Easy Energy Saving Costs

It is official Winter is upon us, after having a moderately mild fall other than our visit from Hurricane Sandy mother nature has reminded us that we are very much into winter.   In today's economy we are all trying to find ways to save a little where we can so I decided to write a blog about some simple tips to save some money on your heating bills.  These are all low or no cost ways so it is great for those who are not looking to invest in a whole new heating system because they are selling the home  or perhaps just renting ! 

Give Your Room A New Look

• Many people switch curtains come the winter time to a heavier fabric, which is obviously a good idea you should also take advantage of the daylight sun still being able to provide some heat.  I will give you a quick example, I have very large windows and doors in my home specifically from my dining room into my living room.  Instead of putting 4 heavy panels on each I use 2 on each end, and leave sheers on the middle which allows the heat from the sun to get into these rooms during the daytime.  

• Another easy way is to move around your furniture, instead of just pulling the furniture a few inches away from the radiators or vents spend the time and rearrange the space. Actually moving the large furniture like sofas or beds that are nearby allow the heat to radiate freely and remember this is only temporary so it may not work all year round but this is temporary !   

• If your home has bare floors like wood or tile, invest in a few throw rugs to put down they can add a bit of style and they help make things a little bit cozier if you decide to keep your thermostat at a lower temperature ! 

• Light a fire ! Well if you don't have an actual fireplace that can be a bit hard to do but there are some great inexpensive faux fireplaces that take up little space, but can produce a great amount of heat if one room just gets a bit chilly ! The other great thing is that they don't require a complicated installation and you can take them with you onto your next home.   There are a variety of kinds from ones that look similar to a flat screen TV complete with crackling wood sounds & remote to large wooden ones with mantles ! 

     

Give Your Heating System A Once Over

• One of the most overlooked parts of your heating system is often the air filter, it is a good thing to change periodically and if your in a rental most landlords will be happy to either allow you to change it or do it themselves.  You should also take a look around and make sure there are no leaks where the joints are meeting this is something that is very important for those who have forced hot air/CAC units that run through attics and basements.  

• Change out your thermostat to a programmable one or even a simple upgrade to a digital can help you be aware of how high your heat actually is.  I am very guilty of getting a bit chilly and turning up my thermostat and going just a little bit farther than I thought because I have the older "dial" thermostat.  The newer digital thermostats can also be programmable so the heat will go up once it is closer to the time when you will actually be using it.  

• Check what temperature your hot water heater, often times we don't even realize what this is set at but 120 degrees is the best place for it to be.  

• Look at the average temperature you keep your thermostat on, if you lower it 1 degree it can save you between 1% - 3% less fuel, as well as heating costs.  Another way is to actually leave your heat on one temperature lowering your heat drastically when your not home and than hiking it back up can often times cost more because of how high you raise it to "get rid of the chill" 

These are just a few of the easy ways to save a few bucks and keep a bit warmer on these chilly nights ! 

Winter Safety Tips

The holidays are in full swing, and I am sure we are all enjoying the holiday season since Long Island has gotten quite lucky and we have had some unusually warm days, considering this time last year we had already had 3 or 4 snow storms by this time!

Buyers are also taking advantage of this warmer winter weather, I have personally had some amazing turn outs to my open houses, and many clients who are still very active in the search for their new home, so I wanted to take a moment and talk about some safety pre-cautions that both home sellers and buyers should be doing during since this season has been quite busy!

1.  Christmas Decorations Are NOT Meant To Be An Obstactle Course To Your Front Door!
Let me start by saying I always tell my homeowners that they should put out their decorations, it will make your house feel like a home, and it does wonders to sell your neighborhood.  I put out a ton of Christmas decorations out, which also means a ton of extension cords, timers, and outlets but  if you have cords running across your walkway, you need to be sure that they are placed where potential buyers will not trip or fall!

2. Let There Be Light
Make sure that buyers can see where they are walking, this is a simple fix many people have lights in the driveway that are triggered when someone walks up and it will usually illuminate the walkway as well.  This is not the only area that you need to be able to see, home buyers need to be able to see your HOUSE NUMBER, I can not tell you how many calls I get from a buyer who happened passed a home with a for sale sign, but have no idea what house number it was! This also is necessary so people who are coming to view your home can easily spot your home, not all streets have only 1 house for sale, and some seller choose not to have signs, so make sure that numbers stands out!

