The days are starting to warm up on the Palouse!  It’s a balmy 57 degrees and it’s supposed to be even warmer this weekend.  The perfect weather to be outside!  The perfect weather to help out with our local Habitat for Humanity project.

The Whitman County Association of REALTORS has joined the Habitat for Humanity organization in working to build a home in our neighboring community of Uniontown.  Our local REALTORS are giving of their time to be a part of this fantastic orgnanization but we need as many helping hands as possible.

If you’re willing to come out and hammer some nails and roofing the house, come to Uniontown from 8:30 – 4:30 PM.  The exact location is at the corner of Welle Dr and Wheatland Court in the Rolling Hills Subdivision just South of town.  Wear good clothing for this type of work and don’t worry about lunch, it’s provided for you!

Join us in working on Sarah’s house.  We would love to have you come out and be a part of this super event!

Is it the right time to sell?  This is a question that many potential Sellers may be asking themselves!  For some, the reason may be an easy one.  For example if the Seller is relocating for a new job or if there is a family member requiring medical assitance.   It could also be time for a new home if the family unit grows or scales down in size.

For others, it may be financial.  If a Seller is in need of money, selling your home could be the answer to obtaining liquid cash.  Also, if a seller owns a home as an investment, it could be the right time to sell prior to values going down further or they’ve fixed up the house and it’s ready to sell.  If a potential Seller loses a job or is financial straits where they can not afford the home any longer, selling the home may be their only viable solution.  It is best to sell the home, even at a loss, than let the home go into foreclosure.

Looking at a positive note, is it because the time is just right?  Are homes in the local neighborhood selling?  It hasn’t been the recent trend, but if the homeowner finds himself in this scenario, it could be the time to take advantage before it changes.  And last but not least, by chance you see the perfect home come on the market.  This is the one that you’ve waited for.  This is the home that you’ve always dreamed of owning and the price is too good to let pass by.  It may be that you’ve outgrown your home or it has the perfect kitchen!

There are many reasons that lead the homeowner to sell their home.  We have all been in one or more of the situations that have prompted us to put the ”FOR SALE” sign in the front yard.  And if not, that time will one day come when you ask yourself, “Is it the right time to sell?”

Beginning this Friday, June 10th, the Pullman Police Department will be targeting those offenders that do not adhere to the law.  This law specifically makes the use of cell phones and text messaging while driving illegal.  This date marks one year that State Law (RCW 46.61.668) makes texting, reading a text or sending a text illegal while driving.  In addition, State Law (RCW 46.61.667) prohibits drivers to make a call or even place a mobile telephone device to the ear while driving a vehicle.

The only way that drivers are able to use a mobile telephone device is if one uses it in a hands-free mode.  This method would include the use of a speaker phone, earpiece or a headset.   The use of a blue tooth is definitely the way to go to avoid a ticket.  The cost of a ticket is $124.00 as these two laws will become a primary offense.

Newer vehicles now come equipped with bluetooth capabilities making hands free driving an easy and obvious way to go.  There isn’t an excuse not to use one of these hand-free methods to operate your cell phone while driving, especially since the local Pullman Police Department will be looking for these offenders!

There’s only two full days left until school is out for my daughter.  She is yelling, yahoo and I’m saying yikes.  It’s that time of year when she is excited about being out of school and mom is wondering what she’s going to do all day long. 

Activities and camps are on the agenda.  She is excited to be participating in a number of those in our area.  But what about when she’s home and just “hanging out”.  I don’t mind the occasional TV show or some time on her ITouch, but I don’t want her reading to go to the wayside.  Is there a program that entices children to keep on reading through the summer?

Well, in our local Pullman WA library there is!  Our library, the Neill Public Library, offers a Summer Reading Program for young kids through teens that instill the continued love of reading.  It’s a program where kids keep a log of what they read and the length of time they spend reading.  By registering, they become eligible to win a gift certificate for local merchants valued at $200!

What a great program!  What a wonderful idea!  Don’t forget to register from June 9th through the 12th of June.  Enjoy the Summer…especially by reading your Summer away!