Gutter Cleaning

Some homeowners clean their gutters using a leaf blower while walking the perimeter of the roof; this is dangerous for the homeowner and , it can cause considerable damage to the roof. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to do the job; however, there are professional companies for hire that can do the job for you. Using a garden hose to wash debris into the downspouts often causes clogs and consequently, more work.

Regular cleaning and inspection of your home’s gutters and downspouts may prevent damage to your home’s interior. When gutters and downspouts are full or become clogged, flooding can occur as well as roof leaks caused by water seepage. Gutters and downspouts should be cleaned and inspected at least semi-annually. Typically, the best times to tackle the job are spring and fall.

The tools you’ll need include thick work gloves, an extension ladder, a garden hose with a spray attachment, and possibly a plumber’s snake. A bucket with a handle on it and an s-hook make the job a little easier.

Attach a garbage bag or bucket to the ladder before extending the ladder up to the roof. Position the ladder near a downspout and make sure the ladder is securely in place before clibing up to the roof. Clear and deposit debris from gutters into the bag or bucket. Work gloves help protect your hands from any sharp objects such as rofing nails, commonly found in gutters and downspouts.

Next, use the garden hose to rinse away dirt or residue. If the downspout is clogged, spray water into the top of the downspout to flush it out. If the clog perists, try to same thing at the other end to help break up whatever is stuck inside. As a last resort, you may need to use the plumber’s snake to dislodge the clog.

2010 Boise Garden Show

Boise Flower & Garden Show

The Centre on the Grove will spring to life with everything you need to make your garden beautiful at the 14th annual Boise Flower & Garden Show, March 26-28, 2010.

Shop for the latest in landscape design, garden art and decor, yard furniture, plants, decks, greenhouse, and more. You will also enjoy spectacular display gardens; educational and fun gardening seminars; orchid and bonsai displays; a silent auction of beautiful and unique container gardens and much, much more!

For more information go to:

http://www.gardenshowboise.com/

Boise Roadster Show

BOISE ROADSTER SHOW
Western Idaho Fair Expo

Annually, one of the treasure valley’s most popular sporting events is the Boise Roadster Show presented by Les Schwab Tires. The show has been staged for better than three and a half decades at Expo Idaho on the site of the Western Idaho Fair. Sanctioned by the ISCA, the Roadster Show is a Western Division points stop annually attracting competitors from throughout the United States and Canada.

Encompassing all three buildings of the state’s largest expo facility, the Roadster Show annually attracts nearly 250 entries ranging from radical customs and traditional rods to bad-to-the-bone choppers.

The Roadster Show will take place on Thursday thru Sunday, March 12th-15th, 2009.

An incredible line-up of cars and bikes will again appear at the ISCA Championship. The show will again feature the annual presentation of the highly sought after Goldmark statue, which awards the weekends top entry a cool $1,000 in cash, embroidered jacket and very special award statue. The “Essence of Cool” award will also be presented to the entry that exemplifies the spirit of this special award. In addition, special awards will be presented in the form of the Trendsetter, Wild One, “Fire Rod”, Mighty Fine, “Ol Jack Thumb Up” and Tompkins honors.

Furthermore, a new inductee will be announced for the Master-Builder award, which is annually presented to one of the shows top builders/supporters.

If youd like an entry form (which you can print out) to the Roadster Show, click on the front page of the site at:Here

2009 Show hours are as follows:

Thursday 4 – 10 pm
Friday 3 – 10 pm
Saturday 11 am – 10 pm
Sunday 11 am – 7 pm

Tickets are $9 for adults, $3 kids 6-12 and free for toddlers 5 & under.

Expo Idaho is located at 5610 Glenwood at the corner of Chinden Blvd. and Glenwood in Boise.

http://www.firebirdonline.com/RoadsterShow/boise.htm

Getting A Home Ready to Sell

When You think about getting a home ready to sell, where do you start?

Looks mean a lot, and one way to make a home market ready is to highlight its best features. You can make a good start be decluttering every room, kitchen to closet, and basement to attic. While you don’t want to make a home look empty, you do want to make it look spacious, so removing possessions such as knickknacks and perhaps a few pieces of furniture will open up the space. Many people forget what their house looked like back when they first moved in, and before they began to furnish and decorate it.

To declutter a kitchen for example, the counters must be completely cleared, with extra items stored in cupboards. If this creates a logjam in the cabinets, extra pots, pans, dishes and small appliances need to be boxed up and stored, preferably off-site. By Limiting the amount of items in cupboards, prospective buyers will be reassured that the cabinets and cupboards offer plenty of space for their needs.

The same holds true for closets. They need to be only half-full rather than crammed full. By boxing up and storing clothes, shoes and other items and storing them elsewhere, the closets will echo the feeling of spaciousness that will be displayed throughout the house.

The concept of removing a favorite recliner of floor lamp from  a home may seem foreign, but an overabundance of tables, lamps, chairs and couches take up the floor space. Empty space allows buyers to visualize how they could fill it.

In living, dining and family rooms, the window treatments should be minimal, furniture and knickknacks should be reduced, and photos and protraits of family and friends should be put away. It’s easier for buyers to imagine themselves in a house when its owners and their family members aren’t in view in frames on the walls or tables.

Once some of the clutter has been relegated to boxes or bins, the temptation is strong to head right downstairs, or to the garage or attic and pack them away. Sadly, it’s a temptation that must be resisted. Storage space needs to be obvious, not hidden underneath all those boxes. Again, buyers need to be able to picture themselves in the home.