3. Be Prepared For The Snow Trail
This has got to be the biggest pet peeve for home sellers in the winter, and that is buyers will often track snow and salt into their home.  I say this for both buyers and sellers, put a winter mat in the front hall of your home, and agents wipe your feet normally the buyer will be sure to clean off their shoes if they see the agent do so, and sellers and if you choose not to have a mat, be prepared for the trail, and a good chance someone will slip and fall.  I often carry one in my car, this is for when I have open houses to make sure my homeowners come home to a semi-clean floor!

4. Let It Snow
Of course if it begins snowing right before your homes showing or open house, there is not much you can do except shovel and home not too much accumulates between the time you leave, and the buyer arrives.  A simple suggestion is leave a smaller shovel, and container of salt next to your front steps.  This gives the buyers agent the ability to throw a tiny bit of salt down to make your walkway or steps easier for the buyer, and in the case of an open house allows them to keep the walk clear.  Not all agent will do this, but personally I do, I want the buyers to feel comfortable coming in even if it is flurrying out. 

5. Don't Open Your Door To Just Anyone
It is oddly alarming that I have had numerous homeowners if they should just let "people" not agents just come thru their home if they knock on the door! The answer is NO, NO, and NO! This is not just a rule for the winter time, but all year round.  This is also why I always have a open house advertised thru-out the time a home is listed with me, obviously you do not want to be rude, simply say that it is not a good time, and be sure to tell them when your next open house is scheduled, or give them your listings agents direct number to schedule the appointment! You do not want to turn off these potential buyers, but our company believes in safety anyone that enters your home we want to have some sort of information before they go walking thru. 

Now some homeowners have chosen to sell their home after they have moved into their new home, and if your home has not gone under contract by the fall, I always suggest taking some steps to winterize your home to protect it for the winter time.  So here are a few tips for those whose home are vacant!

1) Furnace Inspection

• Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.
• Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.
• If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.
• Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

2) Get the Fireplace Ready

• Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
• If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.
• Buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.
• Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.
• Check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint, if necessary.

3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows

• Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
• Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.
• Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.
• If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.
• Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them.

4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts

• Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.
• Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.
• Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.
• Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.

5) Service Weather-Specific Equipment

• Service or tune-up snow blowers.
• Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
• Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.
• Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.

6) Check Foundations

• Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.
• Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
• Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
• Secure crawlspace entrances.

7) Prevent Plumbing Freezes

• Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
• Drain all garden hoses.
• Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
• Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
• Leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.

 

Buyers Don't Hide Out During The Winter Months and Neither Should Your Home!

It is that time of year again, and the majority of home-owners are deciding to opt out of keeping their home on the market.  I don't know who started the rumor that no one will buy a home in the winter but I am here to attempt to give you a different perspective about selling your home during the fall/winter season. 

I touched base on this in a few different blogs when it came to staging and open houses, but I wanted to take the time to elaborate, and give you some great insight on selling during this season. 

1. The Buyer Pool IS Smaller

Now I am sure your thinking that this is a horrible thing, but in reality many prospective buyers shopped all spring, and summer long and have been left not finding the home of their dreams.  The easiest way to weed out a shopper, from a serious buyer is simple, are they willing to go out in the cold?

Your home will get alot of attention during the "busy season" but many will be people that are just doing this on the weekend to see what is out there, or they are like myself and I am not ashamed to admit my family members.  

These are also buyers who more than likely have seen many homes, and by this time have really narrowed down their wants, from their needs, and are not about to let the perfect home slip by them!

2. Less Competition!

This is the only upside to the myth that no one buys a house in the winter.  Your competition is reduced drastically, drive around your neighborhood during the months of October and November and you will notice there doesn't seem to be as many for sale signs out anymore. 

Not having a ton of competition in your surrounding area is priceless!

Quality Over Quanitity!

Now your thinking do you really want to have a ton of people in and out of your house during the season.  Well again thanks to the wondeful myth, you will only be left with serious buyers, which means yes your home will have less shows, but they will not only be better prospects but they will also provide some very good feedback!

When it comes to how many times your home has been shown, I truly beleive that quality is more important than quantity. 

You could have your home shown everyday of the week, for a month straight, but if only 1 buyer that came was qualified, than all those other shows were really just a waste of your time. 

4. The Neighborhood Will Speak For Itself

During these seasons neighborhoods always tend to feel a little bit more special. 

People are decorating their homes, villages are arranging festivities for the fall and winter.  Everyone is looking forward to the new year, and fresh starts!

This isn't something the homeowners think to take into consideration, because it isn't something Realtors will bring up. 

We all know that the first rule of buying a home is location, so why wouldn't you take the time to play up all your location has to offer?

