About Franklin County, MO

So your St. Clair house is on the market. Prospective buyers have started coming by to take a look, and you're thinking, "Make me an offer I can't refuse!" Then, lo and behold, your wish comes true, and you get an offer!

Now you have to decide what to do with that offer. Do you take the offer, make a counter-offer, or turn it down flat. Here are some things to think about when deciding what to do with an offer:

Turning the offer down flat is almost never an option, unless you know for a fact that the buyer will never move from a low-ball offer. However, if you're hesitant to take the offer, ask yourself this important question: Is this really a low-ball offer, or am I hesitating because of an emotional attachment to the home? If you're looking at all the memories you have in this house, and the upgrades and investment of time and money to get it to where it is today, you may need to start looking at this house in a more financial and less emotional light.

You'll want to take into consideration how long your St. Clair house has been on the market. If it's just been a few days and this is your first offer, you may want to make a different counter-offer than you would if the house has been on the market for several months or even longer without much interest from homebuyers.

While the price offered may be a good one, are there other terms that are not so agreeable to you? Are they asking for closing cost concessions that are a bit more generous than you want to give? Do they want you to move out sooner than you are comfortable with? Are they asking for a closing date that is simply too close? Be sure to take into account all of the terms, not just the price.

Other questions to consider should include: Will you lose money if you take this deal? Will it leave you too far in debt to purchase another home? Must you sell within a short period of time or do you have some breathing room? Are there factors such as a job that make it necessary for you to sell and move quickly? Have you already bought another home and are getting tired of making two mortgage payments and covering numerous utility bills? Might you be at risk of going into foreclosure if you don't sell the house soon? In some situations, even low offers may be better than no offers.

A great place to get help with all these questions is your Realtor®. We know the market activity--how long area homes are on the market, how much interest your home is likely to garner from prospective buyers, and what other homes in your area are currently selling for. It's always best to figure out your bottom line now, before you get an offer on the table, so you'll know what to do when the time comes.

Please give me, Scott Hickinbotham, a call today at 636-629-3419 or contact me online. Let us help you sell your house for the best price possible. We have experience in the local market and can give you the best advice available.

Sand Bar by SelectAnn

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For all your real estate needs in the St. Louis area, specializing in helping my clients as a buyer's agent and as a marketing specialist. I utilize the latest technology to assist in the sale of you home as well as your purchase.

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So you've decided to buy a St. Clair house! How exciting. Just one thing--you don't really have a lot of money saved up for your down payment. Nowadays, most lenders are asking for at least 20 percent down. And don't forget, the more you put down, the less you have to borrow and pay back, so in the long run, a big down payment is a good thing.

Here are a few ways you can get the money for your down payment:

1. Open a Savings Account: Put a little in there every week (or every time you get a paycheck), add things like your Christmas bonus, a big commission check, or the extra $10 you saved this week by making your own lattes, and before you know it, you'll have built up a nest egg to use as a down payment on the St. Clair home of your dreams.

2. Ask Your Relatives: Of course, we don't all have a wealthy maiden aunt about to shower us with down-payment funds, but maybe you can talk Mom and Dad into adding a bit to what you've saved up on your own (see number 1 above).

3. Sell an Asset: Got a boat, RV or extra car sitting around collecting dust that could be sold to add to your down-payment funding account? Don't forget, if you sell that antique car no one is allowed to drive, you'd also be saving on insurance and registration fees.

4. Liquidate Investments: If you happen to have some investments, now may be the time to liquidate them. If you have a stash of Savings Bonds, you may want to find out if they're still earning interest or if they've reached maturity and are ready to be cashed in and put to a better use.

5. Use Your Income Tax Refund: It is that time of year again when we have to file our income tax returns. If you're one of the lucky ones getting a tax refund this year, why not earmark it for use as the down payment on your new house?

6. Get a Second Job: Maybe you can work a few hours on the weekend at your local fast-food restaurant, collect aluminum and sell it to a recycling firm, babysit, have a giant garage sale, or sell cute little hand-made knitted baby garments online. Don't forget that every little bit you can save, earn or beg from your friends and relatives all adds up over time.

Once you feel you have enough of a nest egg for your down payment, contact me: Scott Hickinbotham, online or by phone at 636-399-2296, and we'll help you find the perfect home in the St. Clair area.

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.