Archive for the ‘Home Maintenance’ Category

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HOMESTAR: Cash for Caulkers

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

WASHINGTON–In his State of the Union address, the President called on Congress to pass a program of incentives for homeowners who make energy efficiency investments in their homes. Today, while touring a training facility at Savannah Technical College, the President outlined more details of a new “HOMESTAR” program that would help create jobs by encouraging American families to invest in energy saving home improvements. Consistent with the President’s call for a HOMESTAR program, the Senate Democratic leadership included a proposal of this kind as part of their Jobs Agenda released on February 4, 2010. The President looks forward to continuing to work with Members of Congress, business, environmental and labor leaders to enact a HOMESTAR program into law. (more)

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Cash for Caulkers: Appealing to Home Shoppers

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Congress is about to approve a program to put contractors back to work doing energy retrofits.

If “Cash for Caulkers” passes, home owners will be eligible for a tax credit worth up to $12,000 or half the cost of the retrofits, whichever is lower.

A home owner who spends $24,000 to cut his energy use in half will save an average of $100 per month, estimates Lane Burt, manager of building energy policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council. With a $12,000 tax rebate from the government, the payback will take 10 years.

Some real estate practitioners pointed out that energy retrofits might be a hard sell because they don’t raise a home’s sale value. “It sounds good on paper, but it’s just not how the American consumer makes choices,” says Jeff Geoghan, a Coldwell Banker REALTOR® in Lancaster, Pa. “If you’re buying a house, and you see a furnace has a 95 percent efficiency rating, are you really going to make your decision based on that?”

Source: CNNMoney.com, Steve Hargreaves (02/04/2010

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Your Home’s Components Do Not Last Forever

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Many aspects of a home last little more than a decade. Home buyers should be especially vigilant about inspecting these household components because they have a relatively short lifespan, says the National Association of Home Builders.

  • Aluminum roof coating: 3-7 years
  • Enameled steel sinks: 5-7 years
  • Security systems: 5-10 years
  • Carpet: 8-10 years
  • Smoke detectors: fewer than 10 years
  • Faucets: 10-15 years
  • Garage door openers:10-15 years
  • Air conditioners: 10-15 years
  • Asphalt: 12-15 years
  • Termite-proofing during construction: 12 years

Source: Bankrate.com, Marcie Geffner (01/22/2010)

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5 Home Remodeling Trends for 2010

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Remodeling and decorating trends in 2010 are likely to reflect the fact that many home owners are settling in for the long haul.

Here are some ideas for updating homes and gardens from decorators and leading real estate practitioners:

  • Environmentally sensitive furniture. Natural fibers, sustainable woods, and recycled products are key to attracting environmentally concerned buyers.
  • Classic neutral colors. Deep gray browns and gray blues, muted beige, and chalky white will be particularly popular shades, Pittsburgh Paints predicts.
  • Backyard gardens. First Lady Michelle Obama led the way in 2009 when she installed one at the White House.
  • Backyard living. Wood-deck additions offer an 80.6 percent payback, according to the annual Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling magazine and REALTOR® magazine. Simple fire pits and outdoor fireplaces also will be popular, trend-watchers say.
  • Made in America. As more people feel compelled to support local employment, U.S. manufactured products and antiques will become more popular, says Patricia Shackelford, author of design blog, Mrs. Blandings.

Source: Orlando Sentinel, Jean Patteson (12/26/2009) and Kansas City Star, Stacy Downs (12/27/2009)

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Cash for Caulking

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

CaulkingPresident Obama proposed a program Tuesday that would reimburse home owners for installing energy-efficient appliances, windows, and insulation.

Under what has been dubbed “Cash for Caulking,” home owners would get a 50 percent rebate on items like energy-efficient air conditioners, heating systems, washing machines and dryers, refrigerators, replacement windows, and insulation up to $12,000, meaning a household could spend $24,000 and get $12,000 back. There will likely be no income restrictions.

