February 2016 – Mel Foster Co Blog

Timeless Kitchen Remodel Ideas.

Posted on February 16, 2016

Creating a timeless kitchen isn’t only appealing to you, it increases the interest of potential buyers as well. Follow this list to create a future-proof kitchen that will stand the test of time. And help you get a higher return on your investment when you decide to sell.

Use Classic White Color

It’s hard to go wrong with a dominant white color in your kitchen. It opens the kitchen up, lightens the room and is a standard color for most kitchen fixtures. It’s also easy to display your kitchen as well kept and clean because dust has nowhere to hide.

Install Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors are a marketable feature for any kitchen. You can find a beautiful floor to meet almost any budget, which will pay off in the long run. Homebuyers consider hardwood floors very important when looking for a new home. Providing this feature might be a determining factor between your home and someone else’s.

Choose the Right Countertop

When it comes to classic countertops, one type comes to mind. Carrara marble. It’s been used in homes for thousands of years and will continue to be used for the next thousand. The subtle white colors with intricate graining look great in any kitchen. An added bonus is the availability compared to other minerals, creating a cost efficient investment.

Install Subway Style Backsplash

Using subway rectangle tiles creates a classic backsplash and looks great in any kitchen. Neutral colors can blend with any design you want, maximizing your resale value. Also consider using grey or beige grout to provide an accent color.

Create Efficient Storage

What everyone needs out of a kitchen is functionality. Make sure you have sufficient space for kitchen utensils. Having an island with a wine rack, or a walk in pantry provides enough storage for your kitchen supplies.

Mel Foster Co. Earns Website Quality Certification

Posted on February 12, 2016

Mel Foster Co. has been awarded the Website Quality Certification (WQC) from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®, a global community of more than 500 high quality independent real estate firms. Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®(LeadingRE) presents the certification in recognition of excellence in website design and function.

Mel Foster Co.’s website, www.melfosterco.com, earned the certification after receiving high marks in a number of critical areas relating to website performance, including usability, design and content, interactivity, customer service and mobile responsiveness. The evaluation was conducted by Virtual Results, LLC, a real estate internet and social marketing firm selected by LeadingRE to review the websites of participating members.

Available only to firms affiliated with LeadingRE, the WQC is awarded based on specific measurements that are updated each year based on the latest in internet marketing strategies and evolving consuming preferences. To maintain the certification, companies must be re-certified every two years.

“We created the WQC to raise the bar in online marketing and recognize the companies that are demonstrating best practices with their websites,” said Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “The 136 companies that earned the WQC this year have not only mastered the technical components, but they have also shown superiority in providing highly local content, up-to-the-minute information on homes, and responsive customer service.”

“We understand most home searches start online and one of our goals is to provide a wide range of functional tools homebuyers can use in their initial search. We go beyond listings and provide the resources to give prospective homebuyers the information they need to determine how much house they can afford and how to prepare for loan qualification. Customized information for seniors, first time buyers, investors or those building a home provides a more complete online experience. And once somebody is ready to buy, sell or build, it’s easy to find an agent using our website and connect with one of our offices in Iowa and Illinois, ” said Lynsey Engels, President Real Estate Brokerage of Mel Foster Co.

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

DenHartog Selected for Hall of Fame

Posted on February 5, 2016

Lynsey Engels, President Real Estate Brokerage of Mel Foster Co. is pleased to announce that Thad DenHartog, SIOR®, mangaging director of Mel Foster Commercial Real Estate Services L.L.C. has been selected as a member of the Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame 2015. He joins a select group of real estate professionals who have made a true difference in their industry and communities.

The award honors the Midwest’s most prestigious real estate professionals – those who have the vision and leadership to attain significant achievements in the industry and reshape their respective communities. “We are thrilled to congratulate Thad for this outstanding achievement,” said Lynsey Engels, President of Mel Foster Co. Real Estate Brokerage. “He is passionate about what he does and we are fortunate to have such a dedicated leader on our team. Thad truly exemplifies how hard work can lead to success and a fulfilling career in commercial real estate.”

DenHartog has been in the industry and with Mel Foster Commercial Real Estate Services for 17 years and is a licensed managing broker in Iowa and Illinois. He has been recognized as the company’s Top Commercial Producer for the last 14 years, and brought in $71 million in completed real estate transactions last year. For 16 consecutive years, DenHartog has achieved the Chairman’s Club level.

As one of the most prominent commercial Brokers in the Quad Cities, DenHartog holds an extensive knowledge of a vast number of properties, their history and values. Combined with his knowledge of market and economic trends, environmental needs and community expectations, he provides clients with confident trustworthy assessments, evaluations, and negotiations. Thad gives an expert level of service clients expect for a successful real estate investment, earning him many long-term loyal clients for substantial repeat business.

His expertise lies in Sale and Lease Agreements for Retail, Office or Industrial/Warehouse Buildings. Thad was instrumental in the development and marketing of a 210-acre project, with an economic impact of $250 million. Forty acres of the property are being developed into a casino and hotel complex in Davenport, Iowa.

He received the Blackhawk College Foundation Leaders Under 40 Award, is a member of the National Association of REALTORS^®, Illinois Association of REALTORS^®, Iowa Association of REALTORS^®, Quad City Area REALTOR^® Association, SIOR (The Society of Industrial & Office REALTORS^®), and ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers). DenHartog gives back to the community through serving professionally on various boards of directors including Humility of Mary Housing Inc. and Western Illinois University Advisory Board. When he is not working, he is an active supporter of the area’s youth programs by coaching his children’s sporting team.

He lives in Bettendorf, Iowa with his wife, Jennifer and their two children, Cooper and Kamryn.

Light My Fire.

Posted on February 4, 2016

If you’re considering installing a fireplace in your home, it’s hard to decide between a gas fireplace and a traditional wood fireplace. Here’s a break down of the differences so you make the right choice for your home.

Gas

Gas fireplaces are appealing, flip a switch and have a fire. You don’t have to fuss with firewood, ashes or cleanup. The exhaust can often be fit to existing chimneys so no additional construction is required beyond the installation of the fireplace itself. The warm air will stay inside your home, providing you with a consistent source of heat. It usually isn’t cost effective to heat your entire house with the gas fireplace, but heating a room or a large open space is a viable option.

Wood

Traditional fireplaces are typically cheaper than gas fireplaces. The install is cheaper, and so is wood when compared to propane. They require far more upkeep than gas fireplaces including cleaning up ashes, sweeping the chimney and personally working to keep the fire going. The upside most people appreciate is having an actual fire, with an appealing aroma, snaps and pops. If you enjoy creating your own fire and having a realistic experience, you definitely want to install a traditional fireplace.

Mel Foster Co. Supports A Hungry Challenge

Posted on February 1, 2016

Mel Foster Co. is proud to participate again in the QC Community Hunger Drive Corporate Challenge. The competition kicks off today and runs through February 28.

Each Mel Foster Co. office is conducting an internal food drive and collecting donations of money and/or canned food items for the Student Hunger Drive. In last year’s corporate challenge, Mel Foster Co. collected 25 pounds of food per person in the company and was honored with a first place award in its division category. Its insurance division won the Mel Foster Co. internal competition for a second year in a row.

“Mel Foster Co. agents and staff look forward each year to this competition to help fight hunger in our community,” says Lynsey Engels, President of Brokerage Division of Mel Foster Co. She added, “We are proud to be one of the thirty participating companies partnering with the River Bend Foodbank to elevate community awareness while contributing to fighting hunger in eastern Iowa and western Illinois.”