HOW TO CUT YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL IN HALF

You don’t have to freeze in the winter or start reading by candlelight to reduce your electricity bill. There are many simple ways to use less power with little, if any, impact on your lifestyle.

A good place to start is with your electronics. 

According to the David Suzuki Foundation, “Any gizmo that has a clock, digital timer, remote control or standby mode is sucking energy when it’s not being used (it’s called ‘phantom electricity’ — and it’s scary how much of it there is).” So keep them unplugged as much as possible. Also, unplug charger cords for phone and computers when not in use. Even when not connected to the device, they still suck power.

Another easy change to make involves your lights. Switching to compact fluorescent (CFL) or LED light bulbs can save you a lot of energy. They’re 75% more efficient.

Finally, the old-fashioned method of insulating doors and windows can work wonders for lowering your electricity bill. In fact, some particularly drafty homes can lose up to 40% of their heat. Check for drafts regularly and repair or replace insulation as needed. 

None of these ideas will impact your day-to-day living. Yet, they could potentially save you a bundle.

HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOU'VE FOUND YOUR NEXT HOME

Are you preparing to move? Are you worried the sheer number of properties on the market will overwhelm your ability to decide? Here’s how to “check your buying temperature” and make an offer on the right home.

When you’re house hunting, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You’re making a big investment. You want to find a place which is “just right” for you (and your family). You can even get a little addicted to touring houses, always convinced the perfect home is just about to hit the market. Sometimes inability to pull the trigger on a house can cause serious shopper’s remorse. You could miss out on a home that, in retrospect, was ideal. 

So how do you know a home is “the one”?

Here are some useful ways to check your buying temperature and know when it’s time to make an offer:

1. The home fundamentally meets your needs. There’s plenty of compromise in home hunting, so when you find one that has the basics covered, take note.

2. You’d consider renovating for those luxurious little extras. Maybe the home is missing that pool you’ve always wanted, or is missing a detached workshop/garage space. Recognize when you find yourself thinking you’d be up to tackling a project to make it perfect.

3. You’re in love with the kitchen. Studies show we spend most of our waking hours connected to or using the kitchen. If you’re in love with the kitchen, but think the master bedroom is a little small, don’t make mistake. This could be the one.

4.The bathroom feels comfortable to you. Many times, other people’s bathrooms will give you the creeps. If you feel good about the bathroom, it’s a healthy sign. After all, you have to be naked in there. 

5. You start to see your possessions in the house. If you’re thinking “ah yes, the flatscreen could go on that wall” and “wow, my bed would fit perfectly in this suite,” then you’re starting to imagine the house as your own.

6. The idea of someone else buying the home gives you a pit in your stomach. If you’re “sleeping on the decision” and the idea that the home is no longer an option makes you anxious, pay attention. It could be offer time.

So… are you ready to buy? Contact me today at valeriemcconville@gmail.com or you can visit my website at www.valeriemcconville.com.

CLEVER DESIGN UPGRADES TO HELP SELL YOUR HOME FASTER

Why does one home stand out over others in a market? Sometimes it’s the tiny things which sway a buyer’s interest. Here are a few clever design upgrades to gain an edge in your neighborhood.

What is it about a home that catches a buyer’s eye? Why is it when two homes are comparable to one another, buyers go with the one that just “feels right”? Sometimes the difference is so small, they don’t consciously notice. Little touches can give a home a major edge in the market.

In fact, here are five clever design upgrades which can provide your home with that indefinable feeling that it’s of higher quality than the competition:

1. Light switch plate upgrades. Homeowners always overlook their own dirty, chipped, or cheap-looking switch plates. If you spend a few bucks to swap out switch plates, any room in the house will seem a tiny bit fresher. Better yet: In the bathroom and kitchen, match the color of your new switch plates to the tile. Look at the accent color in the bathroom or the backsplash in the kitchen for inspiration. 

2. Dimmers on major rooms. Bright lights are great for showing off a home, but there’s a little sense of luxury when the overhead lights in living, dining, family, and master bedrooms are on dimmer switches. For fixtures controlled by one switch, get single pole dimmers. For those controlled by two, you’ll need 3-way dimmers.

3. Tasteful crown molding. For rooms without crown molding, adding this touch can really make a plain room feel high-quality. Entryways and master bedrooms are good choices if you have a limited budget, but if you want to go all out, include the other bedrooms as well. The key is adding molding which doesn’t seem ostentatious or inappropriate given the size and existing decor in the room.

4. Custom home address plaque. For between $50 and $100, you can have an address plaque created with the home’s number and the street name spelled out. Look online for inspiration and a design which fits your home. This is a killer upgrade and many homeowners overlook it when they’re trying to add curb appeal to their house.

5. New cabinet and drawer hardware. It’s astonishing how much modern handles and drawer pulls go towards rejuvenating tired or outdated storage. At a minimum, concentrate on the kitchen, but if you want to go all out, look for options to upgrade the bathroom as well.

You might not be able to quantify the exact return these clever upgrades will net you, but you can bet they will help your home stand out from sellers who won’t take the time to make some simple changes.

Are you ready to sell? Contact me today! valeriemcconville@gmail.com Or you can visit my website at www.valeriemcconville.com.

RENOVATIONS WITH THE BEST RETURNS FOR 2017

Are you thinking of a home renovation project? Why not pick one which has the highest rate of return when you go to sell your home? This list of renovation winners may surprise you.

If you’ve been kicking around the idea of some home improvements, but aren’t sure which ones make the most financial sense, don’t miss “The Renovations That Will Pay Off the Most for Your Home in 2017” published by Realtor.com. 

While some renovations sound like they’re a home run for your home’s value, in actuality big-ticket projects recoup far less than some of their simpler counterparts.

For example, adding fiberglass insulation to your attic has an astonishing estimated return of 107.7% compared to a bathroom addition, which averages only a 53.9% return. 

The report compares the average cost of the project to the expected value at the time of resale. Here are the top 10 projects and their ROI percentage:

1. Fiberglass attic insulation (107.7%)
2. Steel entry door upgrade (90.7%)
3. Manufactured stone veneer (89.4%)
4. Minor kitchen remodel (80.2%)
5. Garage door replacement (76.9%)
6. Siding replacement (76.4%)
7. Wooden deck addition (71.5%)
8. Second-story addition (71.1%)
9. Basement remodel (70%)
10. Family room addition (69.3%)

You can read a more detailed analysis of the projects (plus the next 9 projects in the ROI list) here: http://www.realtor.com/news/trends/best-and-worst-renovations-to-make-in-2017/

Of course, ROI is only one factor in choosing a home renovation. Some projects pay huge dividends in the pleasure they give you while you live in your home. Having a second bathroom with two teenagers in the house? Priceless! 

Which renovations are you considering? How concerned are you about your return on investment when the time comes?

When you’re ready to cash in on your investment, get in touch with me! I’m here to help you get top dollar for your home: valeriemcconville@gmail.com