Category Archives: News

Home Inspection – What’s the Big Deal?

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As the buyer of a new home, you might be advised to have the home inspected before the sale closes. While it’s so easy to get caught up in the excitement of the new house and want the sale to close as quickly as possible, it is important to have both a home inspection and a WDO inspection.

  •  Home inspection will check the structural condition of the home and includes the electrical, plumbing, roof, heating and AC.
  •  WDO inspection is typically referred to as a termite inspection, but termites are only one type of wood destroying organism. Carpenter ants and rodents can also wreak havoc with your home.

Why is this so important?

You might be thinking you don’t need the Home Inspection at all, especially if it’s a brand new house. But there are several reasons that an inspection is highly important.

It can save you from a really bad deal. If there are flaws in the home, you, as the buyer, can negotiate price with the seller, ensure that the seller pays for repairs before the closing of the home, or, depending on the level of damage, back out of the sale completely.

It can save you major legal problems down the road. An inspection can reveal illegal installations that were added or done outside of building codes that can be dealt with before it becomes your obligation to adjust or pay for down the road.

It can save you money. It can also help predict future costs, by revealing the age of certain aspects of the property like heating, plumbing, roofing, and other fixtures.

It can help you decide what to fix and when. Inspectors know their field well. Their task is to do an extensive inspection of the house including the plumbing, electrical, foundation, crawl spaces, attics, basements, and many other things. At the end of the inspection, they can give you tips and advice on how to handle current damages that need to be repaired right away, versus the ones that can be put off for a while longer until your budget allows it. They can also tell you which items should be repaired versus completely replaced, and recommend good contractors or product brands.

It can identify potential pest problems.

Some evidence of rodents is obvious, such as droppings or suspicious holes in a wall. However, resident pests aren’t always so easily spotted. This is another reason that having a WDO inspection done on your potential house is a good idea.

One of the primary pest concerns is with wood-destroying organisms (WDO). This includes any wood-boring pests, but mainly focuses on the most common perpetrators in this department: termites. Getting a WDO inspection is crucial because the inspector is trained to find subtle evidence of termites in a house.

It’s important to be sure the inspector is licensed in pest control to ensure a quality inspection. This also means they can identify potential termite threats that would otherwise get past even a savvy home buyer.

A termite inspection is worth every penny, because according to turnerpest.com these pests cost people over $5 billion a year.

Who pays for the inspection?

There are times when the seller might have the home inspected before putting their house on the market, so that they can adjust the asking price of their home, and also so that they have an inspection report to give to potential buyers. If not, then it’s your responsibility as the buyer to get an inspection on the house. Usually you’ll have a stated number of days in your contract to do so, and it’s your choice who to hire. Prices for a full inspection can range anywhere between $250 to $500 depending on the location and the size of the property. If you’re unsure which inspector to hire, ask your realtor for recommendations.

In short, home and pest inspections aren’t the most exciting part of the home buying process, but they are very important and shouldn’t be skipped because of the time, money, and problems that they will save you down the road.

 

 

 

 

 

Labor Day Weekend in Payson

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Labor Day Diversions

This Labor Day kicks off with tens of thousands of visitors passing through Payson on their way to a variety of scenic destinations and serene retreats. With the above average wave of high temperatures across the Phoenix area, weekenders set their sights northward to escape the heat and revel in the beauty of the Rim Country.

There’s no shortage of outdoor activities to partake in, but not everyone comes up for adventures in nature. For those who enjoy really getting a feel for the area, here are a couple of local Labor Day events in the Payson vicinity.

 

Payson Farmer’s Market

A longstanding tradition, the Payson Farmer’s Market attracts a bounty of local artisans and farmers peddling everything from handmade gifts to the best organic produce money can buy. According to paysonrimcountry.com the weekend market boasts 40 stalls of local vegetables, fresh baked goods, entertainment, and more. The Payson Farmer’s Market can be enjoyed every Saturday during the summer 8:00AM-12:00PM in the Sawmill Theater parking lot at 816 S Beeline Hwy, Payson, AZ 85541.

 

Pine Fall Festival

A must-stop for any traveler this weekend, the 39th annual Pine-Strawberry Labor Day Arts & Crafts Festival promises to deliver the same quality display of expert artisans and local vendors that have drawn visitors to this amazing event for decades. From unique, handmade jewelry, clothing, antiques, gifts, and a variety of delicious foods, this festival has something for everyone. If Pine and Strawberry aren’t already on one’s travel route for Labor Day, these two cozy towns can be found just 15 miles north of Payson on Highway 87.

For more information about this and other events visit https://pinestrawberryartscrafts.com.

With local festivals and endless outdoor activities all available in close proximity to each other, you’re sure to find something fun to do this Labor Day in the Rim Country.

 

Horsing Around the Payson Rodeo!

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One of the most amazing things that Payson, Arizona is known for, is being the location of the world’s oldest, continuous rodeo. In 1884, in a meadow that is now the site of the Sawmill Crossing, a handful of ranchers and cowboys gathered together on the third weekend of August for a friendly competition of roping and riding. The yearly competition soon became tradition, and now, over 130 years later, Payson is still the grounds for this famous and historic rodeo.

 

The fun begins on Thursday evening, August 15, at the Payson Rodeo Grounds, and will continue throughout the weekend with several afternoon and evening events and performances continuing through Friday and Saturday. The weekend will be packed full of exciting things like bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, barrel racing, and more! There will be performances from the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association and the National Barrel Horse Association, and a special event, Tough Enough To Wear Pink, with all proceeds going to local breast cancer awareness programs.

 

After two full nights of rodeo performances, head on over to Payson’s Historic Main Street on Saturday morning for the annual World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo Parade! Then it’s back to the rodeo grounds for a day packed full of events, performances, food, and fun, and finish off the weekend with the Payson Pro Rodeo Boots and Bling Rodeo Dance.

 

Whether you’ve lived in Payson your entire life and enjoy keeping this Wild West tradition alive, or are heading up north from the Phoenix area looking for a good time, mark your calendars for August 15th – 17th. This is one event you don’t want to miss out on!

 

For more information on specific events, fun facts, or ticket prices and purchasing, visit www.paysonprorodeo.com.

 

 

Should I buy an existing home or build a new home?

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Many times new home owners are caught between the question of should I buy an existing home or build a new home of my own? This is a great question, and it really comes down to the potential owner’s personal preferences in several different areas. To make it easier to decide, let’s break it down into the pros and cons of each.

 

Pros of buying an existing home:

 

  • For an existing home, one of the main pros is convenience. You can move in immediately after closing and are instantly ready to begin your new life.
  • You also have the potential of upgrades when buying an existing home. You can upgrade the house or the property in small ways — or major ways — in your own timeframe and whenever your budget allows.
  • Another upside is that the cost of an existing home can be negotiated, unlike when building a home, where prices are fixed, and sometimes there are unexpected costs.
  • With an existing home, most times, you are usually moving into an established neighborhood, which gives you the ability not only to socialize and entertain, but it usually means that stores, schools, and hospitals are nearby.
  • Another benefit to buying an existing home that’s sometimes under-considered is the landscaping. If you move into an existing home, you’ll have mature landscaping and trees to work with and add to, as opposed to having to cultivate the bare lot of a newly built site.

 

Cons of buying an existing home:

 

  • One of the cons of buying an existing home is somewhat of an obvious one — you will always be competing with other buyers for the home, whereas you’re less likely to have steep competition over a vacant lot.
  • Another downside is the compromise on some of the existing features of the home. Unless you’re lucky enough to find your perfect dream home, it’s likely that you’ll have to settle on some of the aspects of the house and its floor plan.
  • You may also end up needing to repair or restore certain aspects of the home, such as heating, cooling, or roofing, depending on its age and condition.

 

Now let’s look at some of the positives and negatives that come with building your own home.

