Keep Your Home Maintained All Year

While it seemed like it would never come, spring has finally arrived! Now it’s time for spring cleaning and making sure your home is maintained year-round. As a homeowner, there are many things you must do to keep your home in tip-top shape. Just like a car, your home needs regular maintenance to ensure it looks and is running its best. When your Lake of the Ozarks home is well maintained, it could also keep you from dealing with any bigger issues, as you can catch problems early on before they become an issue. Mission Bay has created a list of home maintenance tips to help you keep your Lakefront home at the Lake of the Ozarks in peak condition.

Spring Maintenance

Clean out gutters. During the fall and winter, leaves and other debris have likely accumulated in the gutters. It's best to clear the gutters now before the summer storms, so your home has proper drainage.

Inspect the exterior of your home. Check the condition of the paint or if there is any damage to your siding from winter. Take a close look at the entire exterior and make any repairs as needed. This is also a good time to check the condition of the foundation and look for any cracks.

Get your AC unit serviced. Have your AC unit serviced in the spring to ensure it's in proper working condition before you need it in the summer.

Repair and replace damaged window screens. Make sure bugs don't have easy access to your home by repairing or replacing any window screens that are damaged.

Clear away dead plants and shrubs from the yard.  Take a look at your plants, shrubs, and trees and clear away any parts of them that are dead. For trees, if dead branches are left unattended, they can fall, which could cause property damage and potential injury. It's best to trim plants before the leaves come out, as it's easy to see the condition of the branches while they're bare.

Monthly Maintenance

Inspect or replace HVAC filters.  It's best to check your air filters once a month and replace as necessary. The air filters for your HVAC system are an important aspect of making sure your furnace and AC are running efficiently. If you have pets or children, you may need to replace your filters more often.

Clean garbage disposal. If your home has a garbage disposal, you will want to clean this once a month to avoid pests, such as fruit flies, from invading your kitchen. It will also help to avoid gunk buildup that could make your kitchen sink start to smell. Many cleaners that you can buy at the store also perform double duty and help sharpen the blade of your garbage disposal.

Inspect the fire extinguisher(s). It's best to have a fire extinguisher (or two) in your home in case of a fire. It's best to have one in close proximity to the kitchen, laundry room or any other place that has a source of heat that could catch fire. The inspection process for your fire extinguisher doesn't take a lot of work, but it could help you avoid a fire disaster in your home. Ensure that the extinguisher is not being blocked by anything, the gauge shows adequate pressure and, finally, make sure there are no visible signs of wear and tear.

Bi-Annually

Test the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It's best to check the smoke alarms as well as the carbon monoxide alarms in your home quarterly to ensure they are in proper working condition. Test your alarms to check and make sure the batteries are fully charged and change them if necessary. If the alarm is still not working after replacing the battery, it may be time for a new alarm.

Give your home a deep clean. While you should be vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, cleaning the counters, and dusting on a regular basis, it's a good idea to give your home a proper deep clean at least twice a year. This includes cleaning the appliances, windows, dusting every nook and cranny, etc. Keeping these things clean and not letting dirt, grime, dust build up over years and years will help keep your home in tip-top shape.

Do a once over on your home. Do a walk around your home and ensure everything is looking like it should. Check the pipes, faucets, and toilets and ensure there are no drips or leaks. Look outside your home and check the condition of the roof for damaged shingles or water intrusion near the windows and doors. While you're outside, cut back trees and shrubs from the house walls, roof, and AC unit.

Lake Living

Mission Bay offers Lake living at its finest with gorgeous Lakefront and Lake view homes at the 32MM of the Osage. Our Lakefront homes at the Lake of the Ozarks are beautifully tiered so most of our homes have stunning views of the water. To learn more about our year-round residential development at the Lake of the Ozarks visit our website or stop by the community today!

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Phone: (573) 346-6600

Info@MissionBayLakeOzark.com

OUR LOCATION
237 Mission Bay Blvd.

