Stay cool with some summer energy-saving tips

With spring winding to a close, suburbanites and city folk will soon start prepping their places for simmering summertime temperatures. For most, this process begins with a few thermostat adjustments or maybe some quality time with a clunky, precariously balanced window unit.

This year, add energy-saving tasks to your pre-summer to-do list. By making some simple household tweaks, you can stave off the heat and improve your home's energy efficiency.

Watch the windows
Drafty windows are a year-round problem. They allow heat to escape in the winter and discharge air conditioning in the summer. So, make sure to check your windows for air leakage. If you encounter this problem, seal up the openings with caulk. According to the Department of Energy, caulk works for stationary cracks up to one-quarter of an inch wide. Weather stripping is also a good option. However, be prepared to commit more time and money if you decide to go in this direction.

You might also consider making some energy-saving design changes. Draperies effectively deflect sunlight and cool down rooms. Medium-colored sets with plastic backing are your best bet. In fact, studies show that these particular drapes cut interior heat gains by more than 30 percent.

Maximize efficiency with accessories
Air conditioning units can't do it all. So, take a trip to your local home improvement store and pick up some essential house-cooling accessories. Kick off your shopping spree by purchasing a ceiling fan or two. But, be warned: fan misinformation is rampant.

For example, some experts tell homeowners that these fans can effectively cool rooms in lieu of air conditioning. Unfortunately, this just isn't true, reported Gizmodo. Ceiling fans cool people, not spaces. These wind generators are definitely effective in stuffy areas packed with humans, but don't deploy them in empty rooms expecting an extreme cool down.

Programmable thermostats are also a good option. According to the EPA, these digital wonders can save you around 10 percent on your annual heating and cooling costs. However, try not to switch off the air conditioning when leaving the house. This strategy may sound like an obvious money-saving hack, but in reality it requires your unit to expend extra energy re-cooling an entire home.

It might also do you some good to switch out your sheets, reported The Huffington Post. When the heat hits, stow those flannel or t-shirt textiles and nab some cool cotton. Additionally, think about trading in your current pillows for a pair stuffed with buckwheat hulls. These breathable cushions provide great support and won't stick to your body during extra humid nights.

Cook to get cool
Kitchens can get hot during mealtime. So, as temperatures rise, adopt some novel meal preparation techniques. Start by making cooling meals like gazpacho and salad. If you need to cook some protein, do it outside with a charcoal or gas grill. If you must cook indoors, use the microwave or the stove top instead of the oven, reported the California Energy Commission.     

Work with what you've got
Sometimes it's best to leave behind the cooling equipment and deal with the heat on your own by making a few simple summer lifestyle changes. If you've got a basement, try spending more time below. Additionally, turn off the lights, especially if you use incandescent light bulbs. These bulbs use up to 90 percent of their energy through heat emission.

When it's bedtime, prepare by dampening your sheets with some cold water or placing a frozen hot water bottle at the foot of the bed. Before you bed down, open your windows to let in cooling outside air.

Stage your home for a quick sale [Video]

Staging is an essential step in the homeselling process. Organized interiors help buyers visualize prospective properties as their own. Plus, those extra coats of paint also net additional cash. According to the National Association of Realtors, staged homes often fetch a higher price. If you’re looking to attract more buyers, start the staging! Just make sure you follow some simple tips.

Kickoff the process with a homewide deep clean. Vacuum and shampoo the carpets, scrub the kitchen and, most importantly, declutter key common areas like the living room.

Next, try adding some color to the equation. Stop by your local home store and pick up some vibrant couch pillows or other accent pieces. Blue, indigo and turquoise are trending at the moment.

Thanks for watching and make sure to check back in for more homeselling hacks!

Tips for dealing with mold [Video]

Mold can be a major problem for property owners. It not only degrades physical structures, but also causes serious health problems. Business or homeowners – especially those in temperate areas – should vigilantly scan for mold growth and take preemptive steps to prevent it.

First, make sure to keep a close watch on home humidity levels and quickly fix small leaks or water damage. Also, ventilate your kitchen and bathrooms to prevent moisture buildup.

If mold has already begun to grow within your home or business, don’t worry. There are steps you can take. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends cleaning the growth with a bleach solution. If you go this route, wear protective gloves and open your windows so fumes can escape. Additionally, try to address the leak that is most likely causing the growth.

If you feel overwhelmed, call in a home inspection company to perform mold testing. Inspectors can identify your growth and pinpoint the underlying structural issues behind it. Alban Inspections offers mold testing services to business and home owners in Maryland. If you need assistance with mold growth, give us a call today!  

Home improvements that will increase your property value

Sellers are forever hunting for renovations that will increase their property values and net higher offers. Of course, there are plenty of home improvement pitfalls that will accomplish just the opposite. If you're looking to stake a for-sale sign, be sure to focus on fixes with good cost-value ratios.

Create wide-open spaces
Most modern homebuyers gravitate toward homes with open floor plans, This Old House reported. Sellers with homes that feature manifold divisions should think about knocking down some non-structural walls to create interior flow and let in light. One downed wall could open up your living and dining areas and entice feng shui-seekers to take a tour.

While you're at, take some time to address clutter in general. According to Consumer Reports, some simple cleaning and reorganization can garner a 3- 5 percent return.

For most homebuyers, open floor plans are the be-all and end-all.For most homebuyers, open floor plans are the be-all and end-all.

Tweak bathrooms, the kitchen
Buyers often focus on bathrooms and kitchens. In fact, in a nationwide survey of real estate experts, Consumer Reports found that more than 50 percent of respondents believed the kitchen was one of the most important spaces for house hunters. However, many caution sellers against dropping cash on major kitchen renovations.

"Given all the volatility in the real estate market, you can't spend megabucks on any project, even a kitchen, and expect to get that money back," Bill Wilson, an Upstate New York-based realtor, told the publication.

The data bears this out. According to the magazine Remodeling, minor kitchen remodels normally net returns of -4 percent.

Instead of embarking on a serious kitchen renovation, make some small, yet impactful tweaks. Purchase a new faucet – low-flow models will improve your home's energy efficiency – and do away with antiquated or harsh lighting fixtures. Additionally, perform a deep clean and remove food-particle buildup in hard-to-reach areas. To top it all off, add a fresh coat of light paint and switch out the curtains and blinds.

"Complete bathroom remodels often offer bad returns."

You will want to use the same minimalist methodology when making improvements to your bathrooms. Complete remodels in these areas offer bad returns. Remodeling reports numbers ranging from -3.4 to -5.9 percent. So, make conservative tweaks. Re-grout floor tiles and other gaps. Replace cabinet pulls, knobs and bath and shower hardware as well.

"I tell my clients to replace anything with a handle, especially if the home has hard water, since it causes so much metal corrosion," Pennsylvania-based real estate consultant Ginny Ivanoff told Consumer Reports.

Facilitate an entry to remember
As homebuyers tread up the drive to conduct a walkthrough, they are greeted by the front door. According to real estate experts, this seemingly dull encounter can determine the outcome of a sale. 

"Don't underestimate the power of a front door," Kristin Willens, senior manager of Program Development at the Massachusetts-based realty firm ERA Real Estate, told This Old House. "People make up their minds in the first seven seconds of entering a house."

Entry door replacements do indeed pay off. According to Remodeling, most garner returns of over 5 percent. So, be sure to make this key exterior upgrade. Additionally, install a new bell and consider adding a portico. If you don't have room in your budget to accommodate replacement, add a new coat of paint. Choose a color that not only reflects your home's interior aesthetic, but also gives buyers insight into the life you and your family lead within its walls.

Of course, if you're a neon-pink sort of clan, take some time to reconsider more understated alternatives. As you look through swatches, consider the architectural style of your structure.

Tips for attracting millennial homebuyers [Video]

Over the past few years, millennials have flooded the real estate market. According to the National Association of Realtors, adults aged eighteen to thirty-five accounted for thirty-five percent of all home sales in 2015. If you’re looking to take advantage of this trend and attract younger buyers, you should follow a couple key guidelines.

Online real estate platforms are essential resources for these youthful house hunters. According to the NAR, ninety-three percent of them use the internet to search for homes and seventy-one percent employ mobile devices. So, act accordingly and post a web listing with detailed descriptions and engaging photographs.

