St. Louis Homes for Sale Blog» Tech Tools

How to Find a St. Louis Home for Sale on a Cul-De-Sac

Mark Richert — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:38:31 +0000

St. Louis Homes for Sale on a Cul-De-Sac

We have a new way to find St. Louis homes for sale on a cul-de-sac.

I grew up on a cul-de-sac … and loved it. We could run, skateboard, hang out with friends and play catch in relative peace and tranquility and not have to worry about traffic blasting through.

My father recently passed away and every surviving neighbor who grew up on our cul-de-sac … showed up for his funeral. Cul-de-sacs have a way of fostering good, long-term relationships.

How Do You Find a Home on a Cul-De-Sac?

It’s not easy. Our web site is probably not the first one you’ve ever been on or searched for homes on. You know what I’m talking about. Try and go and search on the hundreds of real estate web sites available and you’ll have a hard time finding one with the flexibility in search terms that you need.

Break Away from the Traditional Ways of Home Searching for Better Results

The link below will take you to the results you’re looking for: homes on a cul-de-sac. How did we do it, or better yet … how you can learn how search for better results is in the video below. Have fun exploring the link below:

Video:How to Use this Powerful Feature to Become a Real Estate Search Ninja

Finding Homes for You is a St. Louis Real Estate Company that works for the buyer only. We are Exclusive Buyer Agents here to serve home buyers. We never list properties and will only represent the buyer 100% of the time. Find out more about our services by clicking here and contact us at 636-532-4200 for more information.

Your St. Louis Home Buying Checklist

Mark Richert — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:07:43 +0000

Using a St. Louis Home Buying Checklist to Help You Find Your Best Home

Zeroing in on your next home can be fun and exciting. But it can also be tiring and confusing.

So before you start looking at properties, write down what you want in your new home. Start with the size of the home, number of rooms, most convenient layout, and desirable features. Prioritize the list, noting beside each item whether it is “nice to have” or a “must.”

Plan for the Foreseeable Future

As you make your list, consider how long you will likely be in that home and how your family and lifestyle may change over time.

Keep Your Goals in Mind

Bring you list with you when we plan the first home-shopping tour, or just email them to us.

Be a Comparison Shopper

As you preview each property, jot down how it compares with your list. Fill in the blanks as you see fit – Yes/No, Good/Fair/Poor, etc. Keep your notes on each property to compare homes until you find the the right one. Also note the features you would like to change with each home.

Finding Homes for You Simple Home Buying Checklist

Simply click the image on the left to get a copy of our handy St. Louis home buying checklist.

Feel free to print off as many copies as you want before you visit homes, bring it along with you, and make your job a little easier! After you start seeing a lot of homes, they start to blend together. Hopefully, this little tool will help you compare homes and guide you to your next home!

5 Tips for a Successful Home Purchase

Spring Cleaning Gadgets for St. Louis Home Owners

Mark Richert — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:01:52 +0000

Time-Saving Spring Cleaning Gadgets to Help Home Owners

From itchy eyes to gobs of grass and weeds Spring Time has arrived in St. Louis. How about some new technology to help you with the chores?

Nest-The Learning Thermostat

Most of us never think about our thermostats. Did you know that your thermostat controls 1/2 of your energy bill. Nest actually programs itself, learns your daily habits, what time you get up, go to bed, and will program itself according to your need for cooling or heating. You can also control your thermostat remotely via your smartphone or Apple device. Click Here for More Information

iRobot Looj Gutter Cleaner

One of my clients, a trauma surgeon, told me that the best medical advice he could give was to stay off of ladders as much as possible. iRobot has introduced the Looj robotic gutter cleaner. It looks like a tank that you insert at one end of your gutter and it moves ahead clearing out the debris for you so you can minimize your time on the ladder … and your risk!
Click Here for the Video and More Information

Black and Decker Cordless Lithium Battery Trimmer

The 1-hour fast charger means less waiting between tasks.
Two-in-one tool easily converts from trimming to edging along sidewalks and driveways.

Click Here for More Information

Dyson DC 39 Animal Dyson Ball

The only vacuum with a turbine in the head of the device. Do you have a lot of pollen coming into the house, or the dogs bringing in all kinds of junk? This device will handle it all!

