Tag: Overland Park real estate

2023 Midyear Real Estate Update

Many people are wondering about the local market so I wanted to provide a 2023 midyear real estate update. Is it a good time to buy or sell real estate? In my opinion, a good time to buy or sell is when the time is right for you. Having over 35 years of real estate experience, I’ve worked in many markets. No matter what the market is doing, you will adjust to it accordingly.

Thinking of selling your home?

If you are thinking of selling, there are still plenty of buyers out there who are looking for the perfect home. They may pay a little higher in interest rates right now but they will probably not be paying thousands more than the house is worth.

Don’t get me wrong, sellers are still getting multiple offers in many price ranges but houses are selling at a price closer to the actual market value. Furthermore, many buyers have calmed down from the interest rate hikes in the last few months and know if they find the right house, they can always refinance later if rates come down.

Here’s an easy way to find out what’s going with prices in your neighborhood. Click here, enter your address and a report from our local Heartland MLS will be sent directly to your email!

Thinking of buying a home?

First of all, when it comes to buying a home, I have seen interest rates everywhere from 3 to around 12 percent. I personally purchased my first home in the early ‘80s at 16 ¾ %. Interest rates will always be what they are and there is nothing anyone can do about them. We paid 16 ¾% because I was expecting my first child and in my mind, we desperately needed a house. To me, it was just what we had to do!

Not working with a buyer’s agent?

If you aren’t working with a real estate professional to help you buy a home in today’s market, you’re missing out. The right Realtor will help educate you on the market and how to be a winning offer when looking for the perfect home to buy.

Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 for a complimentary buyer consultation.

2023 midyear real estate update

Below are the latest local statistics from Heartland MLS that were reported in April, 2023 for the Greater Kansas City area:

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

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(all data current as of 6/2/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

 
 

The State of the 2023 Real Estate Market

The current and predicted state of the 2023 real estate market certainly looks different than it did a year ago. Unfortunately, sellers want to sell like it’s 2022 and buyers want to buy like it’s 2008.

As everyone knows, mortgage interest rates have skyrocketed and are double what they were last year. There are mortgage companies that are closing their doors, sellers who can’t get their homes sold, and buyers who are disappointed that their dream home they didn’t get last year now seems like it will never happen.

Life happens and people move

Many homeowners who have a lower interest rate may choose to stay put for now. But there are also plenty of sellers who may need to downsize, move out of town for family reasons, or relocate due to a new employment opportunity.

Without knowing where interest rates will end up and what that will do to our economy and inflation overall, we have to take real estate a step at a time. And we will! No matter what you may hear or read, the sky is not falling.

One thing about real estate is true. People will always be moving. Real estate happens because life happens. I recently sold a house for a family who moved to Colorado, another past client who got married and moved into his house, as well as a family who moved to California to be closer to family members.

Baby boomers are still going to downsize

I work primarily with baby boomers that are in the process of downsizing. The reasons for their downsizing are many but add a possible recession into the mix and that gets them thinking and moving even faster. Many of my boomers that are on a current 5 Year Plan, have indicated to me they want to move things up and do something by the end of 2023. Some of them are going to get serious about getting rid of their stuff – sooner than later!

Regardless of the current economy or inflation, we have to deal with it is what it is. In other words, I bought my first house in the early 80s when interest rates were 16.75%. I was pregnant with my daughter and we were renting a small 2-bedroom house. I wanted to get situated for the new addition to our family. Had we waited for rates to come down, it could have taken years. We made the necessary adjustments and made it happen.

How to adjust to an uncertain real estate market

First of all, set aside everything else for a minute. Before anything, you need to decide what’s important to you. What are the alternatives if you sell your house in 2023 or don’t? If you’re selling your home, why are you doing that? Do you have the time and the health to wait until the real estate market corrects? And will it ever?

If you’re buying, how important is it to you to become a homeowner? Why are you doing that? If you decide to forge ahead, you need to know that there are many great programs and options out there to get into a mortgage interest rate that works for you.

I’ve been selling real estate for over 35 years and rates had never been at 3- 4% until recently. So live your life and quit trying to predict what’s going to happen. Do what matters to you. Quit listening to others.

