Wanting to Sell Your Home But Unsure of How to Start the Process?

Here are four simple steps to get you started on the process of selling your home.

1. Call us. Typically you will want to get in touch with us 1-3 months before you want to list your home. We will provide you with a price opinion of what your home might sell for and an estimate of what your “net” proceeds would be at closing after all customer seller expenses, closing costs, real estate commissions and loan balances are paid. We can also consult with you and give you specific recommendations on what needs to be done to prepare your home for a timely sale to help you realize the highest price and net to you.

2. Assess the condition of your home to determine what updates and/or repairs might be required so that it will show more favorably against competing homes. Here are some main areas to consider.

• Flooring - analyze the carpet condition, replace if needed. Hardwoods, ceramic tile and laminate flooring are popular with buyers and may help your home sell faster and at a higher price.
• Light Fixtures - update, clean to sparkling, and replace light bulbs if needed.
• Fresh Paint Inside and Out - re-caulk as needed, clean & repaint baseboards.
• Make General Repairs - contact us if you need a referral for a great handyman. Address wood rot and active water leaks immediately.
• Service the HVAC System. If your system is over 15 years old consider replacing it, otherwise be sure to inspect the outside compressor unit, blower motor, evaporator coils, duct work and AC filters.
• Check the age and condition of household appliances, including your hot water heater. 
• Have your roof shingles professionally examined for wear and possible hail damage. 
• Get your lawn looking its best to maximize curb appeal. Mow, edge, trim, and install fresh mulch.
• Do a deep “spring cleaning” and pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. 

It’s Getting Chilly!

Oh baby, it’s cold outside! The really unfortunate thing though is that for the past week or so it has been far colder inside of our house. We decided to kick on the furnace last week as the temperatures were dropping. I heard the clicks, smelt that “first run of the season” furnace smell, and heard the heater kick on. Then I went to bed. I can’t remember what I started out dreaming, but eventually my dreams turned to things like ice cream, eventually followed by sledding and snow angels, but then my dream turned in to a nightmare of being stranded in a blizzard and slowly freezing to death. I woke up with a shiver. And then I couldn’t stop shivering. It was FREEZING in our house. I went and checked the thermostat, the little red line was down as low as it cold go, though I had set it for 68dgs.

It has been a battle to stay warm since then. I could tell the furnace was working, kind of. It would kick on if I would jiggle the knob, but the air wasn’t ever very warm. We eventually checked the furnace filter and it. was. dis. gust. ing. No wonder our house was freezing, the furnace couldn’t intake any air! Yesterday we changed the filter and today I am typing without my snow gloves on, it’s a beautiful thing.

Tips for Operating Your Furnace

I am always good about changing my vent filters, but never even thought about the furnace filter till now. As we are approaching colder weather, we thought we would share a couple furnace maintenance tips with you. This tips will ensure your family stays warm and safe, all while reducing your energy consumption and saving you money.

• Change your furnace filter every six months (whoopsie!)
• Have an annual inspection done
• Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace or boiler
• Install ducting to bring outside air directly into the burner
• Keep your furnace room clean and uncluttered
• Consider upgrading to a more energy-efficient furnace or boiler
• If your furnace is gas-fired, keep your pilot light burning all year long
• Do not store flammable liquids or materials in your furnace room
• Test your heating system in the early fall
• Try keeping your thermostat at 68dgs. Each degree you keep it above 68 will raise your heating bill by 3%!
• Lower the temperature on your thermostat by 10 dgs when no one is home
• Make sure your thermostat is not being hit by direct sunlight or any other heat source
• Close doors to rooms on outside walls without thermostats that aren’t being used
• Check that your thermostats are mounted level horizontally
• Clean your thermostats regularly (remove cover and clean dust)
• Check the temperature calibration of your thermostat, and adjust if necessary