Hot Summer Nights at the Lake Of The Ozarks

Summer at the Lake of the Ozarks - there really is nothing like it! People come from all over the Midwest to take advantage of all that our beautiful area has to offer in the summertime. With countless fun events, spectacular scenery, beautiful second home opportunities, delicious restaurants, and an endless list of other local attractions, it's easy to see why the Lake of the Ozarks was recently voted the #1 Recreational Lake in the Country by USA Today Reader's Digest!

Photo Source: FunLake

Summer 2016 continues to gain momentum, and the event calendar is filling up quickly. This weekend marks the return of one of the Lake Area's most highly anticipated summer events. Hot Summer Nights takes to the Historic Bagnell Dam Strip this Friday Night... Will you be there to join in the fun?

Hot Summer Nights at the Lake

Hot Summer Nights is a fun-filled family event that takes place on the Bagnell Dam Strip once per month in the summer. The first one kicked off in May, and the one for month is scheduled for this Friday, June 10th. The remaining Hot Summer Nights 2016 are scheduled for July 8th, August 12th, and September 9th. (It is always the the second Friday of the month.)

Hot Summer Nights on June 10th - "Rag Tops & T-Tops"

Each Hot Summer Nights event has its own specific theme, and the one for this coming Friday is "Rag Tops & T-Tops." If you own a vehicle with a convertible or T-top (and even if you don't), don't miss this opportunity to come cruise the Strip with your family and friends!

Photo Source: FunLake

This weekend's event will feature all kinds of great attractions for attendees of all ages. Here are a few of the things you have to look forward to:

• Car show featuring all makes and models of cars, trucks, and motorcycles
• Giveaways
• Shopping
• Dining
• Helicopter rides
• Face painting
• Pirates
• Clowns
• Live music and other entertainment

Best of all, admission to the event is absolutely free for the whole family! Parking is available on the street and in certain parking lots. For more information about the upcoming Hot Summer Nights, visit their website at www.HotSummerNightsCruise.com or like them on Facebook.

Why Not Call The Lake Of The Ozarks Your Home?

If you love coming to the Lake every summer, why not become a permanent member of our great community? Real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks is booming right now, with homes selling almost as quickly as they are listed. If you are interested in looking for a new home or condo at the Lake of the Ozarks, contact me to schedule some showings of the available properties. If buying a second home at the Lake of the Ozarks sounds more appealing than moving down here full-time, I would be happy to help you out with that as well. Either way, I would love to help you find your dream home!

Susan Spica
Professional REALTOR®

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484

5 Unbeatable Perks of Living on the Water

Let's be honest - there's nothing quite like living on the water at the Lake of the Ozarks! The Lake Area is unique in that it offers many different types of housing opportunities, including waterfront homes, interior homes, rural homes, and homes in densely populated neighborhoods. Each different style of home comes with its own set of perks, but today your local real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to explore the benefits of living on the water.

Spoiler alert: they're hard to beat!

Want to see the rest of this gorgeous waterfront home at the Lake of the Ozarks?
Call 573-280-0484 to schedule a showing!

#1: You Have Your Own Free Swimming Pool!
Private swimming pools are a blast, but they're expensive to install and expensive to maintain. Public swimming pools are fun, but repeatedly paying for admission (or buying season passes for everyone in your family) can add up quickly. When you live right by the water, though, you and your friends and family get free access to the Lake of the Ozarks all year long! Say goodbye to the days of waiting for the public pools to open and dealing with heavy crowds... You'll be able to swim on your time, every time.

#2: You Have Access To Affordable Boat Storage
You can own a boat even if you don't live on the water, but that typically requires paying for storage somewhere else - all year round. You need somewhere to store in it safely during the winter months, but you also need a place for it to stay in between summer excursions. When you live on the water, you can have your own private dock or a slip in a community dock, so your boat will have a convenient place to live all year long!

#3: "Staycations" Are Better Than Ever
We all need a chance to get away from everything and reset sometimes. Most of us think that we need to do this by traveling, but vacationing at home can be just as therapeutic - especially if you live somewhere as scenic and beautiful as the Lake of the Ozarks! People travel from all over the surrounding states to stay at the Lake... why not stay home and let yourself enjoy it, too? If you live in a waterfront home at the Lake of the Ozarks, you won't have to go anywhere else to relax!

