Check out our April newsletter!
ME LV I N ’ S MON T H LY MOMENT S
APRIL 2023
205-223-6192 www.MelvinUpchurchSells.com
DISCOVER THE ULTIMATE REAL ESTATE DESTINATION: INTRODUCING MY BRAND-NEW WEBSITE!
MelvinUpchurchSells.com
SOME OF THE AWESOME HOUSES I HAVE SOLD WITH MY COST SAVINGS MODEL
I am excited to share that my marketing team has recently designed an incredible new website for me, and I am eager to highlight some of its key features in this newsletter. And there’s more! Scan the QR code and fill out the form for a chance to win some amazing gift cards!
How My Model Works
Our flat fee pricing structure helps homeowners save an average of $10,000 on closing costs.
ZERO CHANCE OF WINNING IF YOU DON’T REGISTER! VISIT THE WEBSITE TODAY!
Prizes are as follows:
1. $200 Chez FonFon gift card to the first person to register ( For Home Address Field put “Newsletter” ) 2. Drawing for a $100 gift Certificate to Chuy’s 3. Drawing for four $25 gift certificates to your choice: Edgars Bakery, Yo Yo Donuts, Hero Donuts, or Sam’s Super Sandwiches Thanks for your business and referrals,
–Melvin Upchurch
• 1 www.MelvinUpchurchSells.com
Bring on the Birds! The DIY Birdhouse That Blends Into Your Garden
A JAPANESE HOME TREND COULD SAVE YOUR GUTTERS
Learn About Rain Chains
Lately, you may have seen a line of tiny buckets or bowls hanging from the roofs of some of your neighbors’ homes. While these could be mistaken for windchimes or simple decorations, they actually serve a much more important purpose. Homeowners know water is one of their home’s biggest enemies, and an efficient drainage system is vital to protecting any structure from damage. So, that’s exactly what those tiny buckets do, and they’re called rain chains. What is a rain chain? While most American homes direct water with a metal downspout, the Japanese have used rain chains for decades. Originally called kusari-doi , or “chain gutter,” these additions guide rainwater safely to the ground and are a great way to save your gutters. Unfortunately, it’s far too easy for water to build up and become so heavy that it can tear rain gutters from your roof. Even if you have a downspout, the hole can become clogged, stopping water from being successfully redirected, and this can result in costly repairs. A rain chain is fixed through a small hole in the gutter, where the water will leak through and travel down the chain into the buckets, then gently to the ground or into a water-harvesting receptacle. This smooth transition moves water through your gutter system and doesn’t create a giant water spout that can damage landscaping or the ground from high water pressure. If your home doesn’t have rain gutters, you can still attach a rain chain to your roof. Find the spot where water seems to accumulate on your roof, and attach an S-hook to the underside of the eave. Then, hang your rain chain from that hook to help move the water away from your house.
Springtime is filled with flowers, baby animals, and colorful birds flitting through the sky. And while many people love to watch our fine feathered friends, not everyone wants to put a colorful birdhouse in their yard that clashes with their decor or attracts unwanted visitors like squirrels. Luckily, there is a style of birdhouse that will blend into your yard, keep pests away, and is incredibly easy to make — it’s a flowerpot birdhouse! To make a flowerpot birdhouse, you’ll need the following items from your local hardware store: • Drill with a regular drill bit and a 1 1/4-inch hole-boring drill bit • Two 1 1/4-inch fender washers • 1/4 x 2 1/2-inch carriage bolt • 7-inch-diameter flowerpot (preferably terracotta) • 1/4-inch nut • 6-inch-diameter round wooden plaque • Sandpaper • Outdoor acrylic paint • Sponge brush Step 1: Choose your location, and drill! Pick a vertical surface like a fence or wall to mount your birdhouse onto. Try to pick an area where people rarely walk. Then, determine how high you want the birdhouse to be, and use the regular drill bit to make a hole. Step 2: Mount your pot. Take your flower pot and align its drainage hole to the hole you drilled in step 1. Then, slide one of the washers over the carriage bolt before pushing the bolt through the drainage hole and into the drilled hole. Slide a washer over the end of the bolt sticking through the other side of the fence or wall, and twist the nut onto the bolt to hold the pot in place. Step 3: Give the house a door. Use your 1 1/4-inch hole-boring drill bit to create a door in the round wooden plaque, about 1 1/2 inch from the bottom. Use the sandpaper to smooth out the edges of this hole for the birds’ safety, and use your outdoor acrylic paint to coat only the outside of the plaque and let it dry. Once the paint is dry, push the wooden plaque into the pot until it is firmly wedged inside, and you’re done! This birdhouse is an excellent way to attract birds to your yard without the obviousness of a stand-alone house. Also, its lack of a perch stops predators from gaining a foothold that can lead them inside. To make the pot more discreet, hang it in a corner where shrubs or trees block it from view.
