Tag: Mel Foster

5 Hot Trends In New Construction

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You’ve decided to build for the freedom to select the amenities and finishes that match your lifestyle and tastes. Here’s a list of five trends to discuss with your builder.

1. Smart House
Automating systems like heating, AC, security and lights can save you money. You can even control systems when you aren’t home by using your iphone.

2. Media Madness
Media rooms that only serve one function are becoming a thing of the past as home sizes shrink. Media still plays a huge role for many when deciding on a home layout, but the media rooms now have more comfortable seating, tables and good lighting. They are intended for more frequent usage than movie theater style rooms of the past.

3. Bye Bye Bulk
Smaller new homes call for smaller furniture pieces, including built ins. Consider swapping out a heavy wall of cabinets for floating shelves. Less bulky furniture also allows more natural light in.

4. Go Low
Check out more energy efficient toilets, faucets and appliances. It’s better for your utility bill and the environment.

5. Reclaim It
Go on the hunt for reclaimed materials that can be integrated into your home’s design. Look for rustic wood, light fixtures or cabinet pulls that will give your home a one of a kind feel.

Color the Quads Announces 2014 Charity Recipients

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Mel Foster Co. Color the Quads is pleased to announce the charity recipients for the second annual Color the Quads race to be held on Saturday, May 31, 2014. In its inaugural year, Color the Quads donated proceeds to two local charities, and in 2014, three local charities will benefit from the race proceeds.

The 2014 charities are the Child Abuse Council, the local chapter of March of Dimes – Mississippi Valley Division and Rick’s House of Hope.

“The March of Dimes of the Mississippi Valley is thrilled to be selected as one of the charity’s of choice for the 2014 Color the Quads event. The proceeds will help advance our mission to ensure that all babies are born healthy in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas,” said Deena Bradford – Quad City Division Director.

Rondi Doyle, Director of Constituent Relations at The Child Abuse Council said, “We are delighted to be one of the charities selected to receive proceeds from the 2014 Color the Quads 5K Race. Race participants will know when registering that they are helping local children be raised in safe and nurturing homes.”

“We are deeply grateful to Mel Foster Co. and the Color the Quads for selecting us to be a part of this awesome new event. As a charity-partner, we are humbled by the support and exposure that will greatly benefit the grieving and traumatized children and families we are privileged to serve,” mentioned Emily Gordon, Program Director, Rick’s House of Hope.

Lynsey Engels, President of Mel Foster Co. Brokerage Division and Color the Quads Committee XXX, said, “We have a goal of raising $25,000 for each of the three charities in 2014.” Last year’s inaugural event benefited two local organizations, the YMCA Youth Solutions and Camp Abe Lincoln and the Children’s Therapy Center of the Quad Cities. The event raised $25,500 for each charity.

The 2014 Color the Quads 5K will take place on Saturday, May 31 near Cumberland Square at 2300 Spruce Hills Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa. Registration fees and sign up date will be announced before the end of this year. Stay tuned at www.colorthequads.com for more information.

Mel Foster Co. to Host a Career Seminar

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Would you like to be a part of a dedicated, vibrant and growing real estate family that has ten offices in two states with more than 220 agents strong?  A career in real estate provides flexibility and freedom to set your own pace and control your own income.

A career with Mel Foster Co. offers you the chance to be in business for yourself but not by yourself.  You will work with a team of professionals dedicated to helping you achieve your dreams.  Mel Foster Co. will provide you with all the skills and tools you need to enjoy a successful career.

Mel Foster Co. is offering a FREE Career Seminar on Tuesday, August 6th from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at our Moline office, located at 2500 41st Street.

Join us and discover the Mel Foster difference!  For reservations or further information contact Margaret Beetz at 563.823.2237 or mbeetz@melfosterco.com. Come and discover how you really can have a financially rewarding career that make a difference in people’s lives, including your own.

Five Smooth Moves

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Summer is the season for moving and your kids probably don’t want to leave their friends at the height of their summer vacation. But settling into your new home before the school year begins will help your kids make a smoother transition.

Follow these five tips to make moving easier on your kids and you:

1. Communicate. Let kids know what is happening now and what will happen next. Stay positive and repeat often the advantages of moving.

2. Introduce your child to their new community online and show them as much as you can about their new neighborhood, school, parks and home. If your new city is close, make an event of driving there and spending time exploring as a family.

3. Keep to a normal routine as much as possible. This will help the kids feel secure and safe.

4. Keep children occupied by letting them pack a box or two of their special things. Give them input on a new paint color and décor for their new bedroom.

5. Most kids will want to take part in busy moving day activities, and you should allow them to do so. Your preparedness will go a long way in reassuring your children that their needs are being considered, even while big changes are happening around them.

Need more help making the move smooth for your family? Mel Foster Co. Relocation has children in mind with special customized kits for your children whatever their age. Request your free kit at relocation@melfosterco.com.

Color the Quads Raises $50,000 for Local Charities

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Mel Foster Co.’s Color the Quads raised over $50,000 for local charities during its first annual colorful run on June 1 in Bettendorf, Iowa.  One hundred percent of the proceeds from the first Color the Quads event went to the YMCA Youth Solutions/Camp Abe Lincoln and the Children’s Therapy Center of the Quad Cities.  Each organization received $25,500, thanks to the generosity of over 3,300 participants, 300 children racers and sponsors.

“Thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers and participants whose hard work made the Color the Quads such a great success,” said Scott County Family Y CEO Brad Martell.  “The funds we receive will go directly to support at-risk students and children through Camp Abe Lincoln and our Solutions outreach program.  Having good, healthy fun while strengthening the community is what the Y is all about.”

