https://www.joshdicksrealty.com/

Josh Dicks Real Estate, West Des Moines, IA (2026)

02/01/2026

Not all heroes wear capes. 🦸‍♂️✨

01/23/2026

➕Well, it’s about to get really… really… really cold. Here’s a short list of a few things that can help you prep for the fun.

🏠 Pipes
Opening sink cabinets on exterior walls overnight can keep warmer air around the plumbing. If you’ve ever had a faucet stop flowing or a pipe freeze during a cold snap, a pencil thin drip on the coldest faucet overnight can help. Basement bathrooms, wet bars, and laundry on outside walls are common sneaky spots.

💧 Shutoffs
It can be worth locating your main water shutoff ahead of time, just so it’s not a scavenger hunt later. Lesser known but clutch: if you have a whole house humidifier, that tiny water line is another good one to know about.

🔥 Furnace
If your filter is questionable, swapping it can help your system keep up when it’s working its hardest. Also, a quick peek outside at the furnace exhaust and intake pipes is useful. If they get buried or iced over, the furnace can shut down even though nothing is “broken.”

🧊 High efficiency furnace tip
If your furnace has a condensate drain line (usually white PVC) that runs through a cold area, it can freeze and shut the system off. This one surprises people.

⚡ If power goes out
Charging battery packs and setting out flashlights is an easy win. Picking one room to hang out in with blankets helps too. And if the power drops, keeping the fridge and freezer closed goes a long way.

🚰 Outside spigots
Disconnecting hoses helps, even with frost free spigots, since a hose can keep water sitting in the line.

Stay warm out there!

🔑Josh Dicks, Realtor
📍Iowa Realty
📱515-229-5642

***ng

01/20/2026

➕I see a lot of unfinished basements on showings, and people always ask: “Any idea how a layout could work in this space?”

Unfinished basements are a blank canvas. The before and after here is a perfect example. Same footprint, totally different vibe.

My quick “worth it” checklist when you’re trying to picture the finished version:
✔️ Ceiling height and where ductwork sits
✔️ Window placement for natural light
✔️ Any signs of moisture (smell, staining, efflorescence)
✔️ Where a bathroom could realistically go
✔️ If there’s enough room for storage so the finished area stays clean and uncluttered

Pro tip: lighting and flooring do most of the heavy lifting. Recessed lights plus LVP can make a basement feel finished fast without going overboard.

⭐️Josh Dicks, Realtor
📍Iowa Realty
📱515-229-5642

***ng

01/17/2026

➕Golf simulators and saunas are two of the coolest “home playground” upgrades I’m seeing lately.

A simulator turns a boring corner of a basement or garage into something you’ll actually use all winter. And a sauna is the kind of thing that sounds extra until you realize it’s basically a daily reset that makes the house feel higher end without touching the kitchen.

But honestly, the same idea works on any budget. A fire pit and a couple chairs can make a backyard feel like the best room in the house.

Homes that have a little fun built in are the ones people remember.

⭐️Josh Dicks, Realtor
📍Iowa Realty
📱515-229-5642

02/27/2025

➕The Upside-Down 13th Spindle: A Superstitious Staircase Secret! 🔄👻

Live in an old house? Take a look at your staircase—if the 13th spindle (or baluster) is upside down, you’re not imagining things! It’s an old superstition meant to stop the devil from going upstairs (because apparently, he’s bad at navigating flipped woodwork). 😈🚫

Another theory is that craftsmen would deliberately add an imperfection to their work as a reminder that nothing man-made is perfect. Whether done for luck or tradition, these quirky details add a unique touch to historic homes.

And yes, that’s a banana in the photo—because how else do you point out a flipped spindle? 🍌

⭐️Josh Dicks, REALTOR®
📍Iowa Realty
📱515-229-5642

02/24/2025

➕Window awnings—once a stylish and practical way to beat the heat! 🌞 Before air conditioning became the norm, these colorful awnings were a must-have for keeping homes cool during the summer. They shielded windows from the blazing sun, lowering indoor temperatures while adding a pop of personality to the exterior. 🌀

But window awnings weren’t just about cooling down—during rainy days, they kept windows dry, letting you crack them open for a breeze without worrying about the weather. Over time, however, the rise of HVAC systems and insulated windows made awnings less essential. Now, they’re mostly decorative, though you’ll still see them adding a touch of vintage charm to older homes. 😊

While they may no longer be needed to keep out the sun, window awnings still have a place in home design, evoking a sense of nostalgia and offering that perfect bit of shade when you need it. Who doesn’t love a little extra character on a home’s exterior? 🌿

⭐️Josh Dicks, REALTOR®
📍Iowa Realty
📱5️⃣1️⃣5️⃣-2️⃣2️⃣9️⃣-5️⃣6️⃣4️⃣2️⃣

✨🤜🤛✨

02/10/2025

🍿✨Movie Mansion Monday: The Simpsons House✨🎥

One of the most recognizable homes in TV history, The Simpsons house at 742 Evergreen Terrace, has been a staple of the long-running animated series and The Simpsons Movie. But did you know a real-life version was built in 1997? 🏡

Fox and Pepsi teamed up to construct an exact replica at 712 Red Bark Lane in Henderson, Nevada, as part of a contest giveaway. The 2,200-square-foot home featured four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and countless details straight from the show—Bart’s treehouse, the pink garage door, and even the iconic orange couch. It was a dream home for any Simpsons fan!

