House Hint - Seal Air Leaks Around Windows

By: Jeanne Huber

Published: December 14, 2010

Seal air leaks around windows and doors to prevent wasting home heating and cooling energy that costs you money.
Progress E K
Effort Low 3-4 hours
Investment Med $25-$37 (new threshold; weatherstripping)
0Comments Added to Binder

Caulking and adding new weatherstripping can make old windows more efficient. Image: Somos Photography/Veer

An average home loses up to 30% of its heating and cooling energy through air leaks. The most significant air leaks tend to occur around windows and doors. To stop air leaks and prevent your home heating and cooling dollars from vanishing in the wind, it’s important to seal any air leaks around windows and doors.

Check for air leaks
With windows and doors closed, hold a lit stick of incense near window and door frames where drafts might sneak in. Watch for smoke movement. Note what sources need caulk, sealant, and weather-stripping.

Seal air leaks around windows
If you have old windows, caulking and adding new weatherstripping goes a long way toward tightening them up.

Bronze weatherstripping ($12 for 17 feet) lasts for decades but is time-consuming to install.
Self-stick plastic types are easy to put on but don’t last very long.
Adhesive-backed EPDM rubber ($8 for 10 feet) is a good compromise, rated to last at least 10 years.
Nifty gadgets called pulley seals ($9 a pair) block air from streaming though the holes where cords disappear into the frames.

Seal air leaks around doors
Check for air leaks, and replace old door weatherstripping with new.

Foam-type tape has an adhesive backing; it’s inexpensive and easy to install. If it comes loose, reinforce it with staples.
Felt is either adhesive-backed or comes with flexible metal reinforcement. it must be tacked or glued into place. It’s cheap and easy to install, but it has low durability.
Tubular rubber, vinyl, and silicone weatherstripping is relatively expensive and tricky to install, but it provides an excellent seal. Some types come with a flange designed to fit into pre-cut grooves in the jambs of newer doors; check your existing weatherstripping and replace with a similar style.
Check exterior trim for any gaps between the trim and your door frames, and the trim and your siding. Caulk gaps with an exterior latex caulk ($5 for a 10-ounce tube).

Seal door bottoms
If a draft comes in at the bottom, check the condition of the threshold gasket. Replace worn gaskets. If you can see daylight under the door, you may need to install a new threshold with a taller gasket ($25 for a 36-inch door). Or, install a weather-resistant door sweep designed for exterior doors ($9). Door sweeps attach directly to the door and are easy to install.





Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/articles/seal-air-leaks-around-windows-and-doors/#ixzz18l4MaWhr

5 Holiday Hosting Disasters and How to Avoid Them

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  5 Holiday Hosting Disasters and How to Avoid Them

  Take a look at the most common things that can go wrong when you have guests and learn how to prevent them. Read

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Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

HOME OWNERSHIP MATTERS!

Home ownership is important to families and communities! View this video! http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1785312249?bclid=1740033302&bctid=664750407001

Tips to Keep Your Home Safe and Sound

RISMEDIA, November 1, 2010—The well-being of our family is a priority all year, but is especially considered during the holidays when statistics about accidents abound. Most of us, with the possible exception of Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, take extra precautions for the holiday season. If you’re buying or selling a home, here are a few tips for safety and security that ensure a safe and happy home during the holidays, and all year long.

1. Protect little ones.Whether you are preparing for a visit from your grandkids, nieces and nephews, or you have kids of your own, a child-proofing kit makes safety easy with grip-and-twist doorknob covers, latches and plug protectors.• Child-proofing kit (Safety 1st, #42023), oven lock (Safety 1st, #62342), cord channel kit (#69682)

2. Mark and secure entries.The holidays can be prime time for burglaries, but updating your locks with an electronic deadbolt system can provide added peace of mind. If you install a set with a numeric keypad, you’ll never have to worry about leaving keys for your guests again. Mark your entry with path lights that clearly guide the way to the door.• Deadbolt entry set (Schlage, #40179), LED metal path lights (Portfolio, #284341)

3. Clear the air.Place an air purifier in the guest room and common areas to remove allergens (especially pet dander) and prevent the spread of cold and flu germs. Choose one with a true HEPA filter for maximum effectiveness.• 200 CADR air purifier with UV-C (Idylis, #302654)

