Staying with the theme that Lee Ann started last month, I wanted to discuss another energy efficient tip that is not always on our minds. 

LIGHT BULBS

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL):  Replacing your incandescent light bulbs with CFLs.  The CFLs use 50-80% less energy than incandescents and lasts up to 10 times longer too!  One website showed a savings of $47 per month in electricity costs! (In the average household, compared to incandescent bulbs.) 

Progress Energy, the electric supplier in Cary, NC and the surrounding areas has a page on their website that is dedicated to CFLs.  (They also have a number of other energy savings ideas, check it out…)  There is also the reduction in air and water pollution.  Saving electricity reduces CO2 emissions and sulfur oxide.  CFLs are versatile too.  You can use them in almost any household application.  They do cost a little more than incandescents ($2.98), but the savings is in the long run.

There are some limitations to consider too: 

• On/Off Cycling.  CFLs are sensitive to frequent turning on and off.  Your closets are probably not a good place for a CFL. 
• Dimmers.  Although there are CFLs for dimmers, be sure you have that one specifically.  A regular CFL may have a much shorter life span when used with a dimmer switch.
• Outdoors.  A CFL used outside should be protected form the elements.  Check the packaging before putting a CFL outside.
• Spotlight vs Area Lighting.  These are great for  area lighting, but not for targeted lighting.
• Mercury Content.  A CFL generally contains an average of 5 mg of mercury (one-fifth of that in the average watch battery and less than one-one hundreths of the mercury in an amalgam dental filling).  But mercury is a toxic metal.  Be sure to dispose of these properly and to take caution if you break one.

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes):  Are there any other options?  Yep, LEDs. LEDs are small solid light bulbs that are extremely durable and energy efficient.  You have seen them places, but may not have noticed.  The next time you are sitting at a stop light, really look at the light.  Is it one large red circle or hundreds of tiny lights making up a circle?  Chances are it is the latter.  Why has the state or city decided to change the lights to LEDs?  They are long lasting and energy efficient.  LEDs last 10 times longer than CFLs and 133 times longer than incandescents.  LEDs also use very little energy.  Traffic lights with LEDs use at least 80% less electricity.  Makes sense, doesn’t it?  One website showed a savings of $55.47 per month in electricity costs (in the average household, compared to incandescent bulbs).  There are other benefits as well.  LEDs do not have a filament, so they can handle applications like flashlights and headlamps.  They also do not cause heat build up.  LEDs produce 3.4 btu’s/hour compared to 85 for incandescent bulbs. 

As with all things, there are some limitations to consider with LEDs too:

• Cost.  The cost of LEDs continue to decrease, while the types of LEDs available continue to increase.  An LED bulb designed to replace a 25 watt incandescent bulb may cost around $40.  (No, that is really $40!)  Obviously the cost savings is in the long run. 
• Light field.  LEDs give off focused light.  This makes them perfect for things like flashlights, reading lights, spot lights, etc.  New designs are addressing this so that 360 degrees of light can radiate, like an incandescent bulb. 

So, have I run out and bought CFLs or LEDs for my house?  Not  quite.  The cost for the LEDs is still holding me back and I don’t want to put in CFLs where there is constant on/off cycling.  I have put CFL bulbs in places that are not easily reached or almost always on, like the garage ceiling lights and the light above my sink in the kitchen. 

Energy efficient homes aren’t only good for the environment and your wallet, they are a good thing when you need to move.  People are becoming more and more conscious of that ‘extra’ cost when buying a home.  What will it cost to heat, cool, or light it?  Everyone wants to save money with the necessities.

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All Home Improvements Are Not Created Equal

You want your home to look as nice as possible while you live there or when you list your home for sale on the Cary real estate market.  But which projects will give you the most return-on-investment (ROI) for your remodeling dollars?  The list below provides information on the best remodeling paybacks.  The costs are averages in the Cary, NC area and may not reflect the size of your particular project or area of the country.    

If you are selling your home, choose a real estate agent who is very familiar with your Cary neighborhood and the homes for sale that are your competition.  An experienced agent can recommend which projects are critical and necessary for you to compete favorably in your neighborhood and current real estate market.

   Quick and Inexpensive Home Repairs  Listed below are some low-cost improvements that people tend to forget about.

Please share with us your most profitable or innovative home improvement idea.  

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Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese practice of using objects, space and environment to create balance and harmony.  Feng Shui works with Chi, the energy that connects the universe. By manipulating Chi, you can improve 9 areas within your life and your home.

