Thomson homes 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.

Not So Fast…Five Things To Check Before Writing An Offer.

Posted on March 11, 2015

You’re in love. The house seems perfect and you almost don’t want to know if it’s not. But before you blindly make an offer, be sure to check these five things.

Assess the grounds

Even if it’s cold and snowy, do a thorough walk around of the yard checking for drainage issues, major concrete shifts or cracks in the foundation.

Open every door and window

Check the locks, evaluate the operation and make sure every door and window opens and closes properly. Also check for any cracked glass that may be hidden behind window treatments.

Turn on every appliance

Be sure to check the stove, refrigerator and dishwasher in the kitchen and don’t forget the washer and dryer if you are asking for those items to be left for you. Also run both the furnace and central air to be sure the systems are functioning properly.

Check the water

Turn on each faucet and check for water pressure and leaks. Also flush every toilet. Be sure to check outdoor faucets.

Turn on the lights

Every interior and exterior light should be turned on. Also test the speed of ceiling fans and check the fan in the bathroom and the vent hood above the stove. If a light is not functioning, determine if it’s a burned out bulb or an electrical issue.

Doing this quick checklist will uncover major issues, before you write up an offer or schedule a home inspection. For added peace of mind after you move in, consider purchasing a Mel Foster Co. Advantage Home Warranty Plan.

For more information on The Mel Foster Co. Advantage Home Warranty Plan, contact one of our experienced professionals.

Get A Jump On The Spring Home Buying Season.

Posted on February 12, 2015

With winter’s cold weather still lingering, spring can seem far, far away, but now is the time to get a jump-start on preparing yourself for the spring home buying season. Here are a few good tips to help you prepare.

Create Your Wish List

Curl up by the fireplace and make a wish list for everything you’d want in a new home. Now is the time to really think and prioritize when it comes to must haves in your new home. What does your new home need to have? What can you live without?

Pick A Neighborhood

Do a little research on the area or areas where you want to live. Do you have a school district in mind? Do you want an urban space? Are you looking for acreage in the country? Have you had your eye on that new subdivision just north of town? Now is the time to learn as much as you can about your potential new area.

Find An Agent

It is important that you consider working with a licensed real estate professional in order to save yourself time, money and hassle. There can be a lot of confusion and guesswork if you are out there navigating the market on your own, especially as a first time buyer. Working with a Mel Foster agent will give you the expertise and guidance you need to reach your home buying goals. You can find an agent by name or office location by clicking here.

Search Listings From Your Warm Car.

Posted on December 29, 2014

Find homes with the Foster Finder — Mel Foster App

Searching for a home can be a real drag in the winter. It’s cold, snowy and just not fun. If you are looking to buy, you can use Mel Foster Co.’s free app, Foster Finder, to search with your smart phone without leaving your warm car. Your phone’s camera and GPS technology show all homes for sale around you. All you need to do is drive to the neighborhood where you to live. It goes without saying, you shouldn’t be the one driving while you’re using the cool app.

You can download the free app for either iPhone^® or Android^TM devices. Just go to your phone’s app store or find the links by clicking here. Install and launch the app. Click on Foster Finder at the bottom right of your screen and see all homes for sale, from every listing company, right on your screen.

The Foster Finder is a great mobile tool when you have a target neighborhood but aren’t sure what’s for sale. Just drive to your desired location and use the app to show you the listings. It’s cool and saves you a ton of time.

Want to be closer to your kid’s school? Head over there and use Foster Finder to uncover all of the listings. You can do the same from work or your favorite hang out or restaurant.

Using Foster Finder is the smart and easy way to search for homes in every season.

An Older Home As A Green Alternative.

Posted on November 9, 2014

Call it recycling on a grand scale. Homebuyers who want their purchase to be more environmentally friendly are turning to older homes instead of building new. In fact, architect Carl Elefante coined the phrase, “the greenest building is the one that is already built.” What he meant by that is that environmental resources that would be used to build a building’s replacement are often times spared by restoring or repurposing an existing structure.

Did you know that it can take up to 80 years for a new, energy-efficient building to overcome the energy and climate change impacts caused during the construction process? Building reuse offers significant environmental savings when compared to the energy consumption of demolition and new construction.

Older buildings constructed prior to reliance on mechanical heating, cooling and lighting systems utilize what nature offers as part of their design. This can help reduce your energy use, helping you save on heating and cooling your home.

Go green and consider purchasing an older home that just needs a little TLC. Use the option to search by Year Built by clicking here to find a home you can recycle.

Put Out The Welcome Mat For Fall.

Posted on October 16, 2014

The number one tip for giving your home great curb appeal in the fall is to keep your lawn free of leaves. Buyers may drive right past your home if they feel like raking leaves would be too much work for them if they bought your home. Keep up with this chore to give your home a tidy and maintenance free look.

Cooler temperatures also mean it’s time to replace your tired annuals with colorful mums or kale. Clear out your planting beds of summer foliage and drop some blooms into your window box or porch planter. Remember that you still need to water these plants to keep them looking fresh.

If you have already moved out or can’t maintain plant watering, you can brighten your porch with a grouping of three large pumpkins. Want them to last even longer? Don’t carve your pumpkins for Halloween. You can keep an uncarved pumpkin on your porch through Thanksgiving and get two holidays out of one purchase!

Even though it’s Halloween time, real spider webs on your porch need to be cleared away regularly. No need to scare away buyers with frightful spider webs.

Need ideas for keeping your home open house ready for the holidays? Click here for simple tips.