LIST Birmingham - December 2020

LIST Birmingham - December 2020

M E L V I N ’ S M O N T H L Y M O M E N T S

DECEMBER 2020

205-223-6192 WWW.MELVIN.LISTBIRMINGHAM.COM

THE 2020 CLIENT MELVIE AWARDS!

Way back before our company was as big as it is today, I hosted an annual party for my clients. At the party, I presented everyone with a chocolate Oscar award. Someone decided to call them “Melvie’s,” and the rest became history.

Mac

Biggest Referral Marine and Angel

Jim & Joy

Brett & Elisabeth (2)

Closest Move

Sherri

Top Square Foot $ Top Investor Award

This year, I decided to do things a little differently and present the Melvie’s in the newsletter! So, without further ado, here are this year’s amazing set of winners. See if you can spot someone you know!

Jon & Becca

Christian & Tara John & Kaitlin Justin & Kathryn

Teachers Award

Best Teacher Referrals

Cornhusker Best Team

Rick & Carol

Matt & Katherine (2)

We See Potential Most Charitable Engineer Award

Jacque

Kevin & Tricia

Rich & Catherine

4 Future Weddings (4 Girls)

Client

Award

TC & Natalie

Best Referral (Kristina) Best Dog (Bear) Homewood Finally Wow That Was Fast Most Unique Home

Jason & Angela Andrew & Karlee

Fastest Purchase (8 years)

Jonathan

HGTV Award

Wes & Merrick (2) Bryan and Denise Howard & Suzanne

Mike & Sandy

3rd Time’s the Charm

Chris

Best Flipper

Casey & Heather Andrew & Megan

Smallest Purchase (Lot)

Matt

Best Rehab Nice Folks

Smart Millennials

Tony & Joanne

Jeff & Amy (2)

Most Unique Homes Easiest Transactions Condos Are Easy to Sell

Timothy

Fiddler

Brandon & Julie (2)

Patrick & Hannah Krishna & Sindhuri Alan & Heather (2)

WE HAVE A POOL

Matt & Jenna

Nice Home to WOW Home

Vicki (2)

Loves a Project Mississippi Award

Closest to High School

Sonny & Patty John & Meleigh Jonathan & Joy (2)

Bonny (2)

My Biggest Fan Smart Attorney

1st Time Buyer Award Favorite Newlywed Award

Carrie

Matt & Lauren (2)

Best Homewood Move

Cathy (2)

Our Hero Award Best House Prep

Carleton

Best Location * (2) means Buyer & Seller

RJ & Heather

Allison (2)

Single Mom Award! Most (Fun) Showings

Grant & Star

My heartfelt congratulations to all the winners! Until next year,

Curtis & Marilyn (2)

Most Decisive

-Melvin Upchurch

Scott & Cindy

Most Decisive in Homewood

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BUGGING OUT: COMMON PEST CONTROL WARNING SIGNS HOMEOWNERS MISS

Why Energy-Saving Windows Work Like Magic SAVE ON YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL, ADD TO YOUR COMFORT

Pests can be a problem during any time of the year, but they can be especially problematic during the winter months when they’re more likely to seek the warmth of the indoors. Stay alert and catch those pests before they become a real problem during your next holiday party! Look for these four common warning signs: No. 1: Check for dead bugs or pest droppings indoors. If you’ve discovered dead bugs or pest droppings on window ledges or in your basement, do some research to figure out what they are. If the dead bugs and/or droppings are from the same species, chances are that they live on your property. No. 2: Look for holes, gnaw marks, grease marks, or trails. Rats and mice tend to travel along the same paths and often leave evidence of their infestation through dark grease marks, urine trails, gnawed items, and prints in dusty paths into small holes. Don’t forget that evidence can be outdoors too. Pests can burrow in garbage or even piles of leaves near the property. No. 3: Pay attention to weird scents and sounds. Because we’re accustomed to the smell of our own home, we can identify odd and gross scents. Experts say that mice tend to have a musty urine smell, while rats often smell like ammonia. Any scent of garbage is a bad sign as well, because if it isn’t caused by a pest, it can attract them. Lastly, don’t dismiss odd sounds, like the patter of rodents or even large insects. You may hear scratching on the walls, gnawing, squeaking, or scurrying.

It can seem pretty mundane to change out your windows, on top of all your other expenses! However, there’s a real reward to doing so. We’ve mentioned energy-efficient (EE) windows before, but this time we take a deeper dive into just how a window can improve your family’s comfort and resources.

Wait, what’s wrong with older windows?

So long as your window doesn’t have cracks or broken glass, there’s nothing wrong necessarily. It’s just that older windows aren’t designed to perform an important function: keep hot or cold air in. Why is this? First, older frames are normally made of aluminum. This is problematic because air can more easily pass from one side to the other. You want frames made of materials like vinyl or fiberglass, which are poor conductors of heat and therefore better insulators. Also, most older windows have single-pane glass, which is terrible for keeping heat inside your house (your cool air, too). Lastly, your windows might not have been properly installed by experts who understand how to minimize your utility bill.

