The Fall Fix-Up Home Improvement Guide

8/11/2019 The Fall Fix-Up Home Improvement Guide

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Saturday, October 11, 2014... A Special Supplement to the


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Inside This Guide

To rent? Or to own? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 3Its not too late to plant trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 4What to know about automating your home. . . . . . .Page 6

Maintain your heating system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 8Home improvement tips/small spaces . . . . . . . . . . .Page 9Top five strategies to protect plants this winter . . . .Page 11

Stories:

Advertisers Index:

All Elements...Page 4Annandale State Bank...Page 2

Audio Communications...Page 8B&D Plumbing...Page 6

Big Lake Hardware...Page 11Big Lake Lumber...Page 2

Bogart, Pederson & Assoc...Page 13C&S Blacktop...Page 5

Elk River Municipal Util...Page 7Haus Construction...Page 11

Heitz Group Edina Realty...Page 6Ken Geroux Construction...Page 12

KleinBank...Page 3Lano Equipment...Page 9

Long & Son Carpet Cleaning...Page 5Midway Iron & Metal Co...Page 6

MNsota Real Estate...Page 10Plaisted Companies...Page 7

Preferred Title...Page 8Rays Abbey Carpet...Page 5

Veit/Vonco...Page 4Wausau Homes...Page 6

WH Security...Page 8WestAir...Page 10

Our Staff

Gary W. Meyer Editor & Publisher Sue Emberland Advertising SalesSusan Nagorski Advertising Sales

Mary Mayer Graphic DesignerJennifer Edwards Staff WriterKen Francis Staff WriterGail Evans Office Manager

Off ice: 763-263-3602 Fax: 763-263-8458email:[email protected]

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Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 11, 2014...Page 2

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Jennifer EdwardsStaff Writer

So now the economy is on the road toecovery, is it better to rent a home or ownhome?Some realtors and bankers in the Big

ake area were asked that question. Whathey had to say revealed some changes inhe housing market

In Big Lake, the Northstar Apartmentuilding nearing completion by the rail-ay station offers 38 new rental units.The city has also issued 33 new building

ermits, with almost the same number of

ew housing starts in the township.Rental fees for houses and apartments

ave never been higher it seems, but overhe past few years, getting a mortgage haseen more difficult.The rental market is very tight right

ow, said Big Lake Realtor Shirlee Heitzith Edina Realty.It has been strong since

he economic bubble burst.Thats because a lot of people went

under water and lost theirhomes after 2008 and

had the choice of eithermoving in with family orrenting, she said.Banks were very laxwith their standards.

With rent for someapartments running ashigh as $1,000 per monthor more, first and last month rental feesand damage deposits, the cost of renting ahome has never been higher.

Interest rate payments are less than rent

now, said Heitz. And while mortgagestandards are stricter than they were before2008, they have loosened up a little from

where they were.KleinBank Mortgage

Loan Officer PaulaSchooley agrees.

Mortgage rates are rea-sonable, she said. Wehave zero down loans,

which are government-funded for ruraldevelopment. We have FHA loans at 3.5%

interest and we have conventional homeloans at 5%. Not only that, we can offerup-front assistance for the down payment,based on income.

Realtor Jeff Nagorskiof MNSota Real Estatealso favors home owner-ship.

Its always better toown than rent, Nagorskisaid. You build equityin the home and property

taxes and mortgageinterest are taxdeductible. As a renter, all you get is arenters credit slip.

Obtaining a mortgage is getting a littleeasier. The rules are constantly changing.Nagorski said. Those who are in the mar-ket for buying or selling are generally notmoving very far.

Typically a buyer can afford to purchase

a home with a value of two or three timestheir annual household income.

However, the amount that can be bor-rowed depends on the borrowers employ-ment history, credit history, current savingsand debts, and the amount of down pay-ment they are willing to make.

It may be possible to take advantage ofspecial loan programs for first time homebuyers to purchase a home with a highervalue.

The amount of cash needed to purchasea home depends on a number of items butin excess of the cost, buyers should be

aware they will need cash for earnestmoney, a down payment and closing costs.

Earnest money is the deposit that is sup-plied when an offer is made on the house.

The down payment is a percentage ofthe cost of the home that is due at settle-ment.

Closing costs include charges associatedwith processing the paperwork to purchaseRent or own Continued On Page 10

To rent? Or to own?

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Just because its getting cold outside and

the leaves are beginning to change colorsdoesnt mean its too late to plant a tree.Fall planting is nothing new, nor is it any

more trouble than planting in the spring.You can plant late into fall through

October, says Gina Hugo, ResourceConservationist with Sherburne Soil andWater Conservation District (SWCD).

The planting process is just about thesame as in the spring - lots of water andmulch.

