Article By: Les Shu Advanced programmable thermostats give you precise control over your heating and cooling, helping to reduce wasted energy.
High-def, high-tech settings
You wouldn’t think of spending much time in front of your thermostat, but the newest advanced models--with their colorful touchscreen displays--are an engaging, interactive experience. They offer separate programs for each day of the week, and can even alert you if service is required. With its high-definition screen display, Honeywell’s Prestige Comfort System resembles a mini-computer more than a traditional thermostat. In addition to indoor temperature, the Prestige’s graphical user interface can display outdoor conditions and humidity with an add-on sensor. An onscreen wizard interviews you about your usage based on simple questions, and then sets a program accordingly. A portable controller lets you adjust settings from any room in the house. The Prestige is priced from $250 and up. If you can live without a fancy display, an advanced programmable thermostat from HAI costs around $300 to $400, while a simpler seven-day programmable model from Hunter costs $99.
Control from afar
What if you’re on your way to a long vacation, and you suddenly realized you’d forgotten to turn down your home’s thermostat? If your home is equipped with the Smart Thermostat from ecobee, you can tap into the system through a personalized web portal anywhere there’s Internet access. Log in to check on your HVAC’s performance and make adjustments on the fly. The unit sells for $469. Manage your home’s HVAC via a home automation app from Control 4. The sophisticated system allows you to change thermostat settings from your smartphone, pad, and PC. In addition, you can control the lighting, music, window treatment motors, and a wide range of Control 4 devices.
Know the price before you turn it on
Pilot programs for installing smart thermostats that display “time of use” pricing information are underway in regions like Florida and California. These thermostats receive a wireless signal from the utility company, and adjust the temperature according to the price of electricity during different times of the day. With costs for air conditioning at about 70 cents to $1.20 per hour, reducing AC usage only an hour per day would yield a savings of $65 to $110 over the course of a summer. Check with your utility company to find out if such a program is available in your area. A writer covering the latest technologies and trends for a variety of national publications, Les Shu is currently automating his home with the newest doodads to make it smarter than he is. Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
The National Kitchen and Bath Association just released its 2011 kitchen and bath study to predict trends for this year. While some trends are definitely on the rise, others that were hot (or not so hot) last year are gaining (or losing) momentum.
Here is the definitive list of what will be big in the coming months:
1. The Case for Space
If you recall, opening rooms was also one of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s predicted trends for 2011. It seems that today’s chefs don’t want to be stuck in a stodgy room. And for those who are more frugal, simply knocking down a wall may be enough: “Knocking down a few walls costs a lot less than adding square footage. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, though, make sure you’re not destroying load-bearing walls.”
2. Tough Counter to Crack.
Quartz is back in a big way. People are going for the hard mineral because it is the “perfect alternative to granite and marble for low maintenance and high durability” in both the kitchen and the bathroom. In fact, 85 percent of NKBA bathroom designers incorporate quartz into their designs.
3. Going Green.
While it is important to be eco-friendly, this year people are quite literally going green, especially in bathrooms. The calming, earthier tone saw a rise in popularity late last year; at the beginning of 2010 only about 1 in 7 people requested green in their remodel, but by December 1 in 4 wanted the color.
4. Shake It Up.
Shaker-style kitchens - an organized, wood-paneled, cabinet-centric approach design - are having a major comeback. While people are still leaning towards traditional models, the Shaker utilitarian approach has been used by 55% of kitchen remodelers last year.
5. Dark Times.
Dark natural and deep reddish-brown maple finishes are in this year for cabinetry and even floors. With more people turning to the dark side, medium natural, white, and glazed finishes have fallen by the wayside.
6. Relax in Style.
People are turning up the volume on in-home luxury; maybe because of the economy, people are finding ways to pamper themselves at home. From spa-like bathrooms to a rise in unchilled, wine cabinets being installed, homeowners are creating spaces in their homes to simply relax. For those on a budget, MSN Real Estate suggests “adding multiple showerheads to a shower typically costs just a few hundred dollars, making it one of the most economical ways to add a spa feel. Also, try to avoid moving fixtures, since that can add enormously to a project’s cost.”
7. Kitchen 3.0
Most people love new tech toys, so why should the kitchen be any different? From French-doored refrigerators with customizable freezers to an 8% rise in requests for induction stove tops, the future kitchen is here. Surprisingly, as people are integrating more high-tech gadgetry in the kitchen, they are leaning towards more traditional and functional designs (see #4).
8. Going Green…The Other Way.
Some choose to paint to be green, but homeowners are also becoming - not surprisingly - more eco-aware in their choices. From bamboo flooring to installing LED lighting, remodeling is taking a turn for the sustainable. NKBA members even said that 89% of the kitchens they designed included some consideration for pull-out trash and recycling bins, and a distinct rise in both garbage disposals and trash compactors.
