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Displaying blog entries 91-100 of 101

Here Are Some Inexpensive and Easy Ways To Lower Your Energy Costs

Friday, November 28, 2008
by lheraty
Since there are several easy ways to cut your home energy costs, what better time to start implementing them than right now? You may have already heard many of these tips repeated by experts, but they are tried and true and really do help you save.
  • Washer and Dryer Use: By simply by changing the temperature from hot to warm on your clothes washer you can halve your energy usage. And if you line dry just half of your clothing on an indoor drying rack, you can save up to $52 per year.
  • Replace your upright freezer for a chest freezer. Chest freezers consume up to 25% less energy because the cold air does not pour out each time you open the door. You can calculate what your current model versus a new one would save you at recyclemyoldfridge.com.
  • Change all of your bulbs from incandescent to compact fluorescent bulbs or light-emitting diodes. Incandescents only use 10% of their energy for light, the remaining 90% is turned to heat.
  • Make it possible to unplug devices when not in use. Many of these devices use power even in their stand-by mode. A simple way to do this is to plug your televisions, printers, iPods and cellphones into a power surge protector. By switching one button, you can even turn them all off at once. This small change could save you up to $100 per year.
  • By weather stripping drafty doors and caulking windows can save you up to 20% on heating and air conditioning costs.
  • Installing double-paned Low Emissivity windows can save you up to $450 per year in energy costs. See which windows are classified as Energy Star on energystar.gov.
  • Choose an Energy Star Appliance when the time comes to replace your home’s leading energy guzzlers. These include your refrigerator, clothes washer, clothes dryer and dishwasher. You will save up to $75 per year.
  • Wood Burning stoves can save you anywhere from 20% - 40% on your home heating bills.

If You Are Renovating Your Kitchen, Consider Laminate Flooring Over Hardwoods

Wednesday, November 26, 2008
by lheraty
When choosing flooring for your kitchen, you may find yourself second-guessing hardwood. Although the beauty of hardwood flooring is hard to deny, the eventual cost to maintain it may cancel out your desire for its natural beauty. Unfortunately, wood absorbs moisture which can cause cracking and warping over time. In a worst-case scenario it could even end up cupping or crowning in spots. Your only solutions to these problems are to either sand down the affected section and re-finish, or replace it entirely. kitchenshink.jpg (441660 bytes) Since the kitchen demands a flooring material that can withstand high foot traffic, stain-resistance and comfort, laminate flooring may be the perfect solution. There are a myriad of styles and colors available and it is moisture-resistant. Stains can be cleaned quite easily as well. This material is not only affordable, but is relatively simple to install. If you decide upon it, just allow the tiles to sit in their future home for a few days so that they can adjust to the atmosphere they will eventually be installed in. The individual tiles will expand and contract. When installing, don’t forget to leave a quarter of an inch between the wall and the flooring. A wet tile saw is perfect for cutting this material to size. As always, before installation make sure to fill in any holes or dings, and sand away any bumps on your sub-flooring. These things could affect the final result. For help with installation try viewing these DIY instructions.

Don’t Forget These Outdoor Maintenance Tips For Homeowners Living In Colder Parts Of The Country

Tuesday, November 25, 2008
by lheraty
Image Ref: 07-09-39 - Farmyard Gate in the snow, Viewed 389 times Homeowners should tackle some of these jobs very soon, if they have not done so already. Beating the snow with the following tips is a very good idea!
  • Clear away all items of clutter on the exterior of your home. Piles of firewood too close to the house can become a warm home for rodents.
  • Rake your lawn one last time and apply winterizing fertilizer. You still have about one week past Thanksgiving to do this. Running the mower over stray, left-over leaves is allright as it can create a nice mulch for your lawn. Winterizing fertilizer can even help break down those leaves to feed your lawn over winter.
  • Change any outdoor bulbs which are high enough that you need a ladder to change. Do you really want to be climbing up a ladder on a freezing cold, dark, possibly snowy night?
  • Consider applying weather-stripping to doors and applying window film to your drafty windows. This can increase your energy efficiency by a whopping 70%.
  • Prune any trees that require fall pruning.
  • Clear those gutters of all leaves.