You want to keep the soil moist. When

the tree drops its leaves, thoroughly wetthe top 12 inches of soil until killing frost -an inch a week depending on rainfall,says Hugo. Fall watering is really key ingetting trees through winter.

But too much water too early can harmthe tree. Its not advisable to do a lot ofwatering September through Octoberbecause it can stimulate the tree to put onnew succulent growth, which can be sus-

ceptible to winter injury. When the leavesdrop, then start watering.

Proper mulching is also vital to the sur-

vival of the tree - about two or three inch-es deep.Be careful not to pile it up around the

bark because that can cause fungus andattract insects, says Hugo. I prefer shred-ded natural hardwood mulch. It lastslonger and locks into place, and as itdecomposes it contributes life to the soil.

Hugo says when buying a potted tree,check the roots. Be careful the soil isntpiled too high.

If theres more than four inches of soil

above the first main lateral root, the treewill develop adventitious roots, which gir-dle (encircle) the stem and cut off the flowof water and nutrients to the tree, saysHugo.

The tree might survive a few years, butnot much longer.

Another problem with potted trees areroots that wrap around the tree, which arecaused by the limited space in the pot.

Its not too late to plant trees

DEAN KLEINHANS (volunteer) and Gina Hugo (Sherburne SWCD)planting a tree in September.

Fall Home Improvement Guide October 11 2014 Page 5


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Unless that is cor-rected, the roots willeventually growalong with the trunkand strangle thetree by cutting offthe flow of water.

Hugo says box-ng - or cutting offhe sides of the soil

ball containing theroots with a handsaw or reciprocatingsaw will encouragea healthy, spreadingroot system.

Its not going tohurt the tree. Itllstimulate the tree togrow more roots,she says. That will

stop the encirclingpattern that wasingrained in the tree.

Once the tree is in the ground, wateredand mulched, make sure you protect itfrom winter freezing and critters.

New trees with thin, light colored barklike red maple, silver maple and apple treesshould be wrapped with paper tree wrapfter killing frost.

Theyre susceptible to frost cracking inthe winter. says Hugo. When the sunreflects off the snow onto the trunk duringthe day, it thaws out the bark. The treestarts flowing water again, and when thesun sets, it freezes so rapidly it cracks.Then in the spring you have a big gapingwound.

To protect the tree from rodents, useplastic perforated tubes. Theyll keep thepests away but still allow air flow to pre-vent fungus. Also, avoid pruning the treeuntil its dormant to protect against fungusand other diseases.

If youre considering transplanting a treefrom one site to another, Hugo saysalthough it can be done, fall isnt the besttime.

The best time to transplant a tree is inthe spring before it breaks bud, right afterthe frost leaves the ground, she says.Even when the soil is still punky and youcan still see a little frost, thats the perfecttime.Everything is still dormant, so the tree canbe tricked into its new home. One help-ful tip - make sure to keep the direction thesame. That means the side of the tree thatwas facing north before should face north

in its new home.Choosing a type of tree depends on what

youre looking for. Hugo says avoid plant-ing ash trees because of the Emerald AshBorer. But the new Dutch Elm tolerant elmtrees perform well, grow quickly and areexcellent shade trees.

Hugo also likes hackberry and shakebark hickory. But there is a wide variety oftrees, including fruit trees.

One big advantage to planting in the fall- sales.

You can get 20% to 30% off some trees,and 50% off apple trees, says Hugo. Youcant beat that.

For information about which types oftrees grow well in this area, check theUniversity of Minnesota Extension web-site, www.extension.umn.edu/

A GIRDLED ROOT SYSTEM that will eventually

strangle the vascular system of the tree.

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 11 2014 Page 6


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Submitted ArticleThe connected home is one of the

biggest areas of technical innovation today,with smart appliances, learning thermo-stats, app-driven lights, and intelligent

oor locks taking center stage in home

improvement stores and magazines. Infact, by 2017, an estimated 36 millionhomes throughout North America andEurope will be smart.

For some consumers, the concept of a

smart home can be overwhelming. Here

What to know about automating your home

are a few things to keep in mind:The Basics

Home automation gives you remote andautomatic control of a wide array ofdevices in your home -- its ideal for con-venience and control, and some devicescan help with money savings. Homeautomation can also alert you to events that

you might want to know about whileyoure gone, like leaks, kids arriving homeor security breaches.

For your furry family member, yoursmart home can distribute pre-determinedamounts of food on a schedule so youdont have to worry about your pet missingdinner while youre stuck in traffic.



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Is it Rightfor Your Home?

Not everyone is in a place to install a fullhome automation system -- literally andfinancially, as apartment living, renting,low cash flow, expensive installation feesand advanced technical set-up can all belimitations.