9. You’re so vain.
Piggy-backing on the spa bathrooms, vanities are getting a redemption. Remodels are taking a turn from the super-industrial look with finished metal to vessel sinks and integrated sink tops, which have a warmer, more classic feel. The bathroom vanity is also seeing double-dual sinks are now a “given” in master baths.
10. Hit the (Hardwood) Floor.
While carpeting may have never been the best choice for the kitchen or bathroom, this year it is being panned for the entire house. Hardwood and tile remain a staple, but bamboo flooring is also gaining popularity. Liz Pulliam Weston of MSN Real Estate adds, “high-end linoleum - which sounds like an oxymoron, but isn’t - is being used in more fashionable homes.”
Source: Ilyce Glink, CBSMoneywatch.com
Home sales activity in the Granite State saw a February increase of 7.4 percent compared to February 2010, according to data released recently by the New Hampshire Association of Realtors (NHAR). The median price for statewide home sales, meanwhile, fell 7.5 percent for the month, from $200,000 in February 2010 to $185,000 in February 2011. Year to date (January and February), unit sales are ahead of last year’s pace by 5 percent, while median price for that period is down almost 4 percent. “We’re not ready to jump to the conclusion that this is a trend,” said NHAR President Tom Riley, a 35‐year veteran of the real estate industry and president of Riley Enterprises in Bedford. “But I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that the housing market appears to be stabilizing, and that’s great news.” Riley pointed to the fact that despite a difficult winter for home sales, this is the second consecutive year that both January and February activity has increased. The last time both January and February showed unit sales gains for two straight years was 2000‐01 and 2001‐02. In terms of local markets, seven of the state’s 10 counties saw unit sales increases in February compared to a year ago, including a 61 percent jump in Carroll County, 42 percent in Coos County and 38 percent in Belknap County. The state’s largest county, Hillsborough, witnessed a 3.6 percent unit sales increase. Median price, meanwhile, saw increases in four of 10 counties. Click here for February 2011 data residentialClick here for February 2011 data condo With inventory still relatively high, interest rates low and prices competitive, Riley said the market remains ripe for strong sales activity. “There are incredible opportunities for buyers right now,” he said. “It wouldn’t surprise me to see activity continue at a strong pace.” Source: Press Release from Dave Cummings, NHAR Director of Communications
March Madness is finally here. At Coldwell Banker we love our college towns, and those locales with teams in the Big Dance are abuzz right now with tournament fever.
While everyone rushes to fill out their brackets, Coldwell Banker for the second straight year is giving you the Bracket of Affordability. This bracket fills out the projected tournament winner by advancing the school that resides in the most affordable real estate market according to the median price for homes that are currently on the market that appear on coldwellbanker.com.
Last year, the Coldwell Banker Bracket of Affordability picked Syracuse as its tournament champ, and this year we have another great shot at picking the right winner with Kansas ending up as the overall champ. Lawrence, Kansas has the most affordable real estate market of the tournament field with a media home price of $106,855.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, UC-Santa Barbara boasts the most expensive college market with a median price of $2.7 million. The final four includes Indiana St. ($127,212), Florida ($108,873), and Memphis ($111,650).
We’ll be tracking the success of the Coldwell Banker Bracket of Affordability throughout the tournament to see just how accurate the picks are. Find out more about how affordable college markets are by checking out the College Home Listing Report on coldwellbanker.com.
