Environmentally Friendly Products for your Home

The green home movement has been spreading, but many homeowners still believe that it is a lifestyle only available to the super wealthy. This mentality is not just untrue, but it is also hurting an otherwise world-changing industry. What most homeowners don’t know is that there are hundreds of affordable ways to improve your home’s environmental impact. From simple lighting to reusable plastic products, every homeowner has access to green home solutions.

Solar Powered Candles

Installing solar panels that will power your entire home can be expensive and out of reach for many families, but that does not mean that you should avoid all solar powered devices. Hanging solar powered candles are a hot new trend. They can be seen hanging from porches across the country. These candles require such a small amount of solar power that it makes traditional non-solar porch lighting products seem primitive and wasteful. A hanging solar candle will usually cost no more than $30 to $40, but they require no electrical power and will last for many years to come.

Low-Flow Showerheads

Low flow showerheads not only save water, but they save energy as well. Using a low flow showerhead will provide you with the same quality showering experience while using only half the water of a traditional showerhead. This adds up over time, cutting out a huge percentage of your yearly water consumption. Now figure in the amount of energy that it takes to heat that water, and your savings will skyrocket. Water heating usually makes up for a large percentage of a home’s energy consumption, but it does not have to be that way. Low flow showerheads are inexpensive and pay for themselves in no time.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

Cleaning products have been a major burden on the environment since their conception. However, there are plenty of innovative new companies developing natural products that work well and have little or no negative impact on the environment. Natural laundry detergents have advanced a lot since the idea first came about. New formulas are being developed every year, using all-natural ingredients that manage to clean as well as their chemical filled counterparts. The same goes for wood and counter cleaner sprays and stain removers. Some of these products may cost a little more than their dangerous competitors, but you will be doing the world a favor by making the switch.

Various Kitchen Items

There are tons of little items we use every day that often go unnoticed. From coffee filters to plastic wrap, everything that goes into the trash can will end up in a landfill. Luckily, most of these products can be reusable. Instead of using plastic wrap to store uneaten food, get a reusable container. Rather than throwing out a coffee filter every morning, there are durable filters designed to be reused for years after purchase. These are the little things that many homeowners forget about, but they add up over time. Pay attention to what you use on a daily basis and decide for yourself what you should change to have a green home.

A Year-Round Guide for Home Maintenance

Homeowners know the satisfying, deep pleasure of a house that's in good order—a house where appliances are working, the paint is not chipped, and that dust under the refrigerator is gone (at least temporarily).

A regular home maintenance program will keep your house fresh and clean, help prevent expensive repairs and ensure your house is as safe as possible, For a newbie, it can be a steep learning curve figuring out when to clean which filter, how often you're supposed to clean out a chimney and what, exactly, a sump pump is. Sticking to a year-round home maintenance schedule will break the tasks up and will keep you on track with repairs and upkeep. Since most of the big jobs have to be tackled one, two or four times a year, grouping task by season is a good way to create a maintenance routine.

With every season change or clean filters on the air conditioner or heater unit. Vacuum or dust indoor vents.

Clean and freshen the kitchen garbage disposal using ice cubes or small bits of lemon peel. Running a few small ice cubes through the disposal will knock debris from blades and a few small pieces of citrus peel will keep it smelling fresh. For maximum results, make ice cubes with pure lemon juice and run them though the machine.

Test fire extinguishers to check their pressure and inspect to make sure they're accessible and not broken or missing parts.

Wipe down the washing machine and clean the interior by running an empty load with a cup of bleach, a cup of white vinegar OR laundry detergent. Use the machine's hottest setting.

Test all ground-fault circuit interrupters.

Every spring and fall

Clean and repair roof gutters. Make sure downspouts are in good repair and aiming at least 2 feet away from your home's foundation.

Change smoke detector batteries.

Flush out the water heater. Remove sediment that has collected by opening the drain valve and letting water run until clear.

Wipe down refrigerator inside and out. Clean drawers and shelves with hot soapy water and dry thoroughly. Toss mystery freezer items and expired condiments. Sweep underneath and vacuum condenser coils.

Wash windows and screens.

Check drains and clear of debris. To clean a drain, pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with a pot of boiling water.

Clean faucet aerators and shower heads. To remove mineral deposits from shower heads, detach and submerge them in white vinegar for a few hours.

Clean the inside of the dishwasher with hot soapy water and a scrub brush. Clear the drain bin of debris and rinse it off. Run the machine empty on the hottest setting with a cup of white vinegar on the top rack. (You can also put a pack of unsweetened lemonade mix in the soap cup or sprinkle a cup of baking soda on the over the bottom of the tub and run empty.)

Clean the grills and coils on air conditioning units and clear the surroundings of debris and overgrown plants.

Give your grill a thorough cleaning. Soak the grates in soapy water and scrub with steel wool. Check hoses, hinges, and knobs, and remove rust with a wire brush.

Fall

Take a walk around the exterior of the house and give it a thorough visual inspection. Look for leaks, termite damage, rodent nests, cracks in the foundation and rot. Seal cracks and gaps in siding and around windows. Repair siding where necessary. Touch up paint on exterior and trim.

Power-wash the exterior of the house.

Clear lint from dryer hose. Use a vacuum or long flexible brush.

Clean carpets and have floors re-polished or sealed.

Check electrical cords and make sure they're in good repair.

Check door and window locks, door knobs and handles and cabinet hardware. Tighten, replace or repair as needed.

Check indoor and outdoor air vents and make sure they are not blocked by debris.

Trim back trees and shrubs and make sure they aren't touching the house, roof or gutters.

Spring

Dust blinds and vacuum or wash curtains.

Replace storm windows with screens. Repair damaged screens.