Why energy-efficient (EE) windows are magic.

You might’ve guessed by now that EE windows are designed to insulate your home better, but how do you install insulation in glass? Inert gas. Placing argon or krypton in between glass panes, for example, can improve your home insulation and protect your furniture and photos from sun damage. With vinyl or fiberglass frames and two, or even three, glass panes, EE windows are designed better in every way — all while saving you hundreds a year. The U.S. Department of Energy predicts that replacing your single-pane windows with EE ones can save you anywhere between $126–$465 annually. Also, according to the Glass Doctor, most homeowners report a 60%–75% reduction in exterior noise once insulated EE windows are installed. We love EE windows because they’re a win for everyone. Bump up the value of your home today and save money on your utility bill — and help the planet while you’re at it!

No. 4: Check for signs of nesting. Some pests, like termites, will build homes with natural materials like mud. You can detect termite activity through sagging wood or mud tubes created along the surface of your doors or walls. However, mice and rats may take things from your home to create their nest, including shreds from furniture and other fabric, insulation, pillow stuffing, or anything else they can find.

To protect your family’s health, don’t miss these common pest signs!

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BE THE HOST WITH THE MOST At This Year’s Virtual Holiday Party

This year, you’ve probably celebrated Halloween and Thanksgiving a little differently in order to keep your gatherings safe. But ‘tis the season for holiday parties, so if your annual get-together is one you just can’t go without, consider creating the perfect virtual party this year. Keep invites classic. Just because your partygoers won’t be attending in person doesn’t mean they should be any less excited when their invitation arrives! Create a fun and festive invite and send it to your guests in the mail, complete with date, time, attire, and exact instructions for how to access your virtual party. This physical reminder will keep your event top of mind and bring some familiarity to the process. Overdo your atmosphere. Just as you would decorate and set up before guests arrive in person, you should do the same for your virtual party if you want to create a truly festive spirit. Because people will see you and your home through a camera, you should ramp things up a bit. Pick a corner of your home where you can hang plenty of lights and decorations, crank up some tunes, dress in your holiday best, and have a glass of eggnog and some classic hors d’oeuvres nearby. Treat your virtual party like a real party, and it’ll be one to remember. Get in the spirit of giving. Sometimes, a lull in conversation during a video call can feel agonizingly awkward. But this is a party, and you want to keep festivities lively, so avoid potential lapses by providing plenty of things to do. Games are always a great option, and if

you want to keep with the spirit of holiday parties, send your guests party favors before the party that they can open during the call. Mail wrapped gifts with strict instructions to wait until the party. Fun food items, gag gifts, and ugly Christmas sweaters make for great conversation starters, and taking turns opening gifts on camera gets everyone involved. There’s no reason to cancel the holiday party you’ve been looking forward to hosting all year. Virtual parties present an opportunity to get creative, start new traditions, and provide loved ones with the holiday cheer they’ve been needing.

FESTIVE APPLE CIDER

... continued from Cover TAKE A BREAK

Inspired by BoulderLocavore.com

Ingredients

• 2 tsp allspice berries • 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced • 2 tbsp honey • 3 cinnamon sticks

• 1 lemon • 1 gallon pure apple cider • 1 large orange, thinly sliced crosswise • 2 tsp whole cloves

Directions

1. Using a paring knife, shave the lemon peel off in curls. Reserve the curls and save the lemon for use in a different recipe. 2. In a large slow cooker, combine the lemon peel with all other ingredients. Cook on low for 3–4 hours. 3. If desired, use a sieve to strain the spices. Serve and enjoy!

-Melvin Upchurch

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205-223-6192 WWW.MELVIN.LISTBIRMINGHAM.COM 300 UNION HILL DR., STE. 200 BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209

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INSIDE

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It’s Time for the Melvie’s!

Why Energy-Saving Windows Work Like Magic Common Pest Control Warning Signs Homeowners Miss How to Throw the Perfect Virtual Holiday Party Festive Apple Cider What Christmas Trees Look Like Worldwide

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WHAT CHRISTMAS TREES LOOK LIKE WORLDWIDE

Whether it’s floating on the canal or pictured in lights on a mountainside, the tradition of the Christmas tree is beloved worldwide, and its iterations might surprise you! For example, the Galeries Lafayette in Paris (similar to Macy’s in the U.S.) does a dazzling Christmas tree display in their main store. In 2019, they did an incredible upside-down Christmas tree that hung from the ceiling and had a light show every hour. In Rio de Janeiro, they have the world’s largest floating Christmas tree, which is over 85 meters tall and weighs 542 tons! It was revealed with a huge firework show and floated over the gorgeous Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon.

In Gubbio, Italy, they can see their city’s official “tree” from a hundred miles away — because it’s a massive light fixture along a mountainside. Every year, it’s switched on by a notable figure. In 2014, it was turned on by the Pope, and, last year, it was switched on from space!

We hope you enjoyed discovering these international traditions as much as we did. Merry Christmas!

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Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com