Camdenton, MO 65020

Conquer The Clutter

January is a time for fresh beginnings and new starts. People make New Year’s resolutions in hopes of bettering their lives. Whether you made any resolutions or not, now is a great time to rejuvenate your home and to finally declutter and get things organized. If your lakefront home at the Lake of the Ozarks needs some organization, Mission Bay has some great stress-reducing tips that will help you get your home in tip-top shape. It’s easier than you may think!

I Don’t Have Time

One of the main reasons that organization never happens is lack of time. When it comes down to it, we spend the majority of our time on work, our family, school, volunteering, and any other extra circulars. There are only so many hours in the day and it’s easy to lose track of them. There is often little time to clean the house on a daily basis, so throwing in organization can be overwhelming.

The best way to manage this problem is to simply reduce.

Reduce – eliminating any clutter is the best thing we can do to create more time for not only ourselves but also for our family. When there’s less clutter, you have to spend less time cleaning and organizing. Eliminate those things you really don’t use anymore.

I Can’t Find Anything

Having TOO much stuff can not only be overwhelming, but it can make it difficult to actually find the things you need or are looking for. Cutting down on clutter is the best place to start. If your closet is bursting at the seams it may be difficult to find the pair of pants you’ve been looking for, if your kitchen drawers are filled and crowded, it may be hard to find that certain spatula. The list could go on and on. Getting organized may be easier than you think. Once you’ve decluttered your house, start in one room and work your way throughout the rest of the house. Organizing a little at a time will keep you from getting overwhelmed and stressed. Before you know it, your whole house will be decluttered and organized. It’s a win, win.

Forgot Something At Home

Time and time again, people leave the house and have forgotten something they are supposed to bring with them. Whether it’s a receipt you need for a return or a birthday card for a friend, it happens all too often. Having a reminder about those important things before you walk out the door would be helpful.

You can create an organizing system with pockets that hang over the door to hold important items you may need before you leave the house. You can find inexpensive over the door organizers in most stores, or you can create your own. Simple and effective.

Toys Are Everywhere

If you’re a parent, one of the biggest home organization issues you may face is the kids not picking up their toys. By having a specific and dedicated area for their toys, you can teach them to put their toys in their place and they will learn organization skills at an early age.

Use bins to hold the toys. Each bin should hold similar toys to keep them more organized. Kids will also know exactly where to find a certain toy when they are looking for it. Label the bins with the name of the toy or a picture of the toy. This is a great way for kids to learn how to correctly put away their toys, even at a young age.

New Year, New Home

When it comes down to organizing your home, it all starts with decluttering. If organizing your lakefront home at the Lake of the Ozarks is on your resolution list, Mission Bay hopes that these stress-reducing tips help you. Making lists and tackling each room little by little will help you accomplish what may seem like a never-ending task. 

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Phone: (573) 346-6600

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OUR LOCATION

237 Mission Bay Blvd.
Camdenton, MO 65020

Your Guide to the Ultimate Backyard BBQ

With the heat of the summer slowly starting to decline, now is the perfect time to throw the ultimate backyard BBQ! There is no better place to hold your end of summer backyard BBQ than your lakefront home at the Lake of the Ozarks! The Lake is a beautiful backdrop for any friend and family gathering. Here at Mission Bay, we have created a guide on how to plan the ultimate backyard BBQ.

Food

The food is arguably one of the most important aspects of a backyard BBQ. Whether you want to get more creative, or you want to keep things on the simple side, having delicious food and enough food is a must!

1. Start with the main dish – then figure out side dishes. Are you wanting to serve steak and ribs or hamburgers and hot dogs? Whatever the case may be, figure out the main dish first and then figure out what side dishes complement that food.

Helpful hint: when deciding what food you want to serve, keep in mind your audience and who will be coming to your backyard BBQ. It's important to keep in mind any food allergies and dietary restrictions. 

2. Quick BBQ recipes – depending on what food you choose, grilling is usually everyone’s top choice. Most people stay away from slow-cooked options because of time constraints. Slow-cooking doesn’t have to take all day though. In fact, sometimes all you need is 30-45 minutes to get that slow-cooked taste. Don’t go around telling everyone all your secrets though.

