How to Keep Your Old Home Warm for the Winter

The holidays are a time to cozy up by the fire, have family over, decorate with soft glowing lights, fill the house with the smell of something roasting in the oven, and appreciate the things that surround us.

UNLESS WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT OUR UTILITY BILL...

Do you have an older home that seems impossible to keep the heat in? Here are some easy winterizing tips we have learned to use, that have saved us tons! We are now able to enjoy our farmhouse Christmas without the underlying stress of cost.

1. Is all the heat going upstairs? Hang a blanket to stop the draft at the bottom or top of the stairs. It looks a bit silly at first, but it keeps the house warm with little effort. We use a thick flannel sheet- it does the trick and looks a little festive for the winter season.

2. Everyone suggests it, because it works: winterize those windows! Especially with older homes, heat escapes and cold parades in through single pane windows. Even upgraded windows should still be winterized. Stores like Home Depot sell window kits to accomplish this, but it can also be done with bubble wrap/tape.

3. Diminish that door draft. Many older homes have mysterious areas that bring in a draft from outside, especially under doors. Department stores carry "draft stoppers". These can also be made at home using fabric (or socks) and dry beans, or even foam pipe covers.

4. If you have a stove/fireplace, use it to its full potential! We do not yet have a wood stove, but do know that by collecting firewood throughout the year and preparing, you can save hundreds to thousands on your heating costs, while having a HOT home throughout the winter. Make sure to have a fan nearby the stove/fireplace to circulate the warm air through your home. *Always follow safe procedures when using a fireplace/stove, and do not leave unattended.

5. If you have only a thermostat, learn to "work the system". Before we discovered this trick, we would turn the heat off at night, while we were gone, and after the furnace ran for a few hours. It was cold, miserable in the morning, and actually made our heating system work harder than it does now. We are actually saving more money by keeping the thermostat set to about 65 degrees. If the furnace has to heat the home from 30 degrees to 70 degrees, it uses a lot of energy in a little amount of time. It is better to keep the temperature at a medium, and allow the furnace to "touch up" the heat. This, matched with our other techniques, keeps our home warm all day for such a little cost. I was so surprised to see that our last bill was only two digits! ($80.00 compared to $150.00)

6. Winterize your bed. If you do want to save even more, and turn the heat down at night, (we do not turn it off anymore, however, we do turn it down) make your bed an alternative rather than a punishment. Layer it with flannel sheets, a down comforter, and a cotton comforter. During the really cold evenings, add some layers of knit blankets. There are nights where we wake up in a sweat, just from how warm the blankets keep us! The great part about this is that blankets are CHEAP while producing a good outcome.


Good site for DIY Door Drafts: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/crafts/door-draft-stoppers-draft-snakes-460109#slide-14

Window Winterizing Kits: http://www.homedepot.com/s/window+winterizing?NCNI-5

Home Supply Thrift Stores: DIY Restoration Meccas

Every homeowner knows it is a big, and sometimes improbable expense to restore an old home. However, if this is done in small steps while finding deals, it can be a fun and definitely less stressful experience.

Especially if you are looking to restore an old home to the specific time period, home supply thrift stores are a great place to find old fixtures and supplies. And at amazingly low cost, you are enabled to stock up and "splurge" during your trip.

We have had a lot of success at these stores. We have come across high quality tile, snap hardwood flooring, old light fixtures, and even old time kitchen décor. Beware: these stores will make you want to remodel your bathroom that weekend; pedestal sinks and cabinets galore!

Several major second hand home supply stores include: Habitat for Humanity, Rebuild, and many religious based organizations. The easiest way to find them in your area is to search online. They vary in name and type by every city.

If you are not close to one of these stores, always keep your eye out on websites like www.craigslist.com or local free/for sale/wanted pages on www.facebook.com . If there are home supply thrift stores a day trip away, I highly suggest driving the truck/van/trailer out and making a day of adventure from the journey.

Linson home, upstairs bedroom #3

5 Ways to Determine if a House will be a Home for Years to Come.

So, you have found "the house", and are ready to buy. It has shutters, fruit trees, big windows, and charm. However, there are many things to consider before taking the next (quite large) step...

As the saying goes, "Never judge a book by it's cover".


1. How is the neighborhood.... At night?

Do a drive by of the home, and explore the streets nearby to make sure activity is safe. Is there is a party house next door that is dormant during the day? Is there late night traffic in the neighborhood, on foot/bike/vehicle? Is the area quiet? Is there adequate street lighting to scare off potential predators?


2. Check those nooks and crannies.

It is important to make sure that the charm of a home does not distract you from any latent defects. A latent defect is a problem that is not clearly visible without some investigation. Although many facts will be revealed in an inspection, it is helpful to try and spot these before spending the funds to discover through the inspection. When walking through the home, look beyond the staging and room colors. Check the walls near the shower/bath. See if the doors close completely (without a gap between the door and floor). Is a portion of the wall covered by paneling, wallpaper or a large decoration? Pay attention to details to see if it is for looks or a cover-up. Find the furnace and water heater; do they look sound?


3. Make a list of changes.

Try and compose a mental or paper list of everything you would eventually want to change about the home. For example, changing the floor, or adding an eating area off the kitchen. Are there many changes you desire to make? Are the ideas for this home realistic financially and time-wise? What kind of changes are on your list- cosmetic or constructive?


4. Determine your true budget.

Although you have been approved for a home up to $190,000- Are you going to be able to sustain that mortgage payment? Consider your current AND future financial situation. Make room in your funds for emergencies, travel, family status change and savings. You want to ensure that you will be able to enjoy your home, rather that toil over a hefty monthly payment. It is exciting to qualify for a high amount, but just make certain that the payments will be doable for the entire term of your loan.