4. Be fire smart.With holiday lights, candles and lots of cooking in the kitchen, it’s important to be prepared. Safeguard your family by keeping an extinguisher on hand for small fires, and install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. Check the batteries frequently to make sure they are in working order.• Basic fire extinguisher (Kidde, #3741), voice-alert carbon monoxide/smoke alarm (Kidde, #143036)

5. Equip your bath.It’s a snap to convert your guest bath into a safer place for older guests and young children. Add a grab bar to make getting in and out of the tub easier, and a durable bath mat to help prevent slips in the shower.• Bath safety bar (16½ -inch, #191936), rubber bath mat (Style Selections, #6777)

For more information and ideas, please visit www.lowescreativeideas.com.
This article is adapted from Lowe’s Creative Ideas for Home and Garden®, November/December 2010 issue, Style & Solutions – Home Safety.
RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.
Have you heard about RISMedia’s Real Estate Information Network® (RREIN)? RREIN is an elite network of leading real estate companies dedicated to providing consumers and their agents with leading real estate information, and committed to the belief that Information Share Equals Market Share. Having only launched this past June 2010, the RREIN network is already comprised of 40 leading brokerages, which make up 575 offices, 30,000 agents, 167,000 closings and represents over $41 billion in transactions. How can RREIN help your recruiting efforts and differentiate your company today? For more information, email rrein@rismedia.com.
Copyright© 2010 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission from RISMedia.

Winter is a good time to sell!

Crafty Ideas for Winter Curb Appeal
Yes, it's still possible to create great curb appeal when it's cold and gray outside.
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey

November 2010
During summer months when gardens are in bloom and the sun is shining bright, curb appeal comes naturally to many homes. But when the autumn chill turns to winter cold and the sun sets earlier in the day, it becomes more difficult to create that inviting exterior look that grabs buyers from the curb.

Fortunately, it is possible to create striking winter curb appeal without expensive or complicated exterior changes, says Charlene Storozuk, a home stager and designer with Dezigner Digz in Burlington, Ontario—a city that averages 51 inches of snow per year. It just requires a little creativity.

She and other home-design experts offer these eight tips:

1. Add splashes of green and purple. Plants, grasses, and evergreens can liven up a home’s winter landscape. Experiment with tall grasses, such as fountain grasses, that survive harsh winters. And in late fall and early winter, plants from the cabbage family add a vibrant purple color. Make the front door the focal point with a large wreath adorned with a colorful ribbon. To finish the look, place large, colorful planters filled with evergreens beside the front door, suggests Elizabeth Lord, broker with Carolina Farms & Estates LLC in Rock Hill, S.C.

2. Give it seasonal sparkle. Transform an unused bird bath or fountain into a seasonal display by adding twigs with red berries. Or fill frost-resistant urns with twigs, winter greenery, and sparkly baubles (sold at most craft stores), Storozuk says. For extra sparkle, roll twigs in glitter and incorporate a gazing ball—a mirrored glass ball available in various colors—into the display.

3. Make the garden statuesque. Roman- or Greek-themed outdoor sculptures can add class and elegance to a garden in winter. Be sure to use frost-resistant statues so they don’t crack, Storozuk says. Place the statues strategically throughout the garden to draw buyers’ eyes around the outdoor space.

4. Light it bright. During the winter, it’s more likely that buyers will be viewing home after sunset. Use clear flood spotlights to focus on the home’s architectural features, Storozuk says. Keep exterior lighting fixtures at maximum wattage and clean them regularly. When snow covers the ground, Michele Thompson, broker-owner of White Fence Real Estate in Vevay, Ind., takes photos of listings at night with all of the interior lights on—the light bounces off the white snow to create a warm, inviting glow. For the best results, turn off the flash, and use a tripod to avoid blurring, she says.

5. Show off the lifestyle. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t use the deck. Shovel your backyard sitting area and leave your grill uncovered so buyers can envision themselves using the space, Storozuk says. If the home has a hot tub, leave that open and running during showings as well.