Fall In Love With The American Dream & Open House Tips

Let's take a moment and talk about open houses, over the passed few weeks that seems to be a very common question that sellers have been asking me about.  Perhaps it is brought about my the event Coldwell Banker is holding, called "Fall In Love With The American Dream".  Everyone wants to know what it is, and why is it something only we are doing.


This is our effort as a company to stimulate buyers for the fall season, those people who just couldn't find the right house over the summer will now want to make a deal and be in their new home for the holiday!   While most realtors and companies simply sit back and wait for the buyers to come back for the spring market, we are actively pushing the fall market! This open house event is promoted via email, print mail, television, and social media (ex-You Tube, Facebook).  For our event in October which is this weekend, the numbers are in and we have twice as many open houses as any other company!


People buy houses all year round, there is no cut-off date to when your home will sell!  I personally have found for my buyers shopping during the fall season is almost always more pleasant.   The most obvious reason is because who really wants to walk into a home that is vacant with no AC on, when the temperature outside is 90 degrees, I know that isn't my favorite house to go into, and I know that it isn't for my buyers either.


Here are some tips for what to do for your open house!

1. Pick the right date. When planning your open house, be sure to check the calendar for major holidaysand local events. Last thing you want is to have your open house scheduled on Mothers Day, City Festival date or the date of other important event. If you do, you will be disappointed.  If your company holds large campaigns (Like the Fall In Love With The American Dream Event), make sure your listing agent has an open house.   Also please do not call your agent on Thursday, for an open house that Saturday, you need to promote your open house for atleast a week to be able to take full advantage of advertising it! 

2. Create a welcoming feeling before they get to your front door. That front door that you never use... there are spiderwebs there (I'm not gonna tell anyone, don't worry. Just get rid of them!) Tidy up, get rid of those tired looking plants and replace them with freshly planted ones. With the fall and winters holiday's approaching most home-owners will be decorating, for more tips on how to sell your home in the fall and winter, there is another blog dedicated to just that. O

3. Take a look at your walls. Not everyone will love your dusty rose and hunter green. Even the yummy chocolate brown has to go. Light and airy is the way to go, you need it to be a blank canvas for buyers 1 not to be distracted, and 2 to picture their belongings in your house.  This doesn't mean your home needs to become sterile and bland, we don't want that either.  Neutral colors, on the walls and splashes of color in accent pieces will still give your home style and personality! 

4. Create a specious feel in your home. Move furniture around to create space and direct traffic and attention of your potential buyers to where you want it.  You want them to see the space not stuff!  This does NOT mean to get rid of your dresser and put your mattress on the floor, you want them to see the space being used efficiently.  

5. Get rid of stuff! Now your probably saying what are you talked about you just told me not to, I told you not to put your mattress on the floor, and live out of a laundry basket for the sake of space, if you did that you would have space, but it would have clutter.  You want key pieces of furniture to stay so they can see what can fit.  

Here are some examples.  In the bedroom you would want them to see it fits a bed, dresser, and even some nightstands.  You do not want them to see clutter on top of the nights stands, and un-made bed, the collection of your every picture of your 18 year old son from the time he was born on your wall!  The dining room is another always interesting space, you want them to see the dinging room table ONLY if it is in the dining room, do not advertise a formal dining room if your using it as a den!  Books, pictures, clothes on the floor, don't just store these in a closet because trust me they will be opening those doors too!

n house tips

10.Remove yourself, your family and your pets from the house and your cars from the driveway prior to the Open House.  Open houses are much different from when a realtor calls to show your home.  Sometimes you will need to be home, or the dog will just have to go into the yard because that is the only place for him/her.  But open houses are a different ballgame all together, and I will say it for you, moving a pet out of the house for 2 hours isn't always easy!  Trust me I know I have pets.  My suggestion take your dog to get groomed, schedule their appointment as the same time as the open house!  Take the kids to grandma and grandpas, tell them the open house is longer than it is and get some good alone time in while they are there, I won't tell! Or better yet pack up the kids, dogs, family and go and see other properties in your area that are having an open house! 

Open House Event Weekend !

This is just one example of what makes Coldwell Banker Residential Homes different from your ordinary brokerage.  We think outside of the box, and reach out to all buyers in new and creative ways!

This is a wondeful opporutnity for homeowners to take advantage of, now is the time to list your home, for the next 2-3 months their will still be serious buyers shopping around.  Someone who is still looking for their dream home, WILL make a purchase before the holidays get into full swing!

Adapt Your Home To It’s Selling Season !