The predicted state of the 2023 real estate market – 3 things I know for sure

Rates will remain higher than in 2022

At this time, I would imagine rates will probably end up around 6% or a little bit lower. What can you do about that? Absolutely nothing. I don’t like the price of a dozen eggs either but I can’t change it.

If you’re buying your first home, rates may be higher than you want but your rent will continue to go up as well. Are you going to continue to move every year to save a few bucks on your apartment rent because a new complex offers you a deal?

Home prices will decline

Will home prices decline or readjust? Home prices must re-correct every few years to get the market leveled off. It tends to happen every ten years or so. Trouble is, if you have to sell that house you overpaid for in 2021 or 2022, it’s not worth what you paid for it then so it becomes a real problem when the market shifts.

Home sales will decrease

It’s only natural that people tend to want to hunker down when the going gets tough. If you want to sell in 2023, be a smart seller and understand what it’s going to take to be the best house to choose from. There is no runner-up in the game of real estate. You either win or you lose.

So, if you’re selling, sell smart and do it now because as home sales drop, you’ll have more opportunities. Pick the best agent who has experience in navigating a challenging market. Home staging is more important now than ever. If you are still living in your home, hire the best stager to create that model home look that every buyer wants and will pay more money to get.

And if you’re buying, you’re going to have to lower your expectations a bit. It’s ok. Rates may drop a little later in the year but be smart and buy now while other buyers are waiting for the rates to drop. You’ll be in a better buying position with less competition and won’t be overpaying for a home like your friends did. Don’t despair, you’ll make the home that’s currently affordable for you into your dream home in no time. The state of the 2023 real estate market is not your opportunity for trying to keep up with The Joneses.

In conclusion

We have no idea what might happen with real estate or anything for that matter. Keep your blinders on and focused on what’s important to you. The last few years have proven to be unimaginable in so many different respects. What I know for sure, is once you decide something, do it and do it now. We never know how long we have or what the country is going to experience that could affect our destiny even more. In all actuality, real estate changes with the times, the same as your life!

I want to be your Realtor!

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

Remember…the Realtor you choose determines the results you get. Choose carefully!

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(all data current as of 6/2/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

 
 

Selling Your Home with St Joseph

I hadn’t thought about selling your home with St Joseph for a while. But with the latest real estate statistics that just came out, I think we might have a resurgence in St Joseph statue sales. The Overland Park real estate market has drastically changed and you’d better take notice if you’re thinking of selling!

What is a St Joseph statue?

  • It’s a little plastic statue that you bury in your yard
  • Rumor has it that it will make your home sell faster
  • But do you bury it in the front yard or back yard?
  • Should it face away from or toward the house?
  • With the cloth or without the cloth?
  • Do you leave it there once the house sells or dig it up?

Seems like too much voodoo to me. Home sellers ask me all the time if this will work to sell their house. Is this a custom in the Overland Park real estate market? My answer? “Don’t waste your time!”

Selling your home with St Joseph

While I’m all about doing everything you can do to sell your home faster, selling your home with St Joseph has never been anything I suggest. If you’ve ever used one of these statues and swear by them, then your house was probably on the market for some time and you probably finally got the price right. But the folk custom came to be that sellers should bury the statue as a sign of prayer asking to find a buyer.

I actually decided to team up with St. Joseph when I asked my seller, Melanie Dillon, if she buried one in her yard. Her response was they didn’t need to because they had St Melinda. Yes, St. Melinda sold their Overland Park house the first day on the market YEARS AGO (it’s what I’ve always done) – when there was actually some inventory to sell.

No matter what the inventory is, there are only 3 reasons your house will sell…

  1. It’s priced right
  2. It looks spectacular
  3. You have the right agent

There really are no gimmicks when it comes to selling real estate. Never have been. Even praying doesn’t work. Me teaming up with St Joseph is a gimmick – and I don’t need him. Too many agents focus on things that don’t really matter.

Here’s my secret sauce

If you start with the price and create a product worth that price, you’ll get more money every time. That’s exactly why I learned the art of home staging 16 years ago. Houses that were for sale didn’t show well. Many of them still don’t show well because sellers and their agents don’t understand what home staging really is and how it works.