 Each of these areas or life situations also corresponds to a specific area of your home. The areas are charted in a particular order by use of a bagua. This is an eight sided figure, the center being the 9th area. By using the bagua and your main entry door into your home, you can determine the areas for each life situation.

To improve each of these areas, the use of specific colors, light, movement, and Chinese “cures” are the foundation of Feng Shui.   If you are planning on selling your home, the use of feng shui is an excellent starting point in preparing your home to sell.         

 An excellent source of Feng Shui information is the book, Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life by Karen Rauch Carter.  Her website is http://www.fengshuipalace.com/ .

What are your thoughts on the use of Feng Shui to improve the feel and energy flow of your home?  

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With tax time quickly approaching, one of our Cary area real estate services is to educate our clients with any tax tips that might help you save money.

In some of our established Cary and Morrisville, NC area neighborhoods such as Preston, homes are becoming of age where a few of the household systems are needing replacement. For example, in the heart of the 101 degree August days we had here in the summer of 2007, my AC died. Upon further inspection, we were required to replace our main unit with a newer, more energy efficient model. After a few nights in the heat, it was money well spent. But our original unit was only 10 years old. Some household items are going to fail sooner than others.

Just before the end of the year when LG Real Estate was gathering articles for our newsletter, the Real Estate Market Update, I became aware of a tax credit that I can now use. Consumers who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in their primary home can receive a tax credit of up to $500 beginning in January 2006 through December 31, 2007.

For installing my particular type of efficent AC unit, it appears that I will get a credit of $300. However, i will still check with my accountant.

What is nice about a tax credit is that it reduces the tax dollar-for-dollar while a deduction only removes a % of the tax that is owed.

There is more detail on these energy-efficient upgrades on www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm.

Do you have any tax breaks that you can pass along to our Cary area real estate clients? If so, please respond.

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To Update or Not To Update, That Is The Question…

In our area (Cary, NC) and most areas, the kitchen is the heart of the home and what can make or break an offer.  So if your kitchen is looking a little outdated, but it is time to move on to another home, the question stands: to update or not to update (and what to update).

 Let’s look at a simple case in point.  We currently have a home for sale in a desirable neighborhood in Cary, NC.  This piece of property has a wonderful lot with mature trees, great deck and patio, manicured lawn, great curb appeal and a FABULOUS screened in porch (or 4 season room).

    Isn’t it beautiful? Almost like a showroom…

The floor plan is great and versatile enough for a retiring couple, family with small children or a house full of teenagers.  What’s the kicker?  The kitchen.  It is in need of some (not tons) updating.  The cabinets are in very good shape and the layout is good, but the solid surface counter tops give it a dated, tired, older look. 

Now, are these just my impressions?  No.  This home has had many, many showings (more than 30!), but the feedback is almost all the same.  Great sun room/screened in porch, great lot, etc., but the kitchen looks dated/the kitchen needs updating/client doesn’t want to take on hassle of updating the kitchen/client is looking for granite counter tops.  You get the gist.

It has been on the market a while and we have all this feedback, what to do?   Options: update the kitchen or lower the price.

My suggestion: replace the countertops.  Cost? Approximately $4,800.  I think it gives you the biggest bang for the buck.  Once the granite is installed, the whole kitchen looks like new, even the cabinets and floors feel warmer.  Will it make that much of a difference?  Take a look at another home where we replaced the countertops with granite and see what you think:

BEFORE                                                      AFTER

Doesn’t it look warmer, more inviting, more updated?  What do you think? 

To Update or Not To Update?

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Should you rent or buy? This is a question that most of us face at some point.

Anyone currently looking to rent a House, Townhouse or Condo in the Cary area today will be lucky to find anything for under $700 per month with the average rental property in Cary currently being listed at over $1600 per month. Things don’t get much cheaper with apartments as many 1 bedroom units run at $650+ per month and 3 bedroom units at $1100 + per month.

The truth is that there are no hard and fast answers, many will tell you that renting is “dead money” and you would be crazy not to own and that although there may be fluctuations, real estate only goes up in value.

However, it does not always make sense to buy, renting could be the better option. When my wife and I first moved to the Cary area from England we rented an apartment for over 2 years as we pursued our new careers, built our credit (as I did not previously exist in the US credit rating system) and got to know the area.  Then when the time was right for us, we purchased a house.

So, when is the right time?  One of the big determining factors is financial, here is a web based rent vs. buy calculator, that will help you play with different scenarios.  Buying a house takes money, not only in the purchase but also in maintenance, taxes and other expenses so getting your own financial house in order is critical before you make that step to buying your own home.

