Questions, I Love Questions

Just recently someone said to me, "one of the guys that works for me is going to be looking at selling his home. Do you have any advice on what he should do before he even contacts a realtor?"

In the current housing market it is more important than ever to price your home correctly and have it in the best possible condition. The National Association of REALTORS offers the following tips to those thinking of putting their home on the Market:

1. "Have a pre-sale home inspection. Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you’ll be able to make repairs before open houses begin."
Although I have never known anyone to actually conduct a pre-sale home inspection, it is a great idea. If repairs are needed, it gives a seller time to collect estimates and select a contractor rather than rush to finish in time for closing.

2. "Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine."
By doing so sellers can also get a head start on packing for moving too!

3. "Get replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn our or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don’t plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations begin."
All I can say to this is AMEN.

4. "Find your warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house."
I'm certain you would like the current owners of your future new home to do this for you, so why don't you do the same?

5. "Spruce up the curb appeal. Pretend you’re a buyer and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrance? Is the walkway free from cracks and impediments?"

Selling your home need not be stressful. A little bit of planning in advance makes all the difference.

Four Ways to Improve Your Heating and Cooling Systems' Efficiency

Four Ways To Improve Your Heating And Cooling Systems' Efficiency
1. "If your present heating and cooling systems are old and tired, you may be able to cut utility costs by as much as 50% by replacing the old system with a new high efficiency system.
2. "Even if your furnace and air conditioner are in fairly good shape, you may be able to improve the overall efficiency of the system through adjustments, maintenance, and repair to the distribution system.
3. "With the mechanical system in good shape and well maintained, you may still be able to reduce fuel costs by changing the way you operate your thermostat.
4. "Be sure that all heating systems are vented properly and that all vent pipes and chimneys are installed and lined according to code requirements. Improperly lined chimneys, vent pipes that are incorrectly installed or are of the wrong material, and dirty and obstructed pipe and chimneys can impact how the systems draft. This compromises energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and fire safety."
From Chapter 5 of The Virginia Energy Savers Handbook 2008: Department of Mechanical Engineering of Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24060

Guns and Hoses Hockey Not For Wimps!

Guns to Hoses: Bring it on! Guns (area police officers) won the first five years, then last year Hoses (area fire fighters) took the lead. Will Hoses make it two years in a row, or will Guns take the win? If this year is the same as last, it will be an exciting game.

The 7th annual Guns and Hoses Charity Hockey game to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association is tonight at the Roanoke Civic Center Coliseum. Game Time is 6:00pm, doors open at 5:00 pm, admission is a $5.00 donation at the door.

Visit gunsandhoseshockey.com for additional information.

I Promise It Won't Hurt

You can contribute something that doesn't cost you a penny, yet it's invaluable. It takes about an hour of your time, and I promise it won't hurt. That something is your blood. The American Red Cross is having a blood drive at Cave Spring United Methodist Church on Wednesday, January 20th 2010 from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. Cave Spring UMC is located at 4505 Hazel Drive in Roanoke.
To schedule an appointment, find the location nearest you, or for more information, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit redcrossblood.org.

Pump Up the Heat (part 2)

Yes, I know that the following information is probably not as exciting as "American Idol", but sometimes information that is worthwhile is not always entertaining. If your heating system has let you down this winter and you're thinking of replacing it, you may want to read on. What is the most common type of heat pump, and how does it work? Chapter Five of The Virginia Energy Savers Handbook states that it is an air-to-air heat pump:

