Palouse Living, October 2018

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

How to buy a home

- in your 20s

October O ctober 2 2018 018 M Moscow-Pullman oscow-Pullman D Daily aily N News ews & L Lewiston ewiston T Tribune ribune

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.

Jesse Goodwater Home Mortgage Consultant Office: 208-883-5659 jesse.a.goodwater@wellsfargo.com www.wfhm.com/jesse-goodwater NMLSR ID 259511 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. AS4670681 Expires 09/2019

| October 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune

Palouse Living

Improve entertaining spaces MetroCreative

S

ome homes are seemingly built for entertaining, while others may need a little help to make them more fit for hosting dinner, holiday gatherings or an evening with friends.

For example, a large dining table with fold-out extensions or leaves is ideal for someone who regularly hosts formal dinner parties. Renovate a room to include a small bar and club chairs for a lounge feel if cocktail parties are typical.

People who open their homes to loved ones may want to make some modifications to their spaces to improve the experience for all involved.

· Improve lighting. Work with an electrician and/or designer who can offer ideas for lighting that can set the mood for entertaining. Rooms that are dull and dim can benefit from overhead lighting fixtures if there are none already available. Task lighting in the kitchen under cabinets can make it easy to prepare food for guests. Wall sconces or focused lighting on artwork can establish a dramatic effect.

· Tame the clutter. Look for ways to reduce clutter in rooms where entertaining takes place. Built-ins with bookshelves and cabinets can hide electronics and wayward toys or collectibles. Focus attention on the entryway, hanging hooks for collecting coats, keys and shoes, so they do not overrun the foyer. Remove any knickknacks or other breakable items from shelves or on coffee tables to free up more space. · Improve conversation seating. Arrange tables and chairs to create conversation nooks for guests who want to talk and get to know one another better. Consider moving out big and bulky sofas in favor of love seats or comfortable chairs that will take up less room and improve flow in entertaining areas. · Find the pieces you like. Think about how you tend to entertain and then cater your space to those preferences.

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

· Install a guest bath. Update or add a bathroom near the main entertaining areas. This allows guests to discretely use the bathroom and keeps them from roaming in areas of the house you would prefer they avoid.

tĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ĐŚŽŝĐĞƐ LJŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ ŝŶ ƐĞůĞĐƟŶŐ Ă ďƌŽŬĞƌĂŐĞ Žƌ ƌĞĂůƚŽƌ ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬ ǁŝƚŚ ǁŚĞŶ ďƵLJŝŶŐ Žƌ ƐĞůůŝŶŐ ƌĞĂů ĞƐƚĂƚĞ͘​͘​͘ŽƵƌ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂƌĞĂ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ ƐĞƚƐ ƵƐ ĂƉĂƌƚ͊ 'ŝǀĞ ƵƐ Ă ĐĂůů͕ ǁĞ ůŽŽŬ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ ƚŽ ƚĂůŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ LJŽƵ͊​͊

ENJOY PALOUSE LIVING IN PRINT: Palouse Living

is published monthly, with 7,000 copies distributed in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Lewiston Tribune and at participating advertiser locations.

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

< d,/ Ez' Z KǁŶĞƌͬ ƌŽŬĞƌ ϮϬϴͲϴϳϱͲϬϯϰϱ

KE >> ƌŽŬĞƌͬZĞĂůƚŽƌ ϮϬϴͲϴϵϮͲϯϯϲϵ

^ Kdd Z/ < Z ZĞĂůƚŽƌ ϱϬϵͲϳϭϱͲϵϭϭϭ

W h> E/ ,K>^KE KĸĐĞ DĂŶĂŐĞƌ ϮϬϴͲϴϳϱͲϴϭϬϬ

ŚŽŵĞƚŽǁŶ ƌĞĂů ĞƐƚĂƚĞ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ ƐĞƌǀŝŶŐ >ĂƚĂŚ ŽƵŶƚLJ ĂŶĚ ďĞLJŽŶĚ͊

To advertise in Palouse Living, email Sally Imel at simel@ lmtribune.com or call your local marketing consultant today!

PALOUSE LIVING

Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | October 2018 | 3

How to buy a house in your 20s —and why you really should Daniel Bortz // Realtor.com

C

urious about how to buy a house in your 20s? If you’re dubious it can be done, we get it. Between entrylevel salaries, college loans, and the desire to just be young and have fun, 20-somethings often think homeownership is beyond their reach.

