Organizer

Posts

Tag: <span>brookside real estate company</span>
No Comments

3 Things About Selling Your Home That Aren’t As Spooky As They Seem

Author: Admin_Nicole
Categories: Blog

Selling your house can seem pretty frightening, Brookside Real Estate has put together 3 things about selling your home that aren’t as spooky as they seem!

  1. Staging Your House

Cleaning, repairing, and staging your house is a common complaint among sellers. However, getting your home ready to showmeans decluttering and this is actually an opportunity to get a head start on the moving process. Once you’ve purged your unnecessary items – staging services are always included when you list with Brookside Real Estate Company!

  1. Criticism From Buyers

It can be hard to hear that the potential buyers don’t like the color of the hardwood floors you love or the accent wall in your dining room needs to be painted over. Buyers will inevitably point out what they don’t like about your house – and if you’ve been shopping for another home, you’ve likely made the same kind of observations. Everyone wants to put their own touches on a new home and it’s nothing personal!

  1. Saying Goodbye

It’s not always easy to leave a home that you’ve lived in for years and made priceless memories in. A good way to look at it is when you’re selling your current home, you’re making space to create new memories and more adventure!

If you’re considering selling your house, contact a neighborhood expert: One of the real estate pros at Brookside Real Estate Company. Call today at (816) 333-3330. Or, stop by our offices in the heart of the Brookside at 9 W. 63rd Street.

No Comments

Brookside Real Estate Partners With Bags of Fun KC!

Author: Admin_Atalie
Categories: Blog

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is nationally recognized every year in September. Increasing awareness of childhood cancer is extremely important to Brookside Real Estate Company and we’re excited to announce that we are partnering with Bags of Fun KC all month long!

Jim and Roberta Kraus delivering Bags of Fun to patients at Children’s Mercy

For every house sold during the month of September, Brookside Real Estate will donate to Bags of Fun KC to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of childhood cancer.

Before the pandemic hit, children undergoing cancer treatments would spend an average of 120 days in the hospital. Because of COVID-19 and the weakened immune systems that come with a cancer diagnosis, these kids are experiencing hospital stays and isolation for much longer than ever before. Bags of Fun KC delivers the power of play to children fighting cancer and other long term, life threatening illnesses.

Director, Louisa Weinrich explained, “A bag of fun is a backpack filled to the brim with 12-15 items picked specifically for each child’s needs, interests and treatment plan. Each bag of fun is filled with hours of distraction, educational items, as well as items that encourage socialization and items that bring comfort. Not only do bags of fun give the children something to focus on during their treatments, but they also give the families of these children the sense that someone else cares.”

Ready to buy or sell your home and make a difference in the lives of KC children fighting life threatening illnesses? Give Brookside Real Estate Company a call at (816) 333-3330.

To learn more about Bags of Fun KC or to make a direct donation, visit their website here.

 

 

 

 

No Comments

Welcome to the neighborhood, Westlake Ace Hardware!

Author: Admin_Atalie
Categories: Blog
Owner/Broker of Brookside Real Estate, Jim Kraus and Westlake Ace Hardware GM in Brookside, Amber Murfin.

New to 63rd Street – Brookside Real Estate Company wants to welcome Westlake Ace Hardware!

The perfect addition to the neighborhood and the first hardware store in Brookside since the 1980s, Westlake Ace Hardware is committed to providing reliable service, helpful advice and the top quality products so customers can get their projects right every time.  We recently spoke with the General Manager,  Amber to learn more about and Westlake’s newest location in our favorite neighborhood – Brookside!

Tell us a little bit about your background:

I’ve worked with Westlake Ace Hardware for about 13 years now. I actually started out in the inventory industry and I eventually worked my way up through the ranks there. I just fell in love with hardware and have managed a few different locations over the years. 

What made you want to come work at the new Brookside location?

This is the smallest store in the  company and it was a challenge for us to be able to figure out a way to take everything that we knew we needed to carry for the community, and put it into a very small space. That was the fun challenge here and I was up for the opportunity.

What makes this Brookside location different from the other Westlake Ace Hardware locations throughout Kansas City?

The preservation and the care that we’ve put into the building itself is definitely unique. This building (formerly Tuesday Morning) was built in 1940. The first thing that we did is we came in and tore out all the drop ceilings and exposed the raw beams. We put in brand new LED lighting, we even sand blasted the brick all the way around – and we were able to preserve a couple of the original windows.

What is your favorite part about working in Brookside?

