2018 Spring 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

To see all the homes in the parade and to learn more about the Parade of Homes, visit http://qcbr.org/events/spring-preview-parade-homes/

4617 Cottage Lane Bettendorf, IA

4617 Cottage Lane Bettendorf
4 BR; 3 BA

  • Existing Trees
  • 2 Stocked Ponds
  • Community Pool, coming soon!
6834 Grover Station, Bettendorf, IA

6834 Grover Station, Bettendorf
5 BR; 5 BA

  • Covered Porch
  • 2 Story Great Room
  • Walk-in Pantry
  • Walkout Lower Level
4661 Mason Run, Bettendorf, IA

4661 Mason Run, Bettendorf
4 BR; 4.5 BA

  • Distinctive Architecture
  • Huge 2nd Story Vestibule
  • Daylight Basement Windows
  • 9′ Ceilings All levels
4476 Slate Creek Drive, Bettendorf, IA

4476 Slate Creek Drive, Bettendorf
3 BR; 3.5 BA

  • Townhome
  • Quartz Countertops
  • Wood Flooring
  • 9′ Ceilings
  • Walk-outs Available
7043 St. Ann Drive, Bettendorf, IA

7043 St. Ann Drive, Bettendorf
5 BR; 5 BA

  • Finished Lower Level
  • Large Landscaped Lot
  • Gorgeous Kitchen
  • Large Master Suite
5052 Woody Creek Lane, Bettendorf, IA

5052 Woody Creek Lane, Bettendorf
5 BR; 4.5 BA

  • 14″ Ceilings – Great Room
  • Walk-in Pantry
  • Main Level Master Suite
  • Viking Appliance Package
1006 W. Pinehurst Drive, Eldridge, IA

1006 W. Pinehurst Drive, Eldridge
4 BR; 3.5 BA

  • 3,500 Finished Sq. Ft.
  • Walk-out Lower Level
  • Rustic Fireplace
  • Wet Bar, Rec Room
401 Torrey Pines Drive, Eldridge, IA

401 Torrey Pines Drive, Eldridge
3 BR; 2.5 BA

  • Open Great Room/Kitchen
  • 9′ Ceilings all levels
  • Oversized 3 car garage
  • 2nd Floor Laundry
32 Blackstone Way, LeClaire, IA

32 Blackstone Way, LeClaire
4 BR; 2.5 BA

  • Open concept main floor with Great Room
  • Granite Countertops & White Kitchen
  • Hand Scrapped Hardwood Floors
101 Cobblestone Lane, LeClaire, IA

101 Cobblestone Lane, LeClaire
4 BR; 4.5 BA

  • Finished Lower Level
  • Granite Countertops
  • Cathedral Ceilings in Great Room
  • Hardwood Floors Main Floor

Spring offers a chance to refresh and try something new.

Plant a tree.

Consider local events when planning your April community involvement and activities.

Dress for Success’ Recycle the Runway at River Center in Davenport

April 12

5:30-9:00pm

Wine Festival Preview Dinner in Rogalski Center at St. Ambrose in Davenport

April 14

6:00-10:00pm

Muscatine Symphony Orchestra at Central Middle School in Muscatine

April 14

7:30pm-11:00pm

Midwest Corvettes Spring Rally at Isle Casino Hotel in Bettendorf

April 15

8:00am-12:00pm

Women’s Health & Lifestyle Fair at River Center in Davenport

April 21

8:00am-4:00pm

Quad-City Audubon Field Trip at Crow Creek Park in Bettendorf

April 21

7:30am-11:00am

Earth Day Volunteer Landscape Work Day at Hauberg Civic Center in Rock Island

April 22

10:00am-3:00pm

Celebrate Arbor Day at Moline Garden Center in Moline

April 27

3:00-4:00pm

 

 

 

Fresh Spring Cleaning Tips

Think Spring!

Spring is finally here and that means it’s once again time to do a deep clean throughout your house. Here are some ways to freshen up your home in time for summer.

  1. Declutter Every Room

Take an empty laundry basket from room to room and gather items that are out of place and return them to their correct location. If there’s anything you no longer need, this is a great opportunity to get rid of it.

  1. Put a Recycle Basket Near the Front Door

Having a place you can immediately get rid of unwanted mail, fliers or packaging will prevent this clutter from entering your home. If you’re able to keep the bin by a frequently used side entrance to your home, it’s even better because guests won’t see it.