 

Pros of building your own home:

 

  • When building your own home, you can have it designed to fit your lifestyle and your preferences and get exactly what you want.
  • You can also have custom details put in, things that make your house unique and intriguing.
  • Should something go wrong with an aspect of your new home, large repairs are usually covered by a warranty.
  • New homes are also more energy efficient and can cost you less in the long run.
  • A new home is also less likely to contain toxic construction materials than an existing home, and you can take special measures to ensure the building materials you use are as eco-friendly as possible.

 

Cons of building your own home:

 

  • When building your own home, the timeframe will be the main issue you face. You’ll have to budget a length of time in advance for the new house to be built, and sometimes, unforeseen things happen, pushing your timeframe out farther than expected.
  • Building your own home can also be more expensive than outright buying an existing home; with a new home, there tend to be more upfront costs and not much room for negotiation on purchase prices or closing costs.
  • There can also be extra costs you hadn’t budgeted for, either when choosing to upgrade certain aspects to your home, or paying for unexpected issues that weren’t budgeted for.
  • If you’re building on an untouched lot, there can be extra time and money required for the lot itself, either to landscape the bare lot when the home is finished, or to shape the lot / remove trees to fit the new house.
  • Lastly, there are impact fees to consider when building a new home, which is a tax usually imposed on new builders to cover the “impact” made on schools, roads, fire departments, etc.

 

When choosing an existing home or building a new one yourself, there are many pros and cons to both sides. In the end, it comes down to time, money, and what you’re looking for in your dream home.

 

Payson – 4th of July!

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In Payson, Arizona, the 4th of July celebration is one of our biggest events of the year! All of the events and games center around Green Valley Park, where the day starts early, at 8AM with a patriotic ceremony to honor men and women, both past and present, who have fought for our freedom. At 11AM, the vendors will open, offering treats such as ice cream, snow cones, coffee, and more. From 1PM to 3PM, games will be hosted with prizes going to the winning teams of some classic favorites like a three-legged race, a water balloon toss, and even a pie eating contest. Then visitors can head over to the Ramada and enjoy live music from 6PM up until 9PM when the main event begins — the fireworks show! Payson is well known for one of the most spectacular fireworks shows in the state; you certainly don’t want to miss out!

Whether you’re a local, looking forward to spending the day at Green Valley Park with friends and family, or a weekend traveler searching for a fun way to spend your holiday, come on down to Green Valley Park and enjoy the fun. And make sure to arrive early to get the best seats for the fireworks show!

Happy 4th of July Birthday Rory!  A real Yankee Doodle Dandy!

 

Firewise Your Home

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It’s wildfire season here in the Rim Country of Northern Arizona, and we’ve already had our first major fire.  Living in Payson, Arizona, or the surrounding communities, it’s important to know what it means to firewise your home in case of an out of control wildfire. If you’re unsure what the term firewising means, it refers to the preventative steps you take in order to ensure your home is at the lowest risk possible for fire.

Here are a few suggestions from firewise.org to keep your home safe:

  • Store firewood away from the home
  • Mow the lawn regularly
  • Prune low-hanging tree branches
  • Landscape with fire-resistant plants
  • Create small fuel breaks with hardscaping features

Whether you have a permanent residence in the Rim Country or simply a summer cabin, it is important to be proactive with prevention measures during the hot summer months when wildfires are common.

Payson Farmers Market

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The Payson Farmers Market is back for the summer, and all of the residents of  Rim Country are excited to participate. The Payson Farmers Market is one of the biggest community events here in Northern Arizona, giving residents from miles around a place to gather and socialize, share food and produce, listen to good music, and just have an all-around great time. In short, the Payson Farmers Market has become Payson’s best outdoor community center.

Here are a few great things about the Payson Farmers Market, taken from paysonfarmersmarket.com:

  • Fresh, local, organically grown food is available to the 20,000 Rim Country residents and the many visitors traveling through town.
  • The Payson Farmers Market a USDA sponsored Farmers Market offering the SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), and WIC (Woman, Infants and Children) nutrition program certified, giving low income residents access to fresh, local grown produce.
  • The Payson Farmers Market is a Locavore style market where all food comes from within 100 miles and sold directly from the farm or food maker to you.
  • New farmers are joining the local food movement and turning their acreage into farms, and existing farmers are expanding the size of their farms.

