The biggest cost homeowner’s face during the winter is heating. The cooler winter temperatures can produce higher and higher heating bills. Homeowner’s can combat this trend by taking a look at their attic’s insulation. Heat rises and the attic maybe the last place you think heat, and more importantly energy, is lost.

In a previous post, Government Tax Credits for Home Improvements, tax credits for improving a homes insulation where touched on. In 2010, why not save some green while getting in on some government green while improving your home’s thermal footprint. Here is a short video from Reid, of the The Home Detective, on a home’s attic’s insulation in his episode of “What’s Going on with this House”.

Windows, doors, and skylights must meet or exceed the prescriptive criteria outlined in the 2001 Supplement of the 2000 International Conservation Code (IECC) or the 2004 Supplement of the 2003 International Conservation Code (IECC) for the climate zone in which the product was installed.

According to ENERGY STAR the documentation required should be fairly easy to provide: For windows and skylights, homeowners may use either ENERGY STAR labels (internet +printer = labels, just kidding as I do not advise falsifying ENERGY STAR official labels or other documentation for that matter) or manufacturer certification statements to document eligibility for the tax credit. Doors are required to have a manufacturer certification statement.

Products Purchased on or after June 1, 2010

Windows, doors , and skylights must have U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) rating of 0.30 or less. These ratings must be certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).

Documentation Required: Homes must obtain a manufacturer certification statement to document window, door, or skylight eligibility for the tax credit. This can usually be obtained through the manufacturer or the installer of the product.

The IRS provides a greater look into household improvement which go far beyond windows, doors, and skylights but in some cases can require a lot more financial investment over basic household saving energy tips.

Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit (Section 112)

This nonrefundable energy tax credit will help individual tax payers pay for qualified residential alternative energy equipment, such as solar hot water heaters, geothermal heat pumps and wind turbines. The new law removes some of the previously imposed maximum amounts and allows for a credit equal to 30% of the cost of qualified property, notice 09-41.

These government tax credits are not going to come without out a large initial investment. Windows, installing skylights, and doors are never cheap especially if a whole home is retrofitted. Other the hand, if plans are to stay in a home for an extended period of time then taking advantage of environmental tax credit incentives could be a excellent choice.

Sources: EngergyStar.gov, IRS.gov

The man cave is the place a guy likes to hang out after a hard days work and have a cold beer. Man caves appear in many forms. From the weekend getaway man cave to dialed in garage man cave, they all look different but they serve the same purpose — relaxation.

Guys! You spend most of your life working your butt off to have a place to call home but what fun is working if you can’t spruce the place up a little bit? So if you are not going out of town this Labor Day weekend take some time to work on your man cave. Here are a few of my suggestions for the garage man cave that can be done relatively inexpensive.

Start out by removing every item in the garage then sweep and clean the concrete surface. Use an epoxy floor covering to seal the garage floor. UCoat It has an array of products that can make bring style, appeal, and easy clean up to any working man’s garage man cave. Besides all the cool side effects of putting down a stylish floor, the epoxy will help protect the garage concrete from elements and hazardous chemicals.

Now what man cave would be complete without a kickin stereo system? So fix that problem by going high-tech. Today, most household have at least 1 personal computer with an internet connection. If your computer’s are hard lined into the cable modem just a add wireless router to an existing cable modem. Then take an old computer, or new one depending on the budget, and place a wireless network card it. Boom! Now you’re mobile. Purchase a LCD TV off Craigslist for cheap, make sure it has a HDMI hookups in the back, and use the LCD TV as your garage computer monitor/TV. My personal man cave has a 50″ plasma hooked up to a high powered gaming computer – I highly recommend it. Now you have a CD/DVD player/internet ready computer in one nice package and next time you need to look up a installation manual there is a computer with nice sized screen to look at and get the job done.

With all this work a man is bound to get a little thirsty. This is probably one of the most fun aspects of the man cave and the creativeness I have seen is astounding. From the simple keg-o-rator to the elaborate oak bar complete with 6 beers on tap, the possibilities are endless. If space is a factor then just opt for a single keg-o-rator that can hold a 1/2 or 1/4 keg – just make sure to keep the isle all the way to the keg-o-rator. There is no need to hide this garage beauty behind boxes of stuff that should have been donated years ago.

