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Energy Saving Kitchen Appliances

(Published on - 8/2/2019 1:18:48 PM)

UPDATED JULY 29, 2019 REALTY EXECUTIVES INTERNATIONAL

We’re always trying to support green living, and one of the easiest ways to conserve energy is by ensuring your home appliances are energy-efficient. Energy-efficient appliances can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower your utility bills, use less water and electricity, and overall lead to a cozier, happier, cleaner living space. Here’s how you can ensure that your kitchen appliances are energy-efficient and what to look out for when replacing your current appliances.

Replacing and Recycling Your Appliances

Of course, you shouldn’t get rid of all of your kitchen appliances if they currently work completely fine. But when it comes time to replace them, here’s what you need to know. First, you should make sure you appropriately recycle your old appliances so that you retire models that aren’t energy efficient, instead of donating them and further contributing to the cycle of greenhouse gas emissions and inefficient energy consumption. You can find an appropriate local recycling site where you can drop off your old appliances (or chances are, they can pick them up for you). Check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s responsible appliance disposal guide here.

Once you’re ready to replace your appliances, make energy-efficient models a priority. They may be more of an investment upfront, but down the line you’ll see lower utility bills (and you’ll be helping the environment in the process).

Energy Star

When the time comes to replace your kitchen appliances for ones that are worth the investment, be sure to look out for the Energy Star label. Energy Star is a voluntary label program aimed at helping consumers find the most energy-efficient products that help protect the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Products labeled with Energy Star meet or exceed the guidelines established by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, but not all are created equally, so be sure to compare models that are Energy Star-approved.

Recommended Energy-Saving Kitchen Appliances

There are a variety of energy-saving appliances on the market. But if you’re just getting started with replacing your home appliances with Energy Star-approved ones, here’s an easy guide to some recommended refrigerators and dishwashers to get you started.

Refrigerators:

Dishwashers:

Keep in mind that there is no Energy Star rating for microwave ovens at this time. Click here to view a complete list of current products with the Energy Star approval.

This post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. The point of view and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Realty Executives International. This post was written by Bailee Abell. Bailee Abell is a writer born and raised in California. A graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara, she loves reading classic literature, sipping warm beverages, and visiting theme parks every chance she gets. Find her at baileeabell.com.

Adding a Pool: Is it Worth the Investment?

(Published on - 8/2/2019 1:11:32 PM)

UPDATED JULY 30, 2019 TRINITY LOMBARDI

Having a pool in your home’s backyard is a dream that so many homeowners share, but only a few end up actually achieving it. While it can seem like a luxury, a pool can actually be a lot of work and ends up costing a lot upfront and over time. There are many pros and cons to adding a pool, and ultimately it’s a big financial decision. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when deciding whether adding a pool to your home is worth the investment.

How much does it really cost?
It’s no secret that adding a pool to your home will cost a lot of money, but do you know how much it really costs? As Houselogic notes, installing, equipping, and filling a 600-sq.-ft. concrete pool will cost a U.S. homeowner an average of $30,000. When you add in all the extra costs of safety fences, aesthetic upgrades like waterfalls and lighting, and even a spa, you’re looking at an upfront price of around $100,000. And as time passes, you’ll be paying operating expenses of filtration, heating, cleaning, and other upkeep necessities, which will only add to your bills every month.

Will it be worth it when it comes time to sell your home?

Another question to ask yourself when deciding whether or not to add a pool to your home is if adding a pool is worth it if you think you will end up selling your home in the future. Dave Ramsey writes that many buyers consider a pool to be a liability rather than a luxury. But on the other hand, a pool could potentially boost your home’s value by up to 7%. According to Ramsey, here are the conditions that would make adding a pool worth it if you’re going to sell your home:

You live in a higher-end neighborhood and most of your neighbors also have pools.
You live in a warmer climate like California, Florida, Arizona, or Hawaii and you can enjoy a pool year-round.
The pool doesn’t take up your entire yard and there’s still room for other features like a swing set, a garden, and outdoor furniture.
The style of the pool fits with your home and neighborhood, and it’s well maintained.
You’ve spoken to your real estate agent and you both are confident you can attract a buyer who wants a pool in their new home.