Not so! It is entirely possible to buy a home in your 20s, and it will benefit you big-time down the road. Here’s how you can make your home-buying dreams come true.

Save for a down payment To buy a house at your age, you’d better have some cash saved up for a down payment on your mortgage—a lot of cash, actually.

Most financial planners recommend that home buyers make a down payment amounting to 20% of the price of the home. So on your typical $250,000 house, that would amount to $50,000. Ouch! Granted, you don’t have to put down 20%, but doing so enables you to avoid paying private mortgage insurance, a premium that can increase your monthly payment by up to 1.15%.

If you don’t have a ton of money in savings, one way to afford the down payment is to ask Mom and Dad for financial help. Another option to foot the down payment bill is to apply for down payment assistance. Depending on your income and other factors, you could qualify for one of over 2,200 down payment assistance programs nationwide, which help out home buyers with low-interest loans, grants, and tax credits.

So, how much money are we talking about? Well, one study found that buyers who use down payment assistance programs save an average of $17,766. Sadly, most consumers aren’t aware of these programs, or assume they’re too difficult to qualify for. Don’t be one of them!

Shore up student loan debt Student debt has surged to an average of $28,950 per borrower, reports the Institute for College Access & Success.

But college debt doesn’t automatically prevent you from being

able buy a house.

Most mortgage lenders require a borrower’s debt-to-income ratio—how much money you owe divided by your income—to be no more than 36%. So, someone making $6,000 a month and paying $500 a month in student debt would be able to afford a maximum monthly mortgage payment of $1,680—in many markets, that’s plenty to buy a house. But, if you’re shouldering too much student loan debt to qualify for a mortgage, you may still have a few options.

One way to make room for a mortgage is to refinance and extend the life of your college loan. This results in smaller monthly payments over a longer period of time, so you’ll have more you can put toward a mortgage. The caveat is you’ll end up paying more in interest over the life of your college loan, but it means you can buy a home now and, in turn, take advantage of today’s low mortgage interest rates, says Heather McRae, a senior loan officer at Chicago Financial Services.

Moreover, nearly half of states today offer housing assistance to college grads carrying student loan debt.

For instance, New York’s new Graduate to Homeownership program provides assistance to first-time buyers/college grads in the form of low-interest-rate mortgages or up to $15,000 in down payment assistance. You can meet with a mortgage lender to find out if you qualify for one of these programs.

Check your credit score Unlike older generations, home buyers in their 20s tend to have shorter credit histories. That can be a problem, since if you have limited credit history, the odds are greater that you have a mediocre credit score—the numerical representation of how well you’ve paid off past loans (like credit cards).

Mortgage lenders usually require borrowers to have a minimum credit score of 660; they also look at your credit utilization ratio—your current debts, divided by the credit limit

| October 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune

Palouse Living

on the sum of your accounts. For example, if you’re carrying a $400 debt on your credit card and have a $1,000 credit limit, your credit utilization ratio is 40%. Unfortunately, relatively new credit users tend to have higher credit utilization ratio.

You’ll want to get a free copy of your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com. Check for errors—1 in 4 Americans spots mistakes on their credit report, according to a Federal Trade Commission survey. And, if your credit isn’t up to par, you may have to take a few months to raise your score. Or you can get someone with good credit (like your parents) to co-sign the loan for you.

Purchase a starter home As a young home buyer, you don’t have to find your “forever home” right now.“I tell young buyers all the time, ‘This is your first home—it’s not your last,’” says Linda Sanderfoot, a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker in Neenah, WI. In fact, there are a couple of big financial benefits to buying a starter home while you’re in your 20s. First, your mortgage payments will probably be more affordable, since you’ll likely be buying a cheaper house. Second, you may be able to get a 5- or 7-year adjustable-rate mortgage and qualify for a lower interest rate than you would with a 30-year fixed loan—a

Buying, Selling Or Renting — Let Our Experience Lead You Home!

Palouse Living

Plan for unexpected home expenses All home buyers should have a rainy day fund to pay for emergency home repairs such as roof damage or a gas leak. And this is especially important for young buyers.

Why? Research shows many millennials are less financially responsible than older generations. A study by TD Ameritrade found that more than 9 in 10 millennials overspend, fall short on savings, or take on additional debt at least once a month per year. Furthermore, a recent GoBankingRates.com survey found 52% of millennials said they feel pressure to keep up with their friends due to always going out.

Consequently, “Don’t buy at the top of your budget,” says Sanderfoot. “Unless you’re buying new construction, you need an emergency fund for big repairs.”

