If you are in St. Louis area looking to buy or sell a home I would strongly suggest you explore ValueList Real Estate Services, the largest full service/discount real estate and a full service VA approved mortgage lender.ValueList offers home sellers a flat-fee listing program where the home seller pays Valuelist a flat-fee and in case another agent from a different company sells the house a commission is paid to that agent buy the home sellers.ValueList Real Estate Services also offers many services to the home buyers. The goal of the agents at ValueList is to make your home buying experience a relaxing and memorable occasion. Here is just a list of a few informative pages you will find on their website:An Over-View Of The Home Buying Process.   First Time Home Buyers. Who Pays For Wha... 06/26/2007

Alright, so you've made your calls and have talked to a real estate agent who referred you to a competent loan officer who is willing to take you on as a project.  Cool!  Did you get some of their business cards to pass out for them?  If not, call them back up and have them get you some!The second step in this process, after finding a qualified loan officer, was to have the LO pull a tri-merged credit report with public records checked.  As I mentioned in the first post, "Credit Repair....the first in a series",  getting a tri-merged report with public records checked is very important.  One of the free ones that you get online won't cut it.  It won't cut it because there is too much of a chance that you'll miss something that was on a different bureau or in the public record.  In order... 06/23/2007

I recently wrote a post on credit repair that was over-whelming in the lack of response that I got.  I wrote a follow up post on the fact that I didn't get any comments on the first post and it was pointed out to me by Broker Bryant that it might have been too long, considering the amount of detail that I had to go into.That said, I'm going to break it down into at least three, easy to digest segments:Today's Topic:Hook up with a "for-real" loan officer.  Not someone who wears a head set and plays nerf basketball for some 800 based or internet based mortgage company.  If you are a member of the public reading this and not a real estate professional, get on line and find a real estate agent that does a fair amount of business in your area.  Call them, tell them what you're looking to acc... 06/22/2007

OK, I have just spent an hour with my elderly seller on Wyoming.  She called me all upset this afternoon, and I drove out to her new residence to try to calm her.  On my last post, I stated that we took less for the home than she originally wanted to accept.  After twenty showings, we had no offers.  So we adjusted the price in writing.Then we got an offer - lower than she had anticipated.  We made a counteroffer to the buyers and they accepted.  Apparently, her son visited yesterday and told her she shouldn't take less than a certain price for the house.  He upset her terribly and she called me almost in tears.  She wanted to back out of the contract...So I ran back out there.  We went over the net sheet again.  I also explained to her that we could probably get the higher price if she... 06/19/2007

We recently hired a few new buyers agents to help take care of all of our buyers calls. You have heard of "you list you live" but with over 130 listings we were experience "you list you drown" because ultimately we had too many leads!! Today we are training one of our new buyers agent, and we are going to go and see how many For Sale by Owners we can help. It should be great, want to join our team or do a ride a long? Let me know. If you are a For Sale by Owner contact me so I can explain how I can help you. 06/13/2007

Just got word that the buyers have accepted our counteroffer on the Wyoming Street property.  Hurrah!  It's a quick closing, too, in less than a month!  I was really worried about this one.  It was a nice house, very clean, 4 bedrooms, 1.5 bath, good space and condition.  The problem was, everything was dated.  We had almost twenty showings and not an offer... Feedback was not positive.  The roof is nearing the end of it's useful life, the kitchen needs to be remodeled, the carpet needs ripped out and the hardwood floors refinished, the entire interior needs painted (the bedroom walls are Pepto Bismo PINK!), there is some knob-and-tube wiring present, the fuse box needs upgraded to a breaker box, and new windows would make a huge difference.  Even though the home is perfectly livable as... 06/12/2007

I was reading the latest issue of the Missouri Realtor Magazine.  It contained a number of items I feel are important to remember.  Regarding customer service: "Once you've spent time and money promoting your company/business, don't let poor customer service undo all your hard work.  Remember, happy customers tell ten other people, unhappy ones tell twenty."Another tip is adapted from John R. Graham's 8 Timely tips:  How to Grow Your Business, http://www.grahamcomm.com/.  "Use the magic word 'sure' every chance you get.  When a customer asks, 'Do you think you can help me with (fill in the blank)?' there's only on answer:  'Sure.'  Customers find the word 'sure' so reassuring that you should practice sayiing it until it becomes automatic."  Makes sense.I finished mulching the flower bed... 06/11/2007

