2014 summer newsletter

Quarterly newsletter Summer 2014 Vol. 1 No. 2

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 Commissions

3709 ATWOOD CT. $174,500 • MLS #350369

3BR, 2BA. Great home in Arbor Pointe within walking distance of Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary! Large living room with gas fireplace, kitchen with stainless appliances and tile floors, master bedroom with tray ceiling, master bath with jetted tub and double vanity.

Rte. B north to left on Brown Station Rd. to left on Flatwater Dr to left on Arbor Pointe Pkwy to left on Atwood Ct.

Text T11813955 to 85377

21155 S. BELFRY CT. $349,900 • MLS #352035

5BR, 3.5BA. Fabulous custom home outside Hartsburg, MO. Lower level w/ second full kitchen and bar seating, kitchen with custom cabinetry and stainless appliances, Huge master suite with jetted tub and massive walk-in closet. HWY 63 south 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. East

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

Text T214295 to 85377

3

4711 SILVER CLIFF DRIVE $515,000 • MLS #350705

Text T1527500 to 85377

6BR, 5BA, 5527 sq ft. One of a kind custom home with 3 gorgeous master suites! Kitchen w/ custom Amish cabinetry, granite counters, and tons of bar seating. Huge lower level with built-in book shelves, a second laundry room, tons of storage, and a wet bar. Scott Blvd to Thornbrook Ridge to right on Silver Cliff

5105 GRANITE DRIVE $135,000• MLS #351662

Text T11908218 to 85377

3BR. 2BA. Fantastic home with gorgeous landscaping and split bedroom floor plan.

Tiled entryway, kitchen with tile floors and cute cabinetry, spacious living room, master bedroom with private full bath and walk-in closet. 63 to Mexico Gravel, left on Tanzanite.

Right on Sandstone, left on Amethyst, right on Granite.

6903 MADISON CREEK DRIVE $284,900 • MLS #343966

Text T214280 to 85377

4

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, huge fully fenced back yard with great deck. Nifong to S. on Sinclair to left on Port Orchard to right on Madison Creek.

105 CARIBOU DRIVE $214,900 • MLS #352410

4BR, 3BA. Kitchen with granite counters and beautiful cabinetry, living room with gas fireplace and vaulted ceiling, master suite with tray ceiling and walk-in closet, master bath with double vanity with custom backsplash, laminate floors, and jetted tub. Large lower level family room and fully fenced backyard.

North on Providence to left on Blue Ridge. Exit onto Caribou at roundabout.

Text T11960737 to 85377

3604 CALIENTE COURT $194,900 • MLS #351737

5BR, 3BA. Living room with laminate hardwood and gas fireplace, kitchen with slate tile floors and stainless steel appliances, two-story back deck, large lower level living room, master bedroom with walk-in closet and private master bath. Grindstone Pkwy to Bearfield to right on Lupine to right on Caliente.

Text T11912629 to 85377

LOT 34 KIPLING WAY $209,900 • MLS #349142

4BR, 2BA. Fantastic new construction in the Wellington Manor subdivision!

Large open floor plan, vaulted ceilings in living room, gorgeous kitchen with granite counter tops 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

5

10

ways to take the pain out of

Find an agent that is simpatico.

Home buying is not only a big financial commitment, but also an emotional one.

It’s critical that the agent you choose is both skilled and a good fit with your personality. At the Susan Horak Group: Re/ Max Boone Realty, we have three full time buyer’s agents ready to help you.

There is no “right” time to buy.

There is no “right” time to buy. If you find a home now, don’t try and second-guess the interest rates or the housing market by waiting.

Changes usually do not occur fast enough to make a dramatic difference in price, and a good home will not stay on the market long.

Don’t get overwhelmed by opinions.

Its natural to want reassurance for such a big decision, but too many ideas will make it harder to make a decision. Know what you want, tell your agent, and they will present you with all your options.

Accept that no house is ever perfect.

Focus on the things that are most important to you and let the minor ones go.

Don’t try and be a killer negotiator.

Negotiation is definitely a part of the real estate process, but trying to “win” by getting an extra-low price may lose you the home you love.

Know your personality type, and if you are a “shark”, understand that stepping back and being rational, kind, and empathetic often gets you a better ‘deal’ than going for the throat.

6

buying a home

By Molly Horak

Your home doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

Don’t get so caught up in the physical aspects of the house itself (the light fixtures or kitchen cabinets) that you forget such issues as amenities or noise level that have a big impact on what its like to live in your new home.

Don’t wait to get approved for a loan.

Don’t wait until after you have found a home to get approved for your mortgage, investigate insurance availability, or consider your time-table for moving. Presenting an offer contingent on a lot of unresolved issues will make your bid much less attractive.

