What should realtors do when preparing a home for sale?

When it comes to selling a house, there are many factors realtors must keep in mind to ensure sellers get the most bang for their buck and buyers are satisfied with their overall purchase.

When preparing for a home sale or initial walkthrough, there are a few steps realtors should take. These include:

  • Attracting buyers with curb appeal: Curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of a home sale. The outside of the home is what first attracts buyers to home showings, and as such, it should be as inviting as possible. Keep walkways clear, exterior paint up to date and any decorations to a minimum. Allow potential buyers to see the space as their own from the beginning. 
  • Showcasing the best aspects of the space: Does the home come with an in-ground pool? How about a newly furnished stainless steel kitchen? Buyers want to see the best qualities of the home, which often helps push the selling point. Before a home is listed or a walkthrough begins, be sure to have a list of important parts of the home to see before it ends.
  • Stressing the importance of cleanliness: This may seem obvious, but ensuring the home is as clean as possible is imperative for a smooth sale process. Buyers like to envision themselves in the home, and often can't do so if closets are full to the brim or counters are cluttered with different things. By decluttering the home and investing in organization, buyers will have an easier time seeing the home as theirs.

Before listing your home, consider scheduling an energy audit to determine the efficiency of your home as another great selling point! For more realtor tips or energy information, visit our website. 

Why is home performance important for energy efficiency? [Video]

Home performance in terms of energy efficiency is a critical part of keeping utility bills and preventable emissions as low as possible. It’s often characterized by three simple ideas: comfort, health and efficiency.

By maintaining and enacting efficient changes, the comfort and health of your home’s residents can improve. Often, issues in the home related to efficiency, such as temperature and insulation, can foster conditions that lead to serious medical risks. These instances include the development of mold, prolonged moisture buildup or a backup of dangerous chemicals within the HVAC system.

By investing in your home’s performance, comfort and health can be improved while enhancing efficiency at the same time. 

Schedule a consultation with Alban Inspections today to learn more.

The real risk of radon

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer if left untreated. Radon is invisible to the human eye, odorless, and it is not tangible. Radon testing is the only way to ensure there is no radon inside or near your home.

As radon is a radioactive gas, it often moves from the ground to the air through cracks in the foundation or even in the siding of a home. Although it is easy for radon to enter the home, it can be difficult to eliminate, especially in winter. 

During the colder months, homeowners generally keep their windows shut, sealing any entryways and ensuring there are no openings to the outside that may let out the heat. This traps the radon inside as well. Some homeowners believe that because their home is new or recently constructed it won't suffer from radon issues, but it can seep into any building.

Radon most often comes from the soil, but it can also enter the home through a water source. Though radon poses less of a health risk when it is in water, as opposed to airborne radon, it can still adversely affect the health of those who drink it. It also contributes to elevated indoor radon levels.

If you are an owner of a private well that your family uses as a water source, or you suspect your home water has been contaminated with radon, schedule an audit right away.

If left untreated, radon can negatively impact quality of life and the overall safety of your home. Schedule an audit today with Alban Inspections or visit our website.

The importance of using energy efficient appliances

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is making some big changes in terms of energy efficiency and household appliances. By enacting new standards for commercial air conditioners and furnaces, more energy will be saved than any other change started by the DOE to date.

Over the product lifetime, businesses are set to save $167 billion on utility bills and reduce carbon pollution by 885 million metric tons.

New commercial air conditioning and furnace standards are scheduled to be implemented in two phases, beginning in 2018. This first phase will cause a 13 percent efficiency improvement in products. In 2023, an additional 15 percent increase in efficiency will be required for newer units. 

Commercial air conditioners, also known as rooftop units, are most commonly used in low-rise buildings such as schools and small office buildings. In total, they cool off about half of the total commercial space in the U.S.

This change was made after careful consideration as well as numerous meetings with the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute representing manufacturers, the Appliance Standards Awareness Project and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

"Just days after the Paris agreement to cut global emissions and create a new era of affordable energy, today's announcement marks the largest energy-saving standard in history and demonstrates that America is leading the effort to reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions," said DOE secretary Dr. Ernest Moniz.

By making simple changes in both the workplace and home, energy efficiency can be improved. To learn more about the efficiency of your home, schedule an energy audit today. 

Visit our website here.

Renewable energy trends spur job growth in Maryland

Energy efficiency has many benefits for those who choose to take part in its enhancements. One of these benefits is the growth of jobs in emerging fields.

According to the Frederick News-Post, the use of renewable energy is generating new jobs in Maryland.

The Solar Foundation, an independent, nonprofit organization, recently released its 2014 Maryland Solar Jobs Census. This report found that solar jobs in Maryland are growing, spurred by the drive to make solar changes in the home. As of November 2014, there were more than 3,000 solar jobs in Maryland, representing about 29 percent of increases in employment since 2013.

The Solar Foundation projected a 26 percent increase in solar jobs this year alone, with more than 174,000 across the U.S.