However, contest winner Barbara Howard from Richmond, Kentucky, opted for a $75,000 cash prize instead of the house. The home was later sold in 2001 and repainted to blend in with the neighborhood, but for a short time, Springfield truly existed in the real world!

Fun fact: Evergreen Terrace is named after Simpsons creator Matt Groening’s childhood street in Portland, Oregon. The house number changed several times in the early seasons before settling on 742.

If you want to explore some homes with their own unique stories, I’m here to help!

⭐️Josh Dicks, REALTOR®
📍Iowa Realty
📱5️⃣1️⃣5️⃣-2️⃣2️⃣9️⃣-5️⃣6️⃣4️⃣2️⃣

02/01/2025

➕Floor grilles—those ornate metal covers that did more than just vent air! 🔥🏠 Back in the days of old heating systems, floor grilles were a must-have in homes with forced air or gravity furnaces. These decorative grates allowed heat to rise from the basement or crawlspace and spread throughout the home. Not only were they functional, but they also added a touch of style, often featuring intricate designs that turned a simple vent into a beautiful focal point. ✨

Made from cast iron or brass, these grilles were built to last and could withstand years of foot traffic. Today, they’re a rare sight in new homes, as modern HVAC systems have mostly done away with the need for large floor vents. But if you find them in an older home, you know you’ve uncovered a bit of history underfoot!

Floor grilles remind us of a time when even the smallest details in home design were given extra attention. Whether left original or restored, they still bring a unique charm to homes today. 😊

⭐️Josh Dicks, REALTOR®
📍Iowa Realty
📱5️⃣1️⃣5️⃣-2️⃣2️⃣9️⃣-5️⃣6️⃣4️⃣2️⃣

✨🤜🤛✨

01/25/2025

➕No! Popcorn ceilings are not making a comeback (at least not yet), but many homeowners are looking to add some texture or depth to their ceilings. 🎨

Adding tin tiles can create a charming and interesting look, whether your home was built in the 1920s or the 2020s. Modern trends offer a variety of materials and colors, including false ceilings, rafters, carvings, and wood.

Textured ceilings not only enhance aesthetic appeal but also provide acoustic benefits, reducing noise levels. Faux wood beams and coffered ceilings add architectural interest and luxury, while painted beadboard or shiplap gives a room a cozy, cottage-like feel. Metal tiles can add a vintage or industrial touch. 🏭

Textured ceilings can also hide imperfections and create a unique focal point in any room. With so many options available, homeowners can customize their ceilings to match their style and decor.

What say you? Any favorite looks on ceilings you have or want to add in the future?

⭐️Josh Dicks, REALTOR®
📍Iowa Realty
📱5️⃣1️⃣5️⃣-2️⃣2️⃣9️⃣-5️⃣6️⃣4️⃣2️⃣

✨🤜🤛✨

01/16/2025

➕Engineering is awesome.

01/06/2025

🍿✨Movie Mansion Monday: The Ghostbusters Firehouse✨🎥

Who ya gonna call? The Ghostbusters Firehouse, of course! 🚒 Located at 14 North Moore Street in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan, this iconic building was originally built in 1903 as a fire station for the FDNY. With its distinctive red brick and white stone exterior, standing three stories tall at 46 feet, it was the perfect headquarters for the Ghostbusters in the 1984 blockbuster.

Dan Aykroyd, writer and star of Ghostbusters, handpicked the firehouse for its authentic charm and his personal connection to the area. Beyond its Ghostbusters fame, this 5,947-square-foot building has also appeared in films like Hitch and Ghostbusters II, as well as TV shows like Seinfeld and How I Met Your Mother.

Here’s the best part: it’s still a working firehouse, serving the Tribeca community as Hook & Ladder Company 8. Fans flock to the site year-round, especially for “Ghostbusters Day,” 🎉 an annual fundraiser in June that celebrates the film’s lasting legacy.

While Manhattan’s firehouse stands as a piece of movie history, Iowa boasts over 850 active fire stations, each with its own unique story. 🛠️ If you’ve ever dreamed of converting a firehouse into a home, office, or creative space, let me know—I’d love to help make that dream a reality! 🏡

⭐️Josh Dicks, REALTOR®
📍Iowa Realty
📱5️⃣1️⃣5️⃣-2️⃣2️⃣9️⃣-5️⃣6️⃣4️⃣2️⃣

Josh Dicks Real Estate

02/01/2026

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