Market Updates!

Supply and Demand:
In the last few weeks the market has achieved a relative stasis  point in terms of sales to inventory. However, inventory is sufficiently low to keep us in the sellers market.  If the market heats up watch for prices to increase.  Right now prices are at a plataue.

Inventory:
Has been lightening lately and the Market Action Index is up.  Even with days-on-the-market increasing!

These are all mildly positive indications for the market.  

1.  Close vents in unheated basements, but keep attic vents open.  

2.  Adjust your thermostats for energy efficiency.   If you have more than one--adjust according to which rooms you use the most.  

3.  Make sure all electrical cords are not covered by rugs or heavy curtains, they can over heat and cause a fire.

4.  Clear pathways and stoops to make snow shoveling easier.

5.  Inspect supports, railings, and stairs.  

Featured Listings! 

 3 Bedroom/2.5 Bath S. Nampa $133,900

3 Bedroom/ 2 Bath Eagle $299,900         

3 Bedroom/ 2 Bath Weiser $110,000      

4 Bedroom/ 3 Bath Caldwell $165,000   

3 Bedroom/ 2.5 Bath Boise $305,000    

Radon Myths

Radon myths can be very dangerous. What have you been told? 

MYTH:

 I'm safe because I don't spend much time in my basement.

FACT:

 If your furnace or duct runs are located in your basement or crawlspace, anytime the furnace fan runs for either heat or air conditioning, the radon level on the first floor is often the same as it is in the basement or crawlspace. Staying out of the basement doesn’t matter if your furnace fan is running even occasionally.

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MYTH:

 Radon is naturally occurring so it must be safe.

FACT:

 Radon IS naturally occurring and so are earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, lightning, volcanoes, avalanches and mudslides. On average, radon kills more people every year than all of those combined. Dirt is natural too, but you don't want to be under six feet of it. 

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MYTH:

 I already have a radon monitor in my home and it says I'm safe.

FACT:

 Some people mistakenly think that carbon monoxide monitors or smoke detectors measure radon. Every home should have both but they can't detect radon. On average, residential fires kill 2,800 Americans every year. Carbon monoxide deaths in the home average 235 per year. Radon, still at 21,000 deaths a year.

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MYTH:

 My home is new so I can’t have a radon problem.

FACT:

 Many newer homes have higher radon levels than older ones because they now design homes to have better porosity in the soil around the house. This is done for moisture control but the result is easier flow for the radon gas to be drawn in. It doesn’t matter how old your home is, if there is the right amount of radium in the soil, you may have a serious problem.

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MYTH:

 My neighbors home tested fine so I must be safe.

FACT:

 You can never rely on your neighbor’s radon results as a comparison to yours. Even identical homes in the same development, next door to each other, built at the same time by the same builder can be 100 times higher or lower than your house. There can even be a huge difference in just one side of a duplex or attached townhome. That is why every residence in America needs to be tested.

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MYTH:

 I live in an area that doesn’t have any radon problems.

FACT:

 Some areas of the country have been shown to have lower radon levels on average than others, but serious problems have been found in every State and in many areas that used to be considered low risk. 

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MYTH:

 My home is a ________________ (walk-out, ranch, 2 story, split level, slab on grade, etc.) so I won’t have a problem.

FACT:

 The style of the home has very little to do with radon entry. All structures have negative pressures in the lower half of the building no matter how they are built or how they are designed. No particular style of home is more or less likely to have a radon problem including homes of all types: old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with basements, and homes without basements.The only way to know you have a problem, is to test.

MYTH:

 Low-level exposure to radon is harmless.

FACT:

 There is no level of exposure to radiation that is harmless. Human exposure to radiation should be avoided whenever possible. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and every other health agency state that any home with radon levels of 4 pCi/L or greater should be fixed. Period. If your home is between 2 and 4 pCi/L, you should seriously consider fixing it.

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MYTH:

 Homes with radon problems can’t be fixed.

