Home Maintenance Quiz

A home is, for most of us, our biggest single investment and like any other asset, it needs to be cared for an protected. This seems like an obvious statement but many home owners become overwhelmed with where to start and how to prioritize what needs to be done. In an attempt to provide some guidance, I began researching ways in how to make home maintenance a slightly less daunting endeavor. After far too much time spent choosing which picture to use with this entry, I decided to delve into the million or so "home owner" sites finally settling on the National Association of Home Builders trusting they would have a strong grasp on this topic. This site is a wealth of information and I found this Home Maintenance Quiz particularly helpful as it was both simple and educational. Although Home Maintenance Quiz doesn't cover every single house project imaginable, it does provide a very useful guideline for home owners to determine what needs to be addressed and at bare minimum a great jumping off point. Summer is here and what better time to spend a little time working on your house to ensure many more years in it!

Burlington Wine and Cheese Festival

I literally just got giddy with excitement when I read that this Saturday is the Burlington Wine & Cheese Festival on the waterfront. Sampling food from the area's best restaurants, tasting wines from all over the world all while enjoying the beautiful view of Lake Champlain sounds like a delightful way to spend an afternoon....one of the million reasons I love living in Burlington!

Still on the Fence About Buying?

If you are still on the fence about buying a home, I have two undeniably strong reasons to make a purchase sooner than later! I understand that taking that first step can seem daunting but the reality is, now is truly an incredible time to buy a home and here's why.

The Tax Incentive! In 2009, the Federal Government offered a tax credit to first time home-buyers of up to $8,000 which was extremely successful and this past November, the tax credit was extended and expanded to also include "repeat buyers"! That means that existing homeowners, who have owned their primary residence 5 of the last 8 consecutive years may be eligible for up to a $6,500 tax credit...but the deadline is quickly approaching! To take advantage of the credit, a property would have to be under deposit on/before April 30, 2010 to close by June 30, 2010. So, if 2010 is your year to downsize or get that extra living space you've wanted - this could be the incentive you've been looking for or if you are dreaming of buying your first home, this could be the little extra push you need to take that first step!

www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com

Secondly, I often hear people telling me that they are going to wait to see if home prices come down. To me that sounds vague and not the best plan of action as prices ARE down as well as interest rates which is quite frankly predicted to change. I asked Heather Myott a Mortgage Advisor with Coldwell Banker Mortgage, what would be the impact of waiting before purchasing a home. She gave me a great example to demonstrate that waiting could mean a decrease in purchasing power.

Example:
Purchase of $200,000 with 3.5% down payment at mortgage interest rate of 5.200% for a 30 year fixed rate loan = $1,078.33

Same scenario as above with an increase to the rate of 1% for a total mortgage interest rate of 6.200% = $1,202.75

Total increase in monthly payment of $124.42 or more than $40,000 over a 30 year loan.

So to summarize her example, to purchase at the same monthly payment as what you could with today’s rates in an economy with higher rates, you would be buying a home for around $179,000. That is a decrease in purchasing power of $21,000 or over 10% less of a home! So waiting for prices to come down while rates go up and you miss the opportunity to make yourself eligible for the Tax Incentive isn't perhaps the best plan of action.

So get off the fence and at contact me! I am here to help and would love to chat about how to make owning a home a reality!

Postcards Home

The incessant rain was beginning to take its' toll on me until I stumbled across this very cute blog documenting one person's quest to define the perception of 'home' ...one postcard at a time. "If home is where the heart is, where is yours? A visual exploration of the concept of 'home,' across continents, oceans and neighborhoods." I love this idea! Reading through each submission, my own surprisingly strong reaction was a clear indication to me of how powerful the concept of home really is. Some of the responses were sweet, others were funny but all equally significant. It made me wonder how others would react when posed with this very question. Just thinking through what exactly home means to me put a smile on my face on an otherwise gloomy day.
: )

http://thisishomeproject.blogspot.com

Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration.
-Charles Dickens

Am I The Only One Who Didn't Know This Trick?

I've spent the better part of my life in cold snowy climates and until today, pulling up my windshield wipers during a snow storm has never occurred to me. Rather than explore how I have managed to somehow miss this concept, I thought instead I would provide a few effective and simple home energy savings tips that may have somehow escaped some of you home owners during this chilly winter season.

1. Run your ceiling fans in reverse to push warm air back to the ground
2. Shut bathroom and kitchen fans off as quickly as possible to prevent heat loss
3. Close curtains and blinds during the night to keep warm air in and the cold air out, and open during the day to let the sunshine in
4. Weather-strip doors and windows, including those in the basement and attic
5. Keep your fireplace flue closed when not in use (glass fronts also help to prevent heat loss)
6. Keep heating vents and radiators free from obstructions (furniture/carpets/drapes will trap the heat not to mention sitting directly near a draft is going to make you feel colder)
7. Install an automatic thermostat to keep the heat at 68 during the day and 55 at night
8. Install storm doors and windows
9. Insulate your attic, outside walls, basement and any crawl or floor space (more heat is lost from basements and floors than windows and doors)
10. Dust or vacuum radiator surfaces frequently to allow the heat to escape properly
11. Have your furnace serviced (a gas furnace needs servicing every 2 years while an oil furnace should be checked yearly)
12. Seal up any cracks or openings around your fireplace, windows, the roof, pipes etc.
13. Set the temperature of your water heater to the 130 range as it takes less energy to heat and hold the water
14. Add duct tape to heating ducts where they might be exposed to cold air
15. Wrap your furnace in wall insulation or a furnace wrap (newer furnaces may not need this but if you touch the side of your furnace and it's hot...you're losing heat)