She adds that home buyers may also want to get a home warranty, which is a policy that would cover the cost of repairing certain home appliances if they break down. (Plans start at about $300.)

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

good decision as long as you plan on moving before the loan’s interest rate lock expires.

Patty Gemberling (208) 669-2006

Kristie Mattoon (208) 724-2719

Megan McNannay (208) 310-1662

Rental Connections, Property Manager

Terri Guenthner (208) 301-2374

Cindy Agidius (208) 301-0246

Nancy Tribble (208) 301-0105

Teri Skiles (208) 669-1364

Susan Miller (208) 892-4004

Misty Yopp (208) 550-5200

Megan Rae (208) 874-3128

Angie Spellman (208) 596-9686

Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | October 2018 |

10 ideas for decorating pumpkins that up your gourd game big-time Jennifer Geddes // Realtor.com

P

umpkin decorating ideas are popping up everywhere right now, with Halloween and Thanksgiving on the horizon and our obsession with pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin-scented everything cranking into high gear. If you’re bored with the usual jack-o-lantern and want to pull off some more creative gourd decor, you need look no further than this list below.

1. Go full metal Liz Toombs, president of PDR Interiors, likes to keep her pumpkins in service from October through December.

“One year, I was even able to incorporate pumpkins into my Christmas decor because I used a woodland-themed tree,” she explains.

One of her secrets is spraying them with metallic paint.

Toombs gives them a coat of silver and then groups them on a black cloth runner with matching serving pieces and dried grass. “It makes for an interesting texture combination in a chic color scheme,” she reports. And she likes to paint the pumpkins on her front stoop and adorn them with sequins for extra curb appeal.

Toombs suggests. “And tiny faux pumpkins in a piece of crystal is another easy way to achieve the look,” she says.

These little gourds can also float with votive candles in a large punch bowl for a stunning centerpiece.

3. Make pumpkin pots Create a vessel for succulents or seasonal plants, such as bittersweet, ‘mums or asters, inside hollowed-out pumpkins.

“Or make a fairy garden by cutting a large hole in one side, scooping out the insides, and then putting in miniature furniture and other fairylike items,” says Jamie Novak, author of “Keep This Toss That.”

4. Adorn the loo Everyone stacks pumpkins on the front porch or on a buffet—so it’s worth branching out. “It’s less expected to see a pumpkin weighing down paper hand towels in your guest bath,” Novak notes. Line bookcases and windowsills with gourds, or fill your fireplace with a variety of shapes and colors. “Include a strand of battery-operated lights in a seasonal orange shade for a realistic glow,” she adds.

2. Fill glass canisters Try filling cylindrical glass vases with mini pumpkins, | October 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune

5. Choose white pumpkins Think beyond the orange and pick up pumpkins that are

Palouse Living

white, creamy peach, or beige. “Or decorate fake pumpkins with velvet and sequins, which are popular materials right now,” says Toombs. Jeanine Boiko, a blogger at Okio B Designs and a real estate agent with Exit Realty Gateway in Wantaugh, NY, favors a black-and-white harlequin pattern on her pumpkins. “And I once filled a mini red pickup truck with putka pods, similar to mini pumpkins, that I found online,” she adds.

6. Spell it out Put these gourds to work by painting words on them or carving out letters. Novak writes “Welcome” on a big pumpkin for her front step, while Karen Gray-Plaisted of Design Solutions KGP cuts “Thanks” or “Greetings” into her bigger ones and then makes a slit on the top of mini pumpkins to slide in place cards for the table.

7. Create serving vessels You can also transform your pumpkins into serving pieces.

Hollow out a pumpkin, line it with a plastic bag that fits the inside, and then fill your bowl with Halloween candy. A set of these pumpkins can also stand in for a bean bag toss game or hold a trio of fall mums on the deck. Having a party? Use the shell of your pumpkin as a soup tureen (bonus points if

you actually make pumpkin soup from the innards) or as an ice bucket for drinks.

8. Craft a wreath Tiny foam pumpkins or small gourds can be hot-glued to a plain wreath shape from the craft store. Add a gingham ribbon and insert fake wheat stalks into the gaps. Decorate the front door—or hang your DIY wreath over the fireplace, on an interior door, or in a hallway.

9. Build with pumpkins In many parts of the country, most greenery is done for the season, but your outdoor urns can still be useful when pumpkin time rolls around. “I like to create a topiary of pumpkins in large planters outside,” says Gray-Plaisted.