  1. Cleaning Ceiling Fans

One of the easiest and fastest ways to clean a ceiling fan is with an old pillowcase. You place the pillowcase over the blade and slide it off. The dust will collect inside the pillowcase and you can empty it outside.

  1. Open the Windows

One of the biggest perks of spring is the warm fresh air! Don’t forget to open your windows while doing all your cleaning to get some fresh air flowing through your house. It’ll keep you energized and make your home smell great.

Spring is also the season when homes are listed for sale. If you’re ready to list, or find an agent to sell your home, now’s the time to find a Mel Foster Co. agent.

EGGciting Hunts to Check Out.

Underwater Egg Hunt at the Rock Island Fitness & Activity Center

March 18, 1 pm – 3:30 pm

Spring Celebration and Eco-Egg Hunt at Nahant Marsh

March 24, 9 am – 12 pm

Spring Egg Hunt at Lincoln Park in Rock Island

March 24, 9:30 am

City of Moline Easter Egg Hunt at Riverside Park

March 24, 9:45 am

Kewanee Park District Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Windmont Park

March 24, 10 am

Bettendorf Easter Egg Hunt at Bettendorf High School

March 24, Noon

City of Moline Flashlight Egg Hunt at Riverside Park

March 24, 8 pm

Geneseo Park District Egg Hunt at the Athletic Field

March 25, 1:30 pm

Easter Egg Hunt at Hope Creek Care Center in East Moline

March 30, 2 pm

LeClaire Park and Rec Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Hollyhock Park

March 31, 11 am

Egg Hunt at the Sawmill Museum in Clinton

March 31, 10:30 am

30th Annual Ranch Rider Motorcycle Brotherhood Easter Egg Hunt at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds

March 31, 1 pm

Doggie Easter Egg Hunt with the Humane Society of Scott County at Fejervary Park

March 31, 1 pm

Family Fun Day & Easter Egg Hunt at Camp Abe Lincoln in Blue Grass

March 31, 2 pm – 5 pm

Egg Hunt at the Discovery Depot in Galesburg

March 31, 5:30 pm

Three Ways to Make your Home Appeal to Millennials

What we look for in a home.

It can be difficult to appeal to millennial homebuyers’ tastes, but recent polling has provided some insight into what they’re searching for in their first home.

  1. Leave Room for Improvement

Many millennials are looking for a fixer-upper for their first home due to their limited budgets. HGTV has made remodeling more accessible than ever, and millennials want to renovate their houses into their own dream homes. In 2017 first-time homebuyers spent an average of $33,800 on home renovations.

  1. Have a Separate Laundry Room

Millennials are willing to sacrifice comfort for extra square footage dedicated to a laundry room. Every year surveys taken on millennials’ buying choices point toward this trend. It’s a small change that can make your home significantly more attractive to this group of buyers.

  1. Be Environmentally Friendly

Offer a house that includes green features. Millennials look for LED lighting, double paned windows or even solar panels. You don’t have to make a major investment, but even updated, energy-efficient appliances will attract buyers. It’s not only trendy and good for the planet, but will also save money in the long run.

Want more expert advice on how to market your home to the most buyers? Ask a Mel Foster Co. agent.

 

March straight into excitement in the QCA this month!

Gather your friends and family for these fun events.

Explorers/Explorers Jr: Under Construction: Bridges at Putnam Museum in Davenport

Saturday, March 3; 9am – 11am

Geneseo Kiwanis Pancakes Day at Moose Lodge

Sunday, March 4 ; 7 am – 1 pm

Wine with Einstein at the German Heritage Center in Davenport

Saturday, March 10;  6pm – 7:30pm

St. Patrick’s Day Party at the Mississippi Valley Fair Grounds

March 16

Tinsley Ellis at the Redstone Room in Davenport

Friday, March 16; 8pm

St. Patrick Society Grand Parade starting in Rock Island and ending in Davenport

Saturday, March 17; 11:30am       

Saturday Storytime: Let’s Fly a Kite at the Fairmount Library in Davenport

Saturday, March 24; 10am

2018 Polar Plunge at Wick’s Lake in Rock Island

Sunday, March 25; 2pm

Mel Foster Co. Website Recognized for Excellence

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 565 high quality independent real estate firms in 65 countries. The certification was presented in recognition of excellence in website design, content and functionality.

Mel Foster Co.’s’s website, www.melfosterco.com, received high marks in a variety of critical areas relating to website performance, including usability, design, 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 Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® to review the websites of participating members.

