With colder-than-normal temperatures being forecast during the winter months, many homeowners are searching for alternatives to reduce the cost with heating. Here are some of the best methods to keep your family warm during the coldest parts of the season in any location.

Seeing The Light

Opening or raising window blinds allows sunshine to come into the rooms that heat up those areas. Sunlight is absolutely free to use if you have areas in your home where you can use it to your advantage. A home that faces the rising sun can benefit from capturing the heat build-up from sunlight for several hours each day during morning hours. In the late afternoons, that same home can catch additional heat build-up from the sun as it sets in the western sky.Using the Sun and solar panels is another cheap alternative to rising energy costs over the long term. Panels can be purchased that are mobile and easily moved to areas around the home where you might need that energy source. An array of panels can be purchased to provide free solar energy to your home. An investment in both solar panel technology and infrared heaters can give any homeowner years of warm, safe heat for free directly from the sun. The advantages of solar energy are that it can be used for other electrical needs such as cooking, using appliances and operating home lighting. According to U.S. Government statistics, more people are becoming aware of the advantages of solar energy and savings. Homeowners can cut electricity use in half by the installation and use of solar heating according to U.S. statistics. Many people utilize solar power to completely eliminate the need for traditional electricity from the power grid. This can save thousands of dollars per year wasted on electricity that can pay for the purchase of solar panel arrays. The advantage is being solely independent from electrical corporations and having a system paid for within a few years.

Going Back In Time

Energy efficient wood heating stoves that comply with EPA standards have made a big comeback as an alternative for homeowners to heat their homes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, modern wood burning stoves can save homeowners over half the costs of heating homes with gas or electricity. Savings can add up into thousands of dollars each year by using these wood-heating devices. These stoves have specially designed catalyst converters built into the stove that reduces carbon emissions into the atmosphere. They also distribute heat thoroughly throughout the stove to allow maximum heating efficiency in large areas of the home. Homeowners that have a large property area can create their own fuel supply for stoves by cutting timber themselves. With electrical companies constantly clearing power lines free of timber and weather related fallen timber, there is always a source to use as a fuel supply. Insulating and maintaining your home is an important key to adequately winterize it for cold weather. Wrapping pipes in insulation will produce fewer broken pipes and energy loss through freezing weather conditions. The installation of high efficiency light bulbs will help reduce overall electrical costs. By just making a few improvements in the efficiency of your home, thousands of dollars can be saved on an annual basis. If you live in a rural area and use a well for your water supply, the addition of a solar power array and wood heating can give you independence from utility companies. The benefits of being totally independent from others in your everyday activities are something everyone should think about.

For more information, please go to Modernize.com.

Real estate is already booming for the New Year!  Last year was the busiest real estate market that we have had in years.  It is never too early to get your home ready for the market or for buyers to call me to discuss the Spring market.  Don’t miss out on lower home prices & interest rates below 4%.  Call me for details today! 314-691-1320

Home sales remain strong.  Compared to October 2012, home sales this October were 2.2% higher.  Median home prices were up too, at 11.9% above October 2012.  These statistics are according to RE/MAX’s National Housing Report released this November.

We’ve had 21 months of year over year increases in both sales and prices. The inventory drop is lower too,

Home prices are on the rise due to a combination of low inventory and a strong buyer demand.  Homes are spending less time on the market, down 16 days as compared to October 2012.

More details on this report can be found at https://rismedia.com/2013-11-18/home-prices-continue-rising-sales-steady/

The busy Fall season is upon us & homes are selling faster than they have in years!!  It is the time for sellers to put their homes on the market & for buyers to buy those homes before the Holidays!  This has been the best market in 6 years.  Both home prices & interest rates are on the rise though!  Contact me for details today!

Simple, affordable do-it-yourself projects such as cleaning and decluttering and just adding lighting can help increase a home’s resale value, according to HomeGain’s annual home improvement and staging survey.

HomeGain, an online real estate marketing resource, surveyed nearly 600 real estate professionals in creating a list of the top do-it-yourself home improvement projects that offer the biggest return for your buck.