Does it make financial sense for you?
Finally, you shouldn’t add a pool to your home if you cannot afford to do so. Considering the upfront cost and financial upkeep of a pool, it’s important to ask yourself whether or not it makes financial sense for you to invest in one. It isn’t smart to invest in a pool if it will make you go into debt and end up costing you more upfront than you would make from having it as an additional selling point for your home. Calculate your personal costs and figure out if it truly makes sense financially for you to invest in a pool before you move forward.

No matter what, adding a pool should be your decision. If you can afford the investment and upkeep and you and your family truly want a pool, it will likely be worth it for you.

This post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as prhttps://www.realtyexecutives.com/blog/wp-admin/ofessional advice. The point of view and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Realty Executives International. This post was written by Bailee Abell. Bailee Abell is a writer born and raised in California. A graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara, she loves reading classic literature, sipping warm beverages, and visiting theme parks every chance she gets. Find her at baileeabell.com.

Easy Ways to Help Secure Your Home

(Published on - 8/2/2019 1:06:57 PM)

UPDATED JULY 23, 2019 REALTY EXECUTIVES INTERNATIONAL

Feeling safe in your home is always the number one priority. Whether you are preparing to be on vacation, don’t want to worry while your out of the home or just want to deter visitors from snooping through personal belongings, there are plenty of easy ways to secure your home for when you aren’t around. Check out these tips below and let the worry disappear.

Alarm Cabinet

Maybe you’re having a party or company is staying with you from out of town. We all have those nosey houseguests that may go through cabinets or drawers, but an easy way to deter them is having cabinet alarms. This way the spaces will be locked and only accessible to the homeowner. This is also a great way to keep kids away from anything dangerous under sinks or in bathroom vanities.

Break Down Cardboard

In the days of online ordering, many entryways are filled with large boxes. Although some may be small, these boxes can draw attention and advertise that you have brand new items in your home like TVs or technology systems. If you break down the boxes and place them in the back of your vehicle or a covered bin, potential burglars will be less inclined to visit your home because there isn’t an obvious sign of anything new or expensive.

Beware of Dog

You don’t need a dog to put out a “beware of dog” sign. These signs could simply be used to make intruders think twice before entering the home. A home with a dog is a much higher risk for burglars as they will be easily detected and could be attacked.

Reinforce Your Window Locks

Making sure your windows are locked is essential if traveling out of town but also in everyday life. Windows on the first floor are especially easy access points for breaking and entering. Check your locks and to further prevent break-ins, put a dowel rod on the inside of the window slide. This helps ensure that if anyone would try to enter through the window, it won’t be able to open no matter if the lock is latched or not.

Overall, you can never be too careful when it comes to protecting your home. Expensive security alarms or cameras are always an option but if you are looking for more affordable, faster and easier ways, try out these methods.

Hosting the Ultimate Summer Bash

(Published on - 6/19/2019 11:05:57 PM)

UPDATED JUNE 3, 2019 REALTY EXECUTIVES INTERNATIONAL

Summer is here and your backyard is calling your name after the long winter months. From pool parties to a neighborhood BBQ, it is always fun to get together with family and friends to enjoy good food, games and sunshine. Hosting an event, although fun, can get stressful fast so next time you are planning your next summer bash take a look at these tips!

Food: On the bright side…you don’t have to think too hard about the menu for a summer party as many people are expecting the traditional backyard grub, but try to make it fun with a few new staples.

Add some color to the table with fresh fruit and vegetables paired with some killer dips. Try dipping flavors not many people have like a spicy chipotle hummus or a sweet dip for the fruit like cookie dough. You also want to make sure you have more than just hamburgers and hot dogs for the main dishes. Try to have a vegetarian or vegan option for guests like sweet potato and pepper kabobs. Also maybe you want to be adventurous and try something like salmon on the grill.

Drinks: Make the party fun with some signature cocktails or “mocktails” to celebrate the new summer season. Sangria or frozen cocktails are great for a refreshing beverage for adults and the kids can enjoy slushies!

In addition, having a cooler full of water and soda will ensure that every guest has something to wash down that delicious food with and keep hydrated in the heat.

