NewsTribune_Illinois Valley Homes_101922

Illinois Valley Homes

This EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL 2-STORY HOME has just been meticulously redesigned & completely remodeled. This stunning 3370 SF, 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom residence is nestled on a lush half-acre with private outdoor living space that includes basketball court, patio, and an expansive yard. The new interior features awless high-end nishes and artistic craftsmanship ows seamlessly throughout. The large impressive foyer opens to beautiful living room, formal dining room and open staircase. The heart of the home unites the kitchen and great room featuring 16’ co ered ceiling, dramatic chandelier, and soaring replace. A true chef’s kitchen features a Wolf 8 burner/2 oven gas range, Koehler pot ller, large built-in range hood, Sub Zero Refrigerator, Wolf Microwave & Bosch Dishwasher. Beautiful cabinetry, Quartzite counters & large island include multiple drawers & plenty of storage. Custom millwork, moldings, trim and hardwood ooring is the perfect backdrop for the beautifully designed TruStile interior doors with stunning polished chrome Baldwin hardware. A newly designed custom staircase leads to three large bedrooms plus an impressive primary bedroom with a magni cent en suite designed with Carrera white marble tile, spa-like walk-in frame-less shower with white Cultura pebble tile oor and double shower heads. A double vanity, oating tub, private water closet and walk-in closet makes this a private oasis. In addition, you’ll love the convenience of the second oor laundry room. This home is located in the Wallace School District and just minutes from historic downtown Ottawa, Fox/Illinois Rivers, I&M Canal, and beautiful hiking trails of Starved Rock State Park. Easy access to I-80 for a quick commute to Chicago-Metro area & airports. This well-de ned, completely custom remodeled home has warmth, elegance & a fresh beginning!

Simple pest control steps to take at home before calling an exterminator

Make a dining room more elegant for entertaining

Clean insulation helps improve indoor air quality at home

Simple pest control steps to take at home before calling an exterminator

is where the heart is, and you strive to make it a welcoming place. Whether you’re just moving in or you’ve been living in your house for decades, bugs can become a concern at any time - even in brand-new builds. The moment you notice ants, roaches and other pests, it’s time to act and take cues from those with experience, before you have to hire an expensive exterminator.

There are many pests that can damage property with one of the most common across the United States being roaches. In fact, 14 million of the approximately 124 million occupied U.S. housing units reported seeing roaches in their homes during the last 12 months, according to the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau American Housing Survey.

Whether it’s roaches, spi ders, wasps or other insect species, having to hire an ex terminator to handle a pest problem can be costly. Ac cording to 2022 HomeAd visor estimates, the cost for a one-time pest control visit averages between $300 and $550. Depending on your spe cific pest problem, that figure could rise into the thousands.

Taking a proactive ap proach to protecting your home and family by treating issues yourself can save you hundreds of dollars per year and is easy to do. Backed by 65 years of research and in novation from entomologists at the SC Johnson Center for Insect Science and Family Health‚Ñ¢, Raid profession als are sharing their library of knowledge with everyone to help solve bug problems this year. Below are some of the

most effective steps homeown ers can take:

Secure the perimeter: Inspect the perimeter of the home and cover up any cracks and open ings to prevent bugs from en tering your home. If you see any holes, caulk them or con duct repairs to cover them up.

Seal doors: Cover unsealed gaps in doors that go out side and install a door sweep for added protection. Add weather stripping or door-seal kits to the frame to keep in sects from entering along the sides or top of the door.

Tidy the kitchen: The kitchen attracts a wide variety of in sects. Open or improperly stored food can quickly turn the kitchen into a breeding ground for bugs. Make sure your food is stored in tightly sealed containers or bags.

Make a habit of keeping your floors and counters clean and clear of food crumbs by sweep ing, vacuuming and wiping down surfaces throughout the day.

Tackle your pest problem: If you notice pests, treat the problem right away. The Raid brand offers a variety of prod ucts designed to help you con trol infestations as soon as you spot them - so small bugs don’t become a big problem.

Use screens: If you want to naturally ventilate your home, install screen mesh windows. A 20 mesh or finer screen will keep out most household pests. If your home already has screens, repair any holes or tears that would allow in sect entry.

Avoid standing water: Elimi nate pooled water outside the

home to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs, and ensure that channels such as drains and gutters flow smoothly and aren’t blocked by leaves and waste. Lastly, inspect the surroundings to ensure that rainwater doesn’t collect in idle pots, tanks and tires.

Clean surroundings: Insects are attracted to food sources including uncovered trash. Ensure that garbage, recycling bins and composting food matter are closed and tightly sealed. Also, clear up trash near and around the home as soon as possible.

