Energy Efficient Home Sales

Many people who say their are environmentally sensitive, will settle for less efficiency in a home, if say, they love the kitchen and baths, and/or if the efficiently hits their pocketbook.

Of course newer homes are being built with many energy efficient appliances and amenities built in. And the costs are hidden in the selling price. But you are paying for them one way or another.

Why Owning Your Own Home Is Wise

1. Your interest payments, property taxes and many of the initial closing costs are tax deductable.
2. Real estate does grow in value, meaning you build equity in the property.
3. Your monthly payments are predicable. Although your property and insurance can rise.
4. The freedom to make any change you desire in the home décor or landscaping.

Choosing An Experienced Vancouver Realtor

Here are five mistakes first time home buyer often make:

• Choosing an inexperienced Realtor. Be sure you choose an experienced Vancouver Realtor
• Lack of funds
• Not asking enough or the right questions
• Procrastination on the offer
• Taking resale value into consideration

Make a Home Look More Expensive

When you are getting ready to sell your home, there are many things that have to be done so the house is in excellent condition when potential buyers come to look at it.

Home staging is very important and whether you do it, or hire a professional to do it, certain things should be done to make the home look and have a feeling of being in fashion and up to date. This brings up the age old problem of having to re-do the home and possibly having to go buy new pieces of furniture, or accessories.

Unfortunately, there is not just one place to find home staging supplies, so being creative is important, not only in what you use, but what you buy, and then how you use it.  You can get some ideas from your close friends.

Here are five ways to make your home’s interior look more expensive, and in fashion, but not at the cost of your bottom line:

1.  Use one expensive piece of furniture, or other item, in each room, well positioned.  It can be a piece of art, a table or something rare and expensive like valued china. The expensive piece(s) should be the focus of attention as soon as someone walks into that room.   This is what they see first. First impressions!

2.  Use white. It has always, and will always be a staple that professional home stagers use. It radiates of light, cleanliness, and open space. Try using inexpensive white pieces on an expensive table or other piece.

3.  Look at what can be recycled. Try recovering a favorite chair or sofa.  Much of the furniture of past years had great design and great lines and sometimes are worth recovering and restoring them back to life.

4.  Rotate your theme colors, and do it in each room if possible. Every new season, the design world changes the “what’s-in” color.  A good way to make your home look in-style, is to have that in-style color. Visit some ‘in’ stores in your area, and see what they are doing with different colors, how they are using them, and which is the most popular.  You will get lots of good ideas.

5.  Don’t buy new furniture or accessories at the beginning of any new season.

Home Maintenance Saves Dollars

Preventative home maintenance is not something that most homeowners like to do, or look forward to doing.  Many residents face cleaning and repairs with the same drudgery as paying bills the first of each month. Most homeowners don’t understand that a few simple upgrades and a little preventative maintenance can keep money in your pocket where it belongs. If a homeowner is planning to sell their home anytime in the near future, it’s wise to get ‘on top’ of all of the little things that need to be done around the house, over and above just cleaning.  Keep in mind that many prepares have to be determined by a professional and also many repairs need to be fixed by a professional, but many can be taken care of very simply by just being aware of the possible existence of a problem, then taking some action.

The following are some suggested areas to look into and take care of on a regular basis, whether you are going to sell you home, or stay in it for awhile: 

Plumbing Problems:
Plumbing type problems are probably the biggest headaches of all and there will be plumbing problems in all homes, old and new, and they need to be taken care of right away as they can cause damage to the home, and to the structure itself.
Check toilet valves to be sure it is not leaking, also check the flapper.  Fix any leaks in faucets in kitchen and bathrooms, and do not forget the outside valves and faucets, including the sprinkler systems. Check the laundry area also.

Heating and Cooling:
Change your thermostat from a manual to the new programmable electric type, and turn it back 2-3 degrees. Check HVAC filters and change once a year. Check HVAC belts, tighten or replace and clean ducts every couple of years by a professional.  Same is true for window type air conditioning units.
Ceiling Fans: Blades should turn counterclockwise for cool air (summer), and clockwise for winter to distribute warm air from heating units. Clean the blades regularly for optimal efficiency.

Electrical:
Make sure all light switches are in proper order and the covers are secure, same with electrical plugs in every room. Don’t have extension cords running all over the house, they can be a safety hazard and cause fires. Use the correct extension cord wire size for the appliances plugged into the cords.
Light Bulbs: Replace old incandescent bulbs with new energy-efficient Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs.

Structural/Floors/Doors/Windows:
Try to install insulated type drapes where ever possible, they are great insulators and can cut down on heating and air conditioning costs.

Pest Control: Schedule an inspection for termites, spiders, and anything else that crawls in attics, basements, or behind walls.

Make sure that all doors and windows are tight and have weather stripping. Replace any cracked windows right away. Check floors regularly for mildew, or cracking. Check the house foundations to be sure there is no structural damage like cracking or crumbling.

Concrete:
Fix any obvious cracks in the sidewalks and driveways. Don’t forget to check the garage and clean up grease and oil droppings regularly. Check around porches for cracks and any water damage.

Trees and Plants:
Keep trees and shrubs trimmed and neat on a regular basis.  Make sure tree roots are not expanding under the house footings, or under the garage concrete, or any walkways. Keep shrubs and trees a couple of feet away from the house walls, so you can trim behind them and it keeps the branches from rubbing against the house when the wind blows.
 
Appliances:
*Clean the coils once a year on the Refrigerator, check seals around the door.
*Washers, Dryers, Stoves, Dishwashers: Clean vents, exhaust fans, lint traps, and any place where debris or sediment deposits can build up and cause an appliance to work harder.
*If any appliances need replacing, purchase energy efficient models to save more money.
 
Bathrooms: 
Take care of mildew on a regular weekly basis. Fix leaky faucets and drains that may be leaking water out of the basin or tub. Chalk around the toilet and tub and baseboards to be sure air is not leaking from under the house and also to keep insects, ants, etc., from coming in.

Septic Systems:
Use a septic treatment regularly to reduce the rate of sludge buildup. Avoid pouring bleach and anti-bacterial soaps down the drain, as these can destroy beneficial bacteria in the system. Have the unit maintained by a professional service to prevent costly backup and overflow.
   
Good preventive maintenance will save a homeowner many dollars over the years.

You have much money invested in your home, so keeping it up and in good shape is cheaper in the long run. Simple things like using a ceiling fan to cool, and even to distribute the heat in winter can save many dollars in utility costs.

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