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.

Have them also check your temperature splits, to make sure your not losing precious cold air anywhere between the unit and the interior vents.
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!

Check the weather stripping on your doors, if you can see light, then you need to adjust your seals.
Take your A/C vents off and calk the space between the duct and drywall.
Check your attic insulation for gaps or leaks.
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!

Summertime means businesses in general are seeing increased sales. The days are longer, people are going on summer vacations, and maximizing their time outdoors before it's too hot. So now may be the perfect time for you to sell your house! Here's some tips:

More Buyers: Typically, people start looking for houses in March and the search for the perfect home can take quite a few months. So by the time summer rolls around they're ready to buy! That means more eyes on the market and if you sell in the summer, you could get a lot more traffic!

Keep it Cool: If buyers are out and about during the heat of the day, a cool house will feel like a refuge! Pair that with a house that shows well and you'll stand out in their minds. Make sure to turn the A/C down a little lower than normal, so they can cool off while they tour your home.

Longer Days: Even in Arizona, the longer days help more buyers search for houses. If you work until 5 pm, during the summer you have daylight until almost 8 pm! That leaves so much more time to see as many houses as possible.

Outdoor Space: It may be getting too hot out, but buyer's still want that outdoor living space. They may be looking for a house during the summer but they'll be living in a home as the temperatures start cooling down. Keep the grass green, trim all the bushes, and create some seating areas. Bonus: add some seasonal flowers to brighten it up!

Trust a Professional: Whether you're buying a new home or on the resale market. Trust a full-time REALTOR® to help you because in a highly competitive market, you need that experience. Ask them how many transactions they do each year and then ask them how close to list price is their average sales price. That will tell you a lot about their experience. If they have the answers, that's a good sign.

Have any questions? Let me know! I am happy to help you in any way I can!

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Get Your Home Summer Ready!

Selling Your House in The Summer