muscatine condos for sale – Page 8

Are There Signs It’s Time to Sell?

Posted on August 20, 2015

You may have been thinking about it for a while, but it’s hard to decide when to put your home on the market. Mel Foster Co. offers this quick checklist to make the decision a little easier for you.

1. Do you have enough space in your home?

If you have physically outgrown your space, it might be time to start looking for a new home. If your special someone has moved in or you’re starting a family, it might be time to sell. Even buying new furniture that you love, and feeling a little cramped once you move it in, might mean you’re needing a larger space.

2. Are homes selling quickly in your neighborhood?

If you’re driving around the neighborhood and notice many for sale signs going up and homes selling fast, it could mean your area is popular and potentially selling above market value. This is a great time to call your real estate agent and find out more about selling your home. It might be worth more than you think.

3. Is caring for your home becoming too much of a burden?

If you’re no longer enjoying home improvement projects or renovations you might want to find a new home that is less labor intensive. If you’re planning on selling in the future, be aware lack of maintenance may decrease your home’s value. Be sure to act fast before you lose a valuable opportunity to show your home at its best.

Mel Foster Co. Marple elected for NAR officer

Posted on August 20, 2015

Lynsey Engels, President, Real Estate Brokerage at Mel Foster Co. Inc. is pleased to announce that Don Marple of their Davenport Kimberly Road office is on the list of 2017 Eligible Candidates as Regional Vice-President for Region 8 for NAR elected office per the Credentials and Campaign Rules Committee. The eligible candidates will be elected for office at the May 2016 NAR Board of Directors meeting in Washington, D.C.

Don has been a licensed Realtor^® in Iowa for more than 38 years, and has worked at Mel Foster Co. in Davenport since 1995. He has been an active member of the IAR since 1980, serving on numerous committees, including past chair of the annual convention, and member of the education, consumers affairs, technology and member services committees. He served as IAR president in 2013, president-elect in 2011 and treasurer in 2010. He received the IAR President’s Special Recognition Award in 1995 and 2014 Iowa Realtor of the Year. He has also been a member of the Realtor^® Foundation of Iowa Board of Directors.

Marple is presently serving on the National Association of Realtors^® (NAR) – Public Housing and MLS Policy Committees. Marple also served as a commissioner on the State of Iowa Real Estate Commission from 2004-2007.

Marple has also served in various leadership roles on his local board, the Quad Cities Area Realtors^® Association, including 2002 president, secretary/treasurer, and as a member of several committees. He received Realtor^® of the Year Award in 1998 and the Bert Frahm Award for Outstanding Dedication and Service to the Real Estate Industry and to the Community in 1995. He has earned several of real estate’s highest designations, including Graduate, Realtor^® Institute (GRI), and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS).

Marple is very active in his community. He is currently a commissioner on the Scott County Condemnation Board. He has also served as past president for the Donahue Sportsman Club and was a founding member of the North Scott Soccer Club. He has been a Junior Achievement volunteer in the North Scott School District for the past 19 years, as well as a long-time volunteer with the Cub Scouts and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Eilers Nominated

Posted on August 18, 2015

MEL FOSTER CO. EILERS NOMINATED

Lynsey Engels, President, Real Estate Brokerage at Mel Foster Co. Inc. is pleased to announce that Marty Eilers of their Bettendorf office has been nominated for The Good Neighbor Award, which is sponsored by the REALTORS® Foundation of Iowa. The Good Neighbor Award recognizes Realtor® members in Iowa that are making positive changes in their communities by helping others. The award winners will be announced on Thursday, September 24^th at the Awards Breakfast held at the IAR Annual Convention in Altoona, Iowa.

Marty is a member of the Quad City Area Association of REALTORS®, Iowa Association of REALTORS®, Illinois Association of REALTORS®, National Association of REALTORS®, and the Quad City Builders and Remodelers Association. He was nominated for his involvement in the Building & Trades Project, Inc. which is a project giving high school students experience and exposure to the home building process from start to finish.

Getting Back Into the Home Buying Game

Posted on August 15, 2015

If it’s been a while since you’ve bought or sold a house, you’ll be surprised how little actual paperwork there is now. The trend is paperless transactions, meaning documents are viewed on your computer and you may not have any hard copies. It can be a little intimidating, but your Mel Foster Co. agent can help you navigate your digital options. Here are a few things to discuss with your agent:

1. How will you communicate with me: by phone, e-mail or text? Let your agent know what you are most comfortable with and you will be accommodated.

