Dan Sells the Lake

It's never too early in the year to start thinking about filing your income taxes.  If you own a home at the Lake of the Ozarks , there are a few tax deductions that you may qualify for.  My Lake Ozark real estate office wants to make sure that you have the chance to utilize these possible tax breaks.   Tax season officially began on January 19, 2016, and this year there is a new deadline of April 18, 2016.  Washington D.C. will be celebrating Emancipation Day on the regular deadline date of Friday, April 15, which causes this year's deadline to be shifted to the following Monday.  In addition to those extra 3 days, you may qualify for other tax breaks.    1. Mortgage Interest Unless it was over one million dollars, all of the interest that you paid over the year on your mortgage is deductible.  That same interest is even deductible on property like an RV or a boat, provided that it has sleeping, cooking, and bathroom facilities.  The IRS even accepts the interest on a

Most new purchases that you make come with a manual explaining everything that you need to know about the item you have purchased.  If it doesn't, there is usually a link to an online manual that you can access.  Unfortunately, when you buy a home at the Lake of the Ozarks , no one is going to hand you a manual.  You may not be aware that you should know how to take care of something until it breaks and you have to learn the hard way.   Any Lake of the Ozarks real estate agent should be happy to answer any questions that you might have, but you need to know the right questions to ask.  As a child, you probably had no idea that your parents changed the air filter, and when you took a tour of your new home before buying it, the water shutoff valve probably wasn't something that was highlighted.  This blog offers a few pieces of advice that every homeowner should know, and also some easy fixes that can save you money.   1. How to locate the main water shutoff. Shutting

When you begin thinking about buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks , there are a few things that you can do that are in your best interest.  When clients work with me through Dan Sells the Lake , I always make sure that these tips are covered. Keeping them in mind will make the entire search for a home work to your advantage.     1. Make a "wants" and "needs" checklist.  Before you begin looking for a new home at the Lake of the Ozarks , think about exactly what you are looking for.  Next, decide which items are non-negotiable, and which ones would be nice but you could do without.  Every time that you view a house, take the list with you and make notes.  This will help you remember key points about each property after you have seen a few.  Don't just base the list on your life right now.  You will most likely be in your new home for years to come, so make sure that you consider any big life changes that may come along, like a new baby or a change in jo

The two best rooms to update when you are ready to sell a home at the Lake of the Ozarks are the kitchen and the bathroom.  These most often will give you the highest return on your investment.  You can generally expect to raise the value of your house by at least what you spent on the updates, and possibly more. January is National Bath Safety Month, so my Lake of the Ozarks real estate tips this week are focusing on that particular room.  These suggested updates are things that you can do to add value to your home.  They range from easy and inexpensive to bigger projects that could require a little help.  Start with the simple fixes and go from there.  Change the look. Fresh doorknobs and pulls are only a cosmetic fix, but something that really gets noticed.  A fresh coat of paint on the walls is a quick change and won't cost a lot. If you are selling in the near future, buyers tend to like neutral wall colors the best. Changing the original fixtures in the sink an