Cathy O'Neill | O'Neill Real Estate Group's Blog Posts

Top Neighborhood - Historic Central West End in Saint Louis

Located west of downtown St. Louis, the Central West End or "The CWE," as locals often call it, comprises 112 city blocks nestled between St. Louis's crown jewel Forest Park (a 2013 APA Great Public

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Top Things to Do in St. Louis - Get Out On The Town!

DoAnheuser-Busch brewery tours (Paused due to the pandemic) Visitors can choose from five tours, including the Beermaster Tour and a free general brewery tour. budweisertours

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The Interior Design Trends to Watch for in 2022

We may still be in the early days of 2021, but interior designers are already looking ahead at the trends that will make an impact in 2022. While the empty year of 2020 caused significant disruption

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Choosing a St. Louis Neighborhood to Call Home

St. Louis City has 79 neighborhoods, each with its own distinctive style and characteristics. Many have very active community organizations and associations. Some are on the rebound, while

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Don't Replace Your Agent With The Interne

With the influx of new technology and web based solutions, it isn't a surprise that everything is moving fast into the era of the internet. From sites like Uber to Grubhub, we generally can pull up

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10 Drastically Different Design Trends That Will Be Everywhere in 2021

We've finally closed the book on 2020, and many of us have never felt more desperate for a fresh start and a new beginning. And since it's not like we're leaving the house anytime soon, it makes

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Decluttering and Downsizing

Even if you are not moving, one of the more challenging parts of home ownership is keeping your home clutter free, knowing how to downsize your spaces and how to practically reduce the number of

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The Incredible Joy Of Owning Your Home!

If you haven't bought a home yet, you're missing out on a wonderful feeling! That moment when you walk through your doors, throw your purse or keys on the floor, plop down on your couch and breathe

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Top Tips For House Hunting Online.

Hunting for a new home online is a great place to start your search, but it should not be your end all be all. Good listing agents are excellent at highlighting the best features of the home, but

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Achieve Feng Shui At Home

If you take the time to dig into the philosophy around feng shui, you'll understand that it doesn't come off as esoteric as one my think. It's based around the simple practices to make a home feel

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Make an Offer Like a Boss

Ah, the offer!Cinematically speaking, this is the iconic moment — we’d forgive you if you imagined, say, putting a hand on your agent’s shoulder and whispering (in your best Vito

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Residential Property Disclosures!

When selling your home, you're obligated, by law, to disclose certain information about your property. Most states require that all sellers complete a written property disclosure form. Majority of

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All My Single Ladies

In 2017 alone, 60% of women millennial buyers were single! Buying a home seems to come with the idea that it’s the step AFTER you get married and have a family - but that simply isn’t

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The Right Paint Finish

Ready to paint your home? Be sure to use the right finishes in each room and feature to make the best impact in your home. Using the wrong finishes can backfire for home owners if the wrong ones are

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New Construction and Why You Need An Agent!

Are you ready to buy a home and considering going in the route of new builds? It may seem like an easy enough process, where you get to call the shots of how you want your dream home to be, but

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What to Repair Before Selling Your Home!

When you’re getting ready to list your home, it’s of the upmost importance to ensure you are showing it in the best light. Taking time to highlight its strengths and fix up some of its

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Refinancing - When and what to consider

Refinancing your mortgage is something most homeowners consider at least once throughout the lifespan of their home loan. It allows you to pay off your previous loan by applying for a new one that

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Home Chores To Do Annually

Sing me some graces, there is such a thing as over-cleaning! Here are some chores around the home that you really only need to do annually, minus special circumstances. Let's dive in!1. Curtains ;

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Debunking Myths To Buying A Home

Finally ready to make the transition into home ownership? That's awesome, and in this exciting time you can be turning to friends and family for an insight into the process. However, there seems to

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Spark A Bidding War!

