Friday, January 21, 2011
Home Ownership: How to save energy by winterizing your home.
Home Ownership: How to save energy by winterizing your home.: "Seal cracks and other openings. Consider hiring a qualified technician to conduct an energy audit- particularly a blower door test- to..."
How to save energy by winterizing your home.
Seal cracks and other openings. Consider hiring a qualified technician to conduct an energy audit- particularly a blower door test- to detect leaks (your power company may do this for free). Inspect places in the home where different materials meet, such as brick and wood, as well as door and window frames, electrical outlets and water lines, for gaps that could lead to leaks. Then seal with caulk or weather stripping.
Add insulation. An energy audit will tell you if you need more. The good news. You may qualify for a tax credit.
Change furnace filters once a month. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase your need for energy.
Run ceiling fans in reverse to make rooms warmer.
Install storm doors and windows to improve energy efficiency.
Tune-up your heating system. By making it run more efficiently, you will save money.
I hope these few tips will help you stay warm while saving money. If you have any questions about buying or selling a home please do not hesitate to give me a call.
Stay Warm!
Debbie Kveragas
Add insulation. An energy audit will tell you if you need more. The good news. You may qualify for a tax credit.
Change furnace filters once a month. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase your need for energy.
Run ceiling fans in reverse to make rooms warmer.
Install storm doors and windows to improve energy efficiency.
Tune-up your heating system. By making it run more efficiently, you will save money.
I hope these few tips will help you stay warm while saving money. If you have any questions about buying or selling a home please do not hesitate to give me a call.
Stay Warm!
Debbie Kveragas
Saturday, January 8, 2011
8 Tips for Eliminating Clutter
Getting ready to list your home? One of the best things you can do to improve its appeal to prospective buyers is to get rid of clutter. Real estate agents often recommend that sellers de-clutter because its easy, inexpensive and can make a dramatic difference.
Here are some ways to eliminate clutter in your own home:
Remove things you don't use on a daily basis. In the kitchen, that means putting away the juicer, in the family room, toss all the magazines and books you've been meaning to read for years. Try to make your rooms look spacious and airy.
Organize shelves. Remove knick knacks and photographs.
Get rid of excess furniture. Make it easy to walk through rooms. Try to create an open floor plan.
Don't forget about closets. Removing excess clothing from bedroom closets or towels from linen closets makes them appear larger. Everything should be neatly arranged and folded.
Remove heavy curtains. Simple blinds or even bare windows let in more light and are more pleasing to the eye. Ornate curtains or other window treatments are visual clutter.
Stow possessions in closed storage. Rather than using open shelving, for example, use a storage unit with drawers and doors. Or stash extra blankets in a trunk at the foot of your bed rather than the closet.
Clear walls. If you have a lot of photographs or paintings, consider removing some.
Be honest when assessing your stuff. If you really don't really need it, get rid of it. You can trash it, hold a garage sale, donate it or sell it on Ebay. Just think: The more you get rid of, the less you have to pack and move.
If you are interested in selling your home please give me a call at 570-698-7845 I will be happy to guide you every step of the way! Happy New Year!
Here are some ways to eliminate clutter in your own home:
Remove things you don't use on a daily basis. In the kitchen, that means putting away the juicer, in the family room, toss all the magazines and books you've been meaning to read for years. Try to make your rooms look spacious and airy.
Organize shelves. Remove knick knacks and photographs.
Get rid of excess furniture. Make it easy to walk through rooms. Try to create an open floor plan.
Don't forget about closets. Removing excess clothing from bedroom closets or towels from linen closets makes them appear larger. Everything should be neatly arranged and folded.
Remove heavy curtains. Simple blinds or even bare windows let in more light and are more pleasing to the eye. Ornate curtains or other window treatments are visual clutter.
Stow possessions in closed storage. Rather than using open shelving, for example, use a storage unit with drawers and doors. Or stash extra blankets in a trunk at the foot of your bed rather than the closet.
Clear walls. If you have a lot of photographs or paintings, consider removing some.
Be honest when assessing your stuff. If you really don't really need it, get rid of it. You can trash it, hold a garage sale, donate it or sell it on Ebay. Just think: The more you get rid of, the less you have to pack and move.
If you are interested in selling your home please give me a call at 570-698-7845 I will be happy to guide you every step of the way! Happy New Year!
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