Click Here for More Information

iRobot Scooba Floor Washing Robot

The Scooba 390 Floor Washing Robot has just been introduced. The manufacturer states that it works great on hardwood floors, preps, washes and scrubs and kills 98% of all germs. It is also great for reaching tight spots around the home like under sinks.

Click Here for More Information

Springtime in St. Louis

This is the time of the year where buyers and sellers are revving up for the home buying and selling season. If you would like to know what’s for sale in your neighborhood without having to ask your neighbor or calling a real estate agent yet … Get our mobile search app for your smartphone. All the listed homes gathered for your viewing based on your current location. Call Finding Homes for You today if you would like to know more about the pulse of the St. Louis Real Estate market.

St. Louis Subdivisions with a Swimming Pool(media.findinghomesforyou.com)
iRobot’s Scooba 390 robot scrubs floors longer(news.cnet.com)
Remodeling Cost Vs Value Report for St. Louis 2011-2012(media.findinghomesforyou.com)

Remodeling Cost Vs Value Report for St. Louis 2011-2012

Mark Richert — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:17:34 +0000

Remodeling – Cost Vs the Value Report for the St.Louis Area

If you want to know the cost of remodeling in St. Louis vs the value for resale read on.
Remodeling Magazine just published their annual report with information that’s valuable to both Sellers and Buyers. What remodeling projects return the biggest percentage for resale? What is the average cost for replacing a deck, a minor kitchen renovation, etc?

The Value to Sellers

How much should you invest in your home to get it ready to sell? What project will bring you the biggest bang for your money?

Example: Did you know that the average cost for a Sun room Addition is $74,119 yet you will probably only recoup 38.9% of your investment? Maybe it’s better to redo your deck where the report says you’ll recoup an average of 59.5% of your investment.

The Value to Buyers

You’ve found a home you are considering for purchasing but it seems to be priced more than the comps are showing for the neighborhood. You get a very specific list of the improvements that the Seller has made … but are there selling expectations really in line with reality? The Remodeling Cost Vs Value Report is a helpful tool to have in your buyer’s arsenal of info weapons!

Data Samples from the Remodeling Cost Vs Value Report for the St. Louis Area

According to the Remodeling 2011–12 Cost vs. Value Report

Project	Job Cost	Resale Value	Cost Recouped
Deck Addition (Wood)	$9,774	$5,814	59.5%
Window Replacement (vinyl)	$11,608	$6,850	59.0%
Bathroom Remodel	$16,470	$8,092	49.1%
Minor Kitchen Remodel	$19,598	$10,884	55.5%
Siding Replacement (vinyl)	$11,608	$6,850	59.0%

You can now download the Remodeling App on iTunes. Quick Demo

Finding Homes for You is dedicated to you the home buyer. Our goal is to inform and provide you with tools to make the best home buying decision. We only work for the buyer and never for the seller. Your interests are safe, secured and protected through our Exclusive Buyer Services. Click Here to Learn More About Exclusive Buyer Agents

St. Louis Homes for Sale With 4 Car Garage

Mark Richert — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:29:30 +0000

Where to Find Homes with 4 Car Garages or More in St. Louis

Direct links to St. Louis Homes for Sale with 4 car garages or more … to good to be true?(Links are at the bottom of this page)

Did you know that According to the Department of Energy, a quarter of Americans with two-car garages can’t park in theirs, and another third can only squeeze in one vehicle? Sad.

Understanding the Life and Death Cycle of Things Cluttering Your Garage

I heard Jerry Seinfeld once say that the garage is the last place things go to die … before going to the garbage.

You know how it is. Around the beginning of the year you are not quite sure what to do with some of the stuff you’ve accumulated. You don’t have the courage to pitch it so you compromise … and it goes to the basement!

Then the basement starts filling up, you start freaking out and take action by moving stuff to your garage (which has also been called the Intensive Care Unit for junk that is about to get pitched. So now you (talking to the males here) are working in your garage (a man’s haven) and find it harder to navigate a path to your car (if you are fortunate enough to be able to have a car IN your garage) you continue this journey tripping over more stuff that you don’t really need, but have not yet decided to make it a talking point in your relationship with your significant other.

You need an intervention. What are your options?

A. Send in your application to appear on A&E’s “Hoarders”.

B. Actually de-clutter the garage and join a support group to help you stick to your goal.

C. Take advantage of Finding Homes for You’s “I’m Going Crazy and I Just Need a Home with More Garages” therapeutic program.