6. Make the deck an extension of the house. Set up your outdoor tables and chairs just as you would in warmer months. “Home owners often cover their furniture and place lawn objects haphazardly on the deck,” says Kitty Schwartz, president and owner of Classic Home Staging in Katonah, N.Y. For added appeal, she adds a weatherproof cafe set with pillows that play off of interior accent colors. “Glancing out onto this type of vignette can make the indoor space feel larger and more interesting,” she says.

7. Create a photo display of sunnier days. Show buyers what the outside of the home looks like during other seasons by displaying some landscape photos in frames or using a digital photo frame with a slide show of images. “This will give a sense of what the property looks like at other times of year,” Storozuk says. If the home has a garden, make a list of what’s planted where. “Perennials can be expensive,” she says, “so treat them as a selling feature.”

8. Don’t forget to clear a path. If the ground is covered in snow, the simplest and most important thing you can do is shovel the driveway and sidewalks and keep the home’s patios and decks as clear as possible so buyers can get a sense of their true size.



Melissa Dittmann Tracey is a contributing editor for REALTOR® magazine. She can be reached at mtracey@realtors.org.

September Existing-Home Sales Show Another Strong Gain

Washington, October 25, 2010
Existing-home sales rose again in September, affirming that a sales recovery has begun, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Existing-home sales1, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, jumped 10.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.53 million in September from a downwardly revised 4.12 million in August, but remain 19.1 percent below the 5.60 million-unit pace in September 2009 when first-time buyers were ramping up in advance of the initial deadline for the tax credit last November.

Existing-home sales in the Midwest jumped 14.5 percent in September to a level of 950,000 but are 26.4 percent below a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $139,700, down 5.2 percent from September 2009.

Existing-home sales for October will be released at 10 a.m. EST November 23. The next Pending Home Sales Index is scheduled for November 5; released at 12:30 p.m. EDT from NAR’s 2010 Conference & Expo in New Orleans; a news conference there begins at noon EDT, which also will cover the 2011 housing and economic forecast.
Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the News Media section. Statistical data in this release, other tables and surveys also may be found by clicking on Research.

For the full report, go to http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2010/10/sept_strong

What Affects Credit Scores? 7 Misconceptions

If you’re trying to raise your credit score to get a good rate for a refinance or HELOC, you might be surprised by what affects—or doesn’t affect—your score.Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/articles/what-affects-credit-scores-7-misconceptions/#ixzz13PJUIOyj

Division of Real Estate Offers Tips for Consumers Who Buy or Sell Real Estate

The Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing has been working hard to prevent con artist activity. Through outreach and publications, the division aims to educate consumers about steps they can take to protect themselves prior to buying or selling real estate.

The recent housing market crash created a potential gateway for scammers. In response, the Division of Real Estate created a list of tips for consumers to consider before engaging in real estate activity. The tips include: know your real estate agent, choose a lender and be aware of requirements, understand earnest money and trust accounts, hire an attorney to review paperwork and ask questions often. Consumers can achieve the first tip easily by accessing the division's License Information Lookup---a database that includes relevant license information about the roughly 50,000 licensees it regulates---to find a licensed real estate professional. Working with one of the many licensed real estate professionals in Ohio can be one of the most important ways to ensure a successful, safe real estate transaction.
In addition to making its new publication available online, the Division of Real Estate has participated in National Consumer Protection Week events, professional conferences and the Department of Commerce's display at the Ohio State Fair to inform consumers of methods they should employ to ensure a successful buying or selling experience.

DFI Offers Advice on How Consumers May Protect Against ATM Skimmers

The Division of Financial Institutions is warning consumers to protect themselves from a new trend in identity theft: ATM skimmers. ATM skimmers are devices that thieves install on ATM machines to steal consumers' banking information. Skimming devices may be placed over or alongside card-reading devices on ATM machines. Thieves also may install a small camera on the machine to record users' pin numbers. The following tips may help you to protect yourself from ATM skimmers:
Beware of ATM machines with exposed wires, a loose scanner, multiple scanning devices, or a sticker that says "scan here first." If you spot any of these things, do not use the machine.
Do not use an ATM if someone offers to assist you with your transaction. Criminals may pose as another customer, a bank employee or a machine technician to make sure you use a skimming device.
Be secretive when entering your pin number. Cover the keys with one hand in case someone is looking over your shoulder or there is a hidden camera nearby.
Only use ATM machines that are familiar to you. This will help you recognize any tampering that has occurred with the machine.
Use ATM machines owned by your financial institution. These machines are often located in places where criminals cannot install their devices. Check the balance on your ATM card often so that if someone steals your information, you can minimize the damage. The faster you respond to ATM card theft, the sooner your financial institution may begin helping you recover any loss.