For more tips on how to avoid an expensive visit from the exterminator and get bug advice on demand, visit Raid. com. - (BPT)

Makeover your home with fun and fresh paint colors Stop in today to see how the vibrant colors of Benjamin Moore® can help your next paint project be your best ever.

your favorite

colors.

Debo Ace Hardware

St

Peru

223-0461

Make a dining room more elegant for entertaining

The kitchen may be the heart of a home, but when it comes to entertaining, a dining room — if one is present in a house — tends to be the prime gathering spot for meals.

Dining rooms may not be top on the list of spaces to renovate, as they tend to be used infrequently. But a din ing room makeover may still be a worthy endeavor. Here are some simple ways to make the dining room more elegant and functional.

• Clear out the clutter. The first step toward improving a dining room eating area is to remove any extraneous items from the space. If the dining room table is not used very often, it likely has become a catch-all for other items, such as bills, newspapers or kids’ homework. Rather than using the dining space as a make

shift office or homework sta tion, invest in a rolling cart to store those papers and other items. Simply roll it into a closet or another room when it’s time to host a party.

• Hang a statement light. Few decorative items add as much drama and ambiance to a dining space as a new overhead light. People hear chandelier and think a bejeweled or crys tal design. But various chande lier styles can fit the aesthetic of a home. The light will be a focal point and instantly make the dining area more elegant. Install the light on a dimmer to adjust the illumination as needed to set the mood.

• Invest in new linens. Pur chase coordinating table linens that will be used for special occasions. A decora tive table cloth or table runner coupled with cloth napkins

and placemats helps to set the scene of the dinner party.

• Add a piece of artwork. Many modern homeowners have es chewed the China cabinet that once was standard in dining rooms. Rather than a bulky piece of furniture, a large piece of statement-making artwork or framed photos over a more minimalistic buffet table or small service bar is preferable. Choose artwork that comple

ments the colors in the space.

• Include a centerpiece. Centerpieces add sophistication to the table and tie into the event. Floral arrangements, a bowl or basket of fruit, pine cones or greens from outdoors, or col lectibles like shells in a tall can ister can serve as centerpieces.

There are many simple ways to dress up dining spaces and make them more elegant.

DE22B424

Joe Salz

5 fall home maintenance tips: What you don’t do can cost you

(BPT) - While home mainte nance may seem pricey, being proactive about home upkeep can save more money by pre venting expensive repair or re placement costs in the future - not to mention safeguarding against damage to your home. The hard part is knowing how often and what type of mainte nance to do, and where to start.

According to State Farm, fall is the perfect time to take care of many jobs, whether by yourself or by hiring pro fessionals. Here are some top maintenance tasks to help protect the largest investment you have - your home.

1.CHECK YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS

According to the National Institute of Stan dards and Technology (NIST),

96% of homes are now in stalled with smoke detectors. However, nearly 20% of them

have non-working smoke alarms. The NIST estimates that if every home had work

ing smoke alarms, deaths from U.S. residential fires could drop 36%. Why aren’t these

smoke detectors working? Primarily missing or dead bat teries. Smoke detector batter ies need to be replaced at least annually, not just when they chirp. The average claim from a home fire according to State Farm is $57,000. So buy some batteries, and replace those old ones.

2.

TRIM YOUR TREES

Little known fact, you’re responsible for the damage if a tree on your property falls on a neighbor’s house. Or if a dead branch damages your home, it can result in a homeowner’s in surance claim, meaning you have to pay the deductible. For peace of mind, trim the trees on your property every fall. Find tips on tree trim ming at StateFarm.com/sim ple-insights/residence. If you prefer hiring a professional, contact your local State Farm agent and they can help you find an arborist with commu nity roots.

3. CHECK WASHING MACHINE HOSES

Did you know a

washing machine hose holds 70 pounds of pressure? If it fails, it can spray 650 gal lons of water per hour into your home. So if you’re away for the weekend and a hose bursts, you may open the door to the equivalent of a 20-foot by 40-foot in-ground pool’s worth of water, which can damage floors, drywall and personal items. Between June 2021 and June 2022, State Farm paid nearly $36.7 million to help customers re cover from damage due to washing machine hose bursts, with an average claim of over $12,000. Hose maintenance is easy: Inspect the hot and cold washing machine supply lines monthly, looking for blisters, worn tubing, cracks or loose connections. It’s best to re place supply hoses every 3-5 years.

4.