5. Carefully consider your options.

How many homes have you looked at? Re-evaluate the amount of choices on the board, and the features you are seeking. Is this the first house to excite you, or the "one"?


I believe these 5 steps are very important to take before deciding to make an offer on a home. This is a place where you possibly will be for a long time, create memories, and invest in. It never hurts to be cautious in order to make the best decision for you and your family.

Think outside the box, and inside the book.





written by Kimberly Linson, Broker at John L. Scott Centralia
Kimberly Linson on Facebook
John L. Scott Website

Old House Charm... and Mold/Mildew.

I am absolutely in love with our 1910 farmhouse windows. However, there is a lot of upkeep that needs to be done in order to maintain the safety and look of an old home. With old windows comes moisture. This leads to buildup of mold/mildew on window sills, and it can even spread to the wall if not confronted.

It took only a few hours to completely rid every window of traces of mold/mildew, and it was quite an easy process considering how clean it made the house!

What we did:

*Wear facemask AND eye goggles
*Cover nearby furniture and carpet to protect from bleach
*Open doors and windows, and turn on fans

Mix a solution of 1/2 bleach, and 1/2 water in a spray bottle. (Spray bottle allows the solution to hit hard areas, while not putting too much water on your surfaces)

Remove screens from windows (there is a lot of dirt and moisture in window tracks!)

Cover each window sill/moldy spot thoroughly in bleach solution spray. Let sit for about 20 minutes (you may just need a break from all that spraying afterwards anyway!)

Next, go through each room, following the same route as you sprayed. Using a scrub brush, use that elbow grease and a small bucket of dish soap/water to break it loose and get it off the surface. MAKE SURE YOUR MASK IS ON, MOLD CAN BE TOXIC!

After all windows are scrubbed, go through with the bleach bottle and a DRY rag/towel that you don't mind getting bleach stains on. Use the spray on tough spots, and use the rag to wipe off loosened mold.

Discard scrub brush and rag/towel and allow the areas to dry completely before closing the windows again.

**Extra clean bonus: Take your screens and hose down/bleach while the window sills are drying.

By taking the time to bleach and sanitize windows, along with assessing moisture buildup, your old home will never look "OLD" or dingy. Plus, you and your family will be safe/healthy!

We will also be looking at getting our windows resealed.


More info on condensation: http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/condensation.htm

NOW Is the Time to Buy... Rates on the Rise.

Interesting article shared by the National Association of Realtors, originally written by the New York Times:

When Mortgage Rates Rise...

Daily Real Estate News | Monday, September 29, 2014

   

Mortgage rates have hovered around yearly lows for weeks. But with rate-hike forecasts looming, can buyers count on borrowing costs to stay low?
Many economists are now predicting the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage to reach 5 percent by the middle of the next year, The New York Times reports. On Friday, Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaging 4.20 percent. The hike in rates is partially due to the Federal Reserve’s plan to withdraw from buying mortgage-backed securities.

Economists note that while a 5 percent mortgage rate is low by historical standards, such an increase still has the potential of reducing buying power in a home purchase. For example: According to some estimates, a 1 percent increase in interest rates can raise a monthly mortgage payment on a typical home by more than $700 in pricier parts of the country. The increase would likely be much more modest in other, less expensive markets.
But even in the case of rate hikes up to 7 percent, the analysis found that homes remain affordable overall. From 1985 to 2000, home owners’ housing costs—including the principal and interest on a median-priced home—accounted for 22 percent of a home owners’ median household income. However, for comparison, today’s households are spending about 15 percent of their median income on a median-priced home.
Source: “When Mortgage Rates Rise,” The New York Times (Sept. 25, 2014)

View site and article here: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2014/09/29/when-mortgage-rates-rise#sf4885163

Home Sweet Home

To start things off in this Real Estate blog, I thought I would talk a little bit about my home. My husband and I purchased our first home in 2011. It was a 1910 farmhouse with THE WORKS: white columns, big trees, large windows, two stories...

We had looked at one other house before we decided to put in an offer on "the one". The competition was an older house on about an acre in the woods just outside of town. It was interesting, but there was just nothing "wow" about it, especially in comparison to our 1910 wonder.

Within 30 days of making an offer, we had closed and moved in. It seemed so easy! The only bump in the road was the electric box/breaker. It did not pass inspection, and had to be replaced. Other than that, it was a fast and smooth process. I believe the fact that we were pre-qualified for a specific amount really impacted the ease of our search and close.

One week after we moved in, the pipes clogged up. About $400.00 later, we had it fixed and were back to square one. We love our home, and expect minor problems with a house that age (104 years old), but we definitely learned about the importance of thoroughly checking out a home before it is a done deal.

There are things I wish we had known about buying a home for the first time, but I now am able to use that experience to help others and be prepared for our next purchase.

6 Must Do-s Before Buying a Home

 

 

Today I found a very interesting article on www.bankrate.com, which I believe is useful information for first time or pro buyers.

Are you truly ready to buy? Follow these steps to ensure a smooth process:

1) Strengthen your credit score
2) Figure out how much house you can afford
3) Save for down payment and closing costs
4) Build a healthy savings account
5) Get pre-approved for a mortgage
6) Buy a home you know you will enjoy

These steps will save time, stress and hassle from the buying procedures, and make it more probable for you to obtain your dream home. For more detailed information you can read the full article here: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/6-must-dos-before-buying-a-home-1.aspx