Many times the price the current seller paid for the property is much less than the current list price. What upgrades has the current seller made to the property? Can they justify the increase in their asking price?
7. Are there possible zoning, school or street changes? Are there any outstanding sewer connection fees on the property? Possible school redistricting? Zoning changes? Street changes? The answer to these questions may have a huge impact on your decision to pursue an offer on your home of interest.
8. Miscellaneous information. I've often been asked to find out other information on a property that is not readily available to buyers, such as who owns the vacant land adjoining the property. Do they intend to sell in the near future? Is development of the adjoining vacant land a possibility in the near future? Certain items on the disclosures can also warrant additional research, such as repairs due to storms. How much damage was done to the property? Who made the repairs to the property?

Gathering as much information on the home as possible prior to writing your first offer can help you position yourself in negotiations. Once you've educated yourself, you're ready for the next step...writing an offer.

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