So the floor, stereo, and beverages are covered. What’s next? Well no garage man cave would be complete without a place to rest the bones. Google various terms and look for bar stools with flames, hot rod patterns, or the traditional checkered flag. Have more room? Look for couches with recliners and cup holders.

Now you are styling and high profiling in your very own garage man cave, sit back and celebrate why you work so hard day-in and day-out. Have a great Labor Day weekend from all of us Barnett Associates Real Estate, LLC.

Share pictures of your man cave creation? Email them to toby@barnettassociates.net and I will gladly add them to the post along with any credits.

Driving to Fred Meyer and gathering supplies I soon had everything needed to grow tomatoes in the back yard: flower pots, potting soil, and tomato plant starters where all it took. I purchased 2 Brandywine Reds, 1 Big Boy, and 1 Arkansas Traveler to get an assortment and to see which ones grew and tasted the best. Tomato plants require 60-90 days to grow so this is the perfect time to get them going.

A home garden is a great way to spend time with family and is easy to add in as you are doing other lawn care items. If there is space available and time on your hands then get outside and get planting.

What can you grow in Washington during our short Summer?

Surprisingly there is quite an assortment of vegetables that can be grow in a few short months: tomatoes, corn, green beans and peas, onions, lettuce, potatoes, carrots, and asparagus.

What does it take to make a home garden?

Some time, a patch of ground and Sun light. If this is your first home garden it is good idea to start small and work into the Mr./Mrs. Green Thumbs skills. Take a section of your property, that southern facing sun to get the most sun light, and dig out the grass, bark mulch, and/or rocks down about 6 inches. Next lay down some really good soil, can be found at a nursery and rake it out till its smooth and even.

Then you are ready to pick out what types of vegetables to grow. Something I remember from high school horticulture is to place the taller vegetables in the back roes so the smaller ones can get more afternoon sunlight. Corn, tomatoes, beans, carrots, and onions are really easy to grow and do not require much maintenance other than watering.

This year is going to be exciting because of the fresh vegetables and new recipes I am going to try. One of those recipes is Tomato Basil Mozzarella. The first time I tried Tomato Basil Mozzarella was at the Macaroni Grill in Lynnwood, but it goes by another name there, and it was to die for. So get out there and enjoy the Sun and eat fresh while you’re at it.

Home Gardening Resources
– Better Homes & Garden
– The Garden Helper
– Organic Gardening
– National Gardening Association

Since the construction boom around Snohomish County many drainage problems have arisen despite efforts of retention ponds and other city collecting systems. Drainage problems are usually caused because of soil composition. In Snohomish County we have a rocky surface soil with a layer of hardpan underneath (typically clay). The hardpan layer is not very porous and water has a difficult time penetrating it like other soil so the water just collects above it.

One of the most common fixes for flooding is a French Drain. A French Drain is a channel that has been dug into the ground starting in the problem area and emptying to safe location (check with your city prior to digging because there maybe permits or underground wiring to avoid). The channel can range in depth depending on how much water is collecting but a safe estimate is 12-16 inches. The channel is then filled with river rock and topped with top soil and grass to blend back into the yard. The best time to do a French Drain is spring time. Why? Because the soil will be soft and easy to dig through and the fresh grass seed with have spring and summer to growth and flourish.

Another problem commonly seen with flooded yards is moss. Residents of Snohomish County are no stranger to this evil doer of lawns. Moss grows in heavily damp areas that do not get a lot of sun light. Since the Earth tilts away from the sun in the winter and most of Washington is in high latitude, even homes without large trees feel the effects. Fences are another common factor that contributes to a mossy yard because areas never see the sun during the winter months.

The fix is really simple and can be done by yourself in a few short minutes (depending on the size of your yard). I recommend Scott’s Turf Builder with Moss Control. In the past, we had a moss problem to due drainage and winter shade but using Scott’s the moss died quickly (and mostly came up with a lawn mowing) and grew in the bare spots long before summer ended. It was easy and painless and gave the yard an extra boost of nutrition all summer long.

You say your problem is not flooding or moss but would just like to update your lawn with a fresh look? There are host of activities ranging from inexpensive to costly for landscaping but I am more the “do-it-yourselfer” when it comes to lawn care. So here are some simple ways to update your lawn.

