Realty Executives Midwest
During the summer, many of us tend to waste more electricity, water, and plastic materials than we do during any other part of the year. To compensate for high temperatures outside, we blast the air conditioning to stay cool. We fill water balloons, top off the pool, guzzle cold water bottles, and take more showers.
As a result, we spend a lot on our utilities, and we waste a lot. There are several steps you can take to make your home more eco-friendly over these next few months. Here are five ways you can embrace “green” practices while also reaping the financial benefits of avoiding waste.
1. Invest in a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
A programmable thermostat can save you at least 20 percent on energy costs. Smart thermostats can save you even more by giving you the capability to change the temperature when you’re not at home. Not only will this lower your utility bills, but it will also prevent you from being wasteful with your AC during the summer. Saving money during the warm months can be a struggle. You can get yourself up to speed with an air conditioning guide on the best practices.
Additionally, a programmable or smart thermostat makes your home more comfortable. You can be precise about your temperatures while you’re at home, at work, or on vacation. The last thing you want to do is pour tons of money into your air conditioning while you’re not even in the building.
2. Hang Drapes or Install Curtains Over Your Windows
During the summer, about 76 percent of the sunlight that comes through your windows turns into heat. Don’t underestimate the powerful protection of a simple window covering. Whether you install blinds or black-out curtains, blocking the sunlight can drastically lower your waste of energy. Plus, you want to protect your home and furnishings from the harsh sunlight that streams inside.
3. Be Careful About Your Water Usage
When temperatures rise outside, water use often does, too. You’re watering your lawn frequently, taking more showers, and filling pools. Be conscious of how much of this water you’re actually wasting.
Now is the perfect time to compare your current amount of water usage to your usage during the winter. If you notice that your water bill is skyrocketing, it may be due to a leak, waste, wind, evaporation, or runoff from over-watering.
4. Begin Recycling, Even if Your Neighborhood Doesn’t
Think about all of the plastic you use during the summer – those plates at your cookouts, the frozen drinks that come in convenient one-use bottles, all of the empty sunscreen bottles littering your backyard. These are just some of the things you could be recycling in an effort to make your home more eco-friendly. Although many apartment complexes and neighborhoods don’t offer a recycling service, you can always start one yourself.
To learn how to start a recycling program, check out this article from HomeGuides.
5. Install Lights That Automatically Turn Off
Did you know that the IDA estimates that we waste at least 30 percent of our outdoor lighting? There’s no need to leave your porch light on all night, even when you’re out late during the summer. Instead, install an automatic light that turns on whenever you approach.
Automatic lights are a great idea for your indoor rooms, too. By only using lights when you’re actually home, and automatically turning them off when you leave the room, you’ll help prevent the overproduction of carbon dioxide. Plus, you’ll save more on your electricity bill. No more worries about leaving the lights off when you go to work or leave for a summer getaway.
In Conclusion
These five steps might not seem like big acts, but every little bit counts when it comes to making our homes eco-friendly. Whether you live in an apartment or a house, you can use these tips to save money and protect nature.
Even though summer is here, it’s not too late! Start implementing these changes now to reap the benefits during the rest of the season.
Article Source: Realty Executives International
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
Working with a Realty Executives “Executive” has always been synonymous with experience, excellence in real estate and high levels of productivity. For Executive Robin Krieb, you can add “advocacy” to this list.
As a member of the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP), Krieb actively supports the organization’s mission to advocate on behalf of the rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community as it relates to housing and discrimination laws.
She recently shared her voice and experience with Avail, an online platform that offers DIY landlords with tools, support, and education and fosters the shared values of respect, transparency, and professionalism between landlords and tenants.
Krieb shared steps landlords can take to avoid housing discrimination and promote professionalism and inclusivity. Get all of the tips for landlords here as well as more information about Fair Housing Trends.
The team at Realty Executives Midwest is proud to have Krieb among their ranks.
“Robin joined us in the spring of 2018. As a new licensee she was eager to learn everything possible to become successful in real estate, diligently applied all she learned and closed several transactions in her first year alone! She goes out of her way to help her clients, is professional and always positive. Robin is a real joy to be around. We applaud her on the role she played in spreading this important information with landlords and other critical players in the property management industry,” said Jana Pinc, Managing Broker of Realty Executives Midwest in Darien, Illinois.
Realty Executives Midwest agents in Darien, IL join in on the 4th of July festivities by participating in the local parade celebrating Independence Day!
"Hats off to our Darien Police Officers and our Municiple Services Department for the jobs they did today and every day. Darien is truly a nice place to live."
Here's a special shout out to all of our team members who were able to participate this year: Rosa Andersen, Joe Kenny, Deneen Ruffolo, Jen Staehely, Joan Wayman, and anyone else we may have missed. We're so proud that our team members are constantly getting involved with events in their community!
Here are 5 compelling reasons listing your home for sale this summer makes sense.
1. Demand Is Strong
The latest Buyer Traffic Index from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buyer demand remains strong throughout the vast majority of the country. These buyers are ready, willing, and able to purchase… and are in the market right now! More often than not, multiple buyers are competing with each other for the same home.
Take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market.
2. There Is Less Competition Now
Housing inventory is still under the 6-month supply needed for a normal housing market. This means that, in most of the country, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers.
