As we exit the era of the McMansion and begin to embrace the concept of the “big-enough” home, we need to rethink some of our interior-design ideas.

Whether your home is a house, condo or apartment, if you’re making do with reduced square-footage, you’re likely wondering how to make boxy rooms look bigger and function effectively.

A new design guide on HGTV showcases a variety of small spaces, showing how designers use color, furniture placement, special installations and other devices to create the illusion of spaciousness. In the process, they explode a number of long-standing decorating truisms. Among them: Avoid bold patterns, large furniture and knick-knacks; embrace mirrors and white walls.

Orlando, Fla., interior designer Debbie Sheaf agreed that white walls are not always the answer to visually expanding small rooms. “Select a contrasting color such as topaz or coral, that will cast a glow while keeping cabinets and ceiling white to reflect light,” she advises.

The HGTV experts offer a different approach to using color to make a room appear larger: Paint walls and ceiling the same favorite shade so the eye doesn’t stop at the ceiling line.

Letting in as much natural light as possible makes rooms seem airier, says Sheaf. “Skylights capture light and make a room appear larger. Glass blocks can take the place of a window, providing privacy without blocking light.”

And when designing window treatments, “The less you cover, the more light will flood in and the larger your small space will seem,” she says. “Choose a sheer fabric, or blinds or shades that expose the entire window when drawn up or aside.”

Mirrors, which reflect light, can make a small room seem bigger. But what if you don’t want to turn a room into a hall of mirrors?

Turn it into a mini-art gallery instead, surrounding yourself with paintings you love, suggests HGTV consultant Roderick Shade.

Banning knick-knacks from a small room will make it appear more spacious — but also more sterile and less homey. Instead, edit your collectibles carefully and display them in just one or two places, not scattered throughout the whole room, advise the HGTV experts. A group of similar objects, or different objects of the same color, creates a “visual destination” in a room and avoids a sense of stifling clutter.

Conventional wisdom suggests that bold, busy patterns cramp the style of a small space. On the other hand, “Big bold prints on the walls and lots of pattern in a small space really distract you from the size of the area,” says HGTV consultant April Sheldon.

The key to making this work is to vary the scale of the patterns, she says. If the rug has a large-scale pattern, for example, contrast that with wallpaper or draperies in a petite print.

Finally, while small furniture takes up less space and makes a room feel more open, it may not be as comfortable as larger pieces. The trade-off: Make do with fewer large pieces.

And do consider built-ins, says Sheaf. Murphy beds, bookshelves, window seats and shallow cabinets save space while providing storage and adding design interest.

MAKE SMALL ROOMS LOOK BIGGER

HGTV’s guide to decorating small spaces includes these tips:

—Determine your priorities, making rooms fit your needs and lifestyle. If a desk is more important than a dining table, for example, eat at the kitchen counter or coffee table.

—Furniture using clear materials such as Lucite and glass give the impression of openness while delivering function.

—Lamps placed at different heights brighten small rooms and make them seem larger.

—Round tables, rugs and pillows, and chairs and sofas with curves help small rooms feel less boxy.

—Floating shelves instead of cabinets add storage but look airy and chic.

Source:  (c) 2010, The Orlando Sentinel (Jeane Petteson)

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Government cash didn’t help John Foley and Cindy Case sell their Minneapolis house before the federal home buyer’s tax credit expired at the end of April, so the couple decided to take matters into their own hands.

They hosted a backyard party with food and an open bar, invited the neighbors and professional contractors — in case potential buyers had questions about remodeling. To top it off, they’re offering their own $8,000 rebate on the $675,000 home.

Three years ago, such cash enticements were the norm. And cash was only the beginning. Sellers regularly tried to lure prospective buyers with free cars, big-screen TVs and stainless appliances at closing. But after nearly a year and a half of a government tax credit program and mounting economic uncertainty, sellers have scaled back on marketing gimmicks and buyer incentives, largely in an effort to limit their losses. Meanwhile, new rules aimed at reducing the risk of mortgage defaults have made many once-common incentives illegal, so many sellers are simply resorting to one of the oldest tricks in the book: dropping the price.

