Palouse LIVING Your resource for buying, selling and enjoying your home on the Palouse.
Where home staging
really pays off
September 2018 Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune
Home is not just a place, it’s a feeling. Everyone has goals, but not always a plan to reach them. We can help you find home financing options to meet your needs, whether you’re: • Purchasing your first home • Looking to buy a second home • Interested in buying an investment property And, with our PriorityBuyer® preapproval, you can shop for your home with confidence. Your home financing matters, contact me today. Rachel Ellen Laine Home Mortgage Consultant Office: 208-883-5659, Cell: 208-874-2452 rachel.e.laine@wellsfargo.com www.wfhm.com/rachel-laine NMLSR ID 1015986
Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2016 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. AS3812380 Expires 09/2018
| September 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune
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Local Realtors give back this October By Lindsey Pastrell // Lewiston Tribune
W
ith fall just around the corner, colder temperatures are soon to follow.
Many people are digging out their winter attire from the back of the closet and planning on spending time indoors next to a warm cup of lentil soup. However, for those less fortunate, winter clothing and a warm meal aren’t so simple to come by. The Latah County Board of Realtors is hoping to make the coming fall and winter seasons a little warmer though. Join them this October for a free dinner and clothing drive. When: Thursday, October 4th from 4:00-7:00pm
Fall and winter clothing items will available for both adults and children to take as needed. All community members are welcome to attend and take what they need for the upcoming seasons. For more information, contact Jess Dahlinger at 208-3010777. The mission of the Latah County Board of REALTORS ® is to provide members with education and resources that enable them to conduct their business successfully, to build strong relationships between REALTORS® and their communities, to promote and preserve private property rights, and touphold and enforce the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.
Where: First United Methodist Church
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322 E 3rd St, Moscow Idaho What: FREE dinner and clothing drive
Your resource for buying, selling and enjoying your home on the Palouse.
Where home staging
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September 2018 Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune
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Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | September 2018 | 3
The one room where home staging will pay off the most By Jennifer Geddes // Realtor.com
A
s most of us know, home staging can help sell a house—particularly in the living room, which has gotten a bad rap lately as a waste of space. The fact is, first impressions matter, and the living room is usually near the entry point for most homes. Reality check: This room may not be the end-all, be-all area it used to be, but this is no place for your kid’s train set, your husband’s guitar stands, or any unnecessary clutter. So, it pays to do all you can to showcase this space right. To help, here are some living room staging tips buyers will love.
Once you’ve removed some of the furniture, consider making an arrangement that allows people to sit and chat. “This often means pulling furniture away from walls, which also allows for circulation,” says Gale Sitomer of G Sitomer Design in New York City. And if you have a larger living room, don’t be afraid to create several separate seating areas, which can be defined by different area rugs.
Create a focal point Usually the mantel, if you have one, is the first place the eye comes to rest, so make sure your home staging packs a punch here, suggest real estate agents Jonathan Rosen and Christy Berry, co-founders of The Rosen Berry Group in Dallas. Declutter this spot by taking down wedding photos, your porcelain bird collection, and other items so it looks like a clean line. Add back a single pretty vase, a fun piece of art, or an interesting sculpture. However, if the focal point is a gorgeous garden or backyard pool, create clear views of it through the living room.