#4: Your Family And Friends Will Come To You
Are you tired of always packing up and driving to different cities from family gatherings? If you have a lakefront home, chances are that it will be a favorite among your friends and family and they will come to you instead - especially for summer events!

This view could be yours! Contact Susan Spica to schedule
a showing of this waterfront condo at the Lake of the Ozarks

#5: The View From Your Home Will Be Incredible
Living on the water at the Lake of the Ozarks will mean different things depending on the season, but one thing will remain constant all year long: the outstanding view. Being able to look out over the beautiful water every day will help you relax, and having a great view adds value to your home. If you decide to move, your view will be a great selling point for your home.

Convinced? I can help you find your new waterfront home at the Lake!

I have over twenty-five years of experience in real estate at the Lake, and I would love to use that experience to help you with the search for your next home! If you're interested in viewing waterfront homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks, give me a call and we can get started!

Susan Spica, Professional Realtor

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484
Gina's Cell: (573) 889-9477

Top 7 Tips To Sell Your Home FASTER

People decide to sell their homes for any number of reasons, but there is one thing that all sellers have in common - they all want to sell their homes as quickly as they possibly can. Selling your home quickly requires dedicated effort and a successful strategy, but it can definitely be done. With 25+ years of experience in real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks, I have put together a list of the top seven tricks to sell your home quickly.

1. Hire A Professional To Photograph Your Home
In real estate, pictures are truly worth thousands of words. If you want to sell your home quickly, it is absolutely critical that your listing be accompanied by high-quality, professional photographs - and lots of them. At the very least, you should have pictures of all major areas (bedrooms, kitchen, and bathrooms) and any unique selling features your home may have (such as a spectacular view or a large outdoor patio).

2. Ask For The Right Price
Pricing your home correctly can be a challenge, but it is very important. If you price it too high, you will eliminate potential buyers who are working with a specific price range. If you price it too low, you may scare off potential buyers who assume that something is wrong with your home. I can provide you with a free market analysis to help you price your home right - the first time. Check out my website to learn more: http://realestatelakeozark.com/selling-your-home.html

3. Devise An Exit Strategy
When potential buyers come to visit your home, it is imperative that you give them the space they need to envision the home as their own. This means that you, your family, and your pets must not be present. Being able to vacate the premises on short notice will make it easier for real estate agents at the Lake of the Ozarks to show your home to potential buyers - and, consequently, to sell your home faster. 

4. Give Every Room A Purpose
Do you have an extra room downstairs that you've been using as storage? It's time to clean it out and give it a specific purpose. Part of successfully staging your home is showing potential buyers how they could use the space in the home to its fullest potential. For example, set up your extra rooms as offices, reading nooks, crafting rooms, or workout rooms. The goal is to show potential buyers the limitless possibilities of the home.

5. Kick Up Your Curb Appeal
With springtime finally upon us, it is a great time to work on boosting your home's curb appeal. Plant some flowers, give your front door that fresh coat of paint you've been putting off, and power wash your driveway and your siding. Not only will this ensure your home makes a great first impression with the people who come to tour your home - it may also help you attract more interested buyers who just happen to drive past your home!

6. Advertise, Advertise, Advertise
Potential buyers won't come tour your home if they don't know it is for sale! It is important to market your home both locally and on all major real estate websites. Posting about your home being for sale and any upcoming open house events on your personal Facebook page or other social media accounts and buying ads in the newspaper can be great ways to get the word out. If you sell your home with Susan Spica, your home will also be listed on our website and our social media channels. We can help you ensure that your home is marketed aggressively and effectively.

7. Time Your Listing Effectively
The time of year (and even the day of the week) you choose to list your home can actually have a significant impact on how quickly it sells. Spring is historically the best season to list your home, because this is when most home buyers begin actively searching for homes. Homes typically receive the most visibility during their first few months on the market, so it's important to time your listing correctly. 

Contact Sue Spica To Sell Your Home Today!
With springtime upon us and the housing market is on the climb, NOW is the perfect time to sell your Lake of the Ozarks home. Contact my team to get started!

Susan Spica, Professional Realtor

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484
Gina's Cell: (573) 889-9477

Tips for an Effective Final Walk-Through

Buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks is such an exciting process! Your dream home is finally becoming a reality, and you can't wait to close and begin moving in. Your excitement and impatience is certainly understandable (and completely warranted), but it's important to make sure you're giving appropriate time and attention to each step of the home buying process.