"The most common type of residential heat pump is an "air-to-air" heat pump which uses outdoor air as the heat source. Heat is extracted from the air by an outdoor unit that contains a heat exchanger and fan. The main disadvantage of air-to-air heat pumps is that they lose efficiency and output at cold (less than 35oF) outdoor air temperature. When this happens, operating cost increases and indoor comfort decreases because the air from the heat pump is not very warm. While this is a troublesome problem in colder regions of the country, it is not a severe problem in most regions of Virginia.
"Air-to-air heat pump systems are usually set up with a "two-stage" thermostat. As long as the temperature in the house remains within a few degrees of the thermostat setting, the heat pump operates normally. If the indoor temperature drops too low, the heat pumped by the compressor is supplemented by electric resistance heat and the
heat pump's efficiency drops considerably. For a typical home with a heat pump, the electric resistance heat comes on during two conditions: when the outdoor temperature
drops to about 15-25oF and when the heat pump is turned on suddenly when the house is cold.
"When outdoor air temperatures are below about 40oF, air-to-air heat pump outdoor coil temperature may be below freezing. Moisture in the outdoor air then forms frost on the outdoor coil. If too much frost builds up, the heat transfer to the coil is restricted and heat pump output and efficiency drops. To avoid this, heat pumps have a "defrost" cycle that uses energy from the house to warm the outdoor coil and melt the frost. Frost is not a problem with air conditioners since you never cool your home to 40oF.
"GHPs have a higher installation cost, but because they are more efficient and save money in the long term, they can represent a good investment. The cost effectiveness
of a GHP for a particular location depends, in part, on soil conditions and site layout since these affect the cost of the necessary excavation."

The Virginia Energy Savers Handbook 2008: Department of Mechanical Engineering of Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24060

Pump up the Heat!

I have heard home construction professionals talk a lot about heat pumps, but I didn't know if a heat pump and a furnace were the same or if they were different. I really felt like a dummy, so I consulted Chapter Five of the Virginia Energy Savers Handbook, and it gave me all this great information:
"Heat pumps work on a completely different principle than electric furnaces. Instead of just converting electricity into heat, a heat pump uses an electric compressor that "pumps" heat from one place to another.
"Heat flows naturally from hot to cold, never from cold to hot. Water flows naturally from a high level to a low level, never uphill. Just as a water pump moves water from a low level to a high level- against the direction of its natural flow- a heat pump moves heat from a cold area to a warm area.
"Refrigerators, air conditioners, and heat pumps are all basically the same. In a refrigerator, heat is pumped from the cold freezer and refrigerator compartments out into the warmer room. In an air conditioner, heat is pumped from the cool interior of the house into the hot outdoors. In a heat pump, heat is pumped from the cold outdoors to the warm interior of the house.
"In fact, heat pump/air conditioner combinations use the same equipment for both jobs, using a flow control valve to change the direction of heat pumping from summer to winter. This ability to use the same basic equipment for heating and air conditioning is a prime advantage of heat pumps.
"A heat pump makes much better use of electricity than an electric resistance furnace. For each Btu of energy that comes into the heat pump from the electric power line, it can pump one or two more Btu's from the outdoors. In this way it
delivers two or three times more heat than an electric furnace for the same electric input.
"All heat pumps have the same basic components: a compressor which does the actual "pumping", an indoor coil which heats or cools circulating house air, an outdoor heat source which supplies heat or cooling to the system, and copper tubing that circulates high pressure refrigerant fluid between the indoor and outdoor units.
"Residential heat pumps can utilize heat sources down to 20-30oF to heat indoor air up to 80-100oF. Heat pumps can also be used for water heating.

The Virginia Energy Savers Handbook 2008: Department of Mechanical Engineering of Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24060

Home Warranty Definitely Worth the Money

I received a call from a client today with great news. Thanks to the home warranty he had purchased prior to buying his new home, he was able to replace his old hot water heater. He told me he received great telephone customer service, and his hot water heater was replaced promptly.

I always suggest purchasing a home warranty for at least the first year of owning a new home. It takes some time to get to know a home, and if your home is not new construction you do not benefit from a builder's warranty. Therefore, purchasing a home warranty for previously owned homes is always a good idea.

Old Republic is the company mentioned above. For more information regarding pricing and the types of coverage Old Republic offers, see the following link: http://www.orhp.com/

Controlling Home Indoor Air Quality

During the cold winter months, our indoor air quality can suffer because we keep doors and windows closed. Sometimes health and safety issues can arise. According to the Energy Savers Handbook, here are some things to consider:

"Unvented space heaters give off carbon dioxide, water vapor and, when not working properly, carbon monoxide and other chemical pollutants. If you are using unvented fuel-burning space heaters, you should postpone house tightening until they are removed.