Following is the market report for the past seven days in the city of St Louis.  Statistics were gathered from the local multiple listing service:There were 158 new (active) listings on the market, with list prices ranging from $12,500 to $899,000.32 listings went contingent/option, with listing prices ranging from $69,900 to $1.799,000.86 listings went pending, with list prices ranging from $11.500 to $725,000.There were 73 listings that sold, with sold prices ranging from $15,000 to $1.485,000.92 listings expired, with list prices ranging from $59,900 to $599,900.32 listings were withdrawn from the market, with list prices ranging from $18,900 to $599,000.________________________________________________________________________________________Got the 4th truckload of mulch unloaded and... 06/08/2007

Yesterday, I visited Grant's Farm with my friend Kim.  She owns a licensed day care, and she was taking the children on a field trip.  Eight children under the age of 6 - what an adventure!  Kim does such a great job with the kids, and they were so well behaved.  Strangers even commented on how good they were.  We had a great time.  The tram ride took us on a tour around the property to see all the animals.  Then we walked around to see more animals.  We fed the baby goats.  I went with 6 of the kids into the pen to feed them with baby bottles.  Kim stayed outside with the two infants.  I won't do that again.  The goats crowded us, knocking the kids down to get to the bottles.  I told them to just push the goats away, as I was doing; Hanna was brave enough to do it, but the boys began c... 06/07/2007

Today, I received the NAR (National Association of Realtors) online newsletter.  In it was an article about the slowing housing market.  "According to a report released by Standard & Poors/Case -Shiller, declines in home prices in twenty U.S. metropolitan areas continued in the 12 months ending in March as the supply of homes exceeded demand."  Although all twenty cities were not listed, Detroit and San Diego were two cities that showed a decrease in home prices.  Seattle and Charlotte were two cities that showed increases in home prices.According to the report, "home values, nationally, dropped 1.4 percent from March 2006, indicating that sellers had to reduce prices to lure buyers into the market for both new and previously-owned properties."The report continued, saying that "rising f... 06/07/2007

I am working on getting the yard mulched.  This weekend, I purchased the red mulch from Home Depot and finished the front yard.  The red mulch contrasts so well with the green plants and grass, and I think it just looks better for the front of the house.  For the back, I use the free mulch from Carondelet Park.  They have piles of it , free for the taking, down by the recycle bins.  I started yesterday with the first pickup load.  My goal is to get a pickup load a day and distribute it off the truck, rather than just piling it in the back yard and spreading it later.  We did the second load today.  Dennis helps load, and then I unload and distribute it at the house.  It takes a couple of hours a day.  I thought three loads would get it, but I'm not halfway finished with the beds.  I'll ... 06/05/2007

Our friend, Dr. Ben Bohren, visited over the weekend.  He arrived Thursday and flew out this morning.  Ben is a minister with the Christian Church of Northern California-Nevada.  The CCNC-N is the presence of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the northern half of the states of California and Nevada.  Ben is such a great guy, and we love to share our home with him when he is in town for meetings, etc.  He used to live in St louis (I sold him his house and then listed and sold it when he moved to California with his job).  During his first year in California, he would stay with us almost monthly; now it's usually about once or twice a year.  We have the extra suite for guests, so I hate to see anyone pay for a hotel when they can stay with us.  I tell people, it's like a "bed ... 06/04/2007

Bob Mitchell of ValueList Real Estate Services in St. Louis, MO is a proponent of flat fee real estate commissions and explains how his company offers full service at a flat fee!  "ValueList Real Estate Services is primarily known as St. Louis largest discount/full-service real estate company, but the fact of the matter is that ValueList is also a full-service, VA approved mortgage lender."Bob's website offer tons of information about buying real estate in St. Louis, MO, selling real estate in St. Louis, MO and a great opportunity to view featured listings and search the St. Louis Area Multiple Listing Service.You can contact Bob Mitchell  online at ValueList Real Estate Services or at the ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc. office by phone at (314) 231-LIST.Interested in more informat... 06/04/2007