Most young homebuyers gravitate toward houses with open floor plans and clean, simple spaces. If your home doesn’t have such features, you can compensate with a little crafty staging. Perform a deep clean and de-clutter larger areas. You might also consider adding a fresh coat of white paint or uncovering your windows. Both of these tweaks will make your interior spaces seem larger.

Check back with us later for more homeselling tips. Thanks!   

The risks of radon [Video]

Radon is a serious threat to homeowners. The colorless, odorless and tasteless gas can seep up through radioactive sediment into properties new and old and cause major health problems. As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency advises all homeowners to regularly test for the gas.

According to the National Cancer Institute, radon is known to cause aggressive forms of lung cancer. Normally, individuals who develop cancer as a result of radon exposure inhale radioactive particles of the gas. Researchers estimate that 15,000 to 22,000 people die each year from cancer associated with the gas. Smokers account for around 90 percent of these deaths.

You can mitigate these risks by scheduling a radon test. The procedure is incredibly simple. Representatives from your home inspection company of choice will install radon detectors in your home. These automated devices conduct hourly radon readings for a period of 90 days. Then, experts analyze the data to look for elevated levels of the gas.

Call Alban Inspections to schedule a radon test today. We use state of the art equipment and serve customers throughout the state of Maryland.

Improve your curb appeal with plants

Curb appeal is immensely important to homebuyers. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors, more than 80 percent of buyers will pass on a property if unimpressed by its landscaping or street-facing features. Most sellers work to avoid this situation and improve curb appeal with outdoor upgrades, including plants. Of course, picking shrubs, trees or flowers that best accentuate your abode is no easy task. Before you hit the home-improvement store, familiarize yourself with some key plant-placing guidelines.

Build a strong foundation
According to This Old House Magazine, sellers should start the planting process by installing some foundational, house-hugging shrubs. These small wonders can hide unattractive, yet essential home features like drains and gutters. As you look into different options, focus on forming a cohesive mix of plant life rather than going after taller, show-stopping specimens that might block windows or entrances.

"The right foundation planting for most houses is a nice mix of evergreen and deciduous material, with dwarf varieties in order to keep window views open, some repetition of plants for a unified look, and an overall casual, naturalistic feeling," landscape architect Anne Walters told the publication.

Start by purchasing some stout evergreen shrubs like littleleaf boxwoods or inkberry bushes. Then, add in more colorful selections, such as Japanese pieris and hydrangeas.   

Once you've made your choices, remember to consider placement as you plant. Line the wall with larger plants and continue outward, by height.

Sellers should choose their landscaping materials carefully.Sellers should choose their landscaping materials carefully.

Create a green way
Sellers would be smart to complement soil-dwelling shrubs with potted plants, Better Homes and Gardens reported. Adding a few planters or pots will liven up the space and carry your green theme into the interior.

Pick out vessels that match your home's aesthetic and underline prospective plants. According to This Old House Magazine, pots painted in muted tones are the best option. If you plan to install plant groupings, look for containers 12 inches wide and at least 8 inches deep. And, most importantly, make sure your new pots have pre-installed drainage holes. Water-logged plants are no good.

Next, find a nice blend of foliage to fill your planters. However, fight the urge to overstuff.

"A lot of plants are fine, but a lot of different kinds of plants starts to look messy," landscaper Ellen ­Zachos told the magazine.

Finish off your planter project with a heavy does of packaged planting mix. Most blends contain sterile soil, or soil that has been treated to kill subterranean pathogens and other harmful bacteria. Soilless mixes are also available. These usually contain peat moss and other soil substitutes.

Transform your yard
You don't have to confine your planting project to the few square feet encircling your home. According to the National Wildlife Federation, many homeowners are embracing native plants as an alternative to traditional green grass. 

Native plants normally live longer than two years and feature aggressive root systems that reach deep into the soil. As a result, they rarely need fertilizer and require little watering. According to experts, these characteristics make native plants perfect for sustainable landscaping projects. Their deep roots slow erosion, the University of Minnesota reported. Plus, the plants themselves absorb harmful chemicals found in soil.    

