Green tips for air conditioning

Heres how to keep the AC on the lowest setting and still be comfy, even on the hottest days.
Trying the shrubbery trick.Landscaping to shade your entire home from the sun is a great way to keep it cool for less. The best use of your landscaping dollars is to plant a few inexpensive shrubs to shield the air conditioning unit. This trick will actually boost the unit’s efficiency bill and save you money.
Cleaning house at this time.Dishwashers, washers, dryers and vacuums all give off enough heat to make your air conditioning work 10% harder. Use them when your house is naturally cooler either first thing in the morning or after dark – and the extra heat won’t kick the AC into overdrive.
Swapping your light source.Not only do compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use about 75% less energy than traditional bulbs, but they also give off 75% less heat. Make the switch and your AC won’t be working so hard – saving you about $40 in cooling costs over the lifetime of just one bulb.
Cracking an attic window.The hottest air in your home is on this upper level–and it can often seep lower into your living space. By cracking a window, you can lower the attic temperature–even a few degrees is enough to help reduce the stiflingly air that heats up the rest of your home.

Real Estate Closing Nightmares

HGTV warns consumers about closing nightmares
HGTV's program "Front Door" lists what it says are the "Top 10 Real Estate Nightmares"
According to the show, home buyers and sellers should be aware of:
1. Stigmatized properties: homes with a past can be good deals... or not...
2. Uninspected homes. Properties should always be inspected
3. Showing shockers. Some homes have been prepped for showing
4. Home owner associations. Some rules can be too restrictive.
5. Neighbor Nuisances. Talk to people in the neighborhood before buying.
6. Financing. Talk to more than one lender about financing.
7. Short Sales. Make sure your realtor is experienced in these kinds of transactions.
8. Unwelcome Guests. Be careful of squatters living in foreclosed houses.
9. Bad Agents. Do some research before deciding who to work with.
10. Closing. Surprises at closing delay deals. Make sure documents are reviewed in advance.

Blue Jeans go Green in my attic?

Blue Jeans in my Attic?
Warm up to cotton. Old blue jeans are finding new life as home insulation material. Bonded Logic of Chandler AZ manufactures UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber insulation, which is made from 85% recycled denim & cotton fibers. Contains no VOCs or formaldehyde, doesn't irritate skin. Very healthy too. Mold/fire resistant. Receives maximum insulation performance rating, sold at retailers nationwide for 50 cents to $1.50/sq ft For more info www.bondedlogic.com

Maxiemize Energy Efficiency
mary@marymaxie.com

Get the best home inspection not the cheapest

Get the best home inspection, not the cheapest. It always amazes me that people price shop for a home inspection on the biggest asset they will ever purchase, and will choose their inspector based on as little as a $25 difference. Before you choose an inspector, ask to see proof of the following:
1. Is the inspector certified/licensed by the state or federal authorities in your area?
2. Does the company have liability insurance (should be a minimum $1million)?
3. Does the company have Worker's Compensation for its inspectors?
4. Does the inspector belong to a recognized national home inspectors' group such as ASHI or NAHI, which mandates continuing education?
5. Does the inspector indemnify the realtor against any lawsuits for whatever reason, and does the inspector carry Errors and Omissions insurance?
There are many other reasons to hire an inspector, but if an inspector can't satisfy me as to all of these, I won't allow my buyers to hire him/her. I also ask for all these qualifications from inspectors before my sellers will allow them into my listings, on behalf of a buyer. I feel I need to protect my sellers as well. In these tough and litigious times, it only makes sense to protect your buyers, sellers, and yourself as a realtor.
In tough times, many home inspectors let their insurance, their national home inspectors' group memberships and continuing education lapse, because it is very expensive to keep up. If they are offering a cheaper home inspection, it's often because they don't have propert qualifications, credentials, experience and insurance. Don't assume that someone who had those things a year ago, still has them. Ask to see all of the above at least once a year, from whoever you recommend as an inspector.
Price shopping is not the way to choose a home inspector.

Questions to ask your realtor before buying in the US

Canadians buying real estate in the US should ask the following questions of any realtor they meet:
1. What is FIRPTA?
2. What is the 180 Day rule?
3. Do you know where I live?
4. What happens if I have an income from my property in the US?
5. Do I need a US Social Security numbr to buy real estate?
If they don't know the answers to these questions without going to the internet to do research, find another realtor. Any realtor dealing with Canadians should know the answer to these questions. If they don't even know where you live, they are most likely only interested in their commission, not finding the right house or ensuring that you are well taken care of.
I find realtors all the time who think Alberta is a city, Ottawa is a state, and Vancouver is near the Arctic Circle. If they don't even take time to know more about you, will they do a good job on anything else?
As a buyer, you need to know the answers to the first 2 questions, and your realtor should have written information to give you about both. If they tell you they will find out, that's not good enough. If they have dealt with other Canadians, they should know the answers already. If they don't, call another realtor who does.

Canadians buying Phoenix

It's better than having a cottage at the lake, better weather too. 23% of properties sold last year in USA were to Canadian buyers. Distant 2nd was Mexico, followed by UK, Hong Kong. Come on down!

Arizona Wine Country

I'll bet you didn't know that Arizona has 40 wineries in production and another 25 getting ready to go into production. They are almost all small boutique wineries, with limited production, but they are grouped so that you can take a one day or more wine tour and tasting, and see some fantastic desert scenery along the way.
No one really thinks of Arizona as wine country, but it makes a great holiday weekend. Ask me about maps and tours. And if you want to become a vintner, I can help you find a winery to buy and operate.