Overall, the home improvement projects that boasted the highest price returns were updates to the kitchen and bathroom–an estimated $3,435 price increase for resale. Painting the outside of the home ($2,222 price increase) also offered one of the highest returns, according to HomeGain’s Home Sale Maximizer study.

Here are six do-it-yourself projects–all under $1,000–that made HomeGain’s list, as well as the estimated increase to the home’s price at resale for each project.

1. Cleaning and decluttering: Remove any personal items, unclutter countertops, organize closets and shelves, and make the home sparkling clean.

Cost: $290

Estimated return: $1,990

2. Light and bright: Clean all windows inside and out, replace old curtains, update lighting fixtures, and remove anything that blocks light from the windows.

Cost: $375 cost

Estimated return: $1,550

3. Staging: Rearrange furniture, bring in new accessories and furnishings to enhance rooms, including artwork and playing soft music in the background.

Cost: $550 cost

Estimated return: $2,194

4. Landscaping: Punch up the home’s curb appeal in the front and backyards by adding bark mulch, bushes and flowers, and ensuring current plants and grass are well-cared for and manicured.

Cost: $540

Estimated return: $1,932

5. Repair electrical or plumbing: Repair any leaks under the bathroom or kitchen sinks, remove any mildew stains, and ensure all plumbing is in good working condition. Update the home’s electrical with new wiring for modern appliances, fix any lights or outlets that don’t work, and replace old plug points with new safety fixtures.

Cost: $535

Estimated return: $1,505

6. Replace or shampoo dirty carpets: Steam-clean carpets, replace any worn carpets, and repair any floor creaks.

Cost: $647

Estimated return: $1,739

So when you are thinking about buying or selling a home in St. Charles or St. Louis County, call me and "I'll get you moving!". 

 

Originally posted on February 7, 2011 by Melissa Tracey; REALTOR® Magazine

St. Charles and St. Louis home owners, or those of you who are planning on buying a home in St. Charles or St. Louis, I came across this article about Bathroom updates to watch for!  Enjoy!

Granite is slowly beginning to lose some of its popularity in favor of other bathroom vanities, and green–the color, that is–is catching on, as these trends–along with others–gain steam in bathrooms this year, according to a National Kitchen & Bath Association survey of 100 designers. The survey offers insights into the hottest trends in bathrooms for 2011.

Here are four trends to watch in bathroom home design.

Dupont Zodiaq quart surface in Bianco Carrara; Photo credit: Shadowlight Group

1. Quartz countertops more in demand. While granite still reigns in bathroom vanity tops, it’s popularity is slowly sinking as quartz continues to steal some of the market share, according to NKBA. While 83 percent of designers still opt for granite, that number has gradually been narrowing in recent years as quartz increases in demand (54 percent of NKBA designers opted for quartz). A year ago, 85 percent of NKBA designers used granite, compared to 48 percent for quartz. Meanwhile, solid marble vanities have also been on the decline (from 46 percent to 37 percent), while cultured marble has increased slightly in use among NKBA designers from 12 percent to 19 percent.

Photo credit: Delta Faucet Co.

2. Bathrooms go “green”–literally. Green color palettes for the bathroom are on the rise. Twenty-four percent of NKBA designers say they are using green colors to spice up bathrooms–up a year ago from 14 percent. However, the three most most common color choices in the bathroom remain: Whites and off-whites, beiges, and browns.

Kohler’s Conical Bell Vessels sink; Photo credit: Kohler Co.

3. Sink preferences mount. Under mount sinks continue to dominate newly remodeled bathrooms, but vessel sinks are increasingly becoming a more popular choice. Integrated sink tops are also on the rise, as well as pedestal sinks.

 

Photo credit: Kohler Co.

4. Satin finishes shine. In following recent kitchen trends, satin nickel faucets in bathrooms are rising in popularity, while brushed nickel faucets are falling out of favor. Other popular faucet finishes in the bathroom include bronze and oil-rubbed bronze, polished chrome, and polished nickel. Meanwhile, stainless steel finishes are becoming less popular in the bathroom.

So when you are thinking about buying or selling a home in St. Charles or St. Louis County, please call me and “I’ll get you moving!”.

Originally posted March 7, 2011 by Melissa Tracey

 

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine