home maintenance: Prepare your home now for upcoming cold weather
- 09/27/16 01:58 AM
Here's a timely article to get you and your home ready for the winter. Now is the time to do it. #CleanGuttersBeforeTheRain
This great article came from Homes.com.
5 Home Improvements You Should Tackle In Early Fall To Get Your Home Prepared For The Cold Weather by YUKA KATOSEPTEMBER 16, 2016
There’s something about autumn that energizes many people, getting them to take on projects and plans that they may have been putting off for a while. So while you’re busy making plans for the winter months ahead, make sure you also take the time to take … (1 comments)
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home maintenance: Home Improvement tips and ideas for this Spring
- 04/24/13 04:44 AM
Spring Home Improvements: Repair, Replace, Enjoy!
APRIL 2013 | BY BARBARA Ballinger
Besides cleaning closets and planting flowers and cool-weather vegetables, spring should involve scrutinizing the condition of a house following the rough winter. Repairs and replacements won’t just help owners enjoy their properties more; they’ll also keep energy costs down as hot weather rolls in and attract more buyers, many of whom have become meticulous about inspecting roofs, appliances, and HVAC bills.
While most home owners need to prioritize costs, these 10 improvements are at the top of many contractors’ lists. Some of them are even more affordable than … (0 comments)
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home maintenance: SMUD Program Rewards Energy Efficiency
- 09/14/11 08:05 AM
SMUD Program Rewards Energy Efficiency
By Howard Posner, SMUD Ward 3 Director
If you’ve ever thought about making energy-efficient upgrades to your home to help lower your monthly electricity bills, this is the time to do it.
SMUD secured a $20 million dollar federal grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will help fund an innovative energy efficiency program. With an array of generous rebates that could reach $9,000 per home and $2,800 per apartment unit, SMUD’s Home Performance Program aims to retrofit about 2,000 single-family-homes and 2,500 multifamily homes with energy-saving upgrades.
Earlier this year, SMUD nearly … (0 comments)
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home maintenance: Whole-House Fans: Maximum Cool, Minimum Cost
- 08/29/11 07:58 AM
Earlier this summer, i had a blog post on Keeping your Air Conditioning in top shape for those hot Sacramento Summer days. I also mentioned a whole house fan project i was working on. Well, the project is now complete and i would call it a total success. I first researched whole house fans online to figure out what size/power unit i needed for my house. After that i found a fan for $200. SMUD and PGE are offering rebates for whole house fans, so i got a $100 rebate from SMUD. I needed to buy a new breaker for the fan … (0 comments)
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home maintenance: Get a tax break for home improvement
- 08/02/11 09:52 AM
As always, consult with your CPA or tax consultant for tax advice. Here's an article from Inman News talking about potential tax breaks for home owners making home improvements.
clear skies,
doug reynolds
www.SellWithDoug.com
www.BHGshortsale.com
Get a tax break for home improvement Real Estate Tax Talk By Stephen FishmanInman News In today's down market, many homeowners are reluctant to pour more money into their homes. Before deciding whether to replace a roof or merely patch it, homeowner's should consider the tax implications.
Home improvements -- a new bathroom or kitchen, for example -- can increase the value of a home … (1 comments)
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home maintenance: The Value of Home Maintenance
- 07/28/11 07:46 AM
So, you made it through the escrow process, you just closed and were given the keys... Now what??? It takes time to learn how to be a home owner, so here are some great tips to think about and implement once you are the king of your new castle. These tips will help you avoid high costs repairs down the road if you neglect your needed, regular home maintenance.
clear skies,
Doug Reynolds
www.SellWithDoug.com
www.BHGshortsales.com
Regular home maintenance is key to preserving the value of your house and property.
“It’s the little things that tend to trip up people,” … (1 comments)
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home maintenance: Is your home safe and secure???
- 06/29/11 05:43 AM
Unfortunately, making sure our homes are secure is a very important process. Take a look at these 5 steps and i bet there are a few simple things you can do to improve your home security.
clear skies,
Doug Reynolds
www.SellWithDoug.com
Do-It-Yourself Home Security Check: 5 Essential Steps By: Joseph D'Agnese
Conduct a do-it-yourself home security check by walking around your house to assess what needs to be done to reduce the risk of a break-in.