The right price and a great look will boost a price every time. But even in today’s market, savvy buyers will not buy a house that’s overpriced. They will however pay you more for a house that’s priced right and that they can see themselves living in. They’ve got to get emotional about your house and if they don’t, they’re not going to buy it. My job, as your home stager, creates that emotion.

Bottom line

If you’re set on selling your house with St Joseph buried in your yard – you need to rethink things. Obviously, your agent hasn’t sold your house. Is there something they aren’t telling you or are you not listening? Which is it?

In life, you either make excuses or get results but you don’t get both. If you want to sell your house, quit making excuses, make the changes necessary and you’ll get results.

There are buyers out there but you’ve got to give them what they want. If your house is on the market and not selling, look at the pictures online. Does it compare to the house you want to buy? If not, get a new price, new look, or new agent.

I get calls from people around the country who can’t sell their house. When I see their photos, I understand why their house hasn’t sold. The time spent selling your home with St Joseph could be time better spent on figuring out why your house hasn’t sold and making necessary changes.

If your house hasn’t sold and you need help understanding why, ask St. Melinda at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here. Time is of the essence in real estate and every day your house is on the market is costing you thousands of dollars!

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

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(all data current as of 6/2/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

 
 

Home Staging Services for Realtors

Home staging services for Realtors vary with the company or home stager you hire. Since 2006, Overland Park Home Staging has been staging occupied homes. We work with what your clients have to create our signature Model Home Look. This is the look we strive for so your listing looks better than the competition. Even if your clients don’t have great stuff, their house will look amazing when we are finished with it.

Hiring a professional home stager for your upcoming listing will make you look more professional to your clients. It sends the message that you are committed to getting their home sold fast and for top dollar. Let them know you work with an award-winning home stager. That can also eliminate any home staging questions your clients may ask. You can just tell your clients that you rely on and trust the advice of your home stager. If they need more information, refer them to OverlandParkHomeStaging.com.

Perhaps you aren’t in a position to pay for these services. Whether you pay or you let your client know that would be one of their expenses in preparing their home for the market, home staging shouldn’t be overlooked.

Home staging is one of the only 3 reasons a house is going to sell especially in a changing market. If you aren’t offering home staging services, or at least having a conversation about it, your competition is.

You have two options to choose from:

Home Staging Consultation

We walk through and around the house and create a punch list of to-dos for your clients of what should be done before the house comes on the market. This includes decluttering, depersonalizing, and rearranging their things.

This typically takes about one hour. Your clients will receive a follow-up email so they have a list to work from. The cost for this Home Staging Consultation is $75.

If rearrangement of furniture is necessary, it would be done in the next follow-up appointment.

Now to Wow Styling Session

After your clients complete their list of to-dos, we will come back and fine-tune things and put the finishing touches on their home. This is to prepare the home for the Photo Shoot. We always recommend professional photos as part of the Home Selling Process.

A Styling Session also prepares your clients for how their home needs to look for showings. They will realize that the way they live in their home and the way they sell their house are two different ways.

This session also takes about one hour. They can contact us directly when they are ready or you can schedule. This appointment should be booked a day or two before their Photo Shoot. The cost is $75.

Sometimes clients need complete room rearranging of their furniture which would happen at this appointment. Should this be necessary, most agents have their clients pay us directly for anything over our one-hour Styling Session. That fee is $75 per hour.

Why us?

Overland Park Home Staging offers home staging services for Realtors based on our real estate experience.

Melinda Bartling, Queen of Staging, and owner of Overland Park Home Staging is an award-winning home stager and one of the first stagers in the Kansas City area. She was formally trained in Chicago in 2006 by the lady that created the concept of Home Staging in 1973. By following the proven 10 Home Staging Guidelines for every home she stages, Melinda transforms homes from “Now to WOW!” She created her 7 little best-kept Home Staging Secrets that she uses on every house and other stagers only wish they knew.

She credits her success to understanding what buyers want in the house they buy. When you give the buyers what they want, they will buy the house faster and pay more money for it every time. That concept begins with the home staging and the way buyers feel when they enter a home. She knows buyers will make a decision about buying within 10 seconds of entering a home.

Melinda is considered to be a home staging expert and is often contacted for professional advice. She was regularly highlighted in The Kansas City Star and recently featured in an article in The New York Times, Dressing Your Home for Success. As a Realtor since 1987, she is also a 15-year recipient of The Five Star Professional Realtor Award in Kansas City.