Drinks

While most people think that the food is the most important part of a backyard BBQ, some people would argue that the drinks are. It’s important to have a variety of different types of drinks, some with alcohol and others without.

1. Summer cocktails – having light refreshing drinks are a go to for backyard BBQs. Drinks like these remind us of all the great summer memories we just made.

2. Seasonal beers – the beer drinkers will love the choices in seasonal beers and might even discover a new favorite beer.

Helpful hint: metal buckets are a great way to stock your beer supply and to keep it nice and chilled!

3. Refreshing fruit-infused water – for your guests who don’t want alcohol, having fruit-infused water gives them a great drink option. You can get creative with this and include all sorts of different seasonal fruits.

The Set-Up

Most people view barbeques as relaxed and low-key backyard parties, but it’s only low-key because your planning and execution make it look easy. Sure you could quickly throw some snacks and drinks together, but what would be the fun in that? Now is your time to get creative! If you want to throw the ultimate backyard BBQ, you’re going to need some amazing décor. Pinterest is a great reference for inexpensive decorating ideas! You can also get creative by creating a DIY food station. Your guests are sure to love it! 

Don’t Forget the Games!

To make sure people have a great time, you should include some fun lawn games at your BBQ. It doesn’t have to be anything too crazy, just enough to keep the vibe light and fun. Here are a few of our top lawn games:

1. Corn hole

2. Croquet

3. Horseshoes

4. Bocce ball

5. Badminton

Helpful hint: you can even get creative and make an outdoor Twister board to get everyone involved!

Don’t let the stress of planning a backyard BBQ keep you from enjoying the event. They are meant to be fun and give you a chance to spend time with family! Having a lakefront home at Lake of the Ozarks provides you with the best backdrop for any backyard BBQ. If you haven’t yet, come check us out! Living at Mission Bay, is Lake Living at its finest!  

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Phone: (573) 346-6600

Info@MissionBayLakeOzark.com

OUR LOCATION

237 Mission Bay Blvd.

Camdenton, MO 65020

Get a Jump Start on Your Home's Fall Checklist

With fall just around the corner, it’s time to start preparing your home for the fall and winter months. As the seasons change, so do our activities and our home’s needs. Even though summer hasn’t come to an end yet, here at Mission Bay, we believe it’s a great time to do some seasonal maintenance and get your lakefront home at Lake of the Ozarks prepared for the colder months. Here are a few of our favorite tips:

1. Clean Your Gutters 

We know, it's one of those chores that nobody wants to do! But it is so important to keep this system flowing smoothly. Clogged gutters can lead to damaged exterior surfaces and to water in your basement (if you have one). They are also prone to rust and corrosion. Before the leaves start to fall, have your gutters cleaned. You can also cover them with mesh guards to keep debris from returning.

2. Fertilize Your Lawn

Fertilizing your lawn in the fall will help protect it through the winter and help it green up faster during springtime. This is important for lawns in areas with hot and dry summers since grass tends to slow or stop growing in such extreme conditions.

3. Seal the Seals

Seal any gaps or cracks around doors and windows with weather-stripping and caulk. A home with air leaks around doors and windows can account for about a 10% increase in your heating bills. Weather-stripping is usually a great cost-effective way to help decrease your heating and cooling costs throughout the year. It’s important to inspect it periodically because weather-stripping can deteriorate over time.

4. Check the Driveways and Sidewalks

Damaged driveways and walkways can be hazardous year-round. However, they can become more dangerous in the winter when it gets icy. Fixing any problems in the fall is critical to preventing any disasters in the winter.

5. Turn Off and Drain Outdoor Faucets  

Make sure you remove garden hoses from outdoor faucets. Leaving hoses attached can cause water to back up in the plumbing pipes inside of your exterior walls. During the winter, that water could freeze, expand, and crack the pipes.

6. Check Your Roof

Look for warning signs like shingles that are cracked, buckled, or missing. Any loose, damaged, or missing shingles should be fixed or replaced immediately. If you have a steep roof, use binoculars to check your roof before trying to climb to the top.