Rain chains also upgrade your home’s exterior without a costly investment. Most rain chains in the United States are made from metal, so they blend in nicely against a house and age beautifully, resulting in fewer recurring maintenance costs.
Luckily, these are easy to install and can be a fun project for the whole family. You can find rain chains at many stores, such as Lowe’s, The Home Depot, and Walmart.
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3 Tips for Washing Home’s Outside Walls GIVE YOUR SIDING A SPRING SCRUB!
You might not have noticed it, but winter conditions or general wear and tear have built up on your home’s siding. From layers of dirt to clumps of pollen, dirty siding not only ruins your home’s curb appeal, but it can also ruin your home.
So, as the weather begins to warm and you have more time in your days, give that siding a good wash with the following tips in mind.
Pre-spray and spray often.
Leave the powerwasher in the garage.
Before cleaning a section, spray it with water to allow dirt or debris to soften and release its hold on your home. Start with small areas at the bottom of the wall. Gently scrub away dirt with solution and a brush. As you clean from the bottom to the top, re-spray each section beneath it because soapy water from the siding above will trail down and may leave a residue. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the wall to avoid streaking. And finally, enjoy your clean house! By scrubbing your siding just once a year, you can increase its longevity and your home’s curb appeal!
A common way for people to clean the siding on their house is to take out the old pressure washer and blast that dirt away. However, experts recommend against this method because, depending on the angle of the spray, water can get behind the siding and cause damage to your home. Not only that, but high water pressure can damage the siding if you’re not careful.
Grab that soft-bristled brush!
Instead of a high-powered blast-off, the best way to wash your siding is with a garden hose and soft brush. Many home improvement stores sell siding cleaning solutions in spray bottles that attach directly to your hose.
Easy Fruit Dip
TAKE A BREAK
Inspired by InspiredByCharm.com
Spring is here, which means it’s time to enjoy fresh fruits and refreshing treats! This recipe has only four ingredients and can be made in under five minutes, so it’s great to bring to parties or make before a quick get-together. We recommend serving it with strawberries or cut-up pineapple, mango, and honeydew.
Ingredients
• 1 7-oz jar marshmallow fluff • 1 8-oz package of cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup vanilla yogurt • Splash of maraschino cherry juice • Fresh-cut fruit of your choice
Directions
1. In a bowl, place all the ingredients except fruit and blend with a hand mixer until smooth. 2. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1–2 hours before serving. 3. Serve with fresh-cut fruit. Dip and enjoy!
• 3 www.MelvinUpchurchSells.com
205-223-6192 www.MelvinUpchurchSells.com 300 UNION HILL DR., STE. 200 BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
INSIDE
1
Introducing My Brand-New Website!
2
The DIY Birdhouse That Blends In
Rain Chains Could Save Your Home
3
How to Wash Your Siding to Keep Your Home Clean
Easy Fruit Dip
4
Timeless Furniture Trends
THESE TIMELESS TRENDS ALWAYS IMPRESS Cure Your Decorating Indecision!
Nature Does It Best Natural materials have been used in furniture for decades, not just because they’re sturdy. These classics bring a calm and casual feeling to a space, regardless of period or location.
While it’s always good to refresh your furniture now and again, trends fade fast, and a new piece can fall out of style within a few short years.
So, avoid a dated home with these three timeless furniture trends.
Soft Silhouettes Furniture pieces that curve or flow with the room make a statement and provide a warmer, more comfortable environment that is both functional and flawless.
Timeless Tortoise A furniture piece with a tortoise finish adds more than depth and sophistication; it adds history to a space. This furniture trend has been around for hundreds of years and will undoubtedly last hundreds more.
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