Don't miss out on learning more about Medicare's benefits, shortfalls, and the solutions available to help fill Medicare gaps. K&B Financial, Inc. are holding two informational sessions on August 13th, 2 & 6 pm. Please click here for more information on the event! 

Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com

If you're buying or a selling a home, it's important to know how the market is currently doing to make better decisions. Here's a video from our local Real Estate Board Mainstreet Market breaking down the current Market and future trends.
For more information contact one of our expert agents.

Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com

Buying a home is a huge step and there’s a lot to learn along the way. Before you get too far into the process, it is important to know what’s involved and what it will mean for you. Realty Executives is here to help you get prepared by offering this exclusive Homebuyer’s Guide that will walk you through the home-buying process from start to finish.

Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com

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.