Palouse Living, September 2017

Palouse LIVING Your resource for buying, selling and enjoying your home on the Palouse.

3 great reasons why

now is the time to sell

September 2017 Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune

Home financing for every stage of life Choose a lender who’s with you all the way, no matter what your home financing needs may be.

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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. © 2015 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. AS3542979 Expires 09/2017

| September 2017 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune

Palouse Living

3 great reasons why now is the time to sell!

Sage Francetich, REALTOR® | Team Idaho Real Estate

T

he Fall season is upon us! With the universities and colleges back in session and temperatures falling, it’s a great time of year to sell real estate.

in Latah County going under contract within 30 days, and over half of which were under contract in less than one week (source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service (IMLS)).

It’s also a great time to move between homes – it’s easier to conquer the task of moving when you don’t have to beat the heat, nor do you have to plow through the snow!

This means that there aren’t enough homes on the market, especially homes listed at $300,000 or less.

However, there are several homes in Latah County that are listed at $300,000 or more that have been sitting on the market for an average of 74 days (source: Intermountain Multiple Listing Service (IMLS)), which is encouraging news for sellers that are looking for more space, whether it be indoors or out in the yard!

Here are 3 solid reasons as to why you should consider selling your property this Fall.

1. Prices are steeply climbing!

Many single family home market values have increased $10,000-$15,000 in market value between 2016 and 2017 with little or no home improvements. With the right market opinion from your REALTOR ® paired with some sweat equity, you can make a great return on your home in a very short time. If you’ve been a long-term homeowner, you’re in an even better position to sell and make a profit!

So… that’s a wrap! If you’re looking to sell, now is a great time to list your property. Call your REALTOR® for an estimate today!

Beauty

2. Interest rates are low, but rising.

With interest rates currently resting around 4.0%, the pool of potential buyers is quite high. With home values on the rise and interest rates following the same trend, now is a good time to take advantage of a high housing demand.

SET IN STONE. S

3. There are many buyers still waiting for the right home!

New listings have been flying off the market in a matter of days, with one in three 2017 brokerage-listed homes

Palouse LIVING Your resource for buying, selling and enjoying your home on the Palouse.

3 great reasons why

now is the time to sell

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IN PRINT: Palouse Living is published monthly, with 12,500 copies distributed in the Daily News, Lewiston Tribune and at key drop spots and advertisers.

ONLINE: Check out the latest edition online at DNews.com, just click on the Special Sections tab.

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September 2017 Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune

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Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | September 2017 | 3

Chimney maintenance a part of home safety MetroCreative

A

s temperatures drop and thoughts once again turn to lighting fires and sitting down with a good book, it’s important to revisit chimney maintenance.

Various problems can arise when chimneys are not well maintained. Such problems include chimney fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and early failure of the chimney and heating sources that the chimney vents.

Even though chimneys do not require daily upkeep, regular maintenance efforts help chimneys operate safely and prevent deaths and injuries while protecting homes from fire.

Carbon monoxide can be scary, as it is virtually invisible without a proper detector. The National Vital Statistics System says that, in 2015, 393 deaths resulted from unintentional carbon monoxide

| September 2017 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune

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poisoning in the United States.

When carbon monoxide is breathed in, it builds up quickly and combines with the blood, reducing the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. The Canada Safety Council says that body tissue and cells can’t function without oxygen.

Chimney fires are another potential byproduct of poor chimney maintenance. The Chimney Safety Institute of America notes that chimneys expel the byproducts of combustion, including smoke, water vapor, gases, unburned wood particles, hydrocarbon, tar fog, and assorted minerals, which can condense on the inside of the chimney flue. The residue, called creosote, is highly combustible. With the right conditions, a chimney fire can occur.

To avoid chimney fires and other risks, take these precautions, courtesy of CSIA, HomeAdvisor and Popular Mechanics. · Have chimneys inspected annually and properly cleaned by a professional chimney technician. · Make sure tree branches and other obstacles are cleared away from the top of the chimney.

