LifeandHomes Capital Region NY September 2025

We Love Local

In a competitive housing market, local real estate expertise gives buyers and sellers a significant advantage. A trusted local agent offers more than property listings - they provide knowledge of neighborhood trends, school districts, future developments, and community dynamics. This helps buyers find homes that fit their lifestyle and allows sellers to market effectively to the right audience.

Local agents' insight into pricing and buyer demand ensures homes are accurately valued and attract serious interest, leading to faster, more confident transactions.

Another key benefit is access to a strong professional network. Experienced agents have longstanding relationships with inspectors, contractors, appraisers, and other local experts, helping streamline the process and reduce delays. Their advice is based on living and working in the area, not just data. In our opinion, that's priceless.

Beyond transactions, a strong local agent helps strengthen neighborhoods. When matching buyers with the right homes, they contribute to community stability and satisfaction. Ultimately, great local agents do more than close deals. They can help you make informed decisions.

At LifeandHomes, we're blessed to help highlight the best local agents and businesses. We encourage you to help strengthen our communities by supporting our awesome local professionals and businesses.

www.facebook.com/pages/Lifeandhomes.CapitalRegion

Does Your Dog Bite?

U.S. insurers paid out $1.57 billion in dog-related injury claims in 2024, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and State Farm.

In addition to the potential for physical or emotional harm, dog bites can be financially costly. Janet Ruiz, director of strategic communications at Triple-I, reported the average cost per claim increased from $58,545 in 2023 to $69,272 in 2024.

“Almost all dog bites are preventable and prevention begins with education,” said Dr. Sandra Faeh, president of the AVMA. Dogs can bite for many reasons, including improper care or a lack of socialization. All dogs, even welltrained, gentle dogs, are capable of biting when provoked, especially when eating, sleeping or caring for puppies. Therefore, it’s vitally important to keep both children and dogs safe by preventing dog bites wherever possible. The National Dog Bite Prevention Week Coalition provides the following tips:

Don’t ever leave children unsupervised- With dogs, even family pets. More than 50% of all dog-related injuries are to children, and for kids that are under 4 years of age, often those bites are to the head and neck region.

Make sure your pet is healthy- Not all illnesses and injuries are obvious, and dogs are more likely to bite if they are sick or in pain. If you haven’t been to the veterinarian in a while, schedule an appointment for a checkup to discuss your dog’s physical and behavioral health.

Socialization - Take it slow. If your dog has been mainly interacting with your family since you brought them home, don’t rush out into crowded areas or dog parks. Try to expose your dogs to new situations slowly and for short periods of time, arrange for low-stress interactions, and give plenty of praise and rewards for good behavior.

Educate yourself- In positive training techniques and devote time to interact with your dog.

Be responsible- About approaching other people’s pets. Ask permission from the owner before approaching a dog and look for signs that the dog wants to interact with you. Sometimes dogs want to be left alone, and we need to recognize and respect that.

Make sure- That you always walk your dog on a leash and recognize changes in your dog’s body language where they may not be comfortable. Always monitor your dog’s activity, even when they are in the backyard at your own house, because they can be startled by something, get out of the yard and possibly injure someone or be injured themselves.

“We can help prevent dog bites by understanding what dogs need in order to thrive,” said Victoria Stilwell, celebrity dog trainer and behavior expert. “Having a basic understanding of dog body language and teaching dogs how to cope and live successfully in a human world can help dogs and humans communicate more effectively with each other. This is best done using positive training methods that center on building a dog’s confidence while avoiding methods and equipment that cause pain or intimidate dogs into complying. How you teach a dog really does does matter.” iii.org/press-release

How CostsBuilding Affect Your home Insurance

Insurance companies calculate what it cost to rebuild your home at today’s prices to figure out how much insurance you need. When building material prices go up, it costs more to rebuild your home.

Why is my insured value different than my appraisal? Your property’s appraised value includes the cost of your land and factors in how much homes are selling for in your neighborhood.

The insured value is the cost to rebuild or replace your home.

Do I have to increase my policy limits? Some insurance companies require you to insure at least 80% of the cost to rebuild your home. If you have a home loan, your mortgage company will probably require you to have enough insurance to pay off your loan in case of a disaster.

If you have the option to insure your property for a lower value, think about how you’d pay the difference if your home was destroyed or damaged. Most insurers will pay claim payments based on the amount of coverage you have.

For example, if the cost to rebuild your home is $200,000, but you only insured it up to $120,000 (60% of the replacement cost) then your insurance company might only pay up to 60% of the repair cost, minus your deductible.

How can I lower my costs? You could consider increasing your deductible. This will lower your premium payment. When deciding what deductible is right for you, think about how much you can afford to pay if your property is damaged. tdi.texas.gov Equal Housing Lender.