Finding Homes in St. Louis With 4 or More Garages

Call Now!

Operators are Standing By to Assist You!

Don’t Delay Call 636-532-4200!

Here are the links to garage heaven:

St Louis County Homes for Sale With 4 Garages or More

St. Charles County Homes for Sale with 4 Garages or More

Note: The Finding Homes for You thereapeutic program “I’m Going Crazy and I Just Need a Home with More Garages” is not affiliated with any bona fide health-care facility and/or reimbursable health-care service covered by any insurance company.

However … our clients have expressed a feeling of stress relief by using our services to help them find a home. Click Here for ~~Patient~~ Client Reviews

i’m Watch: The Future Arriving this Spring to Your Wrist

Mark Richert — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:16:41 +0000

i’m Watch Introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show

What is i’m Watch?

One event gadget-lovers and geeks look forward to is the annual Consumer Electronics Show which gives us a peek into the future. The i’m watch turned a lot of heads this year. It’s a hybrid of a phone, browser, watch and music player all on your wrist!

Video Presentation:

Unlike Sony’s Smartwatch, this operates as an independent unit that can be connected to your smartphone whether it’s Android or Apple’s iOS. The I’M watch also connects to Bluetooth headsets giving you the freedom to listen to radio or your tunes on the go.

How Much is the i’m Watch?

Prices range from $329 up to $2299 Click here to see individual product choices

Which Operating Systems Connect to the i’m Watch?

According to their web site:

Android (HTC, Samsung, Motorola, LG, etc.)
RIM (Blackberry)
IOS (Apple iPhone)
Bada (Samsung)
Symbian (Nokia)
Windows Phone 7

Technology and Fashion

Cool technology, but would you wear it? That’s the question!

We here at Finding Homes for You love to follow technology. We were the first company in St. Louis to introduce mobile based real estate searching several years ago. Here’s our app

We were also one of the very first companies to introduce LifeStyle Searching. Why do boring searches by zip codes, when you can find a place that’s next to your favorite restaurant, gym or coffee shop? Watch I Want to Live Near Starbucks

Technology sometimes turns things upside down. Finding Homes for You has done likewise by establishing itself as a St. Louis Real Estate Company that has never “Sold” a house! How can you be in business if you never sell houses? Check us out!

Using Your Phone to Find Your Home
Sony SmartWatch Lets You Monitor Your Xperia From Your Wrist [Sony] (gizmodo.com)
New InPulse Smartwatch puts apps on your wrist, on sale now for $150 (engadget.com)

Giftinator Shows Best Holiday Tech Gift for Your Mom

Mark Richert — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:56:16 +0000

The Giftinator is the Gift Guide to Find the Best Tech Gift for Mom

Don’t know what to give Mom for the Holidays? Is she high-tech, low-tech, or no-tech?

Here’s the perfect interactive guide that will lead you to the perfect gift for your Mom based on her skill level. Remember, if it wasn’t for her … you wouldn’t even be reading this post!

Click the graphic and try it! You will see a series of questions and based on your answers, the Giftinator will provide you with the idea for that perfect gift!

How to Take Hands Free Photos on Your iPhone

Mark Richert — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:04:15 +0000

How to Use Your Headphones to Take Photos on the iPhone

You can now get better pictures with the iPhone without having to touch the screen.
The new iOS 5 upgrade lets you to use your headphone as a shutter-release button.
Ever had to delete a blurry picture because you bumped it while trying to take the photo? Now, just by using your headset, you are in the big leagues using one of the most popular tools of a serious photographer… a shutter release cable. Watch the video below for a brief demonstration.

Try it out yourself! If you want to take several pictures in a row just keep clicking the + sign on your headphones repeatedly. Have fun and get some great Holiday shots!

4 Great Apps for Shopping in St Louis

Mark Richert — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:36:01 +0000

Save Time and Money with These 4 Top Shopping Apps

If you’ve seen any of the “Black Friday” videos of people trampling each other to save a couple of bucks … you know there’s got to be a better way to shop.

As a public service, we’d like to share 4 great apps for shopping in St. Louis. You can navigate the aisles and survive the Holiday season while becoming the power Ninja Shopper you were destined to be!