So, consider devoting at least a portion of your yard to native plants. However, if you do go in this direction, be prepared to put in work. The planting process includes a lot of eccentric steps. For instance, native plant seeds must undergo a two-month long cold treatment to germinate. Landscapers advise sellers to plant on overcast days.

Additionally, removing your existing grass will require extensive rototilling. You will also have to maintain some of your current lawn care habits.

"The problem with the native-plant movement is that people think they can stop mowing their lawns and just sprinkle seeds from prairie-in-a-can," Doug Tallamy, Ph.D., a professor of entomology at the University of Delaware, told the NWF. "But we're not suggesting you abandon landscaping. You do have to fit in with the cultural norms."

In the end, the work is well worth the reward. Many buyers, especially the eco-friendly kind, will flock to your property looking to make a deal.

  

4 common home inspection headaches

Inspections are an essential part of the home purchasing process. Though stressful, these property checkups benefit homebuyers in the long run, and either dispel consumer doubt or reveal long-lingering structural issues that require immediate attention.

Homes that fail to pass muster during the inspection phase often present common problems. Luckily, savvy buyers can overcome most of these obstacles with the help of a reputable contractor and, of course, some cash.

Electrical issues
Homebuyers looking to purchase older property might run into electrical problems, reported The Street. If you plan to buy a home built before the 1960s, you will probably need to rewire the entire structure. Most of these houses feature antiquated knob-and-tube electrical systems that are fire prone and easily overloaded. According to Angie's List, replacing such systems costs between $8,000 and $15,000, depending on square footage. But before you call up an electrician, make sure to consult local building codes. 

"If you're buying a historic home, there may be regulations on the structural changes you're allowed to make to the building," Mike Lyon, executive vice president of operations at Quicken Loans, told The Street.

Even newer homes can pose electrical problems. Inspectors often uncover instances of reverse polarity – when hot wires are connected to neutral terminals and vice versa – in modern structures, reported The Washington Post. Most local electricians will resolve this issue for a few hundred dollars.

Homebuyers everywhere run into common problems.Homebuyers everywhere run into common problems.

Mold infestation 
In recent years, mold has become a key concern for homebuyers, especially those with children. Spores from toxic fungus like black mold can cause respiratory issues, reported the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So, if your prospective new home shows signs of extensive mold damage, experts suggest backing out of the sale entirely.

"Black mold can take a lot of very expensive remediation efforts. There's the cost of getting the mold out, but then there's also the cost of all the effort to make sure it doesn't come back," Lyon told The Street. "If I were a buyer, I would tell the seller, 'I am not buying this house'."

If you insist on purchasing a home with such damage, be prepared to invest time and money. According to HGTV, mold remediation costs anywhere from $500 to $5000 to remove spores from attics, basements and crawl spaces. 

Roof leaks
According to the National Association of Home Builders, average fiber cement shingles retain their structural integrity for only around 25 years. As a result, many middle-aged homes on the market have roof leaks or are susceptible to such damage. 

Roof replacement can be a pricey proposition, costing between $15,000 and $150,000, depending on square footage. If you're dealing with a leaky roof and have the money to make repairs, consider switching to metal or slate. Both options are more expensive than cement – metal goes for around $1,500 per 100 feet while slate is slightly cheaper at $800 – but last considerably longer and require less maintenance.

Additionally, before diving into roof repair mode, make sure to get the proper local permits. Local governments determine fees based on the square footage you plan to tackle. For instance, a 1,350-foot roof repair permit can cost anywhere from $150 to $400, depending on your location. 

Foundation faults
Some homes display foundation problems and, unfortunately, most of them are deal-breakers. 

"You do not want to see the words 'foundation problems' anywhere in the home inspection or appraisal," Lyon told The Street. "If the home inspector puts a golf ball down on one side of the house and it rolls to the other side, then you need to walk away."

However, if you're absolutely in love with your prospective home, some problems are solvable. Contractors can plug cracks one-quarter of an inch or wider for $1,500 to $3,000, reported House Logic. You can even level uneven foundations by adding wooden braces.

If you've got your eye on a prospective property, make sure to hire a reputable home inspection company to review the home. Alban Home Inspections provides services to homebuyers in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington D.C.