Award Winning Website!

DeHoff Realtors Congratulations to DeHOFF REALTORS Marketing Dept. for taking First Place for Firm Website Category; First Place for Firm Business Cards and Stationery Category; and Award of Excellence for Firm Display Advertising/Newspaper Category at the 2010 Ohio Association of Realtors Convention!!!

Estate Planning for your home

http://www.houselogic.com/articles/4-reasons-you-need-estate-plan-your-home/

Housing Remains Highly Affordable for Sixth Consecutive Quarter

Posted By susanne On August 23, 2010 @ 4:03 pm In Best Practices,Business Development,Real Estate,Real Estate Consultants,Real Estate Information,Real Estate News,Real Estate Training,Real Estate Trends,Today's Marketplace Comments Disabled
RISMEDIA, August 24, 2010—Bolstered by favorable interest rates and low house prices, housing affordability remained near its highest level nationwide for the sixth consecutive month since the series was first compiled nearly two decades ago, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI).
The HOI indicated that 72.3% of all new and existing homes sold in the second quarter of 2010 were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,400. The index for the second quarter was slightly more affordable than the previous quarter and almost equaled the record-high 72.5% set during the first quarter of 2009. Until 2009, the HOI rarely topped 67% and never reached 70%.
“Homeownership is within reach of more households than it has been for almost a generation,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Jones, a home builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. “Interest rates continue to hover at historic low levels, the economy is beginning to rebound and with house prices starting to stabilize, conditions are beginning to draw home buyers back into the market, which is a positive step on the path to recovery.”
Syracuse, N.Y., was the most affordable major housing market in the country, edging out Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind., which had held the top ranking for nearly five years. In Syracuse, 97.2% of all homes sold were affordable to households earning the area’s median family income of $64,300.
Also near the top of the list of the most affordable major metro housing markets were Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich.; Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pa.; and Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Among smaller housing markets, the most affordable was Springfield, Ohio, where 96.6% of homes sold during the second quarter of 2010 were affordable to families earning a median-income of $56,800. Other smaller housing markets near the top of the index included Mansfield, Ohio; Bay City, Mich.; Monroe, Mich.; and Lansing-East Lansing, Mich., respectively.
New York-White Plains-Wayne, N.Y.-N.J., continued to lead the nation as its least affordable major housing market during the second quarter of 2010. There, 19.9% of all homes sold during the quarter were affordable to those earning the New York area’s median income of $65,600. This was the ninth consecutive quarter that the New York metropolitan division has occupied this position.
The other major metro areas near the bottom of the affordability scale included San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City; Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, Calif.; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif.; and Honolulu, all metro areas that have lingered among the bottom rankings for several quarters.
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Calif., was the least affordable of the smaller metro housing markets in the country during the second quarter. Others near the bottom included Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif.; Ocean City, N.J; Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, Calif.; and Napa, Calif.

If you missed the $8000/$6500 tax credit . . .

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DeHOFF REALTORS Honors Our Professionals

Congratulations to our 2010 Ohio Association of REALTORS President's Sales Club Recipients: JoAnn Grisak, Karen Belden, Mary Margaret Evans, Cindy Kilduff, Diane Layne, Chris Amato, Conni Babcock, William Boy, Diane Burroughs, Dianne Calderone, Pat Fugate-DeVille, Lisa Grzybowski, Pam Oster, Byron Stavrou, Dave Maltese, Jerry Mazanec, Kary Feller!!!

Career Change?

Looking to make a career change? Come see the opportunities at DeHOFF REALTORS!!!

TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE FOR YOU!

Tax credits are available for you now! Click on this link for news!!!http://www.houselogic.com/articles/tax-credits-replacing-windows-doors-and-skylights/