November 2009 Click here to sign up to receive this newsletter regularly via email.
Easy Ways to Cut Home Energy Costs Today Some simple ways to cut energy costs this year? Here are a few tips and techniques that can help you reduce energy bills, help the environment and improve your home’s resale value. Heating and Cooling - Move furniture away from vents and registers, warm or cool air can circulate through your home more effectively. At what temperature is your water heater? Did you know that for every 10 degrees you drop the temperature, you can reduce your power bill by 3-5%? Try lowering your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and watch the difference. Check your furnace filter. Cleaning or replacing it regularly can help cut energy costs as well. Finally, consider installing a programmable thermostat. Insulation - Air leaks in your home can form in a number of places, but about one-third of the escaped air comes from openings in ceilings, walls and floors. Is your home well insulated? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, only 20% of homes built before 1980 are well insulated. Insulation is vital when it comes to retaining hot and cold air in your home. By maximizing your home’s energy efficiency, you can increase its resale value while saving money at the same time. For more information on going green at home, consult the U.S. Department of Energy or check out RealLiving.com/green.
Build the Perfect Home Office
As more and more companies are allowing their employees to work from home, the need for a sufficient home office space is becoming increasingly important to homeowners. The following tips will help you create the perfect home office.
Create a House Hunt Checklist
Are you on the house hunt? Touring dozens of homes can be an overwhelming process for anybody. If you find yourself asking whether it was the second or the ninth house with that great fireplace, then you may need a better way to organize your observations. One of the best ways to do this is by creating a checklist. Consider ranking elements like the home, neighborhood and schools on a scale as either "good", "average" or "poor".
Prepping Your Home for Sale
Preparing your home to be listed can be an overwhelming task for some. But with "94.6% of Associate Staged Professional (ASP) Staged Homes selling on average in 35 days or less", according to StagedHomes.com, taking the time to prepare your home for sale is an important task.
Savory Seasonal Dishes
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we wanted to bring you and your family some savory seasonal dishes to enjoy throughout the month. These recipes come from the 50th anniversary edition of Real Living's cookbook. Enjoy!
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