For All Local Listings:

www.LatahRealty.com

· Use seasoned hardwoods that have been split for several months to a year. “Green” wood creates more creosote. · The top-down method of building a fire produces less smoke. This means using larger pieces of wood on the bottom and the smallest twigs and kindling at the top. The fire will burn from the top and down, igniting the wood beneath as it goes. · Put a cap on the chimney to keep out rain, snow and small animals. · Keep fires small; otherwise, the intense heat may damage bricks and mortar in the chimney. Repair any damage promptly before lighting another fire. · Open the damper and fireplace doors so that air supply flows freely and can vent the smoke promptly, reducing residence time in the flue; otherwise, creosote can form. · Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms throughout the home and routinely check the batteries.

Learn more about chimney maintenance and find a certified chimney sweep at www.csia.org.

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Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | September 2017 |

Fall lawn care tips MetroCreative

S

pring and summer may be the seasons most often associated with landscaping and lawn care, but tending to lawns and gardens is a yearround job.

lawns to thrive year-round can take advantage of the welcoming weather of fall to address any existing or potential issues.

If lawn and garden responsibilities dip considerably in winter, then fall is the last significant chance before the new year that homeowners will have to address the landscaping around their homes.

It’s important that homeowners continue to mow their lawns so long as grass is growing. But as fall transitions into winter, lower the blades so the grass is cut shorter while remaining mindful that no blade of grass should ever be trimmed by more than one-third.

Lowering the blades will allow more sunlight to reach the grass in the months ahead.

Fall lawn care differs from spring and summer lawn care, even if the warm temperatures of summer linger into autumn. Homeowners who want their

¡ Keep mowing, but adjust how you mow.

| September 2017 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune

Palouse Living

· Remove leaves as they fall.

Much like apple-picking and foliage, raking leaves is synonymous with fall. Some homeowners may wait to pick up a rake until all of the trees on their properties are bare.

However, allowing fallen leaves to sit on the ground for extended periods of time can have an adverse effect on grass. Leaves left to sit on the lawn may ultimately suffocate the grass by forming an impenetrable wall that deprives the lawn of sunlight and oxygen.

The result is dead grass and possibly even fungal disease. Leaves may not need to be raked every day, but homeowners should periodically rake and remove leaves from their grass, even if there are plenty left to fall still hanging on the trees.

· Repair bald spots.

Summer exacts a toll on lawns in various ways, and even homeowners with green thumbs may end up with a lawn filled with bald spots come September. Autumn is a great time to repair these bald spots.

Lawn repair mixes like Scotts® PatchMaster contain mulch, seed and fertilizer to repair bald spots, which can begin to recover in as little as seven days.

Before applying such products, remove dead grass and loosen the top few inches of soil. Follow any additional manufacturer instructions as well.

· Aerate the turf.

Aerating reduces soil compacting, facilitating the delivery of fertilizer and water to a lawn’s roots. While many homeowners, and particularly those who take pride in tending to their own lawns, can successfully aerate their own turf, it’s best to first have soil tested so you know which amendments to add after the ground has been aerated.

Gardening centers and home improvement stores sell soil testing kits that measure the pH of soil, but homeowners who want to test for nutrients or heavy metals in their soil may need to send their samples to a lab for further testing.

Fall lawn care provides a great reason to spend some time in the yard before the arrival of winter.

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Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | September 2017 |

Reduce cold-weather fire risk MetroCreative

H

omeowners can reduce their risk for home fires in various ways.

Plenty of things heat up when the temperature drops, including the risk for fire hazards. Fireplaces, stoves, heating systems, candles, and even electric lights are used more often during the winter than any other time of year, so it makes sense that the risk of home fires increases when the mercury drops.

The U.S. Fire Administration says 905 people die in winter home fires each year. Cooking is the leading cause of all home fires and contributes to around $2 billion in property loss each year. Understanding potential risks and exercising caution can help homeowners protect themselves, their families and

their homes from fire.