Making energy efficient changes doesn't just mean installing solar panels or building wind turbines. For some, making this change may be out of the question in terms of timing and finances. There are steps that homeowners can take now though that will increase efficiency and decrease utility bills. These include:

  • Changing the light bulbs. If you haven't done so already, switch out the light bulbs in your home for a more efficient bulb. By eliminating incandescent lights, owners can reduce energy used by lighting up to 75 percent.
  • Sealing and insulating the home will keep the cold air out and the warm air inside this winter. By doing so, comfort and quality of life can also be improved as filtered air fills the home instead of polluted air from the outdoors.
  • Using electronics properly, such as loading a washing machine with the right amount of clothes or running the dishwasher only when it's full but not too full, can also make a difference. Running electronics correctly will also prolong their life.

To learn more, visit our website.

Is mold hiding in your home’s walls? [Video]

A home’s foundation and encompassing walls are two of the most common places where homeowners find mold hiding. Mold is deceptive, growing in nooks and crannies, often hidden behind drywalls and insulation. It’s also known to grow behind wallpaper, eating the glue that holds the paper to the wall.

Some of the most common signs of mold within walls include cracked or peeling paint, discoloration and outward bulging. Seeing small mold spores can also be an indication that there is a bigger mold colony growing out of sight, affecting the health of the residents. 

An invasive inspection may be the only way to determine if there is mold in your home.

Schedule a consultation with Alban Inspections to learn more or visit our website.

Energy efficiency progresses through American utilities

How has energy efficiency improved during 2015? As the year comes to a close, The Natural Resources Defense Council has determined that the U.S. made great gains in terms of better efficiency.

Utilities across the U.S. are vital to the overall improvement of smarter uses for electricity and natural gas, reducing energy bills and pollution. 

According to the Institute for Electric Innovation, U.S. utility investments in efficiency programs like weatherization and rebates for efficient appliances exceeded $7 billion in 2014. This number greatly surpassed the 2007 total of $2.7 billion.

A survey conducted by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy found that the amount of electricity saved by the addition of energy efficiency programs developed nationwide grew by 6 percent. Natural gas savings was one of the most noted developments, as well as reducing overall costs and investments in all noted categories. 

In August of this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  finalized the Clean Power Plan to cut carbon pollution from the nation's power plants, and requiring states to comply with set clean energy targets by 2022. As part of the final ruling, the EPA established the Clean Energy Incentive Program, which is designed to give states incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. 

As states continue to change their energy efficiency stance, and create more clean energy opportunities, how can homeowners play their part? 

Consider scheduling an energy audit with Alban Inspections to determine how your house may factor into your state's overall energy efficiency initiatives. Visit our website to learn more.

Maryland lawmakers push for better energy efficiency programs

According to The Baltimore Sun, three Maryland lawmakers are hoping to increase the amount of Maryland's electricity that comes from renewable sources, as well as spend $40 million on training for "green jobs" expected to be in higher demand in the future.

Sen. Catherine Pugh, Del. Dereck Davis and Sen. Rich Madaleno recently announced their plan to sponsor legislation requiring 25 percent of the state's electricity to come from renewable resources by 2020. This will accelerate the state's current plan to reach 20 percent by 2022.

Increasing this timetable, the three also hope to spend $40 million on job skills training to install solar panels and improve the overall efficiency of buildings.

"This is not a choice between addressing climate change and improving our economy," said Davis, chairman of the Economic Matters Committee and a Prince George's County lawmaker. "It's both."

Many advocates of the change believe it will create 2,000 new jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The higher percentage of renewable energy sources for electricity, though, may come at some cost for rate payers. This switch would cost about 52 cents per rate payer for year, according to a finding from the Sustainable Energy Advantage.

Energy efficiency and climate control remain hot button issues across the globe, especially in light of the Paris Climate Changes meetings. 

Enhancing the energy efficiency measures in your home, though seemingly small, can make a large impact. To learn more about the efficiency of your home or to schedule an energy audit, contact Alban Inspections today. 

Visit our website to learn more. 

3 more home winterization tips [Video]

Ensuring your home is ready for the upcoming winter should be a number one priority in the next few weeks. By winterizing the home, homeowners can cut down on utility costs and increase energy efficiency. 

 Fireplaces are used for warmth and holiday cheeriness during the colder months. Before its first use, have the chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional to ensure it’s in working order. 

Use ceiling fans to your advantage all year round by setting each to rotate clockwise, forcing the warm air that is rising to move back toward the floor. This will keep the heat where it will do the most good, closest to the occupants of the home.

Finally, block drafts around the doors and windows with weatherstripping or window film to control heat loss.

Check back here for more tips!

Preparing for a pre-listing home inspection [Video]

Give yourself peace of mind with an efficient, thorough and reliable home inspection conducted by Alban Inspections. If you’re about to list your home on the market, there are a few things to keep in mind while you prepare.

Before a home inspection, take a walk through each room. If anything stands out to you in terms of safety, bring it up during the actual inspector visit. 

Be sure there are clear access paths to all parts of the home including the attic, basement, crawlspaces and heating system. An inspector must be able to properly check all these areas. 

Never attempt to do a quick fix or cheap repair on your own before an inspection, as this can do more harm than good.

Check back here for more tips!