Steve Nadel, director at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, who is helping to craft the legislation, says they are contemplating having contractors or retailers pay part of the cost upfront to ease the need for home owners to come up with lots of cash.

Source: CNNMoney.com (12/08/2009)

Let The Bold Company arrange an Energy Audit on your home to determine where to save your energy dollars.

Posted in Home Maintenance, Remodeling, Tax Credit | No Comments »

Winter Home Maintenance Reminder

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

winter11As colder weather approaches, The B.O.L.D. Company want to remind you to take a few key steps to ensure that your home serves you well through the coming months. Please take time to check these items in and around your home and attend to any that need maintenance:

* Clean and test smoke alarms.

* Test and reset ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breakers.

* Change or clean the furnace filter.

* Operate the heating system. If service is needed, you can avoid “emergency” after-hours charges.

* Adjust registers and confirm that cold air returns are clear of furniture or draperies.

* Clean the humidifier and change the evaporator pad per manufacturer’s instructions.

* Adjust or replace weather-stripping on exterior doors as needed.

* Check the fit of exterior doors: thresholds are adjustable—use a quarter to turn the screws.

* Check caulking, inside and out, and touch up.

* Drain your sprinkler system.

* Remove hoses from exterior faucets. “Freeze-proof” faucets will suffer a broken water line if the water in the hose freezes and expands into the pipe.

* Inspect chimney and air intake for nests.

* Review safe fireplace operation. Provide professional cleaning at regular intervals.

* Check garage overhead door, tighten bolts as needed, and lubricate springs with motor oil. Have other repairs done by professionals.

* Clean gutters, check downspouts; confirm that splash blocks drain away from the building.

* Check the foundation, concrete, and yard for settling; fill in as needed for positive draining.

* Seal concrete surfaces.

* After snowfall, brush snow off of gutters and away from downspouts.

* Remove ice and snow from concrete as soon as possible; avoid using de-icing agents with damaging salts.

* On pleasant days, open windows to allow the house to “breathe”.

* Decorate safely for the holidays. Do not overload circuits or use worn extension cords.

If you have any questions, please refer to your Homeowner Use and Maintenance Guidelines, or phone our office for information.

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Fall Lawn Care Will Make Your Yard Look Great Next Year

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

A little work and effort in the fall will pay big dividends in the spring and all of next summer with a great looking and disease free lawn.

Mowing: Cool season grasses like fine lawn fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass grow fastest in the spring and fall and should be mowed with a sharp blade right up to the first frost.

Aerate: Aeration loosens up compacted soil and allows your lawn to easily absorb nutrients, air and water into the soil. The plug aerator is most efficient and those unsightly plugs will dissolve into the soil. Schedule your aeration two weeks before your last application of fertilizer. An aerator can be rented for the day from your local tool rental merchant.

Fertilizing: September and October are the best months for fertilization and is best scheduled after aeration. Start with a soil test from your County Extension Service. While initially created to assist farmers, in our urban centers they now have Horticulture Specialists that offer assistance to all of us city dwellers. For a modest cost they will test your soil sample and make recommendations of the proper amounts of fertilizer and lime that will provide the nutrition your lawn needs and save you money by not over fertilizing.

Grub and Weed Control: Adult beetles lay their eggs in the yard in July and August. If not controlled, their maturing larva (grubs) will damage your yard all winter and that damage will not be visible until spring. Apply your pesticides during this active season. Follow the label of any product you use and be careful around children and pets. This is a great time to get your broadleaf weeds under control as well. Time your application for dandelions and ground ivy for after the first frost in the area.

Overseed: Fall is a good time to overseed your bare and damaged spots while planting trees and shrubs. Rough up the soil to make sure you have good seed to soil contact and water your newly seeded areas and plants well. Time your seeding around your herbicide applications.

Click on the video below for information from Penn State University and check with your local extension service to help you set up a year round management plan for your yard.

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