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Housing Trends 2019
What’s Hot What’s Not
Being Smart is Just the Start
Smart homes are becoming more personalized, more intelligent and more connected. The home automation trend for all home devices to eventually connect to the internet, also known as Internet of Things (IoT), is in motion. Electronics companies like Google, Amazon and Apple have made it a mission to become part of as many homes as possible. Consider potential smart home changes as you plan updates to your home.
1. Voice Control Devices
Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant are becoming fast friends with American household owners. Some 39 million people, or one in six, now own a smart speaker. This number will continue to rise as people become more open to the idea and the benefits they provide. These devices serve to control everything from the music you play to the temperature set on your thermostat.
2. Home Appliances
It’s predicted that a majority of home appliances will be available as smart devices by the year 2021. For example, if you own a control device, like Alexa, and a smart oven, you will have the ability to preheat that oven through your cell phone while at work. As you look to replace your old washing machine, be sure to inquire about models with smart features that will keep up with these trends.
3. Network Connections
Internet services companies will have to provide faster networks to sustain changes in consumer habits. More powerful processors, sensors and cameras will be needed as consumers are becoming fed up with regular internet buffering. It will be important to stay informed as to how your service provider plans to upgrade their infrastructure to maintain the emerging need for more speed.
Ready to begin your search for a smarter home? Contact a Mel Foster Agent today to get started.
Fall Fixes For Outdoors
Looking for some Fall fixes for the outdoors? The number one tip for giving your home great curb appeal in the fall is to keep your lawn free of leaves and debris. Buyers may drive right past your home if they feel like raking leaves would be too much work for them if they bought your home. Don’t let overgrown vegetation block the windows or path to the entrance. Cutting bushes and tree limbs will let the sun inside and showcase the exterior of your home. Keep up with this chore to give your home a tidy and maintenance free look.
Cooler temperatures also mean it’s time to replace your tired annuals with a pop of fall color. Most popular autumn flowers are chrysanthemums (mums) or marigolds. Both of these are available in burgundy or yellow, which is a number one home selling color. Plant them in pots and place the pots on steps and along the sidewalk. Clear out your planting beds of summer foliage and drop some blooms into your window box or porch planter. Accessorize your porch chair or swing with bright red, orange or golden yellow pillows.
If you have already moved out or can’t maintain plant watering, you can brighten your porch by accenting with types of squash and gourds or a grouping of three large pumpkins. Want them to last even longer? Don’t carve your pumpkins for Halloween. You can keep an uncarved pumpkin on your porch through Thanksgiving and get two holidays out of one purchase!
Rain and wind from the summer months have likely made your windows dusty and streaked by autumn. You might not notice the smudges, but buyers will. To sell a home, your windows need to sparkle. Remove screens and spray them down for best presentation.
Even though it’s Halloween time, real spider webs on your porch need to be cleared away regularly. No need to scare away buyers with frightful spider webs.
Troubleshooting a Constantly Running Air Conditioner
When your air conditioner constantly runs all day without shutting off, you likely have an issue with the unit. This constant running can cause extra wear and tear and may be running up your electrical bills. Refer to the following list to troubleshoot possible causes for a constantly running air conditioner.
- Dirty or Frozen Evaporator Coil
Did you have your air conditioner serviced this spring before you turned it on for the summer? If not the evaporator coil may be covered with dirt and debris, which impedes the cooling process and makes the unit work harder to cool your space. If your unit is blowing warm air from the supply vents in addition to running constantly, it may have frozen up. Turn the air conditioner completely off and call a professional to diagnose the cause and prevent further damage to the system.
Continue reading “Troubleshooting a Constantly Running Air Conditioner”
Mulching Tips to Make Your Yard Look Great
If you want your yard to look its best, mulch is a great way to highlight various parts of your landscaping. These basics will help you get started.
- When to Mulch
When the weather starts to warm up it’s tempting to get started right away on landscaping. But don’t put mulch down too early in the spring. Give the soil a chance to warm up. Mulching too early will slow down the warming process and may cover up perennials that have not popped up from the ground. Normally, mid to late spring is the best time to put down mulch.
- How Much Mulch
The exact amount of mulch to place depends on the type you’re using, but generally you want about one or two inches of mulch. The main reason to apply mulch is to prevent weed growth, but too much mulch may stunt your plant growth. If you’re trying to keep a particular area free from any plant life, you can use as much mulch as you like.
- Choosing the Right Mulch
Choosing the right mulch material is your choice. Mulch’s purpose is to prevent weed growth, retain water, keep temperatures consistent and beautify the landscape. The color of the mulch is usually personal preference, but recycled mulch will break down more quickly and add nutrients to the soil. Rubber mulch is more expensive initially, but does not decompose.
Want more tips for caring for the outside of your home? The Mel Foster Co. blog has hundreds of articles for homeowners.
Fresh Spring Cleaning Tips
Spring is finally here and that means it’s once again time to do a deep clean throughout your house. Here are some ways to freshen up your home in time for summer.
- Declutter Every Room
Take an empty laundry basket from room to room and gather items that are out of place and return them to their correct location. If there’s anything you no longer need, this is a great opportunity to get rid of it.