Real Estate Websites Are Reporting High Traffic And Record Revenues

Tuesday, November 25, 2008
by lheraty
Stock Market Prices has been viewed 604321 times
Despite this current economic downturn, there are some real estate websites that are faring quite positively during this time. At the top of the pile is Trulia. Trulia, Inc. is a national residential real estate search site that was started in San Francisco in 2005. It was a venture capital-backed startup. According to Comscore, Trulia had 2.58 million visitors in the month of October, which unbelievably was one hundred percent higher than October of last year. Trulia’s officials report that their website receives five million hits per month.
Trulia’s revenue comes mostly from advertising and Realtor membership payments. Its co-founder and C.O.O. Sami Inkinen claims that their revenue is growing by double digits each month, and that they expect the company to become profitable by the first half of 2009. Two other Real Estate websites that are doing remarkably well are a real estate brokerage site named ZipRealty, and the national commercial Real Estate search site named LoopNet Inc.

Market Shifts Now Call For More Curb Appeal

Wednesday, November 19, 2008
by lheraty
Photo of fence with varying board heights.If you are putting your house on the market or own a rental property that is in need of a new tenant, get it to move more quickly with what experts say the market is currently calling for: more curb appeal.  In the past the two main things sellers focused on were making sure their kitchen was up to par and bathrooms were fresh.  Now they are finding that in this softened market, curb appeal is king. Insider tips suggest getting in tune with these new market changes and making sure your property is ready when it is shown to prospective buyers.  This could be the only shot you have to make a good impression. If you are having trouble deciding what changes need to be made, take photos of your property. Certain problems become more “visible” when seen on film and obvious much-needed improvements become more conspicuous. An average of $3,000 is what a National Association of Realtors survey found was needed to make homes look cleaner, fresher and more modern. Decluttering was high on the list of priorities as well. Make that first impression be the best it can be since today’s home buyers are jumping much more quickly on homes that appear to be updated and fresh.

What Comes Next If You Need Help But Do Not Qualify For A Loan Modification?

Friday, November 14, 2008
by lheraty
sunbeam Even though the Federal Housing Finance Agency has come up with a plan to help millions of homeowners from losing their homes to foreclosure by working out new payment terms, there are still many people out there who will simply not qualify for this assistance. If you are finding yourself in this predicament, there are some things you can do to improve your situation. The first thing that you can do is call a good credit counseling agency. They will have expert advice on options other than foreclosure. Two excellent sources of information are the Department of Housing and Urban Development , which can put you into contact with low-cost or free counselors, and the non-profit National Foundation for Credit Counseling which can help you find members near to you. You may also want to give your lender a call to try and work out a payment arrangement that works better for you. To raise cash, you might want to consider renting out a room in your home if it is legal in your area, or you might ask relatives for financial help, or even find a second job. If necessary you might consider a short sale, which is when a lender will accept less than what is due on the loan. In this instance you will avoid foreclosure, but you risk the possibility of having to pay taxes on the short. Another option is to transfer your title in exchange for the cancellation of your debt, otherwise known as a “deed in lieu of foreclosure”. You will lose your equity, but you will not damage your credit. Lastly, you might consider bankruptcy. This will stain your credit for a decade, but you may be able to work out a deal with your lender that enables you to keep your home. Contact the Department of Justice for more information on bankruptcy.

If You’ve Ever Considered Purchasing A Foreclosed Home, Here Are Some Tips On How To Begin

Tuesday, November 11, 2008
by lheraty
classic house with flower garden In today’s market if you have a good credit score or have lots of cash available to you, you may be considering purchasing a foreclosed home. This can be a very good opportunity to make some money, but if you have ever tried to get information on a specific foreclosure you have probably found that the process is not so easy. Most real estate agents do not have the knowledge to complete this kind of sale and lenders give little, if any, information on these properties. What this boils down to is that you will have to do most of the research on your own. Make the process easier on yourself by choosing one neighborhood and sticking to it. Research the neighborhood’s property values and make sure there are not too many foreclosures there. Make sure that there is potential for job growth down the line in this particular neighborhood. Drive the neighborhood and focus on finding a home that may need some work. Another way to learn about the property you are interested in is to go to the local assessor’s office. They will be able to tell you the property owner’s name, the home’s tax information, it’s assessed value, it’s square footage and even what the current owner paid for the home. Once you know what the seller wants, you are one step closer to being able to negotiate a deal. If at all possible, try to find an agent that has some qualifications with this type of transaction. They will undoubtedly make the whole process easier for you and the seller, as they will better understand the complexities of this kind of transaction.