"Do you have a gas cook stove? Gas stoves give off a lot of water vapor. The oven gives off some carbon monoxide on startup and can give off much more carbon monoxide if the stove is not working properly. Gas stoves should be vented to the outdoors through a power-vented range hood. If your gas stove is not vented, you should forego extensive house tightening.

"Do your bath fans work properly? The best way to control indoor air quality is to
remove the contaminants, including moisture, at their source. Your bath fans provide an excellent opportunity to ventilate moisture and other pollutants at minimal cost.

"As part of your air sealing project, you should make sure your bath fans are working. Hold a stick of incense below the fan to see whether it pulls the smoke from the room. Try it with the bathroom doors open and closed. If the fan works only when the doors are open, you will need to undercut the doors to allow air into the bathroom. If the fan doesn't work under any conditions, you should replace it."


From Chapter 2 of The Virginia Energy Savers Handbook 2008: Department of Mechanical Engineering of Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24060

Pay once, come back free all weekend at Home and Garden Show

This weekend visit the Greater Roanoke Home and Garden Show. Today at 12:00 and 3:00 meet Paul James, "The Gardener Guy" from HGTV's "Gardening By The Yard". He'll give you tricks and tips to keep your landscape looking beautiful.

Today at 1:30 and 4:30 let celebrity Chef Lou Petrozza from Fox TV's "Hell's Kitchen" teach you how to whip up a gourmet meal in no time at all with simple ingredients. Lou will also discuss his experience on the show.

Also check out Incredible Gardens, Landscapes, and Water Features, see a huge selection of hardscapes, building and landscape materials, and pools and spas for every budget. See the latest trends in kitchens and baths - countertops, cabinets, flooring, appliances and more!

So much to see and do - you can't do it all in one day. Pay once - come back FREE all weekend long!

Friday January 8th: 2:00 - 7:00pm Adults 17+ - $7.00
Saturday January 9th: 10:00 - 7:00pm 16 & under - Free
Sunday January 10th: 11:00 - 5:00pm
65+ $5.00 (All Weekend)
+$1.00 Facility Fee

Roanoke Civic Center, 710 Williamson Rd., Roanoke, VA 24016
http://showtechnology.com/shows/Roanoke/Roanoke.html

Homebuyer Tax Credit Expanded, Extended

In 2008, Congress enacted a $7500 tax credit designed to be an incentive for first-time homebuyers to purchase a home. In 2009, Congress increased the credit to $8000. Now the tax credit has been extended and also expanded to include current homeowners. This revised tax credit applies to purchases on contract before May 1, 2010 and close before July 1, 2010.

Frequently Asked Questions
1. What’s this homebuyer tax incentive for 2010?
Any home that is purchased for $80,000 or more qualifies for the full $8000 amount. If the house costs less than $80,000, the credit will be 10% of the cost. Thus, if an individual purchased a home for $75,000, the credit would be $7500.

2. Who is eligible?
First-time homebuyers are eligible for the full $8000. However, homeowners who have lived in their current homes for at least five of the last eight years are eligible for up to a $6,500tax credit when they purchase a new home. A person is considered a first-time buyer if he/she has not owned a home in the past three years. For married couples filing jointly, both must meet the first-time buyer criteria in order to qualify.

