Getting Kids Involved In Your Home Search.

Involving your kids

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.

Property VirginsIf 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.

Mel Foster Co. Gets a Make Over

Mel Foster Co. Geneseo & Chamber of Geneseo Celebrate
Mel Foster Co. Geneseo & Chamber of Geneseo Celebrate

Mel Foster Co. Real Estate Brokerage in Geneseo had a re-opening of its downtown office on Wednesday, April 8. The interior spaces of the office were completely remodeled to accommodate technology upgrades and improved communication tools.

Fred Dasso, managing broker of the Geneseo office said, “With this office concept and remodel project, we are happy to provide a ’boutique-like’ experience for our clients and Realtors®.”

The newly designed boutique-style space, in the heart of downtown Geneseo on State Street, features a spacious seating and conversation area with a large flat-screen display where guests can explore real estate options with an agent.

Lynsey Engels, Mel Foster Co. president, Real Estate Brokerage, said, “Mel Foster Co. is continuing to stay current with industry trends to help agents work more efficiently and comfortably in an office setting. Our Galesburg office was converted into a boutique-style space last year and the feedback we received from agents and visitors made us eager to duplicate that success in Geneseo. Our agents can take advantage of rapidly changing technology within the office and meet with guests in a location that enhances communication to create a better experience for those looking to buy or sell a property.”

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

Mel Foster Co. logoMel 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.

Does your home have curb appeal?
Does your home have curb appeal?

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.

Mel Foster Co. Receives Relocation Recognition

MF LOGO WITH LRE LOGOLynsey Engels, President, Real Estate Brokerage at Mel Foster Co. Inc. is pleased to announce that their Relocation Division, lead by Deb Boland, has been recognized as a recipient for the 2014 Global Alliance Club by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®.

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® is a global network of over 500 premier real estate firms.  Leading RE is comprised of select independent real estate companies who set the standard of quality service, while generating a highest volume of referral, relocation, and real estate business opportunities for its members.

Mel Foster Co.’s Relocation Department is one of 37 real estate companies to receive this honor.  In order to be a part of this prestigious club, at least one referral must be sent and closed across country borders. The referral was to Alberta, Canada, therefore Mel Foster Co. can make it happen anywhere.

Living Large In A Tiny Home.

Tiny-HomeThe days of the ginormous McMansion are coming to an end. People are starting to downsize, understanding that less is more when owning a home. Have you thought about the option of a micro home? These miniature homes, trailers, and even converted shipping containers are growing in popularity nationwide. With this growing niche in real estate, perhaps it’s time to give micro housing some serious consideration. Ask your agent to search for homes with less square footage or find a small parcel of land to build your own micro home.

Take a look at just a few of the benefits of living in a tiny house.

Reduced Cost

A smaller home can mean lower building costs, insurance, taxes and utilities. If you decide to build, you may be able to afford the construction cost outright, eliminating the need for a home loan. As a homeowner, who wouldn’t want more disposable income!

Reduced Clutter

With a micro home comes the idea of a simpler life. Less space means less room for unnecessary clutter. You may find that all that “stuff” you thought you needed was simply just junk taking up space. In a micro home, a minimalistic lifestyle becomes a necessity. With less square footage, you are more likely to only keep necessities. And think of the time you’ll save cleaning a smaller house!

Green Living

Micro homes use far fewer resources than a traditional home. Micro homes use less land, fewer materials, and make a much smaller dent in natural resources traditionally utilized to keep a traditional home running.

MEL FOSTER CO. CELEBRATES SALES GROWTH

MF LOGO ONLY COLORMel Foster Co. held its annual awards reception last night at the Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf, Iowa. Rob Fick, President & CEO, Lynsey Engels, President Real Estate Brokerage and Marc Engels, President of Mel Foster Insurance, presented awards to 115 agents who 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

Brad Boeye – Residential Iowa Top Sales

Mike Smith – Insurance Top Producer

Dedicated agents and staff are the foundation for success at Mel Foster Co. Inc. Building on the momentum of a strong 2013, Mel Foster Co. Inc. had a solid 2014, including an exceptionally impressive year for Mel Foster Commercial Real Estate Services. Combining all three divisions of Mel Foster Co. Inc. (Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate and Insurance), the total sales volume increased by over 4 percent from 2013 which is a record year.