There's a selling myth that you should wait till springtime to sell your home. While spring is the busiest season for real estate sales, people buy homes 365 days a year. If you decide you need to sell your home in the off-peak season, emphasize its seasonal amenities.

Choose Your Selling Season

The market slows down in late summer before picking up again briefly in the fall. November and December are traditionally slow months, although some astute buyers look for bargains during this period.

KEEP YOUR LAWN IN SHAPE.
Just because summer is over doesn't mean you should abandon your lawn.  Patch up any brown spots in the grass, and keep falling leaves at bay with frequent raking. 


GET A FALL GARDEN
As your summer plants start to fade, replace them with vibrant mums or other colorful plants.  Tasteful fall decorations, like pumpkins or tri-colored corn, can also add to your home's curb appeal.

GET INDOOR FALL DECORATIONS, TOO

Without breaking the bank, get a few fall-colored decorations, like inexpensive window treatments or seasonal dinnerware.  Fresh decor will make your space seem current and well maintained. 

REPAIR OUTSIDE LIGHTS
As the days get shorter, you may end up showing your home in the dark.  Make sure your outdoor lights are clean and working -- if they're dirty or broken, buyers will get a bad feeling before they even come inside.

KEEP YOUR EXTERIOR PHOTOS OF YOUR HOME UP-TO-DATE
If you listed your home in the summer update your online photos with brand new fall shots.  Pictures from the previous season make your listing seem dated.

 

How To Sell Your Home In The Winter

Many people believe it’s harder to sell your home in winter than summer. But there are a number of real advantages to selling during the cooler months, says Kathy Monahan, an agent with Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. in Toronto. 

For one thing, removed from the sometimes frenzied action of the spring market, sellers can take a little more time to consider offers, and with fewer homes on the market, there’s less competition. And don’t worry, says Kathy: the things that lead people to make new home purchases -- a new job, a growing family, up- or downsizing -- happen all year round, and there are still plenty of buyers out there. In fact, winter is a great time for playing up your home’s cosy, family-friendly charm. 

Start with the exterior
As with any time of year, make sure that the house looks well maintained and cared for, with eavestroughs clean and minor repairs taken care of. While you can’t paint in winter, washing paintwork and siding with warm soapy water on a mild day can make a big difference. Make sure the windows are freshly washed as well; winter light has a way of highlighting grime.

Tend to foliage
Make sure that shrubs and tree-branches bent down with snow don’t obstruct walkways or entrances; brush the snow off or prune if necessary. (It won’t hurt them.) Ensure that the walkway is shovelled and ice-free before every showing; not only is this a courtesy and crucial to making the home look well maintained, but if a visitor slips and is hurt, you could be liable for damages. 

Adorn the entryway
A wreath on the front door, Christmas lights and a garland hung on the doorframe or front porch present a welcoming entry. Plant urns with festive greenery, the fuller the better: along with cedar or pine boughs, tuck in sprigs of holy, dried berries, magnolia leaves, corkscrew hazel or red osier branches, with silver ball ornaments and perhaps gold wire ribbon woven through the arrangement.


Make a good first impression

Once a prospective buyer comes inside, remember that you may have only 10 to 15 minutes to make a lasting impression. (A small but crucial point for unoccupied homes: make sure the heat is turned on several hours before the showing. All the window-dressing and staging in the world won’t entice buyers to linger inside a home that’s freezing.)

Light candles
Romance visitors’ sense of smell by lighting fragrant candles or placing bowls of potpourri in main rooms. A time-honoured but still effective trick, especially on a cold winter’s day, is to have a pot of cider simmering on the stove, or cookies or fresh bread baking.

Protect the floors
To protect your floors, put down rubber mats by the door for snowy boots; buy a few pairs of comfy one-size-fits-all slippers from a department or discount store for visitors to wear while they view your home.

Light a fire
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, light a fire and let it glow during the showing. Put big, colourful poinsettias in each main room, including the kitchen; consider more modest winter flower arrangements or amaryllis blooms in other rooms, such as the bath and master bedroom. Decorate banisters and mantels with pine garlands (natural ones impart a delicious, nostalgic fragrance); a decorated and lit Christmas tree or menorah enhances an image of home and family.

After the holidays, seasonal decorations can be taken down, but urn arrangements and even the front door wreath can stay up for the rest of the winter, if it isn’t too Christmasy in design. Make sure you continue to maintain walkways clear of ice and snow, and think warm thoughts!

                                                                                                                   Article Courtesy Of StyleAtHome.Com