Melissa Schwenker Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors

06/18/2026

How to Spot a Well-Maintained Home
Fresh paint and staged furniture can make almost any house look good — that's the point. What you actually want to know before you fall in love with the countertops is whether the home has been well cared for. That difference shows up in places that never make it into the listing photos.
Start Outside
Walk...

Learn how to look past the staging and spot the signs of a truly well-maintained home, from the foundation grading and roof condition to the mechanical systems and small details that reveal how a property has really been cared for.

06/17/2026

1301 E Wabash, Carthage Il, Licensed in IA, IL & Mo

06/15/2026

New Price! Take a look at the new price for 907 Avenue D, Fort Madison.

OFFICIAL LISTING website. 907 Avenue D, Fort Madison, IA 52627, 2416 square foot, 4 bedrooms, 1 full & 1 partial bathrooms, asking price of $165,000, MLS ID 6330490

06/13/2026

How to Make Your Home Look Move-In Ready
Most sellers focus on price, but buyers are making a different calculation when they walk through your door. They're asking whether the home feels like somewhere they could actually live. That answer forms fast, often before they've made it past the entryway. So the question worth asking before you list...

Most sellers focus on price, but buyers are making a different calculation when they walk through your door. They're asking whether the home feels like somewhere they could actually live. That answer forms fast, often before they've made it past the entryway. So the question worth asking before...

06/12/2026

Just Listed! Do not miss this new listing at 603 N Collins Circle, Mount Pleasant.

OFFICIAL LISTING website. 603 N Collins Circle, Mount Pleasant, IA 52641, 1675 square foot, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, asking price of $34,500, MLS ID 6339254

06/11/2026

Questions Buyers Should Ask About Utility Costs
Before you fall in love with a home, it's worth asking a question that often gets overlooked: What does it actually cost to live here? The purchase price is just the beginning. Monthly utility bills can vary wildly from one property to the next, and they can significantly affect how comfortable that...

Before you fall in love with a home, it's worth asking a question that often gets overlooked: What does it actually cost to live here? The purchase price is just the beginning. Monthly utility bills can vary wildly from one property to the next, and they can significantly affect how comfortable...

06/11/2026

Recently Sold! Take a look at what I recently sold at 22966 458Th Street, Centerville.

22966 458Th Street, Centerville, IA 52544 See 1 Photos, description and maps; Bedrooms: 3; Full Baths: 2; Square Feet: 1520; Price: $409,000; MLS ID: 6335073

06/06/2026

How to Evaluate Offers Beyond the Purchase Price
The number at the top gets your attention. It always does. But sellers who anchor to the purchase price and stop there often find themselves caught off guard when a deal starts to wobble — or falls apart entirely — weeks after they thought they'd made the right call.
Here's the thing: A high offer...

The number at the top gets your attention. It always does. But sellers who anchor to the purchase price and stop there often find themselves caught off guard when a deal starts to wobble — or falls apart entirely — weeks after they thought they'd made the right call. Here's the thing: A...

06/06/2026

Just Listed! Do not miss this new listing at 410 N Marion Street, Carthage.

OFFICIAL LISTING website. 410 N Marion Street, Carthage, IL 62321, 1550 square foot, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, asking price of $259,900, MLS ID 6339083

06/05/2026

Just Listed! Do not miss this new listing at 1301 E Wabash Street, Carthage.

OFFICIAL LISTING website. 1301 E Wabash Street, Carthage, IL 62321, 1200 square foot, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, asking price of $235,900, MLS ID 6339085