How to schedule home staging services for Realtors

Either you or your clients can schedule.

To schedule your Home Staging Consultation ($75), Styling Session ($75), or both ($150), call or text Melinda at (913) 515-3250 or contact her here. Your payment verifies your appointment. Once payment is received, your appointment will be scheduled. Our Venmo is @MelindaBartling.

home staging services for realtors

We know you may need to reschedule your appointment for various reasons. Just let us know. We work on a very tight schedule. Should you cancel your appointment, no refund will be issued but a credit will be extended. This is the only way to keep our schedule full and allow us to get to everyone as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Pricing Your Home to Sell

The real estate market may be changing but if you’re not pricing your home to sell, you could be in for a huge surprise. There are still lots of buyers who are ready, willing, and able to buy your home for top dollar. But that doesn’t mean you can overprice your home and expect them to come running.

Today’s home buyers are savvy. They have done their research. They have spent hours looking at homes in person and online. After all, there are so many places to check out…Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, etc. And they always think one website will have a house and different information than another.

Home buyers that I work with typically know way more about a house I am going to show them than I know about it. They have looked at it online from every possible angle, taken every tour, and know its history. In addition, they know when you bought it, how much you paid for it and they are comparing it to others they’ve seen. They have probably driven by and will rule it out if it’s new to the market and they think it’s overpriced.

You see, it’s about them – your buyers and the experience they will have buying your home. By overpricing your home, it will make them leery. Buyers already think they are overpaying for a home. And then when you inflate the price, they will not trust you or the transaction. Nothing I do or say will change their minds. But price your home right and stage it so they fall in love, they will line up to bid the price up because it’s what they want to do.

Pricing your home to sell

Pricing your home to sell starts with being realistic, looking at the comparable homes that have sold, and trusting your agent. Unfortunately, there are lots of agents who will tell you what you want to hear. Believe me, in over 35 years of selling real estate, many agents are still using the same tired old tactics to get another listing. Overprice it, tell the sellers what they want to hear, and beat them up to lower their price later. That’s the 3P Marketing Plan of the ’90s:

  • Put the sign in the yard
  • Put it in MLS and
  • Pray

What else can you do when you’ve overpriced a home?

The only 3 reasons a house sells are:

  1. The right price
  2. The right staging and
  3. The right Realtor

Which comes first? Any house will sell if it is priced right. The agents who are good at pricing a home to sell are ahead of the rest. But unfortunately, they are few and far between.

The right home staging is important but even I will admit, some attempt at home staging is better than no staging at all. The difference is homes that are styled and staged to look drop-dead gorgeous get you more money – that’s all. It’s your money you’re either making or losing.

But making it all happen is having the right Realtor who can help you understand how real estate works. Selling your home is simple, but it’s not easy. The Realtor you choose will determine the results you get. Make sure the process starts with pricing your home to sell. After all, it’s your money. And the faster your house sells, the more money you will get!

If you’re thinking of selling a home in or around Overland Park and want to know what I do to help you sell faster and for thousands over the asking price, text or call me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here.

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

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(all data current as of 6/2/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

 
 

Home-Selling Marketing Tips

When it’s time to sell your Overland Park home, there are several quick home-selling marketing tips that can be incorporated to make the process easier, faster and that will net you more money. But it all comes down to your agent’s marketing mindset.

2 marketing mindsets to sell your house

  1. the average agent’s default plan to sell your home – the hope and pray plan and
  2. my “by design” version to sell your house – making sure everything is just right

With over 35 years of selling real estate, I do know selling your home requires a marketing plan. You don’t need an 89-point marketing plan. My plan is 3 simple steps and it works time and time again to sell my houses faster and for more money.

Unfortunately, selling by default is what most agents do. They don’t really have a plan to sell your house other than the hope and pray 3 P plan:

  1. Put a sign in the yard
  2. Put it in MLS and on the internet
  3. Pray it sells

Additional worn-out marketing that doesn’t work

After that they will often hold an open house every week, knock on every door in the neighborhood and put up pointer signs on the corners.