Aaron Dickinson of Edina Realty says that buyers today have access to more information about the market than ever before, so competitive pricing is the best way to attract attention.

“At the end of the day, buyers aren’t stupid,” he said. “Gimmicks don’t work well when buyers have so many avenues to be educated about what’s for sale and what has sold and for what price.”

In addition, buyers are worried about the economy and their job and have focused on getting the best price — and the lowest house payment — rather than a free perk. Indeed, many buyers are making decisions based on the assumption that someone in their family might lose their job, said Stephanie Gruver, a sales agent with Keller Williams Integrity Lakes in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., area.

“They’re buying on one income rather than two, and they’re buying within their means,” she said.

Perhaps the biggest reason for the decline in seller incentives comes from the mortgage industry itself. In an effort to reduce defaults, the government has cracked down on all forms of seller incentives. New rules are designed to eliminate any exchange of cash or property before and after a closing that might affect how much equity a buyer has in their new home. That’s an about-face from a time when underwriting standards were much less stringent and cash-back signing bonuses and other perks were a common way to help push buyers over the fence. The goal now is to maximize a buyer’s investment in the hopes that they’ll be less likely to walk away from their obligation.

Current government loan guidelines limit seller contributions — usually in the form of closing costs — on conventional mortgages to 3 percent of the purchase price; FHA loans allow a 6 percent contribution, but that’s going to be reduced to 3 percent during the next few months.

Lenders say that losses are mounting on mortgages in which appraisers failed to discover — or sellers failed to disclose — incentives that were never deducted from the sale price of the house. That’s led to improperly priced loans and inaccuracies in valuations. Already Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are asking lenders to repurchase billions of dollars in improperly underwritten mortgages, including some in which enticements weren’t properly disclosed.

The government tax credit was a particularly good deal for cash-strapped buyers and sellers because it wasn’t tied to the value of the house and it arrived in the form of check with few restrictions on how it could be spent.

To buyers spoiled by such an offer, that makes the prospect of pre-recession incentives seem a little less enticing.

“Incentives from the seller don’t replace the incentives from the federal government,” Dickinson said. “Oftentimes, it’s easier to do a price reduction than offering a rebate.”

That was Coldwell Banker’s thinking when, after the expiration of the government’s $8,000 tax credit, in June it asked its sellers to offer prospective buyers a 3 percent discount for purchases made by the end of the month. Participation was limited, but sellers are likely weary of still-lower prices.

But party-giver Foley, a professional marketer, attributes the pullback on incentives to an all-out surrender. “Everybody has had a hard time selling,” he said. “It doesn’t mean you stop. It’s almost as if people, including sellers and Realtors, have given up. They’ve lost faith in what they knew.”

The bottom line, he said, is that sellers and their agents need to get creative and have more fun.

An evening storm rolled through Minneapolis the night of the party, which Case and Foley put together with the full support of their real estate agent. They promoted it with just about every form of social media, from Facebook to Twitter, and a few phone calls to local media. But in the hour and a half that a reporter attended the two-hour party, no prospective buyers showed. The 30 or so guests were largely friends, neighbors or the media.

Foley said several prospective buyers showed up eventually, but added his goal wasn’t to reach a high number of prospective buyers, but rather find the one who wants to buy the house.

“I’m not saying that we’re going to reap success and sell our house, but as a marketer, my chances of succeeding are greatly enhanced by putting forth some sort of imagination and effort,” he said. “Some sellers are literally giving away thousands of dollars because they haven’t given sellers a reason to buy their house. If we can market water for $7 a gallon, don’t tell me you can’t find a reason to make your house more charming or exciting for someone.”

In lieu of attention-grabbing incentives, here’s what works best today:

—Price it right. Buyers have access to lots of data, and they’ll know if your house is too expensive.

—Offer to pay some of the buyer’s closing costs.

—Maximize exposure. Saturate the Internet and all forms of social media with your listing.

