2014 Spring Newsletter

quarterly newsletter Winter 2014 Vol. 2 No. 1

The

Susan Horak

group

Office: (573) 876-2849 • Mobile: (573) 864-0160 • Email: Susan@susanhorak.com • www.susanhorak.com

Gorgeous homes & condos for sale in and around Columbia, MO! #1 in Listings Sold // #1 in Volume Sales // #1 in Commisions

Articles

page 3 page 6 page 8

Make Your Home Shine on Camera 8 Quick Fixes to Increase Value 10 Steps to Prepare for Home Ownership

Conventional

VA

Minimum of 5% down

100% financing

Closing costs may be paid by the seller

NO PMI

Low fixed rates available NO private mortgate insurance with 20% down payment

FHA As little as 3.5% down payment

Low closing costs

15, 20, & 30 year fixed rates available

Must be a qualified veteran

1-4 properties okay

Closing costs may be paid by the seller

Gifting of funds for the down payment is allowed

USDA 100% Financing No down payment required NO PMI 30 year fixed rates offered Closing costs may be paid by the seller

Home Loans

with

Vickie Burks

Office: 573-499-7302 • Fax: 573-875-1728 • Email:Vickie.Burks@LandmarkBank.com

14178 S. HIGHWAY DD $359,900 • MLS #350269

3BR, 2.5BA, 13.82 Acres. Custom home just outside Ashland, MO! Kitchen with custom cabinetry and stainless appliances, huge master bed with walk-in closet and gorgeous master bath, upper level bar/lounge with two full wet bars. Property includes two large outbuildings, one with a full bath and loft. Ashland ext to west on Rte M to right

on Hwy DD to right down long driveway.

Text T11807864 to 85377

21155 BELFRY CT. $349,900 • MLS #345464

5BR, 3.5BA. Full wall of arched windows in living room, lower level w/ second full kitchen and bar seating, kitchen with custom cabinetry and stainless appliances, MBA with jetted tub and massive walk-in closet. 63S to R on Mt

Pleasant, L for S. Mt. Pleasant, R on Eagle Knoll, R on Eagle Trace, R on Belfry Ct.

Text T1646933 to 85377

LOT 206A BATES CREEK DRIVE $319,900 • MLS #349116 3BR, 2BA. Beautiful new construction in the Vineyards! Spacious living room, master suite with his-and-hers walk-in closets, double vanity, and corner jetted tub. Lower level framed for a large family room, two additional bedrooms, and a full bath. E on

WW to right on Rolling Hills to right on Columbia Gorge Pkwy to Bates Creek.

Text T214295 to 85377

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13450 ROBIEN DRIVE $349,900 • MLS #345211

Text T349659 to 85377

4BR, 3.5BA, 5 Acres. Custom country estate just outside of Boonville, MO! Oversized main level living room with recessed lighting, kitchen featuring custom cabinetry and a central island. Huge lower level with a wet bar and tons of storage. I-70 Exit #101 (Hwy 5), go south 4 miles, turn left on Robien Dr, 3/10 of a mile on the right.

19281 N. DREW ROAD $350,000 • MLS #349416

Text T1577465 to 85377

4BR. 3.5BA. 10.46 Acres. Beautiful custom home just outside Centralia, MO! Living room with wood burning fireplace and high ceilings, spacious master bedroom, master bathroom with walk-in closet and jetted tub, huge lower level family room, gorgeous sun room, kitchen with bar seating. Rte B through Hallsville, N on 124, left on Drew Rd. Driveway is first left at the back.

6903 MADISON CREEK DRIVE $289,900 • MLS #343966

Text T214280 to 85377

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4BR, 3BA Spacious tiled entryway, grand living room with high ceilings, kitchen with custom built cabinets and stainless steel appliances, sunny lower level family room with laminate hardwood.

Nifong to S. on Sinclair to left on Port Orchard to right on Madison Creek.