“This event was well organized and The Children’s Therapy Center was honored to be involved.  The funds are important because more and more families are under insured or uninsured.  This fiscal year, 62% of the services we have provided have not been reimbursed,” said Children’s Therapy Center of the Quad Cities’ W.K. Junker.
The event’s Color Party, Color Explosion and Color Burst sponsors include:  Mel Foster Co., Tri-City Electric, Orthopaedic Specialists, Gomez May LLP, Vollertsen, Britt & Gorsline P.C., Valley Bank, Pear Advertising, Terrostar Interactive Media, Radon Solutions, Hawkeye Paving, Active Endeavors, Quad-City Times, Build to Suit, XPAC, TMI, and Hy-Vee.
“We are thrilled with the way our company, the sponsors and the entire community got behind this event.  We are very fortunate to live in an area where giving back is such a high priority,” said Lynsey Engels, President of Mel Foster Co.
Mel Foster Co. plans to hold Color the Quads again in 2014.  For future event updates, go to www.colorthequads.com or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ColorTheQuads.

Wanted: Your Home

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Now is an ideal time to list your home for sale because there are many buyers, but not enough homes for sale. This means you can get a higher selling price now that the market is in the seller’s favor.

Interest rates are still low which encourages homeowners to move. More competition is always good for sellers who may be in a position to review multiple offers. Sometimes a bidding war can break out, driving the final sales price up higher than the listing price.

According to James D. Shilling from DePaul University’s Institute for Housing Studies, the seller’s market is driving home prices up higher. This helps homeowners with negative or low equity to make more money from a sale and eases the burden of being upside down on their home. This gives the seller a chance to enter the market as a buyer when interest rates are near record lows.

Shilling predicts rates will stay low through 2013 and most likely into 2014. But the interest rates won’t stay low forever. When rates do rise, homeowners won’t want to sell their homes and lock into a new, higher interest rate. This shift means fewer buyers and lower offer prices for your home.

It’s a sweet time to be a seller. Contact a Mel Foster Co. agent about listing your home and take advantage of the market conditions.

Relocation Directors Council®

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Lynsey Engels, President of the Real Estate Brokerage Division at Mel Foster Co. Inc., is pleased to announce that their Director of Residential & Corporate Relocation, Deb Boland, attended the Relocation Directors Council®  (RCD)’s annual Spring Event.

This year’s conference theme was “In Charge of Change Defining Our Future” and held in San Diego, California in May.

Over 120 relocation professionals from across the country gathered to participate in continued educational training, as well as networking with top industry leaders.  Panelists from Relocation Management Companies and RDC’s Advisory Councils addressed today’s topics pertinent to those who manage mobility, domestically and globally.

Mel Foster Co. to Host a Career Seminar

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Would you like to start your own business, work for yourself, control your own income?  A career with Mel Foster Co. offers you the chance to be in business for yourself but not by yourself.  You will work with a team of professionals dedicated to helping you achieve your dreams.  Mel Foster Co. will provide you with all the skills and tools you need to enjoy a successful career.
Mel Foster Co. is offering a FREE Career Seminar on Thursday, June 6th from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at our Bettendorf office, located at 2300 Spruce Hills Drive.
Join us and discover the Mel Foster difference!  For reservations or further information contact Margaret Beetz at 563.823.2237 or mbeetz@melfosterco.com.  Come and discover how you really can have  financially rewarding career that makes a difference in people’s lives, including your own.

Mel Foster Co. Color the Quads Ready for Saturday

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The first annual Color the Quads is Saturday, June 1, starting with the Kid’s race at 9am and the 5K at 4pm in Cumberland Square at 2300 Spruce Hills Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa.  All 5K race participants are invited to attend the colorful Tri-City Electric after-party where the fun continues after the race.
Packet pickup is Thursday, May 30 at 5pm-8pm, Friday, May 31 from Noon-5pm and Saturday, June 1 at 11am-1pm at the Color the Quads Headquarters located in Cumberland Square at 2304 Spruce Hills Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa.
The 5K race course starts on 18th Street in Bettendorf and follows this path:  head north towards Bettendorf High School, turn east on Tanglefoot Lane to Devils Glen Road, turn south on Devils Glen Road to Maplecrest Road, turn west on Maplecrest Road to Victoria, turn south on Victoria to Tech Drive, turn west on Tech Drive to 18th Street, turn south on 18th Street to the finish line!  Spectators are welcome along the race course to cheer on the participants as they get blasted with bursts of color powder on the course.

The Pitfalls Of For Sale By Owner

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Selling a house sounds easy. Take some pictures, get them on a for sale by owner website and watch the offers come in. The reality is, your home may sit on the market longer and you may price it below market value. These mistakes could cost you thousands of dollars.

Get an agent on your side when you decide to list your house. Agents and FSBO companies have different motivations. Your agent is working hard to sell your home for you and is only compensated once your home is sold. An FSBO website makes money when your home doesn’t sell and you pay for another month of listing.

Only your agent can help you determine a fair selling price based on comparable listings and sales in your neighborhood. This competitive market analysis can give you a realistic sales price. A home that is priced right will sell quickly in most situations. An FSBO site won’t offer specific information to determine how to price your home.

With an FSBO listing, you are responsible for scheduling and facilitating the open houses. It can be frustrating to watch potential buyers enter, then exit, your home in less than five minutes. They won’t stick around long enough to tell you honestly what’s keeping them from choosing your house. But an agent knows how to engage potential buyers in a meaningful dialogue that can reveal buyer concerns that might be keeping your home from selling.

Your agent also has the necessary paperwork for a buyer to make an offer. Selling you house is a transaction of many thousands of dollars. This is not the time to play agent and lawyer for yourself. Be smart when you list your home and use an agent.


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