Get Your Home Summer Ready!

Summer is here and the heat warnings have already been issued! Keeping your home cool and saving money on energy costs, is a battle we all fight this season. Here's some tips to keep your home energy efficient. 

Air Conditioning: If you need to get your A/C serviced, now is the time. A check-up is always cheaper than dealing with a sudden emergency.

1. Have them also check your temperature splits, to make sure your not losing precious cold air anywhere between the unit and the interior vents. 
2. Replace your filter every month too! Don't use a thick filter, it makes your A/C work harder.

Programable Thermostat: your power company probably has a 'peak usage' timeframe, so program your air conditioning to that schedule. When you're away from home, bump the temperature up. Then have it bump down a few degrees, an hour before you usually get home. 

Seal it up! Think of your home as an envelope, we want to make sure it is all sealed up!

1. Check the weather stripping on your doors, if you can see light, then you need to adjust your seals.
2. Take your A/C vents off and calk the space between the duct and drywall. 
3. Check your attic insulation for gaps or leaks. 
4. Get a home energy audit from APS or SRP.

Check your Fans: make sure your ceiling fans are rotating counter clockwise during the summer. This moves the hot air down with the cooler air, creating a more even temperature. 

Suncreens: keeping the sunlight from entering your house is the best way to keep it cool. So investing in sunscreens on all your windows, helping to lower your energy bills. Plus you'll have some more privacy with the blinds are open!

Home Improvements That Increase Property Value

It always seems to happen, you start fixing your house up right when you're ready to move. That's life! So I wanted to give you a few, easy fixes that translate to an increase in your home's value.

• Subway Tile: from the kitchen to bathrooms, you can't go wrong with this classic tile. You could realize a 4-7% increase in property value by adding a backsplash. 
• Kitchen improvements have a 75% Return on Investment (ROI), so you can spend some money and expect to get most of it back. You'll also be able to enjoy the kitchen of your dreams!
• Farmhouse Sink! Buyers love these sinks and may even buy the house just because of this! Homeowners have seen as much of an 8% increase in sales price due to a farmhouse sink!
• Shaker Cabinets in the bathroom are totally in style. They'll can jump the sales price almost 10%! These classic style cabinets appeal to all types of buyers, so it's a no brainer for bathrooms or kitchens!

Zillow was some other suggestions too, so read more here.

Preparing your home to sell is essential and sometimes, it means doing a little home improvement work yourself. However, I always want you to focus on things that will make you money, so don't go crazy. Doing the right things when fixing up your home can help it sell faster, without costing you a fortune. 

Have any questions? Feel free to ask me at Kyle@TeamClayton.com