Category: News

Mel Foster Co. Toasts Historic Year

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Fick Family announcing their biggest year in company history
Fick Family announcing their biggest year in company history

Mel Foster Co. held its annual awards reception last night at the Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf, Iowa. Lynsey Engels, President Real Estate Brokerage and Marc Engels, President of Mel Foster Insurance presented awards to 122 agents that were recognized for achieving membership in the company’s different sales club levels including Chairman, Executive, President and Honor. Top honors were awarded to:

Thad DenHartog – Commercial Top Sales

Diana Franks – Residential Illinois Top Sales

Geri Doyle – Residential Iowa Top Sales

Joe Ertel – Insurance Top Personal Lines

Mike Smith – Insurance Commercial Top Producer

Mike Kessel – Insurance Top Employee Benefits

Combining all three divisions of Mel Foster Co. Inc., the total sales volume increased by 9.21 percent from 2012, surpassing the total sales of 2005, when the market was at its peak, and making it the biggest year in the history of the 93 year old company. Rob Fick attributed Mel Foster Co.’s success to dedicated staff and agents, who continue to build and maintain relationships within their teams and outside of the company. Fick also attributed the increase as a reflection of a strengthening economy and higher consumer confidence in 2013. “I am very proud of what the company accomplished this year. I know Mel Foster Jr. would be equally proud to see us continuing his vision of forward progress and leadership in this community. We’re starting 2014 with great optimism and a stronger economy than in years past, and I anticipate 2014 to be another year of growth for Mel Foster Co. We were fortunate in 2013 to welcome 39 new agents and staff, and 28 individuals are currently enrolled in our pre-license classes,” commented Fick.

Mel Foster Co.’s residential real estate sales increased by nearly 8 percent from 2012. The average sale price for Mel Foster Co. residential real estate was $148,278, a 1.18 percent increase from last year.

New construction sales are predicted to be strong in 2014. Lynsey Engels said, “We are expecting the real estate market as a whole to continue moving forward, with new home construction heavily influencing home sales volume. We are positioned to meet demand for new construction in our area and are pleased to announce that we will be launching four new subdivisions in 2014 coupled with the four that were launched in 2013. We closed 85 new residential lots last year and will have another 146 lots available in 2014.”

Mel Foster Commercial relocated to the Elmore Office Park in the spring of 2013. Engels reported that agents in the commercial division closed an average of over six million dollars per agent. After having their best year last year since 2005, Mel Foster Commercial still had a one percent increase in sales from the previous year.

Mel Foster Insurance had the biggest year in the history of the company. Marc Engels commented, “We have introduced a lot of new processes throughout the division and our agents and staff have done a great job adapting to the ever-changing insurance markets. Much of our growth can be attributed to our strong carrier representation which has allowed us to secure new business relationships in the Quad City market.” Direct written premiums were up 44.8 percent since 2009 and the insurance division has been able to more than double its employee benefits department. Engels added, “To continue to build each year is a testament to our team’s ability to meet the expectations of our Quad Cities and surrounding area clients.” In 2013, the personal insurance lines department’s sales grew 8.1 percent and the commercial department was up 15.4 percent. Engels also said, “I think individuals and business owners in this market appreciate the consistency, integrity, and professional competence our team brings to the insurance experience.”

Mel Foster Co. invested in multiple technology enhancements in 2013 to help buyers and sellers search for homes more easily. The new website was launched in fall 2013 and a new app was recently rolled out. Internally, agents benefitted from IT upgrades, a more robust intranet site, paperless transactions and enhanced consumer reports with greater details for homebuyers and sellers. Lynsey Engels stated, “We want to make sure that our agents have every tool they need to successfully meet their clients’ needs. We continually invest in technology upgrades and stay current on new features that we can integrate into our systems. With over 90% of people searching for a home online, it’s crucial for our agents to have top of the line technology.”

Mel Foster Co. Launches New & Enhanced Mobile Application

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Mel Foster Co. launched a new, enhanced property search app for iPad, iPhone®, and Android smartphones. The app is free and available from the Apple App Store and Google Play Market.

The new app offers a premium user experience with best-in-class mapping and augmented reality. See large photos, detailed property information on the map and search faster with auto refresh when you select a new location. Users can share properties via text message and email.

The Mel Foster Co. app is the first in the area to feature a homespotter function that Mel Foster Co. calls “Foster Finder.” Foster Finder shows results for Mel Foster and all listing companies.

Foster Finder uses a technology called augmented reality that is coupled with a smartphone or tablet’s GPS and compass to overlay property information on a device’s live camera feed. Simply use your smartphone or tablet to find all homes for sale on the street where you are standing. With a quick tap, a view of the entire street and all homes for sale pop up. There is also a radar display that shows the direction and proximity of nearby properties for sale.

The new app is integrated with the recently redesigned www.melfosterco.com. Saved properties from the smartphone app, tablet app and website are automatically synced so users always have access to their most recently saved properties.

Mel Foster Co. partnered with Mobile Realty Apps, a Minneapolis based company that specializes in real estate applications.

