It's Tailgate Time!

The first football game of the season is here! The Tigers will take the field against Miami-Ohio on Saturday at 11 am.  If you have never experienced a tailgate, I would highly suggest it.  From the great BBQ, to watching the band march thru the streets to Faurot Field, it will get you in the football spirit, I can guarantee it! Just get a group of friends together, find some tailgate fare, and stake your claim in a parking lot or along the street.  And, tickets for the home opener are on sale now for as low as $23 per person for a General Admission ticket.  What better way to spend your Saturday morning than cheering on the Tigers?? Make sure you wear your Gold--it's a Gold Rush game! And, the famous Tiger Walk at the Providence Bridge will be at 8:45 am.  GO TIGERS!

We are MOBILE!

Our Crane & Crane website is now mobile-friendly!  Search all of the listings in Columbia, and save your favorites, or your whole search! It's all easy to view on your smartphone, and loads quickly.  You can see all the details of any listings in the Columbia MLS--slideshows of pictures included! 

All you have to do is go to http://www.craneandcrane.com/ from any smartphone and it will recognize you're mobile and will load the mobile page. 

Have a great weekend, JK

SCAM: Mail offers For Copies of Deeds Sent to Boone Co Residents

The Boone County Recorder's Office today issued a press release warning Boone County residents about mailings sent from a Fulton-based company, Record Retrieval.  This mailer offers to send a certified copy of the Warranty Deed for your home for $87 or more.  This company simply turns around the public record from the Recorder's Office and mails it to the resident.  There is nothing special about what they do with the document. 

They are making a large profit on this, because they only pay the Recorder $1 per page plus $1 for certification.  Most warranty deeds are 1-3 pages, so the direct cost is probably around $5. 

If you ever need a copy of your warranty deed, you can go to the Recorder's office directly in any county, not just Boone County.  Or, the Boone County Recorder has a website at www.showmeboone.com/recorder to contact them directly to request your documents. 

Most homeowners receive a copy of their warranty deed at closing, and recieve the original, certified deed in the mail within a few weeks of closing.  Please be aware of this scam, and pass along to your friends & family. 

JK

School Districts Are Changing

Today is the first day back to school! So, what more appropriate topic than that of the school district!  Columbia is building a 3rd high school, Battle High School, which will be built on E. St. Charles Road but is not set to open until 2013.  Columbia also will be home to Tolton High School, the new Catholic High School, located off of Hwy 63 & Discovery Parkway which is starting its first class this Fall.

With the addition of the new high school, and while Columbia transitions to a three-level school system, these district lines are going to change.  The middle & junior high schools are going to be combined to be grades 6-8 and high schools will become grades 9-12.  According to the Columbia Public Schools website, the committee is planning on having the new high school re-districting lines done by the end of this year. And, currently some of the district lines are in transition.  If you are unsure about what school district your home (or future home) is in, this is the best link to use:  http://www.columbia.k12.mo.us/attendance.php. It could vary depending on what grade your child is entering, especially when it comes to middle & junior high schools.  And, there is a possibility it could change down the road.  If you are really concerned about districts, you can contact the CPS Administrative Office at 214-3400.

Best wishes for the upcoming school year! JK

Want to go GREEN??

Last night, I got to hear all about Energy Link, a local energy audit company.  "Wow, what a great service," were my exact thoughts after the meeting! Every year, it seems there are more & more pushes to the Green side of things...especially in our homes.  And, why not?  It is better for the environment and YOUR pocketbook!  You can also qualify for city and county grants to help with paying for those upgrades. 

The great thing about Energy Link is they offer a full home audit and show exactly where your home (or commercial building) falls short on green efforts.  Whether it be insulation in the attic, leaky windows, or an old furnace, they can tell you exactly where your money is drifting away.  They also can show what it would cost to repair or replace those items, what grants would be available for those upgrades, and how long it would take to re-coup the costs from lower utility bills.  You can also purchase those upgrades directly from them, and they will help you fill out the forms to get the grants available--they are a one-stop show to go GREEN!

And, guess what? The cost of the audit is only $150 (for <1500 sq ft)!  What a bargain! 

Check them out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/goenergylink or on their website at http://www.goenergylink.com/.  I think they are the new thing in evaluating your home & your budget, and I am excited about seeing the report on my home! 

JK

The MO State Fair!

I'm sure the small town of Sedalia, Missouri is all abuzz with the State Fair opening today.  With the fair running for 10 full days, there is so much to see and do!  And, the drive is only about 1 hour 15 minutes from Columbia.  Admission is $8 per person, and kids 5 & under are free (6-12 are $2).  If you want to attend the carnival, the best bet is the $27 wristband which gets you in to all the rides plus fair admission.

Special events include a Jimmy John's sub eating contest, amateur talent show, Missouri State Fair Queen pageant, a toy show, and a BBQ contest! Big names will also be performing at the Grandstand like Jason Aldean, Jerrod Neiman, Doobie Brothers & Luke Bryan. There will also be a monster truck show, tractor pull & car races.  So, there is some entertainment for everyone!

Go to http://www.mostatefair.com/ for more info, pricing & details! It should be a good time!

JK

Quickbooks, Fox Trot, & Cupcakes Oh My!

What do all of these things have in common?  Well, you can learn about each one of these and a whole host of other topics in the Columbia Area Career Center's Professional & Community Education classes.  There are so many different topics and most are under $150.  Want to polish up a second language? Take French, Spanish or Chinese courses.  There are Microsoft classes being offered, along with other technology courses like how to build your website.  There are some great cooking classes, like In the Kitchen with Your Kids! Or, get creative with Zumba dancing, guitar lessons, or making glass beads.  So many options, and at such an affordable price, it's hard to beat! But hurry, classes start next month. 

You can sign up online here. 

JK

Our Re-Designed Website!

We have recently altered our website at http://www.craneandcrane.com/ to make the ability to search for homes a whole lot easier!  You don't have to login or sign up to search.  You can, however, create an account to save listings or searches, or to set up an auto email that will alert you to any new listings that match your searches!

You can search by price, bedrooms, subdivision, school district (even narrow down to specific schools, i.e. elementary, etc.), city, age of home, and even more specific categories! 

Here's the direct link to the Property Search page! 


Property Search

I hope you have a great weekend, and may you find the home you're looking for! If you need assistance, just give me a call or email!

JK

New Land Listings!

Check out our 3 new land listings!  If you want more info, give Crane & Crane a call at 573.443.8591 or just message me!

View the listings here!