Side Door Saturday at Café Muse will be available offering bagels and good strong coffee (and an espresso machine). Also with some scones, fruit salad and possibly eggbakes. 10am to 2pm on Saturdays.

Rates are predicted to be cut again when the Federal Reserve meets at the end of this month. Many believe Tuesday’s action was taken because of a dramatic downturn in the stock market, where the Dow dropped 464 points, the worst single day drop since September 11, 2001. Since the Fed’s announcement, the Dow has recovered much of those losses but volatility is likely to remain a consistent theme throughout the week. If you are waiting for long-term mortgage rates to fall further from here, don’t count on it. Your best chance to lock in the lowest mortgage rates since 2005 is now. This is an unprecedented market and things are moving fast.

In the kitchen

• Never pour grease down the drain. Wipe congealed grease from pans with a paper towel before rinsing in the sink.
• Do not put such foods in your garbage disposal as coffee grounds, celery, corn husks, pumpkin or squash, banana peels, raw meat, bones, rice or pasta.
• If your garbage disposal has an unpleasant odor, try grinding up a few ice cubes and half a lemon or a few mint leaves.
• Vacuum your refrigerator’s coils regularly to help it cool more efficiently.
• Some chemical cleaners can be corrosive, especially to metal pipes, so instead, once a month, pour some boiling water down your kitchen and bathroom drains. This will help dissolve soap and keep it from building up in your pipes.

In the bathroom

• Hair is the number one cause of clogged drains. Put strainers in your tubs and showers to trap hair and keep drains flowing smoothly; be sure to clean them regularly.
• Do not attempt to flush facial tissues, sanitary products or diapers. Anything other than toilet paper should be thrown away in the trash, not in the toilet.
• To remove unattractive mineral deposits, pour one cup of vinegar into a plastic bag and attach over the shower head or faucet with a rubber band. Allow to soak overnight, then remove the bag in the morning, wipe off mineral deposits and rinse.

In the basement

• Keep odors from backing up into your home by periodically pouring a bucket of water down the drain. This will keep the seal intact and remove any sediment.
• Check your water meter when no water is being used, then check it again several hours later. If you notice a significant change in the reading, you may have an undetected water leak.
• Annually check the hoses on your washing machine for signs of cracking or weak spots. Replace if needed.

In addition to a reference library, you are going to need some basic tools. Here’s a list of a few items you will need to get started:

• Hammer and various sizes of nails
• Channel lock pliers and needle-nose pliers
• Crescent wrench
• Nut drivers – assorted sizes
• Screwdrivers and various types/sizes of screws. You will need a few sizes of both flat head and Phillips, or you can purchase a screwdriver with changeable heads.
• Electric drill
• Tape measure
• Flashlight
• Utility knife
• Plunger
• Extension cord
• Caulking gun and clear caulk
• Safety glasses
• And of course, it’s a good idea to have super glue and duct tape on hand!

Broad appeal. In a shrinking universe of buyers, homes with the broadest appeal hold their value best. The homes most in demand are three-bedroom, two-car-garage houses with at least two bathrooms. Keep this in mind when you’re thinking of remodeling. When comparing the wisdom of adding a new, high-end kitchen, for example, versus a bedroom addition to your two-bedroom home, the addition is probably your best bet for durable value.

Attractive bathrooms and kitchen. These rooms, with all their costly plumbing, wiring and cabinets, have the highest value per square foot of any in the house. Investing in their upkeep props up a home’s price. Buyers are simply looking for well-appointed, updated rooms with good layouts and appliances.

Upgrades for energy efficiency. Improvements to a home’s energy efficiency promise a lower cost of upkeep, so buyers pay attention. Good investments include highly efficient windows, beefed-up insulation, new siding and appliances.

On the other hand, highly personal investments such as lavish kitchen remodels, swimming pools, game rooms and media centers may even detract from a home’s price, at least here in Fargo Moorhead.  The reason is that your personal taste is usually different than that of the potential buyers’.  A swimming pool here is a liability or a nuisance that, contraray to other parts of the country takes away from the value of a home rather than adding to it.

But how are Realtors able get more money for your home? One reason is that Realtors know the market in Fargo Moorhead. They know how much homes are selling for, whether or not the market is slow, and thus have a much better chance of pricing your home correctly - not undervaluing or overvaluing it.

A local Realtor can also market your home better to more prospective buyers than you can by yourself.  Realtors know when and where to advertise your home, and have access to the Fargo Moorhead MLS which is used by other Realtors to find out what homes are currently for sale.

If you decide to sell your own home, chances are you will likely need to offer a 3% fee for the buyers’ Realtor.  Statistics show that about 80% of all buyers work with a Realtor, so even if you manage to sell your own property, chances are the buyer will be working with a Realtor who will want to be paid.  One common mistake made when a person sells their own home, unrepresented by a Realtor, or FSBO - is that they typically offer less than 3% for the buyers’ agent commission.  In a case like this typically Realtors are reluctant to show the property.  

Another problem FSBO’s run into are unreasonably low offers.  A buyer may think that because the seller is not using a Realtor they can reduce their offer by a percentage equal to what the commission would have been. 

• Provide adequate ventilation throughout your home by opening windows and using fans. Make sure such appliances as your dryer and stove are properly vented.
• Humidity can lead to stuffy air, as well as mold and mildew problems. Don’t let your home’s humidity level rise above 50 percent. If wood or carpets become wet, dry them completely and clean them, if necessary.
• Check your dry cleaning. Smell your clothing as soon as you pick it up. If a chemical odor is detected, remove the plastic bags, and put the clothing outside so it can air out before you put it away.
• Pollen and other outdoor elements can be tracked indoors by your pets or on the bottom of your shoes. Clean the house often and ventilate it well to help remove pollutants that may have found their way inside. Keep windows and doors closed, however, while mowing your lawn or treating your yard with chemicals.