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| Salt Lake City Home Winterizing Tips |
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Solar in Salt Lake City Simplified
Solar Panels seem to be everywhere these days, along with solar salespeople...at least here in Utah! You may have noticed neighbors who don't drive Prius' and otherwise don't fit the 'green' stereotype now have panels beaming off their roofs. Have you considered installing solar panels on your home? If so, like me, you may have also wondered what impact it might have on resell when the time comes, whether solar is worth the investment, and even wondered where to start. So I set out to get some answers on what buyers and sellers might need to know.
Questions for a prospective solar contractor?
- What homes has your company installed on in my area? Get the addresses, drive-by, and even ask if you can call these past clients, you might thank yourself later.
- Will I be leasing my panels or purchasing them? What payment options are available?
- What kind of warranty will my panels have?
- How long have you been in business, ensure the company is licensed and insured. It seems there are new companies every day, make sure you're comfortable the company will be around throughout the life of the warranty.
What if I want to sell in the future?
Solar panels are becoming more and more common, many of us wonder if we are going to recoup our investment if and when we decide to sell. While it is a tricky question to answer, solar is becoming more commonplace, and the answers are coming. After combing through the information out there, the majority of the studies I found indicated buyers may be more inclined to offer on a home with solar panels vs. a home with none. Still, they may not be willing to pay substantially more.
Electricity rates and other marketplace factors will impact the extent of the overall benefit of solar on your home. Still, there is enough research out there to give it a thought, and add a check in the "proceed box"....while, of course, balancing all of your other life decisions in the mix.
What if I lease my panels?
When preparing to sell, it is a great idea to get ahead of the game and call the company you lease your panels from to find out their procedure. Explain you are looking to sell and know before you even put your home on the market if you can transfer the lease to a new homeowner, buy out the contract, or what other options you have. Typically the lease can be assumed by a new buyer, but keep in mind, not every buyer values solar power in the same way, and the fact that they will have to assume a lease may be undesirable.
Ask questions when interviewing prospective Realtors and find out if they are familiar with selling homes with solar panels and what additional training and education they have.
Buying a House with Solar Panels
Much like when shopping for panels on your own home, find out if the panels you see on the house you fell in love with are leased or owned.
If the seller is leasing the panels, you should factor in the lease payment when budgeting for future homeownership expenses. You will likely have to qualify as well, and it is always better to ask ahead of time and find out precisely what you will be dealing with.
If you ever have any questions, you can always reach out to me. I have a degree in Environmental Studies from Utah State University, and I am a GREEN Realtor Designee.
Until the next time.
ID 136144804 © Kampan Butshi | Dreamstime.com
Monday, December 2, 2019
Santa's City Hall Tour Salt Lake County Utah
Want to avoid mall lines and see Santa in the city where you live? Below you will find dates and times of some Santa visits in a city near you.
Friday, June 28, 2019
That costs how much?? Average Cost of Home Improvement Projects in Salt Lake City
Average Costs of Common Home Projects in the SLC
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| Salt Lake City, Utah Home Project Pricing |
We all have one, that long list of "honey do's" or an itemized list of contractors to call for bids. I bet a lot of s have a similar list here in Salt Lake City. So when I saw an article on Angie's List I couldn't help but share the ones I found most applicable to home buyers and sellers here in the Salt Lake City, Utah market.
This is handy information to know. Whether buying, selling, or just budgeting for improvements you need to have a rough idea of what you are getting into. Keep in mind these are national averages, but a lot of these are in line with what I have found here in Utah specifically as well.
Painting the Interior of the Average Home: $1,754 ($969-2724) obviously depends on the size of project but this is one that is wise for a lot of home sellers to consider, and one many home buyers may want to know when budgeting for home ownership.
Adding blown in insulation: $1,391 ($885-1896). Here in Utah this can be a good one to look at to trim down those utility bills, and increase your home's efficiency. There are usually even rebates that can further help with this expense.