Choose furniture wisely // Elizabeth Herrmann Architecture + Design
Remove and redistribute furniture Amy Bell, owner of Red Chair Home Interiors in Cary, NC, urges homeowners to evaluate whether any furniture can be “voted off the island”—i.e., out of the room. “I recently staged a home in which the living room contained enough furniture for two rooms,” she notes. But, as part of the staging process, she shuffled the items and placed the contents in two different places. As a result, the home sold in one day. | September 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune
Limit your mantel to just a couple of pretty objects // Sean Gallagher
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consider white slipcovers. “Lighter, more neutral rugs are better than oriental or brightly colored ones, which don’t photograph well and make rooms look dated,� says Lisa Gulliver, a Showhomes franchise co-owner. The same goes for your couch, she adds. “A dark sofa against big, bright windows can be blinding, but shades of gray or khaki can help eyes adjust more quickly so the buyer can take in the room and exterior views.�
Accessorize with flair The finishing touches count for a lot when it comes to staging the living room. Put a soft cashmere throw over a corner chair to evoke a quiet place for reading, says Katie McCann, an organizing expert with Maeve’s Method. Choose a cool, calm color like a pearly gray // Alex Kroke Photography
Be neutral We’re talking about colors, says Sitomer. “Stick with a neutral tone to appeal to a larger variety of potential buyers,� she notes. And if you have bold or patterned furniture,
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A small vase of fresh flowers adds beauty and perhaps a soft scent (watch out for overly strong candles). Jack Menashe, owner of the New York–based Menashe Group, likes accessories that bring the space to life, including large coffee-table books, sculptural art, and accent pillows. Jennifer Kelly Geddes creates content for Chewy.com, the National Sleep Foundation, Fisher-Price, and Mastercard.Follow @jkgeddes
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Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | September 2018 |
Buying a house? 6 questions should be asking By Daniel Bortz // Realtor.com
W
hen buying a house is high on your priority list and you spot The One—the house that has everything you’ve ever dreamed of and more—it can be tempting to put pedal to the metal and close the deal as quickly as possible. But slow down!
Was it previously an expired listing? Was it leased? Was it ever a bank-owned property or other type of distressed home? These factors could suggest a home has been a struggle to sell—which could mean you could snap up this home at a bargain-basement price.
No home is perfect beneath the surface, and few know this better than your real estate agent. And that means it’s time to sit down with this professional and pepper him with questions about the place you’re hoping to make your own.
3. ‘What contingencies do you think are worth getting—and skipping?’
And while certain questions seem rather obvious—should you offer full price, how soon can you close—there are many others you may not think to ask an agent at this pivotal juncture. But you should! Here are six questions to ask a real estate agent to flush out what he’s truly thinking, that could help you figure out if this place is really right for you.
“When buyers and sellers get cold feet about the purchase or sale of a home, they sometimes think they can just back out,” says Linda Sanderfoot, a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker in Neenah, WI. But when a seller accepts a buyer’s offer, both parties sign a legal and binding contract—an official document that requires the buyer and seller to execute the transaction. So how binding that contract is depends on the details. Some contracts have contingencies built in that enable the buyer or seller to walk away from the deal without penalty. And contingencies are often included for a home inspection and an appraisal.
1. ‘Would you buy this house?’ This question may be the ultimate litmus test of whether you should purchase a home. If your agent would have reservations about buying the house for himself, that’s a waving red flag. So if you get the sense your agent isn’t as enthusiastic about the home as you are, ask why. His answer might give you pause, too.
2. ‘What is the sales history of this house, and how would it affect my offer?’ Before making an offer on a house, ask your agent for the property’s sales history, says Chris Dossman, a real estate agent with Century 21 Scheetz in Indianapolis.
But note that having too many contingencies tends to turn off sellers, so make sure to strike the right balance by asking your real estate agent for guidance. For instance, you might be OK waiving a home inspection contingency if the home is newly constructed, whereas it’s more essential with an older home that might need extensive repairs.
4. ‘Are there any upcoming condo or homeowners association assessments?’
| September 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune
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When you purchase a condominium or a home within a homeowners association, you’ll receive the HOA’s financial documents, which outline important information such as reserve funds and CC&Rs (covenants, conditions, and restrictions). These condo docs and disclosures can be hundreds of pages long—which could overwhelm home buyers, who could forget to check if there are any upcoming assessments. Assessments are periodic one-time payments made to the HOA above and beyond the monthly fee, usually to cover capital improvements or repairs. Since they will affect your monthly housing expenses, you’ll want to know whether they could go up anytime soon—and your agent is adept at navigating these documents to pinpoint the answer.
5. ‘What’s happening in this neighborhood, and how will that affect home prices?’ Good real estate agents hear everything about what’s happening in the communities where they do business. And although federal fair housing laws prohibit real estate agents from commenting on a neighborhood’s demographics, your agent can still give you advice on whether you’re making a solid investment based on local
Buying, Selling Or Renting — Let Our Experience Lead You Home!