That last one did catch my attention recently. As a real estate agent and marketer, I am always intrigued by other agents’ marketing actions. For sale signs always grab my attention.

On my way to pick up my grandkids at school, I noticed a new “coming soon” sign on a corner house that I pass by. Then the coming soon sign came down and the open Sunday sign went up. A week later, there was a pointer sign on the corner – house for sale. After that, the agent added some balloons to the pointer sign.

I had to laugh. Yes, it caught my attention but do those things really work? The house is still for sale almost 2 months later.

I learned 35 years ago about the 3 P method to sell houses. They are just the wrong 3 P’s.

My 3 P’s come from a totally different kind of mindset but work to sell my average house in less than 3 days on the market, with multiple offers and for more than the asking price.

Fresh home-selling marketing tips

  • Planning my strategy to sell your house
  • Preparing your house to stand out from the competition  – home staging is my area of expertise
  • Pricing your house to sell versus sit on the market

Updated 3 P’s are very simple but they are not easy for most agents. Here’s why:

Agents are typically guided by their company strategies. That in itself, they don’t always work.

The right staging is crucial to selling your home quickly – that means detailing and fine-tuning your home so everything is just right. The proper arrangement of your furniture and accessories will cause buyers to fall in love with your home so they have to buy your house NOW. If they don’t fall in love, they will not buy your house.

Pricing your house to sell is a skill in itself that takes time to master and most agents don’t ever get it right. Most agents will overprice your home and then be embarrassed to ask for a price reduction.

Bottom line

I take one house at a time and create the best strategic home-selling marketing tips and plan that works for your home. Then I will make sure your home has that Model Home Look, is show-ready, and is priced to sell.

If you are thinking of selling your home, now is the time to create a 3 P strategic plan to sell. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here to see how my 3 P’s can work for you!

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

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(all data current as of 6/2/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

 
 

What’s Your 5 Year Plan

I work with a lot of baby boomers that are on their 5 year plan. Whether they are selling now or in the near future, they all want advice of what they need to do to sell “when it’s time.”

If you’ve been reading any of my previous blog posts, you probably already know about 35% of the houses that come on the market for sale – NEVER SELL! While that’s scary to me, it’s a reality. What’s even scarier is the fact that no seller thinks they are in that 35%.

So who is in the 35%?

How can you avoid being one of those sellers who never sells? Step up to the plate and give the buyers what they want. The days of “the buyers can make the changes after they buy our home” are over. That mindset will guarantee you don’t sell your house. Find out what it’s going to take to get your home updated so you sell it fast and for the most money.

What do today’s buyers want?

Follow my strategy and create The Model Home Look and you’ll have the buyers doing cartwheels to be the winning offer in this busy real estate market.

Today’s average buyers want a house that’s turnkey ready. They don’t want to do any work, nor do they have the time or money to do any work. They want to move in on Sunday and go back to work on Monday. That’s just the way it is. If you can get your head around that, you’ll be halfway there when selling your home.

Who is going to buy your home?

That question will be best answered by the current market. If your buyer is a young couple, they may not like your decorating style. While you’re saying, “our things aren’t staying with the house” trouble is, your things are sending a buy me or run message to your buyers.

Your buyers must be able to see themselves living in your house. And if it’s full of furniture from the ’70s or before, it’s going to remind them of their parent’s house or worse – their grandma’s house. I have never had a buyer say they wanted to buy either of those. After all, they have their own style and it may be nothing like yours.

What the typical home seller thinks

Recently I met with a lady whose house was stuffed full of furniture and accessories. Every inch of her home was filled with furniture and things she had collected over the years. She had such a hard time when I said she was going to have to pack some of those things up and move some furniture to free up some space.

Also, the homeowner thought that her things would make her house seem “homey.” I said she was sending a message that her buyers wouldn’t have enough furniture to fill the house up. Then she told me it was their “dream home” when they bought it and was having a hard time detaching from it.

Getting your 5 Year Plan in place

When you’re selling your home, you will either set yourself up for success or failure. My sellers who get that want me to stage and style their home so it sells now versus later. They also understand that their home must be ready. And they are. After all, they have been working on their 5 year plan for the last 5 years!