And Now You Know

Your garbage disposal plays an important role in your kitchen but it isn't a catchall. Many foods can damage a garbage disposal and clog your drains so be especially mindful when preparing food for summer parties and cookouts. Avoid putting artichokes, asparagus, avocado pits, bones, carrots, celery, corn husks, egg shells, grease, lettuce, onion skins, and potato peels in your disposal. In addition, pasta, rice, and other foods that expand with water can quickly clog a home’s pipes. Don’t use hot water when grinding food waste, advise the experts. Instead, turn the water on to drain the disposal in between grinding periods. And here's one for you die-hard coffee lovers. Coffee grounds should never be put into your disposal. While they appear to process, they actually tend to pile up and cause a sedimentlike mess in your drain. -And now you know.

Prepare Before a Disaster or Emergency Strikes

After a disaster, your priority is your own safety. Organizations in your community can provide help and services.

Expect help from the companies you use:

As you recover from a disaster or emergency, you should contact your lenders and companies where you have accounts and ask for help. You might ask for:

•Forbearance or adjusted repayment schedules on your loans or debts, along with clear explanations of the help or consideration the lender can offer you

•Facts about how your credit is affected by a forbearance or reduced mortgage payment—for example, the company that handles your mortgage payments can apply a special disaster code on your credit report that explains the situation

•A way to refinance your existing debts, or new loans with terms that are more realistic for you

•Flexibility on paperwork required for loans or payment assistance, if you cannot locate or access documents because of the event

•Reduced or waived fees and charges, like overdraft fees, ATM fees, or late fees

•Increases in the amount you are allowed to withdraw in cash from an ATM

Sometimes a disaster or other event means you need to leave your home, or your telephone or internet service could be interrupted. Set up a forwarding address for your mail and update your contact information, to make sure you receive checks you are expecting, messages about your bills and loans, and other important documents before problems arise.

Deal with property damage:

Emergency financial assistance could help pay for repairs to your home, car, or other property. Local assistance programs may be able to help you meet immediate relief needs. In a presidentially declared disaster area, federal resources could be available.

Vehicle damage, payments, and insurance:

When you discover damage to your vehicle, clarify with your insurance company and with your auto lender what type of insurance policy you have, what losses the insurance covers, and what you could owe.

Your insurance company compares the cost of repairs to the value of the car, and if the repairs are more expensive, the company can declare the vehicle a total loss and pay you the fair market value of the vehicle on the date of the damage. Then, compare the amount you owe on your auto loan to the insurance paid on your totaled car—you might owe the difference to the

lender. If you’ve purchased a guaranteed asset protection (GAP) product, you should check to see if it covers the difference.

Renter’s insurance:

Renter’s insurance covers your belongings if they are damaged inside a home you rent. Your landlord is not responsible for damage to your personal property inside the housing unit. Review your policy to make sure you understand what property is covered and whether you can file a claim for the situation you are in. Sometimes renter’s insurance covers the cost of living somewhere else if you can’t live in your home. Check your policy to see if it includes this option.

Manage your bills:

As you talk with companies about the issues below, be sure to write down who you talked to and when.

Utility bills:

If you had to leave your home or if your utilities and services are not working, companies might have a hard time reaching you. They could send overdue bills and debts to a collection agency. Set up a forwarding address and update your information, so they can contact you before problems arise.

Credit cards and other bills:

Review your income and savings and determine how much money you have available to pay bills and debts. If you can’t make your credit card payments, contact the company to see if they can offer more affordable repayment options.

For student loans, including Direct Loans from the federal Department of Education, many lenders can provide disaster forbearance. Contact your loan servicer.

Your lenders might be willing to work with you, but be proactive to avoid extra expenses, fees, and actions that could negatively impact your credit score. Ask the companies to note a disaster code in your credit file, so that future lenders understand your situation.

Automatic payments:

After a disaster, electrical blackouts and flooding can make it hard to send payments on time or to stop automatic payments. This can lead to overdraft fees. Contact your bank, financial institution, or lenders quickly if you need to stop automatic payments or if you

will miss a payment because of the disaster. Explain the situation and ask for a waiver of any late fees.

Keep an eye on your credit:

After a natural disaster or emergency, you may find yourself facing unexpected issues with your credit reports or scores.

You can get a free credit report from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies at least once every 12 months . Until the end of 2026, you can get an additional six free credit reports every 12 months from Equifax. This means that you have opportunities to request reports, monitor your credit, and ask for any errors to be corrected. You can request a copy of your credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com .

Scams increase during natural disaster recovery: While many people pull together during times of crisis, there is also an increased risk for scams and fraud. To avoid scams after a natural disaster or emergency, you need to ask questions to help you determine if something is too good to be true.

Red flags to watch out for:

People who want you to pay up-front fees to help you claim services, benefits, or get loans.

Contractors selling repairs door-to-door, especially when they ask to receive payment up front or offer deep discounts.

Con artists with fake credentials or uniforms, posing as government employees, insurance adjusters, law enforcement officials, or bank employees. Do not give out personal information to people you don’t know. Government employees do not charge to help you get a benefit or service and do not ask for payment or financial information.

People pressuring you with limited-time offers, trying to get you to decide on the spot or to sign something without enough time to review it. Take your time reading and understanding anything presented to you. And ask a trusted friend, relative, or attorney before acting.