Shine

Make Your Home

on camera

With more buyers shopping for homes on the web, photos and virtual tours are a must. Here are some helpful hints on how to make your home shine.

1. Understand the camera’s perspective

The camera’s eye is very different from the human eye. It magnifies clutter and poor furniture arrangement. To make a home shine on camera, cater to the lens.

2. Make the home “Q-Tip” clean

Because the camera magnifies grime, each room must be spotless. Don’t forget floor coverings and walls; a discolored spot on the rug might be overlooked by prospects during a regular home showing, but that stain becomes a focal point for online viewers.

3. Leave three items of varying heights on each surface For example, on an end table you can place a lamp (tall), a small plant (medium), and a book (low).

4. Snap Pictures

This will give you an idea of what the home will look like on camera. Closely examine the photos and list changes that would improve each room’s appearance: opening blinds to let in natural sunlight, removing magnets from

ural sunlight, removing magnets from the refrigerator, or taking down distracting art.

5. Pare down your furniture

Identify one or two pieces of furniture that can be removed from each room to make the space appear larger.

6. Rearrange to create focal points

Spotlight the flow of a space by creating a focal point on the furthest wall from the doorway and arranging the other pieces of furniture to make a triangle shape.

The focal point may be a bed in a bedroom, or a china cabinet in a dining room.

7. Re-accessorize

Include a healthy plant in every room; the camera loves green. Energize bland decor by placing a bright vase on a mantle or draping an afghan over a couch.

8. Keep the home in shape

You want buyers who liked what they saw online to encounter the same home in person.

Barb Schwartz, www.stagedhomes.com

3

20600 N MT. PLEASANT ROAD $159,900 • MLS #346941

Text T1615252 to 85377

5BR, 2.5BA. Fantastic rural home on 4.21 acres! Beautiful hardwood on the main level, renovated kitchen with granite counter tops and custom cabinetry, lovely covered back deck. 63S to right on Mt. Pleasant Rd to right on N. Mt. Pleasant.

1819 COUNTY ROAD 360 $224,900 • MLS #349904

3BR, 2BA. Fantastic home in Millersburg, MO. Living room with gas fireplace, MBA with jetted tub and walk-in closet, fantastic upper level den. Expansive backyard features a wonderful partially covered patio. WW East, continue

Text T1649505 to 85377

to Missouri J, turn right onto CR 358, right to CR359, first left onto CR 360

2902 LINDEN WAY $146,500 • MLS #350246

Text T295691 to 85377

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3BR, 2BA. Great home in the Timber Lane subdivision. Living room with vaulted ceilings and gas fireplace, tiled kitchen with smooth-top range, master bed with tray ceiling and walk-in closet, master bathroom with double vanity, cute covered back patio. 63N to Clark Lane/MO-

PP to left on Timber Lane to Linden Way.

Print Media The Real Estate Book

Susan reserves the first 2 pages of The Real Estate Book for her clients. With 16,000 copies distributed every month at more than 350 prime locations, the Real Estate Book is the most circulated non-newspaper publication in the Central Missouri area.

The Columbia Tribune To further your home’s exposure to the public, The Susan horak Group puts out a weekly display ad in the Columbia Tribune.

Brochures

Susan’s in-house graphic designers measure and photograph the interior and exterior of your home to produce a high quality, full color brochure. Chock full of details, from basic information such as the number of bedrooms & bathrooms, and directions, to more detailed information including ad copy, square footage, zoning for schools, amenities, and the type of flooring.

Whether plucked from the brochure box or distributed at showings, brochures are just as important as any other first

Impression!

Social Media When Susan lists your home, her graphics department prepare marketing materials for different social media platforms. Today’s home buyer is tech savvy and wants to engage with information on their terms, on their platform, and on their time. This means we market your home in more places than ever! Susan maintains a lively social media presence through sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger. Your home will have an unparalleled level of exposure as Susan spreads the word about your home all across the web!