7. Get Your Heating System Checked and Serviced  

Make sure you get your furnace checked before the winter months bring the cold temperatures. Without yearly cleaning and maintenance, a system can wear itself out quickly, pump deadly carbon monoxide into your home, or it could stop working. If you have forced-air heating, change the furnace filter. You’ll notice a difference in the air quality and your furnace will run more efficiently.

8. Clean and Put Away Outdoor Furniture

You don’t have to do this at the very beginning of fall, but you will want to make sure it’s done before the cold weather hits. Make sure you clean up your outdoor furniture and get rid of any dust or cobwebs that may have accumulated during the hot summer months. Store your furniture in a safe and dry space so it’s ready for use during spring.

The beginning of fall is an ideal time to take care of the little things that make a big difference for your home. Getting a jump start on your fall home maintenance will hopefully give you more time to enjoy the beauty of fall. Mission Bay has beautiful scenery, especially in the fall when the leaves are changing. Our lakeview and lakefront homes at Lake of the Ozarks provide Lake Living at its finest! Come see for yourself! 

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Phone: (573) 346-6600

Info@MissionBayLakeOzark.com

OUR LOCATION

237 Mission Bay Blvd.

Camdenton, MO 65020

7 Tips For Making the Most of an Open House

An important part of the home buying process is getting inside and really looking at the property, up close and personal.  Open Houses are a perfect chance to do this in a casual way.  Mission Bay hosts open houses of our beautiful lakefront homes at the Lake of the Ozarks every weekend.  

Sometimes walking into a new place can be a little intimidating, but if you do a little preparation before you go, it will make a world of difference.  Knowing what to look for and how to see it will make the entire process a little less overwhelming.  




1.  Do your homework.  

 Have an idea of what you are looking for before you go in.  Even if a house looks amazing, if it doesn't fit your living needs, then it's not right for you.  If you have children, check out the school district that it is in.  If you have furniture that you want to move into the new house, know the measurements so that you can see if your stuff will fit.  Come up with a list of questions that you want to know about your new home and the neighborhood that it is located in.  

2.  Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

You're not trying to impress anyone, so no need to get all dressed up.  Wear something comfortable, especially comfortable shoes.  You may be bending and stretching looking closely at details.  A lot of walking will also be involved and possibly stairs.  

3.  Bring some "tools"
It will be very helpful to have a tape measure, a notebook, and a camera with you.  If you are seriously interested, you will want to know a few measurements around the house.  The notebook will help you remember all of the important details that discover, as will the photos that you take.  Sometimes the photos will even show you things that you may have overlooked in person.  

4.  Ask quetions.
The realtor on site is not just there for the home seller, they are also there to help you, the buyer, get a clear picture of what they are offering.  Ask them as many questions as you need to really get to know the house you are looking at.  

5.  Don't be shy.
Open closets and drawers.  If the appliances come with the house, open those up too. The purpose of the open house is so that you can get to know what you may be buying.  This is the time to look every nook and cranny over.  If someone is currently living in the home being shown, they should expect this, but in this case it is polite to ask first.  

6.  Look outside of the home.
Take notice of what landscaping is already done and what you will have to do yourself if you buy.  Look for any areas on the exterior that may need repair.  Make sure that the adjacent lots are not too close for your comfort.  If you have a strong opinion on pets, notice if any of the neighbors have them.  Another important thing to do is look at the outside through the windows from inside.  A bad view is something that usually cannot be changed.  

7.  Listen to other buyers. 
The other buyers at the open house are there for the same reason that you are. They may notice something that you didn't, or may have some questions that you did not think to ask.  


These tips should make the entire open house experience a little more productive than just going in blind.  Buying a home is a very large, highly important purchase. Decide what you really want, and weigh all of the pros and cons of what you find out.  

Mission Bay invites you to stop by and see our incredible new housing development at the Lake of the Ozarks.  We host our open house every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 pm. You can view a site map of the entire community here, and see pictures of the properties you will be visiting on the Mission Bay website.   

    

Your new home is waiting for you at Mission Bay!

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Phone: (573) 873-3465

Info@MissionBayLakeOzark.com

OUR LOCATION

237 Mission Bay Blvd.

Camdenton, MO 65020