Planning for Your Baby

Creating the Perfect Nursery.
Creating the Perfect Nursery.

There are many things to worry about when a baby is on the way, but getting your nursery together shouldn’t be one of them. Here are a few tips to help you have a perfect nursery for your newborn.

Plan Ahead

The most important thing to do is to start with a plan. It’s very easy to get caught up in picking out cribs, toys and diapers, but you don’t want to find out later the curtains you love won’t match the paint you picked out. Be sure to get exact measurements to know how much space you have to work with. Starting with an overall plan will prevent future headaches.

Function over Fashion

Appearances aren’t everything when picking out furniture, paint and decorations. Don’t forget the nursery serves specific functions. You need to be able to change diapers, feed and calm the baby while remaining comfortable. Make sure the beautiful rocking chair you picked out is comfortable for extended periods of time, or the changing table, which fits perfectly with the room, also provides ample storage. You’ll end up kicking yourself if the investments you made aren’t practical.

Create a Calming Environment

You’ll be spending quite a few hours in the nursery, so be sure to create a comfortable environment. Natural colors and adjustable lighting are ideal to create a soothing environment for both you and the baby. If you plan to add fun colors and accessories, consult the color wheel and pick complimentary colors. This allows you to create a personal nursery, while remaining universally appealing if you decide to sell your home.

Be Creative with Storage

A nursery can never have too much storage. Diapers, wipes, blankets, clothing and medication need to be easily accessible. Adding shelves or stacking cubbies provides vertical storage to maintain more organization with less space. You’ll thank yourself when you easily diapers and spare clothes in the middle of the night.

Planning ahead to create the perfect nursery allows you to devote more time to caring for your baby. Your little one won’t be little forever, so enjoy being with them during this exciting time.

Mel Foster Co. Donates School Supplies.

Donating School Suppliles

Mel Foster Co. is donating 45,000 pencils to children in kindergarten through 8th grades, enrolled in Quad City schools and in the surrounding districts. The donation helps ensure young students start the school year with one new item from their school supply list.

Lynsey Engels, President, Real Estate Brokerage for Mel Foster Co. feels passionately about supporting the community, and is especially dedicated to causes that help youth. “Back to school time was always exciting for me and my siblings as children. As adults and parents now, we realize how important it is for a child’s self esteem to be high, especially as they enter a new grade or even a new school after a move. We also know the burden of school supplies can have on families and teachers so that’s why the pre-sharpened pencils were a must.  By giving school supplies, Mel Foster Co. helps to give that little boost that comes with having something new at back to school time.”

Pencils will be delivered to schools the week of 15 August.

“On behalf of the Davenport Community Schools and the Quad Cities First Day School Supply Drive, we are grateful for our newest partnership with Mel Foster Co. Our students always need pencils and this donation will help fill an important, basic need. A strong public education system is important to our quality of life and we appreciate your support for our students,” said Dawn Saul, Communications/Media Relations for Davenport Community School District.

Must Haves for Basement Finishing

Finishing Basement Tips
Finishing Basement Tips

If you’re planning on finishing your basement to raise your resale value, read these tips to make smart improvements that attract buyers.

  1. Keep it Dry

Protect your improvements from water. Before you start any basement renovations, make sure potential leaks are stopped. You don’t want your time, money and effort to be wasted due to water damage.

  1. Add a Vapor Barrier

Even after patching up any leaks, your basement can still feel or smell damp, which is a turn off to potential buyers. Adding a vapor barrier to the walls and floors before finishing will help your basement show well. You can check the barriers after a day or two to see if moisture is gathering. If there is significant moisture, you may need to add additional barriers.

  1. Add the Proper Insulation

Insulation doesn’t only help control the temperature, it can also add another layer of moisture protection. Choose an insulation that has a vapor barrier on both sides for added protection.

  1. Finish with Drop Ceilings

Drop ceilings are an easy way to conceal any plumbing or electrical lines without any major construction. If something does go wrong while renovating the basement, it’s easy to remove tiles to access the pipes and wiring. Keep in mind drop ceilings reduce the amount of overhead space.

  1. Install Recessed Lighting

Recessed lighting is a fabulous idea for any basement. It fits perfectly into drop ceilings while providing minimal and easily concealable wiring. It also provides invaluable amounts of space that hanging light fixtures would otherwise take up.

Avoid these Mistakes When Buying a Home

Are you making these mistakes?
Are you making these mistakes?

Buying a home isn’t always easy, especially for first time buyers. Knowing the more common mistakes will cut down on stress during the process.

  1. Not Seeking Professional Guidance

Starting the home buying process alone isn’t a good idea, especially if it’s your first time buying. Hiring an agent is a smart choice to help with the home search, negotiations, finances and closing. Agents are an incredibly valuable asset for any home buying situation.

  1. Missing Hidden Costs

Property insurance, taxes, maintenance and utilities are costs often forgotten during the excitement of buying a new home. Keep in mind these costs generally increase every year. Even if you can afford it now, ask yourself if you can afford it in the future.

  1. Skipping the Loan Preapproval Process

Being preapproved for a mortgage helps narrow your home search by directing you to homes within your budget. Talking to someone in advance will help set realistic expectations, and offer peace of mind knowing what homes will fit your budget appropriately.

  1. Depleting your Savings

It may seem as though you have the perfect amount of money in your savings to buy your home and move in, but if you’re emptying that account to buy a home, it means the home is too expensive. Ideally you’ll have saved enough money to buy your home, move and cover expenses for six months without pay. This is a safety net if you lose your job, so don’t blow all of your money on a home you can’t afford.

  1. Making Large Purchases after Closing

Celebrate buying a home with major purchases before closing may seem exciting, but lenders check credit scores to be sure your financial situation hasn’t changed. Putting new furniture or appliances on a credit card before your closing date may negatively affect your credit score. And adding new loans may jeopardize the original mortgage you were hoping to receive. Don’t learn this lesson the hard way and have this mistake cost you the home you were counting on.


,
Office:




© 2024