Sellers who can’t or won’t answer your questions are a sign you might want to look for someone else to do business with.

(consumerfinance.gov)

FRONT COVER FEATURED HOME

Feeling Stressed Trying To Sell Your

9+ Acre Log Home & Horse Ranch

There is a convenient laundry area near the first floor bedrooms, and the open staircase leads to an oversized primary bedroom with an ensuite bath! If a fourth bedroom is needed, there is extra space in the walkout basement that also includes a family room and a workshop.

Jut as the residence is made for the comfort of people, the barn is constructed to pamper your horses. This 60x60 foot newly constructed building includes eight custom stalls, two of which are super stalls, made to accommodate two horses. There is a huge tack room and plenty of space for feed storage. Along side the barn are four partly sheltered paddocks that enter into a 200 x 120 foot riding ring. As a bonus, there is a 36 by 60 foot second floor on the barn for future expansion (classrooms or apartment maybe?)

Vehicle storage is provided by a one-stall under the house and a three-stall detached garage. The majority of the land is wooded and there are about two acres of meadow near the stable. A small stream provides year-round harmony.

Live the good life in this exceptional contemporary Log Home tucked away in a corner above the orchard on this nine and four-tenths-acre Horse Ranch!

Enjoy the view from the glass-walled living room with its cathedral ceiling and massive stone replace. Entertain in style from the adjoining kitchen/dining area with custom cabinets and built-in appliances. A wrap-around porch brings you outside for summer fun.

Call Bruce Ward today 315-796-4425 for your

Find Your Dream Home in the Southern Adirondacks

Whether you’re buying a cozy cabin by the lake or selling your mountain-view property, I bring unmatched local knowledge and professional expertise to the table.

As a specialist in Southern Adirondack real estate and a local resident, I’m here to ensure you get the best possible deal - every time. From negotiating to closing, I handle the details so you can focus on what matters next - your next chapter.

• Personalized Service

• Market Insight

• Trusted Results

Embrace o -grid tranquility with solar

the

a solar battery system, propane

and a backup generator. The solar system is meticulously

all-wood interior welcomes you with a cozy downstairs

Inside, a

and an inviting loft bedroom upstairs. Enjoy a fully equipped kitchen, comfortable dining area, and relaxing living room. Outside, a storage shed (with riding lawn mower included!), detached garage with workshop. Relax on the back deck, enjoy the picnic area, and explore nearby Black Creek State Forest and ATV/snowmobile trails. Complete with a private well, septic system, signal booster, Wi-Fi availability, and a wealth of extras, this surveyed property on a maintained road o ers unparalleled access to the beauty of the Adirondack Park. Don’t miss your chance to own this unique slice of paradise!

Escape to the Country: Your Dream Property Awaits! Imagine building your dream home on this stunning 41-acre parcel, nestled on a quiet country road just west of Rome, NY. This prime location o ers the perfect blend of rural tranquility and convenient access to amenities. Enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside while being just 5 minutes from the City of Rome and within the desirable Rome School District. Adventure awaits with Sylvan Beach and Oneida Lake only 15 minutes away! This cleared, readyto-build lot boasts power at the road frontage and the opportunity to acquire even more acreage. Trout shing enthusiasts will be thrilled by the 2300 feet of picturesque stream frontage along Canada Creek. Whether you envision a recreational haven for RVs and cabins or a secluded getaway, this property delivers. Discover a diverse landscape featuring tillable acreage, woods, level elds, and wetlands, all accessible via a farm road traversing the entire property. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to own a piece of paradise! More acreage is available.

Breathtaking valley views stretch across a perfect blend of woods and hay elds on this gorgeous lot. Partially tillable and teeming with wildlife, it’s an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. Explore established ATV trails, enjoy easy access to nearby snowmobile trails, and revel in the abundant big and small game hunting opportunities. Just a short distance from the Adirondack Park. The land boasts a beautiful mix of hardwoods, including cherry, birch, maple, and ash. While the road is seasonal and power is currently unavailable, imagine building your dream cabin or hunting retreat amidst this picturesque landscape! Potential pond site adds to the allure! Just a short distance from the Adirondack Park. Don’t miss your chance to own this slice of heaven. This land o ers the ultimate escape. Broker-owned.

Amish-Made Custom Cabinets

Affordable Luxury From Our Country Workshop To Your Kitchen

Love the look of custom cabinetry but disappointed with the options at local stores? Our Amish craftsmen offer quality, handcrafted cabinets at prices often lower than factorymade cabinets you’ll find at local big box stores.

Crafted in our family-owned workshop, each cabinet is custom-crafted with skill and expertise passed down through the generations.

From the initial design and layout discussions to the custom creation and installation phases, our expert craftsmen will

work with you to ensure your kitchen, bath, office or other specialty cabinet reflects your tastes, fits your budget, and exceeds your expectations.

With a variety of select wood types, cabinet styles, and finishes to choose from, each piece is designed to last a lifetime. Made to order, our cabinets not only promise superior quality but also showcase affordability at its finest.

Check out your options at the big box store then let us show you what we can offer!