If You Are About To List Your Home, Here Are Some Very Important Tips For Your Open House

Friday, October 24, 2008
by lheraty
Ornate Front Doors of House Photo (42-18513411) Even in this day and age of marketing your home on the Internet, Open Houses are still a must in the current market. There are many ways to make your Open House a success. For starters, you have to be diligent about getting news of your open house out ahead of time. Your Real Estate Agent will do this through inter-office e-mail and the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). In addition to this, the general public must be informed not only through websites such as Zillow and Trulia, but through your agent/broker’s website, ads on Craiglist, ads in local papers and notices posted at your local market. Listing flyers reach people, but you will get most of your traffic through Internet Marketing, as its mapping and directions help people find your home. Do not underestimate how important it is that you make it easy for prospective buyers to find your home. Pre- Open House marketing that includes excellent signage, maps and directions are extremely important for the success of your Open House. If buyers have trouble finding you, they may not come at all. Make the most of your Open House, as this is the only opportunity for prospective buyers to view listed properties at their convenience, on their own time. In turn, you will also have the wonderful opportunity to receive feedback from your Agent on ways to improve your listing, which can only improve your home in print and on the Internet!

Have You Ever Pondered What The Average Life Expectancy Is For Your Appliances and Other Home Systems?

Tuesday, October 21, 2008
by lheraty
Man Holding Small House in Hands Many first-time homebuyers are so excited to realize their dreams of home ownership, that they often overlook the many small details of owning their home. These details can at times be costly, especially if you have not familiarized yourself with all of the things in your home that will need replacing at some point. The following is an estimated guide of how many years each appliance or home system will perform for you in your home.
  • Roofs
Selvage or Asphalt Roll last 12 to 20 years, Wood Shake and Shingle last 15 to 20 years, Asphalt lasts 15 to 20 years, Fiberglass lasts 15 to 20 years, Asbestos Shingle lasts 30 to 50 years and Slate lasts an amazing 40 to 75 years.
  • Plumbing
Gas Hot Water Heaters last 8 to 12 years, Electric Hot Water Heaters last 10 to 15 years, Private disposal systems such as Septic Tanks last from 15 to 25 years and Galvanized Water Pipes last 30 to 50 years.
  • Heating and Air Conditioning
Warm Air Furnaces last 8 to 12 years, Heat Pumps last 8 to 12 years, Air Conditioning Compressors last 8 to 15 years, Gas Chillers last 8 to 15 years and Hot Water Boilers last 30 to 50 years.
  • Gutters and Downspouts
Galvanized Gutters and Downspouts last 15 to 20 years, while Copper Gutters and Downspouts will last a lifetime, provided that the home is well-maintained.
  • Appliances
Dishwashers can last anywhere from 5 to 12 years, Disposals last 5 to 12 years, Washers and Dryers last 8 to 12 years, Water Heaters last 8 to 12 years, Refrigerators last between 15 to 20 years and finally, Stoves can last anywhere from between 15 to 20 years. For more information about Home Ownership Information see The Old House Web

Solar Powered Systems Are a Viable Money-Saving Option

Saturday, October 18, 2008
by lheraty
Home Buyers: If you are interested in saving money on your energy bills please know that there are homebuilders out there that are making solar power a viable option for you. For example, Victoria Gardens by Shea Homes has begun including solar power systems as an optional feature on their Shea Green Certified Homes. Their pledge to achieve superior environmental performance as well as reducing the cost of home ownership is about to become a reality.  Each 3-kilowatt solar power system will lower the homeowner’s electric bills by up to sixty percent, and can result in a carbon footprint reduction of up to forty-eight percent.  Not only is this a wonderful savings for the homeowner but also allows them to remain energy independent when electricity rates increase.  In addition, this wonderful option yields environmental benefits for the entire community.  Each Shea Green Certified Homewoner will be able to track how much power their system is producing, as well as its environmental benefits, all through a Web-based remote monitoring system.  For more information about Shea solar powered homes please go to www.sheasuperiology.com/trilogy/ This announcement comes at a very fortuitous time as just last week our government signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which will allow for three things.  First, the Solar Investment Tax Credit will be extended for another eight years.  Secondly, it will lift the cap on the $2,000 allowance.  Thirdly, it will allow the credit to be put toward a homeowner’s alternative minimum tax.  In addition to these federal credits, homebuyers may also be eligible for state or local credits or rebates. Learn more about solar energy

Displaying blog entries 91-100 of 101

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Photo of Cathy Russell Real Estate
Cathy Russell
The Russell Company
2522 Covington St.
West Lafayette IN 47906
(765) 426-7000
(765) 335-5588
Fax: (765) 497-1003
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