FACT:

 Hundreds of thousands of homeowners have already had their radon problems fixed and more and more families are doing it every day. Any home can be fixed and the higher the radon level, the faster you should have it fixed.

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MYTH:

 I’ve lived in my home for so long, it doesn’t make sense to take action now.

FACT:

 If you discovered that your family car had been recalled because the wheels could fall off at anytime, would you keep driving it? Of course not. You will reduce your risk of cancer as soon as you reduce your radon levels, even if you’ve lived with a radon problem for a long time. Reducing your radon levels now can help to greatly reduce the effects from past exposure.

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MYTH:

 If radon is such a big deal, why aren't our government health officials doing something about it?

FACT:

 They’ve already spent millions and millions of dollars trying. They’re not sure what to do next with the budget they have. Just look at all of the publications, brochures, posters, videos, radio and T.V. commercials they’ve already produced at a huge expense to us, the tax payers. No one is listening because of "The Basic Principals Of Advertising” which state that unless the message is repeated over and over and over again, no one will pay attention. A limited budget doesn’t buy advertising during the Super Bowl. Another reason is that our country is based on old English law, “A Man’s Home Is His Castle”. You can live in a home with as much radon as you’d like, the government isn’t going to force you to test or fix your home. That’s up to you.

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MYTH:

 If radon is such a big deal, why don’t we see or hear more about it?

FACT:

 The media reports the news and radon isn’t news anymore. If a family of four dies in a house fire, it is indeed very sad and will be mentioned at the top of the broadcast, but they can’t start every news show by saying “And this just in…Over 50 people died today after being exposed to radon” (21,000 / 365 days = 57.53 people a day in America). Radon isn’t new any more. We’re supposed to already know.

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MYTH:

 Everything causes cancer so why worry.

FACT:

 Not everything causes cancer, but it seems like that sometimes on the news reports. Cooking a hamburger on the grill everyday for an entire lifetime apparently causes cancer but statistically only effects about one person a year. Same with cell phones, sugar substitutes and all the other cancer scares we hear about. Unfortunately, all of those less significant risks distract us from the major causes of cancer like smoking and radon. 12% of ALL cancer deaths have been linked to radon and not just one person but over 21,000 Americans die every year from radon. In other words, it doesn't make much sense to worry about the splinter in your finger when there's a tree about to fall on you. Quit smoking, fix your radon problem, then maybe go ahead and relax, call a friend, fire up the grill and enjoy a diet soda.

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MYTH:

 If it’s not one thing, it’s another.

FACT:

 True, we’re all going to die from something, but most people would prefer old age rather than cancer. Some people die while doing something they enjoy like skydiving, swimming, grilling hamburgers, etc. They weigh the risks and decide that the risks are worth the enjoyment, but nobody gets enjoyment from radon. It’s a huge risk with no benefit.

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MYTH:

 Do-It-Yourself radon test kits are not accurate.

FACT:

 If you follow the instructions, D.I.Y. test kits are just as accurate as the extremely expensive professional radon monitors. If you are testing your own home and not in the process of a real estate transfer, the D.I.Y. test kits are recommended.

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MYTH:

 Long-term test kits are more accurate than short-term test kits.

FACT:

 They are both as accurate and each will show you what the average radon concentration was during the time period tested. However, radon levels do vary dependent upon weather conditions and other factors. Long term testing will show the average results over a longer period of time and will average all of those changing conditions together for your final result. Radon levels within the home are usually lower in the spring and fall, while being higher in the winter and summer. Partially because our houses are more closed up, but mainly because the pressures within our houses that draw in the radon are greater whenever the temperature differences are more extreme. Although radon levels can vary widely throughout the year, short term tests are still recommended as the first step just in case your radon levels are extremely high. If you'd like to run a follow up test and average the two over different seasons, or take a longer test for a longer average, that's up to you, but results from short term testing has been shown to have the same bearing on mitigation decisions 94% of the time.

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MYTH:

 If radon is so important, someone, somewhere will remind me to test later.

