Affordable Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Regardless of your income level, homeownership can take quite a bite out of your budget. With energy costs on the rise and the economy still in a lull, maintaining a home has become increasingly difficult and quite costly, particularly if your home is not as energy efficient as it could be. Thankfully, there are many cost effective ways to make your home more energy efficient:

• If drafts occur around your windows and doors, use caulking or weather stripping to fill in the unwanted spaces. For drafty windows, you may even consider applying a thin plastic weather barrier on the inside of your windows during the winter months.  
• By design, your water heater is insulated, but it can always use an extra layer of protection. You can reduce heat loss without spending a lot of money by purchasing an insulating blanket for the unit.
• You can insulate your water pipes, particularly if they exist in unheated areas of your home.
• Remember to check the filters on your heating and cooling systems monthly and replace them regularly. Keeping up with annual maintenance and service is the key. 
• When possible, replace any incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs which are more energy efficient and last longer too!  
• Consider Replacement Windows: Although replacing the windows in your home can be costly. Energy efficient windows will save you a bundle of money in the long-run, particularly if your current windows are old and outdated. 
• Install Exhaust Fans: Exhaust fans can pull unwanted heat and humidity from bathroom and kitchen spaces during the summer months. 
• Install Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans can help reduce your home’s dependence on air conditioning during the summer months and, in the winter you can use the fan to help push heat down from the ceiling. 
• Install Programmable Thermostats: A programmable thermostat will reduce your energy costs by regulating the temperature in your home based on peak usage. In other words, your thermostat can keep lower the temperature during hours when the home is not occupied and pump it up while the family is gathered at home. 
• Replace those Old Appliances: Particularly if you are using older model appliances, you may want to consider replacing them with more energy efficient models. 
• Conserve Electricity: Turn off all electronic devices when not in use.  
• Use the Sun: During winter months, keep all window covers on south facing windows open to allow for additional sunlight. 
• Set Your Thermostat Wisely: In the winter, set your thermostat at 68° F. In the summer, set the thermostat at 78° F. 
• Use Your Damper Properly: Close the damper when your fireplace is not in use.

These tips and more ways to make your home more energy efficient are available at:  http://www.doityourself.com/stry/affordmoreenergy#ixzz0yD9Dp15U
By the DoItYourself.com Staff

Indianapolis Real Estate

First Time Home Buyers Statistics

Indianapolis Real Estate

Hamilton County Housing Update

Data obtained from participating Multiple Listing Services (MLSs) and the Broker Listing Cooperative® (BLC®). Powered by 10K Research and Marketing.
Indianapolis Real Estate

Why Some Houses Sit While Other Houses Sell

Curious what makes a house a sell when the same one down the road sets vacant for months?  It all has to do with a competitive pricing strategy and ensuring your house shows well.  This means decluttering, touching up the paint, and giving it a good clean (and keeping it clean). Get all the details and more by watching the full video at: Why Some Houses Sit While Other Houses Sell

Indianapolis Real Estate

Are You Trying to Sell a Vacant Home? Try Virtual Staging Solutions.

Have you been trying to sell a vacant home?  Are you frustrated that the home is unappealing and no one wants to buy it?  Do you not want to spend the time and money renting furniture to stage your home?  You should try virutal staging.

Virtual stating allows for a consumer to take photos, send them off to a virtual staging company and they will place furniture in the photo so that it appears as if the furniture is actually in the home! Virtual staging is a low-cost, easy and effective way to add value to any vacant listing.  You can even add these phots to the MLS, brochures, websites, or anywhere you would like and they look real!

Staged homes sell for up to 17% more than vacant homes. And that vacant homes usually take TWICE as long to sell compared to staged homes.  Wow! 

Virtual Staging Solutions (http://www.virtualstagingsolutions.com/) is one company that will provide this fantastic service.  Don't go another day trying to sell that vacant home, try virutal staging today!