• Facebook • Blogger • Twitter • Issuu

• YouTube • Pinterest • Trulia • Zillow

• Instagram • Google + • Realtor.com • and more!

• Linkedin • Re/Max mobile

Follow Susan just about everywhere!

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2808 WAYNESBORO DRIVE $142,500 • MLS #349834

3BR, 2BA. Great home in the Springdale Estates!

Spacious living room with gas fireplace and high ceilings, kitchen with laminate hardwood floors and bar seating, master suite with walkin closet. Smiley Ln to E on Springdale to

Call 573-876-2849

left on Savannah to right on Thornberry to right on Culpepper to Waynesboro.

1819 W. STEWART ROAD $189,900 • MLS #349842

Text T11785555 to 85377

3BR, 2BA. Charming home in the heart of Columbia’s old south west! Living room with hardwood floors and fireplace, new counters in kitchen, lower level with kitchenette and second fireplace, bright and sunny master bedroom, huge fully fenced backyard. West

Blvd south to west on W. Stewart Rd.

5151 STATE ROAD J $550,000 • MLS #347322

Text T812832 to 85377

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4BR, 3.5BA, 30 Acres. Price for all 50 acres is $700,000. Amazing custom home and working farm!

Gorgeous hardwood on the main level, custom kitchen with top of the line appliances, MBR with private sitting area, MBA with jetted tub and huge walk-in closet. Land includes three fantastic outbuildings and a lake. South on Rte K from Millersburg, property is on the right.

1877 N. WATERFRONT DRIVE $84,900 • MLS #349206

2BR, 1.5BA. Fantastic lower level pool-side condo! Kitchen and dining area with laminate hardwood flooring, spacious bedrooms with walk-in closets, master bedroom with private half-bath, hall bathroom with updated vanity. Lake of the Woods N to left on

Waterfront Drive to Edgewater Condos.

Text T1159176 to 85377

2308 S. ATLAS COURT $159,900 • MLS #348985

Fantastic home on a quiet cul-de-sac! Brad new tile in kitchen and breakfast room, master bedroom with private full bath an tray ceiling, huge lower level family room, fully-fenced backyard with a great deck. Scott Blvd. to Gillespie Bridge to left Kendallwood.

Right on Salem, right on Atlas Ct.

Text T1142029 to 85377

2710 ROLLINS ROAD C12 $85,000 • MLS #349309

2BR, 1BA. Gorgeous remodeled condo in a fantastic location, closet to schools, shopping, and groceries. Sunny living room with new hardwood floors, bathroom with granite top vanity and custom tile shower, master bed with walk-in closet. W on Broadway to S on Fairview to left onto Rollins Rd. Building is on the right.

Text T1618726 to 85377

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www.susanhorak.com www.susanhorak.com is hands down the most advanced website of any individual real estate agent in Mid-Missouri!

• Full integration with google maps right on the main page, with custom interactive location markers pointing to all of Susan’s listings.

• A new featured listing everytime a user logs on!

• Secure client login for easy access to your Seller’s Portal

• Intuitive, easy to use page navigation and layout, allowing users to easily access all of Susan’s content.

• Advanced sort and filter controls that let users browse Susan’s listings on their terms • Susan’s website is mobile friendly! Users will find exactly what they are looking for, whether they’re browsing on an iPad, smartphone, or a desktop computer.

• www.susanhorak.com is indexed with every major search engine, including google.com, yahoo.com, and bing.com.

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2414 BOULDER SPRINGS DRIVE $299,900 • MLS #349206 3BR, 3BA. Kitchen with granite counter tops, bar seating, beautiful cabinetry, and stainless appliances.

Master bed with tray ceiling, two closets, and beautiful master bath. The master bath features marble floors, two granite-top vanities, and custom tile shower.

Large lower level family room. Providence to E

on Green Meadows to L on Carter Ln to R on Campus View Dr to left on Boulder Springs.