10. House the birds Before you compost your pumpkins, bid them adieu by slicing them in half crosswise and filling each section with birdseed. Lay small dowels across the top for perches.

Jennifer Kelly Geddes creates content for Chewy.com, the National Sleep Foundation, Fisher-Price, and Mastercard.Follow @jkgeddes Photos courtesy of: July Prokopiv/iStock, Sarah Greenman, Corynne Pless Brooklyn, Rikki Snyder

70

+

YEARS

Jeanne Jones-Harriman (208) 310-1706

Finding You the Right Home for Over 70 Years!

Unparalleled service to our customers & clients!

Deanna Kiblen (208) 301-2781

Bob Stout (509) 553-9628

Bill Hall (208) 874-2031

Joe McGurkin Owner/Broker (509) 330-1060

Paula Bartlett (208) 669-0560

Stacy Tunnicliff Office Manager

201 E 3rd St., Moscow, ID (208) 882-5531 | moscowrealty.com

Palouse Living

Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | October 2018 |

Well water testing, explained: do you know what you’re drinking?

Jeanne Sager // Realtor.com

W

ell water testing is a must if you live in a home with a well. Unlike municipal water, which has been tested and filtered of dangerous substances, there’s no one watching that well water but you! So, letting it slide can be unsafe—for you and your house.

So whether you own a home with well water or are considering buying one, here’s what you need to know about how to test well water and make sure it’s safe.

How many homes have well water, anyway?

How is well water testing done?

Don’t count on a regular home inspector to screen well water in addition to checking out a home you hope to buy.

“Water testing is almost never part of a basic home inspection,” Roy warns.

David Henrich, president of the National Groundwater Association Board and vice president of Bergerson-Caldwell, a water well contracting firm in Minnesota, suggests hiring a specialized water inspector to do the test.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 13 million Americans get their drinking water from a private well, a structure drilled into the earth that draws up groundwater to use for drinking, bathing, washing clothes, watering plants, and more. Because that water is coming right out of the ground, there is always a chance that it could be carrying harmful chemicals, bacteria, and more.

This professional will visit the home and collect samples directly from the taps. In addition to examining the samples for signs of a dirty well, such as cloudy water, low water flow, and taste or odor problems, he’ll also take the water to a lab that will measure the amount of bacteria, nitrates, and other contaminants in the well. A list of certified contractors can be found on the NGWA website.

That’s where well water testing comes in, says Eric Roy, a chemist and founder of water filtration firm Hydroviv from Washington, DC. He splits tests into two types:

If you want to save some cash, you can perform the test yourself, Henrich says. Many community health departments offer low-cost laboratory testing. They will provide information on how to collect the sample and where to take the collected water for testing. To find a certified lab in your area, call the EPA’s Private Well Owner Hotline at 855-420-9355 or visit the agency website.

1. Base-level testing: This test is often required by lenders before they’ll sign off on a mortgage, and it typically looks for things in the water that are tied to damage of the home’s infrastructure. For example, a bank-mandated test may bring to light issues of “hardness,” or chemicals that can damage the home’s pipes and plumbing. However, this test typically doesn’t address any safety issues for bathing or drinking.

2. Higher-level testing: This test is the one homeowners should invest in, Roy suggests. It looks at things that are harmful to humans, such as arsenic levels or volatile organic compounds, which are organic chemicals that can make you sick if you ingest them. People tend to assume that any basic water test will look for every possible issue that’s out there, but that’s not the case. “Water testing only tests for things that you are looking for,” Roy says. “For example, if you’re just doing basic testing, you’ll never find lead, even if it’s a giant problem in your water.”

How much does well water testing cost?

The costs vary greatly depending on what qualities you are looking to screen for and what the water labs charge around the country, but there are some general rules.

If you have a professional come out to collect samples and test for bacteria, arsenic, and nitrates, Henrich says, the bill will likely sit around $250.

If you collect the samples yourself and take them to a lab to test for those same three issues, the price will likely be closer to $175.

| October 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune

Each bill is subject to higher costs if you or your water

Palouse Living

collection professional decide to test for additional parameters such as lead or perfluorocarbons, a groundwater contaminant known to be problematic in some areas of the country.

What are some common well water problems?

If you’ve hired a professional to test your water, he should sit down with you to review the lab test results and make sense of all the numbers. You’ll want to pay particular attention to levels of bacteria and lead—there are no “safe” levels of these materials—and nitrates.

“Nitrates are particularly concerning for infants and small children,” Henrich explains. “While harmless in small amounts, high levels can impact both humans and animals.”