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So go ahead and ask: Are the neighborhood’s home prices rising or falling? Are there new amenities (e.g., parks, shopping, public transportation, Whole Foods) being built in the area? These are all important things to consider before buying a house, and a real estate agent can help you cut through the noise and really tell you what’s up.
6. ‘Can you recommend a home inspector/ handyman/real estate attorney in the area?’ Local expertise matters not only with the real estate agent you hire, but also the other professionals you could meet while negotiating this real estate deal. So if you need recommendations for a home inspector, handyman, real estate attorney, or anyone else on your home-buying journey, make sure to ask your agent for recommendations to boost the odds of smooth sailing. Daniel Bortz is a Realtor in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. He has written for Money magazine, Entrepreneur magazine, CNNMoney, and more.
Kathy Weber (509) 336-1515
Traci Hacker (208) 310-1557
(208) 883-9700 325 W. 3rd St., Moscow www.HomesInMoscow.com
housing market trends and economic factors that affect home values.
Patty Gemberling (208) 669-2006
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Misty Yopp (208) 550-5200
Megan Rae (208) 874-3128
Angie Spellman (208) 596-9686
Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | September 2018 |
Autumn is a prime time to tend lawns and gardens MetroCreative
A
utumn is gardening season. That statement may not seem right to those who think of the spring as the peak time to care for lawns and gardens. However, autumn is an ideal time to get into the garden and ensure that flowers, trees and garden beds will over-winter successfully. A number of things make autumn a prime gardening season. The cooler days of fall enable gardeners to spend ample time outdoors without the threat of blazing heat. In addition, soil harbors a lot of residual warmth in autumn. Also, the colder temperatures haven’t yet arrived in autumn, nor have the leaves completely fallen, making fall a prime time to assess what’s already in the landscape, what needs pruning back and where to address planting for next year. Gardening enthusiasts can focus their attention on these areas this fall.
Pamper perennials As annuals and perennials start to fall back, mark the spots where perennials are located so they can be easily identified later on. This way, when planning spots for spring bulbs or other spring layouts for next year, perennials won’t be overlooked or covered over.
Plant spring bulbs Get tulips and other spring bulbs ready for planting so they’ll burst with color next year.
Remove spent summer veggies Take out vegetable garden plants that have already bloomed and borne fruit. Tidy up vegetable gardens and start to sow cooler weather plants, such as onions, garlic, beans, and sweet peas.
| September 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune
Palouse Living
Prune shrubs
Consider mums
Look at shrubs and trees and cut out dead or diseased wood.
Install pavers or rock wall Embrace the cooler temperatures to work on laborintensive projects, such as putting in a garden bed, retaining wall or walkway.
Fertilize the lawn Fertilizing in autumn helps ensure grass will stay healthy throughout the winter.
Clean up borders Rake and compost Rake the leaves and gather grass clippings to add to the compost pile. Relocate herbs like parsley or basil to indoor gardens. Otherwise, strip all leaves and freeze for storage during winter.
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Add mulch and compost to the garden Replenish spent soil with mulch and compost so garden beds will be revitalized for spring planting.
Prune hedges Tidy up hedges, as they won’t be growing much more this year.
Clean and store equipment
Weed and tidy up borders and lawn edging.
Dig up herbs
Chrysanthemum plants are perennials. While they look beautiful in pots, if planted, maintained and winterized, they can bloom every fall.
Clean, sharpen and oil all equipment, storing lawn and garden tools properly so they are ready for spring and not lying out all winter. Autumn may not seem like gardening season, but there are plenty of lawn and garden tasks to tend to during this time of year.
Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | September 2018 |
What to do when a project stalls MetroCreative
U
pon embarking on a home improvement project, homeowners who have never before lived through such undertakings are often told to expect their projects to take more time than initial estimates suggested. Unforeseen complications can compromise project timelines, and some homeowners may find their projects stuck in neutral.
addition to money, time or lack thereof, is often the culprit behind stalled projects. Homeowners with full-time jobs, families or both may not be able to find the time to complete a job in a timely fashion. If the project has been stuck in neutral and no sudden windfall of free time is on the horizon, start contacting contractors to finish the job for you.