Factor in repair costs

Make sure to budget for repair and maintenance costs after you buy your home.

Even if you buy a brand new home, there will be some expenses. Don’t leave yourself short and let your home deteriorate.

Accept

a

little

buyer’s

remorse.

Buyer’s remorse is inevitable and will almost certainly pass. Buying a home is a big commitment, but it also yields big benefits.

Choose a home because you love it.

Choose your home first because you love it, then think about appreciation.

Ask your agent about typical appreciation in Columbia or in your neighborhood.

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 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, to more detailed information including directions, square footage, school zones, and amenities.

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

Impression!

Social Media When Susan lists your home, her graphics department prepares marketing material for different social media platforms. Home buyers today are tech savvy and want to engage with information on their terms. This means your home is marketed in more places than ever! Susan maintains an active presence on high traffic sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger. Your home will have an unparalleled level of exposure as Susan advertises your home all over the web!

• Zillow • Facebook • YouTube • Realtor.com • Pinterest • LinkedIn • Google + • Blogger • Trulia • Re/Max mobile • Issuu • Twitter

Follow Susan just about everywhere!

7

20600 N MT. PLEASANT ROAD $150,000 • 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. 63 S to right on Mt. Pleasant Rd to right on N. Mt. Pleasant.

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.

Text T11805234 to 85377

Stadium to Primrose to left on Sunflower (Barberry) to left on Hibiscus to Zinnia.

2605 AGATE WAY $157,500 • MLS #351100

3BR, 2BA. Fantastic home with unique custom floor plan! Living room with gas fireplace and tall ceilings, kitchen with stainless appliances, master bath with custom tile shower, backyard with full privacy fence. Lake of the Woods Rd.

Text T11867129 to 85377

8

to left on Kelsey to right on Shamrock to right on Gemstone to left on Agate Way.

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

4905 SHADOW CIRCLE $279,900 • MLS #350618

4BR, 2.5BA. Perfect home for play and privacy, inside and out! Grand entryway with two-story ceilings and 18” tile, living room with gas fireplace and tray ceiling, kitchen with granite counters and stainless appliances, master suite with tray ceiling, jetted tub, double vanity, and walk-in closet. Huge backyard that backs to mature tree-line. Scott Blvd to Thornbrook Ridge to left on Thornbrook Pkwy to right on Shadow Cir.

Text T11829221 to 85377

4608 OAK VIEW DRIVE $115,000 • 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 fantastic landscaping. Mexico Gravel to

PP/N Ballenger Lane to Oak View Drive.

Text T1082929 to 85377

9

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

• Fully integrated with Google maps on the main page, with custom location markers.

• New featured listing each time the page is loaded.

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

• Intuitive page navigation and layout allows users to easily access all of Susan’s content.

• Advanced sort and filter controls let users browse Susan’s listings the way they want.

• Susan’s website is mobile friendly! Find exactly what you’re looking for, whether browsing on an iPad, smartphone, or a desktop computer.

• Indexed with every major search engine, including Google, yahoo, and bing.

• Search the entire Columbia MLS by neighborhood with our powerful subdivision map search!

10

Graphics Team The Susan Horak Group

Difference

When you list your home with Susan, you get not only the expertise and knowledge of her Real Estate team, but also a dedicated and professional graphics team.

Susan’s graphics team is comprised of degreed graphic designers who are committed to presenting your home to the market with its best foot forward. Once your home is on the market (or even before!), You can expect a call from the graphics team to set up an appointment at your property to get the ball rolling.

Once her team arrives at your home, they immediately get to work taking measurements and creating a floor plan. No detail is too small and no feature goes unnoticed; everything is notated, from the depth of each closet to the precise location of the kitchen island. Exact dimensions are taken of each room, providing a powerful planning tool for potential buyers.

After the floor plan is complete, the graphics team gets to work taking hundreds of photographs using professional caliber, high definition cameras. Multiple photos are taken of each room and from every angle, with special attention given to highlighting unique or otherwise noteworthy features. All the while, the graphics team is taking detailed notes for the ad copy that will accompany your home in all aspects of its marketing. After the home has been thoroughly photographed, the appointment is finished; but that’s just the beginning for Susan’s graphics team.

The team immediately gets to work processing and editing the photographs. On average, they will leave your home with around 300 raw photographs. After careful consideration of the merit and relevance of each individual photograph, that original 300 is pared down to around 60 of the best. The work doesn’t stop there! The photos are carefully edited and re-touched using professional grade software to ensure the best possible presentation. The graphics team prides itself on its speed and efficacy; all of your photos will be uploaded into the MLS system and onto Susan’s website within one business day of the graphics appointment.

