HOMES
PAGE R1 Friday, May 6, 2022
i’ll do tHe Running foR you!
vicky crocker realty
welcome home Find your dream home inside or online at
573.327.8300 1136 North Desloge Dr. | Desloge MO
House Hunting?
Parkland
Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate
Friday, May 6, 2022
dailyjournalonline.com/homes
A Weekly Section From:
Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate PAGE R2
Friday, May 6, 2022
HOMEWISE Breaking Down Walls Real Estate Tips and Advice
WHAT TO LOOK FOR BEHIND YOUR WALLS
By JOE SZYNKOWSKI | Green Shoot Media
When it comes to living spaces, more Americans are thinking outside the box — literally. Home remodeling companies are busy across the country knocking down interior walls in favor of more open concepts. Homes built decades ago often featured walls between kitchens, living and family rooms. Older homes were built in this way to better control heating and cooling, or because lumber from that period might not have been capable of spanning larger distances. Today’s design experts recommend building with space in mind. This means leaving these rooms unboxed by pesky walls. If you’re looking for a quick remodeling job that could do wonders for your home’s layout and overall value, a wall removal might be your best bet.
Anyone who has removed a wall before knows there is always the possibility of surprises waiting behind the drywall. Some things you can find when demolishing your walls include electrical wires; pipes and utilities; and water damage. Be prepared to work through any of these challenges when moving forward with your project. You may have to incur extra costs of hiring a plumber or electrician to handle loose wires or plumbing. Set a realistic budget to make sure you can cover extra costs that may come up. Your contractor should be able to walk you through any extra expenses as the project advances.
SAFETY FIRST
LOAD-BEARING WALL?
Of course, there are some things to know before you break out the sledgehammer. Load-bearing walls support the weight of your roof, attic and second floor. While all exterior walls are load-bearing, only some interior walls are classified as such. That’s
why it’s important to check with a local contractor to ensure you’re not planning on tearing down a load-bearing wall. Here are some things to consider when trying to deter-
mine if a wall is load-bearing: • Does the wall parallel the joists above? If so, it is likely not bearing loads. • Is the wall built at a perpendicular angle to the joists above? It may or may not be
If you decide to remove your walls yourself, keep the following safety tips in mind for a successful project: • Always turn off all electrical before removing or redirecting © ADOBE STOCK any wires; • Remember to wear protective equipment such as glasses, gloves and long-sleeve shirts; load-bearing. and Again, confirm with a local • Place a tarp or plastic covcontractor before deciding to remove any wall in your home. ering over any door openings as you remove drywall. This This may require an up-front charge, but the fee will likely will keep the dust contained to be worth your peace of mind. one space.
Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate
MOMS
Refine
Your Real Estate Search
Your source for news is now your source for real estate marketing - Over 79% of adults connect with the Daily Journal through our print and digital platforms* - Over 46% of internet users in our area are using dailyjournalonline.com* - 80% of adults in the market access the internet via tablets & mobile devices*
The dailyjournalonline.com/homes advanTages: • Enhanced mobile friendly site • Automatic feed from Maris Matrix
PAGE R3 Friday, May 6, 2022
to all the
• Fast high performance searches • Large photo galleries
Find your dream home on dailyjournalonline.com/homes
In accordance with the federal Fair Housing Act,we do not accept for publication any real estate listing that indicates any preference, limitation, ordiscrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, family status, or national origin. If you believe a published listing states such a preference, limitation, or discrimination, please notify this publication at fairhousing@lee.net.
Call
431-1999 to subscribe to the
Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate PAGE R4
Friday, May 6, 2022
HOMEWISE
Real Estate Tips and Advice
Lower Your Insurance Costs By JOE SZYNKOWSKI | Green Shoot Media
REAL ESTATE 101
Homeowner’s insurance can be expensive, but the price you pay is dependent on many variables. Whether you’re looking into home insurance costs for a new home or trying to re-negotiate your rates as a landlord, save yourself some cash with these strategies.
Get a Head Start It’s not uncommon for the lender to require a borrower to pre-pay a year’s worth of homeowner’s insurance premiums. According to the Federal Trade Commission, this amount will be listed on your HUD-1 Settlement Statement on Line 903 as “P.O.C. by borrower,” which stands for “paid outside of closing.”
CONSIDER INSURANCE COSTS BEFORE YOU BUY Homeowner’s insurance is not something to consider only after you’ve purchased a home. You will pay more or less depending on where your home is located and the materials with which it is built. For example, you might pay less if the home’s roof, electrical and plumbing are less than 10 years old. You also might pay less if the home is close to a fire hydrant or made of wood in an earthquake-prone area (making it more likely to withstand damage), or if the home is made of brick in the East (where the winds blow harder).
PREP FOR DISASTER It works like this: The safer your home is, the less likely something is to happen to it. Consider storm shutters and reinforcing your basement and roof. Don’t forget about a home security system, installing dead-bolt locks and updating all smoke and gas detectors. If you’re selling, call your Realtor and see what he recommends. You might be surprised at the savings. © FOTOLIA
SHOP AROUND Calling around to different agencies can be time-consuming, but the payoff is considerable. Start with recommendations from friends and family and reviews online. Your Realtor is another great
resource when it comes to insurance agencies. Also don’t overlook online insurance quote services. Just remember to weigh costs with quality of service. A great deal does nothing for you if you can
sell all types of insurance — including homeowner’s, auto, liability and life insurance. You are likely to get a perPURCHASE ALL POLICIES centage taken off your premiFROM THE SAME INSURER um if you buy more than one policy from the same agency. Many insurance agencies
never get in touch with your agent or have trouble filing a claim.
