I work with a lot of buyers from out of state. A large percentage of them ask for a home with a walkout basement. It is obvious that many of these buyers do not need the basement for the space. They are wanting shelter from tornados.
I recently worked with some buyers who had a basement home as their #1 criteria. Several months into the process, it was obvious that the only homes we were going to find that fit all of their other criteria were not going to have basements. We finally found one home that both husband and wife loved. The only problem...it didn't have a basement.
The husband finally asked me: "Aren't you worried about tornadoes?"
My response: "Not really. I suppose I'm used to them."
I'm a native in the Springfield/Ozark area. I have grown up around tornados and tornado warnings. (Knock on wood) I've not been blown away yet. Tornados are a part of life to natives of our area. I am actually more afraid of hurricanes and earthquakes, probably because I've never experienced one. I think our fears are rooted in what we are unfamiliar with.
As we sat down to write an offer, imagine my surprise when I pulled the Seller's Disclosures to find in big print at the top, "EXTENSIVE REMODELING IN 2006 DUE TO TORNADO DAMAGE." Hmmm. Great. My clients fears are justified. The husband asked HOW MUCH damage was done. A call to the listing agent confirmed that $120,000 worth of damage was done to the home. Since this home didn't have a basement, my clients wanted to know if the sellers were home when the tornado hit, and where they were in the house. The listing agent encouraged us to call the seller directly. Here's how the conversation went.
Me: Were you home at the time of the tornado?
Seller: Yes.
Me: Where were you in the house?
Seller: Well, my wife was in the hall bathroom, and I was on the front porch. The tornado hit about 1:00 a.m., and it was pitch black outside. We heard on the radio reports that the tornado was headed straight towards our home. I stood on our front porch for about 10 minutes. Finally, a bolt of lightening lit up the sky, and I could see it right across the street. My wife yelled, "Hurry up, it's coming." I turned and started for the hall bathroom and yelled, "No, it's here!" and barely got the door shut before the dining room windows broke.
Neither of the sellers were injured. Fortunately, their homeowners insurance paid for the damage, and the wife was thrilled that she was actually able to make numerous other upgrades throughout the home with the money they received from insurance.
After we hung up the phone, my client looked at me very seriously and said, "I can't buy that home. I don't believe the seller is in his right mind, and believe he is incapable of making any decisions regarding any contracts." My client honestly believed the sellers were mentally ill.
Maybe we are crazy. As I am writing this, there is a tornado warning in my area. The tornado sirens are on, and the electricity is flickering on and off. Me....I'm in my garage in a lawn chair with my laptop. As I peek out the garage door, I can see people standing in front of nearly every home down my street. What are they doing? Watching for the tornado....of course.
If you are thinking of moving to Springfield, Missouri, and have a fear of tornados, consider buying a walkout basement home. However, if a basement is not in your budget, visit Missouri Storm Shelters. For $3,500 you can have an inground concrete shelter installed....a price that costs much less than a basement home.
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Lina Robertson
Owner/Agent
RE/MAX Solutions
1715 James River Road
Ozark, MO, 65721 |
Mobile: (417) 844-7265
linarobertson@remax.net
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RE/MAX - Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results!
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I am a full-time REALTOR® in Springfield, MO, and a member of the Greater Springfield Board of REALTORS®, helping Buyers and Sellers with homes for sale in the Springfield MO Real Estate, and Ozark MO Real Estate markets as owner and full-time agent of RE/MAX Solutions. Visit my website at www.ozarks-realestate.com and obtain access to search for All Springfield MO Area MLS listings, as well as current Springfield MO Area Real Estate Market Reports.
Lina, I do not know anything about your market area, but in northeastern Ohio, almost all of the homes have basements. We do not have tornados, or at least I cannot remember any. Several times I have found homes for folks and, when they realized the home did not have a basement, they said to keep on looking. It had nothing to do with tornados, just with them wanting what they were used to, which was having a basement.
All real estate is local.
Sounds like a lot of fun Lina. People say it rains all the time here but I haven't rusted yet. Thanks for the Tornado insight, I guess we can't worry about things that may never happen!
Lina, what are the odds that the house had been hit by a tornado!!! Unbelievable!! Great information and yes it seems like 3500 is a reasonable cost for some peace of mind...Thanks for sharing, Jen
Basements are important in different parts of the country, even if it is just for storage.
Carolyn - you're right...real estate is local.
Paul - I guess I just have the belief that when it's your time...it's your time, whether you have a basement or not.
Jennier - You have no idea the amount of laughs we've gotten over that one! Funnier yet, none of us in our office can even remember a tornado hitting that area. The home across the street went up for sale and when we pulled their disclosures, they said their roof had been replaced from "wind damage." LOL It's all perception.
Joan - A lot of people want the basement for storage, but many buyers in our area have heard the horror stories about "tornado alley" and have very high fears of it.
Lina, interesting post. Just so happens, I too went outside to look up at the sky. No basement or tornado here!
Lina - Tornado's are a part of your life like hurricanes are a part of mine. I think no matter where people live they are going to have to deal with mother nature one way or another.
P.S. Great suggestion about the inground concrete shelter
Lina, we have tornado watch often during late Spring and early Summer. I also noticed our out of State clients like to ask for a house with basement, but usually for a different reason. They are mostly from the areas where homes with basement are common, but we don't have homes with basement at all here.
As a child I grew up in Texas and we were always having tornado warnings and of course the occasional tornado. Now I live in Missouri and it is the same thing. Would I fall in the same category --- crazy?
Jim - you are a true native!
Michelle - You're so right. If it's not hurricanes or tornados, it's earthquakes, rain, extreme hot or extreme cold.
Rita - I'm actually surprised you don't have basement homes in your area. That's something I did not know.
Don - At the risk of sounding like Jeff Foxworthy, "If you stand on your front porch to watch the tornado, you might be crazy." :) At least I'm in good company!
We have lots of basements here in Montana, and only a few tornado's. Unfortunately we had a very destructive one on Father's day this year--took out our 12,000 seat Sports and Concert Arena :(
Saw this as a re-blog, commented there, had to drop by and tell you to put down the computer. cw