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Show Friday, September 24, 2004, HOME CHOICE WEEKLY Get Homeowners Insurance When You Make an Offer on a Home FINDING DESIGN IDEAS FOR YOUR REMODELING PROJECT looking at all the choices, have .decided to remodel home or to make some adjustments to the home you have just purchased. You also want your remodeling job to look fresh for a number of years while complementing the existing features of your home. after you choose the right project and design for you and your family? How do First, make sure you take your family's lifestyle into account when selecting an area of your home to remodel. For example, if you get a lot of traffic through the house, consider hardwood floors or tile. Families who frequently entertain in the kitchen may want to expand the room and add an island or some comfortable chairs. If your bathroom is the place V. where you escape a add world, whirlpool tub or a deluxe shower. Affmm After you've cho-- t b Magazines that cater to lifestyle and improvement, remodeling lean be an excellent source of ideas. Page through publications such as House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies'" Home Journal, and Good Country Living Housekeeping. These four-colmagazines offer not only beautiful pictures of projects completed but a wide range of free or inexpensive literature by completing the mail-i-n coupons inserted in the publications. home REMODELING PROFESSIONALS: One of the advantages of choosing a remod-ele- r early is gaining access' to an extensive library of resources or to starting a project. Once you've cho sen a contractor, usually he or she LA fl WEB SITES: Surfing the Web is a great way to find ideas and research projects. Many remodelers, manufacturers and magazines host Web sites that feature project photos,, buying guides and product information. Web directories also can help you find professional remodelers in our area. Be sure to include www.UtahParade.com as your first stop to finding local remodelers and suppliers. This Web site includes more than 160 Categories to find any product from decks to stamped concrete. Pictures of the 2004 Parade of Homes are available as well. & Garden Home SHOWS; Television (HGTV) features a number of shows on topics ranging from decorating to home improvement. To spark your creativity, watch projects evolve from start to finjsh on shows like Dream Builders and Building Character. Our TV J - wide materials, and of including variety families across Utah, Summit, and Wasatch Count-- w ies are turning up their ther- if ld REALTOR - MANUFACTURERS: The most obvious place to find information about new products and how to use them is on manufacturer's Web sites and in magazine ads. Lumber yards, hardware stores and other suppliers here in Utah County can be a valuable source of information. A complete list of building supplies and products is available on www.UtahParade.com. Once you've found these companies ranging from solid surface manufacturers to ornamental iron companies, you will be able to visit their showrooms and visually see the products. - - - Remodeling is challenging and exciting. Be sure to check out your remodeler thoroughly, and the new partnership you will be entering into can be satisfying and fun as your home is completed and your family enjoys the new ameni- - ties. -- Scot Jones 2004 President of Utah Valley Home Builders Association WEATHERIZATION DAY CELEBRATED A M ost of mind because he had insured them. Insurers have access to a database called the Comprehensive EE product manuals, magazines, brochures and blueprints. SUPPLIERS M omeowncrs insurance is one of the last hurdles to cross a home. when buying Loss Underwriting Exchange Property However, it is becoming a very common cause for a sale to fail. Database,' commonly known as CLUE. "The buyer is responsible for finding .This voluntary database tracks claims homeowner insurance, and you need on properties and property owners and (to start arranging for that insurance as lists the claims and people who were soon as you make an offer on a home," awarded. When an insurance company said Randy Smith, who has been a considers whether to offer you insurRealtor in Utah County for six years and ance, they're not just looking at your is the president of the Utah County history, but also at the history, of the when "It Board of Realtors. used to be property in question. They will use this set-; database for reference. you closed on a house, you could tie the insurance at the closing table, Once you find a home you want to but that isn't the case anymore. If you bid on, you should investigate the don?t have insurance, you can't get a house's history. Ask the owner for a loan." copy of the house's insurance loss After years of staggering losses for report and note the number of claims the owners has had in the last five insurance carriers, homeowners insurance rates have been years. Along with giving you an idea of the upkeep and steadily rising nationally. "There are basically two maintenance problems, this insurance markets," said simple procedure alone could save you a great deal Lon Sorensen, owner of on insurance premiums. Sorensen Insurance in Lehi. I bought a home in the "Some companies only cater to the preferred clients Ogden area," Smith said. s "The previous owners left of with no history claims, and the other market will town for a weekend, and take anybody at a very high price. A the sprinkler system flooded the basenew home buyer needs to investigate ment. The owners filed a claim, and which market they can qualify for and the insurance fixed the flood damage.. My brother is the current owner, howget the best coverage." ' Homeowners insurance typically ever, and his homeowner insurance is twice as expensive because the house consists of five parts, which are: for has that claim on the insurance report. or