The specific measurements for the WQC are updated each year to reflect the most current online marketing strategies, as well as evolving consumer preferences. Companies must be re-certified every two years to maintain the certification.

“The 135 companies that earned the WQC this year offer consumers engaging websites with effective design, deep local content and the most current information on homes, not only in their local markets, but also around the world. We are delighted to recognize them for offering a superior online experience for consumers and supporting them further with exceptional customer support,” said Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® President/CEO Pam O’Connor.

“We know local consumers have a choice when searching for a buying or listing agent.  We want to continue to offer the best tools in the market to be the top resource for buyers and sellers and to help our agents stay competitive.  Mel Foster Co. feels it is essential to invest heavily in digital marketing platforms and we are pleased that our efforts have been recognized with this international award,” said Lynsey Engels, president real estate brokerage of Mel Foster Co.

Mel Foster Co. is the Quad Cities and surrounding area’s representative of LeadingRE (www.LeadingRE.com). With a global membership that spans six continents, LeadingRE connects more than 565 firms and 130,000 sales associates who produce over 1.1 million real estate transactions each year. As a member of LeadingRE, Mel Foster Co. provides a quality real estate experience, global marketing reach and access to top real estate professionals in virtually any market worldwide.

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

Mel Foster Co.’s Boland Speaks at Global Real Estate Event

Deb Boland, Director of Relocation with Mel Foster Co., was a speaker at the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Annual Conference, held January 31-February 2 at Wynn Las Vegas. The conference was part of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) Conference Week, a series of educational and networking events that attracted an elite audience of nearly 3,000 real estate professionals from 24 countries.

The conference was open only to brokers, managers and relocation professionals affiliated with LeadingRE, an invitation-only network of the highest quality independent real estate companies. Attendees explored how to leverage the trends driving the real estate market, including the economic landscape, home technology and design, and consumer preferences.

Boland presented information on Leading RE’s Military on the Move®, sharing insights on how active duty and retired military personnel, wounded warriors, or active career policy and firefighters can earn a rebate when buying or selling a home.  She also provided how Mel Foster Co. Relocation has implemented the program to provide the agents the information needed to be successful with the program.

“To be able to share thoughts and processes with our colleagues who have the same goals is important as it helps us grow and enhance our relocation systems for our clients,” said Boland.  Being with some of the best relocation leaders in the industry helps create an engaging atmosphere.”

Boland was among a notable line-up of speakers, which included keynote speakers such as two-time World Series Champion, former Chicago Cubs player and first runner-up on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars David Ross; award-winning journalist and noted host of On Second Thought for Georgia Public Broadcasting Celeste Headlee; renowned real estate speaker and author Darryl Davis and LeadingRE Chief Economist Dr. Marci Rossell. Additional thought leaders from across the industry were on hand to address a variety of timely topics, with a focus on ways to best meet the needs of today’s home buyers and sellers.

One of the things that sets our conference apart is the generous spirit of collaboration among our members,” said Pam O’Connor, president/CEO of LeadingRE. “The speakers who share their professional strategies and insights to support the success of fellow members help ensure our sessions are timely and impactful, as we respond to market trends and strive to offer the very best service to consumers around the world.”

Mel Foster Co. is a multi-generational, family owned business and specializes in residential and commercial real estate sales and offers a wide range of services including new construction, relocations, farm and land sales, land development, senior services, career development and insurance.

Mel Foster Co. is the Quad Cities and surrounding area representative of LeadingRE (www.LeadingRE.com). With a global membership that spans six continents, LeadingRE connects more than 565 firms and 130,000 sales associates who produce over 1.1 million real estate transactions each year. As a member of LeadingRE, Mel Foster Co. provides a quality real estate experience, global marketing reach and access to top real estate professionals in virtually any market worldwide.

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

February Events in the Quad City Area

Looking for something to do?

Appreciate the QCA in February as you experience new and old events.

