By Chad Taylor, the Taylor-Made Team Every year, homeowners ask me some version of the same question: "If I spend money on my house, where should I spend it?" Most people expect the answer to be a luxury kitchen renovation, a spa-like primary bathroom, or a major home addition. But the data tells a very different story. According to the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, many of the highest-return home improvement projects in Kansas City are relatively simple, practical upgrades that improve curb...

By Chad Taylor, the Taylor-Made Team Many of the neighborhoods that people love most in Johnson County have one thing in common: huge mature trees. Drive through Prairie Village, Fairway, Mission Hills, or old Leawood and it is obvious why buyers are drawn to these areas. The towering trees create character, shade, privacy, and beauty that newer neighborhoods simply cannot replicate overnight. But there is something homeowners need to understand about mature trees. They are not a “set it and...

By Chad Taylor, the Taylor-Made Team Even though most areas of town are still experiencing a seller-leaning market, and if priced correctly it is still a very good time to sell a home, there is one important thing sellers need to understand: even strong markets have limits. At the end of the day, a home is only worth what a seller is willing to sell it for and what a buyer is willing to pay for it. Pretty simple equation, right? Not always. In a strong market, sellers naturally want to push...