Save Engery!

Want to save some money on your energy bill? Check this great article out by Brian Ripp.

Here are some suggestions to ensure that your home is energy efficient and ready for the colder winter weather.

Test your homes energy efficiency.  You can perform a simple audit of your home’s energy use by following the guidelines at EnergyStar.gov. You can also have PG&E or a home inspector evaluate the home.

Turn down the heat.   Save money on your heating billsby setting your thermostat to 55 degrees when you are away from home for more than 4 hours.  Alter the setting manually, or for $80-$120, purchase a programmable thermostat for your heater.

Avoid drafts.  Plug air leaks with caulk or weather stripping to limit heat loss in your home.  Check for leaks by holding a lit candle near vents, doors, window frams and mail slots.  If the flame changes direction, there’s a leak.

Water works.  To save money, set your hot water heater heater at 120 degrees.  Electric and gas units can be covered with an insulating jacket for about $20.  The isulation can help cut heat losses by up to 45 percent.

Remodeling Your Kitchen? Check Out These Costs.

I am consistently asked about “kitchen remodels” by homeowners thinking of selling in the near future.

It is not uncommon for 70 percent of kitchen remodeling costs to be recouped upon resale. Take a look at this informative article.

http://www.fixr.com/costs/kitchen-remodeling

Home Staging Costs

Read this helpful article discussing “home staging when trying to sell a home” from fixr.com.

Interesting point made by the Mortgage Daily News - that most homes that are professionally staged will end up bringing in roughly 3% more than the anticipated price!

http://www.fixr.com/costs/home-staging

California Interactive Market Stats

Check out this interactive map from the California Association of Realtors. Simply click on the link below, then select the area you want information for.

http://www.car.org/marketdata/map

NAHB Study Examines Fire Sprinkler Analysis Tool

I get questions from home owners about installing Fire Sprinkers- from those considering a major addition to those who are ready to build a new home.

Follow the link in this National Association of Home Builders report to see a tool that can help in your decision making process.  Let me know if you have any questions.

http://eyeonhousing.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/nahb-study-examines-fire-sprinkler-analysis-tool/

While I treat real estate as a serious business, I also like to step back and enjoy the lighter side of my industry to help me keep things in perspective. Nothing does this better than “listening to what kids think” so take a look at this video.

 

http://blog.coldwellbanker.com/kids-give-their-take-on-real-estate/


5 Expensive (And Unexpected) Things That Can Happen To Your Home

Please check out this list of 5 things by Financial Edge to be aware of and most importantly, how to prevent these expensive items from popping up in your home. 

  1. Foundation Issues
  2. Mold
  3. Water Damage
  4. Bed Bugs
  5. Sewer Line Problems

Read more: http://financialedge.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0910/5-Expensive-And-Unexpected-Things-That-Can-Happen-To-Your-Home.aspx?partner=yahoofin#ixzz1W5f1Pzw9

13,780 Homes Sold Yesterday….

And you should know that 13,780 homes will sell today and 13,780 homes will sell tomorrow.  What are these numbers?  

Well, according to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) most recent housing report, this number represents the average number of homes that are being sold EVERY DAY.  Pretty powerful if you look at the numbers.  

 

http://kcmblog.com/2011/09/26/13780-homes-sold-yesterday/

5 Tips for Buying a Home with a Family

I always make certain that my clients, especially those with children, are comfortable with the following 5 items posted in this article based on a Coldwell Banker report on consumer trends:

  1. Proximity to family
  2. Existing floor plan
  3. Surrounding neighborhood
  4. Future lifestyle needs
  5. Budget

Take a look at the full article below.

 

http://blog.coldwellbanker.com/5-tips-for-buying-a-home-with-a-family/

California School API Scores for 2011 

I wanted to provide this great tool for checking how the California school API scores ranked for 2011.  You can search for all of the test scores for the State of California by County, District and School.

http://www.mercurynews.com/education/ci_18796223

Here is another resource from the California Department of Education.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/apireports.asp