idahohousing.comHave a wonderful, safe summer.

According to a recent survey from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), more than half of Americans dont have a home inventory of their possessions, putting them at risk for inadequate home insurance coverage.

Survey results show 59 percent of consumers have not made a list or inventory of their possessions. Of those individuals with a home inventory, 48 percent do not have receipts; 27 percent do not have photos of their property; and 28 percent do not have a back-up copy of the inventory outside the home.

Additionally, 59 percent of people with inventories have not updated their inventories in

more than a year, meaning new purchases and gifts may not be covered.

If you havent yet made a home inventory, making one is simple.

Your list should include everything from furniture and appliances to stamps in your office.

Anything that has value. Provide as much detail as possible, including serial numbers on electronics, and include as many items as you can. All of your personal property, regardless of how small the item, has a value.

If possible, take pictures or video inside each room before you begin your inventory so you have documentation of the quality, size, and appearance of your items. Dont forget to include the inside of cabinets, closets, and drawers. When completing your list, include item replacement values plus applicable state sales tax, storage fees, and delivery charges. Its a good idea to supplement your completed inventory with digital photos on a flash drive, or printed photographs.

Dont let your home inventory become part of a property loss. Whichever inventory method you choose, its important to keep a copy in a bank safe deposit box or other secure location away from your home.

Information for Idaho Housing Homeowners Summer 2015

Personal Property Inventory

HomeSenseOutdoor Activities

Summer is a glorious time. The sun is out, the weather is great, and the call of the outdoors is in the air. Every year, thousands of people visit state parks

and national landmarks to soak in the natural beauty that makes up the Gem State. Here are a few ideas to plan a perfect getaway close to home.

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve Located on the Snake River Plain in south central Idaho, is one of the best-preserved flood basalt areas in the continental United States. The National Park Service calls it a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush.

Established in 1924 and one of just two national monuments in Idaho, Craters of the Moon is roughly the size of Rhode Island. President Calvin Coolidge called it a weird and scenic landscape where yesterdays volcanic events are likely to continue tomorrow. For more information call the park at (208) 527-1335 or visit them online at nps.gov/crmo.

Sawtooth National Forest Created in 1905 by President Theodore Roosevelt, this 2.1 million acre forest is situated in south central Idaho and extends into northern Utah. It offers a plethora of activities for the outdoor enthusiast in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, which encompasses the Boise, Challis and Sawtooth Forests. For more information call the forest offices in Twin Falls at (208) 737-3200 or visit them on the web at fs.usda.gov/main/sawtooth/home.

Bruneau Dunes State Park Bruneau Dunes State Park located outside of Mountain Home, is just 64 miles south of Boise. Standing at 470 feet, the park is home to the largest sand dune in North America. Be sure to visit the Bruneau Dunes State Park Observatory. Star gaze Friday and Saturday evenings through mid-October. For more information call (208) 366-7919 or visit parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/ bruneau-dunes.

Disaster can strike at anytime. Fire, robbery, severe weather, or a myriad of other possibilities can leave you and your family vulnerable to property loss. Dont let accidents or circumstance threaten your household and the priceless possessions held within.

Win $100 By Making Your Mortgage Payments OnlinePaying your Idaho Housing mortgage online will save you money on postage and the time it takes to write a check. If you make your payment online and on-time for three consecutive months, youll automatically be entered into a drawing to receive a $100 gift card to a home improvement store near you as a winner of Idaho Housings online payment

contest. Recent winner, Stephanie from Idaho Falls, has always made her mortgage payments online because it saves her time and money. She was excited to learn about winning a $100 gift card. Ive wanted to repaint the living room for awhile, and now I can, Stephanie said.

Stephanie and her children, Idaho Falls

This summer, Idaho will celebrate its quasquicentennial. Idaho became the 43rd state admitted into the Union when President Benjamin Harrison signed an Act of Congress 125 years ago on July 3, 1890. In his State of the Union Address in December of 1890, President Harrison offered his thoughts on Idahos entry. The admission of the States of Wyoming and Idaho to the Union are events full of interest and congratulation, not only to the people of those States now happily endowed with a full participation in our privileges and responsibilities, but to all our people. Another belt of States stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific. For more information on the history of the Gem State, go online to visitidaho.org/facts-about-idaho/.

GemSense

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QuickTip 125th Anniversary of Idaho Statehood

To view past HomeSense newsletter issues, please visit the newsroom at idahohousing.com. To order additional copies or to offer comments, please contact the IHFA Marketing and Communications Department at 208.331.4858 or marcomm@ihfa.org. For questions about your home loan, contact Mortgage Services at 800.526.7145.

Published three times a year by Idaho Housing and Finance Association

HomeSense

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IHFA does not maintain, endorse, or control any of the third-party websites in this publication or warrant the accuracy, reliability, or currency of the information found on them.

Smart Apps for Your PhoneIf youre looking to do interior design, check out the Houzz Interior Design Ideas app. Houzz has more than 5,000,000 photos. Browse by style, room, and location and save them to your virtual ideabook. Join the discussion and get the community to help with your design dilemmas. CNN calls Houzz the Wikipedia of interior and exterior design.

Paint Tester lets you test those designs without having to ever put paint to brush. This handy app shows you the results without painting. Try out colors from the palette or take a photo of a color youd like to try and apply it to pictures of your home. It easy to change the wall color in a picture in a matter of seconds.

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Credit: Pach Brothers Photography, Adam Cuerden (photo restoration)

President Benjamin Harrison

SafetySense: FireworksOne of the most cherished and popular holidays of the year is Independence Day. In addition to summer fun, baseball, hot dogs, and ice cream, the 4th of July also means fireworks. But the

celebration can turn into an injury if you and your family are not careful.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 200 people per day go to the emergency room in the weeks leading up to and following the 4th due to fireworks related injuries. Interestingly, a third of all fireworks injuries are caused by sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degreeshot enough to melt some metals.

To help make this summers 4th of July holiday a safe one for everyone, here are a few fireworks safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Council on Fireworks Safety.

An adult should supervise all firework activities. Never give fireworks to children.

Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks. Light one firework at a time and then quickly

move away. Use fireworks outdoors in a clear area; away from

buildings and vehicles. Never relight a dud firework. Wait 20 minutes

and then soak it in a bucket of water. Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down

and place in a metal trash can away from any

building or combustible materials until the next day. Never point or throw fireworks at another person. Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in

case of fire or other mishap. Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them

off in metal or glass containers. After fireworks complete their burning, douse the

spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding it to prevent a trash fire.

Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

For more information and helpful safety tips visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission at cpsc.gov or the National Council on Fireworks Safety at fireworkssafety.org.