Text T1159176 to 85377

3111 CRAWFORD STREET $215,000 • MLS #349779

3BR, 3BA. Classic two-story home in a great location, with tons of space for the money at 3178 sq ft! Fabulous floor plan, wonderful master suite with two walk-in closets, living room with fireplace, main level family room, kitchen with double wall oven and bar seating, walkout basement with finished rec room and a large unfinished storge/workshop area. Green Meadows to Crawford St.

Text T11781539 to 85377

4608 OAK VIEW DRIVE $122,500 • MLS #349832

5BR, 2BA. More space for the money at 2171 square feet! Gorgeous hardwood on the main level, bright and sunny kitchen, lower level with workshop and rec room, huge fully fenced backyard with fnatastic landscaping. Mexico Gravel to

PP/N Ballenger Lane to Oak View Drive.

Text T1082929 to 85377

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Quick Fixes to Increase Value To attract buyers, sellers must up the ante to convince them that their property offers what many want most — top value for dollar expended. Here are eight fast fixes:

1. Buff up curb appeal.

You’ve heard it before, but it’s critical to get buyers to want to look on the inside. Be objective. View listings from the street. Check the condition of the landscaping, paint, roof, shutters, front door, knocker, windows, house number, and even how window treatments look from the outside. Add something special — such as big flower pots or an antique bench — to help viewers remember house A from B.

2. Enrich with color.

Paint’s cheap, but forget the adage that it must be white or neutral. Just don’t get too avant-garde with jarring pinks, oranges, and purples. Instead, use soft colors that say “welcome,” lead the eye from room to room, and flatter skin tones. Think soft yellows and pale greens. Tint ceilings a lighter shade.

3. Upgrade the kitchen and bathroom.

These make-or-break rooms can spur a sale. But besides making each squeaky clean and clutter-free, update the pulls, sinks, and faucets. In a kitchen, add one cool appliance, such as an espresso maker. In the bathroom, hang a flat-screen TV to mimic a hotel. Room service, anyone?

4. Add old-world patina.

Make Andrea Palladio proud. Install crown molding at least six to nine inches in depth, proportional to the room’s size, and architecturally compatible. For ceilings nine feet high or higher, add dentil detailing, small tooth-shaped

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blocks used as a repeating ornament. It’s all in the details, after all.

5. Screen hardwood floors.

Buyers favor wood over carpet, but refinishing is costly and time-consuming. Screening cuts dust, time, and expense. What it entails: a light sanding, not a full stripping of color or polyurethane, then a coat of finish.

6. Clean out, organize closets.

Get sorting — organize your piles into “don’t need,” “haven’t worn,” and “keep.” Closets must be only half-full so buyers can visualize fitting their stuff in.

7. Update window treatments.

Buyers want light and views, not dated, fancy-schmancy drapes that darken. To diffuse light and add privacy, consider energy-efficient shades and blinds.

8. Hire a home inspector

Do a preemptive strike, since busy home owners seek maintenance-free living. Fix problems before you list the home and then display receipts and wait for buyers to offer kudos to sellers for being so responsible.

Sources: Ernie Roth, Roth Interiors, Los Angeles; Angel Petragallo, abr, Group One, Boise, Idaho; Melissa Galt, Galt Interiors, Atlanta; Steve Kleiman, CEO, Oakington Realty, Houston; Sid Davis, Sid Davis & Associates, Farmington, Utah, and author of First-Time Homeowners’ Survival Guide (Amacom, 2007); Steve Hochman, Friendly Note Buyers, Roxbury, N.Y.; Margi Kyle, designer and spokesperson for Hunter Douglas.

7208 N. MOBERLY DRIVE $82,500 • MLS #348974

3BR, 1.5BA. Cute home in north Columbia!

