Check out our July newsletter!
ME LV I N ’ S MON T H LY MOMENT S
JULY 2022
205-223-6192 WWW.MELVIN.LISTBIRMINGHAM.COM
HAS YOUR HOME ADDED $80K PER YEAR IN VALUE?
Homewood 2016 Purchase - $675,000
$23,000 in commissions saved $408,000 in realized wealth to invest
2022 Sale - $1,060,000 $385,000 six-year growth
I’ve seen homes sell recently that have grown in value more than $80,000 per year over the last four years.
You are probably thinking, “That’s great Melvin, I know that my home is worth more than it has ever been, but so is everyone else’s. Where would I move?” You probably have more options than you think. It might be a perfect time to take that equity and move into your forever home. Or maybe you’d like to downsize and pocket the extra cash.
Vestavia 2018 Purchase - $435,000 2022 Sale - $780,000 $345,000 four-year growth
$16,000 in commissions saved $361,000 in realized wealth to invest
Or you could invest it another way.
And of course, when you sell with my flat-fee model, you’ll make even more.
The first step is to understand your home value and potential offers. I’d be happy to help you with that, even if you aren’t planning to sell right away.
Feel free to text offers to 205-953-1441 and we’ll pull the customized data for what you can expect.
If you text offers to 205-953-1441, my team can pull that information together for you.
Or call 205-223-6192 or contact me by email at melvin@listbirmingham.com.
On the right, you can see some data on just two of our recent sales!
–Melvin Upchurch
• 1 WWW.MELVIN.LISTBIRMINGHAM.COM
RAINWATER HARVESTING: IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU? How to Find Out and Get Started
It’s 100 degrees F outside. The sun is pounding relentlessly on the sidewalk. Vegetation is wilting. Meanwhile, you’re huddled indoors, basking in the A/C … until it rattles to a stop. This stomach-dropping scenario happens to hundreds of people every summer. A/C units across America are overstressed right now, and when you run your unit at full blast, it’s more prone to malfunctioning. Fortunately, you don’t have to call in the pros for every little issue. Here are a few DIY ways to fix an A/C problem. 1. Replace your air filter. The experts recommend changing the filter in your A/C system every month. If you don’t do this, it can get clogged and cause your A/C to turn off! Replacing the filter could kick start a nonfunctioning A/C. 2. Double-check your thermostat. We know it sounds basic, but your A/C might have turned off because your spouse reset the temperature, the kids flipped the thermostat from “heat” to “cool,” or the device’s batteries died. Don’t rule these silly problems out without checking them! 3. Clean your condenser coils. Dust, dirt, and pet hair can clog your A/C’s condenser coils and limit the unit’s function. If you’re careful and handy, you can use compressed air or a shop vacuum to clean the copper tubing and aluminum fins composing the coils, which typically form the side walls of your outdoor A/C unit. 4. Test your circuit breaker. It’s possible that the entire circuit covering your A/C has been tripped, turning the A/C off with it. To test this, turn your thermostat off and head to your breaker box and look for any switch in the neutral position. If you find one, push it to off (right) then on (left). Wait 30 minutes, then turn your thermostat back on and set it to cool. These four steps may be the only ones you need to fix your A/C problem! If you try them with no success, then it’s time to call in the experts. Of course, you can also make that call from the get- go if you’re not comfortable DIYing your household systems. We promise they won’t judge you! It’s always better to be cautious than accidentally worsen the problem. How to Troubleshoot a Malfunctioning A/C Take These Steps Before Calling the Pros
Did you know the government has a website where you can track drought conditions in real time? It’s called Drought.gov, and when we visited, it showed 47.52% of the country was in drought. That means water shortages were affecting more than 100 million Americans — maybe including you and your family. Water scarcity is scary. We need water to live, bathe, and grow food! So, what can you do about it? One popular, eco-friendly way to get around cutoffs and shortages is by installing a rain harvesting system. Here’s how it works. Rainwater harvesting is pretty much what it sounds like. You create a system to “catch” the rainwater that runs off of your roof or another surface (think gutters and pipes), then store it in a barrel or tank to use later. This protects the local watershed because you capture the rainwater and use it before it gathers pollution during runoff, and it reduces your energy use by eliminating the burden of water transportation! Rainwater harvesting may be for you if … • You own your own home. • You want to be more self-sufficient and/or lower your water bill. • You’d like additional water for your garden or household. Rainwater harvesting may NOT be for you if … • You rent your property. In this case, you may have to run the idea of adding a rain barrel or other harvesting system past the property owner. • Rainwater harvesting is restricted in your state. Unfortunately, rainwater collection is highly regulated in some states. You’d need to have a permit or abide by certain restrictions. The best way to find out the restrictions in your state, if they apply, is to check the legislation on the official state website. If it’s feasible, get started!