Clean kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans.

Clean light fixtures and ceiling fans.

Inspect your chimney and fireplace, looking for obvious cracks or leaks. Check the chimney cap or spark arrester to make sure it's intact and free of nests or other blockage. Spring is a good time for a professional chimney cleaning because it's off-season. You'll need a cleaning every 2-3 years or after a burning a cord of wood.

Go through kitchen and bathroom cabinets and clear out expired foods, cosmetics and medications.

Check the roof for missing or damaged shingles and worn or exposed areas. Make repairs immediately to avoid messy and expensive damage.

Reseal wooden decking and outdoor furniture with UV-resistant sealer.

Test pressure relief valve on water heater.

Examine your bath and shower areas and re-caulk as needed.

Lubricate garage door springs

If your house has a sump pump, make sure there aren't any leaks and remove any debris. To test to see if it's functioning property, pour about five gallons of water into it and make sure it turns on.

Survey: 1 in 3 Buyers Would Bid Above Asking Price

One in 3 buyers are willing to bid higher than a home’s asking price, according to a survey conducted by Trulia in partnership with Harris Interactive.

That was just one of several other findings of the survey that appear to show that homebuyers are feeling the squeeze of market conditions that are significantly altered from those of a year ago. At the same time, they capture improved sentiment towards the housing market.

Today’s tight home inventory appears to be pushing some buyers to use aggressive tactics to beat out competing buyers, the survey found. In addition to a third of buyers being willing to make above-market offers, 1 in 4 said that they would offer to pay a seller’s closing costs.

“Tight inventory means slim pickings for buyers. Even though inventory is starting to expand, and rising home prices should bring more for-sale homes onto the market, people who actually want to buy within the next year are feeling the pressure of competing buyers and limited inventory,” wrote Trulia Chief Economist Jed Kolko in blog post about the survey.

Also seemingly a symptom of today’s limited housing stock, homebuyers who plan to buy within the next year said that finding a home that they like is their biggest worry.

And highlighting two other defining characteristics of today’s market, consumers who said they might buy someday indicated that their two greatest fears were that mortgage rates and home prices would rise further.

But in a sign that people’s attitudes towards homeownership have recovered significantly since the downturn, 60 percent of respondents said that they thought homeownership is one of the best long-term investments they could make, up from 47 percent two years ago.

Tax tips for Homeowners

A huge benefit of homeownership is a variety of tax deductions that you should be aware of before you file your returns with the Internal Revenue Service. It’s important to consider each home tax deduction and credit you are entitled to, as well as avoid common tax-filing errors.

Property Tax

First, be sure to deduct the property tax expense on your return for the year you paid it. Keep in mind that it could be different than the year it was due.

Energy Upgrades

Another item to think about is whether you spent money on certain home energy-efficiency upgrades. If you did, there is a tax credit that will work in your favor (not to mention the savings you’ll enjoy on your utility bill after you’ve installed the energy upgrades).

Home Repairs

If home repairs were conducted, it’s worth noting that you can only claim deductions if part of your home is used for business or casualty losses. Be sure to discuss these types of deductions with a tax adviser so you don’t run afoul of IRS rules.

PMI

Also, if you purchased your home with a down payment of less than 20 percent and utilized Private Mortgage Insurance, then 2013 is the last year you will be able to claim the PMI deduction since Congress has allowed it to expire. Just keep in mind there are income limitations, so check with your tax advisor about whether you qualify for this deduction.

Capital Gains

Did you sell your home last year? If you made a profit, don’t forget that may you have to pay capital gains taxes on any profit. However, you can exclude $250,000 (or $500,000 if you’re a married couple) from your taxes.

MID

And of course there is the mortgage interest tax deduction. Make sure you don’t claim too much for this deduction. You are allowed to deduct home acquisition debt up to $1 million, as well as $100,000 in home equity debt.

Home Office

If your home is your primary place of business, then you could be eligible to deduct some of your home expenses, such as utilities and maintenance.

Casualty Losses

The country has suffered from a barrage of difficult weather conditions, so if disaster created property damage and destruction of your home, then you are able to deduct some losses (but be sure to carefully document your deductions with photos, receipts, and insurance claim reports). You should consult a tax adviser because filing for casualty losses can be complex, especially since your income and property value can impact the deduction, as well as depreciated values of items.

Zillow set to acquire Trulia for $3.5B in stock

The companies will maintain their separate brands, with Trulia CEO Pete Flint staying on board and reporting to Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff. Although the deal has been approved by both companies’ boards of directors, it’s not expected to close until sometime next year. When the deal closes, Flint and another Trulia director will join the combined company’s board of directors.
Talks to bring real estate’s two most popular sites together started six weeks ago, Rascoff told Inman News.
Rascoff says the plan is for Zillow to offer a portfolio of brands in the real estate space, as it does with HotPads and StreetEasy in New York.

The new portal giant will be good for both consumers and the real estate industry, Rascoff said.
“The combined company can innovate even faster to help the consumer,” he said.
Also, with the immense reach, resources and talent that the portal giant can bring to the table, agents will get access to tools that will help them “take advantage of the technology revolution,” Rascoff said.
Flint shared the same idea on a call he and Rascoff held this morning for investors and investment analysts, and said the merger will also create savings in marketing. Zillow and Trulia are set to spend a combined $110 million this year on their national marketing campaigns — $65 million for Zillow, $45 million for Trulia.
Zillow already powers real estate search at Yahoo Homes, AOL Real Estate and MSN Real Estate.
“It ought to be quite clear to a listing agent or a broker that it behooves their seller to have their listing displayed on Zillow and Trulia or sites that Zillow powers,” Rascoff said on the call — a message he’s been hammering for months on social media and elsewhere.