At Home With Valerie

This rainy season, don’t just sit there and wish for sunny days... prepare for them and get your windows weather-ready. Weatherproofing Windows If you live in a drafty house and want to reduce your heating costs (and help reduce your carbon footprint!), consider insulating with clear plastic window covers. They"re easy to install either outside or inside the windows. For outside seals, simply nail the cover over the window to create dead air insulating space. For indoor, tape down the edges and blow a hair dryer over the plastic to shrink and seal it over the window. This is a one-shot solution - if you loosen the tape, you have to start all over - so only use on windows you do not open. Warm-Climate Window Tips In the summertime, the sun shining through your windows heats up the house. Windows with spectrally selective coatings on the glass reflect some of the sunlight, keeping your rooms cooler.  Here are some more tips for limiting the sun"s...

Have your water bills gone up? Do you suspect a leak may have sprung somewhere in your home?  Here’s how to identify one of the usual culprits. Did you know it’s not uncommon for more than 20% of homes to have one unidentified water leak? Sometimes these leaks go on for years, completely unnoticed because home owners inherit small leaks, assuming their water bill is normal.  Other times, small water leaks are overlooked because owners assume the overall impact to their utilities is relatively small. But the truth is small leaks can add up hugely over time. Periodic inspection for leaks can help plug this problem at the source. Here are some ways to identify and address typical leaks: 1. Track your water bill over time. Most water bills will show your history for several months, if not year-over-year. While there are seasonal reasons for higher water use, especially if you water a lawn or garden, look for unexpected spikes. Yes, something as seemingly innocuo...

One way to keep yourself and your home healthier is by staying on top of simple heating and air conditioning maintenance. Here are some tips for making sure your home’s air quality high. Maintaining indoor air quality is an extremely important but often overlooked component of a living happily in your home. By and large it’s an invisible problem, but the costs can really add up— from high energy bills to creeping health issues. Many homes have become so energy efficient that they’re also good at trapping dust and other pollutants. Appropriate ventilation is an important aspect of indoor air quality. This includes venting bathrooms, kitchens, and fireplaces directly outside. It’s also vital to try and store industrial chemicals such as pesticides, paints, and harsh cleaners outside of the habitable areas of the home.  Alarms are also a useful way to keep an eye on what you’re breathing. Smoke alarms are a must for home safety, but carbon monoxide alarms...

In highly competitive markets where bidding wars are common, sellers can often be encouraged to go with a buyer who puts a human face on the transaction. Here’s how to sway those sellers with personal touches. If you’re home hunting in a competitive market, you’ve probably had the heartbreaking experience of losing out on a place you thought you would make your own. It can be frustrating and demoralizing to find out your offer was rejected in favor of another buyer. How can you do your best to make sure it doesn’t happen again? When a seller entertains multiple offers, it’s important to understand that many different factors are in play. If you’re an all-cash buyer you tend to have an advantage, as potential financing roadblocks are taken off the table. But if you’re like most people, paying cash for a house simply isn’t an option. What then? First and foremost, make sure you have 100% of your financial house in order. This means pre-qualificat...

Renovations never seem to go as planned. There's always a cost you didn't anticipate, or a problem that didn't reveal itself until the project was underway.  Here are five common costs to look out for.   1. Higher utility bills:  If contractors and builders are working in your home all day, there's a good chance they're constantly walking in and out the exterior doors. That wreaks havoc on your heating/cooling efficiency, so watch out for higher utility bills.   2. Movers:  It's pretty hard to renovate a fully furnished home. You may be able to move and store most of your furniture yourself, but homeowners often have bigger pieces that require some hired help.   3. Food:  If your kitchen is being torn apart, preparing meals becomes a lot more difficult. You may be able to keep your food budget steady by switching to meals that don't require counter space, the stove, or the oven, but don't be surprised if you end up dining out more often. ...