Dwelling Pays repairs is if home destroyed by It will take five years for the home to rebuilding listed be cleared of the claim and his insurin policy such as fire, action ance rate to become normal." flooding, etc. When you look for a house, note Other Structures Pays for repairs of the construction of a house. Newer other structures on your property such as a garage or shed. homes built to current earthquake Additional Living Expenses - Covers codes ace easier to insure. Age and costs of living away or in a hotel while condition, wiring, safety features, the home is repaired after a disaster. swimming pools, and proximity to a' Liability Covers homeowner against fire department will affect your insurlawsuits because of incidents that ance rate. "There are several flood plains in occurred on the property. this valley, and homebuyers can get Personal Property Replaces or blindsided when, at closing, the mort- -' a percentage of the replacement of furniture, clothing, appliances, gage company realizes that and the on etc., depending policy. requires flood insurance," Sorensen Valuables such as furs and jewelry said. "For $240,000 coverage, it can cost anywhere between $200 and should be covered additionally. "It really helps when a customer has $3,000 a year; and that can be quite a an idea of what needs to be protected," surprise at closing." The Insurance Information Institute Sorensen said. "The average insurance is the for policy average person, great suggests that buyers should review of but you need to look at areas your their credit histories. Renter's insurance life that you've invested a lot of money creates an insurance history that will or time in and have coverage for help qualify for homeowner insurance. If you have not filed any claims in the j those." last five years, you won't have a loss Sorensen encouraged a customer who was a part-tim- e history report. If you have, you should wedding photographer to get all his equipment consider getting a copy of your own CLUE report and check that it is corappraised. The customer was surprised when his part-tim- e rect. hobby equipment You can only obtain a CLUE report for it decided and $12,000 appraised was important to cover the equipment about your home if you are the owner of the- home for less than $10 at in his policy. A few years, later his cameras were stolen. The client had peace http:www.choicetrust.com. MAGAZINES: HOME BUILDERS K A R I A T i O M sen an area of your home to remodel, the wide array of project options can be both dazzling and intimidating. To get started, consult the resources below, which can give you specific ideas on how to turn your house into the dream home you've always anted. By Annette Lynn local channel four station features on Sundays, Hot Homes of Utah. Be sure to check out your local television guide for PBS shows such as This Old House. homes have, received weatherization services. In 2005, we expect to weatherize 230 homes. mostats to combat dropping temperatures. For families, however, is not always an heat the cranking up families pay 14 percent option. These or more of their annual incomes for low-inco- energy, compared with only 3.5 percent families. for non low-inco- Unable to pay gaping balances or hefty reconnection fees, some families are considering how they will survive this winter without heat. The Department of Energy's Weatheriz-atio- n Assistance Program reduces the families energy burden on low-inco- by installing cost-effectiv- e, energy effi- According to the U.S. Department of Energy, weatherization reduced energy bills by an average of $275 low-inco- Day" to, remind our federal program that of the community addresses these daily energy concerns. . low-inco- families. Weatherization technicians use computerized energy audits and advanced diagnostic technologies, such as blower doors and duct blasters, to determine the most measures for each home. They also assess related health and safety conditions. "The peace of mind, knowing that my little boys won't be cold standing by the windows or doors. The lower utility payments will enable my budget a little more flexibility," said an American Fork client. cost-effecti- ' More information about the Weather-iza-tio- n Assistance Program is available by 4 or by visiting the calling (801) national Web site at www.energy.goy. 344-518- -- Amanda Gibby Housing Authority of Utah County have already noticed some positive results. The draft in my basement has disappeared. The bed-- , rooms seem warmer?, .the house holds heat during the day," said a "I technicians check furnaces and appliances for carbon monoxide. Last year, the .Weatherization Assistance Program identified around 46 homes with high levels of carbon monoxide. This measure difference for made a families homes. these the in th Since the inception of "the program in 1976, more than 5.3 million , homes across the nation have been ized. In our local area, moire man 6,000 Weatherization Assistance Program's weatherization work makes a daily impact on and households with children. The Weatherization Program serves every county in the nation through its network of state and local agencies. The in addition to making homes warmer and safer. families, Weatherization Assistance Program "Weatherization customers. annually in more than 105,000 homes in 2002. The dollars saved make a big difference" for ciency measures. To raise awareness of the important benefits created by the program, Gov. Olene Walker has proclaimed Oct. 30 as light bulbs) and refrigerators provid- ed by Utah Power and Light to their The Weatherization Program also installs CFLs (compact fluorescent Highland client. Serving as the nation's core program for delivering energy efficiency services to households, the Weatherization Assistance Program prioritizes service to the elderly,' persons with disabilities, low-inco- U3Q Page E3 |