One of those crucial steps is the final walk-through. The final walk-through is an inspection performed by you, the home buyer, a few days (or a few hours) before closing to make sure everything in the home is in the condition you agreed upon with the seller - that agreed-upon repairs have been made and that no new damages have occurred. You don't want to be caught with any unpleasant surprises!

As with most steps in the process of purchasing a Lake of the Ozarks home, there are certain tips and tricks you can use to make your walk-through more thorough and more effective. Here are some of the tricks I've learned as an experienced Realtor at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Bring your paperwork. All of it. Bring your contract, the home inspection report, and the seller's property condition disclosure form. You won't be able to address issues that were already identified and agreed upon in the paperwork, so having these documents along to refer back to is a good idea.

Check the lights. Flip on all of the lights (and the ceiling fans) in the house to make sure they're all working properly. If you want to be extremely thorough, you can bring something to plug into all of the outlets to make sure they work as well.

Test the appliances. Double-check that the air conditioning, heater, oven, refrigerator, water softener, dishwasher, and any other appliances included in the contract are functioning.

Check the walls and floors for any new damage. If the previous owners had not yet moved out when you first toured the home, they could have left some scratches or scuffs on the walls or floors as they moved their belongings out of the house.

Test the water flow. Turn on all of the faucets, flush the toilets, and run the water in the showers and bathtubs. If the refrigerator has a water/ice dispenser, you can test that too. 

Take stock of what's in the home. Did the previous owners leave things behind that were not specified in the contract? If the items were not included in the contract (and you don't want them), you can require that the sellers remove them before closing.

Perform an overall sanity-check. The final walk-through is your opportunity to make sure everything is as you expected it to be. Walk through the home (and around the yard) one last time before you close to make sure that everything is as it was when you last saw it or as you and the seller agreed that it would be.

If you do it right, the final walk-through will ensure that you aren't stuck with any unpleasant surprises after you close on the home. Your Lake of the Ozarks Realtor will most likely be present during the final walk-through, so feel free to ask him/her for suggestions during the walk-through. 

Looking for a new home at the Lake of the Ozarks? I would love to help you find your dream home! Contact my office to get started today. 

Susan Spica, Professional Realtor

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484
Gina's Cell: (573) 889-9477

Susan Spica - Selling Real Estate at the Lake for 25 Years!

Hello! My name is Susan Spica and I would like to officially welcome you to my very first blog post. I'm excited to connect with you and help you buy or sell your home at the Lake of the Ozarks. Here's a quick overview of my experience and what I can do to help you meet all of your real estate dreams!

Susan Spica

My Experience

I have been selling real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks for the last twenty-five years. I work in the entire Lake Area, including Osage Beach, Lake Ozark, Four Seasons, Porto Cima, The Villages, Sunrise Beach, Laurie, Camdenton, Hurricane Deck, the North Shore, and Eldon. As a licensed real estate agent at the Lake, I have experience buying and selling waterfront homes, condominiums, and lots.

I am a licensed agent with BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices. Through them, I have access to a wide variety of resources that help me meet (and exceed) my client's needs and expectations.

I work closely with my wonderful assistant, Gina Luzzi. Gina shares my commitment and dedication to our customers, and I know she's looking forward to getting to know you and your families.

My Blog

Gina Luzzi

I'm very excited to begin a new social media campaign that will help me get closer to my clients and reach out to them with valuable information about real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks. Please subscribe to my blog to get real estate updates, details on top listings, and info about our beautiful Lake of the Ozarks community. 

I'm also excited to announce that I'm embracing an entire social media culture in addition to my blog. I look forward to connecting with you on all the different social media channels! Here are the links to connect with my accounts:

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/SusanSpicaRealEstate

Twitter

https://twitter.com/SusanHSpica

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=105117187&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Google+

https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/113669792114732306663/113669792114732306663/posts

We're also working on setting up a Pinterest account featuring great home decorating ideas, DIY ideas, real estate listings at the Lake of the Ozarks, and more. Stay tuned! We'll let you know as soon as it is up and running.

I truly care about getting to know you and your family and helping you find the home that will perfectly fit your needs. The next time you need to buy or sell your home at the Lake of the Ozarks, I hope you'll keep me in mind! I look forward to working with each and every one of you.

Susan Spica, Professional Realtor

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484
Gina's Cell: (573) 889-9477