Many calls coming in to the Better Business Bureau have something to do with houses. Callers are checking on remodelers, or financing and mortgage-rescue offers. Those only scratch the surface of the questions coming our way.

The latest item on our radar screen is the house trade-in offer. Just like trading in a car, it's possible to trade a house.

The trade-in push is a creative response to the approximately 7,500 houses for sale in Ada and Canyon counties. On average, it is taking 70 to 80 days to sell one of those houses. Nationwide, builders face a wait of 8.4 months to sell a completed home, the longest delay in selling time in the U.S. in the past 25 years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Not only are builders feeling the squeeze of the housing market, but owners looking to sell their houses continue to have a difficult time finding qualified buyers. According to the National Association of Realtors, in August there were 3.9 million unsold existing single-family homes on the market in the U.S., the most since 1982.

House trading can be beneficial for both the homeowner and the home builder, but because a house is such a considerable investment, anyone looking to take advantage of such a deal needs to be fully aware of the pitfalls.

GO WITH A REPUTABLE BUILDER

As with any business, you should check out builders with the BBB. BBB Reliability Reports are available free of charge at www.bbb.org.

EVALUATE THE MARKET

Take a close look at current and projected market conditions for the areas surrounding your existing and new home to determine if you're getting a good deal now and one that will remain a good deal for years to come. This means researching home prices, tax rates, schools, transportation and future building and community growth plans. There are many resources that can help homeowners in this process, including city and county Web sites, local Realtors' sites, local newspaper archives and courthouse records.

KNOW THE DEAL ON FINANCING

Consider the full cost of the new house (including added fees and interest) to avoid being taken in by what appears to be a low price. Also, while builders can't require that a buyer use a specific agent or lender to buy a house, they can require that the buyer use a specific agent or lender in order to receive the incentives associated with the trade-in. Using a builder's preferred lender means the buyer might not be able to negotiate as good a deal or financing rate as if he or she had gone through someone else.

CONTRACT CONCERNS

A lot of money is on the line. A BBB Accredited Realtor, real estate attorney and housing counselor can help. Most of all, if you choose to trade, don't be rushed. Take your time and be careful.

Dale Dixon is president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau, a not-for-profit organization serving Southwest Idaho and eastern Oregon. Reach him at 342-4649 or ddixon@boise.bbb.org.