‘As kids change so do their storage needs. Check out a number of different ways to handle those changes”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – Dc Metro Realty Team
From babies who adore you to teens who ignore you, kids change — and so do their storage needs. Read
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Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
“Now that we have ‘Sprung Forward’, it’s time to take advantage of this time of the year. Use this annual event as a reminder of things to do before the weather gets warmer.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Photo by: American Home Shield
Daylight Saving Time will be here before you know it. With it comes longer, hotter days that can drastically affect your energy bill. Here are some creative tips to help you save money for the spring and summer months ahead.
Natural light is a great way to reduce your energy costs. Instead of hiding behind closed blinds, open them up and let the sunlight brighten your home. When your air conditioner is on, keep your blinds closed during the day to lower the temperature of your home.
Find your threshold for cool air and set the temperature accordingly. As a basis, 78˚ when you’re at home and 85˚ when you’re not is a good way to lower costs. Also, to maximize the effectiveness of your unit, don’t forget to change your air filters and clear any vent blockages.
One of the biggest contributors to your energy bill is your air conditioner. Turn it off completely and cool down your home with window, ceiling and whole-house fans for big savings.
Water heaters account for about 18% of your home energy costs. Lowering the temperature on your unit to around 120˚ will help reduce how much energy it consumes.
Weather stripping, caulking windows and sealing air leaks will keep the cold air in and the hot air out. This trick will benefit your heating costs in the cold winter months as well.
Running the dishwasher and dryer during the day increases the temperature of your home. Wait until the sun goes down to do the dishes and laundry so your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to cool your home. Washing your clothes in cold water helps lower costs, as does unplugging electronics when they aren’t in use.
Need an excuse to spend more time manning the BBQ? Grilling outdoors, as opposed to using your oven, also reduces the heat of your home.
Sources:
Pacific Power
Energy.Gov
“Getting the most out of your home is important. Making a few small changes can make it ‘work’ better for you and will appeal to future buyers when you go to sell.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Home improvement trends embrace energy efficiency, low maintenance exteriors, and double-duty space. Read
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Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
“Remodeling a Small Bathroom can be a challenge since you really don’t have much to work with. These examples might just help you out.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
“Using the right light bulb can make a difference, especially in your kitchen appliances. Get it right the first time.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Photo by: Shutterstock
When the light in your oven or refrigerator goes out it can be tempting to use whatever light bulb you have on hand. But that’s actually not the best decision. Appliances require smaller-profile bulbs that are specially made to withstand heat and that contain rugged filaments made to endure vibrations from opening and closing the doors on the appliance. It’s also important to use bulbs with the recommended wattage and the proper base size. Ovens, microwave ovens, ranges, range hoods, refrigerators, freezers and dryers are among the appliances that require these special bulbs.
Incandescent bulbs, halogen lamps and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) are most often used in home appliances. Here’s how they work:
• Contain a tungsten filament
• Electric current heats filament to produce light
• Usually contain a stem or glass mount at the base to prevent air leaks
• Stem embedded with small wires to support the filament
• Vacuum or inert gas protects filament from evaporating
• Functions similarly to an incandescent lamp
• Employs the halogen cycle
• Halogen gas helps redeposit tungsten onto the filament for longer bulb life
• Electricity is emitted from cathodes that excite mercury vapor (inelastic scattering)
• Glass envelope contains phosphors and a noble gas (e.g., argon)
• Mercury atoms produce ultraviolet (UV) light, causing phosphors to glow and produce light
For instance, a 40-watt (incandescent) appliance bulb may be the same bulb used in your oven and your range hood.
Here are some of the bulbs that can be used in various appliances.
Oven: Many ovens require 15-watt tubular halogen lamps while others require a 40-watt appliance bulb.
Microwave oven: These often require a 25-watt T7 microwave light bulb. It has an intermediate base and sometimes is used in ranges and sewing machines.
Refrigerator: Usually takes a 25- to 40-watt standard base appliance bulb, but some refrigerators use a T8 intermediate base bulb.
Dryer: Most dryers use a 10-watt, 120-volt C7 bulb.