CONDUCT A GENERATOR SAFETY CHECK

A portable gener ator is handy equipment for when the power goes out, and regular maintenance will en sure that it works when you need it. First, always unplug

and turn off all power to the generator. Examine the AC wiring and alternator to clear dirt and debris. Inspect the air intake system and replace the air filter. Oil in your generator needs to be changed every 25 hours of running, or one year unused. When you’re ready to use the generator, take it out side to a well-ventilated area before starting up. Genera tors produce carbon monox ide from the exhaust and can cause serious injury or death if used indoors, in a garage (in cluding with open doors) or even on a porch.

5.

MAINTAIN YOUR HVAC

One of the most critical items to maintain is your heating, ventilation and air condition ing (HVAC) system. Regular maintenance helps keep the system in working order, ex tending the life of the system and saving on energy costs. According to HomeAdvisor, replacing an HVAC system costs from $5,000 to $10,000. To save money and extend the life of your system:

■ Change air filters regu larly. Set a reminder every few months to replace filters. Dirty filters can impede airflow and make the HVAC system work harder, decreasing efficiency and increasing energy costs.

■ Schedule regular main tenance checks (spring/fall) from your local HVAC pro fessional. Some HVAC com panies and local utilities have service programs where you pay a monthly or annual fee and they will conduct semi-an nual maintenance checks. Pros will check the thermo stat, clean or replace filters, lubricate moving parts, check refrigerant levels, inspect the condenser and coils and investigate unusual noises. Reach out to your local State Farm agent for a list of reliable HVAC pros.

Take care of your home, so your home can shelter you and your family. These reg ular maintenance tasks will help reduce the likelihood of unpleasant surprises - and costs - to help give you peace of mind.

Width:

Briggs & Stratton engine

Less Time At The Pump: Gas-powered E-Series models have a single 8-gallon tank with one

location.

Jaimie Bazydlo

Janet Benvenutti

Nathan Byers

Wendy Fulmer

Robin Guerrero

Pietro Alfano

Chris Hopps

RESIDENTIAL LOT LISTINGS

shed

lot located on Senica’s

SUBDIVISIONS

HERITAGE FIELDS SUBDIVISION

Large residential building lots starting at $19,900. Curb & gutters, city sewer & water available. Close to I-39! Lot size begins at .25 an acre & covenants are available. Call Garry Schroeder at 815-252-5854. MLS#10141625

CEDAR LANE PREMIUM HOME SITES

Ready to build, city sewer/water, curbs,

underground utilities. Plat & restrictive covenants available, Peru school district. Starting at $95,000. Call Wendy Fulmer 815-252-8280 or Chris Hopps 815-252-5273. MLS#10785416

STONE BLUFF TERRACE

Large, wooded building lots starting at $19,000. Water to site, gas & electric nearby. Overlooking scenic Vermilion River Valley! Lot sizes from .32-1.34 acres, only 3 lots available. Call Chris Hopps at 815-252-5273. MLS#08273641

Barb Kuzma

Bonnie Lester Christopher Maier

David Postula

Garry Schroeder

Vincent Jessen Jessica Jeffrey Gunnar Jauch

LaSalle- High traffic exposure, 3 rental units - 2 store fronts and large 3 bedroom apartment. #11617401 $125,900

COMMERCIAL

LaSalle- Well maintained 3 story commercial building, 1st floor retail space, 2nd & 3rd is apartment. #11475026 $300,000

LaSalle-Opportunity awaits, turnkey operation, U shaped bar, gaming room, room to expand.

#11612449 $299,500

Utica- Commercial building currently home to popular restaurant, large parking area, high traffic. #11609162 $750,000

LaSalle- Great commercial space on street level and 2 amazing apartments above, downtown LaSalle.

#11478438 $400,000

Marseilles- Established business, bowling alley, restaurant, upstairs apartments. #11286167 $450,000

Utica- Mixed use 3 unit building located in high traffic area on corner of US Rt 6 & Rt 178. #11465757 $300,000

Utica-Unlimited possibilities, 4400 sq ft, commercial kitchen, great room, parking, storage. #11338122 $209,000

Peru-Established restaurant, building, and catering business with equipment, large parking lot.

$295,000

Princeton- Multi use property has 3 commercial storefronts, 3 apartments and full basement.

#11225337

McNabb- Well maintained bar/ restaurant, outdoor fenced patio, gaming and pool rooms. #10516373

COMMERCIAL LOT LISTINGS

Prime commercial lot, 79+/- acres with 2 entrances, close to Interstate 80

Streator- Some wooded and tillable, 11.71 acres located on the Vermillion River

site

acres in business

Henry- Industrial property includes 5 steel framed buildings, large parking lot.