1. Aisle411

The phone rang with the dreaded message, “Honey would you mind dropping by the grocery store on your way home to pick up some mini-marsh-mellows?“ You dig deep to sound positive and willing over the phone, even though deep inside you picture yourself wandering aimlessly up and down the aisles trying to locate your assigned treasure.

However, being the shopping warrior you are, you enter the store and pull out your ~~Ninja Sword~~ smartphone and activate Aisle411. Aisle 411, developed by a local company, appears on your screen, within seconds locates what store you are in then directs you to the exact location of the mini-marsh mellows. Problem solved!

Video Demonstration of Aisle411

Aisle411 is available in both the Android and i-Phone format

2. FastMalls – Never Get Lost in a Mall Again

You’ve seen the look before. Vacant eyes staring out into space, faces reflecting a sense of aimlessness, walking like a zombies lost somewhere between the vast wastelands of Banana Republic and the Gap. Toddlers doing their ritualistic dance to the overactive bladder gods while beleaguered parents desperately search for the nearest bathroom of refuge …all tragically … lost in a mall!

This could have been easily avoided if they had only downloaded FastMall to their phone! Besides showing you the location of all of the stores Fastmall will show your exact location and guide you to the store of your destination. In addition, if you simply shake the phone (not your kid) it will show you the location of the nearest bathroom! Don’t go to the mall without FastMall !

Available at the app store and android market

Video Demonstration of FastMall

3. ShopSavvy

One of our favorites. This barcode scanner and QR reader is really fast in finding the right product at the best price. It’s one of the most comprehensive scanners around. Check out the video below and see how it can save you time and money.

Video Demonstration of ShopSavvy

Available for both Android and i-Phone

4. ShopStyle – The Ultimate Fashionista Shopping Tool

All the stores you love in one place. ShopStyle brings together the most fashionable stores and the best designer brands. Shop the latest styles by categories including, clothing, home decor, and kids. 150 retailers showing you the newest and best in fashion and design. The best part is you can buy directly from within the app never leaving home and fighting for a parking place. If you are a shopaholic be warned in advance!

Video Demonstration of ShopStyle

Do you have any shopping apps you’d like to share? While you’re here why not check out our Home Search App for your phone? Every St. Louis home for sale is easily accessible from your mobile device. Click here to download

St Louis Restaurants Offering Free Shuttles to World Series Games

Mark Richert — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:34:46 +0000

St. Louis-Soulard Restaurants with Free Shuttle Service to Busch Stadium

Rumor has it Rally Squirrel has been spotted in the Soulard Market area taking advantage of free shuttle services from popular restaurants. Why hassle with all of the parking and traffic, when you can grab a bite to eat before the game and get free transportation to and from Busch Stadium? (Smart Squirrel)
Be sure to call ahead!

Places to Eat and Drink Then Shuttle to the Game

Hammerstone’s

2028 S 9th St. – St. Louis-314-773-5565

The Great Grizzly Bear

1027 Geyer Ave. – St Louis-314-231-0444

Joanie’s Pizza

2101 Menard St. – St Louis-314-865-1994

Johnny’s Restaurant and Bar

1017 Russell St. – St. Louis -314-865-0900

Llywelyn’s Pub

1732 9th St. – St. Louis-314-436-3255

1860′s Saloon

1860 S 9th- St.Louis-314-231-1860

Soulard Neighborhood Information

Did you know the word “Soulard” is the French word for drunkard? There are different highlights in this eclectic part of St. Louis aside from eating, drinking and partying … but this is the World Series folks, so we are focusing more on the partying! Make sure you go equipped with your Rally Squirrel Button, Rally Squirrel Long sleeve T-Shirt, and the Happy Flight T-Shirt.

Homes for Sale in Soulard

Many of the homes in the neighborhood have unique architecture which date back to the mid-to-late 19th century. Soulard is also home to the largest Mardi Gras celebration in the Midwest. Click the links below to check out some cool diggs in Soulard and the Benton Park Neighborhood. games!
Soulard Homes for Sale
Benton Park Homes for Sale

Relocating to St. Louis

If you’re from out of the area and curious about the St. Louis Real Estate market check out our Mobile App. All of the local listings on your mobile device at the push of a button. Call Finding Homes for You at 636-532-4200 for more information.

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