It’s understood that selling their home is like a Red Carpet Event and they would rather get it over with than lingering on the market. While you might think you’ll net more money after being on the market for a length of time, you’re only fooling yourself. When selling your home, there is no time for trying. Bottom line, hire an agent who has a plan in place to sell your house beyond the typical 3P Marketing Plan – Put it in MLS, Put on Broker Tour on Tuesday for the other agent’s opinions and Pray someone will buy it.

Bottom line

Selling a home requires a marketing plan that is designed to make it happen. I’m on a mission to help sellers understand how to sell their home faster and for the most money possible.  The perfect buyer for your home is out there – the question is are you onboard to make it happen?

If you’re considering selling and have things to do to prepare your home for the market, call or text (913) 515-3250 for your 5 Year Plan Consultation. Don’t delay in getting the information you need to make a wise decision about preparing and selling your home.

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

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(all data current as of 6/2/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

 
 

2022 Kansas City Spring Parade of Homes

The 2022 Kansas City Spring Parade of Homes started on Saturday, April 23rd, and runs through Sunday, May 8th. This year there are over 200 homes on tour throughout all the metropolitan counties.

The parade is designed for homebuyers to see the top new homes, learn more about premier builders and visit different communities. In addition, the houses are open daily from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and the admission is FREE!

Start your 2022 Kansas City Spring Parade of Homes at any new home subdivision and pick up a guide there.

How will the 2022 Kansas City Spring Parade of Homes inspire you?

Looking at new homes is part of what I do every day. I absolutely love new construction. If you’re like me and also love interior design, be sure to visit some of the new home subdivisions during the 2022 Kansas City Spring Parade of Homes and wander through the furnished homes.

As a result, you’ll either fall in love or go home and be content with what you have. Who knows, you might get some new inspiration to incorporate into your current home. Even more, I love getting fresh ideas from the new home designers. It’s always fun to see the latest trends and how you can incorporate them into your own home!

You DO need a buyer’s agent for new construction

Furthermore, please have a buyer’s agent represent you when building or buying a new home. The builder pays for you to be represented so it doesn’t cost you to have representation but can really cost you if you don’t. Above all else, it’s your protection against the “what ifs.” The agents working at the subdivision work for the builders. They are looking out for their best interests. Without your own buyer representation, you don’t have anyone looking out for your best interests during the building or completion process.

If you see a house you absolutely have to have while on the 2022 Kansas City Spring Parade of Homes or want to discuss your options with buying a new construction or spec home, call me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here.  I’m always here to help and answer any questions.

Want to know the latest stats in your neighborhood? Don’t rely on the Zillow Zestimate. Here’s a quick tool that will research your subdivision and provide you with a report within minutes – direct from the local Multiple Listing Service. It’s fast and it’s FREE! Click here and insert your address.

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

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See all Real estate matching your search.
(all data current as of 6/2/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

 
 

Jump-Start Your Spring Cleaning

It’s spring break and if you’re anything like me and not taking a break, here are some simple yet effective tips to jump-start your spring cleaning.

Granted not everyone likes to clean but a couple of times a year it’s necessary to tackle some big projects. So whether you hire it done or you are the cleaning lady, make a list this week of 5 things you should do around your house and get busy.

5 ideas to jump-start your spring cleaning

  1. First of all, wipe down your kitchen cabinets and appliances – whether you have painted or stained cabinets, they can get pretty grungy after a few weeks. In addition, use a good cleaner or lemon oil and wipe down the outsides of all your cabinets. Likewise, clean your knobs and pulls as well. Then tackle your appliances. Take your stove apart, clean the oven and do the same with your refrigerator.
  2. Clean your baseboards all through your house. This includes moving the furniture away from the walls and getting behind there. If you have pets, you’ll be surprised how much pet hair is trapped that you didn’t know was there.
  3. Wash your throw rugs, furniture throws and store them away for spring and summer.
  4. Shampoo your carpets or have them professionally cleaned. If you need a referral to a professional carpet cleaner, contact me here.
  5. Finally, with a week of nice weather predicted, open your windows and let some fresh air in and stale air out. Clean your window sills and wipe down your blinds – one slat at a time.

Those are the 5 things I do every year. You can copy from me or create your own 5 projects to jump-start your spring cleaning. Either way, keeping your home clean is not only good for your health but your house will love you for it as well.

