Alexander Chandler Realty Blog

Sealing up air leaks around your home is one of the most cost effective ways to maximize energy efficiency. Regardless of how good your house is insulated, if there are cracks and holes, the air you just paid for to heat or cool will swiftly be wasted. But air sealing is easy and reasonably inexpensive as long as you know what areas to take a look at. In this article we primarily look at the use of caulk to make quick repairs to leaky areas. Best of all, you do not need to be an expert craftsman to be able to do this. One note of caution though that this is not the ideal afternoon activity to do with your children. Caulk can be quite sticky and messy and can quickly ruin some nice clothes. Leave the painting and garden activities for your kids.

As the seasons and the weather changes, cracks and gaps will open and close allowing unwanted air to seep in, conditioned air to seep out and moisture to leak into the home. This can result in a number of problems such as mould, breezes, and heat loss in the winter weather or gain in the the hot months. This expansion and contraction can also lead to other more cosmetic problems such as cracking paint or trim slighly moving.

Leaks can be closed with caulk, spray foam or even just weather stripping depending on the problem area. A good rule of thumb is to use caulk for cracks smaller than 1/4-inch, and foam for larger cracks and gaps, though each condition may vary. With the foam there are two popular ones at the your hardware store in blue and red cans. One expands much more than the other. Be careful to not use the one that expands more in tight spaces as it can literally push apart things. So, for windows and door trim, unless the gaps are huge, it generally best to go with the less expansive one. We'd recommend checking these areas in your home:

On the outside of your home windows and doors are pretty much always a problem child. Insulate around the frame with the low expanding foam insulation. You can also caulk at the frame and drywall/trim intersection. For your windows you may consider adding storm windows to single pane units as this will help with the windows sustaining temperature whether it be cold or hot. Another key area are wall penetrations such as pipes, vents, exhausts, air intakes, etc. You are going to want to caulk around the perimeter of all exterior wall penetrations. Finally, look at your trim as it can often be inproperly installed. Caulk around the perimeter of trim, and trim/siding intersections.

As we shift into the inside of your home we'll start with your windows and doors just as we did with the outside work. Windows and doors will need to be caulked at the frame and drywall/trim intersection. For your doors, weather stripping can make a large difference around all sides of the door trim. For your windows the usual suspect is the seal at the bottom of the window and the window frame. Here you can install weather stripping if needed. A common missed area is your attic access point if it is on the interior of your living areas. This is an easy area to add insulation and/or gaskets/weather stripping.

Moving into your bathroom we'll deal with your tubs and showers. Caulk at shower/tub and wall intersection and around the plumbing fixture border. Be certain to look at the pipes and ductwork for your toilets and sinks. Caulk the wall penetrations and wrap hot or cold water pipes with insulation which is pretty easy to do. Do not forget to tape all your duct joints and seams. You may need to go under your house if you have a crawl space for the pipes.

For the other common areas of the home do not forget your lights, outlets, light switches and your fireplace if you have one. For your outlets and switches you can install a very simple gasket that fits behind the plate and you can fill in the area behind the plate and around your electrical plate with low-expanding foam. For the lights you can caulk around the trim. If possible you should install light fixtures or housings that are labeled as airtight fixtures. Finally, your fireplace is generally best tackled by sealing the chimney when it is not being used. You can do this with your damper being set to closed or, you can install an inflatable chimney balloon blocker. You may want to consider installing gasketed doors to the fireplace opening.

We briefly touched on the basements and crawlspaces while we were wrapping the hot and cold water pipes. While you're under there, caulk or foam at the foundation wall & rim joist intersection and seal any cracks or joints in the foundation walls.

Most older homes will not have the issues of being too airtight, as there is always bound to be enough cracks and air leaks to keep a healthy level of fresh air circulation. If you are concerned with this issue, or are building a new tight home, you can install outside air intakes to be connected to your HVAC to bring in a steady exchange of new and stale air.

If you're unsure about where you need sealing, you can try the DIY method of inspecting your house with a lit incense stick — first turn off your HVAC and any running fans and close all windows and doors, then take the lit stick near any suspect leak, if the incense smoke is sucked in or taken out then you've confirmed your leak. Also, if you see any unclean spots on attic insulation, or dirt around any perimeter wall, door or window, then you most likely have a leak. An even better confirmation would be to get an energy audit, an auditor/inspector can do a variety of tests and even use infrared cameras to identify leaks, moisture and air infiltration and not enough insulation. In some areas of the country it is common for the electric providers to this audit free of charge. However, an independent audit professional will generally be more experienced and be able to recommend local resources or companies to address the individual problem areas.

Fort Worth Homes

The City of Weatherford spans a territory of around Twenty-four square miles. Weatherford is found at the intersections of Highways 180 and 80, nearly 30 miles west of the City of Fort Worth and around 60 miles west of the City of Dallas. Interstate 20 runs along the City's southern border and offers major access to Fort Worth and Dallas.

Weatherford has held a separate personality from the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex however its close proximity to this major urban region has had a direct effect. Citizens find themselves in a position to achieve a rural lifestyle without sacrificing the conveniences and labor market of a big metropolitan region. A large number of Weatherford residents commute into the Metroplex to work.

Much of the City's industrial progress is definitely attributable to its close location to the Metroplex. The City's main commercial employers find Weatherford pleasing since it offers the benefits of easy access to the region's key transportation and shipping infrastructure without the downside related to physically locating within a major urban location.