Bathroom Remodel: $10,236 ($5942-$14,760). This one is on the more extensive side of projects, but one that is fairly common when buying a home. Perhaps the current bathroom and those oak colored cabinets are out of date, or the overall condition is in desperate need of repair. According to Angie's List the average cost for a bathroom remodel is $10,236 ($5942-$14,760). As with most things your personal style and taste is a large factor here, that golden throne will cost you.
Kitchen Remodel: $22,925 ($12,547-$34,218). Along the same lines as a bathroom, a kitchen remodel is another major project. This can be a huge expense, but one with pretty good bang for your buck. Since we spend a lot lot of time in the kitchen this one can totally change the feel of a home, if you've got it in the budget go for it!
Finishing a Basement: $19,301 ($10,807-$27,869). A very common home improvement task here in Utah is finishing your basement. Considering in some cases this can double the livable square footage in your home, this is a valuable consideration for adding quality and value to your home with the average cost clocking in at $19,301 ($10,807-$27,869).
Painting the Exterior of your Home: Average Home Cost: $2,800 ($1,682-$3,919). If you are feeling up to it, pull a Chip and Joanna Gaines and really change the look of your home with an exterior paint job. This can take an outdated home and bring it up to current trends and aesthetics for relatively little money.
When I am showing homes to buyers I am always sure to look at the shape and age of some of these high cost items or repairs:
Installing a New Roof: $7,521 ($5,132-$10,023)
Replacing a Furnace: Standard Efficiency ($2,200-$2,500) This range can escalate based on size of home or a need for a multi stage system, high efficiency and so on. **This is assuming you also already had an HVAC System)**
Installing or replacing a central air unit: ($3,000-$7,000) Again similar to furnace installation size of home and the required size or number of units is a factor. Furthermore if you are budgeting and need to upgrade your furnace soon, you may benefit from performing both upgrades at the same time.
I'm sure I've missed a few. I would love to hear what you guys would like to know more about. I will gladly call and get any specific questions answered that you need me to!
Until the next time...
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Curb Appeal On The Cheap
pull Those Weeds
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| Mulch Riverton, Utah Lowes |
Grab Some Resilient Accent Plants
Now you've got a nice fresh slate with the weeds pulled and the mulch stacked high in the driveway. Add a little pop of color with a resilient drought tolerant plant that will look good for the weeks to come and appeal to prospective buyers as they arrive. Here are some of my favorites.
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| Day lilies are very resilient |
Try using a few annuals and perennials of varying heights for dimension.
You don't need to go crazy here. A few plants and some bright color with the mulch as a contrast goes a long way!
Pay Attention to Your Front Door
The buyers will really be paying attention as they stand at the front door, and while the agent gets the key out and opens that door, you take this chance to win them over with your amazing entryway!
Step #1 Just clean the front door and handle. This may seem to simple, but cobwebs and finger prints set a bad impression. Make it clean and simple. If your door needs a coat of paint, grab a gallon and get it done. Under $40 and worth every penny.
Step #2 Buy a new welcome mat. Easy Peasy...Make it cute and inviting.
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| Target in South Jordan, Utah find |
Step #3 Consider a pre made planter or potted shrub to add a little extra lovely to the porch.
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| South Jordan Costco Find |
That's about it! Don't over complicate it but do something. Bonus..It will make you happier every time you walk through your front door.
Until the next time...
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Home Inspection Tips Utah
Hi Everyone! As I was driving to my most recent home inspection in Ogden Utah I had a thought, "I wonder what the biggest tip a home inspector would give to a potential home buyer or current homeowner?" I'm always trying to find new ways to help my clients and educate myself, so lucky for me the home inspector I was meeting was kind enough to take time out of his busy day and help us out! Enter Chris Hutchens of All Points Inspections. If you're interested in Chris' tips for items to lookout for when buying a home, or even just maintaining the one you own keep reading.
Chris' tips and simple things you can do and look out for in your home
The biggest enemy to a home and its components is water. The building envelope of a home is made to shed water, but it does require simple maintenance.
Basic maintenance like caulking around trim and windows goes a long way. In these winter months(as we know) anywhere water can sit, it will freeze. Checking your home once a year and refreshing caulking where needed can save a headache in the future.