Historically, the average number of years a homeowner stayed in his or her home was six, but that number has hovered between nine and ten years since 2011. Many homeowners have a pent-up desire to move, as they were unable to sell over the last few years due to a negative equity situation. As home values continue to appreciate, more and more homeowners are granted the freedom to move.
Many homeowners were reluctant to list their home over the last couple of years for fear that they would not find a home to move in to. That is all changing now as more homes come to market at the higher end. The choices buyers have will continue to increase. Don’t wait until additional inventory comes to market before you to decide to sell.
3. The Process Will Be Quicker
Today’s competitive environment has forced buyers to do all they can to stand out from the crowd, including getting pre-approved for their mortgage financing. Buyers know exactly what they can afford before home shopping. This makes the entire selling process much faster and simpler. According to Ellie Mae’s latest Origination Insights Report, the time to close a loan has dropped to 43 days. (Last numbers available.)
4. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move Up
If your next move will be into a premium or luxury home, now is the time to move up! The inventory of homes for sale at these higher price ranges has created a buyer’s market. This means that if you are planning on selling a starter or trade-up home, it will sell quickly, AND you’ll be able to find a premium home to call your own!
According to CoreLogic, prices are projected to appreciate by 4.8% over the next year. If you are moving to a higher-priced home, it will wind up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait.
5. It’s Time to Move on with Your Life
Look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place and determine whether it is worth waiting. Is money more important than being with family? Is money more important than having the freedom to go on with your life the way you think you should?
Only you know the answers to these questions. You have the power to take control of the situation by putting your home on the market. Perhaps the time has come for you and your family to start living the life you desire.
Article Source: Keeping Current Matters
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
It's finally yours. Your very own home. You can paint the walls whatever you like. Heck, even knock out a wall! There's no landlord to fight you.
But if you're serious about developing good homeowner habits (so your home makes you richer, not poorer), you'll use this worksheet the minute you close on your home — if not before. Easier to do now than suffer some head-slapping regrets later.
If that doesn't do it for you, here's a *cheater* version done in the form of 22 tips. You only need scroll:
Security & Safety
These are the very first things you should do after buying a house (for obvious reasons):
1. Change locks. Spares could be floating around anywhere.
2. Hide an extra key in a lockbox. Thieves look under flower pots.
3. Reset the key codes for garage doors, gates, etc. The former owners might've trusted half the neighborhood.
4. Test fire and carbon monoxide detectors. Who knows when the last time was. Definitely install them if there are none.
5. Check the temperature on your water heater, especially if you have young ones, so it won't accidentally scald. Manufacturers tend to set them high. (but the best temperature setting for hot water is 120 degrees).
6. Make sure motion lights and other security lights have working bulbs.
7. Put a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and each additional floor.
Maintence Planning
Start your master maintenance plan (and good home-keeping habits) by setting reminders in your calendar to do these basic maintenance tasks:
8. Clean out the dryer hose and vent yearly. Clogged ones burn down houses. And you don't know the last time the previous homeowner did it.
9. Change your HVAC filters at least once a season. You'll save on heating and cooling — and your unit will last longer. (While you're at it, go ahead and stock up on them, too.)
10. Schedule HVAC maintenance for spring and fall.
11. Clean your fridge coils at least once a year. It'll run better and last longer. (Don't see any coils? Lucky you! Newer fridges often have coils insulated, so there's no need for annual cleaning.)
12. Drain your water heater once a year.
13. Clean your gutters at least twice a year.
14. And if all items on your inspection report were not addressed, make a plan to fix them — before they become bigger and more expensive repairs.
Emergency Preparedness
You really really don't want to be figuring any of this out in a real emergency. Do it now. You'll sleep better and be less likely to ruin your home.
15. Locate the main water shut-off valve. Because busted pipes happen to almost every homeowner at least once. And water damage is value-busting and pricey to fix.
16. Find the circuit box, and label all circuit breakers.
17. Find the gas shut-off valve, too, if you have gas.
18. Test the sump pump if you have one. Especially before the rainy season starts.
19. List emergency contacts. You already know 911. These are the other numbers you often need in an emergency. You should have them posted where they're easy to see. In fact, here's a worksheet you can fill out and post.
20. Assemble an emergency supply kit. Some key items are:
Home & Mortgage Documents
In case there's a dispute with your mortgage lender or a neighbor over property lines, or if you're a bit forgetful about due dates.
21. Store copies (the originals should be in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box) of important home documents so they're readily available. Go paper, cloud, or better, yet, both.
22. Set mortgage and other bills to auto-pay so you're never late.
Article Source: houselogic
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
Realty Executives agents are real estate experts. They have the education and expertise you need to navigate through the process of buying or selling a home. From listing at the right price to making the best offer, our Executives have witnessed the best - and most regrettable - decisions homeowners and homebuyers can make. Every day, they are immersed in every aspect of real estate that includes comparable home price analysis, property surveys, credit reports, open houses, HOA agreements, lenders, title companies, homeowners’ insurance, walk-throughs, terms of sale or purchase, repairs, concessions and closing documents. Let our accomplished Executives help navigate you through the process of buying or selling a home.