FACT:

 Some things are so important that we shouldn’t need to be reminded. If you haven’t tested, you need to do it as soon as possible. Your health and your family’s health are important right now. Radon is a major cause of cancer but is also suspected in contributing to a variety of other illnesses including Leukemia, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimers and Parkinson's Disease. Why take a chance? Please don't wait.

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MYTH:

 I’m sure my friends, neighbors and loved ones already know about radon so I won’t worry about them.

FACT:

 The majority of families in the United States still don’t know how serious radon is. They’ve heard about it, seen some news about it and still don’t know the facts. Please help spread the word by telling everyone you can about radon. Knowledge is power and with knowledge comes responsibility. Please, make sure they know as much as you do.

10 Tips for Hiring a Contractor

Go with Your Gut

A contractor could be in your home and around your family for days, weeks, or even months while changing the way your house looks and functions. So if you don't like a contractor for any reason, don't hire him or her

Make Sure the Contractor is Licensed to Work in Your Area, Bonded, and Insured

If a contractor doesn't have insurance and a worker gets hurt on your project, you could be liable. The same goes with accidents that damage your next-door neighbor's home. "If you have scaffolding that fell and damaged the property next door, you want the contractor's liability to cover the cost of that damage," LaPelusa says. Get proof of insurance.

Pick a Contractor Who Specializes in Your Project Type

"It's important to research contractors to know if they have experience in a type of project," Peterson says. "Today, so many projects are regulated and code-specific that you want someone who knows the details of what's required."

He points out that pros often take classes and research the kinds of projects they undertake, so they're experts in their fields. This enables them to address potential problems and perform the work correctly. "A good remodeler knows how to anticipate the nuances of the work," he says.

If you're asking several contractors for a bid, make sure each one is using the same set of plans and specifications, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) advises on its website: "You can't effectively compare estimates from contractors who plan to use different brands of building materials."

Have a Detailed Contract in Place Before any Work Begins

The contract should cover costs, brands of items being installed, approximate start and finish dates, and the complete set of drawings being used with written specifications, LaPelusa says. "There's never too much detail in a contract." If a specific brand for a part hasn't been agreed upon yet, the contract can include allowances instead, such as "up to $500 for a front door."

A lot of homeowners talk to multiple contractors to get bids on the job, and then they can't remember who told them what, LaPelusa says. The contract spells out everything. "A contract is really an expectation setting, right down to what color the hinges are," Peterson adds. "It's all about expectations. If we agree on everything upfront, then there are no surprises."

Find out Who's Performing the Work

Will the person you're hiring do the work himself, or will it be subcontracted to someone else? It's nice to know who will be showing up on your doorstep, and large jobs like additions and major kitchen remodels often involve multiple subcontractors, such as electricians and plumbers. General contractors often subcontract specialty jobs, like roofing or vinyl siding, to other pros.

"Having subcontractors is sometimes a good thing. They have a more thorough knowledge of their part of the job," LaPelusa says. "It all goes back to hiring a contractor you can trust because he's never going to put a bad subcontractor on your job."

Give the Contractor Guidelines for Working In or Around Your Home

If you don't want the workers showing up before a certain time, staying past a certain hour, using your bathroom, or you need to have the project finished by a specific date, tell the contractor before you hire him, LaPelusa says. The contractor may not want or be able to accept the job based on your parameters.

"The contractor has to know what your limits are and what your expectations are," LaPelusa explains. "If people don't want you starting until 9:30 and want you out by 4, that project—instead of taking 30 days—might take 45. That means it might cost additional money."

Know What Your Responsibilities Are

You may have to move everything out of a room so it can be painted or remove a fence so a concrete truck can be driven into your backyard.

Peterson's company, for instance, doesn't move items out of a room because he doesn't want to be responsible for broken TVs or stereos. Because he recommends a furniture mover, he holds a pre-construction meeting with homeowners to discuss their roles. "We set all of those expectations in writing," Peterson says. "It may be that you need to take everything off those six walls and move the furniture out of the room."

"My biggest fear, to be honest, is losing someone's dog or cat," he says. "We want to know upfront where they're putting the cat or dog."