Ready to make a move? Have a certain figure in mind that you need to sell for? Depending on your market, you might be able to get a little more than what you may be needing. Go over with your agent

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Add Charm To Your Bedrooms

With a new season upon us, you might be wanting to spruce up your bedroom to add a little charm and "newness" to your space. Here's some tips to decorating your bedroom by adding some charm and

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The Criteria for Pricing A Home

When you put your home up for sale, one of the best ways to determine the asking price is to look at comparable sales. There’s rarely a perfect apples-to-apples comparison, so a pricing

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Great Wine Storage Ideas

If you are a big wine connoisseur or just saving a few bottles to crack open on special occasions, it’s important to understand how best to store them safely until you’re ready to.

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The Catch You Shouldn't Fall For!

With the growth of online tools, companies are quickly building products to serve the real estate community. After all, it’s a lucrative industry, home buying and selling will always be a

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Small Bathroom Storage Ideas

Is your bathroom small? It’s the worst, isn’t it? Well, unfortunately, small bathrooms are very common, and are usually the smallest rooms in the house. I can almost bet that it almost

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Ways Real Estate Agents Actually SAVE You Money During Your Home Sale

One of the main gripes that people have with real estate agents is their commission. Many homeowners (mistakenly) think, “Why should I pay a real estate agent to do something I’m

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Be Aware Of These Hidden Fees When Purchasing A Home

Purchasing a home is arguably one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. As you start your hunt, don't forget there will be other costs associated with your purchase then

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Near-Genius Ways to Fool Burglars Into Thinking You’re Home

Your home: You love it, but sometimes you have to leave it.Whether it's the eight hours a day or eight days on a dreamy beach, allowing your biggest investment to fend for itself can be stressful.

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Top Staging Tips To Get Your Home Sold

Ready to sell your house? Here is a few staging tips to get your home prepared for the market. When listing a home that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, you want to make sure

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7 Summer Trends for Creating Cozier Backyards

Homeowners and buyers are placing greater emphasis on yard appeal this year. Google Trends data reveals frequent internet searches for how to enhance outdoor space. Living Spaces, a home dé

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What To Do With An Unfinished Basement...

Although currently dimly lit and a little rough on the eyes, your unfinished basement still has a lot of potentials. With just a little love and the help of the following ideas, you can spice it up

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The Everything Guide To Buying Your First Home!

So you’re thinking about buying your first home. Your very own house (and mortgage). A place to call — and make — your own.It’s a big move, literally and figuratively. Buying

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Reasons Your Home Won't Sell

Are you ready to sell your home and want it to have a great first impression on the market? Or maybe your home has been listed for a few weeks or months, and you can't figure out why it won't sell,

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Eliminate Pet Odors

Eliminating bad odors from your home is incredibly important, you want to make sure you've removed them before putting it on the market. Often times, the first thing buyers notice upon entering your

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Don’t Buy That Fixer-Upper (Unless You Know These 4 Things)

A few years ago, Alessandra Pollina and her husband, Ondre, were looking for a property that would need no more than some cosmetic changes and upgrades. But because the price was right, they ended

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Let's Landscape That Pool!

Ready to take on the task of landscaping your pool space? You generally don't realize the importance in the types of trees you use until it's too late. Let's go over a few rules the trees around

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Home Buying and Selling During the Pandemic - What You Need to Know

Technology and good-old-fashioned creativity are helping agents, buyers, and sellers abide by COVID-19 health and safety practices while getting deals done.Some buyers are touring houses virtually.

