10 Easy Ways to Save Money & Energy in Your Home

Seller's Pre-Listing Inspection Eventually, your buyers are going to conduct an inspection. You may as well know what they are going to find by getting there first.  Having an inspection performed ahead of time helps in many other ways, such as:  It allows you to see your home through the eyes of a critical and neutral third party.  It alerts you to immediate safety issues before agents and visitors tour your home. It may alert you to items of immediate concern, such as radon gas or active termite infestation.  It permits you to make repairs ahead of time so that ...  Defects won't become negotiating stumbling blocks later.  There is no delay in obtaining the Use and Occupancy Permit.  You have the time to get reasonably priced contractors or make the repairs yourself, if qualified.  It helps you to price your home realistically.  It may relieve prospects' concerns and suspicions.  It may encourage the buyer to ...

A building's central air-conditioning system must be periodically inspected and maintained in order to function properly. While an annual inspection performed by a trained professional is recommended, homeowners can do a lot of the work themselves by following the tips offered in this guide. Clean the Exterior Condenser Unit and Components The exterior condenser unit is the large box located on the side of the building that is designed to push heat from the inside of the building to the outdoors. Inside of the box are coils of pipe that are surrounded by thousands of thin metal "fins" that allow the coils more surface area to exchange heat. Follow these tips when cleaning the exterior condenser unit and its inner components -- after turning off power to the unit! Remove any leaves, spider webs and other debris from the unit's exterior. Trim foliage back several feet from the unit to ensure proper air flow. Remove the cover grille to clean any debris from...

If you want to build a new home, there are things you need to know before you begin. Learn about construction standards and about buying land, so you know your rights.    MPS Supplementing Model Building Codes     The Minimum Property Standards (MPS) establish certain minimum standards for buildings constructed under HUD housing programs. This includes new single-family homes, multi-family housing and healthcare-type facilities.    HUD Minimum Property Standards and How They Supplement the Model Building Codes Until the mid-1980s, HUD maintained separate Minimum Property Standards for different types of structures. Since that time, HUD has accepted the model building codes, including over 250 referenced standards and local building codes, in lieu of separate and prescriptive HUD standards. However, there is one major area of difference between the MPS and other model building codes -- durability requirements. Homes and projects financed by FHA-i...

The following items are essential tools, but this list is by no means exhaustive. Feel free to ask an InterNACHI inspector during your next inspection about other tools that you might find useful.  1.  Plunger A clogged sink or toilet is one of the most inconvenient household problems that you will face. With a plunger on hand, however, you can usually remedy these plumbing issues relatively quickly. It is best to have two plungers -- one for the sink and one for the toilet. 2.  Combination Wrench Set One end of a combination wrench set is open and the other end is a closed loop. Nuts and bolts are manufactured in standard and metric sizes, and because both varieties are widely used, you’ll need both sets of wrenches. For the most control and leverage, always pull the wrench toward you, instead of pushing on it. Also, avoid over-tightening. 3.  Slip-Joint Pliers Use slip-joint pliers to grab hold of a nail, a nut, a bolt, and much...

Most people don’t know how easy it is to make their homes run on less energy, and here at InterNACHI, we want to change that.  Drastic reductions in heating, cooling and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do themselves. Of course, for homeowners who want to take advantage of the most up-to-date knowledge and systems in home energy efficiency, InterNACHI energy auditors can perform in-depth testing to find the best energy solutions for your particular home.   Why make your home more energy efficient? Here are a few good reasons: Federal, state, utility and local jurisdictions' financial incentives, such as tax breaks, are very advantageous for homeowners in most parts of the U.S.  It saves money. It costs less to power a home that has been converted to be more energy-efficient.  It increases the comfort level indoors.  It reduces our impact on climate change. Many sc...