This can also pertain to driveways. As expansion joints in driveways are made to crack, this can and will allow ice and water to heave the soil causing more cracks and trip hazards. Even though this may be cyclical with the weather, some flexible joint sealant can help prevent damage.
Shoveling your driveway should be part of basic home maintenance when needed. This will lessen the need for a snow melter or "salting" your driveway. Using these can cause pitting or "spalling" of the concrete, basically deteriorating your driveway.
Lastly, grading is the most called out item on a home inspection. Making sure that water is directed away from the home can be a big help in preventing excessive wear and water intrusion to the home.
As a home inspector that has been around, seeing these item taken care of on a home shows not only pride of ownership but an understanding of some basic maintenance needs.
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A lot of those items are so simple but when neglected can turn into major problems. As a real estate professional I know the value of home maintenance and pride of ownership when selling homes. Buyers can feel nearly immediately if a home has been well maintained, and it reduces days on the market and equates to a higher sales price in most scenarios.
If you don't know how to do some of these maintenance items you can reach out, I would be more than happy to help, or connect you with a trusted professional or some references.
If there are any other questions I can help answer I am always available to answer any questions and help in any way I can
Chris is willing to help us with future questions, so if you have any questions you've been wanting to ask a home inspector leave a comment below or send me an email and we will get them answered on the website in the future!
Until the next time!
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
My Favorite West Jordan Store - Funky Junk + a Giveaway!
Hi guys! I wanted to do something different and highlight one of my favorite business' in the community and do a little GIVEAWAY so keep reading for the details! The store I want to talk about this week is, Funky Junk in West Jordan. This is hands down my favorite place to shop (I don't like to shop either), and if you've never been I would love to tell you why you will most likely LOVE IT! (p.s. I'm not affiliated or biased in any way here folks, just genuine appreciation for nice people selling cool things). Nearly everything cute in my house (in my opinion) has come from the talented folks at Funky Junk, it is my Bunco gift destination, and anytime I need a unique gift this is where I go. You can't find nicer people to help you out, a wider variety, or a more central location in the South end of Salt Lake County to shop for...cool stuff! Inventory is always changing so you never get bored going in, it is always changing.
What is Funky Junk?
What are you going to find?
Refinished/re-purposed furniture, handmade signs, vintage pieces, farmhouse decor, vintage books, kids furniture and furnishings, handmade lip balms and body scrubs, vintage clothing, custom brand new one of a kind pieces that can be custom ordered, "man stuff", "lady stuff", "kid stuff"
I literally think there is something for everyone in this store, whether you are looking for a quick gift, a new dresser, something small, something big they've got it from prices low to investment level.
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| My Favorite Mirror from the old Funky Junk in West Jordan |
Where can I find this lovely establishment?
Their usual hours are:
Monday-Thursday 10AM-8PM
Friday and Saturday 10AM-9PM
Closed on Sunday
Phone: 801-613-9999
Holidays may change these of course so just give them a call or check the website if you've got a question on specific days :)
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| Farmhouse Decor Fabulousness! |
Special Deals or Discounts?
You also often get a 20% off coupon at the register that can be used on your next visit on most full priced items. I will even give you a secret and let you about the link here for a coupon you can get on your phone or print out before you go in.
If you have any questions on any of this just ask anyone at the store. Everyone who works here has items in the store, they are literally the nicest people I have encountered and you can tell they take pride and appreciate you coming in to check out their hard work.
Check it out
They are also having a Holiday Open House November 9th and 10th from 10AM-9PM With Santa arriving November 10th 2-4PM!
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| West Jordan Holiday Preview Open House Nov 9th and 10th! |
GIVEAWAY!
Alright party people time for the good stuff. I went out to the old Funky Junk last night and found something I loved for the upcoming grateful season to do a giveaway here.
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| Thankful Sign Giveaway! Enter in Rafflecopter below. Closes November 2nd at Midnight! |
Rules:
Open: Internationally
Ends: November 2nd at midnight
Must be: 18 or have parent’s permission to enter
Winners will be randomly selected
Randomly selected winner will be contacted via email and I will arrange shipment to you!