Games: It’s all fun and games during the summer months! Buying classic yard games like croquet, bocce ball or ladder toss are all good ones to keep on hand. You may also want to provide some playing cards for the tables in case those sitting want something to entertain themselves too.

If you are having a pool party, get some small squirt guns or water balloons for everyone to enjoy. Remember these will always have more clean up than land games though.

Best party set-up: The most important thing when hosting a summer party outdoors is having a space for your guests to cool off and escape the heat. This could either be opening your home and letting people hangout indoors for a bit or setting up umbrellas or shade tents in the yard. Also remember to buy extra ice and cooking fuel! Nothing ruins a good cook-out like hot drinks and cold food.

Some other things to consider is providing sunscreen or bug spray to your guests to keep them safe, especially for little ones as they are often prone to sunburns and bug bites.

Music: If you don’t have a musical ear, go ahead and put someone else in charge of a playlist! There are plenty of pre-made “songs for the summer” playlists on streaming services or free platforms like YouTube, but it can also be fun to make your own. Pick songs that are chill and happy but also appropriate for all ages if children are attending.

Whether it’s a family barbecue or a pool party for your closest friends, take these tips to make sure your summer bash will be the envy of parties for the rest of the sunshine season.

5 Tips for Cleaning Out Your Garage this Summer

(Published on - 6/19/2019 11:04:40 PM)

UPDATED MAY 31, 2019 REALTY EXECUTIVES INTERNATIONAL

The garage can be a hard place to keep organized and clean with outdoor toys, cars, storage boxes and more all coming and going throughout the seasons. The summer can be a great time to take advantage of the weather and spend the day outside re-organizing after the hectic winters and cleaning out a space that doesn’t always get much TLC.

Remove everything and organize it

A messy and full garage can be overwhelming to clean. The first thing that you need to do is remove everything to create a clear space to work with, only then you will be able to clean your garage completely.

As you keep removing the items from the garage, segregate them into piles. This will help you put them back in an orderly fashion. This will also help you to decide what you need to keep and what you need to discard.

One good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t used something for a while, then it’s best that you either sell or throw it away. This does not include tools like hammers, saws, drills, torque wrenches, etc. as those are basic home ideas that are good to keep around.

For the things you put in the “get rid” of pile, you can either have a garage sale or sell things online.

Gather cleaning equipment

To start cleaning, you will need brushes, buckets, sponges, brooms and cloths. There is a possibility that you might require oil stain remover, a wire brush, or floor paint if your floor has oil stains. Cleaning your garage in the summer can be advantageous if you can recruit your kids to “volunteer”. You get some extra help plus get to spend some quality family time together.

Clean the Fixtures and Hidden Spaces

Always start from the top and keep cleaning your way down. Years of cobwebs and other dirt may have accumulated on your ceiling and your walls. Keep a cordless vacuum cleaner handy so that you can reach the corners of the walls and the garage ceiling easily. You can also keep a broom with a long handle to clear cobwebs which are out of arm’s reach.

Give your light fixtures, windows and garage door a nice wipe down. Use a car washing sponge to give a good soaking to the windows and walls of your garage. After that, you can use old towels to wipe everything and dry it up.

Cleaning the Floor

You should start at the back and use a broom to sweep the floor. You should keep sweeping right from the back of your garage and sweep off the dirt out of your garage door. This will help you to identify areas where on the floor which you will need to double down your efforts on.

After sweeping the floor, give it a thorough mopping. If there are years of dirt, you may have to scrub hard and use floor cleaning agents.

Once the floor is dry, if you see oil stains on the floor, you can brush them. You can either use a commercial oil stain remover or a wire brush for this purpose. Once the stain is removed, it is easy to clean the floor.

Keep it clean

Once you have made sure that your garage is clean, don’t go back to cluttering it. It is a valuable space. You can keep a lot of things in it if you organize things in your garage properly. Once you’ve restored cleanliness and order to your garage, you’ll realize that the space can be versatile and can be used for several purposes.

About Ellen Biggs

Ellen Biggs is a garage and cleanliness enthusiast and writes at Top Ten Vacuums. She loves to tinker with stuff in her garage and has a quest for DIY activities.

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