I really love the sense of community here in Brookside and enjoy helping customers find the right products they need for any and all projects.

Westlake Ace Hardware offers traditional hardware products such as lawn and garden supplies, fasteners, tools, plumbing, electrical supplies, and convenient curbside pickup. The Brookside location features a Backyard BBQ department with grills and BBQ accessories from a variety of brands including Weber, Traeger, and Big Green Egg.

Next time you’re in the neighborhood or working on a new home improvement project,  stop by Westlake Ace Hardware at 104 W. 63rd Street! While you’re here,  pay a visit to your friends at Brookside Real Estate Company located at 9 W 63rd St – when the flag is up, we’re open!

No Comments

Coveted Countryside Tudor in the Heart of KC!

Author: Admin_Atalie
Categories: Blog

This unique home is located in the Countryside subdivision, one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Kansas City! You’ll be able to walk your kids to and from school, walk to the Country Club Plaza and Crestwood shops, even stroll through Loose Park and the Trolley Trail. Located at 41 W. 52nd Street, all of this is just steps away from the front door. A gorgeous home in the heart of KC that you don’t want to miss out on!

This craftsman features an abundance of natural woodwork that greets you right as you walk in the door. Both the living room and dining room have custom built in cabinets with beautiful beveled leaded glass! Every bathroom in the home is updated and the sellers also added a stunning 20×20 foot family room with an open kitchen – you won’t miss a Kansas City touchdown while making your game day snacks! The lovingly planned landscaping makes you feel like you’re walking in your own personal park!

Watch the virtual tour below:

Ready to see 41 W. 52nd Street for yourself? Contact Jim Kraus at 816-806-7653 or stop by our storefront office located at 9 W 63rd St – when the flag is up, we’re open!

Click here for more listing information.

No Comments

Treat A Sick Child To The Healing Power Of Play This Halloween Season

Author: Admin_Atalie
Categories: Blog

Before the pandemic hit, children undergoing cancer treatments would spend an average of 120 days in the hospital. Because of COVID-19 and the weakened immune systems that come with a cancer diagnosis, these kids are experiencing hospital stays and isolation for much longer than ever before. Because of social distancing guidelines, the traditional Halloween celebration of trick-or-treating is not safe for children fighting life threatening diseases. Thankfully, a local nonprofit foundation held near and dear to the hearts of everyone here at Brookside Real Estate Company is doing something about this.

Bags of Fun KC delivers the healing power of play to children fighting cancer and other long term, life threatening illnesses. Director, Louisa Weinrich explained, “A bag of fun is a backpack filled to the brim with 12-15 items picked specifically for each child’s needs, interests and treatment plan. Each bag of fun is filled with hours of distraction, educational items, as well as items that encourage socialization and items that bring comfort. Not only do bags of fun give the children something to focus on during their treatments, but they also give the families of these children the sense that someone else cares.”

Because of the pandemic and so many restrictions for celebrating Halloween, there are 125 additional children that will need a Bag of Fun. As such, we at Brookside Real Estate are continuing to raise awareness to ensure that every child in Kansas City fighting cancer receives a Bag of Fun this Halloween season. 

Brookside Real Estate has proudly been a local partner of Bags of Fun KC since their inception in 2011 and have had the pleasure of providing over 200 bags of fun to sick Kansas City children and their families. “All of us here are extremely passionate about helping bring a smile to the faces of these KC children who are being treated for long term, life threatening illnesses,” said Brookside Real Estate Owner and Broker, Jim Kraus, “The opportunity for Brookside Real Estate Company to partner with this organization means a lot to all of us, we enjoy the opportunity to help spread the word and we encourage Kansas City to treat a sick child to the healing power of play this Halloween season.” 

If you would like to find out how you can help Bags of Fun KC or sponsor a bag of fun for a child, you can do so by going to their website: www.bagsoffunkansascity.org

No Comments

BRKS Partners with Bags of Fun KC for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!

Author: Admin_Atalie
Categories: Blog

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is nationally recognized every year in September. Increasing awareness of childhood cancer is extremely important to Brookside Real Estate Company and we’re excited to announce that we are partnering with Bags of Fun KC all month long!

For every house sold during the month of September, Brookside Real Estate will donate $100 to Bags of Fun KC to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of childhood cancer.