—Use great photos, not good ones. Make sure your house makes a great first impression.

—Make it sing. Listing information must be complete and well-written.

—Curb appeal matters. Spend a little money on flowers, new plants and fresh paint.

—Inside, your house should look fresh, so make sure the paint, carpeting, light fixtures and appliances are updated and clean.

—De-clutter. Eliminate one-third to two-thirds of your stuff; hire a stager.

—Network. Sales come together because brains understand homes better than computers.

—Be patient. Statistics say that it takes 21 showings, not including open-house traffic, to sell a house.

Source: (c) 2010, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) (Jim Buchta)

For Boise Idaho real estate information or to search for Boise Idaho homes visit www.VermilyeaPropeties.com

QUESTION: I bought a condo in Yardley, Pa., in 2008. I put 20 percent down on a purchase price of $245,000. My fiance and I would like to sell the condo and buy a single-family home with more yard space in the same area.

My house has been on the market for 40 days. I listed it for $260,000. I upgraded the kitchen, put in hardwood floors and freshly painted the entire place.

I have had little luck thus far. The pros of selling now are that I could buy a much cheaper place in this market and that mortgage rates are low. My fiance is a contractor, so we are looking for a fixer-upper. He can help me out with the mortgage too. The cons are that my home is my only equity — I have little savings — and I am not sure how low I can afford to go with the asking price of my current home. My agent wants me to lower the price.

I’m not in a dire hurry to sell, but would probably need to sell within the next two years. Is it best to sell or stay?

—Janee L. Ott, Yardley, Pa.

ANSWER: Overall, my advice is to wait the two years. I tend to view the housing market using a long-term approach. But events of the past several years are unprecedented, and so I am cautious with my advice.

Looking at the 20-city composite S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, the housing market was on a tear from 2000 to 2006, then headed down at the same rate until about the middle of 2008. Prices started back up but dipped again. They seem to have started up again in the past month or so. California housing prices are leading the latest increase.

Sellers usually list their houses at more than they expect to sell it for, as you probably did. Number of days on the market, or how long it takes to sell the house, is a thermometer for the market. Long periods on the market reflect a “cold” market. The index doesn’t include Philadelphia, unfortunately.

I noticed Robert Shiller from Yale (who started the Case-Shiller Index years ago) just started a monthly “home expectations survey” that asks a hundred top U.S. housing analysts to forecast prices five years out. The list of “experts” includes many recognizable notables. They generally say the housing market will bounce back next year, on the track it was on before 2000.

Source:  (c) 2010, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (Charles Carter)

For Boise Idaho real estate information or to search for for Boise Idaho homes visit www.VermilyeaProperties.com  

The economy is stabilizing. Home prices are holding. It’s not just as good a time as ever to buy a house. It’s one of the best times ever.

ForSaleByOwner.com presents five overlooked reasons why now is a great time to buy a house.

1. Low mortgage rates serve as an equity shock absorber. When buyers borrow at today’s record-low rates, they start building equity as soon as they close. That means they have a little give to absorb a few ups and downs as the still-recovering housing market gains traction.

2. Houses are in move-in condition. Homeowners have continued to spend on maintenance and repair, according to the Harvard Joint Center on Housing. Homeowners who have been holding back kept their houses in good shape while they waited. As those houses enter the market, they are in marked contrast to tattered foreclosures.

3. Terrific houses are coming on the market. Foreclosures are finally starting to clear the system – and this is just the opportunity that owners of many desirable properties have been waiting for.

4. Appraisal regulations are finally aligned with market realities. Fannie Mae has adjusted its appraisal guidelines…again. Now that appraisers have more flexibility to set values that reflect the current market, today’s deals will make it over the finish line.

5. Plenty of programs. Homes are more affordable than they have been for years, but communities have stuck by “workforce housing” programs that encourage middle-class families to buy houses. Buyers who qualify can get a big boost by combining one of these programs with today’s low mortgage rates.