  Another factor is how long you think you will be living in the same location. If you think this will be for less than 2 years then renting may be a better option.  Even in todays market there are still many benefits to buying a home, the main one being investment potential. Home ownership builds wealth by increasing equity by paying down the mortgage and through appreciation - the rise in the homes value over time.  The Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances has consistently found a huge gap between the wealth pile up by homeowners and that accumulated by renters.Other benefits of owning your own homeinclude mortgage interest tax deductions, property tax deductions, capital gain exclusion,  pride of ownership and inflation protection/predictable payments - if you lock in your rate you will know what your monthy payments will be for the next 5, 10 or 20+ years where rent will continue to rise over the same time period. 

At the end of the day, information is key. A renter that is considering buying a home needs to have a game plan, understand their own financial situation and the cost of home ownership, then choose a Realtor to work with who knows their area and can help you find a home in this changing real estate market.

If you have transitioned from renting to owning in the Cary area please comment with any tips or advise that were of use to you.

Mark Lawrence

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There are three key components to consider in selling your Cary home in today’s real estate market - Price, Listing Agent, and the condition of your home. Now, more than ever these factors are critical as to whether or not your home sells.

The challenge in pricing your home in today’s market is that past sales data is no longer a good indication as to what a home will actually sell for. There are now more sellers than buyers and in some price ranges we have an 18 month supply of homes. So finding the right listing agent is essential - choose an agent that knows all aspects of the area well (schools, neighborhood amenities, golf courses, info on your competition) and has the experience to price your home correctly in this changing real estate market.

Regarding our real estate market, in the past few years while the sale of homes in the rest of the country have slowed down, the Cary area has been a booming success for national builders like Centex and Pulte Homes. Now, they have overbuilt and sales have slowed down. Third quarter statistics from 2007 indicate that home closings have dropped in Cary by 14% compared to the same quarter in 2006. Morrisville home closings are down 43% and Apex home closings are down 8%. Third quarter statistics show that 35% of the sellers in the area have reduced their sales price.

Condition of your home in a competitive buyers market is more important than ever before. Remember, you are competing with thousands of new homes in the Cary area and your home must show like a model home. For tips in preparing your home to sell, please visit www.CaryHomesNC.com.

The bottom line is that in order to actually get your home sold, pricing your home closer to the 2006 value will give you a better chance of success than adding on any appreciation for 2007. To attract a buyer to even make an offer in today’s market, they need to feel like they are getting the best home for their needs at a very competitive price.

Please comment with any tips that you have found helpful in selling a home in a highly competitive market like we have now in Cary NC.

Dave Goulding

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Or actually, the better thought is getting your home ready to SHOW in a competitive real estate market. In today’s market, more than ever, homes for sale in Cary, NC must be in their best showing condition.    Everyone has heard the basic suggestions about getting your home ready to sell.  In our real estate area, Cary, NC, the first thing to do is to make sure your home has good curb appeal.  Clean up the yard, add some flowers and mulch or fresh straw.  Sit in your parked car in front of your house - what can you see?  If you cannot see the windows or doors because of the shrubbery, trim it back.  Do the gutters look full?  Are the windows clean?  Do all of the outside lights (including the floods) have working bulbs?  Just pretend you are the real estate agent driving up with a potential buyer in front of your home.  The next is inside - depersonalize your home.  Pack up the beautiful pictures of your family that will make people focus on your family instead of your home.  Clean out the closets, declutter, make your rooms look more spacious, etc.  Each time a potential buyer opens a closet they should feel a sense or order and calm, not a sense of chaos and overcrowding.

But there are some other, not so well known or recognized, things to do to be ready to show your home.  We have found these to be helpful over the past couple of years:

• Check the air intake grate for your AC unit.  Is the grate dusty?  Do you need a new filter?  Take some time to really look at it.  It not only makes home buyers wonder if your home has been well  maintained, a clogged filter can leave a ‘dusty’ (for lack of a better word) smell when the heat or A/C kicks on.
• Clean your doors, door knobs, and light switch plates.  You don’t see the dirt, because you go in and out of your rooms hundreds of times a day.  It’s not hard to spend a few minutes with a cleaning eraser.  In fact, it is a good project for children to help with.
• Give your blinds a dusting.  We know to keep them open so the home has a bright feeling, but give them a dusting too.
• Remove or box up any prescription medications you don’t need on a daily basis.  These bottles can leave a medicinal smell in your bathroom that you may not be aware of.
• Scrub your bathrooms and leave your shower curtain open half way.  A closed shower curtain shuts off the room and makes it seem smaller.
• Keep any personal items off the counters in the bathroom.  Besides giving your bathroom a cluttered look, you don’t want strangers to be looking at your toothbrush (when was the last time that was changed?).
• Remove any extra rugs from the hardwood floors.  Make the rooms flow together by being able to see the hardwoods.
• Always put out fresh towels before a showing.  Neat and nice.