2. Can you walk me through opening documents on my computer and how to sign digitally?

3. Can I get paper copies of everything if I don’t use a computer?

Don’t be afraid to ask your agent for help and don’t feel pressured into storing documents electronically if you would prefer to have them physically. Mel Foster Co. has several Senior Real Estate Specialists® that might be a good fit with your technology comfort level.

Check out Mel Foster Co.’s senior services. This link lists services Mel Foster Co. offers to help make it easier to get back into the home buying game.

Fix Up Your Home for Energy Savings

Posted on August 13, 2015

Now that summer is here, home improvement projects are in full swing. Take advantage of the warmer temperatures to improve your home’s energy efficiency throughout the year.

Keep the cool air inside your house this summer by making siding repairs, checking for gaps or cracks and adding or replacing insulation. Repairing any damage will help your home be more energy efficient. You’ll save on heating and cooling costs in the long run.

Another popular project with year round utility savings is roofing. Not only will installing new shingles help keep your home dry during storms, it will also insulate your home and once again help you save on heating and cooling over time.

Lastly, cleaning your HVAC system is easy to do when your hose is hooked up for summer watering. Make sure any part with visible buildup or dust on it is cleaned. This will help extend the life of your cooling system and ensure it is running properly. Taking some time to clean it every summer may save you hundreds in potential repair bills.

Getting Kids Involved In Your Home Search.

Posted on May 12, 2015

Children are becoming more and more involved in the search for real estate, especially as children wait longer to leave the nest and complete their education. Depending on the age of your children, they can use technology to find homes for sale or even be an integral part of determining how much house you can afford.

Mel Foster Co. lists all home for sale, from every listing company, at www.melfosterco.com. Your kids can help you filter by price, bedrooms and other options that are important to you.

The free Mel Foster Co. app can be downloaded to find all homes for sale around a particular location. Once you have the app downloaded to your phone or tablet, your tech-savvy child can launch the Foster Finder to activate your device’s camera and GPS to identify listings while you drive. It’s a fun way to get kids involved on the drive home from school or a friend’s house. And having a helper while you drive is the safe way to search on the go.

Children of all ages can benefit from the financial lessons that go along with buying a house. Searching within a budget is an easy lesson for younger children while budgeting for expenses like homeowners insurance, taxes, inspections and closing costs is a valuable exercise for older children who may soon be buying their first home.

Make your home search a family affair and involve your kids at an age appropriate level.

Property Virgin Buyers’ Tips.

Posted on April 21, 2015

If you’re considering buying a home in your 20s, or just for the very first time, it may seem like a daunting task. It may not be easy, but with this helpful guide you’ll be able to confidently search for a home that’s right for you and your plans for the future. Break it down into smaller portions, and it becomes much easier, and less stressful, to buy a home.

The first thing you need to think about is how long you’re planning on staying in this new home. Are you looking for a forever home? Somewhere you can stay for a few years? These are important questions when it comes to finding the house you’re looking for.

You should decide if the house is just for you, or a future family that will live in the house for the next 20 years. Deciding what type of house you are searching for can help narrow the search and help your agent know what you’re looking for in a home.

The last step is extremely important, and may seem obvious, but always needs to be considered when it comes to finding your new home. You have to find a home that is within your price range. Remember to think about how long you could be able to afford the mortgage if you were laid off from your job, or pursuing other personal ventures. Whatever your plans are for buying a house, make sure that they are financially feasible.

Mel Foster agents are experts at finding homes that fit your needs. Click here to view new listings and start your home search today.

Insurance Basics For First Time Buyers.

Posted on April 9, 2015

You’ve compared the costs of renting vs. owning, and home ownership is in your future. As you budget for new household expenses, be sure to include homeowners insurance, which is usually more expensive than what you are paying for renters insurance.

Having enough coverage with your homeowners insurance will give you peace of mind knowing that your home is protected. There are a few things that you should consider when choosing a homeowners insurance policy.

You need to be sure that you understand what most standard policies cover. It usually includes exterior and interior damage from vandalism, fire and weather incidents. It also may cover out of pocket expenses, damage to outside structures and even medical costs if someone is injured on your property. It also covers personal property, which is why it’s so important to have photos and to keep purchase receipts of your most expensive assets.

Also keep in mind that whenever you add something to your existing home, such as a porch or an extra bathroom, you should see if your policy needs to be adjusted. Renovations and additions can add significant value to your home and you want to be sure that the new investments you have made are also covered by your insurance.