For Boise Idaho real estate information or to search for Boise idaho homes visit www.VermilyeaProperties.com

Many homeowners seeking a loan modification to lower their monthly mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure continue to find the application process a complex web, often causing them to give up before their application is ever reviewed by their mortgage company.

Certified housing counselors for CredAbility, a national nonprofit credit counseling and education agency, speak daily with hundreds of homeowners seeking a loan modification or other solutions to keep their homes. The organization has several tips for people that will help them increase the chances that their application is reviewed as quickly as possible.

“A homeowner needs to collect and send several documents that tell the mortgage company why you need a modification, and it needs to be done in a timely, organized manner,” said Michelle Jones, senior vice president of counseling for CredAbility. “Once a homeowner has submitted these documents, they need to stay in regular contact with the company. With hundreds of thousands of applications under consideration, homeowners must take matters into their own hands to make sure their application gets to the right person at the company.”

Here are CredAbility’s recommendations for homeowners seeking a loan modification:

Speak With a Nonprofit Housing Counselor to Understand Investor Rules for Your Loan. Every homeowner’s mortgage loan is different, so don’t rely on information you may have heard from your neighbor or your sister-in-law, even if they received a loan modification. For example, if your 30-year, fixed interest rate loan is owned by one investor, and your neighbor’s is owned by another investor, the rules governing a loan modification may be quite different. A certified counselor at a nonprofit credit counseling agency can help you find the investor who owns your mortgage and determine your options.

Submit All Documents That Prove Your Current Income. Income verification is critical, but homeowners sometimes don’t provide their mortgage company with recent documents. If you lost a job in June, don’t provide pay stubs from March. In addition to recent pay stubs and other traditional income sources, homeowners should also provide a document called a “contribution letter.” This letter explains the source of any household income that is not easily verified. For example, a servicer will want to know the total household income of a married couple, even if only one person’s name is on the loan. The letter could also include income verifying that you have a roommate that pays rent.

Submit Current Bank Statements. Recent bank statements allow your mortgage company to verify your income and expenses. This information enables the mortgage company to see your monthly expenses for food, utilities and other expenses and determine whether you will have enough money to make your mortgage payment.

Mail Your Documents to the Mortgage Company. Many people prefer to send all of their documents by fax or scan their documents and send them via email. However, postal mail is usually more reliable, especially if it’s addressed to the person you spoke with at the mortgage company. Faxes often get lost.

Label Each Page With Your Name and Loan Number. One of the most common complaints among homeowners is that the mortgage company loses their documents. You can help your own cause by writing your name and loan number on each page of every document.

Fully Explain Any Recent or Unique Income Changes. For example, a bank deposit may show various one-time transactions, such as an asset sale, cash gifts from family members or a bonus. Unless you explain this one-time increase in income, the servicer may not understand it and use this information to deny your loan modification.

Include a Timeline in Your Hardship Letter. Every application for a loan modification must include a “hardship letter” that explains the reasons for your request. But the letter must have specific dates explaining when an income loss has occurred. If your spouse lost her job on July 15 and your family income will decrease by $3,000 beginning in August, your letter needs to provide these details.

Call Your Mortgage Company Every Week. Many homeowners work extremely hard to submit all of their paperwork to the servicer - and then wait for weeks before picking up the telephone to call them about the status of their application. This is a mistake for several reasons: the person handling your application may quit; the application may be transferred to another person; the company may need more information. You get the picture.

Source:  Rismedia

For Boise Idaho real estate information or to search for Boise Idaho homes visit www.Vermilyeaproperties.com

Reflective of the real estate buyers’ market conditions in many regions in the U.S., satisfaction with real estate companies among home buyers has improved from 2009, while satisfaction among home sellers has declined, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Home Buyer/Seller Study(SM) just released.

The study, now in its third year, measures customer satisfaction of home buyers and sellers with the largest national real estate companies. Overall satisfaction is determined by examining three factors for the home-buying experience: agent/salesperson; office; and variety of additional services. Four factors are examined for the home-selling experience: agent/salesperson; marketing; office; and variety of additional services.