Trimming over grown shrubs, trees and bushes will open the landscaping up and showcase the home. When a yard is in its young stages the landscaping can look pretty bare and open but as the landscaping matures that all changes. Over growth is widely seen with mature yards because people feel they may damage the plant if it is not trimmed property. That can be the case if trimming is in excess and for more information there are plenty of do-it-yourself guides online.

For trees try removing the lower branches and raise the elevation of the trunk. This will allow for a less knotty trunk to form and give you the ability to see through to other parts of the yard or home. Next manicure bushes till they are all uniform. Using an electric edger is the quickest way and can easily transform over grown bushes and shrubs into a beautiful hedge or border. I am not much of a plant person but I do really enjoy colorful shrubs and bushes. Planting some color around the home with help accent and brighten the home’s exterior and my favorite is the Japanese Laceleaf Maple.

Highlighting and trimming the landscaping can do worlds of benefit to bring out the appeal and allow you to get more enjoyment out of your home but that is not all. There is one area that usually is overlooked, the border of the flower beds. I have seen them many different ways: old concrete stones, river rock, 1- 3 man rocks, pressure treated wood and even the plastic borders. But my favorite of all is curbing. Curbing brings out the border of the flower beds with style and appeal. There are varieties of patterns that can be stamped but my favorite is the plain Decorative mower friendly curbing.

Another lawn care area that is growing in popularity is green lawn care. What is green lawn care? It’s not because you have a green thumb but that does help. Green lawn care is the use of environmentally friendly methods to control pets and provide nutrition for a blooming lawn.

1. Build a healthy soil composition
2. Select the right grass for your climate
3. Mow high, often and with sharp blades
4. Water deeply but not too often
5. Correct thatch build-up
6. Set realistic goals
7. Natural fertilizer and pest control

List Source: PoineerThinking.com

Getting started early will make the summer lawn care months more manageable especially since Washingtonians have such a short summer period to get out an enjoy the weather. For more information on how improving lawn care can increase a home’s value and curb appeal please visit Susan Jess’s blog on Landscaping Ideas.

Arlington has been getting a lot of snow with a friend living in High Clover receiving more than 2 feet and as of this morning it was still snowing. Cars and trucks are completely buried and the only way to get around is in a 4 wheel drive or with chains.

With the continuing cold there are risks to a homeowner. Roofs, water pipes, driveways, and even back yards all take a beating during long durations of cold wet weather.

Most people do not think about their roof until a problem arises and ever growing repairs can amount to thousands. But when the weather is bad, snowing, raining and the wind blowing is not the time to think about roof integrity or to make repairs. Start out in the spring time by clearing the roof of debris, cleaning the gutters and looking for possible damaged areas. Pressure washing, repairing shingles or tiles and staining can all keep a roof looking good while keeping costly repairs down and even make a difference when it comes to selling.

The underside of the home needs as much looking over as at the topside. Protecting the water pipes during the cold winter season is a must and broken water pipes can wreak havoc, raise stress levels and drain the wallet of valuable monies. To insulate water pipes from the freezing cold is to cover the outside water faucets with a styrofoam covers, wrap inside pipes (or in the crawl space) with a towel to insulate and to leave a faucet trickling at the far end of the house.

How about the front side of the home? Initially the driveway doesn’t seem like an area that would need protecting from the elements but like any other part of the home it can be affected. As the weather turns bad and the rain and snow begins to fall, concrete and asphalt driveways take constant punishment. Concrete and asphalt need to be sealed to prevent moisture from absorbing. Absorbing moisture can freeze and when water freezes it expands and can cause cracking. Sealing a driveway can save a lot of money in the long term and make your driveway look good for years to come.

Now venture out to the back side of a home. The yard is greatly affected by winter weather. Yards all around Snohomish County are collecting rain water, and right now extensive amounts of snow, trying to drain and to keep from flooding. Soil composition around the county makes it difficult to drain water because it has a lot of clay in it. Water tends to stay on the surface forming puddles and seeping into the foundations. In the summer time, installing a French drain to a yard can dramatically reduce the amount of surface water allowing grass to grow and protecting a foundation from water damage.

The roof, water pipes, driveway and the yard play a pivotal roll in the life cycle of a home. These 4 areas can improve or degrade the living conditions of a home, the comfort and appeal of a home and even make or break a sale of home. Using simple steps and actions will keep stress levels down and make things much easier long into the future.

Used in homes throughout the 20th century, asbestos insulation can produce Peritoneal Mesothelioma, a form of cancer where treatment is limited, chronic respiratory problems and Malignant Mesothelioma. It is important to meet with health or environmental professionals to properly examine your new property.

Health risks involved in dealing with non regulated asbestos materials should be performed by contractors, home owners or licensed asbestos contractors. Non-regulated asbestos material can be legally performed by homeowners, regular contractors, or licensed asbestos abatement contractors as long as the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) are not violated. Asbestos removal in public facilities, homes and workplaces must be undertaken by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. One the removal is complete, green insulation options should be given serious consideration, such as: Cellulose, Cotton Fiber and Lcynene.

Statistics show that the Lcynene foam, for example, can cut energy costs by about 35 percent annually, according to studies done by manufacturers. The other projects claim similar figures. And because these are recycled materials, less waste is going to the nation’s already crowded landfills.

Free Ways to Save Money

Dress Warmly: As temperatures start to decrease saving money is as adding an extra blanket on the bed, where warm pajamas around the house and have a throw blanket on the couch. If you can stand to lower the temperature just 2 degrees, holding a constant 68, 69 degrees, a lot of money can be saved through the colder months.

Hot Water Heater: Nearly 15% of a home’s heating costs are due allocated to heating water so turn down the temperature on the hot water heater to 130 or 125 degrees. If there is no temperature gauge or you may think it is inaccurate use a thermometer to check the temperature and adjust accordingly.

Low Cost Ways to Save Money

Heating Filters: Check the furnace’s air filter quality and replace if it is dirty. A dirty filter blocks air that could be used to heat the home and can shorten the life of the furnace.

Water Saving Faucets: Install low flow shower heads in the showers. Most homes have two showers with 4 people, on average, taking 1 shower per day. That translates into gallons of water per day and don’t forgot all that water needs to be heated.

Costs Money to Save Money

Adding Insulation: The main areas to check in the home are the attic, to walls, floors, basements and crawl spaces. First you will want to check is the current condition and levels of the insulation to see if it meets base standards. If levels are low or there is no insulation in place simply adding it can save 30% on yearly energy costs.

Upgrade Home Windows: Cool air leaking into the home can dramatically increase monthly heating costs. Gas filled doubled pained windows can reduce heat loss 25-50% according to EnergyHog.org.

These 6 items can do more than just save money; they improve the condition and comfort of your home. Don’t wait to do these items until it is time to sell because there could be complications during the home inspection but most all; you will get to enjoy the new additions to your home.

Blogs post from around the Web
– Greening your Las Vegas home
– Money Saving Tips for around the Home
– Go Green & Save Money
– Going Green Can Save You Money

According to EnergyHog.org home owners “can save 10-50% on your home energy bills by making some energy smart improvements to your home”. That can be a dramatic savings considering the average home owner with spend almost $2,100 in annual energy costs. By using energy efficient techniques the average home owner can save anywhere from $17.50 to $87.50 per month.

As we approach the holidays saving money is going to be increasingly more difficult and what better what to put some money back in your pocket while be environmentally friendly.

Energy Save Tips

Idle Electronics: Even though electronic are turned off or in sleep mode they still consume electricity. Simply unplugging electronic can help save people, nationally, 3 billion annual in energy costs. Before you go to bed take a short walk through the house and unplug the TV, DVD player, tuners and amps, VCRs and PCs.

Leaky Faucets: Leaky facets drive up home owners water costs all the time. A typical faucet can leak over a 5 gallons of water per day. The culprit is usually a worn out o-ring in the faucet head which costs a few cents at Home Depot and sometimes a facet replacement is required.

In addition, install water efficient shower heads throughout the home. In Snohomish County 2+ bathrooms are common and with a family of 4 taking daily showers the consumption of water can dramatically increase through the winter (which has to be heated by natural gas or electricity).

Lighting: How many times have we heard to turn the lights off when you leave the room? More times than I can recall from my parents but that old saying can save a lot of money. But go one step further add energy efficient light bulbs because “95% is lost as heat, while only 5% of the energy creates light”. Installing CFL, Compact Fluorescent Lamps, will cost a little more up front but will last 7 years and “save more than $60 every year in energy costs”.

This winter save some money by making your home more energy efficient while not freezing yourself out by turning down the heat.

Energy Saving Links
– EnergyHog.org
– The Energy Blog
– Going Green
– Kalamazoo Nature Center