Weigand Blog

Walking your dog is good for your own health and also for your dog's wellbeing. More active dogs are less prone to arthritis and joint pain as they age. On your end, walking can help keep your heart and mind healthy. If you've been meaning to walk your dog more often, October 1-7 is the week to start making that goal a reality. It's Walk Your Dog Week, and our real estate agents recommend visiting one of these Wichita parks to get started.

1. Chapin Park: 2400 E. MacArthur Rd., Wichita, KS 67216
   Chapin Park is a large, 190-acre regional park. There is a dedicated dog park with two separate, off-leash enclosures. Each park has a shaded shelter, so you and your dog can get some relief from the sunshine. There's plenty of parking on-site too.

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When selling your home, it's important to make the rooms feel as spacious as possible to maximize the appeal to buyers. Even if you feel like your home is too small, there are ways to make it feel bigger! Here are a few tips from our real estate agents for creating a light, airy, spacious feel inside your home.

• Clear the clutter. The first, and possibly the most important, thing you can do is to clear as much clutter as possible. Sometimes, this will mean making a long-overdue trip to the thrift store to donate all the stuff you no longer want or need. But when you get down to the stuff you don't want to get rid of, consider getting a storage unit for things you don't use daily, such as off-season clothes and other items. Even decluttering the closets is valuable since ones only partially filled emphasize available space.

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Fall is in the air in Kansas. The mornings are a little crisper, and leaves all over the Wichita area will show their autumn colors. If you're looking for places to see some great fall foliage this season, you're in luck! Our real estate agents are here to share their favorite leaf-peeping spots in the Wichita area. 

1. Botanica Wichita - 701 Amidon St., Wichita, KS 67203
   Spanning just over 17 acres, Botanica Wichita is a spectacular park and botanical garden in the heart of the city. It's an urban oasis just minutes from many Wichita homes for sale. Various themed gardens come alive with brilliant foliage in fall. The Woodland Walk & Frank Smith Woodland Glade is especially beautiful as the leaves change. The gardens also host many migrating monarch butterflies this time of year. The winged insects stop at the garden throughout September on their way south for the winter, providing an extra splash of color.

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Buying your first home can be intimidating, and our real estate agents are happy to help you navigate the process. But some things deserve your attention before you consult with them to ensure your readiness to buy. Here are a few important steps that will help you shop with confidence. 

• Don't Ignore Your Credit Score
  Many people operate under some serious misunderstandings about how credit scores are calculated. They have no idea what their score is and how much it affects their loan opportunities. You have more control over that number than you think. You can run your credit report once each year free of charge at Annual Credit Report.com.

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One of the best things about the Wichita area is how the community comes together to organize family-friendly events. Especially in the fall, there are so many outdoor festivals and celebrations to attend. If you're looking for something fun to do with your family, our real estate agents have some incredible recommendations for the coming months.

1. Kansas State Fair: 2000 N. Poplar St., Hutchinson, KS 67502
   If you're looking at Hutchinson homes for sale between September 9 - 18, stop by the Kansas State Fair for a day. The fair has so much to offer, from midway rides to animal exhibits. There are plenty of kid-friendly rides, including the Tea Cups and Berry Go Round.

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A walk through a thriving sunflower field is the perfect way to mark the end of your summer. Many of our real estate agents make yearly trips to these golden fields all around the Wichita area, enjoying the blossoms and the other activities available at each location. Join them by heading out to one of the spots on the list below. 

• Grinter's Sunflower Farm - 24154 Stillwell Rd., Lawrence, KS 66044
  With sunflowers as far as the eye can see, Grinter's Sunflower Farm is well worth the drive from Wichita. With the fields planted July 9th this year, sunflowers are expected to be in full bloom in early September. While professional photographs are known to schedule sessions here, the general public is welcome to snap pictures as well.
  
  Photo seekers are advised to come on a sunny day, about two hours after sunrise or before sunset. You're sure to be rewarded with some amazing pictures.

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Getting a home inspection is an important part of buying your home, as it lets you know of any potential problems and allows you to back out or renegotiate the contract if the issues are substantial. With so much riding on this step, however, you shouldn't hire just anyone to inspect your home. Here are seven important questions our real estate agents recommend asking your home inspector.

1. What are your qualifications?
   Kansas does not require any licensing or certification to become a home inspector, so you'll need to do the footwork to ensure your inspector is qualified to do the job. Look for an inspector with certifications from a reputable source, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).

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When you bought your home, you probably had plenty of resources to tell you what to expect at closing, from first-time homebuyer counselors to agents to internet articles. But now that the shoe is on the other foot, you may have a rough time gathering the information you want about the closing process. Our real estate agents want to address all your questions and concerns. 

• What is closing?
  The final step in executing a real estate transfer is closing. The process began when you accepted and returned the purchase agreement. Closing is the final deadline to complete the transaction, which was pre-set during the negotiation period. Both buyer and seller will sign the closing documents, and the buyer will take possession of the home. Both parties must comply with all requirements to ensure a smooth transition.

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