Overall satisfaction among home buyers averages 803 on a 1,000-point scale in 2010–increasing by 12 points from 2009. This improvement is primarily driven by increased satisfaction with agents and salespersons. In contrast, overall satisfaction among home sellers has declined by 40 points from 2009 and averages 742 in 2010. Among home sellers, satisfaction has decreased in all four factors, with the largest declines observed in marketing of the home and the variety of additional services offered.

“Among both home buyers and home sellers, the importance of agents and salespersons has increased substantially in 2010, compared with 2009,” said Jim Howland, senior director of the real estate and construction practice at J.D. Power and Associates. “Buyers are increasingly relying upon negotiating skills of agents and seem to be satisfied with the purchase prices they are obtaining. Despite the fact that selling agents appear to be doing a good job of negotiating and marketing on behalf of home sellers, the tough economic conditions are negatively impacting their overall satisfaction with real estate companies.”

In the home-buyer segment, Keller Williams ranks highest for a third consecutive year, with a score of 817 on a 1,000-point scale. Keller Williams performs particularly well in the agent and office factors. Following in the rankings are Prudential (811) and Coldwell Banker (805). Prudential performs well in the additional services category.

Among home sellers, Prudential ranks highest with a score of 760 and performs particularly well in the marketing and agent factors. Prudential is the only company to improve in home-seller satisfaction in 2010, compared with 2009. Following Prudential in the rankings are Keller Williams (751) and RE/MAX (744). Keller Williams performs particularly well in the office factor.

The study finds that fewer than one-half of home buyers and sellers indicate their agent asked them to provide a referral or recommendation to a friend or family member.

“Positive recommendations are a critically important driver of new business for agents, and there is ample opportunity for improvement in this area,” said Howland. “Particularly during tough times in the real estate market, asking for referrals and recommendations should be considered an essential part of doing business.”

For Boise Idaho real estate information or to search for Boise Idaho homes visit www.VermilyeaProperties.com

Home mortgage rates are currently near historic lows and have remained at these low levels for several months. As a result, many people are eager to refinance their current mortgage loan to lock in a low rate. For those in an adjustable rate mortgage, timing may never get any better to refinance out of your current mortgage and into a more conservative and consistent 15 or even 30 year mortgage loan.

When deciding to refinance a home mortgage, be sure to understand the refinancing costs associated with doing so and then try to limit them as much as possible.

Refinancing an existing mortgage is very similar to securing an initial mortgage. In fact, your new mortgage will be used to pay off your existing one, so it is just like buying your home all over again. As such, there are certain costs associated with a refinancing, just as there was when the original mortgage was secured.

Closing costs such as broker fees, appraisal fees, title search, inspections and various administrative fees are all part of the fee structure associated with a mortgage refinance.

To reduce your closing costs and any other mortgage-related fees, Howard Bunmore, owner and author of ConsumerLoansDirectory.com offers the following tips:

-Try to refinance with your existing lender. They will want to keep your business and if they know you are looking to refinance, they will be motivated to offer the lowest rate possible and reduce your fees to keep you onboard with them.

-Take a look at your credit report to ensure there are no issues you are unaware of that might detract from you score. A high score will help you secure the lowest possible interest rate and this could save you thousands over the term of your loan.

-Do not hesitate to negotiate your fees. Many mortgage-related fees are controlled by the mortgage company so they have the ability to lower them. Administration fees are especially easy to get waved or reduced.

-Avoid having your closing costs included in your loan balance. Sure, this is a great way to avoid them altogether but the reality is that you will by paying for them each month during the length of your loan and with interest included, you will end up paying a lot more in the long-run than if you had just paid them out of pocket upfront.

For Boise Idaho real estate information or to search for Boise Idaho homes visit www.VermilyeaProperties.com

In a tough real estate market where competition for buyers is high, sometimes the seller has to ‘sweeten the pot’ to get the deal done. Here are five creative ideas from Realtor Vicki Walker to help close the deal.