Once you get these big things out of the way, the rest of the spring cleaning will naturally fall into place.

The faster you get this done, the more time you will have for the fun stuff. What will you do to reward yourself for a job well done? I’m having lunch with friends, making a carrot cake with my granddaughter, Brooklyn, and vintage shopping, of course.

Above all else, if you have any questions or need help with any of these tasks, you can call or text me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here.

2022 Johnson County Real Estate Tax Appraisal

By now, you’ve probably received your 2022 Johnson County real estate tax appraisal or notice of appraised value in the mail. More than 200,000 of them have gone out. Your home’s value has done 1 of 3 things:

  • Gone up in value
  • Gone down in value or
  • Pretty much stayed the same

According to the tax appraiser’s office, 95% of homeowners in Johnson County saw their home values increase. The average increase was about 11% over last year. The other 5% of property values changed by 10% or less or experienced a reduction in value.

Johnson County will remain strong in homeownership with all the amenities it offers. And values will continue to increase due to a shortage of housing inventory. It seems as though everyone still wants to live in Johnson County.

Should you appeal your 2022 Johnson County real estate tax appraisal?

Many homeowners have already contacted me regarding their 2022 Johnson County real estate tax appraisal. Believe me, I’m not happy either as my home’s value increased $26,000 over last year. I downsized to an 800 square foot tiny house in Prairie Village 5 years ago. Now I’m in tear-down central with 6 new construction homes currently being built just on my street alone. I’ve appealed my tax appraisal every year and lost. This year I won’t appeal because I’m right at the average of an 11% increase.

It seems as though everyone has their own opinion but here is what you should know before making an appeal:

  • If your tax appraisal is significantly more than the average 11% increase, you should consider appealing – I can help.
  • Is your appraised value more than you would get if you sold your house? Then you should consider appealing.***
  • If you think your property is fairly valued but your taxes are too high, you shouldn’t appeal because you have no control over the tax rate.

Your home is appraised at “fair market value” as of January 1st of each year.  That means the amount of money that a well-informed buyer would pay and a well-informed seller would accept in an open and competitive market.

By state law, the county appraiser is required to appraise homes within 90-110% of their value.

*** Just a note that some homes are selling for thou$$$ands of dollars over the asking price.

Case study

Yesterday, I sat down with a past buyer yesterday (after doing the math and she was at an 18% increase) and went through the comparables the appraiser’s office used and compared them to her specific floor plan for sold properties in the Multiple Listing Service for 2021. We both believed she had a reason to appeal her 2022 Johnson County Tax Appraisal based on the information we found.

We felt the sales that were listed on her appraisal were not the best comps that should have been compared. One was not the same floor plan and one was from 2020 when there were plenty of comparable sales in 2021.

Other helpful documentation would be a recently signed sales contract if you purchased your home in 2021, a recent appraisal, or any photographs of structural damage with bids to make repairs.

You want to show them why you think your home merits a lower value and what you think that value should be. If you live in an older home that needs updating, your home probably wouldn’t compare to recent sales.

Complaining that you think your home’s value or taxes are too high won’t help you appeal your 2022 Johnson County real estate tax appraisal. Do your homework and provide them with evidence of why you think your home’s tax bill is too high.

Unfortunately, you cannot appeal your taxes because you live on a fixed income and the new tax rate is not affordable for you.

If your tax appeal is successful and your paid taxes are reduced, a refund will be issued once the Treasurer receives the notice from the Johnson County Appraiser’s Office.

How to appeal

The appeal process is spelled out in its entirety on the back of your notice of value. But get busy, you have until March 30, 2022, to appeal.

How can I help?

Let me know if you think your recent 2022 Johnson County real estate tax appraisal is too high. I’ll be glad to research your home’s value. You can take a picture of your Johnson County Tax Appraisal and text it to me, call me at (913) 515-3250 to discuss, or contact me here.

Want to find the latest sold properties in your neighborhood for the last 12 months? Don’t rely on the Zillow Zestimate. Here’s a quick tool that will research your subdivision and provide you with a report within minutes – direct from our local Multiple Listing Service. It’s fast and it’s FREE! Click here and insert your address.

New listings in Overland Park

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

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(all data current as of 6/2/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.