About Franklin County, MO

Yes, it's true. The Scott Hickinbotham Team is moving into the high-tech age by adding QR Codes to our real estate lawn signs. You should begin to see them in the St. Clair area around February 24th. But how do they work and what can they do for you?

A QR code (QR stands for Quick Response) is a fast way to get information. In our case, information about a listing. All you need to use the code is a web-enabled cell phone with QR code reader software installed on it. By waving your phone at the QR code image on our signs (I know this sounds a little weird but it's really all you have to do), you will be instantly taken to our website, which has already been optimized for viewing via cell phone.

So let's say you're on a house hunting mission in St. Clair, you drive by a home with our lawn sign in the front yard and the house looks like something you would be interested in. Simply wave your phone at the QR code sign, and you'll be taken to our website where you can view detailed information about the house, including such things as how many bedrooms and bathrooms there are, what appliances are included, room sizes, and even color pictures or a video tour. You can even contact an agent to call you back, or add this home to your list of dream houses.

You may also see these coded signs at local home shows or other events. For example, if you're at a home show looking at a booth offering services for pool owners, you might see a QR coded sign that could take you to a sight offering homes for sale in the area with pools. The options are really endless and this technology is improving daily.

If you're looking for a home in the St. Clair area, grab your phone and hit the road. You'll soon see our QR coded signs in front of our listings, allowing you to get quick access to information on any listing that you're interested in. Of course, you can still contact us the "old-fashioned" way by phone at 636-629-3419 on online.

Getting ready to move into your new St. Clair home? You'll want to do everything you can to make the move easier, so here are ten tips for a smooth move to St. Clair.

1. Before you pack your lamps, remove the bulbs.

2. So you don't have to spend your first night in your new home in the dark, arrange to have your utilities turned on the day BEFORE you move.

3. Load area rugs last, so they will come out of the truck first. That way they can be placed on the floor, under the furniture that will be moved in after.

4. Pack heavy items in small boxes and light items in large boxes. Try to keep total weight per box under 50 pounds, less if you're doing the moving yourself.

5. Got plates? Pack them on their sides, vertically, with newspaper or tissue between each one.

6. Move a phone book from your old house to the new St. Clair house, just in case you need to contact old neighbors or businesses you've dealt with.

7. Drain gas and oil out of all yard equipment, snow blowers, boats, etc. before you attempt to move them.

8. Try to move during the week if possible so that utility companies, government offices and schools will be open in case you need to go there.

9. Be sure to give your movers written directions and a map to the new home along with your cell phone number, in case there's a problem and they need to contact you. Be sure to have their cell phone numbers in your hand as well.

10. If possible, leave pets with a friend or relative on moving day to avoid as much trauma in their lives as possible.

Now that I've gotten you started, you can probably come up with a lot more ideas of how to make your move easier. The first thing you'll want to do when you decide it's time for a move is to contact me, Scott Hickinbotham, to help you sell your old house or buy the perfect new one in the St. Clair area. Call me today at 636-399-2296 or contact me online.

An escrow account is a pre-funded account to pay off bills on your St. Clair home, such as homeowners insurance and property taxes, that will come due later in the life of your mortgage.

When you obtain a mortgage to buy your new home, you will probably be required by your lender to open an escrow account. This means that a neutral third-party will take care of the money put into the escrow account and eventually use it to pay off certain pre-determined debts.

As already mentioned, the escrow account will often be used to pay for homeowners' insurance and/or property taxes. How does this work? Once the annual payment for insurance or taxes on your St. Clair home is determined, usually around the time of closing, the total will be divided up into 12 monthly payments, which will usually be paid to the lender along with the monthly mortgage payment. Then when the insurance premium or property tax bill comes due, the escrow agent will pay these bills using the funds you have paid into your escrow account.

The main benefit of an escrow account for the lender is to insure that they aren't stuck for taxes or insurance on a property that has been damaged by fire or is about to be sold because the taxes weren't paid. The homeowner benefits by being able to spread out the total annual amounts, which can be quite large, by breaking them down into more manageable monthly payments.

If you're planning on buying a home, a Realtor® is a great source to help you understand all the ins and outs of closing and home ownership, including escrow accounts. Give me, Scott Hickinbotham, a call at 636-399-2296 or contact me online. I can help you understand all you need to know to purchase your new home in the St. Clair area.

If your old water heater is about ready to die of old age or hard usage, it may be time to consider getting a tankless water heater to replace it in your St. Clair home.

What is a Tankless Water Heater?
A tankless water heater, also sometimes called an "instantaneous water heater" or "demand water heater", heats water only on demand. It does not store heated water like the older units do, thus avoiding multiple reheats of the same water so that hot water is ready when you are.

