Lake Oswego Community Advantage Guide

2 © 2011 For Advertising inFormAtion CAll 503.570.3404

Remodeling: A Healthy Investment For You and Your HomeIs now a good time to remodel?Now is the perfect time to remodel! Since more and more people are staying in their homes longer, home owners are needing to feel more and more comfortable with what they have. Investing in a remodel will make your home something that can be enjoyed for you and your family’s needs not just now but down the road as well. So many home owners remodel when they are ready to sell their home, but why not remodel today so you can enjoy your investment. An updated, clean, well functioning home is a healthy investment right now.

Will I see a return on my investment?It’s the fundamental question facing anyone who has ever embarked on a home renovation: How likely am I to get the money back when I sell my house?

There’s no easy answer, because each home is unique in size, quality, age and location. One thing however remains constant with each home; certain remodel projects are better investments when it comes to your home. While a quality, well executed remodel will always be a positive for your home, there are some investments that yield not only monetary results, but will help you sell your home quickly. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), homes with newly remodeled kitchens and bathrooms are more than twice as likely to sell, and for a higher price in a shorter amount of time, than homes in which these rooms are outdated.

Here is a sample of returns for some of the most popular home remodeling projects. Statistics are compiled from the Remodeling 2011-12 Cost vs. Value Report and based on projects in the Pacific Region.

Why should I hire Gibb Construction and Remodeling, Inc.?With over 17 years of experience, Tom Gibb, owner of Gibb Construction and Remodeling Inc., is much more than just a contractor. With experience in drafting, architecture, and design work, your project will receive the creative attention that is necessary to deliver the highest quality. During each step of the process you will be educated in the latest materials and products available to make your home both healthy and comfortable. Our goal is to listen to your needs and to make every effort to ensure that your design is the right fit for your lifestyle and budget.

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Is Bankruptcy Right For You?By George Hoselton, Attorney

If you are like many Americans you may be living in a nightmare of calls from creditors and mailboxes overfl owing with collection notices. Everyone deserves a second chance. Fortunately, the laws of the United States give people the opportunity to start over by wiping away their debts.

If you fi nd yourself in an increasingly precarious fi nancial position, you may think of fi ling for bankruptcy protection. Give us a call and come meet with us, you don’t need anything when you fi rst come in, and we can answer your questions. How do you know if this is really the best way for you to get back on an even footing? What paperwork will you need for us to help you?

While DIY is fairly popular in many things, fi ling for bankruptcy protection is best left to those who know what they’re doing -- an attorney concentrating his practice on bankruptcy. We do not charge for an initial consultation. The reason is that we fi nd value in encouraging people to talk about their situations and feel comfortable before making any decisions about the best path to a fi nancial fresh start.

Again, you DON’T need to bring anything with you the fi rst visit. BUT, if you are sure that bankruptcy is the next step for you and you’d like to get started with your fi rst appointment there are a few things you’ll want to do.

1. Gather your bills and pay stubsPut all your personal fi nancial documents into two stacks. In one stack, compile all your income documents, whether paystubs or cancelled checks or other evidence of what you’ve earned over the last six months. If you have only one employer, that’s easy. However, ALL income is counted here, so be sure you have all the information you would have to declare on your tax return at the end of the year. Be sure to include any rental income.On the other side of the table, sort your bills by category for the same 6-month span: all taxes; mortgage/rent/utility bills; medical expenses; credit card, student loans or other unsecured bills; car loans or secured bills; and any miscellaneous debt. And don’t worry about the size of this stack. It’s almost impossible to present us with too much data. We prefer to have more than less.

2. Get a copy of your credit reportYou can get a copy of your credit report free once a year. Many of our clients go to annualcreditreport.com to download their reports. If you’ve used your free report for the year, we can obtain it for a nominal fee.

3. Make a list of your property, both real estate and personal effectsNow, sit back and take stock of your assets. Items to consider here are real estate, vehicles, household goods, stocks, jewelry, guns, artwork, retirement accounts, insurance and bank accounts.

Finally, give us a call to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your options. The hardest step in the process is the fi rst one, but together we can help you chart a new path to your fi nancial future.

Around Your Community > > >L O C A L F U N I D I N I N G I S H O P S I V A C A T I O N S P O T S

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Top 10 Pet Toxins and Tips for Keeping Your Pet Safe By Diane Mead1. Prescription Medications For PeopleAccording to the ASPCA, almost 25,000 calls in 2011 were about human prescription medications. Of these, heart and ADHD medications made up the largest percentage of the calls.