Bags of Fun KC delivers the power of play to children fighting cancer and other long term, life threatening illnesses. A bag of fun is a backpack filled to the brim with 12-15 items picked specifically for each child’s needs, interests and treatment plan. Each bag of fun is filled with hours of distraction, educational items, as well as items that bring comfort. Not only do bags of fun give the children something to focus on during their treatments, but they also give the families of these children the sense that someone else cares.

Director, Louisa Weinrich explained, “2020 has been an interesting year to say the least.  We have had to cancel all of our major fundraisers and try to reinvent ways to connect with our donors.  Our program is needed even more this year with hospital play rooms closed, no toy sharing, and no visitors allowed.  We need donations now more than ever to be able to continue bringing the power of play to children fighting cancer and other life threatening conditions.”

Ready to buy or sell your home and make a difference in the lives of KC children fighting life threatening illnesses? Give Brookside Real Estate Company a call at (816) 333-3330.

To learn more about Bags of Fun KC or to make a direct donation, visit their website here.

 

No Comments

I’ve Got a Guy – Episode 4: Concrete in Brookside with Bedrock Concrete

Author: Admin_Atalie
Categories: Ellen Zetmeir Blog

In this Episode of “I’ve Got a Guy,” your favorite Realtor, Ellen Z, talks all things Brookside concrete with Beau Hahn from Bedrock Concrete.

Whether you’re considering a new patio, driveway, garage floor or another project all together, Concrete work in the Brookside/Waldo neighborhoods presents its own unique challenges. That’s why Ellen brought in expert Beau Hahn to talk all things concrete. Since Brookside is an older, time-tested neighborhood, its concrete sidewalks, driveways, and patios can tend to show the daily wear and tear that comes along with such a rich history.

Watch the video below to answer all of your concrete questions as they talk concrete from both a home-buyer and seller’s perspective.

Brookside Concrete Challenges:

  • One of the common challenges in redoing driveways in Brookside is that layers of old concrete are often covered by layers of old asphalt and over the years has become thicker and thicker layers. This means that in order to truly repair a driveway or garage floor in Brookside a lot of work often needs to be done to first remove the old structures and do the project the right way.
  • Tree roots from the beautiful old trees in the neighborhood have often pushed up sidewalks, stairs and driveways.
  • Over the years, settling occurs and causes problems with driveways and foundations – often directing water flow toward the home instead of away from it.

Beau’s concrete tips for homeowners, buyers and sellers:

  • Sealing concrete – make sure to seal new concrete especially in order to get the most out of your concrete projects for a long time.
  • Never use harsh salts on your new concrete – it will tear up and deteriorate it much faster. Use sand instead.
  • Rinse off concrete with a hose if there is a nice winter day to help preserve it.
  • Settled concrete holds water and can come up in a home-inspection. Sellers should make sure to know what issues there may be – you don’t want any surprises!
  • Remember, concrete can sometimes be patched instead of having to completely replace it.Workers pouring concrete

In this video Beau Hahn also talks about the steps in the process of doing concrete work in Brookside and gives his inside tips for choosing the right contractor for the job.

If you’re considering a spring concrete project you won’t want to miss out on these expert tips. Call Beau at Bedrock Concrete for even more information. Are you looking to buy or sell in the wonderful Brookside neighborhood? Contact Ellen today to get connected with your dream home!

No Comments

DIY Home Selling: 5 Reasons to Avoid the For Sale By Owner Approach

Author: Admin_Atalie
Categories: Ellen Zetmeir Blog

Statistically, less than 10 percent of “For Sale By Owner” sellers actually succeed. Selling your home without a real estate agent may seem like a good idea. The thought of not having to pay a commission is a persuasive factor in why some sellers go the FSBO route. But is the “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) option the right choice?

Here 5 reasons that FSBO sellers are unsuccessful more often than not:

DIY tools: tape, clamps, wire cutters and pliars1. An Ill-Prepared Property

Preparing a house to be sold doesn’t just mean making sure everything is tidy; the condition of the house needs to be perfect. Houses that have obvious things wrong are going to be challenging to sell and they’re not likely to command top dollar.

This will involve:

  • Doing repairs.
  • Removing unnecessary furniture and clutter.
  • Painting and decorating neglected rooms in a way to make them look as appealing as possible.
  • Having a professional cleaning.

2. Handling Potential Buyers

A major part of the real estate agent’s job is handling inquiries. Staying on top of calls and emails, being prepared to show the property when it is convenient for potential buyers, can be some of the hardest things to manage for a FSBO seller. This is where an experienced agent would eliminate that stress from a seller.