One thing that is missing from some standard policies is coverage for flood damage. Ninety percent of damage from natural disasters occurs from flooding. Insurance providers usually offer an additional policy that will have insurance for any flood damage that may occur. Keep this in mind if you have a finished basement.

Often it can take up to 30 days for new policies to go into effect. So don’t delay any longer, contact Mel Foster Insurance today.

Mel Foster Co. and movingWOLF Deliver a Suite of Services Tailored to Moving Families

Posted on April 7, 2015

Mel Foster Co. has teamed up with movingWOLF, a program offered by the WOLFmedia division of Lone Wolf Real Estate Technologies, to offer clients in the home buying and selling process deals on hyper-local and national brands, all providing discounts to save the consumer money.

Your Mel Foster Co. real estate agent will be supplying exclusive email offers to home buyers and sellers. Each email delivers discounts on items relevant to where the home buyer or seller is in the moving process. Offers range from products and services needed before, during and after the move such as moving trucks, boxes and supplies, home services set-up, home security, restaurants, decorating and renovations.

“We are thrilled to partner with movinWOLF in a marketing benefit to offer our clients money saving opportunities with some local and national brands and assist them in organizing their move”, mentions Lynsey Engels, President Real Estate Brokerage of Mel Foster Co.

A study by the National Association of REALTORS^® found that movers spend, on average, $9,000 on goods and services during their move. In an effort to help clients transition into their new home, Mel Foster Co. has joined the movingWOLF program to provide savings along the way.

The program also serves as a reminder to consumers of the services and products they’ll need throughout the moving process. Moving can be hectic and reminders to get boxes or book the moving truck, along with a discount for those products and services, helps consumers stay organized and ahead of the game, alleviating stress and pressure during a move.

“Consumers spend more money in a 180-day window during their move than they will in any other time in their lives,” says Scott Oakley, Vice President of Lone Wolf Real Estate Technologies’ WOLFmedia Division. “The value of the service is not only the money-saving offers to alleviate the cost of moving but also the reminders to book services and pick up products they’ll need before, during and after their move. This improves the experience for consumers and reinforces their decision to work with their real estate agent.”

For more information about Mel Foster Co., please visit www.melfosterco.com.

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About Lone Wolf Real Estate Technologies

Lone Wolf Real Estate Technologies Inc. is the North American leader in real estate solutions and services with almost 10,000 offices utilizing their fully integrated product lines. Lone Wolf’s Complete Enterprise Solutions is comprised of its core products and services – brokerWOLF back office management solution, WOLFconnect front office management solutions, globalWOLF website solution, loadingDOCS paperless office solution, mobileWOLF mobile solution, WOLFmedia ad revenue generation service, WOLFwatch accounting service and Lone Wolf’s newest service specific to the agent marketplace, agentWOLF. The Complete Enterprise Solution is ideal for real estate offices looking to seamlessly manage their data from the back office to the front office to brokerage and agent websites, providing a single point of entry for data, significant time savings and profitability opportunities. The Complete Enterprise Solution is an invaluable component of a successful real estate brokerage. Lone Wolf has offices in Cambridge, ON, Langley, BC, Las Vegas, NV and Show Low, AZ. For more information please visit www.lwolf.com.

About Mel Foster Co.

Founded in 1921, Mel Foster Co. is a Real Estate Leader of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois serving Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island and the surrounding Quad City area, and it is one of Iowa’s largest independently owned real estate company. The company specializes in residential sales and offers services in insurance, commercial, farm and land sales, land development, relocation, career development, and new construction. Visit their website at http://www.melfosterco.com for more information.

From Vanilla To Va Va Voom.

Posted on March 26, 2015

Help make your new construction home stand out among the sea of vanilla by adding a little color and style to the front of your home.

Paint the front door

If you got a boring builder’s special door, a little color will make your house pop. Make the job even easier and take the door off the hinges and paint the door while it’s laying flat.

Accentuate your address

It’s inexpensive to buy decorative house numbers and it’s fast to swap out the old numbers with new.

Dress up the porch

Just two chairs in a bright paint color or with bold accent pillows will make your porch stand out and serve as an inviting gesture to your new neighbors.

Pot some plants

You can go bold with colorful annuals or more sophisticated with urns and greenery. If you don’t have a green thumb, opt for a small shrub or dwarf evergreen. It’s hard to go wrong with something hardy that doesn’t require daily watering.

Welcome mat

Let your neighbors know you’ve now moved in with a colorful welcome mat.