Easy Ways to Go Green in Your Home

The term “green living” means a lot of things. Mainly, though, it’s about living in a way that’s friendly to the environment. When you think about a green home, you may think of solar panels, wind turbines, grey water recycling, and other expensive projects. An environmentally friendly home doesn’t have to be expensive, however.

Homeowners that want to go green on a budget have many different ways to do it. With some time and a little work, you can go green in your home without spending a lot of cash.

You can get a big bang for your buck from basic maintenance projects around your home that make your home more energy efficient. Using less energy to heat and cool puts less strain on natural resources. Some of these projects include weather-stripping your doors and windows, plugging leaks in your walls and foundation, switching to low flow shower heads, and fixing dripping faucets. Each of these tasks only takes a few minutes and costs very little. However, they can significantly cut your energy use.

Going green is not just about energy savings, however. It’s also about using products that have less impact on the environment. Green up your shopping by buying products that use less packaging, buying local so that less fuel is used to transport items, and switching to household cleaners and detergents that are environmentally friendly. You may end up buying fewer things overall, which can save you money as well.

There are many other simple things you can do green up your home, including:

• ·     Install a programmable thermostat, and set it so your air conditioning doesn’t run when you are not home.
• ·     Switch to energy-efficient LED light bulbs.
• ·     Plant landscaping in your yard that will shade your house in the summer but allow sunlight through in the winter.

• ·     Replace old appliances with a newer, energy-efficient models. This is an investment, but can save you money in the long run on your utilities, which will help offset the cost.  

You don’t have to shell out thousands of dollars for new solar panels on your roof or a wind turbine to go green. There are many other ways you can green up your home and routine. Remember, every time you make an environmentally friendly choice, no matter how small, you make a difference.

Gabby Tyer - CRS, GRI
Real Estate Sales and Property Management
Managing Principal Broker/Owner
Realty Solutions

www.allaboutportland.com
www.jessicashope.com
Gabby Tyer is your ultimate real estate resource for Portland, Oregon and surrounding areas. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.
Portland Real Estate market stats news and education. Complete search access to all homes for sale in Portland, Oregon and surrounding areas.

Photo courtesy B Cleary, Stock.XCHNG.

Three Keys to an Easier Home Buying Experience

For many Americans, buying a home is the most significant purchase they’ll make in their lifetimes. The entire housing crisis has created a lot of turmoil and confusion, adding on to what was already a daunting task. But, take a deep breath. Things are much better than they were a couple of years ago, and as before, there are some basic things you can do to make the process of buying a Portland, Oregon home less stressful. Here are three key things to do:

Choosing Your Agent – Unless you’ve done this a lot, you’ll want to have an experienced agent on your side. This means using a buyer’s agent, who you pay, instead of a subagent who is paid by the seller and represents their interests, not yours. Because the subagent is ethically required to report what you say to them to their clients, you may regret things you do say to them. An agent representing you will be in a better position to make sure you get the best possible deal. Your actual cost for using a buyer’sagent can be offset by putting in your offer that the seller pays the agent’s commission. And by the fact that the agent is working to get you a better deal.

Choose a Good Investment – No matter how long you live in it, your new home is an investment. And you need to treat it just like you would any other financial investment. That means buying a home that is going to appreciate in value over time.  A beautiful home can be a terrible investment if you wind up paying more than the structure is worth. Don’t let your heart overrule sound financial decisions. Make sure you use a professional home inspector for a written report that includes general estimates of repair costs.

Plan Ahead – Don’t wait to learn about your mortgage options. Before you make an offer, research and understand the types of mortgages available and which lender offers the best rates. Work with your agent to determine what paperwork you’re going to need when you make an offer, and get as much of it ready ahead of time as possible.  Making an offer and buying a home is stressful, but you can make the process a lot easier if you’ve already handled these details. If this will be your first home purchase, make sure you take advantage of first-time home buyer programs.

For more guidance, check out the American Homeowners Foundation Top 10 Home Buyers Tips and CNNMoney’s Tips for Buying a House.  And remember that my job is to make the process of finding and buying your new home as easy as possible, so let me know how I can help you.

Gabby Tyer CRS, GRI
Real Estate Sales and Property Management
Managing Principal Broker/Owner
Realty Solutions

www.allaboutportland.com
www.jessicashope.com

Gabby Tyer is your ultimate real estate resource for Portland, Oregon and surrounding areas. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.