However, with stand-alone homeautomation devices and apps, you canmake your home smart without integratinga whole-home automation network. Forexample, smart locks, lighting, irons, cof-ee makers, security cameras and refriger-

ators can all be controlled by smartphoneswithout the need for a fully integrated sys-em.

First Things FirstIn a recent analyst report from

NextMarket, the smart lock market willgrow to $3.6 billion worldwide by 2019.With security and access control leadingsmart home product adoption, a logicalplace to start is at your front door. Considertrying Kwikset Kevo, powered by UniKey,which was the first smart lock on the mar-ket. It makes it possible to open the doorby simply touching the deadbolt -- withoutremoving you smartphone from your purseor pocket.

Via the Kevo app, users can grant andrevoke access to the house electronically,view a lock history and get notified whensomeone locks or unlocks the door without

connecting to the home network or a powersource. Available at many major retailers,it installs easily, within a few minutes, with

just a Phillips head screwdriver, making itan excellent example of how one productcan usher your home into the era ofautomation.

From there its easy to move on to takesmarter control of your home appliancesand lighting, and you can make as many or

as few changes as your budget and imagi-nation allow.

Smart home solutions are grantinghomeowners access to information andfeatures that were previously unavailable.Bottom line: you dont have to be rich orhave a fully-connected home to enjoy thebenefits. If youre considering getting onboard the trend, do your research and findthe best technology and products for you.

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Submitted ArticleAs the heating season kicks in, it is

time to make sure your heating sys-tem is working properly. Heating andcooling account for about 55 percentof the energy used in a typicalMinnesota home, the largest energyexpense for most homes. Furnacesand boilers, the two most commonways to heat homes, should beinspected and adjusted on an annual

basis.ENERGY STAR, the govern-

ment-backed program that helps savemoney and protect our environmentwith energy-efficient products andpractices, suggests the followingmeasures to improve the efficiencyand safety of heating and cooling sys-tems:Change your furnace filter regularly.Check your filter every month, espe-

cially during heavy use months. If thefilter looks dirty after a month,change it. At a minimum, change thefilter every three months. A dirty fil-ter will slow down air flow and makethe system work harder, wastingenergy.Tune up your heating and coolingequipment yearly. Just as a tune-upfor your car can improve gas mileage,a yearly tune-up of your heating and

cooling system canimprove efficiency andcomfort. Check out ENER-GY STARS Maintain yourEquipment: A Checklistand Ten Tips for Hiring a

Heating and CoolingContractor.Install a programmable orsmart thermostat. Boththermostats are excellentfor people who are regular-ly away from home duringthe week or for long peri-ods of time. They allowusers to change the temper-ature of the home based onthe time of day andwhether they are at homeor asleep.Seal your heating andcooling ducts. Ducts thatmove air to and from aforced air furnace, centralair conditioner, or heatpump are often big energywasters. Sealing and insu-lating ducts can improvethe efficiency of your heat-

ing and cooling system by20 percent or more.Consider installingENERGY STAR-qualifiedheating and cooling equip-ment. If your equipment isnot performing efficientlyor needs upgrading, have itevaluated by a heating andcooling contractor andconsider replacing it with aunit that has earned theENERGY STAR label.

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Submitted ArticleNo matter where you live, you want

o make the most of your available liv-ng and storage space.

This is especially true for residentsn urban areas who typically have

smaller living spaces. And urban liv-ng is on the rise. As of 2010, morehan half of all people lived in an

rban area, and by 2030 it is anticipat-d that six out of every 10 people wille living in a city, according to theorld Health Organization.But less space doesntean that you have

o go without,say experts.

A few sim-le adjust-ents can

elp youa i n t a i nour comfortn a smallome.There are plenty

f ways to open up youriving spaces to create more room.

The Living RoomChoose furniture for a small living

oom that is appropriate for the space.or example, avoid sofas with skirts

nd select couches which are raisedff the floor to create a more openook.

A large, strategically placed mirroran also help create the illusion thatour living room is actually mucharger than it is. The same goes forack of clutter. Be sure to keep a small

space organized with a daily once-ver.

Storage

Living simply can go a long wayoward making your home feel larger.very season, go through your closetnd toss aside items that are worn out,o longer fit, or are out of style.Use creative storage solutions toake more space. For example, an

ottoman that doubles as a trunk is a

great place to store old photos andkeepsakes. A bike rack that mounts tothe wall can clear valuable floor spacein your foyer.

The KitchenThe kitchen is often the heart of the

home, particularly if you like enter-taining or love to cook. Unfortunately,kitchens can get overcrowded quickly

by excessive gadgetry.If counter space is at a premium,

consider highly functional appliancesthat have multiple uses.