3. Unsatisfactory Inspection Results

A home inspection may turn up some problems with the house that the owner doesn’t want to acknowledge. Most buyers will require a home inspection, and very often, they will highlight some problems with the house. This can upset the owner and can lead to the deal falling through when the owner is unwilling to fix any issues unearthed. Real estate agents have been through the process many times and can offer their expertise in negotiating a successful outcome. Getting through a home inspection is often about give and take.

4. Negotiations with Buyers

The value of pricing your home correctly can be difficult to get right if you don’t have the experience. Negotiations over price can be problematic if the owner has lofty or misguided expectations. The purchase contract is something that also needs to be negotiated. The homeowner may not fully understand what the contract holds them to, and when they need to negotiate with the buyer.

It isn’t just about negotiating on the price; the contract needs to be paid attention to as well if the sale is going to be successful.

5. Closing the Deal

and signing house contractEven if the FSBO seller is lucky enough to get an offer, things can still go very wrong. After an offer is accepted, the homeowner can very easily make mistakes in the process, which can lead to failure. A specific order of events needs to take place for the sale to close. This will involve many different parties, and if they aren’t contacted at the right times, the sale can be delayed or even canceled. Selling a house for sale by owner is risky and should be heavily compared to using an agent before a decision is to be made.

 

Contact Ellen today or stop by at 9 W 63rd St, Kansas City, MO 64113 to find out how you can avoid the hassle of a FSBO deal!

 

No Comments

Brookside Fall Driving Tour with Ellen Z

Author: Admin_Atalie
Categories: Ellen Zetmeir Blog
Two women driving in a car

Take a Tour of Beautiful Brookside

Have you dreamed of owning your own home in one of Kansas City’s most picturesque neighborhoods? In this short video, Brookside Realtor, Ellen Zetmeir, takes a new homebuyer through the beautiful neighborhoods in and around the Brookside area, highlighting the unique appeal of each community.

Learn about the different architectural styles of Brookside, from Bungalows with airplane rooms to enchanting Dible Tudors; discover the magic of Loose Park and its fascinating history, and see the house that ignited Ellen’s childhood love of old homes and started her on her path to becoming one of Brookside Real Estate Company’s top Realtors.

Your dream home can become a reality with Ellen Zetmeir’s help! Check out her video tour for a glimpse into stunning Brookside and its surrounding neighborhoods. Already watched the video and ready for more? Call Ellen today: (816)489-6950 – your own neighborhood tour is just a phone call away!

No Comments

Why Shopping Locally Matters

Author: Admin_Atalie
Categories: Blog

Small Business Saturday

Stepping through the front door of a local business can make you feel like a VIP – the barista calls you by name and sincerely asks about your day; the pet store owner knows your dog and all his antics; the local vendor at the farmer’s market checks up on your family.

In a world where busyness consumes our lives, a small business is a vision of growth, compassion, human connection, and intentional investment in the local community. Shopping locally isn’t just a trend, it truly creates an atmosphere of mutual support, creativity, and togetherness!

Why should you shop locally?

  1. For a Stronger Planet – Shopping locally is an ever-growing and popular concept in today’s world of accessibility when just about anything can be purchased from all around the world. When food is purchased from larger chains, those products travel quite a way. Small businesses promote a cleaner environment because the goods produced in your local community don’t have to travel as far, therefore saving on fuel consumption and reducing air pollution.
  2. For a Stronger You – Another benefit, especially with Brookside’s Farmers Market there is less distance between producer and buyer. The fresher the produce, the more nutritious it is! Shopping locally in a farmers’ market means you’re not only promoting environmental wellness, but your own health as well!
  3. For a Stronger Economy – Local businesses, like cafes and boutiques, hire neighbors and often purchase goods from local vendors. This creates an opportunity for employment within the community. Shopping locally also promotes innovation, creativity and diversity because vendors can provide according to their community’s needs and not with a generalized selection of cookie-cutter merchandise.
  4. For a Stronger Community – Local businesses are more likely to invest in the community whereas bigger corporations may donate to larger causes or worldwide aid but invest less in the local community. Shopping locally also increases the connection of neighbors and can develop a sense of community. Mr. Rogers would be proud.

Brookside offers a number of local shopping options from the Farmers Market to boutiques, cafes and one-of-a-kind specialty shops! Take the opportunity on November 30th national Small Business Saturday (or any Saturday!) to shop local and celebrate 100 years of local shopping in Brookside!

Search

Archives

Calendar

January 2025
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

Categories

Recent Posts