During the week of March 14-20, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is promoting conservation of household water throughout the state as part of the national Fix a Leak Week campaign. Did you know that an American home may waste, on the average, more than 10,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks? That is enough to fill a backyard swimming pool. Statewide, more than 5 billion gallons of water leak from New Hampshire homes each year, enough water to supply the City of Manchester for an entire year. This is why DES is teaming up with the WaterSense program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to remind citizens to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems each year during Fix a Leak Week. One method to check if your home has leaks is to check your water meter. Do not use any water in the home for about two hours. Read your water meter at the beginning and end of this period. If the meter readings are not exactly the same, then you probably have a leak. The next step is to find any leaks. Walk through your house, listen closely for running toilets and look for drips at shower heads and faucets, including any outside spigots and hoses. Hoses attached to open spigots may have leaks along them or at their ends. Often leaks in toilets may not be audible. A good way to find this type of leak is to put food coloring in the reservoir tank and checking about 15 minutes later to see if any color appears in the bowl. Most leaks can be fixed easily and inexpensively. Fixing a leaking faucet, spigot, or hose connection is usually just a matter of replacing a washer or gasket. Shower-head leaks can easily be stopped using pipe tape and/or tightening the screw-on connection. Running toilets are usually the result of a worn or poorly fitting flapper valve or a faulty valve assembly. As a do-it-yourself project, most of these leaks can be easily repaired with inexpensive stock replacement parts available at home improvement and hardware stores. Be sure to bring old parts to the dealer so that the replacement parts can be properly matched. Remember, most leaks are slow, but over time the volume of wasted water can be appreciable. It is estimated that 10 percent of homes have water leaks that waste 90 or more gallons per day. Finding and repairing leaks will save considerably on water bills. Additionally, if your home is on a municipal sewage line, it is likely that the billing amount for sewage is proportionally tied to water use and thereby your total bill will be even more impacted by any leaks. Posted 3/14/11 by the NH Department of Environmental Services, Concord, NH http://www.des.nh.gov For additional information about household water conservation in New Hampshire, please contact Ernst H. Kastning at (603) 271-0659 or via email at ernst.kastning@des.nh.gov. Information for homeowners, as well as resource materials for teachers and students are available at http://m1e.net/c?82384231-wTZE.eMs4vfvQ%406266861-yo7WIwsVqYnFM
It’s March in the Lake Sunapee Area, and the days are getting warmer. There are reports of temperatures as high as 45°; however, it cools down at night to the low 20s. Bright sun during the day is warming the trees, and spots of bare ground are showing up. It’s the beginning of “Mud Season”, but most importantly, (click here for the whole story then click on "Articles" and "Sugarin' Season") Article and photos by David Jones, reprinted with permission from The Soonipi Magazine
A large percentage of home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a house or take it seriously based on its curb appeal—the view they see when they drive by or arrive for a showing. You can help make sure they want to come inside your house by spending some time working on its exterior appearance. It's difficult to look at our own house in the same way that potential home buyers do. When we become accustomed to the way something looks and functions, we can't see its faults. Decide right now to stop thinking of your property as a home. It's a house—a commodity you want to sell for the highest possible dollar.
Curb Appeal Exercise
The next time you come home, stop across the street or far enough down the driveway to get a good view of the house and its surroundings.
- What is your first impression of the house and yard area?
- What are the best exterior features of the house or lot? How can you enhance them?
- What are the worst exterior features of the house or lot? How can you minimize or improve them?
Park where a potential buyer would and walk towards the house, looking around you as if it were your first visit. Is the approach neat and tidy? What could you do to make it more attractive? Make a list of the problem areas you discovered. Tackle clean up and repair chores first, then put some time into projects that make the grounds more attractive
- Stow away unnecessary garden implements and tools.
- Clean windows and gutters.
- Pressure wash dirty siding and dingy decks.
- Edge sidewalks and remove vegetation growing between concrete or bricks.
- Mow the lawn. Get rid of weeds.
- Rake and dispose of leaves, even if your lot is wooded.
- Trim tree limbs that are near or touching the home's roof.
Don't Forget the Rear View
Buyers doing a drive by will try their best to see your back yard. If it's visible from another street or from someone's driveway, include it in your curb appeal efforts.
Evening Curb Appeal
Do your curb appeal exercise again at dusk, because it isn't unusual for potential buyers to drive by houses in the evening. One quick way to improve evening curb appeal is with lighting:
- String low voltage lighting along your driveway, sidewalks, and near important landscaping elements.
- Add a decorative street lamp or an attractive light fixture to a front porch.
- Make sure lighting that's visible through front doors and windows enhances the home's appearance.
If you brainstorm, you'll find that there's a solution to most problems—one that lets you stay within your budget. The trick is to find the areas where improvements are needed, then work on them as best you can.
Here are some tips for under $100. Tip 1: Spend an hour with a pro. Invite your realtor or an interior designer over to check out your home. Our office is happy to do this, but you will probably have to pay a consultation fee to a designer. Check with several designers in your area; a standard hourly fee is normally less than $100, and in an hour they can give you lots of ideas for needed improvements. Even small suggested improvements, such as paint colors or furniture placement, can go a long way toward improving the look and feel of your home. Tip 2: Inspect it! Not every home improvement is cosmetic. Deteriorating roofs, termite infestation or outdated electrical systems — you can't fix it if you don't know it's broken. Hire an inspector to check out the areas of your home that you don't normally see. They may discover hidden problems that could negatively impact your home's value. Small problems (such as a hidden water leak) can become big, expensive problems quickly; the longer you put off repairs, the more expensive those repairs will be. Tip 3: Paint , paint, paint. One of the simplest, most cost-effective improvements of all is paint! Freshly painted rooms look clean and updated — and that spells value. When selecting paint colors, keep in mind that neutrals appeal to the greatest number of people, therefore making your home more desirable. On average, a gallon of paint costs around $25, leaving you plenty of money to buy rollers, painter's tape, drop cloths and brushes. So buy a few gallons and get busy! Tip 4: Find inspiration. An alternative to hiring a designer is to search for remodeling and decorating inspiration in design-oriented magazines, books, TV shows and websites. Tip 5: Cut energy costs. The amount of money you spend each month on energy costs may seem like a fixed amount, but many local utility companies provide free energy audits of their customers' homes. They can show you how to maximize the energy efficiency of your home. An energy-efficient home will save you money now, which can be applied to other updates, and is a more valuable and marketable asset in the long run.