Indianapolis Real Estate

Eagle Fest

For all of you Zionsville residents, don't forget about Eagle Fest this Friday, August 27th at Jennings Field from 5-7 pm.  The ZCHS football game at the new stadium begins at 7:30 pm.  Hope to see you there!
Indianapolis Real Estate

Make Small Spaces Bigger

Buyers want spacious homes. Here's how you can show off every square inch.

Size does matter when it comes to the perception of space in a home. That’s why it’s important to make sure you show off every square foot of your listing so that buyers can visualize enough room for all of their belongings.

However, home owners often crowd spaces with oversized furniture, bulky accessories, and piles of clutter that wind up making a room look much smaller than what it really is, says staging pro Jennie Norris, president of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals.

So how can you show off that space in your listings? Besides the obvious of removing clutter, try these simple ideas from Norris.

1. Scale down the furniture: By having too many large pieces of furniture in a small room, a space can feel more cramped, Norris says. Select smaller-scale furniture over large, chunky options. A good choice: furniture with wooden legs or unskirted chairs, so that you can see through the furniture to the floor underneath to open up a room.

2. Beware of overly busy patterns: Too many bold patterns in a room with fabrics and accent pieces can make a room feel smaller, Norris says. Big prints, bold plaids, and large floral patterns can be too busy for a small space. Stick to solids and use texture in fabrics to add interest.

3. Lighten Up: Dark colors absorb the light making small rooms look even smaller. “The general color rule for small spaces is lighter is better,” Norris says. Lighter colors on walls — such as creams, light blues, light greens, tan, and soft yellows — help expand the room. Plus, softer, cooler tones are soothing and relaxing, she adds.

4. Add height: Bring in anything that is tall to show off the height of the space. Whether it’s a piece of furniture such as a bookcase or an object like a tall tree, the height of the object will draw the eye upwards. Also in a house where you want to show off the height, hang the curtains above the normal window top level, Norris says. To widen the window, tie the curtains back with a rope tieback to show off the windows.

5. Use the reflection: Hang mirrors on walls to help add visual space. “When the room is reflected in the mirror, it can make us feel like there is more space as we see ‘another room’ in the mirror,” Norris says. “Mirrors can also reflect light and views, which will help lighten up the room and make it feel open and airy.”

Written by: Melissa Dittmann Tracey is a contributing editor for REALTOR® magazine. She can be reached at mtracey@realtors.org.
Indianapolis Real Estate

Upgrade Your Landscape, Upgrade Your Home's Value

Creating a beautiful landscape around your home is pleasing to the eye and beneficial to raising your home's value. According to the American Nursery & Landscape Association, improved landscaping can increase your property value by 7-14 percent and can make it sell 5-6 weeks faster. It's hard to ignore statistics like that, and luckily adding curb appeal doesn't have to break the bank. Whether you are planning to sell your home now or in the future, improving your landscaping enhances the overall quality of the property and your own personal enjoyment.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when designing your yard:

Choose Your Plants Based on All Four Seasons
Many people plan only for the summer and spring months, but planning landscaping also for winter and fall months will provide visual interest all year long.

The goal is to have flowering trees and/or shrubs throughout spring and summer, fall foliage in autumn and good structure in winter. This will give your yard more diversity and appeal as the appearance will change every few months.

Mix Annuals and Perennials
Perennials are great, but make sure to plant ones you love as they will keep coming back every year and in greater numbers. They also bloom for only a certain period, so plant some annuals as well, which bloom most of the summer, for a continual splash of color.

Layer Your Planting
Add texture to your flower beds by planting the back row with the tallest plants, a middle row with the next tallest, and a front row composed of your shortest plants. Use repetition, both in the planting bed and elsewhere in your yard, to provide unity.

Incorporate Hardscapes Into Your Design
Walls and fences make an essential design statement, as they frame your property and can also mask unsightly areas and add privacy. Decks and patios also create pleasing pathways to your yard.

Be Mindful of Your Budget
Larger trees and shrubs are expensive, so cut costs by buying smaller versions of the plants you want to incorporate in your yard. They grow faster than you think. Also check end-of-season sales as fall is a great time to plant.