REVIEW YOUR POLICY EVERY YEAR Things change over time, and you might not have reported updates you’ve made. You also might want to change coverage for the items inside your home, if you’ve drastically downsized or sold valuable pieces.
Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate
Local Lenders. Local Decisions.
Whether you’re just starting out or building your dream home – we have a financing solution. Not to mention, our experienced lending team is ready to partner with you to help make the process quick and easy. • Variety of loan programs for qualified buyers • Competitive rates and closing costs • Local decisions made by local lenders • Permanent Fixed-Rate financing
Bank NMLS# 412605 | Member FDIC | www.fscb.com
Contact a member of our lending team today!
Ruth Adams Bonne Terre NMLS #1906657 (573) 358-3388
Melinda Rae Desloge NMLS #1752366 (573) 431-9400
Brittany Jannin Farmington NMLS #2241964 (573) 705-3592
Adam Griffith Farmington NMLS #2241963 (573) 705-3394
Devan Skaggs Bonne Terre NMLS #467084 (573) 534-0236
Andrew Huhman Farmington NMLS #1559335 (573) 705-3322
Taylor Miller Farmington NMLS #1453285 (573) 454-3052
Austin Fridley Park Hills NMLS #1749341 (573) 454-3086
PAGE R5 Friday, May 6, 2022
Home Loans
Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate PAGE R6
Friday, May 6, 2022
HOMEWISE
Real Estate Tips and Advice
Should I Hire an Agent?
We’ve all seen “For Sale By Owner” signs in front of houses, and with houses for sale on sites all over the Internet, it’s easy to think you can buy or sell a house by yourself and save yourself the cost of a real estate agent’s commission. You can, but for most people, having an agent to do the paperwork, negotiation and making sure all the necessary boxes are checked will make the process quicker and far less stressful. Plus, it’s good to have an expert who can answer your questions. Particularly for people who are unfamiliar with the buying and selling process, having an agent can make a world of difference.
BUYERS
Agents can walk you through the different types of home loans, break down the market so you have an idea of how much house you can buy, and tell you what issues you’ll face in different neighborhoods throughout your city. Agents know what to look for. They see warning signs where a less practiced eye wouldn’t. An agent also knows which questions to ask the seller or the seller’s agent that a buyer may not think to ask. While buyers are looking at the size and layout of the house and imagining their furniture, their family, their life in a house, agents are looking for
recommendations, do interviews, check online reviews and do whatever research you need to find the best agent for you. The buyer’s agent is paid through the sale of the home, not out of pocket by the buyer.
SELLERS
According to Time, about 90 percent of sellers use an agent, and it’s for a few simple reasons: you need someone who understands the market and the appraisal process and you want a seasoned negotiator representing you as you’re going back and forth on the details of the contract. A good agent will help you set the right price for the house based on its condition and what comparable houses are going for, will market your house effectively, including helping © ADOBE STOCK you to make sure your home looks good in person and on REAL ESTATE 101 the Internet, as well as setting up meetings with potential Agents vs. Broker buyers so you don’t need to. There are many professionals in the real estate field. Distinguishing between them simply requires Once you have a buyer, your agent will handle all of the doing a little bit of homework. If you’ve seen a professional advertise himself as a broker, what does negotiations and communicathat mean? Here are the facts, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Real estate brokers and tions with the seller, keep tabs sales agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties. Although brokers and agents do similar work, on the paperwork and answer brokers are licensed to manage their own real estate businesses. Sales agents must work with a real your questions and otherwise estate broker.” be supportive throughout the process. repairs you’ll need to make negotiating process — helping with the seller’s agent and the You can sign a short-term title company to set up inspec- contract with the agent, so and intrusive traffic sounds. you make the right offer and tions and appraisals. According to Time responding to any counterofyou’ll have a chance to evaluThis person will be working ate and make sure they’re a Magazine, having a real estate fer, but also throughout the for you, so talk to friends for agent is critical throughout the inspection period. They work good match with your needs.
CELL OFFICE
e I’ll do th you! for running
#vickycrockerrealty
1136B N Desloge Dr. - Desloge
Thinking of selling your home? Don’t make a move before you call us for a complimentary comparable market analysis.
Broker-Owner
Vicky Crocker 573-747-8099
Broker-Salesperson
Amanda Lewis 573-915-2462
Agent
Jeff & Shari Swart 573-330-4978 www.facebook.com/vickycrockerrealty
Agent
Abe AuBuchon 573-631-0136
Agent
Holly Miller 573- 747-7928
PAGE R7 Friday, May 6, 2022
Call or visit us online today to start your search!
Experienced agents, personalized service, market expertise and user-friendly online search tools to help you find the perfect property.
Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate
573.747.8099 573.327.8300
~Fun Fact~
PAGE R8
Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate
Meet our Team...
Friday, May 6, 2022
Glen graduated from Flat River High School. He attended Quachita Baptist university & coached high school football for 10+ years.
Glen Hagan
~Fun Fact~
amy is an avid fisherman & she once sang the national anthem at a River city Rascals Game!
Amy Forsythe