In 2012, manufacturers and retailers began phasing in bulbs that meet the standards required by the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), passed by Congress in 2007. The law requires higher efficiency standards for basic light bulbs, but it doesn’t apply to all specialty bulbs. Appliance bulbs are among those that are exempt.
Before you head out to the hardware store to purchase replacement bulbs, we suggest you take a minute to check the appliance owner’s manual to find out which bulb is recommended by the manufacturer. If you no longer own the manual, you can likely find the manual online on the manufacturer’s website by entering the model number of the appliance you own.
“So you’ve got a room with strange angles, or some other ‘issue’. Paint can help!”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Paint colors can do a ton to fix a room’s flaws for not much money Read
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Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
“We spend so much time in our Kitchens, it’s easy to understand why you would be ready for a change. Fortunately, you can freshen it up on just about any budget”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
“It’s almost Valentine’s Day! Start planning to give a special gift now!”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Give your Valentine a gift that shows you truly care! Create a bonus room, finish that home repair, resurface hardwood floors or gift an appliance or she shed.
Ah, Valentine’s Day. A holiday that’s generally celebrated with overpriced roses and dinner in a crowded restaurant alongside a hundred other couples. While the token gifts of flowers and jewelry are nice, this year, give your valentine a gift that really shows your love: a completed honey-do list.
Has your significant other wanted a few things done around the house or been staring longingly at Pinterest boards full of beautiful reading nooks? Make dreams come true by completing a household project for a gift your significant other will never forget. Here are five DIY Valentine’s Day ideas that will have your valentine feeling the love…
Chances are your valentine has a hobby or interest that he or she would love more space for. Maybe she would appreciate a sewing room to quilt or design clothes in, or perhaps he would prefer a man cave to watch the game with friends. Whatever it is used for, a bonus room outshines any bouquet of flowers or teddy bear when it comes to gifts.
Creating a bonus room is pretty simple. First, find some unused space in your home, whether it’s a spare closet, an attic, the basement or an extra bedroom, to convert into the room of your valentine’s dreams.
Spend some time decluttering the space and evaluate if there are any repairs needed. Chores, such as patching drywall or adding flooring, can be done by you or outsourced. Does your valentine have a favorite color? If so, paint an accent wall in that color!
Every home has that one thing; something that’s inefficient and annoying, but somehow no one ever gets around to fixing. Whether it’s a faulty light switch that doesn’t work or a TV that has been leaning against a wall, waiting for months to be mounted, fix that one thing and delight your sweetie.
If your wood floors have had a lot of use over the years and are looking a bit dingy, consider resurfacing hardwood floors to bring back the shine. While there are many places that rent the tools to make this a DIY job, resurfacing wood floors is a task that’s best left to professionals, as mistakes can be costly. You could end up with dips and grooves in the wood or an uneven stain job that will leave your valentine feeling more sour than sweet.
While a new appliance may not seem like the most romantic of gifts, the time and energy saved by a more efficient appliance over an outdated one can feel like the gift that keeps on giving. If there’s an appliance your significant other continually complains about, consider replacing it as a surprise. Make sure you offer to do the chore yourself as part of the gift! Depending on the appliance, it may be covered by an AHS Home Warranty.
She Sheds are all the rage these days. They’re the female equivalent of the man cave, except they’re housed in an outdoor shed. Done properly, She Sheds can provide a relaxing retreat that makes your backyard feel like an oasis. There are no set rules about what a She Shed must look like or contain. A quick internet search will show you everything you need to know to get started or check out these six ideas on who how to create the ultimate She Shed.
Design the shed around her favorite hobbies to create a gardening shed, a reading nook where she can curl up with a pile of books or an art studio where she can paint for hours. Don’t forget to put a big bow on the front door to make your valentine smile.
Originally published by American Home Shield
“How many times have you been in your kitchen and wondered ‘What is that Smell?‘ It might be coming from somewhere you forgot to clean.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Kitchen cleaning tips so you’ll never be embarrassed by cooking odors. Read
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Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
“It may be January, but now is a good time to start planning your garden and other plantings for the Spring.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team