Rock n Roll Bingo of the Quad Cities at the American Legion in Walcott

Friday, February 2

7pm – 10pm

 

Chocolate Experience at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island

Saturday, February 3

10am – 3pm

Bowl-a-thon with Junior Achievement at Lee’s Lanes in Geneseo

Saturday, February 3

2pm – 5pm

Bacon and Beer Festival at River Center

Saturday, February 3

6pm-Midnight

2018 Young Artists at the Figge in Davenport

Pleasant Valley Schools February 3-11

Geneseo Schools February 17-25

Family Valentine Party at Felix Adler Children’s Discovery Center, Clinton

February 10

2pm-4pm

Martini Shake Off for HAVlife at River Center

February 15

5:30pm-9pm

Trivia Night for the Rock Island Music Association at Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 25 in Rock Island

Saturday, February 17

6:30pm – 10:30pm

17th annual Great River Show Choir Invitational at the Adler in Davenport

Saturday, February 17

8:30am – 11:30pm

Wheel n Steppers Square Dance at Square and Round Dance Hall in Bettendorf

Friday, February 16 and every third Friday until December 22

7pm – 9:30pm

Dance Me a Story: Alice in Wonderland at Davenport Public Library

Saturday, February 24

2pm – 3pm

Mel Foster Co. Celebrates 2017 Achievements

Mel Foster Co. held its annual awards reception last night at the Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport, Iowa. Rob Fick, president and CEO, Lynsey Engels, president real estate brokerage and Marc Engels, president of Mel Foster Insurance, honored and recognized 130 award winners within the organization for their 2017 achievements.

Fick congratulated sales associates and staff on a strong year and shared with them, “Our agents and staff are some of the best in the industry and the reason for our success. We’ve just finished a very successful year and indications show 2018 will follow many of the same market trends. The economy is still robust, low interest rates continue to make home buying very affordable by historical standards, and more people are employed and in a financial position to buy a home or business.”

The commercial division, led by Thad DenHartog, continued to dominate the market. Their sales volume continued to reach record-breaking levels with a five percent increase in 2017. Mel Foster Commercial Real Estate Services was ranked number one in the Quad Cities Commercial MLS with over 42 percent of the market share volume in 2017, up 16 percent from 2016.  The next competitor had 28 percent of the commercial sales volume. Three of the company’s commercial brokers ranked in the top 5 in the Quad Cities Commercial MLS.  “We are thrilled to see our commercial division continue to hold such a strong position in the Quad City market,” said Engels.

Mel Foster Insurance continued to grow its footprint in the region and acquired Frazier & Associates of LeClaire, Iowa in 2017. The insurance division increased both total premiums written and policy count over five percent from 2016 and client base increased by 14%.  Marc Engels, president of Mel Foster Insurance, said, “We are uniquely positioned in the market as a local full-service, independent agency with specialized professionals focused on serving our clients with business risk management, employee benefits, individual/group retirement planning, and personal insurance solutions. We are proud that we added 1,283 policies in 2017 exclusive of our acquisition of Frazier & Associates. We have a 95.4% client retention rate agency-wide, which is a testament to the exceptional service we provide to our personal and business clients. We expect our growth and retention to reach new heights in 2018 in part due to the strengthening economy.”

The residential real estate sales team gave another remarkable performance in 2017 with a nine percent increase company-wide in sales volume and number of transaction sides (either listings or selling) over the previous year. All nine office locations reported an increase in sales volume with the Galesburg office leading the way with a 34 percent increase from last year. Company-wide, residential agents averaged 17 transactions in 2017, an increase of at least one per agent. The average time to get homes sold was successfully lowered from 61 days to 55 days in 2017.  In the metro Quad Cities, sale prices rose five percent in 2017 for an average sales price of $191,349 per the Quad Cities Area Realtor Association.  Eleven residential agents were in the top 10 of their respective MLS compared to nine last year.

Construction of new homes surged in 2017 as Mel Foster Co., who is the largest land developer in the Quad Cities continued to develop neighborhoods on both sides of the river. The company developed more than 165 residential lots in six different subdivisions in both Iowa and Illinois in 2017 with plans to develop over 500 lots in future additions.  Lynsey Engels, president, real estate brokerage said, “The increased demand for new construction lots is a great indicator for a strong market in 2018.  We are pleased to be positioned to meet this higher demand with a wide range of neighborhoods offering lots in multiple price ranges.”

The high numbers across all the division are the result of the tireless efforts of a dedicated team of professionals and a focused strategy to provide the best real estate and insurance experience. “This is an exciting time for everybody within Mel Foster Co. We posted the best year since the housing bubble peaked in 2008. Our success would not be possible without the hard work of every single person within each of our divisions,” Fick concluded.

In addition to another impressive year of sales growth, Mel Foster Co. welcomed 26 new agents and staff into the company in 2017. Mel Foster Co. has residential offices in Bettendorf, Clinton and Davenport, Iowa and Galesburg, Geneseo, Kewanee, Moline and Savanna, Illinois.


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