For example, thePanasonic Genius

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throughout. Though it is compact insize, it still maintains a spacious inte-rior and comes with an optional trimkit that easily converts this microwaveto a built-in, freeing up counter space

while giving a stylish accent to cabi-netry.

The BathroomGive the illusion of space by deco-

rating with pale or pastel colors on thewalls and floor. Avoid using boldercolors, except on towels and ornamen-tal pieces.

Throughout the HomeEnsure that you have lighting at

floor, table and eye level to help limit

shadows. Another trick is to use a talllamp to draw eyes upwards and addheight to the room.

A small home is no excuse for feel-ing cramped. With a few interiordesign strategies in place, you canmake even the smallest space feellarger in size.

Home improvementips to make the

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or refinance a house.For most homeowners, the monthly mortgage payments include

three separate parts, the principal, or repayment of the amount bor-rowed, the interest payment to the lender for the amount borrowedand property taxes and insurance.

Taxes and insurance payments are normally made into a specialescrow account for items like hazard insurance and property taxes.

If this is not the case, the fees will be paid by the buyer directlyto the county tax Assessor and property insurance company.

But as the population ages, there have been some changes in themarket, says longtime Mortgage Broker Mari Lou McCormic, whoworks for RiverWood Bank.

Some are choosing to continue to rent insteadof purchasing a home because they like the flexi-bility of being able to move when the lease is up,don't want the responsibility and costs of main-taining a home, and aren't convinced there will beany equity in the home when it is time to sell,she said.

The biggest change in loan requests this yearare for purchasing townhouses and for new con-struction.

It's a good sign to see new homes being built,McCormic said.

However, there seems to be a shortage of townhouses. Just a yearor so ago the values of townhouses plummeted.

Now we are seeing buyers of all ages, first time homeowners,middle aged empty nesters and retirees all competing for a limitednumber of townhouses on the market. McCormic said.

I'm hearing a consistent desire from many who want to down-size, wanting less in their lives now, not more.

Although interest rates are still very low, refinancing hasdropped off. McCormic said.

And yes, we are still dealing with tough guidelines and docu-mentation requirements, she said.

Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke said that he was having adifficult time getting his mortgage refinanced last week because hehad changed his job in the last six months.

Anyone interested in applying for a home loan can call, apply online or go in to the bank of their choosing. Loan payment calcula-tors can be found online for easy comparison.

Mari LouMcCormic

Rent or own Continued From Page 3__________



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Submitted ArticleLast years extreme winter caused damage

to many trees and shrubs; With another coldwinter predicted, here is some advice to pro-tect trees and shrubs.

Water deeply in late fallMany people think their plants dont need

water in the winter or they assume snow

melt will provide enough hydration. Plantsdo need to have access to water in the soiluring winter. Watering deeply in late fallefore the first frost will help ensure thathey have access to water after the groundreezes.

Wrap plants or smaller trees. Many plant varieties like roses, butterflyushes, hydrangeas, and crape myrtles expe-

Plants Continued On Page 12

Top fivetrategies to

protect plantshis winter



12/12

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Their work is absolutely second to none. I think it is also in part to KGC'S high demands

of their subcontractors and workers. We can assure you, if Ken Geroux Construction

Corporation does your work, no matter how big or small, you will be pleased. M.HIt's nice to know that there are still companies out there that care about theirclients. (KGC) knew what our budget was and stayed within it, even under it!

All of the employees and sub-contractors were so nice to work with. D.&P. T.

763-263-6878BIG LAKE, MINNESOTA

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rienced damage last winter. To provide plantsith extra protection from the wind and cold,rap them in burlap or a frost protection fabric

nd plant them along a building or fence thatffers some wind protection. Dead leaves can alsoe stuffed inside and around the branches and athe base to add extra insulation.

Dont fertilize trees and shrubs in fall

Plants need to slow down their growth in theall to ensure they harden off and prepare for win-er. In general, homeowners should stop givingertilizer to plants well before the first freeze.omeowners should always follow the localunicipal rules for fertilization. Some locations

egulate the time of year that fertilizer can bepplied.

Dont prune plants in late fallPruning can encourage new growth, so it is gen-

rally not a good idea to prune most plant vari-

ties as winter nears because the cuts may notave time to heal before it freezes.Apply anti-desiccant or

anti-transpirant to protect treesMany tree care or landscapeompanies can apply anti-esiccants to trees toelp protect themuring the winter. Itoats the trees andan help shield themrom cold winds and dry

ir if applied as the man-facturer recommends.

Plants Continued From Page 3_____

KEN GEROUX Construction isbusy getting this house on Shore Acres

Drive done before winter.

Documents

The Fall Fix-Up Home Improvement Guide