Ask About a Mechanic's Lien

Under the mechanic's lien laws in some states, anyone who worked on or supplied materials to your project and is not paid can place a lien on your home. This means that even if you pay your contractor, but he doesn't pay the lumberyard for your materials, you can be liable for that bill. "It's important for homeowners to understand the lien laws in their state because they vary from state to state," Peterson says.

And definitely check on your contractor's legal status before you sign anything. "If a contractor owes $30,000 from his last job, there's a good chance your money is going to pay the bills on that last job."

If a contractor has a lien against him, it's best to move on and avoid a potentially messy situation, Peterson advises: "It's called a big snowball going down a hill."

Look at Work Samples

This lets you see a contractor's handiwork and may spark ideas for your project. "Samples are more important than references," Peterson says. "They allow you to see the quality of our work. You can see the designs we came up with and how creative we are."

Looking at a contractor's past projects also lets you see the variety of work the company has performed, such as contemporary, Craftsman, or historic designs.

Think Locally

Area contractors who have been in business for a long time are usually reliable and safe bets for projects. If they didn't do good work in your community, they wouldn't still be around.

"I always say shopping locally is the best approach," LaPelusa says. "The company is involved in the community, the workers are probably local, and if you have a problem later, a local contractor is going to be on top of it."

Curb Appeal Counts

Curb appeal counts.
Want a fresh perspective on the value of your home? Walk across the street, turn around and ask yourself, "Does my house have curb appeal?" Does your home look attractive, welcoming and structurally sound at first glance?

Make a list of ways to enhance the positive and eliminate the negative. If you have a nice curvy walkway, accentuate it with flowers or lanterns. If the first thing a visitor sees is your big wide garage, try to guide their eyes into a beautiful front yard, or paint your front door red to guide the eye there. These things add value.

Take a digital photo and look at your home in black and white. When the color is removed, the truth comes out. That is where you see the cracks in the walls and the glaring flaws.

Keep things clean and tidy. Talk to your neighbors because this affects them too. Curb appeal doesn't stop at your property line. Your home will be more valuable if you live in a place where everyone pays attention to appearance.

Host a neighborhood cleanup party. Team up with neighbors to mow lawns and trim hedges. See who wants to go in on a few flats of border flowers. By adding curb appeal to your entire neighborhood, you will all boost your home values.

When you're looking at your curb appeal, don't forget the side and rear views. Buyers walk around and peek over fences.

October 2014 Market Update

The Market Today:

Inventory is up but days-on-market and the Market Action Index essentially have flattened. Conditions do not seem to have a strong pull up or down.

The Market has been cooling over time and prices platued for a while.  Despite the consistent decrease in Market Action.  We must see some persistent changes in the Market Action before we will see prices deviate from where they are at now.  

October Home Tips:

1. Seasonal View: Clean your windows before winter sets in.
2. Cold Cure:  Caulk around windows to keep the warm air in and cold air out.
3. Closet Case:  Tidy up closets and store summer clothes.
4. It's that time of year again when we will soon set our clocks back, do not forget to check the batteries in the smoke detectors as well.
5. Top Brass:  Shine up brass door knobs and other metallic objects.  

 

CURRENT LISTINGS:

WEISER- 3 Bed, 2 Bath, $122,500

PAYETTE-5 Bed, 2 Bath $189,900

PAYETTE-2 Bed, 2 Bath, $275,000

NAMPA-4 Bed, 2.5 Bath, $224,900

BOISE, 3 Bed, 2.5 Bath, $314,900

BOISE-4 Bed, 3 Bath, $278,500

BOISE-4 Bed, 2.5 Bath, $315,000

WE ARE UPDATING OUR WEBSITE!!!  

Check back later this week to utilize our new tools!  

• Easier access to home searches!
• Free Market Analysis of your home!
• Search the ENTIRE MLS from 1 site!
• Personalize your search!
• View NEW construction! 
• MANY other useful Real Estate tools for you...