Cold temperatures can cause water pipes to freeze and cause the pipe to burst and likely lead to serious flooding, if no one is home. The best prevention against frozen pipes is to keep them warm enough to stay above the freezing point. Here’s four simple tips to help.
Turn up your heat. Now is not the time to reduce home temperatures.
Open bathroom and/or kitchen cabinets. If your sinks are near an outside wall, it’s a good idea to leave your cabinet doors open so that warmer room temperatures can flow into area.
Allow the faucets to drip. Water moving
through your water lines should prevent the line from freezing.
Use a space heater. A space
heater in rooms that are prone to frozen water lines, but make sure you’re home
when using. Do not leave unattended.
Investing your holiday or year-end bonus in home improvements is smart thinking. While planning a getaway to Hawaii sounds like the perfect way to spend that windfall, consider how using that money on your home instead will increase its long-term value.
$500 Bonus: Focus on the details
Add curb appeal. Try adding or updating some of the basics like a new mailbox, flower boxes, new house numbers or outdoor lighting and shrubs. Small touches can make for noteworthy differences. Take your exterior upgrades up a notch by painting your front door for a clean look.
$1,000 Bonus: Enhance and improve
Upgrade your water heater. Swapping a standard water heater for a tankless model isn’t a fun purchase but will save energy and money because it heats the water only as needed.
$2,000 bonus: More glam is worth it
Upgrade your home’s lighting. Switch out flush-mount fixtures for pendants or chandeliers, as this deliberately brings the light down and provides balance to the room. Change out your incandescent bulbs for LEDs. These bulbs help you save energy and come in warm and cool colors and a variety of wattages.
$3,000 bonus: Think return on investment
Add a backsplash to your kitchen. Kitchen upgrades often have the highest return on investment when it comes to home improvements. If you have neutral cabinets and floors, opt for tiles with big, bold prints. Or buy peel-and-stick backsplash tiles, which are inexpensive and removable, but provide texture and interest to the room.
$5,000 bonus: Have fun with the big projects
Create a simple outdoor kitchen. An outdoor kitchen allows you to cook and enjoy your outdoor gathering at the same time. Try purchasing a pre-made grill island or structure that has countertops and storage space. Add a mini refrigerator and some outdoor furniture. Don’t forget proper outdoor lighting around your new party zone.
Contact a Mel Foster agent to find out what improvements will give you the greatest return on your investment.
Lynsey Engels, President Real Estate Brokerage at Mel Foster Co. Inc. is pleased to congratulate Sherry Frankville and Kelly Welsh of their Moline office, and Marge Stratton of their commercial office for receiving the prominent REALTOR® Emeritus Status by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). This prestigious honor is awarded to licensed real estate professionals who have held membership in the REALTOR® organization for a minimum of 40 years. They were recognized during the Quad City Area REALTOR® Association’s Holiday Party and Installation Celebration on December 7th.
Sherry Frankville has been a licensed REALTOR® for 40 years and joined Mel Foster Co. in 1988. She is licensed in Iowa and Illinois. Sherry’s achievements include Chairman’s Club, Executives Club, President’s Club and Honors Club levels for Mel Foster Co. She is a member of the Quad City Area Association of REALTORS®, the Illinois Association of REALTORS®, the Iowa Association of REALTORS®, and the National Association of REALTORS®.
Marge Stratton started and worked in real estate with her father. She owned her own real estate company and joined forces with Mel Foster Commercial Real Estate in 2013 and has earned Chairman Club recognition with Mel Foster each year. She was inducted into the 2017 Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame.
Licensed Broker in Iowa and Illinois, she is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, Illinois Association of REALTORS®, Iowa Association of REALTORS®, Quad City Area REALTOR® Association, and the Society of Industrial & Office REALTORS® (SIOR). Since 1996, she has been a member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) and has served on several national committees, as well as the past present for the local SIOR Chapter. The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) is recognized as the leading professional commercial and industrial real estate association. She is one of the 2,7000 members of SIOR whom have attained the highest level of knowledge, production and ethics in the real estate industry. She has represented several Fortune 500 companies, in addition to many local landlords and tenant in the Quad City area.
Stratton’s dedication to the community is currently serving on the board of Downtown Davenport Partnership, Gilda’s Club, and Quad Cities Area REALTOR® Association.
Kelly Welsh began her career in real estate with Dasso Realty in 1978 then Boeye Realtors in 1992 and continued with Mel Foster Co. in 1992. Kelly served on the Board of Directors and on the Education Committee on the Rock Island County Board of Realtors prior to the merger with the Illinois and Iowa Board of Realtors. She has earned designations for Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) and Certified Real Estate Specialist (CRS). Kelly’s other achievements include Chairman’s Club, Executive Club and President’s Club at Mel Foster Co.
She is licensed in Illinois and Iowa and a member of the Quad City Area Association of REALTORS®, the Iowa Association of REALTORS®, and the National Association of REALTORS®. Kelly has two sons and daughters-in-laws and four grandchildren all who reside in Phoenix, Arizona.