1. Offer a Decorating Allowance
There may be a buyer that likes your home but just has different decorating tastes. To seal the deal, offer a decorating allowance (for painting, new carpets or wallpaper). You can offer cash at closing, or put money in escrow to reimburse decorating and remodeling expenses made within 90 days of closing, up to a maximum amount.

2. Do a Pre-Sale Inspection
This actually works for both the seller and the buyer. By having a whole house inspection done before listing the house, you get a chance to address any issues before prospects see the home. That means you increase the homes saleability. Display the report during open houses and highlight the repairs that have already been addressed. It’s like seeing the repair history when you buy a used car; it makes you feel better about making an offer because you know the car is in good shape and exactly what has been repaired in the past. By having the home inspected before listing it, people don’t have to guess what kind of condition it is in, they can see it in writing.

3. Offer a Home Warranty
A home warranty reassures the buyer that the property is in top condition and gives them comfort knowing that certain future repairs will be covered by insurance. Buyers fear that as soon as they buy the house the dishwasher, dryer, or stove will go on the fritz. A home warranty is an inexpensive way to offer peace of mind to the buyer.

4. Cover Closing Costs
Sometimes it takes a little nudge to close the deal. You can offer to pay the buyers half of title and escrow fees, or pre-paid interest charges. Paying the points on the loan may also be a tax deduction for you. Many lenders may limit how much of the closing costs you can pay, but if the buyer is short of cash, offering to pay some closing costs can make a difference.

5. Offer Seller Financing
There are many ways to offer seller financing. Options include putting funds in escrow to cover several months of mortgage payments, buying down the mortgage rate, or carrying a second mortgage to cover the down payment. It is wise not to offer seller financing unless you have consulted a real estate attorney and your real estate agent. Make sure that the buyer has good credit. Although this is the least attractive option to the seller to get a deal closed, sometimes it takes creativity and going the extra mile to get your home sold.

For Boise Idaho real estate information or to search for Boise Idaho homes visit www.VermilyeaProperties.com

Used mattresses are the bane of a landfill’s existence. They take up a lot of space, give off noxious gases as they decompose, and their springs can damage the machinery used to flatten them.

So what if, for a small fee, you could have your old mattress picked up by an environmentally friendly charity, which would then tear it apart and find new uses for about 90 percent of the materials?

Would you do it?

The Mustard Seed of Central Florida — a furniture and clothing bank for families who have lost everything — is hoping the answer is yes.

The 25-year-old nonprofit already has begun recycling paper as well as used appliances, copiers, computers and phone systems it once had rejected.

“We want to be good environmental stewards,” said Michelle Lyles, the charity’s new executive director. “And we want to find a way to earn sustainable revenue so we can continue our mission of helping people.”

Last week the Mustard Seed launched a 90-day pilot project to recycle mattress materials, selling off nearly all of the components and becoming one of only a handful of businesses in the country to do so. If it’s successful, the enterprise could help create blue-collar jobs, earn revenue for the cash-strapped charity and get more beds to families who need them.

“Before, when mattresses were donated,” Lyles said, “we kept the ones that were in good shape and we threw the bad mattresses away.”

The practice not only placed a burden on the landfill, but it also cost money to haul the mattresses away. Worse, it left the charity with a perpetual shortage of beds for needy families. But by issuing a call for all used mattresses — good and bad — the charity expects to end up with more beds that are clean and sturdy enough to be reused immediately.

The standard, Lyles said, is, “If it’s something we would sleep on, we’ll give it to our clients. If not, it’s going to get recycled.”

The recycling process involves stripping the mattress down to its individual components — the quilted topper, the polyurethane foam, the steel springs, the wooden frame and a rough-hewn interior pad that feels as if it is made of horsehair. Those components, in turn, can be baled and sold for use in everything from carpet pads to garden mulch to car engines.

“It can sometimes be difficult, but usually the components can be used somehow,” said Celia Walker, project manager for the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Eugene, Ore., a pioneer in the mattress-recycling business. That organization, which started recycling mattresses 11 years ago, is now one of the largest such recyclers in the world, and its representatives have been in Orlando helping the Mustard Seed learn the process.