Bob Huber

Carol Wlodarchak

TJ Templeton Amber Witek

Karen Yade Karen Zermeno Heidi Huber

Tom Guttilla

Thomas

Residential Listing 3 bedroom on .55 acre

806 E. Thompson Street, Princeton IL MLS#: 11473583

List Price: $229,500

Tom Hall

Multi-use 14+ acre commercial property

1661 N. Main St., Princeton, IL 61356 MLS#: 10344521

List Price: $1,375,000

Tom Hall

Residential Lot

1005 Winding Brook Ct MLS#: 11045030

List Price: $45,000

Tom Hall

Commercial Listing

22 E. Columbus, Princeton, IL MLS#: 11307643

List Price: $69,000

Hall

Commercial Vacant Lot

2210 N Main St. Princeton, 61356 MLS#: 09181725

List Price: $325,000

Hall

Commercial Rental Space

1210 N. Main, Princeton, IL 61356

10377617

List Price: $700/month

Smith

(BPT) - The events of the last several years have sparked the adoption of home upgrades that prioritize our health and well-being - from the instal lation of touchless faucets to freshly painted walls in neu

Clean insulation helps improve indoor air quality at home

tral, calming colors. While these cosmetic changes are certainly beneficial, many homeowners are craving per manent upgrades that address more pressing concerns, such as indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. After all, poor IAQ can have both immediate and long-term effects on our phys ical health, from eyes, nose and throat irritation to respi ratory diseases.

One way to improve and maintain a healthier indoor living environment is to in stall clean insulation through out critical areas of a home, including the walls, roof and floors. While there are various types of insulation materials on the market, expanded poly styrene (EPS) offers incredible performance capabilities in a

safe package, making it an ideal option for health-con scious homeowners.

Here are three tried-and-true ways that EPS insulation helps improve IAQ levels at home.

1.DOES NOT RELEASE TOXIC CONTAMINANTS INTO OUR HOMES

First and foremost, EPS has a clean composition and is one of the few types of build ing insulations that doesn’t experience off-gassing, mean ing it will not leak dangerous contaminants into the air. On the other hand, some com petitive insulation products employ blowing agents during the manufacturing process to achieve an abnormally high R-value. This can be appeal ing to many homeowners be

cause typically, the higher an insulation’s R-value, the stron ger its thermal performance and ability to provide a more comfortable living environ ment. However, these blowing agents will diffuse from the cel lular structure of the material over its service life, steadily releasing a host of volatile or ganic compounds (VOCs) into the air. To our benefit, EPS offers reliable thermal perfor mance and does not utilize blowing agents. Because the insulation doesn’t experience any off-gassing, homeowners can enjoy cleaner air at home.

2.CREATES

A NEARLY AIRTIGHT HOME THAT KEEPS ALLERGENS OUT Installed across the walls, roof and floors of our homes, EPS can help support continu

Tom

ous insulation (ci) - a building concept that results in a nearly airtight structure. Generally, airtightness can be compared to the zipper on a down jacket. On a mountain top, the down jacket is essentially worthless if the zipper is not zipped.

Like a down jacket and its zipper, panels of EPS can ef fectively create an air-imper meable building envelope. Without the blanket of EPS insulation, harmful outdoor air pollutants such as vehi cle exhaust and smoke may unknowingly infiltrate our homes. Recognizing the im portance of a nearly airtight home is one of our strongest weapons in the pursuit of healthier IAQ.

will usher fresh air into a home in controlled amounts and ex haust indoor contaminants to the outside. By limiting air exchange to controlled venti lation systems, we can breathe cleaner, healthier air at home.

An efficient ventilation system will also dehumidify incoming air to mitigate the risk of mold growth in wall cavities, floorboards and other damp, dark places. With prop erly functioning mechanical ventilation, there’s no need to worry about toxic mold cur tailing IAQ levels.

WHAT’S NEXT?

3.MAXIMIZES

THE PERFORMANCE OF HVAC SYSTEMS TO FILTER AND DEHUMIDIFY THE AIR WE BREATHE

Utilizing EPS across the building envelope will sup port a tight home and, in turn, maximize the performance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems put in place. In application, an effective ventilation system

With a growing focus on health and wellness in the home, now is the perfect time to prioritize making lasting changes that will im prove your quality of life. Get started on the road to better IAQ by heading to your local home improvement store and looking for the aisle with EPS insulation materials (such as pre-cut R-TECH Insulation Panels) or turn to a contractor who works with EPS products (including the many options from Insulfoam).

Streamline the loan process with Loan Valet

It’s never been easier to apply, track and manage your loans!

Ryan Weistart Mortgage Loan Specialist NMLS #2130225 (815)224-3100 x 2221 1600 38th St. Peru, IL 61354 rweistart@ffsbweb.com

All loans are subject to credit and underwriting approval. Certain fees and restrictions may apply.

with main floor laundry, dining room,

in

by Alice Green