Jane Spooner St. Louis Realtor

08/10/2026

Evaluating Storage Space When Touring Homes
Storage is rarely the first priority for buyers touring a home, and it shouldn't be the first thing they consider. Kitchens and floor plans usually command the most attention, while storage receives far less notice. But a home that looks spacious during a showing can feel cramped once the boxes are unpacked.
Inspect...

Storage often gets overlooked during a home tour. Here's what to check in closets, the kitchen, the garage, and other hidden corners before you make an offer.

08/03/2026

Why Commute Times Matter More Than You Think
Commute time is one of those things buyers tend to round down in their heads.
Forty minutes becomes "about half an hour." A route with three bad intersections becomes "not too bad." A home that's farther out starts to feel reasonable after you've seen the kitchen, the yard, or the extra bedroom you...

A commute can seem simple during a home search, but daily routines tell a different story. Here's what buyers may want to test first.

07/27/2026

How to Balance Location, Layout, and Long-Term Needs
Almost every home search eventually hits the same wall. You find a layout you love in a neighborhood you're not totally sold on, or the location is right, but the floor plan needs more work than you expected when you walked in.
There's rarely a house-hunting scenario where all three of these line up...

Location, layout, and long-term needs rarely point in the same direction when you're house hunting. Here's how to weigh those tradeoffs before you make an offer.

07/20/2026

How to Think Through Your Must-Haves Before Touring Homes
Most buyers walk into their first showing without much of a plan, and it shows. They fall for a good paint job, then second-guess everything by the third house. Twenty minutes of planning fixes most of that, but many neglect it.
Start With What You Actually Need
Before you book a single showing, split...

Before your first showing, be clear on what you actually need. Here's how to build a must-have list that keeps your home search focused and realistic from the start.

07/13/2026

📊 Here’s a quick look at the St. Louis market this June:

Home prices continued to climb, with buyer demand remaining strong in many areas. While new listings varied by market, inventory remains relatively tight, helping support home values. Well-priced homes are still attracting attention, making this a great time for both buyers and sellers to explore their options.

Every market and every home is different. Curious what these numbers mean for your neighborhood or property?
I’d love to help!

07/13/2026

What Summer Weather Can Reveal About a Home
Summer tends to be honest. A house can look perfectly fine during a mild spring showing. Then July heat rolls in, the afternoon sun hits the windows, a storm blows through, or the basement starts to feel damp. Suddenly, you're seeing things that weren't obvious a few months earlier.
That doesn't mean...

Summer weather can make a home's strengths and weak spots easier to spot. Here's what buyers should notice during warm-weather showings.

07/06/2026

The Final Walkthrough: A Buyer's Last Look Before Closing
Most buyers are ready to be done by the time the final walkthrough arrives. Closing is close, the boxes are packed, and nobody wants to find a problem at the last minute.
Still, this is not the time to rush.
The final walkthrough is one of your last chances to speak up before the home officially becomes...

The final walkthrough is your last chance to protect your investment before closing. Here's what to check and why it matters more than buyers expect.

07/03/2026

Recently Sold! Take a look at what I recently sold at 200 S Kirkwood Road , Kirkwood.

06/29/2026

Signs a Home Will Hold Its Value Over Time
A kitchen renovation can make a home sell faster, but it won't necessarily make it worth more 10 years from now. The factors that actually drive long-term value tend to be less photogenic than a renovated kitchen. Things like lot size, location, and the condition of systems behind the walls are what...

Some homes hold their value through soft markets and shifting tastes. Here's what to look for in a property that's built to last.

06/22/2026

How to Spot a Well-Maintained Home
Fresh paint and staged furniture can make almost any house look good — that's the point. What you actually want to know before you fall in love with the countertops is whether the home has been well cared for. That difference shows up in places that never make it into the listing photos.
Start Outside
Walk...