Date Archives: November 2021

If you're selling your home now or plan to in the future, outdated appliances can make prospective buyers turn away from your home to look at another house with newer ones. Buyers can replace your appliances when purchasing a home, but they usually don't want to go to the trouble or expense to do so. And even if you're planning to stay in your home awhile, outdated appliances can make your home less attractive and functional than it could be.
  
Here's what you need to know about appliance upgrades that can boost the value of your home:

• Think of What Fits Your Home
  Consult one of our real estate agents to find out what type of appliances are popular in your home's price range. While you want to make your home more valuable, you don't want to price yourself out of the neighborhood.
    
• Look for Energy Star Appliances
  Appliances with the Energy Star sticker or tag meet strict energy-efficiency requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They'll help you save money on your energy bill, and when you're selling your home, they'll appeal to prospective buyers. Leave the Energy Star sticker on your appliances, so buyers know they'll save as well.

What to Replace  

• Refrigerator
  Kitchens can make or break a sale, so if you have money to spend, this is an excellent place to start. An upgraded refrigerator that has French doors, as well as built-in filtered water and ice dispensers, will appeal to the majority of buyers. The same is true of a stainless steel finish, which remains extremely popular. If you're thinking of going for a high-tech option like a TV-embedded fridge, it may not be a wise move unless you have a luxury home.
  
  
• Laundry sets  
  An appliance upgrade is definitely in order if your washer and dryer don't match. Not only does this make the set less attractive, but it also makes a buyer immediately realize that one appliance is older than the other. This makes them likely to wonder just how old it is and how long it will keep running efficiently. Aside from a nice, matching appearance, buyers want high-efficiency front-load and top-load units. And if you have a large home that might appeal to families, a large capacity washer and dryer is a good investment.
  
  
• Stove  
  A stove that's built-in will be more popular than a standalone one. And buyers also appreciate flat tops and stoves with self-cleaning functions since they're easy to keep clean. And if you have some gas utilities, gas stoves generally appeal to serious cooks.
  
  
• Appliance sets   
  Retailers often discount sets of appliances, so they can help you save money while ensuring that you have matching sets. For example, a kitchen appliance set may include items such as a stove, refrigerator, built-in microwave, and dishwasher. While there's usually no need to select the most expensive options with every imaginable bell and whistle, the cheapest set is usually not the best choice either. Instead, choose a mid-range set that will appeal to a larger number of buyers.

Contact us if you'd like to visit St. Louis homes for sale or, if you're selling your home, to receive expert advice on what kinds of upgrades can help boost its value. 

One of the reasons our real estate agents love St. Louis so much is all the wonderful local events. It seems that any time of year, from spring to winter, there's a fun celebration to attend. If you're a film lover — or even someone who just enjoys the occasional movie — then the 30th Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival is an upcoming event you won't want to miss.

History of the Festival

The St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) was founded in 1992 and has been held every year since. The founders intended the festival to promote and present new and interesting films in order to preserve movie-making as an art.

The first few St. Louis International Film Festivals were held in April, but in 1995, the event moved to November. In 1998, the festival grew large enough for its headquarters to move to the Central West End. Well-known films featured over the years include Kinsey, which was screened in 2004, and Up in the Air, featured in 2009.

Attending the Festival

This year, the St. Louis International Film Festival is scheduled for November 4th - 21st, 2021. Screenings will take place at various locations on the following dates and times.

• Landmark's Tivoli Theatre: 6350 Delmar Blvd., University City, MO 63130
  Screenings will take place at Landmark's Tivoli Theatre November 4th - 14th and 19th - 21st.
  
  
• Brown Hall Auditorium, Washington University: 1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130
  The Brown Hall Auditorium will hold screenings November 5th - 6th, 12th - 14th, and 19th - 21st.
  
  
• Winifred Moore Auditorium, Webster University: 470 E. Lockwood Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119
  Visit the Winifred Moore Auditorium between November 5th - 14th for screenings.
  
  
• St. Louis Museum of Contemporary Art: 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108
  Screenings will take place at the St. Louis Museum of Contemporary Art on November 4th and 11th.

In addition to screening this year's featured films, the festival will also host the screening of several films released in 1971. You can catch these Golden Anniversary screenings at the St. Louis Public Library's Auditorium on weekend afternoons.

You can see a list of the films featured in this year's festival on the event website. Tickets and passes will also be available through the website. 

Awards

Various awards will be given throughout the St. Louis International Film Festival. These include awards for the Best Documentary Short and the Best Short Short. There will also be an award for Best Live Action Short and another for Best Animated Short.

If you're looking at St. Louis homes for sale, make sure you take a break to attend the St. Louis International Film Festival. Stop by to see one film, or see how many you can catch throughout the festival. This is just one of many awesome fall events in St. Louis. Contact us if you're new to the area and looking for the perfect place to call home. Our real estate agents will be happy to guide you.