1. Keep your home well-maintained on the outside Burglars want an easy target. Stand on the street outside your house and ask yourself: Does my … (0 comments)
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home maintenance: Is your A/C struggling this summer???
- 06/28/11 05:41 AM
As those first 100 degree days have now passed, our air conditioners are starting to feel the strain of summer. Here's a great article that spells out the options of either repairing or replacing your AC when you run into trouble. This summer i have decided to install a whole house fan to lower our energy bills, keep the house cooler and put less strain on our unit during the day. I'll be reporting later this summer about my experience of the install. But for now, check out the article on deciding what to do with your broken A/C unit.
… (4 comments)
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home maintenance: Drainage Problem? Go French with it...
- 06/22/11 07:25 AM
I know it's not rain season any more in the Sacramento Area BUT, now is probably the best time to take care of any drainage issues you might have had during the winter. Water is a very damaging force to real estate and you want to do everything you can to keep it away from your house and property. One very cost effective way is a "French Drain." I set up a French Drain at my rental property a few years back, it works pretty well and gets the job done. Here's an article from Houselogic writer, John Riha talking about his recent experiencing of … (1 comments)
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home maintenance: Boost Your Resale Value with some Home Improvement around the house...
- 06/06/11 08:10 AM
...with warmer weather on the horizon, it's time to get around to fixing up some things around the house. Or, maybe time to put the house up for sale. So where do you begin with updating the house for it to show much better?? Here's a recent article from SFgate that can get you pointed in the right direction. And if your "Honey, do list" is as long as mine, i'm sure i'll be seeing you at a Home Depot around town.
clear skies,
Doug Reynolds
www.SellWithDoug.com
Home Improvements That Boost Resale Value Amy Fontinelle, Investopedia May 31, 2011
Now that it's spring, have you been thinking about … (0 comments)
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home maintenance: Easy Ways to Transform a Room
- 06/02/11 11:53 AM
Here's a quick, design article for homeowners wanting to spruce up a room or looking for some direction after just purchasing. Spring is always a great time to update and change a room around the house. Or, you might be a seller looking for some ideas on how to change that eyesore into a selling point...Enjoy the article form Rismedia.
clear skies,
Doug Reynolds
www.BuyWithDoug.com
Easy Ways to Transform a Room RISMEDIA, Thursday, May 26, 2011— Updating a living room or family room doesn't have to mean giving it a complete makeover. A few simple changes can transform a … (1 comments)
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home maintenance: Buyers need a good home inspection...
- 05/23/11 09:33 AM
A quality home inspection is one of the most important things for a buyer of a home. This is one area where i never recommend going for the cheapest inspector you can find. In my six years of selling real estate i've seen many home inspections/inspectors, and i can promise you that they are not all created equal. I've seen some horrible reports that were a complete waste of the buyers money but i've also seen some great reports that was worth every penny for the buyer. Depending on the situation, a good report can sometimes get a repair for a … (0 comments)
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home maintenance: Get your A/C ready for the Summer
- 05/20/11 08:02 AM
Besides changing an air filter once a month, central air doesn't require much in the way of maintenance. By following the steps below you may be able to avoid future repair bills. Remember to check the manufacturer's instructions before starting any maintenance and remember to turn the unit OFF.