Sunny and spacious living room, master bedroom with private half-bath and backyard access. The large backyard features a full privacy fence, patio, and storage shed. Rangeline North to roundabout, exit to VV. Left on Mauller Road to right on Moberly Drive.

Text T1142029 to 85377

6815 S. BROOKHAVEN COURT $114,000 • MLS #348635

3BR, 1BA. Cute home in Columbia’s south west! Brand new laminate hardwood in living room, new carpet in bedrooms, fully fenced backyard on heavily wooded lot. S on Rt. K to left on Vermillion to right on Amos to left on Brookhaven Dr. to right on Brookhaven Ct.

Text T1515672 to 85377

LOT 34 KIPLING WAY $214,900 • MLS #349142

4BR, 2BA. Fantastic new construction in the Wellington Manor subdivision! Large open floor plan with split bedroom design, vaulted ceilings in living room, kitchen with breakfast room and central island, master bedroom with private bath and huge walk-in closet.

Broadway

to Keene to St. Charles to Kipling Way.

Text T1632042 to 85377

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10 Steps to Prepare for

Home Ownership 12

1. Decide what you can afford.

Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.

2. Develop your home wish list.

Then, prioritize the features on your list.

3. Select where you want to live.

Compile a list of three or four neighborhoods you’d like to live in, taking into account items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.

4. Start saving.

Do you have enough money saved to qualify for a mortgage and cover your down payment? Ideally, you should have 20 percent of the purchase price saved as a down payment. Also, don’t forget to factor in closing costs. Closing costs — including taxes, attorney’s fee, and transfer fees — average between 2 and 7 percent of the home price.

5. Get your credit in order.

Obtain a copy of your credit report to make sure it is accurate and to correct any errors immediately. A credit report provides a history of your credit, bad debts, and any late payments.

6. Determine your mortgage qualifications.

How large of mortgage do you qualify for? Also, explore different loan options — such as 30-year or 15-year fixed mortgages or ARMs — and decide what’s best for you.

7. Get pre-approved.

Organize all the documentation a lender will need to pre-approve you for a loan. You might need W-2 forms, copies of at least one pay stub, account numbers, and copies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements.

8. Weigh other sources of help with a down payment.

Do you qualify for any special mortgage or down payment assistance programs? Check with your state and local government on down payment assistance programs for first-time buyers. Or, if you have an IRA account, you can use the money you’ve saved to buy your first home without paying a penalty for early withdrawal.

9. Calculate the costs of homeownership.

This should include property taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities, and association fees, if applicable.

10. Contact a Realtor.

Find an experienced real estate agent who can help guide you through the process.

3604 SIERRA MADRE $139,900 • MLS #347753

3BR, 2BA. Charming home in a great neighborhood in Columbia’s south west. Gorgeous stone-faced fireplace in living room, new appliances and bar seating in kitchen, fantastic landscaping, master suite with walk-in closet and private full bath. W

Green Meadows Rd to south on Bethel, east to W. El Cortez Dr, south to Sierra Madre.

Text T1680472 to 85377

3508-3510 ZINNIA DRIVE $179,900 • MLS #350201

4BR, 3BA per side. Fantastic duplex (both sides) for sale in the Valley View Ridge subdivision! Living rooms with high ceilings and lots of natural light, cute kitchen with plenty of counter space, spacious bedrooms with large closets. Stadium to Primrose to left on

Text T11805234 to 85377

Sunflower(barberry) to left on Zinnia.

Come home to NewTown Quality, affordable, well maintained homes and condos available for rent in Newtown. Newtown is a quiet, professional neighborhood located in Columbia’s south west. For a list of full availability and current rates, call 573-876-2849 or visit

www.susanhorak.com

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The

Susan Horak

group

Office: (573) 876-2849 • Mobile: (573) 864-0160 • Email: Susan@susanhorak.com • www.susanhorak.com

Office: 573-499-7302 • Email:Vickie.Burks@LandmarkBank.com