Writing a detailed description of your property comes next. Gone are the days of the cheesy, overly-generalized, two-line home descriptions that could apply to any number of properties. Our ad copy walks potential

buyers through the floor plan, outlining important features, and is descriptive as possible.

After the photos are edited and the ad copy is prepared, a unique brochure is designed for your home.

These brochures are not only loaded with tons of detailed information, but they are also made with careful aesthetic consideration. They are as informative as they are beautiful! Two versions are created, one formatted for online use and the other for print. This ensures that the document has the maximum potential impact, reaching buyers from all over the Internet, as well as the interested party who pulls over to grab a brochure from the box on your yard sign.

Your home is then featured on Susan’s website, where it has its own custom page. This page features all your photos, the floor plan, brochure, virtual tour, ad copy, as well as a table of features and details. Susanhorak.com is fully integrated with Google maps, so your home features a map on its individual page and as well as being added to the interactive map on the main page. Finally, once all of your marketing materials have gone live, we compile all of that information into a customized seller’s portal. You will be able to log in to your portal using a user-name and password provided by the graphics department. This seller’s portal allows you to check out your virtual tour, web brochure, the most recent blog post about your home, and to see how your property looks all over the web.

Susan’s graphics department works hard to make your home shine, and they are constantly brainstorming innovative ways to improve the scope of her marketing. If you’re interested in learning more about how our team can help sell your property, call Susan Horak today!

11

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.

4307 HOCKADAY PLACE $137,500 • MLS #352547

3BR, 2BA. Cute home in the Arcadia subdivision!

Great landscaping, wonderful screened-in porch with ceiling fan, great open floor plan.

Master suite with tray ceiling, walk-in closet, and private master bath with jetted tub. 63N to

New Listing!

Brown School Rd Exit, left on Alcott, right on Longstreet to left on Hockaday Place.

5151 STATE ROAD J $550,000 • MLS #349924

Text T812832 to 85377

12

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 J from Millersburg, property is on the right.

1877 N. WATERFRONT DRIVE #C $84,500 • MLS #349977

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 T11794307 to 85377

2308 S. ATLAS COURT $154,900 • MLS #348985

4BR, 3BA. Fantastic home on a quiet cul-de-sac.

Brand 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 RD. C12 $82,500 • MLS #352088

2BR, 1BA. Gorgeous remodeled condo in a fantastic location, close to schools, shopping, and grocery stores! Sunny living room with new hardwood floors, bathroom with granite top vanity and custom tile shower, master bedroom 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

13

Unparalleled Web Presence

www.susanhorak.com

The National Association of Realtors estimates that over 90% of buyers shop online for a home. Some people’s idea of tech-savvy marketing is letting an ad languish unseen in some dusty cul-de-sac of the internet. Susan is committed to promoting your home on over 20 major, well-advertised websites and search engines!

• Google • Yahoo • Bing

• Boonerealty.com • Facebook • Trulia • Realestatebook.com• Twitter • Zillow • And more!

• Homes.com • Realtor.com

In today’s real estate market, you expect more from a Realtor than just a sign in the yard. Sophisticated buyers and sellers want it all - virtual tours, floor plans, a great website and TONS of advertising!

Susan Horak Delivers!

14

1009 LARAIL DRIVE $650,000 • MLS #352390

6BR, 4 Full BA, 2 Half BA, 6271 sq ft. Stunning custom home in a fantastic location! Gorgeous hardwood throughout the main level, fireplace in formal sitting room with black marble surround, huge master suite with his-and-hers closets, beautiful custom kitchen with butler’s pantry, mother-in-law suite with second kitchen and private garage, tons of built-in shelving throughout. Forum to Crestwood to Larail

Text T11959900 to 85377

Lots and Land For Sale 5103 & 5105 HATTERAS DRIVE

LOT 208 TIERNAN DRIVE $110,000 • MLS #351944

$39,900 • MLS #324450 / #324452

166.2’ x 209.76’

73.57’ x 123.34’ & 167.53’ x 137.99’

Two side-by-side building lots in Auburn Hills, perfect for a walkout. Backs to green belt, heavily wooded backyard.

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

15

PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage

Local Postal Customer

PAID

EDDM Retail

Just Under the Wire!

2608 WESTBROOK WAY $389,900 • MLS #352301

3BR, 3.5BA, 4313 sq ft. Fantastic newly remodeled two-story home on Westbrook Way, surrounded by trees and located on a private cul-de-sac! Recent updates include fresh paint, carpet, and tile flooring, new granite counters, new light fixtures, gutters and soffits. Tons of new landscaping and new sod. Forum to Crestwood to Larail to Westbrook Way.

Text T11951826 to 85377

The

Susan Horak

Group

Office: (573) 876-2849 Email: Susan@SusanHorak.com www.susanhorak.com

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