Clean or change air filter (once a month). The air filter is the most important part of your cooling system. If it becomes clogged, then your system will have to work harder and longer to supply the same amount of cool air. Clean indoor coil (once a year). A dirty coil … (1 comments)
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home maintenance: 3 essentials to make a house a home
- 05/11/11 08:48 AM
Here's a recent article i found from Inman News discussing what homeowners are striving towards in turning their house into a "Home." I found it interesting and pretty accurate. What are your thoughts?
clear skies,
Doug Reynolds
www.SellWithDoug.com
3 essentials to make a house a home By Tara-Nicholle Nelson, Inman News
Space and light: Most people know they want or need a certain amount of space, and increasingly, buyers seek out homes with the "right" directional exposure and amount of windows for optimal natural light. But this craving for space and light is just as frequently subconscious, and is … (2 comments)
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home maintenance: Simple Tips to Prevent House Fires
- 05/10/11 07:08 AM
Here's a recent article i came across on RisMedia. The article quickly gives pointers to avoiding fires in your home. Something nobody wants to deal with. Look it over and think if you need to make any changes to your home before it's too late.
clear skies,
Doug Reynolds
www.BuyWithDoug.com
Every year home electrical problems cause more than 28,000 house fires and massive property damage. Electrical wiring is the root cause of many of these fires, of which countless could have been prevented. May is Electrical Safety Month. MXenergy, an independent energy provider, is encouraging everyone to review key electrical … (0 comments)
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home maintenance: 9 Unexpected Energy (and Money) Savers
- 04/14/11 09:06 AM
Here's a recent article from Houselogic that has some good money and energy saving tips. I was surprised by a few of them such as the dishwasher using less water and energy than doing it by hand. Give it a read. you might find a few ways to save some money around the house.
clear skies,
Doug Reynolds
www.SellWithDoug.com
9 Unexpected Energy (and Money) Savers
Here are a few surprising and simple ways to cut your energy bill this season.
Put lamps in the corners: Did you know you can switch to a lower wattage bulb in a lamp or … (1 comments)
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home maintenance: What the deal with Lead Paint?
- 04/12/11 05:56 AM
For every transaction i do in the Sacramento Area, i'm required to provide information to the buyers about lead based paint. Lead based paint was discontinued in the 1977. So most homes that were made pre 1978 contain lead based paint in them. That would include many of the homes in the Sacramento area. Most of the time my clients are not very concerned with it but it is still important to be aware that your home may contain lead based paint and what that means. Below is a short article about easily testing for lead based paint. THis is something … (0 comments)
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home maintenance: Remodeling trend: Practical — not luxury — is in, analyst says
- 04/11/11 11:33 AM
Here's a recent article from the L.A. Times. The article talks about the evolution of homeowners remodeling habits. During the boom years of 2003-2006 many homeowners were pulling out equity and doing huge remodel projects. Completely tearing out kitchens, adding additional rooms, etc... Now the trend has changed to less costly, more necessary projects. Replacing a broken furnace, changing the windows to dual pane, replacing an old roof... Take a look at the article to see how that trend is supposed to continue for the near future and why.
clear skies,Doug Reynoldswww.BuyWithDoug.com
Remodeling trend: Practical - not luxury - is … (0 comments)
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home maintenance: The Granite Look for Kitchen Countertops Is Just a Spray Away
- 04/05/11 09:21 AM
Here's a really cool new product i just came across that many new homeowners will probably love. Basically you can change your laminate counter tops into looking like granite for a fraction of the cost. Read the article and then check out the company's website to see if this project would be a great fit for your kitchen.
clear skies,
Doug Reynolds
www.BuyWithDoug.com
The Granite Look for Kitchen Countertops Is Just a Spray Away
Laura Serino April 4, 2011
Updating the kitchen is probably the costliest project on most home owners' lists. If it's not in the budget, we hear … (1 comments)
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home maintenance: California program offers rebates for making energy-efficient improvements
- 03/11/11 04:32 AM
Needing to update that heater or worried your air conditioning is not going to turn on this summer? Here's a great article from the Mercury News discussing a new California Program that is giving homeowners a rebate on preforming energy efficient improvements on their homes. Give it a read, it very well could save you some money this year...
clear skies,
Doug Reynolds
www.SellWithDoug.com
California program offers rebates for making energy-efficient improvements By Dana Hull
A new statewide program launching Tuesday will give homeowners rebates worth up to $4,000 if they make significant energy-efficient improvements to their houses.
The $300 … (0 comments)
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Here's a timely article to get you and your home ready for the winter. Now is the time to do it. #CleanGuttersBeforeTheRain
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