Is Your Home Winter Ready?

Here are a few tips heading into winter this year that could help you save in heating costs and energy efficiency.

1. Install a draft stopper on your doors- Installing a draft stopper is simple, for less than $8 at your local home depot, you will be saving money in no time. There are applications for your windows as well.

2. Lower the temperature setting on your water heater- Lowering this setting can help save some energy, most water heater’s come out of the factory set on 140 degrees F. By simply lowering to 120-125 F and you may not notice the difference in temperature but you will in your bill! Average savings can be 7-10%!

    3. Clean your furnace filter- Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use. Simply change out your filters regularly or invest in an electrostatic filter and wash monthly to keep racking up the savings! (Make sure to let the filter fully dry prior to reinstalling.)

    4. Try turning ceiling fans on reverse- Some ceiling fans have a reverse switch on them, switching to clockwise makes it warmer. Air pooled near the ceiling is circulated back into the living space cutting your heating costs as much as 10 percent!

     5. Adjust thermostat temperature low when you’re out!- For every degree you lower the thermostat during heating season, you’ll save between 1 and 3 percent of your heating bill. Make it easier with a programmable thermostat. They are widely available for as little as $50, and the average family will save $180 a year with one. Some popular models have an app that allows you to control from your smart phone.

    6. Update weather strip or caulk windows/doors- Places where two different building materials come together are often overlooked. Try using the incense test: Carefully (avoiding drapes and other flammables) move a lit stick along walls. Where the smoke wavers, you have air sneaking in and heating or cooling sneaking out. By reducing the heat loss you will save energy, up to 5-30%.

     7. Cover hose bibbs with Hard Faucet covers- Installing a hard faucet cover before extreme freezing temperatures take over, can save you from paying expensive plumber cost!

     8. Have your furnace serviced- Ensuring your furnace gets an annual tune up can help save up to 5% in energy use. Your HVAC company will make adjustments if needed, lubricate any parts and make sure your filter is changed and/or cleaned. Most HVAC companies will offer a free furnace inspection and even discounted services. To save even more, make an appointment around the end of summer when they are less likely to be booked up. Taylor Heating & A/C, Inc. is offering 50% off diagnostic fee right now!

     9. Winterize your sprinkler system- Sprinkler systems must have all water drained out before freezing temperatures arrive or they may risk damage to the system. You can quickly accomplish this task by safely using an air compressor. For a in depth guide on how to do this, click in the link below.

          http://www.familyhandyman.com/landscaping/how-to-winterize-a-sprinkler-system/view-all

  10. Insulate Pipes- Save money on hot water by insulating pipes. By insulating pipes you’re also decreasing the chance of pipes freezing, which can be costly for a plumber to fix. Check to see if your pipes are warm to the touch. If so, they are good candidates for insulation. You can pick up pre-slit pipe foam at most hardware stores, cut it to size and fasten in place with duct tape. Ideally, choose the insulation with the highest R-value!

Does your realtor have an edge in the Kitchen?

Open houses generally offer buyers and sellers alike more information about the house, neighborhood, agent services, market trends, and let’s not forget occasional great food or snacks! I have talked with numerous Buyers, Sellers, Realtors  and tapped into my past chef career for ideas to come up with the top 10 best foods /refreshments to offer at an open house.

Typically open houses that offer refreshments are the brokers open. For those of you who think this means an open house for bankers and financial planners like I first thought, this is not the case. A Broker’s open is an open house that allows all Realtors, lenders, title and escrow affiliates from all companies to see new inventory, homes that may have had a recent price reduction or homes that recently went back on the market. The idea of offering food and refreshment came about because most Realtors check out as many houses as possible, which can take hours. The need for a refuel was necessary to keep realtors energy high and increase the visibility of your home on a Broker’s open.

Many Buyers/ Sellers can have the same dilemma, they may try to attend as many open houses in the area as they can and the need for a refuel might be necessary. Being one of the only open houses in a neighborhood that offers memorable refreshments/ treats might attract more possible Buyers to your open house. Make it fun, try offering snacks that go with the style or age of the home, either way the goal is to warm the hearts and fill the bellies of friends that might need a hand with real estate.  A strategy like this in combination with other marketing can increase the odds of your home selling quickly, does your Realtor have an edge in the kitchen? Here is the top 10!

1. Goat Milk Caramel Squares

2. Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

3. Pumpkin Pinwheels with Honey Infused Cream Cheese

4. Croque Monsieur’s (ham and cheese sandwiches)

5. White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Brownies

6. Blueberry Infused Lemonade

7. Homemade Cinnamon Mini Donuts

8. Caprese Skewers

9. Bite-sized Chocolate Mousse Cups

10. Hoisin Glazed Chicken Skewers

Come enjoy a free event, bringing the community of lakewood together to kick off our fall season! 

• Free Admission
• Climb on giant trucks and tractors
• Free Hayrides
• Free Pumpkins and Hardhats
• Food Trucks
• Pumpkin Chunkin
• Pumpkin Carving and Games

Date: October 15, Saturday 
Time: 12pm-3pm
Where:Fort Steilacoom Park, 8714 87th Ave SW