Improve or move?

HOMEOWNERS DEAL WITH GROWING as this could be the major factor Getting advice
pains in two ways: home improve- in your decision to improve Local Realtors can provide a
ment or moving to a different or move. free market analysis that will show
home. The decision about which Consider commute distances you how your home measures up
choice is right hinges on several to work or school for all family in your market. You might also
factors affecting your home as a members. Are friends or family liv- consider the advice of a home
long-term investment. ing close by? Is the neighborhood inspector in weighing your pro-
^{Remodeling safe and free of crime? How is ject options. Another resource is} the school district? Are property the annual Cost vs. Value report
^{Is your home a good candi-} values appreciating? How are the published by the National
date for remodeling or expansion? _{property taxes? Association of Realtors which}
^{If you’re looking to add space, ranks improvements by return} that means expanding either What’s the project? on investment ( www.realtor.org).
out or up. To expand outward, If it looks good to stay and im- _{Through Costco, Lending-}
there needs to be a big enough prove your house, next consider _{Tree provides three value-added}
lot to allow that. Upward expan- what to improve. Some projects _{services that will benefit the re-}
sion means creating a new floor have a better return on invest- _{modeler or mover. Home-equity}
or level, with a different set of ment when you eventually go to _{financing through Lending Tree}
structural requirements. sell your home. Kitchen upgrades _{is a very popular method for}
With each of those options, and the addition of a bathroom _{financing those remodeling or}
you need to be aware of any limi- are generally favorable improve- _{expansion jobs. Or if you choose}
tations that your homeowner ments that allow recouping of _{to move, Lending Tree can help}
association or community might expenses at selling time. _{you find a real estate agent or}
place on construction. But too much remodeling can _{secure a new mortgage. For more
The neighborhood} have a negative effect. You don’t _{information about the Lending- want to make your home worth If the house checks out as Tree programs, visit costco.com twice as much as the other homes a good remodeling candidate, and click on} “_Services,” _{or call in the neighborhood. next scrutinize the location 1-800-237-3806.}

SERVICE UPDATE Driving the best deal

BUYING A USED CAR APPEARS
to be very popular in May when
purchases soar, according to a
three-year study conducted by
CNW Marketing Research. Could
it be all those tax-refund checks
hitting mailboxes? Or maybe it’s
just the great spring weather
and the call of the open road.
Whatever the reason, if
you’re planning to buy a used
or new car this month or any
month, do what auto-industry
experts recommend: First
research and shop for an auto
loan. Walking into a dealership
with your financing already ar-
ranged gives you an upper hand
in negotiating the best deal.
Capital One Auto Finance^®,
Costco’s online auto-loan service,
makes the process even easier

with their Blank Check^®, which

Don’t forget to use your Reward on your next trip to Costco.

^{PRACTICAL TIP} can be used just like a personal Web design tip: Web forms check. The application process is MAKE CUSTOMER COMMUNICATIONS for a complete business communi- ^{fast and secure, and replies are} efficient by replacing general cation are designed into the ^{often as quick as 15 minutes dur-} e-mail links with a Web form form itself as different fields that ^{ing business hours.}* designed to capture very specific the customer must fill out. ^{Approved Costco members} information. You can design Web forms for ^{receive an exclusive discounted} _{In this example from Value Web,} rate. To apply, go to costco.com, all the pertinent details necessary ^{click on} “^Services,” ^{then click on} “Auto Financing & Refinancing.”

All vehicle loans are provided by Capital One Auto Finance and are subject to credit approval.

^{your site with easy-to-use down-} *Business hours: Monday through Friday, 5 a. m. to _{loadable software provided by} 5: 30 p.m., and Saturday, 7 a. m. to 12 noon, PST. Value Web as part of its Web-host-ing service. For more information, visit costco.com, click on

”Services,“ then click on ”Web Site Hosting & Design Tools,“ or call 1-800-346-1543.