Although a lot of businesses will strip a cotton top cover off a mattress, recover it and sell it as rebuilt, that is not actually recycling, Walker said. For one thing, the material stripped off is typically thrown away. Rebuilt mattresses — a potential next step for the Mustard Seed after recycling — involve stripping old mattresses down to just metal and wood, then adding all new soft materials.

In Eugene, the mattress-recycling effort brought in $1 million in revenue last year.

Lyles doesn’t anticipate that kind of return anytime soon, but the program is a major part of a whole new direction for the Mustard Seed, whose founder, Carol Kane, retired in February after questions about how the charity was run. Since then, Lyles has looked for opportunities not only to benefit the environment but also to make the charity self-sustaining.

“It’s a mantra of our times,” said Terrence McDonald, executive director of Eugene’s St. Vincent de Paul Society, which earned $29 million last year for everything from its thrift stores to handcrafted glass art from recycled windows.

“The message that is being driven home is that nonprofits can’t expect the same (donations) they received last year or two years ago,” he said. “We all need to find new and better ways to do things and raise money.”

Source:  The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.)

For Boise Idaho real estate information or to search for Boise Idaho homes visit www.VermilyeaProperties.com

If you’ve never had to put a house back together after a fire, congratulations. It’s not something we recommend. Take it from someone who has been there — who is still there.

In early March, an electrical fire in our home launched my wife, Dona, and me down an unfamiliar path. There were endless decisions: Where were we going to live for the next six to 10 months? Should we buy new socks or wait for our old ones to be de-smoked and returned to us? And so many questions: How does the cleanup-salvage-rebuilding operation work? What happened to Dona’s cowboy boots?

Add the psychological trauma of seeing your home on fire, the physical demands involved in getting your life up and running again, and that burned-wood smell that follows you everywhere.

Yeah, it was not the best of times.

We were lucky in some respects. Our insurance agent and various adjusters were everywhere in the hours immediately after the fire. State Farm found an extended-stay hotel, one that took dogs and had a kitchen. They had us pick out “emergency” clothing — items that would be cleaned and returned in 48 hours (we would see the rest again in a month). They called in a restoration and cleaning service; they brought in people to board up windows and tarp the roof. An adjuster handed us a check to cover immediate living expenses. And the company offered to find us a rental property in the neighborhood. Those are all huge concerns two hours after a fire, things that pop into your head suddenly. We were fortunate that we didn’t have to worry about them.

Over the ensuing days and months, we regained our footing and were able to deal with the issues that had to be addressed. Here are some of the things that came up for us, and will, to some degree, come up for others in similar situations.

The immediate aftermath — After you’re allowed back into the house, secure your valuables. That’s money, jewelry, important documents, passports. Grab what you need to keep functioning: address books, laptops, car keys, credit cards, checkbooks (and those boxes of new checks), the stuff hanging on your fridge, unpaid bills, favorite kitchen implements (don’t laugh — I’m so glad I remembered the poultry shears), prescription drugs, whatever clothes you’d need for the next couple of days, pet bowls, collars and leashes. Food? Leave it all.

“We want them to get their valuables out of their homes and someplace secure,” says Scott Woods, a special general adjuster for Farmers Insurance. “The home’s going to be empty for a while and we don’t want anybody going in and taking those items.”

Cleanup — You’ll need someone to handle the mess: charred items, collapsed ceilings and walls, water-soaked belongings. The extent of the damage will amaze you. You or a neighbor may know of a business that handles the cleanup. Or your insurance company can help. Eric Prater, a claim representative for State Farm, told us about a preferred contractor program, a list of contractors the company knows and has worked with. But homeowners are free to select their own companies, something Prater reminded us several times. Similarly, Farmers Insurance gives customers a list if they don’t have someone in mind.

Before the cleanup starts, do a walk-through. Do several. Get a full appreciation of the damage to the building and contents. Take photos or video. Make notes. Be on hand when the crew arrives. They’ll have questions. Or they may want to toss that chipped vase, not realizing it was made by Great Aunt Alma 100 years ago and was damaged when Babe Ruth knocked it off a table in 1926. Work with your cleanup people. They’ll document and toss what was destroyed. Watch, just so you know what is gone. You may even be asked to help.