This is just a small list of the things that you can do to make your home show beautifully so that you can get top dollar for your home investment.   We, at LG Real Estate,  offer more ideas at http://www.caryhomesnc.com/ready.htm.

Our homes in the Cary NC real estate market are known to be at top quality showing condition.  Our fellow real estate agents have a sense of comfort that when they show one of our homes, it will be in top condition. 

What other ideas have worked for you when you listed your home?

Let us know…

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I adore Christmas.  My Mother and Grandmother always shared their excitement for the holiday from when I was very young, and I still enjoy it very much.  After my Mom and Aunt would cook all day and host Thanksgiving, we would drive over to my Grandmas and decorate her tree each Thanksgiving night while she helped.  PaPa seemed relieved as he continued to sit back and rest.  It was a big deal that Grandma was the first one on the block with her tree glowing and outside decorations placed all around.  I still cherish a few of her ornaments on my tree now that she is no longer with us.  My mother worked full time but was known throughout the community for her bow making.  People from all over and from many walks of life brought her ribbon and for weeks she would create lovely bows.  The bow making was so harsh to her hands but she always made them with a smile.  These bows would surround my family all through the house.  We would have bows lying all over the furniture and any available flat surfaces waiting to go to their owners.  Some bows were made as surprises.  She never charged anyone…it was all about the season. 

I am into Christmas decorating and make my share of bows as well.  I like mixing the old and the new in my home.  My husband Joe and my 2 boys are very patient with me during this time of year.  I make a BIG deal out of everything and get fixated on selecting everything from the themed gift wrap (and certainly can’t use the leftovers next year), selecting the perfect tree after trying multiple tree lots (although I previewed 3 tree lots this year without my family during my lunch break) and working on my calender trying to fit in all my favorite “Must Do’s”. 

One place we gather each year is at The General Store Cafe in Pittsboro, just about 25 minutes from our house in Cary, NC.  We go to see the band Trilogy for their Annual Christmas Extravaganza.  This year they are playing from 8:30-10:30 on Saturday night,December 15th.  They play many of the old and new Christmas songs with a bit of swing and even bring out kazoos which my kids love.  After your great meal at the diner, you just settle in at your table and listen to the tunes.  It’s a casual place, kid friendly, artsy patrons, simple food and a kid’s mile high brownie dessert that MUST be shared if the kids are to sleep all month.  All along the edges of the dining area are artistic and crafty type items for sale.  Try it sometime - you can always check out their music lineup on their website at http://www.thegeneralstorecafe.com/.  If unusual and different activities catch your interest, checkout our newsletter on http://www.caryhomesnc.com/ where we often capture some of my favorites since I get to edit the calendar!

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I have been trying to think of what my family’s Christmas traditions are.  We aren’t the caroling family (my daughter being the only one of us that can carry a tune), we don’t often sit in front of the fire with hot apple cider, we don’t have one favorite movie that we like to watch this time of year, but there is one thing we do, without fail, every Christmas.  We destroy my kitchen.  Now, before you get the wrong idea, I don’t mean that I get a new kitchen each December; I mean that we make a mess of it. 

We like to bake.  All 4 of us.  We bake all year long, but at Christmas we do it together and in bulk.  We put in 5 or 6 different Christmas CD’s and hit shuffle (our favorite being a Muppets Christmas CD with John Denver, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and the bunch, there is nothing quite like hearing Miss Piggy sing ‘5 Golden Rings’), get out our favorite Christmas cookie recipes, and proceed to get flour, sugar, colored sugar balls, eggs, and whatever else we need on the floor, on ourselves, and some even in the cookies. 

Now I have to confess that some of the dough is eaten before it’s baked.  There are usually children (and adults) with chocolate around their mouths.  There is a mountain of empty Hershey Kisses wrappers from the peanut butter cookies.  All the Christmas cookie tins are full or being filled.  There is a very happy dog licking the floor and 4 VERY happy and full cooks.  And, I have a mess of a kitchen. 

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