“The Mel Foster Co. family congratulates Sherry, Kelly and Marge for their high achievements in their real estate careers,” said Lynsey Engels. “To be recognized for 40 years in real estate is amazing! We are fortunate to have their wealth of experience and knowledge on our team.”
See the latest trends in new home construction at the Fall 2018 Quad Cities Parade of Homes. Admission is free! The Parade of Homes schedule is as follows:
Saturday, October 13 & Sunday, October 14 from 1 pm – 5 pm
See all the homes in the parade and learn more about the Quad Cities Parade of Homes.
See the latest trends in new home construction at the Spring 2018 Quad Cities Parade of Homes. Admission is free! The Parade of Homes schedule is as follows:
Saturday, April 14 & Sunday, April 15 from 1 pm – 5 pm
Wednesday, April 18 from 5 pm – 7pm
Saturday, April 21 & Sunday, April 22 from 1 pm – 5 pm
Many first time buyers don’t take into account the cost of property tax on their new home and are surprised by their first tax bill. Make an informed decision when buying a home by understanding these property tax basics.
What are Property Taxes?
Property taxes vary from home to home, and are used to pay for various government programs like schools, libraries and emergency services. Property taxes are based on the market value of the home, not the price you paid for it.
How are the Taxes Assessed?
A home value assessment is usually conducted at the time of sale by a government tax assessor. You should ask the seller when the last assessment was done and what value the home was given. Be prepared for tax assessors to stop by throughout the year, especially if you’ve made improvements to your home.
Am I Eligible for Any Deductions?
There are several deductions applicable to property tax. There are deductions for military personnel, senior citizens and energy efficient homes. Deductions vary by location so the best thing to do is talk to a real estate agent to determine your options.
You can find the annual tax due for homes you are considering purchasing on the Mel Foster website. Just look under general features in the description of the home listing.
Traveling during the winter can be dangerous, especially during severe storms. Sometimes travel is unavoidable, so follow these tips to make sure you stay safe on the roads this holiday season.
Prepare Before a Storm Hits
Preparation is essential to having a reliable and safe car during the winter months. Have a mechanic check your battery, brakes, fluid levels and heating systems. Be certain your car is in the best possible shape. If you are stranded, make sure to only run the heat for about 10 minutes at a time as snow can sometimes block exhaust systems.
If you are going to travel, notify someone of your estimated travel time and route. This will provide you with a safety net if you end up stuck in a storm. Someone will know you’re not at your intended destination, and will be able to contact authorities for help if you can’t.
Create an Emergency Kit
It’s a great idea to have an emergency kit in your car at all times. Blankets, food, water, first aid kits, road flares, shovels, towrope, booster cables and sand for additional traction are all extremely useful, especially during longer trips. Make sure you don’t eat snow, as it will lower your body temperature. If it’s your only source of water, try to melt it first.
If you’re planning on a cross-country drive, make sure you have the required items to charge your cell phone. If you’re stuck somewhere the best thing you can do is to call 911, and remain in your vehicle while you wait for help to arrive.
Get The Right Insurance Coverage
Consider including towing or car rental to get back on the road faster after an accident or mechanical issue. Finding the right plan is easy, especially since Mel Foster Insurance offers a free auto quote. Visit our website to find an insurance agent today!
Selling your home quickly can be difficult, unless you follow Mel Foster Co.’s five tips for getting off the market quickly.
Price it Competitively from the Beginning
Your home listing receives the most attention during the first 30 days it’s on the market. Don’t set yourself up for failure by overestimating your home’s value. Online comparisons make it easier than ever to determine an accurate value of houses, so make your house stand out by pricing correctly the first time it’s listed. Your Mel Foster Co. agent can help you determine your listing price.
Advertise Immediately
Half the battle is letting everyone know your home is for sale. Your Mel Foster Co. agent will develop a custom advertising plan for you that includes adding your home to the MLS and letting other agents know it’s now on the market.
Showcase the House Online Properly
Over 90% homebuyers start the search for a new property online and the number one way to gain their attention is through high quality photographs. You need something better than awkwardly lit rooms with photos from an outdated camera. Using a professional photographer is the easiest way to get the best photos for your listing. Talk to you Mel Foster agent to help your home stand out among the competition.
Depersonalize Before Listing
Remove family photos, personal art, and collectible items from your home before showing off to buyers. Don’t take it personally, but buyers don’t want to see your life on display. They want to imagine themselves in the house, and your personal accessories make this difficult. Removing these items also has an added bonus of making the home look less cluttered and clean.
Sweeten the Deal
If you’re really in a hurry to get out of your home, offering to pay a portion of closing costs will attract buyers. Consider a shorter closing time so buyers can move in quickly after deciding they want to purchase your home. If you have a large yard and a riding lawn mower, include the mower during negotiations. There are numerous ways to generate additional interest, and asking your agent for ideas will help you find different options to expedite the sale.