Maintenance
Beautiful or not, you'll resent your yard if it causes you too much work. Choose low maintenance trees, shrubs and perennials if you do not want to spend a lot of time on upkeep. Trim your trees and shrubs regularly and keep the weeds out of your flowerbeds for a neat appearance.

Don't forget to click on the link to my Discount Website and enter your email address to register to win a FREE $240 maintenance service!

Click here to visit my Premier Discount Website!
Indianapolis Real Estate

This Month in Real Estate - August 2010

Housing activity continues to remain above year-ago levels despite some setbacks resulting from the now-expired tax credit. Improved stability in home prices with similar levels of distressed properties seen last year offers a hopeful sign the market is holding its ground. However, the economy still has a considerable way to go to achieve its full recovery.

Consumers are saving more and being picky about how they spend their money. While a higher savings rate means less spending in the near term, this is a positive sign that households are taking control of their finances to build some cushion that can be used to pay down debt and/or support future spending.

Existing home sales marked the twelfth consecutive month of year-over-year increase in June. On a monthly basis, sales activity eased 5.1% from May. The moderation in home sales reflects “understandable swings as buyers responded to the tax credits,” according to Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. He anticipates such impact to show up in the next two months.

June’s median home price increased for the fourth consecutive month. Distressed homes, accounting for 32% of sales last month, continued holding home prices at highly affordable levels for the time being. While distressed sales hovered around the same level as a year ago, the gain in home prices is pointing to a sustained stability in the making.

View the full article at: This Month in Real Estate - August 2010
Indianapolis Real Estate

Why You Need a Realtor When Buying a Home

A licensed real estate professional provides much more than the service of helping you find your ideal home.  Realtors® are expert negotiators with other agents, seasoned financial advisors with customers, and superb navigators around the local neighborhood. They are members of the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and must abide by a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice enforced by the NAR. A professional Realtor is your best resource when buying your home.

LET A REALTOR BE YOUR GUIDE

• A knowledgeable Realtor can save you endless amounts of time, money, and frustration.

• A knowledgeable Realtor knows the housing market inside and out and can help you avoid the “wild goose chase.”

• A knowledgeable Realtor can help you with any home, even if it is listed elsewhere or if it is being sold directly by the owner.

• A knowledgeable Realtor knows the best lenders in the area and can help you understand the importance of being preapproved for a mortgage. He or she can also discuss down payments, closing costs, and monthly
payment options that suit you.

• A knowledgeable Realtor is an excellent source for both general and specific information about the community such as schools, churches, shopping, and transportation—plus tips on home inspections and pricing.

• A knowledgeable Realtor is experienced at presenting your offer to the seller and can help you through the
process of negotiating the best price. By bring objectivity to the buying transaction, he or she can point out the advantages and the disadvantages of a particular property.

And the best thing about your Realtor is that all this help normally won’t cost you a cent. Generally speaking, the seller pays the commission to the Realtor (but this may vary from province to province and state to state).

Indianapolis Real Estate

Not All Pink Slips Are Bad

Important Information regarding your spring tax bill & homestead exemption:  

As most of you may know individuals and married couples are limited to one homestead standard deduction. (This exemption saves you $$$ come tax time and well you sell your home). As the receipt of this deduction becomes more beneficial, there is more incentive than ever for homestead fraud. This year in your spring tax bill the governement has included a verification form for all homeowners who claim a homestead exemption. This form must be completed and returned to your county auditor or you may be in danger of losing your homestead exemption. The form will be mailed again with your 2011 and 2012 tax bills. Many people have disposed of this form since they have previously filed their homestead exemption. You must complete this form even if you have previously filed your exemption.

Note: the form you received in your spring tax bills is a pink form, has your information, and instructions on how and where to return the completed form. You will want to contact your county auditor for instructions on how and where to return this form if you cannot locate your pink form.


Additional information and a generic copy of the form is available at: http://www.in.gov/dlgf/8455.htm.  This is one pink slip you will want to hold on to.

Keller Williams Realty Named Highest Ranked in Home Buyer Satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates for Third Straight Year

http://www.kw.com/kw/jdpower3.html