The history of Aromatherapy dates back at least to 4000 BC, although the term "aromatherapy" was first used in the 1920s by the French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé who accidentally discovered that lavender oil relieves pain and assists in the healing of burns. Humans can discern about 10,000 smells. Remember Cleopatra? She placed layers of rose petals on her palace floors to entice Mark Antony. She knew the power of scent and got that part right, but according to recent studies, the scents that most attract men are pumpkin pie and anise. Well, she didn’t have our science or pumpkin pie. Today, Aromatherapy is used in almost every bath and beauty product on the shelf. It is also used by some for healing. "Set the Mood" for a sale in Real Estate. Aromatherapy is especially useful for Open Houses or to assist sellers with pet or cooking odors. Studies have shown that the first thing people notice when they walk into a home is the smell. A strong or unpleasant smell can turn off a buyer immediately. Studies have also shown that a buyer's impression of a home is made in the first 30 seconds upon entering and a buy/no buy decision is not far after. Needless to say, this first impression is critical in the sale of a home, and smell is an important part of the experience. So why not use the buyer's senses to your advantage? It is possible to not only stage a home to be visually appealing and uncluttered but to also stimulate the buyer's other senses - especially their sense of smell. Set the mood for your home by the use of Essential Oils or candles that include essential oils. If the home is small, you may want to limit the scents to one or possibly two. If the home is larger however, you can set the mood for each of the major areas of the home. Some examples include: • Lavender Oil - Has a calming effect and would be ideal to set the mood for a master bathroom or bedroom. • Bergamot - Has a fresh, sweet, citrus scent that is familiar to many as the flavoring in Earl Gray, would help create the ideal mood for a master bedroom or bathroom. • Lemon or Citrus - Has a clean, refreshing scent and would be great for a kitchen, bathroom, or dining area. • Peppermint - Has a clean, cooling scent and would be great on a hot summer day in the kitchen or main areas of the home. • Balsam Fir - Has a soothing effect and would be great around the holidays in the main areas of the home. • Jasmine - Has a warm, exotic floral fragrance that creates a feeling of "romance", ideal for the master bath or bedroom.
Soon Spring cleaning will be on your list of things to do. Avoid those harmful chemicals and clean green this year!
Vinegar
Vinegar naturally cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new store bought spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Always test on an inconspicuous area. It is safe to use on most surfaces and has the added bonus of being incredibly cheap. Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. Never use vinegar on marble surfaces. Don"t worry about your home smelling like vinegar. The smell disappears when it dries. Here are some uses for vinegar in the rooms of your house.
1. Kitchen & Bathroom - Clean the stovetop, appliances, countertops and floor. Clean the bathtub, toilet, sink, and countertops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of rings. Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down. Pour the undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim. Scrub down the bowl. Mop the floor in the bathroom with a vinegar/water solution. The substance will also eat away the soap scum and hard water stains on your fixtures and tile. Make sure it is safe to use with your tile.
2. Laundry Room - Use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. This can be especially helpful for families who have sensitive skin. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. Vinegar has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively. (A plus when you have a family member whose skin detects every trace of detergent.)
Lemons & Lemon Juice
Lemons & Lemon Juice is another natural substance that can be used to clean your home.
1. Kitchen & Bathroom - Lemon juice can be used taurus love horoscope was the mark of the vernal equinox in the Early Bronze Age and Chalcolithic. to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains. Mix 1 cup olive oil with ½ cup lemon juice and you have a furniture polish for your hardwood furniture. Put a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal. It freshens the drain and the kitchen. Orange peels can be used with the same results.
2. Laundry Room - Lemon juice acts as a natural bleaching agent. Put lemon juice onto white linens and clothing and allow them to dry in the sun. Stains will be bleached away.
Baking soda
Baking Soda can
be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as commercial abrasive cleansers. Baking soda is great as a deodorizer. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. Put it anywhere you need deodorizing action. Try these three kitchen ingredients as natural cleaning products in your home.
1. Kitchen - Mix a quarter cup of baking soda with a few cups of warm water and wash down the outside of white appliances. Allow it to stand for 15 minutes before rinsing clean and it will help remove yellowing of the appliances and restore the whiteness.
2. Laundry Room - Add a 1/2 cup of baking soda to the wash when you add your regular liquid detergent. The baking soda has been known to give you