Cooking Home heating fires peak between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., when many people are home preparing dinner. The following steps, courtesy of the American Red Cross, can improve safety in the kitchen and reduce the likelihood of a home fire. 路 Never leave cooking food unattended, as it can take just seconds for fires to ignite. 路 Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stove or other appliances that generate heat. 路 Clean regularly to prevent grease buildup. 路 Make sure appliances are turned off before leaving

| September 2017 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune

Palouse Living

the room or going to bed.

Heating The National Fire Protection Association warns that heating is the second leading cause of home fires, deaths and injuries in the United States. The NFPA offers these safety guidelines. · Install heating appliances according to manufacturers’ instructions or have a professional do the installation.

between 600 and 1,000 people die each year from electrocution. Electricity also can contribute to home fires. The Energy Education Council offers these safety suggestions. · Never force plugs into outlets. · Check that cords are not frayed or cracked. Do not run cords under carpets or place them in hightraffic areas. · Use extension cords only on a temporary basis.

· Fuel-burning equipment needs to vent to the outside.

· Make sure light bulbs are the proper wattage for fixtures.

· Never use an oven to heat a home.

· Install ground fault circuit interrupters in kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, and elsewhere, making sure to test them regularly.

· Keep anything that can burn away from heating equipment, including portable space heaters. · Clean and inspect heating appliances regularly. · Turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.

Electric The National Safety Council estimates that

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· Check periodically for loose wall receptacles and loose wires. Listen for popping or sizzling sounds behind walls.

Home fires are no joke and can be prevented with simple safety checks.

Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | September 2017 |

When on an Association Board, education is a must NewsUSA

R

unning a community association can be a rewarding but difficult task -- a minefield for even the most savvy, seasoned and well-intentioned arbiter.

association board. Either way, educating yourself is of paramount importance to you, your neighbors and community.

Federal, state and local laws are changed, passed, or modified; buildings age; interest rates are as solid as a two-celebrity marriage; budgets, insurance companies and community elections present their own challenges.

Which is why Community Associations Institute (CAI), a national education and advocacy group, is offering a new, comprehensive education course that will help community association board members better understand association operations, management and governance.

If you are one of the more than 66 million Americans who live in a homeowners association or condominium, you might be thinking of becoming a board member, or perhaps you already serve on an

“We know from national surveys that association board members are dedicated volunteers doing their very best to serve their communities and neighbors,” says CAI Chief Executive Officer Thomas Skiba, CAE.

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“But that doesn’t mean they know everything they need to know. Many boards get in trouble because they don’t know what they don’t know. That’s why this course can be helpful.�

A Big Commitment

says, is for both self-managed communities and those association boards that rely on a professional community manager or an association management company.

Highlights of the Workshop

Although board members certainly go in with eyes wide open about the amount of time they will be volunteering and devoting to the association, Skiba points out that the role also requires a commitment to understand the legal, leadership and operational obligations of the position. “The information and insights conveyed in the workshop can save association leaders time, money and unnecessary headaches, perhaps even help them avoid costly, divisive lawsuits,� says Skiba. “Even with a skilled community manager or attorney, board members can find themselves facing the unanticipated surprises and traps that association boards inevitably encounter.�

CAI has tapped experts in the community association business to develop a workshop that is available both as an online course and a classroom workshop by CAI chapters. The curriculum, Skiba

The Board Leadership Development Workshop provides association board members with information and perspective on the critical elements of community association operations. So whether you’re a first-time board member or a tenured officer, there’s something for everyone. Here is just a sampling of what the program includes: ¡ The functions of president, secretary and treasurer. ¡ Governing documents. ¡ Finances and reserve funding. ¡ Board and annual meetings. ¡ Rules compliance and enforcement.

Visit www.caionline.org or call 888-224-4321 to learn more.

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Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | September 2017 | 11

Finding Homes for Home’s Best Friend Both the Moscow and Pullman ofces 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 ofces 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

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12 | September 2017 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune

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