2. Insecticides11% of the calls to the APSCA were about insecticides. These include products used on our lawns, in our homes and on the pet.

3. Over the Counter Human MedicationsSome OTC meds can kill your pet. This includes ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Always consult your vet before you give any human medication to your pet. This includes “natural” herbs and medicines. What is fi ne for you may be toxic to your pet species.

4. Chocolate... is still the number one human food that pets eat. The ASPCA received over 7,600 calls in 2011 for chocolate.

5. Household ProductsSome pets will find just about anything around the house and yard. Pressed fire logs (with chemicals added for quick start burning), paint, plastic bags and cleaning products are just a few.

6. Veterinary MedicationsChewable meds make it so easy to give a pill to your dog or cat. However, this means that if given the chance your pet will eat all the yummy pills in the bottle!

7. Mouse and Rat PoisonsASPCA says never underestimate the resourcefulness of your pet when rodenticides are involved.

8. Plants, Indoor and OutdoorAbout 4% of the Poison Control Center’s calls from pet owners are about a plant that a pet has eaten. Cats lead the list of plant eaters. Look at the APSCA’s website www.aspca.org/home/pet-care/poison-control for toxic and non-toxic plants for dogs, cats and horses.

9. Lawn and Garden ProductAlmost 3,900 calls for L&G products

came in to the center in 2011. Store products

away from your pet, and when used

on the lawn or fl owerbeds,

keep

your pet away from the treated area. Read and understand all labels before use, and follow all instructions.

10. Automotive ProductsAnti-freeze, brake fl uid, windshield cleaners, and oils can still kill in fairly small quantities. A tablespoon of anti-freeze overfl ow on the garage fl oor can kill a cat. Clean up all automotive product spills promptly and thoroughly.

If you suspect your pet might have ingested something poisonous, contact your vet or emergency vet immediately. Or you can call the Animal Poison Control Center’s 24 hour Hotline at 888-426-4435. Be aware that there is a small fee for this service.


Top 10 Pet Toxins and Tips for Keeping Your Pet Safe By Diane Mead1. Prescription Medications For PeopleAccording to the ASPCA, almost 25,000 calls in 2011 were about human prescription medications. Of these, heart and ADHD medications made up the largest percentage of the calls.

2. Insecticides11% of the calls to the APSCA were about insecticides. These include products used on our lawns, in our homes and on the pet.

3. Over the Counter Human MedicationsSome OTC meds can kill your pet. This includes ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Always consult your vet before you give any human medication to your pet. This includes “natural” herbs and medicines. What is fi ne for you may be toxic to your pet species.

4. Chocolate... is still the number one human food that pets eat. The ASPCA received over 7,600 calls in 2011 for chocolate.

5. Household ProductsSome pets will find just about anything around the house and yard. Pressed fire logs (with chemicals added for quick start burning), paint, plastic bags and cleaning products are just a few.

6. Veterinary MedicationsChewable meds make it so easy to give a pill to your dog or cat. However, this means that if given the chance your pet will eat all the yummy pills in the bottle!

7. Mouse and Rat PoisonsASPCA says never underestimate the resourcefulness of your pet when rodenticides are involved.

8. Plants, Indoor and OutdoorAbout 4% of the Poison Control Center’s calls from pet owners are about a plant that a pet has eaten. Cats lead the list of plant eaters. Look at the APSCA’s website www.aspca.org/home/pet-care/poison-control for toxic and non-toxic plants for dogs, cats and horses.

9. Lawn and Garden ProductAlmost 3,900 calls for L&G products

came in to the center in 2011. Store products

away from your pet, and when used

on the lawn or fl owerbeds,

keep

your pet away from the treated area. Read and understand all labels before use, and follow all instructions.

10. Automotive ProductsAnti-freeze, brake fl uid, windshield cleaners, and oils can still kill in fairly small quantities. A tablespoon of anti-freeze overfl ow on the garage fl oor can kill a cat. Clean up all automotive product spills promptly and thoroughly.

If you suspect your pet might have ingested something poisonous, contact your vet or emergency vet immediately. Or you can call the Animal Poison Control Center’s 24 hour Hotline at 888-426-4435. Be aware that there is a small fee for this service.




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Lake Oswego Community Advantage Guide