If your house had limited damage, furniture and other items can be cleaned on-site. But in cases of severe damage, it will be emptied, and everything will get cleaned and placed in storage.

Getting resettled — A hotel is fine for a brief stay, but for an extended period you need a rental. Your insurance may have a relocation unit that can help. We found a place about a half-mile from the house. State Farm gave us a check for six months’ rent and also paid for furniture rental, and we were able to set up shop within a week of the fire. Once in the new place, it takes time to adjust. Remember, this is only temporary.

So many details — Utilities need to get switched over to the rental (you may end up paying at both locations). File a change of address notice at the post office (and check your old mailbox too). Bills still have to be paid, even if some were lost in the fire. Your mortgage company needs to be notified. And don’t forget that your lawn still needs to be cut.

So many people — Early on, investigators, insurance people, contractors all have things they need to talk to you about. But your mind will be focused on a photo that had been on top of the piano and is now gone, and — this is no exaggeration — 30 seconds later you will have forgotten everything the insurance person just told you. Here’s a tip: Anyone you talk to, ask for their card. Ask for two, in fact.

If you end up in temporary lodging, let neighbors and friends know how to reach you. They want to touch base, and it’ll do you good to talk to them.

You’ll also hear from people who want your rebuilding work or who offer to help you squeeze more money out of your insurance company. Be careful.

“That’s definitely something people should be aware of,” Woods says. “After fires occur, there are a lot of companies that are going to be out in front of the house, whether contractors, board-up companies, public adjusters, all trying to get the job. They’ll tell the customers a lot of things … negative things about your insurance company, whatever.”

Maybe worse are the creeps who throw construction debris and bags of trash into your Dumpster in the middle of the night. Worst of all are the lowlifes who steal bird feeders, garden decor and other items from your property when no one is around. May they step on a rusty nail.

Replacing your stuff — You’ll sleep better if you have a full replacement policy. It’s not that much more than policies that don’t provide as thorough coverage. Check with your agent and upgrade if you have to, though most homeowners already have it. Remember that the insurance guys just don’t hand out big sacks of cash. You need to document your losses as best you can, and the check you receive will probably be less than you anticipated because depreciation is factored in (and there will be more money available when you actually replace lost items).

Rebuilding — It was a month from the time of the fire until work started (blame it on paperwork). The demolition — removal of damaged walls and ceilings — took another few weeks. Then the work crews turned their attention to the roof, replacing burned beams and a large portion of the roof itself. That put a cover over the house and let them begin the reconstruction without threat of rain. That rebuilding is ongoing.

Now here’s a key: The insurance company and contractor negotiate a dollar figure for your work. If you have a full replacement policy, that work will bring your home back to its pre-fire status. But there may be some work that you don’t want done. In that case, the cost of that work can be shifted elsewhere for other improvements.

“As long as you are putting the money back into the structure, to upgrade or fix something that was damaged in the fire, that money can be shifted,” Prater says.

And remember that the rebuilding process can go relatively quickly, and you may be kept scrambling to stay one step ahead of the project, planning room layouts, buying appliances, choosing paint, etc.

An upside? Several friends have told us, “Hey, you’re getting a new house. New electrical and plumbing, code upgrades, new appliances, refinished or new floors, paint jobs inside and out.”

But it’s difficult to get excited about that.

From the outside, the structure of the house will look the same. Inside, 90 percent will look like it was.

The 10 percent that’s different — the foyer wall, the new doorways, the revamped bathrooms — is great, but still, it’s replacing what we knew for 20 years.

Dona worried that if we changed too much, our daughters, when they visit after everything is finished, might feel like strangers, and that it wouldn’t be “their” house anymore.

Me, I worried that they would like the changes so much they’d want to move back in.

But it is what it is: The start of a new chapter.

Source:  (c) 2010, Chicago Tribune

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