Stalled projects can make life at home difficult, and homeowners may feel helpless with regard to getting a project back on course. But there are ways for homeowners to get stalled projects back on course.
Ask for help There’s no shame in asking for help to complete a project. Some homeowners may underestimate the scope of a project until it’s too late. Asking family, friends or neighbors for help might be the only way to get a stalled project back on track. Certain home improvement projects may not require advanced skills, and even friends or family with little or no home improvement experience can pitch in to complete such projects. When more advanced projects stall, homeowners may want to hire contractors to complete the work. If budgets have not left much room for hiring a contractor, homeowners can perform some of the labor on their own.
Start off on solid financial footing It’s important that homeowners who want to upgrade their homes enter the home improvement process with a realistic grasp of their finances. Many home improvement projects stall when homeowners run out of money. Homeowners can avoid such unfortunate situations by only beginning a project they know they can afford. Whether funding a project with a loan or savings or a combination of both, homeowners should make an honest assessment of what they can afford to commit to a given project. If the amount of money available does not add up to the estimated cost of the project, delay the project now or you might be facing a stalled project down the road.
Honestly assess whether or not you can finish the job Do-it-yourselfers may have the abilities to complete a project, but they should not let their pride get in the way of their ultimate goal, which is the completion of the project. In
Be mindful of permits Some home improvement projects require permits, and these permits often have expiration dates. Homeowners must keep permits in mind when projects start to stall, recognizing that they may need to reapply for permits if projects go unfinished for especially long periods of time. Stalled home improvement projects can be a nightmare. But homeowners can address such delays in various ways to get projects back on track.
10 | September 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune
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Clever ways to expand living spaces MetroCreative
H
omeowners looking to add more space to their homes do not necessarily need to make major renovations. They simply have to see the possibilities in outdoor living spaces. While the creation of outdoor living spaces can cost thousands of dollars depending on the renovation, homeowners have more budget-friendly options at their disposal as well. The following are some ways to create inviting spaces no matter how much space is present.
Revamp a garage or shed Rather than turning a storage area into a catch-all for items time forgot, clean out the space and put it to better use. For instance, kids may appreciate their own clubhouse away from the main living area. Wall art, curtains, a pendant light, and some comfortable outdoor-compatible furniture can quickly
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transform a space.
Create a relaxing nook Whether there’s a ledge, overhang, small terrace, or porch off the house, turn it into a relaxing area for reading a book or sipping a beverage. Use a few outdoor pillows, pull up a small folding table and dress the area with hanging lights and potted plants for a quiet retreat.
Add privacy to a porch If it’s privacy you covet, install curtain rods and hang lightweight mesh or another translucent material that obscures neighbors’ views without blocking out natural light. Invest in outdoor sofas and chaises to create an outdoor living room right on the porch. If your budget allows, consider closing in the porch as a true three-season room so it can be used throughout fall, spring and summer.
Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | September 2018 | 11
Finding Homes for Home’s Best Friend Both the Moscow and Pullman ofces have teamed up with the Humane Society of the Palouse and the Whitman County Humane Society to help nd homes for local dogs and cats. For the month of September both ofces will be paying the adoption fees for 2 cats and 2 dogs. Call today to nd out how you can bring home a new furry friend!
Mark Blehm (509) 336-9935
Jason Brown (208) 669-1690
Tracy Burch-Greer (208) 874-7823
Stephanie Clark (509) 595-2798
Eve Fortenbery (208) 301-8698
Patti Green-Kent (509) 595-3740
Linda Hartford (509) 432-9030
Amy Honeywell (509) 432-9329
Melanie Lange (509) 553-9451
Debbie Lawrence (208) 301-0108
Shannon May (208) 892-9256
Bill Morscheck (509) 332-9088
Kathy Motley (509) 432-6561
Mick Nazerali (206) 794-7860
Connie Newman (509) 595-1443
MiLinda Taylor (208) 892-9664
405 S. Grand Ave., Pullman (509) 334-0562 www.cbtpullman.com
217 S. Main St., Moscow (208) 882-0800 www.cbtmoscow.com
12 | September 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune
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