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10 Outdoor Living Essentials to Get Ready for Summer

With the right setup, outdoor spaces can become extensions of our living rooms. This year, perhaps more than ever, getting outside for some fresh air is welcome. If you’re lucky enough to have

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5 Classy DIY Home Improvements

If you're looking to add more class to your home, taking on a DIY project can give your house that extra sense of style while saving you money. No need to cringe at those three little words: "do it

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Agency & Agency Relationships

The term “agency” is used in real estate to help determine what legal responsibilities your real estate professional owes to you and other parties in the transaction.The seller's

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How To Get Settled In A New Home

Moving into a new home? We know how exciting it can be! We’ve compiled a list of a few things you can do after your move to make sure your experience is comfortable. The hardest part of a move

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10 Amazing Buildings From Around The World

Like paintings and sculptures, buildings too can be beautiful works of art. Whether it's the structural shapes, unique design concept or decorative details, buildings can provide ample

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Give Your Deck A Facelift

Get summer ready! Hanging out with your family or hosting friends on your old, dingy deck is not very appealing. Lucky for you, refreshing it doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Try

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Should You Sell During Covid-19?

There are so many questions and concerns amid the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. The real estate market is especially hard hit and sellers are concerned, real estate at it's core is a people.

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10 Projects to Do While At Home

During a time where social distancing is encouraged and most of us are working from home every day, this is a great time to work on any home projects you have put off. As we go through this

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Myths of Home Buying

MYTHS OF HOME BUYINGAlthough the internet can be a great resource for a variety of information, a lot of that information is incorrect. One of the most important and expensive decisions in your,

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Happy In The Home

According to the World Happiness Report, which ranks 156 countries based on inhabitants’ perception and well-being, happiness in the United States is declining. Americans said they were

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10 Tips To Selling Your Home In The Spring

Selling your home in the spring is best for most homeowners. There’s no doubt about it but the market isblooming with flowers and buyers … two pluses for you! Starting in March and

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The Hottest Paint Colors in 2020

The paint giant Behr, recently released a trend-driven collection of 15 shades they’re predicting will take over interiors in 2020 and it's clear that the coming year will be filled with

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7 Important Repairs to Make Before Selling

As a smart seller, you'll want your home in tip-top shape — but you don't want to eat into your profits by overspending on home improvements. You won't be around to enjoy them anyway. The key

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10 Steps To Buying A House

Buying a house requires a lot of time and effort, but these 10 steps can help make the home buying process manageable and help you make the best decisions possible. Step 1: Start Your Research

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Investing in St Louis

Home to over 2.8 million people, the St. Louis metro area is the 21st largest metro in the country. It’s also one of the most stable and affordable real estate markets today where investors

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Six Things To Know Before Putting Your Home On The Market

When it comes to real estate, proper preparation also can mean the difference between winning and losing. In a competitive market, sellers need a well-thought-out game plan to ensure success.Here

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Moving Day!

What a feeling it is when you have finally closed the deal on your new house! Elation that you have crossed all the t's and dotted the i's, relief that there is no more loose ends to tie up and

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Reasons You Should Avoid Buying A For Sale By Owner Home

When you’re looking to buy a home, you may wonder, “Does it matter if the property is listed with a real estate agent or the owners who are trying to sell it themselves?” Um, yes.

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The Importance Of Curb Appeal

The greatest curb appeal ideas are designed to do one thing: entice prospective buyers to look inside the house. What is curb appeal, if not for another form of marketing designed to

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What Does It Mean When A Home Is Being Sold In “As-Is” Condition?

As you look at listings online, you may come across a few that are listed in “as-is” condition. Those few words can have a big impact on your transaction, so it’s important to

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‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – Realtor® Edition

‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, only Realtors were stirring. And, of course, a mouse.The contracts were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that the closings

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Home Technology - Smart Appliances 101

It seems like everything is getting smart these days. First the phones were smart, then the thermostats. Now you can buy smart lighting, smart locks, smart cameras and even smart little sensors that

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The Hidden Costs Of Selling A Home

According to a new study by Zillow and Thumbtack.com, U.S. homeowners are spending an average of nearly $20,000 to sell their homes in 2018. The exact total is $18,342, according to

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What to look for when buying a home?

When buying a home one has to carefully inspect, study and understand the many potentials a house offers. In the broader sense, one has to look for the right location, the perfect locality that

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