St. Louis, Missouri residents have a home-sales option that may save them thousands: Bob Mitchell and ValueList Real Estate Services, the largest discount/full service real estate and mortgage company in St. Louis.   Bob Mitchell is the president and founder of ValueList, which is built around the concept of the flat-fee listing arrangement; instead of charging the seller a percentage of the sales price, ValueList charges a flat fee for the "listing" side of the transaction, and has the home seller offer a commission to the "selling agent" for bringing the buyer.ValueList is also a full service, VA approved mortgage lender, thus offering a homebuyer the comfort of knowing the same company controls all aspects of the transaction, originating and processing their loan application.The Valu... 06/02/2007

New price on this adorable cottage in Tower Grove South, just 4 blocks south of the park. Seller lived here for many years and lovingly maintained this home. It is clean, clean, clean, and has so much to offer. The main floor consists of the livingroom, diningroom, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, full bath & a great finished 3-season/breakfast room off the kitchen. Large dormers on the second floor (front & back) really add to the upstairs living space. There are five good-sized closets (2 are cedar lined) & two large bedrooms. There's also a half bath off the landing. Tons of natural light throughout. The partially finished basement is one of the cleanest and brightest I have seen. There's a large, finished rec room, a storage room, laundry area, glass block windows & an additional shower. Furnac... 06/02/2007

 We went to the Gypsy Caravantoday and handed out flyers for upcoming auctions.If you are not from St. Louis, or if you never get out, let me tell you about the Gypsy Caravan. It is a big Flea Market, Antique Market, Craft Fair and Steam Bath all rolled into one. It is held out of doors, and on parking lots and streets, so it can get very hot and sometime wet. One can find some great old antiques and some cheep gloves, sunglasses or some new bird houses on a stick all at one place. If you ever find yourself in St. Louis over Memorial Day I recomend you check it out.I think we will rent a booth there next Memorial Day.Thank you vets. I hope you had a good one.To those of you who have lost a service member to war, double thanks. We who enjoy our freedom, and even those who take it for gra... 05/28/2007

OK, I think almost everyone says it wrong, you hear Botch e' ball all the time.Bocce Ball, you don't see it that much these days, but when you do you should stop and play. They used to have a Bocce court in north county in Hazelwood, but it fizzled long ago. Now on the hill, Bocce is still played, and at Milo's it is a way of life. Milo's is a cool bar on Marconi and Wilson on the hill with 2 outside (but under cover) Bocce courts. They have great food and on Wednesday they have the best chicken spiedini you will ever find anywhere. If you get a chance stop in, and play some Bocce (during the day they don't have leagues, at night it's hit and miss) have some food, just don't try to move the outside tables (they are concrete and heavy) and don't call it Botch e.Rob WeimanAuctioneerHave G... 05/27/2007

As an Auctioneer I have the unique experience of digging through others things for a living. You would be surprised at the things people have tucked away. The thought occurred to me the other day that someday someone else would be digging through the items I have at my home when my estate is sold. We all wind up as boxes at some point. We get reduced to things we leave behind and love we pour into others. Someone else will get all of our things, perhaps they will like them and keep them, perhaps not. My advise is to look closely at what you have now and perhaps spend more time on pouring love into others and less time getting more things for me or someone like me to sell. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to sell your stuff some day, but wouldn't be nice if the ones you pour all that love in... 05/26/2007

Got back into town yesterday, and will probably leave town again on Thursday for the Memorial Day weekend.  I am finding it very difficult to get motivated to do anything real estate related this week.  Not much is going on, and I just can't seem to get focused for a couple of days to just leave town again...My nephew's high school graduation Friday evening went great.  I counted 163 in the graduating class.  The ceremony lasted a little over an hour - three speakers and then handed out diplomas.  There was an awards ceremony earlier in the week.  Spent the night at Mom and Dad's home in Perryville.On Saturday, we went to Chaffee to begin preparations for Mom Horman's 80th Birthday party.  I started putting together the flower arrangements that evening.  It took me several hours to fini... 05/22/2007

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc. is not your typical real estate brokerage but then again, Bob Mitchell is not your typical real estate agent. Bob Mitchell strives to provide superior service at very competitive rates. Bob Mitchell started his real estate career as a loan officer. Bob was the one in his office that fixed mortgages which had run into a snag. Too often Bob found the cause of the problem was one of the real estate agents involved in the transaction. Bob knew he could do provide a superior level of service to the St. Louis real estate market. ValueList was born in November of 1995 and began working with clients in St. Louis shortly afterward. The high level of service Bob provides is reflected by his website. His website can provide valuable information whether you are ... 05/17/2007