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Get Up & Go: Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... Our View: Independent Party of Oregon faces obstacles ... City may aid homeless program ... Get Up & Go: Tuesday, Feb. 17 ... Our View: Independent Party of Oregon faces obstacles ... Home Help: DIY home upkeep projects for every season Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 16, 2015 @ 12:01 am Updated Feb 17, 2015 at 10:44 AM Posted Feb. 16, 2015 @ 12:01 am Updated Feb 17, 2015 at 10:44 AM » Social News Clarification: This week’s Home-Selling Tip covers getting your home listed in the MLS database for a flat fee. DIY home-sellers who want their homes listed in the MLS still need to work with a Realtor or other real estate broker to secure their flat-fee listing. TIP OF THE WEEK Homeowners can avoid emergency repairs by completing a few home projects each season. A simple project such as inspecting the plumbing annually can prevent the unexpected cost of repairing water damage from a pipe that burst. Chris Terrill, CEO of HomeAdvisor, offers maintenance tips to help homeowners save money: Spring • Plumbing: Every spring inspect all plumbing for leaks. Small problems, like leaky faucets and clogged drains can turn into big headaches if left unchecked. The average cost of hiring a plumber to repair pipes is $411; repairing water damage can cost seven times that amount. Summer • Paint: In the summer, touching up the home’s exterior not only boosts its curb appeal, but it also acts as a home’s defense against weather and other damage. If a homeowner neglects to complete this task, completely repainting the home’s exterior costs an average of $3,180. Fall • Gutter and downspouts: During the fall, clean the gutter and downspouts. The average cost of cleaning the gutter and downspout is $212. Ignoring this matter can affect the foundation of a home, which can cost an average of $4,607 to repair. Winter • Refrigerator: Vacuum the coils on the back of the fridge during the winter. Letting the coils build up with dirt and grime can decrease its efficiency, and can cost $317 to repair. — Family Features HOME-SELLING TIP List it: Planning on selling your house yourself? You don’t have to hire a real-estate agent to get your property listed on the MLS database anymore. For a flat fee of a couple hundred dollars, you can get your home onto the list and in front of hundreds of thousands of potential home-buyers. And you get to skip paying the 6 percent commission fee to a real-estate agent when your house sells. (You will, however, still have to pay a commission fee to your buyer’s agent.) — More Content Now DECORATING TIP Stains: Sometimes all a cabinet needs is a simple stain to allow the true beauty and character of the wood to shine through. Dark, medium and light tone stains each can create a completely different look depending on what they are paired with. Your style may call for a kitchen with all stained cabinets, or an island can be the perfect place for a stain to pop out against beautifully painted wall cabinets. — Family Features GARDEN GUIDE Storing your seeds: Seeds need to be stored properly in order to maintain viability, experts say. Store your seeds in a cool, dark place that is free from humidity until you’re ready to plant them. Want to test the viability of your seeds? Try soaking them in water for a few hours. Check back and see which ones float — floating is generally a sign that your seed has died. The ones at the bottom of the water are the ones that are living. — More Content Now MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 16, 2015 @ 12:01 am Updated Feb 17, 2015 at 10:44 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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