Posts with tag 'Home repair'

If one of your New Year's resolutions is cutting costs, there are a few easy changes that not only benefit your pocketbook but the environment. Our real estate agents are seeing more and more energy-efficient Richmond homes for sale, and are always discovering new ways to save on energy costs. These tips can help reduce your utility bills and put more money in your pocket.

1. Adjust Your Thermostat
   In the colder months, lowering the temperature on your thermostat just three to five degrees can reduce energy use and severely cut down your gas and electric bills. Whether you're away from home during work or just running out to do some errands, lowering it 10 to 15 degrees will help you save even more. In the summer, turning the thermostat up just a few degrees can also provide significant savings on A/C costs.

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Keeping your home updated is one of the best investments you can make in your future, whether you plan on selling within the next year or ten years from now. A total redo of your home can be overwhelming. But if you make little improvements over time and big ones every couple of years, the return on your investment can be significant. Our REALTORS® often advise clients who are listing their Richmond homes for sale to take a look around, prioritize, and make a few improvements. These enhancements can increase the value and allow you to enjoy it for years to come fully.

1. Landscaping
   Upgrading landscaping and keeping the outside of your home looking neat helps with curb appeal. Keep the grass cut and the trees, bushes, and hedges trimmed. It's also a good idea to add some eye-catching color. When planting, mixing heights and colors of different flowering plants can create a dramatic effect. Hydrangeas are hearty perennials, easy to maintain, and they grow into large bushes that produce flowers in blue, purple, white, pink, and green. If you're fresh out of ideas, take a look around the neighborhood to see what's out there. Local garden centers often provide free design services, which can help spark your imagination and bring your vision to life.

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With Memorial Day almost here– giving way to the fast approaching summer - homeowners are encouraged to make preparations were necessary to ensure their homes are ready for the hot weather.

Here are five (5) tips to make sure your home and family will be in the best shape possible:

1) A/C Check and Maintenance

Whether your home has a central air conditioning system or window units you'll install when the weather gets a little hotter, you have to make sure they're in good shape, according to Insurance Hub. After all, if they're going to get dozens of hours of use every week for the next several months, having them in good working condition is a must not just so they work properly, but also so they're safe.

You'll also need to check and potentially replace the air filters on all units.

2) Clean your fans thoroughly

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If you're already doing spring cleaning, it might be wise to get out the toolbox and do some home improvement projects as well. A little maintenance can go a long way after the tough winter months.

Here are some crucial tips to making sure your home can recover from the winter.

1) Fix the roof

There's probably no part of your home that takes as much of a beating every winter as the roof, according to BobVila.com. After all, it not only deals with snow, sleet and rain, but also harsh winds, cold weather, water runoff and bearing the weight of snow and ice that builds up over the course of a few months.

With that in mind, it's quite common for shingles or tiles to crack, loosen or fall...

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Spring might feel like it's a long way off right now, but it has a way of sneaking up on you. And as a homeowner, you know that it's never too soon to start planning ahead for spring maintenance. Our REALTORS® are here to offer some tips for getting your house ready for spring. 

Spring Maintenance Checklist

Every house is unique, and depending on your location and climate, your home maintenance checklist for spring may look a little different from this one. Still, for most areas across the U.S., the arrival of spring brings a similar set of challenges for your home. Here's how to get your house ready when spring arrives:

• Roof: Shingles often wear out, detach or become damaged during winter. If you feel comfortable doing so, climb up on a ladder for a closer look. If not, do a visual inspection from ground level and contact a roofing professional for a more detailed inspection.

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