You can build a rainwater harvesting system yourself with supplies from a company like RainWater Harvest Systems (RainHarvest.com) or work with a business in your area like Innovative Water Solutions in Texas. The size, cost, and installation of rainwater systems can vary depending on your home and how much water you store. To learn more about rainwater harvesting, check out the book series “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond” by Brad Lancaster.
2 •205-223-6192
PROTECT YOUR GARDEN FROM HEAT
With Help From Your Kids
Not all gardening tasks are suitable for the entire family. Fertilizers can be dangerous, and you definitely don’t want a young child wielding sharp tools. But there’s one gardening project you and the kids can tackle together: protecting your plants from the heat. Last June, heat waves scorched the country, sending temperatures in Portland, Oregon, of all places to 110 degrees F. This is uncomfortable at best, and at worst a massive heat wave can ruin an entire spring’s worth of effort in the garden. To avoid that, rope your kids into helping you with easy heat solutions like these: 1. Build shade covers — Shade helps people survive the heat, and it’s great for plants, too! You can overlay greenery with umbrellas, canopies, “garden fabric,” or even bed sheets draped over your plants. If you have spare lumber or PVC pipe, build a trellis to hold up your shade cover. YouTube has plenty of tutorials for this — just search “Garden Shade DIY.” 2. Spread organic mulch — Adding 2–4 inches of light-colored mulch around your trees, shrubs, and other plants will protect the soil from the sun and keep it damp and cool. 3. Swap out terra cotta pots — Unsealed terra cotta pots are terrible at retaining moisture. If you water a plant in terra cotta, it won’t be long before that water evaporates. To avoid this, enlist the kids to repot your plants in oversized, light-colored plastic nursery pots. (Some nurseries give these away for free!)
4. Water, water, water — Your garden will dry out twice as fast during extreme heat, so take shifts as a family checking the soil and watering when needed. Don’t rely on your sprinkler system or usual watering schedule. These tips should help protect your delicate fruit and vegetable plants. Next year, get a head start by asking your local nursery to help you choose drought and heat- tolerant species for your region and beefing up your soil with organic matter. According to Farmers’ Almanac, soil rich with 5%–9% organic matter (think compost, manure, and decomposing leaves) retains more water, saving you trips with the hose.
TAKE A BREAK
MOUTHWATERING SOUTHERN BBQ Inspired by JustAPinch.com
Summer isn’t complete without some Southern BBQ!
Ingredients
Directions
• 3 lbs boneless pork loin roast, trimmed
1. In a 4-quart slow cooker, add the roast and 1 cup of water. 2. Cover and cook the roast on high for 7 hours or until tender. 3. Once tender, shred the meat. 4. Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker. Stir in salt, pepper, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire, and hot pepper sauce. 5. Cover and cook on the lowest setting for an hour. 6. When finished, serve barbecue on buns with coleslaw (optional).
• 1 cup water • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 tbsp pepper
• 1/4 cup brown sugar • 18 oz barbecue sauce • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce • 1 tbsp hot pepper sauce • 10 hamburger buns, split • Deli coleslaw (optional)
• 3 WWW.MELVIN.LISTBIRMINGHAM.COM
205-223-6192 WWW.MELVIN.LISTBIRMINGHAM.COM 300 UNION HILL DR., STE. 200 BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
INSIDE
1
Has Your Home Value Increased Substantially?
2
DIY Tips for a Broken A/C
Get More Water — For Free!
3
Be the Superhero Your Garden Needs
Mouthwatering Southern BBQ
4
Outdoor Cooking Inspiration You Need
Level Up Your Outdoor Cooking Space
With These Handy Features!
2. The Warming Drawer: Warming drawers make even the biggest barbecues easy to use. You can pre-grill your corn and stash it inside, keep sides toasty while you pour drinks and socialize, or warm up the buns for your dogs and burgers. 3. The Outdoor Ice Machine: Install one of these, and you’ll never
have to sprint inside for ice
again. It’s a particularly
Outdoor kitchens were trendy in 2021 — and they’re still a must- have! If you plan to either build an outdoor cooking space or level up the one you have this summer, consider these game- changing features. 1. The Flat Top Grill: With a flat top, you can cook anything outside. Imagine outdoor breakfasts with pancakes and eggs! You can also cook burgers with lots of toppings without worrying about food falling into the flames.
handy feature if you have an outdoor bar and love to mix
cocktails for your guests.
Good luck and happy cooking!
4 •205-223-6192
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator