10 Easy Ways to Save Money & Energy in Your Home

Many homeowners who are unfamiliar with construction and wiring are timid when it comes to electrical work. It makes perfect sense to have a healthy respect for electricity—it can be dangerous if you don't understand it. www.HomeBossInspection.com www.FranchiseHomeBoss.com To give you confidence and a little knowledge to help you discuss electrical problems with an electrician, let’s explore how the service panel (or panel box) controls your home's electrical system. The Service Panel  After passing through the electric meter, the local electrical utility provides electricity to your house through the service panel (also called the distribution center). The panel, which is usually located in a garage, basement or utility room, distributes electricity through individual circuits that run throughout your house.  The service panel in most homes contains circuit breakers, which look like little switches. Older homes may contain fuses, but they serve the same purpose...

Relocation is often stressful and time-consuming, but rarely do we wonder about the impact the process has on the environment. This is amplified when moving to a smaller house or condominium, and additional decisions have to be made regarding items that must discarded in order to save space.  If we don’t make these decisions deliberately, our choices can generate a lot of trash, and waste energy and natural resources. Fortunately, we have other options so that, when the time comes, we can relocate -- along with our stuff -- responsibly.  www.HomeBossInspection.com www.FranchiseHomeBoss.com Some measures to consider before moving day: Buy less.  The less you accumulate, the less you will have to discard when it comes time to relocate. Also, fight the urge to be a pack rat by recycling and giving items away as they become obsolete to you. If you put off these decisions until the day you have to relocate, many of the...

People have a strong emotional attachment to water, arising from its aesthetic qualities -- tranquility, coolness and beauty. As a result, most water bodies within developments can be used as marketing tools to set the tone for entire projects. A recent study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders indicates that "whether a beach, pond or stream, the proximity to water raises the value of a home by up to 28%." A 1991 American Housing Survey conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Commerce also concurs that "when all else is equal, the price of a home located within 300 feet from a body of water increases by up to 27.8%" (NAHB, 1993).  www.HomeBossInspection.com www.FranchiseHomeBoss.com   Although there is a limited number of natural waterfront sites adjacent to lakes, rivers, streams, estuaries and open ocean, many opportunities exist to create waterfront property. Homes and businesses can be sited ...

Seller inspections (sometimes referred to as pre-listing inspections) are becoming more popular because they virtually eliminate all the pitfalls and hassles associated with waiting to do the home inspection until a buyer is found.  In many ways, waiting to schedule the inspection until after a home goes under agreement is too late.  Seller inspections are arranged and paid for by the seller, usually just before the home goes on the market.  The seller is the inspector's client.  The inspector works for the seller and generates a report for the seller.  The seller then typically makes multiple copies of the report and shares them with potential buyers who tour the home for sale.  Seller inspections are a benefit to all parties in a real estate transaction.  They are a win-win-win-win situation.  Home inspectors should consider offering seller inspections and marketing this service to...