3. How does a tax credit work?
Every dollar of a tax credit reduces income taxes by a dollar. Credits are claimed on an individual’s income tax return. Thus, a qualified purchaser would figure out all the income items and exemptions and make all the calculations required to figure out his/her total tax due. Then, once the total tax owed has been computed, tax credits are applied to reduce the total tax bill. So, if before taking any credits on a tax return a person has total tax liability of $9500, an $8000 credit would wipe out all but $1500 of the tax due. ($9,500 - $8000 = $1500)
For more frequently asked questions, go to http://www.realtor.org/government_affairs/gapublic/homebuyer_tax_credit

Selecting a Wood Stove

Has it been cold enough for you? Thinking about burning some wood to keep warm? According to the Virginia Energy Savers Handbook, "Wood stoves are available in a variety of styles, efficiencies, and heating capacities. The following are a few features to check when comparing models:

Sealed Combustion
"Wood stoves need large volumes of air for combustion and to help induce draft. This means that large amounts of household air will be needed to make a woodstove burn and draft properly. When selecting a woodstove try to purchase a sealed combustion model or one that can be modified to provide combustion air sources from outside. This is especially important if you live in a mobile home or a house with small volume. Make sure the unit is mobile home approved and certified if you are installing it in a mobile home.

Cast iron versus steel
"Some stoves are made from steel plates that are welded together; others are made from cast iron components that are bolted together. Cast iron stoves are typically heavier, take longer to heat up and hold their heat longer after the fire burns out. Neither type is inherently more efficient.

Soapstone
"Soapstone wood stoves take advantage of thermal mass principles and stores heat in the soapstone brick. Then it slowly releases the heat long after the fire has gone out. These stoves are environmentally friendly because burning a hot fire for a short time is more efficient, and produces fewer emissions, than burning a low fire for a long time. Soapstone stoves, however, are very expensive.

Fireplace inserts
"A fireplace insert is basically a wood stove designed to fit into a conventional open fireplace. Like conventional stoves, inserts may be made of cast iron or steel, and may come with or without glass doors. Some inserts have catalytic combustors, and there are some that burn pellets.

"Inserts either fit in the opening of the fireplace or protrude onto the hearth. The latter position is more efficient because the sides, top, and bottom provide additional radiant heat. Some inserts have integral blowers that circulate room air through the heater, providing enhanced heating as well as increased efficiency. The blower may be either manually or thermostatically controlled.

"In the past, most installers placed inserts in fireplaces without any chimney connections. This method, in some cases, allowed creosote to build up inside the fireplace, presenting a potential fire hazard. To prevent this, the National Fire Protection Association (# 211) now requires that inserts be installed with a connector between the appliance outlet and the first section of the flue liner.

"Fireplace inserts have one major drawback: they weigh over 400 pounds. This can be a problem when they need to be moved so that the chimney can be cleaned. However, the insert can stay in place if you install a full relining collar — a stainless steel pipe that connects to the insert and goes to the top of the chimney.

Fan-driven heat exchangers
"Many manufacturers supply stoves with fan-driven heat exchangers either as standard or optional equipment. These heat exchangers increase heat output and energy efficiency. Their disadvantages are that they make some noise and that they won't work in case of an electric power failure.

Heat reflecting glass doors
"Many stoves come with glass doors and a few manufacturers now use special heat-reflecting glass that improves combustion efficiency by keeping more heat in the stove than with conventional glass.

Convenience features
"There are a variety of convenience features available including a thermostat control that automatically controls combustion air, insulated handles for easy door opening without a pot holder, and a removable ash pan for easy ash disposal."

Whatever you decide to purchase, I hope this information has been helpful. Try to stay warm!

From Chapter 5 of The Virginia Energy Savers Handbook 2008: Department of Mechanical Engineering of Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24060

Ranges: Consumer Reports Best Buys

Just how much do you need to spend on a new range? According to the December issue of Consumer Reports, it's possible to get a "fine performer" for less than $1,000. The following are considered Best Buys in terms of performance and price, and all are recommended:

30 inch electric smoothtop
GE JB700DN(WW), $700
Kenmore 9641(2), $700
Samsung FCQ321HTUX, $750
Kenmore 9611(2) and 9612(), $500
Whirlpool WFE371LVB, $600

30 inch electric coil
Hotpoint RB757DP(WH), $430

30 inch gas
Kenmore7138(9), $700
Hotpoint RGB745DEP(WH), $600
Kenmore 7744(9), $600
Frigidaire Gallery GLGF386D(S), $800