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 companies. The company specializes in residential and commercial sales and offers services in insurance, farm and land sales, land development, relocation, career development, and new construction. Visit their website at www.melfosterco.com for more information.

About Mobile Realty Apps

Founded in 2009 and based in Minneapolis, Mobile Realty Apps specializes in custom mobile apps for the nation’s top real estate brokers and MLSs, featuring apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Blackberry, QR codes, text and voice response solutions. Mobile Realty Apps is perhaps best known for its industry-leading HomeSpotter, an augmented reality technology that is a feature of its white-labeled smartphone and tablet apps.

Find homes with the Foster Finder
Mel Foster App

Condon Receives Quad Cities Home Builders & Remodelers Association Award

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Mel Foster Co. congratulates REALTOR®/Builder Pat Condon as recipient of a prominent award from the Quad Cities Home Builders & Remodelers Association.  Mr. Condon received the Allen V. Seitz Builder of the Year Award.

Mr. Condon is a REALTOR®/Builder at Mel Foster Co.’s Bettendorf office and was recognized for his dedication and passion to the Association.  Pat owns J.P. Condon Inc. and is licensed in Iowa.  He is the outgoing President for the Quad Cities Home Builders & Remodelers Association Board of Directors, a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, the Iowa Association of Realtors ®, and the Quad City Area REALTOR® Association.

Mel Foster’s Color the Quads Registration Opens December 13

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Bettendorf, IA – Mel Foster’s Color the Quads 5K and Kids Color Dash will be back in 2014 and registration is opening early to give racers plenty of time to sign up and opportunities to save with early entry.

The Color the Quads 5K will take place Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 4:00 p.m., Cumberland Square at 2300 Spruce Hills Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa. The 5K early registration fee is $35 and is available for the first 200 registered participants; $40 for participants 201-500; $45 for participants 501-6,000; and $50 for those numbered 6001 and higher. The registration fee includes race entry, t-shirt, Tri-City Electric Co. after-party admission and swag bag. Registration opens on Friday, December 13 at www.colorthequads.com.

The Eye Surgeons Associates Kids Color Dash cost is $20. This 400-yard dash and one mile fun run is at 11:00 a.m. on May 31, 2014 at the Middle Park Band Shell in Bettendorf. There will be a kids’ after party with food and fun for all the kids participating in the kid’s color dash to enjoy.

Color the Quads is a unique race that allows runners and walkers to get blasted with bursts of color powder on the course. Last year’s Color the Quads sold out with 3,300 racers and the field has been expanded for 2014 to raise more money for local charities.

The 2014 Color the Quads event benefits three local organizations, Child Abuse Council, the local chapter of March of Dimes – Mississippi Valley Division and Rick’s House of Hope. The event brings colorful happiness to our community AND helps out local charities.

Mel Foster Co. is the presenting sponsor. The event’s color explosion sponsors include Gomez May LLC, Orthopaedic Specialists, Smart Toyota of Quad Cities, and Vollertsen, Britt & Gorsline P.C.  Color Burst sponsors include Active Endeavors, Hawkeye Paving, KISS FM, Pear Advertising, Quad City Times, Radon Solutions, Terrostar Interactive Media, and TMI Total Maintenance Inc.  The after party is sponsored by Tri-City Electric Co. and the Kid’s Color Dash is sponsored by Eye Surgeons Associates.  The race is still seeking sponsors to help make this race possible.

For more information, to sign up, to volunteer, or to become a sponsor, visit www.colorthequads.com.

 

Mel Foster Co. Announces New Residential Website

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Mel Foster Co. launched a new website at www.melfosterco.com that gives users more search options and promotes the communities that Mel Foster Co. serves.  Over 90% of buyers search for a home online and the newly developed website offers buyers additional tools to streamline their search and easily pinpoint a desired neighborhood.

Demonstrating its commitment to innovation, Mel Foster Co. is utilizing the latest technology available in the real estate Industry. Potential buyers visiting melfosterco.com have access to a wealth of search tools to find their next home, including Market Watch, a report that shows current prices, listings and trends in any geographic area.  Market Watch is a useful tool for those relocating to the Quad Cities and those buying or selling locally who want a snapshot of homes for sale, average list price and new listings within the last 30 days. By merging property, school and community information with statistics, including price changes and time on the market, this new online tool displays an interactive map for the user to customize their geographic area. This map feature is simple and easy to navigate and includes a large amount of data specific to a selected address or neighborhood. In other markets where this technology is utilized, users have shown much higher rates of interactivity and satisfaction when researching their local real estate market, leading to a better buying and selling experience.

Mel Foster Co. continues to offer agent specific websites that inherit the core functionality available on the main company site. Agents can leverage the web tools to assist clients and potential buyers while promoting their professional experiences and unique real estate sales capabilities. The company site, melfosterco.com, is mobile friendly, as are the agent specific websites.

Mel Foster Co. selected Reliance Network, one of the largest suppliers of enterprise-level real estate sites in the country, to program the website and bring the advanced features buyers and sellers expect from a robust website to the Quad City market.

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.

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.

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.


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