The maximum contaminant limit for nitrates issued by the EPA is 10 parts per million.

Can well water issues be fixed?

The good news is that most well water issues can be fixed, and don’t end up breaking the deal when it comes to a home purchase, Henrich says.

“Most issues can be remedied by water treatment to deliver the water quality a homeowner might be looking for,” he notes.

“If there are any structural issues with the well, typically that can

Palouse Living

be remedied in an affordable fashion, too.”

Even lead in well water can be remedied, but costs depend on where the contaminant is coming from. Lead often comes from older pipes. But the exact source should be determined by a professional water treatment company.

You can call a water treatment company to get an estimate for fixing the issue. Buyers who find this problem in a home they hope to purchase can also ask that this cost be covered by the seller. If the seller refuses, it might be a reason to walk away from the home.

Should municipal water be tested, too?

Of course, if the home is on municipal water rather than a well, there’s no well to test. But it’s still worth making sure the water is safe.

The municipality is beholden to municipal water standards dictated by the EPA, including the Safe Drinking Water Act, legislation passed by Congress in 1974 that requires the EPA to set contaminant levels to drinking water at which no adverse health effects are likely to occur. You can also check local water quality in the EPA’s required Consumer Confidence Reports.

Jeanne Sager has strung words together for the New York Times, Vice, and more. She writes and photographs people from her home in upstate New York.

Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | October 2018 |

7 personal items you should never leave out during an open house Stephanie Booth // Realtor.com

A

few years ago, Los Angeles resident Angela Wilson Gyetvan put her house on the market. She lived in an affluent neighborhood, and she’d chosen a trusted real estate agent she’d worked with before, so she felt comfortable leaving during the first open house they scheduled.

After Gyetvan returned home, though, she was shocked to discover that someone had gone through her bathroom medicine cabinet—and stolen her Ambien.

Because the drug is tightly controlled, Gyetvan was unable to replace her prescription until 30 days from the date it had first been filled. When Gyetvan mentioned the theft to her real estate agent, he was sheepish.

“Oh, yeah, that happens all the time,” he said. “Should have told you about it.”

When an open house rolls around, you already know not to leave out stacks of cash or piles of dirty clothes. But there are plenty of other things that you should also hide before prospective buyers come to call.

(I learned this the hard way when the nice couple who came to tour our house allowed their teenage daughter to go into my home office, turn on my laptop, watch videos on YouTube, and rename a half-dozen work documents with nonsensical acronyms.)

Preparing to open your personal space to the public?

Here are the other items you should either take with you or tuck far, far away. (And not always for reasons you might think.)

1. Your personal documents Let’s start with the obvious, mostly because it bears repeating. Something that lists your full name and a bunch of numbers (e.g., your Social Security card, checkbook, or credit cards) is an identity thief’s dream haul.

“Put them in another location like an office or storage

unit,” suggests Jen Teague, a Realtor® with Keller Williams in Ellis County, TX. “You’ll be moving soon anyway, so those types of things will need to go with you as well.”

If an offsite location’s not an option, hide the documents in a nondescript box in your attic, Teague says, or another space “where it would be difficult for people to access without attention.”

A wannabe criminal would never think of looking under your cat’s litter box, for instance. Gross.

2. Mail addressed in your name What’s so wrong about leaving out your cable bill, still in a sealed envelope?

“The last thing I need are the buyers peeping on a bill in the homeowner’s name, looking them up, and knowing all about who they are,” explains Ian Slater, a licensed real estate salesperson for Compass in New York City.

Who knows? The info they uncover during that Google search that they’ll instantly run on their phone (because you know they will) could be a deal breaker for a sale.

3. Space heaters, fans, and more Some items that you use in your daily life might unwittingly give prospective buyers the wrong idea. (“Wrong” as in “You don’t want to live here.”)

Before your open house, Slater says, hide the following things: a space heater (the house is too cold!); multiple fans (the house is too hot!); the baseball bat next to your bed (the neighborhood is sketchy!); and even those tiny foam earplugs next to your bed, which might suggest that your home is too loud at night. The same goes for an eye mask or books with telling titles such as “How to Survive Noisy Neighbors You Hate.”

4. An empty ashtray on your patio table Cigarettes, even if not smoked inside, are a huge turnoff,

10 | October 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune

Palouse Living

Slater warns. The mere presence of even one ashtray (even an aesthetically pleasing one) on your backyard patio could send your deal up in smoke. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It suggests you may from time to time smoke inside,â&#x20AC;?