- Put a Recycle Basket Near the Front Door
Having a place you can immediately get rid of unwanted mail, fliers or packaging will prevent this clutter from entering your home. If you’re able to keep the bin by a frequently used side entrance to your home, it’s even better because guests won’t see it.
- Cleaning Ceiling Fans
One of the easiest and fastest ways to clean a ceiling fan is with an old pillowcase. You place the pillowcase over the blade and slide it off. The dust will collect inside the pillowcase and you can empty it outside.
- Open the Windows
One of the biggest perks of spring is the warm fresh air! Don’t forget to open your windows while doing all your cleaning to get some fresh air flowing through your house. It’ll keep you energized and make your home smell great.
Spring is also the season when homes are listed for sale. If you’re ready to list, or find an agent to sell your home, now’s the time to find a Mel Foster Co. agent.
Preventing Frozen Pipes
Increase precautions when the temperature drops
Temporary measures:
- During extended periods of sub-freezing temperatures, increase thermostat settings to at least 60 degrees F throughout the home to help ensure adequate temperatures are maintained in colder spots.
- Open bathroom or kitchen cabinet doors that run along outside walls so that warmer room air can circulate through them. If you have pets or children, be mindful of chemicals stored in the cabinets.
- To prevent exterior faucets from freezing, shut them off from inside the home and drain remaining water from pipes. Exterior irrigation systems should be winterized.
- Still water freezes faster than running water. During periods of low usage and on frigid nights, turn on a faucet at the highest point in the home. Keep the water stream low, so that only a small amount can trickle through pipes running through cold spaces.
- If the water meter is operating but your water in not running, you may have a frozen pipe. Once the pipe thaws, it could burst. If you discover a frozen pipe, close the main water shut-off valve and call a plumber immediately.
- If you’re away from home for extended periods of time, turn off the water. This may not prevent frozen pipes, but it can significantly reduce the damage.
Permanent measures:
- Install an automatic shut-off system designed to stop water flow when a leak occurs. Contact your independent insurance advisor for additional information and a list of approved devices.
- Add several low temperature sensors to your central station alarm system. Place them in remote areas of your home.
If damage occurs:
In the event of water damage, take the following steps immediately to minimize the impact:
- Locate the main water shut-off valve and close it.
- Call an emergency service restoration company to facilitate repairs and stare the dry-out process.
- Move undamaged items away from affected area.
- Contact your insurance agent, or the emergency contact number.
Source: AIG Private Client Group
How to Create the Perfect Sunroom
The hours of daylight are starting to get shorter with the approach of fall. Soak up all the sun you can by creating a sunroom in your home with these elements.
- Comfortable Furniture
Your sunroom should be a second living room. Having a nice area rug or cushioned furniture is a great way to make the space more comfortable. Try to pick natural colors to go with the natural light in the room.
- Environmental Controls
Add a space heater or ceiling fan to your sunroom to create a comfortable temperate. And don’t forget you should run your ceiling fan in the winter to push the warm air down. Just reverse the fan’s direction for winter use. If you’re considering a larger investment, adding a fireplace will create a room you can use even when there’s snow on the ground.
- Privacy Shades
It’s nice to be able to see out and enjoy the view, but it’s even nicer to have an option for privacy if you want it. Shades or window treatments also keep the room cooler or warmer depending on the season and sunshine.
- Greenery
No sunroom is complete without plant life. Even low maintenance plants will make you feel like you’re out in nature. If you have more of a green thumb, you can put multiple types of plants with vibrant colors in your sunroom. As a transitional space between your home and the outdoors, the sunroom needs to have thriving plants.
Want more ideas for your sunroom? Check out this weekend’s open houses.
Cool Energy Saving Tips
With the weather heating up, it’s tempting to crank up the air conditioning. Unfortunately, this will also crank up your energy bill, so follow these tips to stay cool and save money.
- Clean or Replace Air Conditioner Filters
Be sure your cooling system is running at peak efficiency. If your filters are dirty and blocked, you’ll be using more energy and getting less cool air. Cleaning the filters won’t only result in cleaner air, but also a more efficient system. You’ll be breathing cooler and cleaner air for less money.
- Keep Windows and Blinds Opened and Closed at the Right Time
Keeping the blinds and windows closed when the sun is beating down is an extremely easy way to keep your home cooler. But if you like having fresh air, try to only open windows at night or in the early morning before the heat and humidity rise. Having the windows open rather than running the A/C a no cost way to keep your home a little cooler while still enjoying the summer weather.
- Only Use Air Conditioning if you are Home
It might be refreshing to always come home to nice cool house, but running air conditioning 24/7 can be very expensive. Turning off the air while you’re at work will end up saving you money each month. Many thermostats have scheduling features or smart phone connectivity so you can activate air conditioning at a specific time.
- Use Fans to Circulate Air
Using fans to keep air moving is one of the best ways to keep cool. You’ll save energy, and be able to control the speed of the air flow. This will help cool air disperse more evenly throughout your home, and keep energy costs down. Remember to switch your fan’s direction to counterclockwise in the summer to create cool downward airflow