The Payson Farmers Market can see anywhere from 1,000 to 1,200 people on an average Saturday, with those numbers easily doubling on holiday weekends with the amount of tourists and weekenders passing through town.

The famers market runs every Saturday during the summer from May 25 to September 14, from 8 AM to noon, and features live music, games and activities for kids, and monthly contests hosted and sponsored by local businesses. Head on down and enjoy the fun!

Spring Cleaning

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Spring in Payson, Arizona is the perfect time of year for an annual cleanup of your house and yard. The weather hasn’t yet turned hot, the ground is still soft from recent snow and rain (making weeding and raking easier) and it’s a good idea to get it out of the way earlier in the year before the summer holidays and events arrive.

 

Maintaining Clutter Inside

Taking time to manage the clutter inside your house is always a positive thing to do, especially when you’re able to take the clothes and items you’re getting rid of and donate them to one of the local thrift stores here in town — you’re doing something good for you, and for your community.

 

Yard Maintenance Outside

It’s also important to keep the outside of your house clean and clutter-free; this includes your attic, shed, or garage, as the less clutter you have, the less attraction you’ll have for mice and insects. A few simple ways you can do this are:

  • keeping rain gutters clean
  • raking leaves and branches in your yard
  • sweeping your driveway and porch or deck area
  • weeding
  • trimming back trees or shrubs

 

By following a few simple tricks to maintaining your home and yard, it not only saves you time and money in the long run, but keeps your property looking fresh and inviting!

 

 

 

Summer Safety with Snakes

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As the temperatures continue to rise here in Payson, Arizona, reptiles and snakes — including rattlesnakes — will begin to appear. This means that residents and visitors of the Rim Country need to take precaution when outside, especially when hiking or exploring trails and creeks.

Oftentimes, the snakes you will pass in the wild or find under or next to your house aren’t harmful. Even rattlesnakes, though extremely venomous, aren’t a direct threat against humans unless provoked.

If you’re walking on a trail or in your yard, and come across a snake, first and foremost, you want to give it space. A snake will not attack unless given reason, and if left alone, will continue sunbathing or simply move along in the direction it was heading.

If you can, it’s smart to do a search on Google to see what kind of snake you are dealing with, especially if it’s in your yard or happens to be on a trail that you frequent. It’s always easier to coexist with snakes when you know more about them, and understand their preferred living places and eating habits.

It’s never wise to kill a snake, because not only can it be dangerous for you, but killing a snake actually damages the delicate balance of life in the ecosystem around us. Sometimes it is necessary to have a snake removed, when it’s near your home or frequently appears on your property, especially if you have children or pets or livestock. If you need to remove the snake, it’s best to call the Arizona Department of Game and Fish, and not attempt to do it yourself, especially if it’s a rattlesnake.

5 tips for avoiding snakes:

  1. Research local species and be aware of their preferred habitats and their appearances.  Know what to look for.
  2. Never step or reach into an area you can’t see. Most snake bites occur when the creature is startled accidentally.
  3. Be alert, not only with your eyes, but with your ears. Snakes have a very distinct sound when moving through underbrush and across beds of dead leaves.  And of course, be aware of what the rattle of a rattlesnake sounds like.
  4. If you do happen to cross paths with a snake, leave it alone and allow it to have its space.  Snakes will respect you if you respect them.
  5. Keep in mind that snakes enjoy dark, hidden areas, but they also enjoy the sun, especially in the spring.  Snakes are not as likely to be seen during the high heat of the day when temperatures are most oppressive, but they can often be found out in the open when mornings are cool and there are plenty of patches of warm sunshine.

Part of the beauty of Arizona is our diverse wildlife, and while snakes aren’t the most favorable, they’re part of the environment just like other animals, and deserve to be treated with respect.