Slater explains. And doing so can cause lasting damage to the interior of the house, â&#x20AC;&#x153;even if it is very infrequently and out a window,â&#x20AC;? he adds.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fierce political landscape, it is critical that homeowners put away any political paraphernalia before an open house,â&#x20AC;? cautions Jeff Miller, founder of AE Home Group in Baltimore. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A simple campaign sign can turn off half your potential buyers. Keep your home neutral, and make it welcoming to individuals of every political persuasion to maximize your chances of a quick sale.â&#x20AC;?

7. Delicious food in your fridge

5. Your pet boa constrictor â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some people arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t big on pets ... so I highly suggest [you] either pay to kennel your pet(s) or take them to a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house out of courtesy for those visiting the property,â&#x20AC;? says Tarek El Moussa, co-host of HGTVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flip or Flop.â&#x20AC;?

And donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop there. You should also pick up your petâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dishes and toys.

6. Your â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Make America Greatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m With Herâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sign Even if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not proudly taped to your fridgeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;perhaps itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s halfway buried under other papers on your office desk and you have yet to file it awayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter. Buyers will zero in on political endorsements.

GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH NEW PREMIUM VINYL FLOORS

Luxury Vinyl Planks â&#x20AC;˘ Premium Vinyl â&#x20AC;˘ Tile â&#x20AC;˘ Hardwood Laminate â&#x20AC;˘ Carpet â&#x20AC;˘ Area Rugs â&#x20AC;˘ FREE ESTIMATES & MEASURING 208-743-5100

213 Thain Rd., Lewiston

Lance Marrs, a broker at Living Room Realty in Portland, OR, has witnessed open house guests go to a refrigerator and help themselves to snacks, cookies, and soda without missing a beat. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the quick grab-and-go items these naughty elves seem most attracted to,â&#x20AC;? he notes.

No oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s saying you need to go all Mother Hubbard before a showing. Instead, Marrs suggests, tidy up your fridge to the nth degree.

The neater and more organized it is, he says, the less inclined food thieves are to mess it up. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And,â&#x20AC;? Marrs adds, â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easier for you to know whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s missing.â&#x20AC;?

Stephanie Boothâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stories have appeared in magazines such as Real Simple, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and Psychology Today. Follow @ stephanieBbarth

$JHQWV ZKR OLVWHQ FDUH WDNH WKH WLPH

Âł:KHWKHU \RXÂśUH %X\LQJ RU 6HOOLQJ D KRPH RU \RXÂśUH DQ ,QYHVWRU VHHNLQJ D 3URIHVVLRQDO 0DQDJHPHQW &RPSDQ\ÂŤ

<RXœYH FRPH WR WKH ULJKW SODFH ´

'HEELH 6SXUJHRQ $%5 &5% *5, *5((1 %URNHU 2ZQHU /LFHQVHG ,' :$

%ULDQ /RRPLV *5, %$ 8, 5($/725Â&#x160; /LFHQVHG ,'

'HDQQ %LOOLQJ *5, -' %6 8, 5($/725Â&#x160; /LFHQVHG ,' :$

6DJH )UDQFHWLFK %$ 0DUNHWLQJ 8, 5($/725Â&#x160; /LFHQVHG ,'

7DPL 4XH]DGD 053 $%5 5($/725Â&#x160; /LFHQVHG ,'

7HUU\ : 3HWW\ 5($/725Â&#x160; /LFHQVHG ,'

'DYH 'DLO 5($/725Â&#x160; /LFHQVHG ,'

$GDP +DQFRFN 3URSHUW\ 0DQDJHU 5($/725Â&#x160; /LFHQVHG ,'

&DUPHQ %UX\D 5($/725Â&#x160; /LFHQVHG :$

7DPP\ /HZLV 5($/725Â&#x160; /LFHQVHG :$

509-332-6700

/HWÂśV *HW &RQQHFWHG

810 S Grand Ave., Pullman

Factory Bargains Everyday!

georgiacarpetworks.com

LARGEST IN-STOCK SELECTION IN THE QUAD CITIES!

Palouse Living

6 0DLQ 6WUHHW 0RVFRZ ,' ZZZ WHDP,'$+2UHDOHVWDWH FRP

: ,VODQG 6WUHHW &ROID[ :$ ZZZ WHDP:$6+,1*721UHDOHVWDWH FRP

Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | October 2018 | 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 October 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

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 | October 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune

Palouse Living