How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?
When the homeowner turns on the hot water tap, cold water travels to the tankless water heater where it is then heated either by electricity or gas, depending on the unit. Depending on the temperature of hot water desired, or the beginning temperature of the cold water, a unit will generally produce from two to five gallons of hot water per minute.

Will One Unit Take Care of a Whole House?
One unit may not be enough for a whole house, especially if there are simultaneous requests for hot water. In these cases, it may be necessary to install a "whole house" hot water system or connect two or more units for simultaneous demands. Installing units for specific appliances or areas may be another way to go. For example, a unit for the dishwasher or one for a specific bathroom.

What Should I Look for When Purchasing a Tankless Water Heater?
Consider the fuel type which will either be gas or electric. Consider location, size and demand, which means determining where you may want the unit to physically be, the size of your house, and how much hot water will be used - for example, per day. Consider the application. Do you want hot water throughout the house, just for certain areas such as bathrooms, or for specific appliances.

The best thing you can do for yourself if you're considering buying a tankless water heater for your St. Clair home is to find a local dealer who can come to your home, analyze your setup and needs, and make recommendations on what would be best for your household. There are several manufacturers who offer different styles and sizes of tankless water heaters, so you need to know what you're trying to do before you'll be able to make the best decision on which one to purchase.

Just like getting a local dealer to evaluate your home for a tankless water heater is the right thing to do, getting a local Realtor® to help is also the best thing to do if you're in the market for a new home or want to put your current home on the market. Give me, Scott Hickinbotham, a call at 636-629-3419 or contact me online. We're ready, willing, and able to help you with all your real estate needs.

Right now there are a lot of foreclosed homes on the market. If you're thinking of buying one in the St. Clair area, here are a few tips you might want to consider to make sure it's not going to be a "money pit" in the future.

Get a Home Inspection

This is great advice even if the home you're planning to purchase isn't a foreclosure. However, if it is a foreclosure, a home inspection by a licensed inspector is an absolute must to evaluate whether this is indeed a good buy for you or will be a continual drain of your funds and a giant headache once the house is yours. As you'll see when you look at our other tips, there are some specialized home inspectors that we also recommend you have check out the home.

Turn On the Utilities

If the utilities are not on, the only proper way to check the systems in the house is to have the utilities turned on. Before that switch is pulled, however, there are some precautions to take. Be sure the water lines haven't frozen and burst, check with the gas company to see what precautions they require before they'll light the pilot lights on gas appliances, and have a licensed electrician check out things before electric power is restored.

Check for Plumbing Problems

Plumbing problems that seem to be minor may actually have caused a lot of problems below the surface. Floors or drywall may be rotted out or moldy if there have been major leaks, creating huge expenses to fix the damage.

Check Mechanical, Water Heating and Electrical Systems

Dirt, debris and even small animals can get into the ductwork of a home, and furnaces and boilers may corrode if there has been a lot of dampness. At the very least, filters are probably needing cleaned and/or replaced, so be sure all these things are examined by your home inspector.

Look for Signs of Poor Maintenance

If the house you're considering has been sitting empty for awhile, debris may have accumulated on roofs and in gutters and the yard may be full of overgrown areas. Inside, cracked or missing caulking may be an issue in tubs and showers, there may be missing light fixtures or appliances, and cheap, quick repairs may need redone, all of which can make for higher maintenance costs down the road.

Check the Exterior

Look for foundation cracks, missing or curled shingles, or signs of leaks or other exterior damage. If there's a pool at this St. Clair area home, it's a good idea to contact a pool service to determine if the underground piping and equipment is in good repair, as well as looking for other pool-specific problems. These can all be big-ticket repairs.

Conduct a Sewer Scope

Tree roots and improper connections can both lead to rotted, clogged or damaged sewer lines, another costly repair. Hire a plumbing company to do a video scope of your lines to evaluate any problems that may not be easily visible from the outside.

Resolve any Liens

Especially if the house has been uninhabited for awhile, it's possible that contractors, homeowner’s associations, utility companies or other entities have put liens against the property in an effort to collect for unpaid services, fees, etc. You'll have to have these cleared up before title can be passed to you.

Install New Locks

Once the inspections are over, you feel that you're getting a good deal and you go ahead and purchase the foreclosed home, make it a priority to have new locks with new keys installed immediately after taking possession. Lots of people may have keys to this home, so it's better to start fresh and not have to worry about who might come into possession of a key to your new house.

If you're looking for a foreclosure or any other type of home in the St. Clair area, give me, Scott Hickinbotham, a call at 636-399-2296 or contact me online. I can help you if a foreclosure purchase is in your future or if you just want a new home for your family.