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Idaho is one of the lucky places that experiences distinct four season weather with fairly temperate days and nights throughout the year. However, average winter temperatures do dip into the 30's and occasionally into the 20's overnight, so it's important to protect your Idaho home from the elements.

Keep your home in tip-top shape throughout the winter by beginning the job in autumn. One of the first things you should do is have your furnace inspected. It's important to ensure that your furnace is operational, energy efficient and of-course, safe. Have a HVAC professional come out and have a look. The repairman will clean the furnace, change the filter, check for leaks and unhealthy gases and ensure everything is operating as it should.

Getting…

There are few professions in America as exciting, vital, and misunderstood as the real estate agent. They do quite a bit for our communities, helping us to buy and sell homes and advising us in matters of real estate investing. However, despite their value, there are quite a few people buying homes without an agent. While this is completely legal and not impossible by any means, it does present quite a few problems that a lot of people do not foresee. Buying a home without an agent can actually make the process much harder, and, in some cases, could end up costing you more money than it would have cost to hire an agent in the first place. So, in order to dispel rumors and explain what the home buying process would look like with and without and agent,…

Some people have the gift of a golden thumb—one who is great at doing what others feel is the impossible. For instance, most people don’t have all that is required to fix up a home without training, knowledge, and the physical capacity to do all that taxing manual labor. However, some people are great at it, and enjoy it to boot. For those people with the knack for fixing and building, buying homes to fix and sell is a profitable business.

Before you give up because you don’t have any prior experience in fixing up and selling homes, stop for a moment and think of the possibilities and financial opportunities that come with this job. You may not even have to be the one to do the manual labor. Intrigued? Check out the following list of things to…

During the warmer days of the year, it can be nice to take a dip in a pool. Many who live in warmer climates have pools built into their backyards while other areas may see a home with a pool less frequently. Pools can be really beneficial depending on the person who owns the home, but what about buyer who come across a home with a pool? Well, there are many things to consider when deciding whether the home is a good choice, but this article will focus on the pros, cons, and what goes into keeping a pool functional.

To start, there are many different types of inground pools and while most function in similar ways, the upkeep and potential for emergency fixes can be very different. If a home with a pool is on the docket for potential buys, it…

Buying a home is a big step in everyone’s life. The need for shelter as a human being is strong, but you aren’t just buying shelter when you sign those papers. Homes are a place where you can find protection from the physical threats that are out there as well as the emotional ones as well. They are a place where you can make memories, a place where you can feel safe, and a place that you can all your own. Unfortunately, though, homes are not indestructible. There are forces in this world that can do both major and minor damage to your home without much warning, so it is best to be ready for when they hit. While there is no way to prevent a disaster, there are some ways that you can increase your home’s chances of surviving. There are no…

It’s important to have a good credit score these days. In the modern world, credit scores have become even more important, as every financial decision you make is recorded and poured into your credit score. Something that needs to be done to help people out is education on the matter; many people don’t know what their credit score is, why it’s important, what goes into it, or how to raise it. Well, for starters, let’s cover a few facts about credit scores:

*What is a credit score exactly? It’s your track record; it shows how reliable you are financially. It’s important—possibly critical, as having a low credit score could cause you hardships and become the obstacle that stands in your way when you want to do something like refinancing a home or…

When you buy a home, whether it is your first time or your fifth, you will indefinitely need a credit score and a good one at that. The credit score is a vital part of the home buying process, yet there are many people, especially those who are buying their first home, that don't know what it is and why it is important. If this has ever caused you to wonder, then you are in the right place. Today we are going to give you a basic understanding of what a credit score is, why it’s important. Please consider however that this is only a basic lesson. There are more things to know about credit scores that we don’t have the time to explain today. Make sure you talk with a professional such as a lender or a loan officer at a bank for more information.

Regardless of where you live, what type of home you live in, and how long you’ve been living in a place, utilities are always a necessity begging to be paid. If you are late or don’t make a payment, suddenly all of the conveniences of modern day living cease to be. Many people - both renters and homeowners alike- become frustrated by the change of seasons and the random spikes in utility bills and wonder what ways they can save money monthly. Well, we are here to give you a few tips about ways to keep from sticker shock every time the electrical company sends a bill your way.

First, let’s cover some of the minor changes you can make to your home or apartment. There are simple tips that allow for a potentially big change, especially for those on…

Buying a home consists of numerous payments. From down payments to recurring costs over time, and not to mention any renovations or changes that may need to be made, it can add up to quite a large sum of cash. However, although it’s quite pricey to buy a home, if you do it right and know ways to save here and there, you will end up keeping more money in your pocket than if you just went in unknowing. For good tips on how to save money when purchasing a house, check out the following list of money-saving techniques:

*Think ahead. If you start saving and thinking ahead of time—well before you are actually searching for houses to buy—you will come out on top. Start saving for a down payment. Down payments are typically 10%, but the more you put down…

Taking a home from old school to modern is something that a lot of homeowners want to do this year and there are fewer times like the present to make that happen. 2017, like all the years before it, has promised to bring about many new improvements for homeowners, but which ones will make your house the most chic and functional? This year, let’s take advantage of all the awesome new innovations and gadgets on the market and make your home as modern as we can.

Turn Your Home Into a Smart Home

Smart technology is not a new concept. There are numerous smart devices out there nowadays. However, the real crime is that, even with all this technology, we still haven’t seen it get fully integrated into a plentitude of homes. Yes, sure, there are a…