Health & Fitness
Top 5: Cost-Effective Repairs for Your Home
There are many simple repairs you can do to increase the amount of change in your pockets. Here are five home repair tips and tricks for reducing your money flying out the windows or down the drains.
Economy, economy, economy....that has been flooding the airwaves lately especially with the upcoming Presidential elections. No surprise that many homeowners have cut back on various activities, spending and making lifestyle changes to adjust to today's difficult economy. My wife and I recycle, but there are so many little things we can do to save a few pennies or dollars here and there. After all the little changes add up....maybe take a family trip with the savings or just double down on hand of blackjack!!
1. Repair leaky plumbing
Did you know a leaky faucet or pipe can waste over 200 gallons of water each single month. Literally flushing your money down the drain. Grab a screwdriver or wrench to tighten up those loose fittings before calling a plumber. FYI....it is a bit cheaper if you do it.
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2. Change your filters
Yes, you have to change your furnace filters more than once a decade. This is one of the most overlooked and forgotten tasks of home ownership. A dirty filter makes your furnace work harder thus costing you more cash.
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3. Install dimmers
Dimming your lights can save big bucks on your bills and maybe add a little spark of romance to an otherwise boring TV dinner together on a Wednesday night. It takes less electricity with dimmed lights while reducing the harshness of typical light bulbs.
4. Replace shower heads
Swapping out the high flow shower heads to a lower flow can potentially save about 20,000 gallons of water a year. Lowering your shower hot water output will also lesson the bite on your electric bill. It is a two-for-one!
5. Caulking
Caulking around windows, tubs, sinks, etc start to deteriorate which may lead to a very expensive fix down the road if not in the immediate future. Drafty windows increase heat and cooling cost while porous seals around faucets can saturate the interior walls with moisture. If your home has no snow around the foundation during February, you may need to reseal your windows to stop the escaping warmth.
I am not pretending that I am a "green" real estate agent as being "green" is the latest catchphrase. Saving a buck or two helps out over the year so I may take my beautiful wife out to a nice meal or donate a few "smiles" to a deserving charity. Knowledge is power.
As always, visit my website for more information or click here for a free personalized market snapshot. It will be worth your time, I promise!