Mel Foster Commercial Real Estate Services set a new company sales record with a 31 percent increase over last year’s record sales volume. Lynsey Engels reported that the brokers of the commercial division closed an average of over 10 million dollars per broker. She praised the commercial division and said, “This past year was phenomenal for our commercial division, the best total sales volume recorded in our history. Based on the year’s closed commercial transaction production, our commercial division ranked number one in the CMLS (Commercial Multiple Listing Service) for 2014 capturing over 43 percent of the total commercial sales volume.  Many of these 2014 transactions will have a significant impact on the future growth and development of the Quad Cities and surrounding region and that is something we are very proud of.”

Mel Foster Co. residential real estate ranked number one in the Quad Cities MLS with over one third of the total sales volume for this region. The average 2014 sales price for Mel Foster Co. residential real estate was $152,885, an increase of 3 percent from last year.

New construction continued to be good for the Quad Cities housing industry. Last year, Mel Foster Co. residential real estate predicted new construction sales to be strong in 2014 and that forecast met this expectation. Lynsey Engels said, “We positioned ourselves to meet the new construction demand in our region by launching four new subdivisions in 2013 and we closed 43 new residential lots in those subdivisions.”

Mel Foster Insurance continues to build off of a record setting year.  Marc Engels commented. “Any time you reach new levels, the big question is can you keep the momentum going.  Our continued success can be attributed to our staff, producers, and the local clientele we work with each day.” In 2014, results continued to trend upward as direct written premiums grew 8 percent, policy count was up over 6 percent, and the agency added 791 new clients. With a range of product offerings from Personal and Commercial Property/Casualty to Employee Benefits, Mel Foster Insurance saw positive contributions from all departments this past year.  Marc Engels also stated, “We continue to focus on innovative solutions, while remembering that most importantly, our clients want a customized, personal insurance experience.  When you look back on the year, you realize that the accomplishments our division is most proud of don’t show up on the financials, but in our role as a community stewards.”

“In 2014, we welcomed 41 new agents and staff, and 12 individuals are enrolled in our upcoming pre-license classes. With job creation continuing to increase, mortgage rates falling, and healthy increases in home sales prices, the outlook for the housing market in 2015 looks bright,” commented Rob Fick. Optimistic about Mel Foster Co.’s future, Engels also mentioned the hiring of its Director of Business Development to continue the emphasis on recruiting and training new agents with exceptional education programs and tools. Engels added, “The agents are the true lifeblood of our company’s success so it is a key focus to ensure they have great technology and training opportunities to provide the consumers with the best experience.”

Space Saving Ideas For Your Home.

Making your home interior more efficient and attractive on a day-to-day basis doesn’t need to be an expensive or time-consuming endeavor. With the summer months upon us, keeping things orderly, yet functional, will help you and your busy family stay on top of things this season. Consider these space saving ideas and how they might just make your life a little easier this summer.

Pull Out Drawers And Cabinets

Installing a set of pull out bins under a stairwell in the entryway, or a pull out cabinet in the short hallway between rooms, can mean tons of extra storage space for your family. Consider getting pool toys out of sight and out of mind with a pull out closet in the garage.

Hidden Outlets

Are hairdryers and curling irons monopolizing all of your bathroom counter space? Consider installing outlets in the drawers those appliances are meant to be stored in. Never having to remove them from their hiding spot means more space for other things.

Turn Bunk Beds Into Murphy Beds

Need more floor space, or wishing you had a playroom for the kids? Installing Murphy Beds (the beds that pull down from a recess in the wall) could be just what you need. Suddenly there are feet and feet of extra floor space. So much more room for activities!

You Can’t Go Wrong With An Extra Cabinet  

Something as simple as a small extra cabinet in the kitchen to store cleaning supplies can make your life a whole lot easier. Suddenly there is free space under the sink and a small extra storage space. Also, a small cabinet with a high shelf means keeping dangerous cleaning products out of kids’ reach.

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Space Saving Ideas


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