In the past, the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex has demonstrated a rather low unemployment rate. It has also enjoyed the growth of a diverse economic base. The outward development of Dallas/Fort Worth will effect the transition of Weatherford from its farming and ranching origins to expanded urban residential, commercial, and industrial development.

The town of Weatherford incorporated in 1858 as the county seat of Parker County, and a post office opened in 1859. The newly established county seat was midway on the stage run connecting Fort Worth and Fort Belknap. For its first twenty-five years Weatherford acted not only as the county seat but in addition as a safe haven for Parker County residents, who fled to the city during the string of Indian raids which continued until the early 1870s. When the risk of Indian assaults abated, the city prospered. The tracks of the Texas and Pacific Railway arrived at Weatherford in 1880. 7 years later the Santa Fe line entered the city limits. In 1891 a localized line, the Weatherford, Mineral Wells and Northwestern Railway, began operating. This network settled the county seat as a shopping and transport point for Parker County farmers and ranchers. In the mid-1890s Weatherford had an estimated population of 5,000 and 100 businesses, seven churches, a number of schools, three banks, four hotels, three weekly newspapers (Weatherford Sun, Weatherford Constitution, and the Parker County News), and one institution of higher learning, Weatherford College.

Weatherford Real Estate

Fort Worth Homes

A large percentage of possible home buyers choose whether to look inside a residence or take it seriously established on its curb appeal. The curb appeal of a residence is the look people see when they drive by or arrive for a showing. You can help make sure potential home buyers want to step inside your house by investing some time working on the its outside look.

Producing an attractive front landscape as a result of the use of landscaping can alter the all round feeling given by your residence, making it even more inviting and pleasant for your visitors and your family. Even in daunting economic conditions, a beautiful, well-tended front lawn can drive the selling price of your home up wards. When potential buyers appear at your residence for a viewing, the look of a pleasant yard will instantly set them to thinking about 'coming home' to your residence.

It is hard to look at your own property in the equivalent way that possible buyers do, mainly because when we become familiar to the way your home appears and functions, we cannot see its faults. Choose right this moment to give up thinking of the property as your home. It is simply a house—a commodity you intend to sell off for the greatest dollar attainable.

The next time you come home, stop across the street or a good deal enough down the driveway to get a good perspective of the residence and its natural environment. Just what is your primary impression of the home and landscaping? What are the best exterior qualities of the house or property? In what way can you strengthen them? Just what are the worst exterior elements of the house hold or lot? How can you minimise or improve them?

Build a checklist of the problem areas you found out. Tackle cleanup and maintenance jobs first, then set aside some time into tasks that make the landscaping more attractive. Obliterate mold and mildew on the home, sidewalks, roofing, or driveway. Put away not required garden accessories and tools. Thoroughly clean house windows and gutters. Pressure wash unclean house siding and dingy decks. Tidy up sidewalks and clear away vegetation raising between concrete or bricks. Mow the yard. Dispose of weeds. Rake and get rid of leaves, whether or not your yard has a lot of trees. Cut tree limbs that are near or in contact the residence's roofing.

Perform your curb appeal exercise again at sunset, considering it is not uncommon for potential buyers to drive by properties in the evening. One speedy way to improve evening curb appeal is by working with lights. Set up landscape lighting not only increases curb appeal but it also helps make you residence less dangerous and raises home worth. Landscape lighting doesn't need to be lavish or costly to make a remarkable result. String low voltage lighting down your driveway, sidewalks, and near crucial landscaping aspects. Include a ornamental street lamp to a front porch. Make sure that lighting is seen through front doorways and windows enhances the house's presence.

Now there are times that adding components to your landscaping can enhance curb appeal, however there are some other circumstances when taking away something is even more effective. Most home buyers can not visualize changes, and frequently will not likely take a subsequent look at a house if the first look doesn't appeal to them. possible home buyers who can visualize improvements, and are ready to make them expect you to lower the price of the house to make up for the work they plan to perform.

If you brainstorm, you are going to discover that there's a option to most problems—one that lets you stay within your resources. The strategy is to discover the locations where enhancements are needed, then work on them as best you can. Points you need to keep in your head are the volume of area available, the height of walls and keeping paths and window zones clear, as well as the time of year, weather situations and color choices. No matter what plants or flower you choose to put in, whether it's flowers to cover ground, foliage to fill space or vines to climb walls, it will almost certainly boost the value of your residence by a great deal more than the price of the landscaping alone.

Fort Worth Homes

One of the most challenging issues for a home buyer to do is to simply select the best house. Much too frequently can impluse choices interfere with the "best decision". Being able to take a step back and really think about whether this is the best home for you can be difficult. Is the residence you have fallen in love with actually the best house for your desires and life style? We've built a list of items to assist you to look past those staging tricks and other cosmetic items that can unproportionally affect your decision.

Looking for a home can be a lot of fun, especially when many attractive homes are on the market. But before you make an offer on the one that's captured your attention you will need to measure the home against some different forms of criteria. This will ensure that you purchase a home and you not only love, but can grow in and enjoy.

Lets start off with the big one, price. Just because you can buy a more expensive house isn't going to mean you always should do so. The more money you spend on mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and repair and maintenance costs, the less you'll have to spend on your other wants and needs. Do some research on being house poor. You don't want to be the person who has that giagantic luxurious home with only a fold-out chair and card table. Additionally, you don't want a home that requires too many monthly bills to maintain your lifestyle.

The price can often be tied to the size of the home. Square footage is important, but so are the relative sizes of the various rooms and the use of space throughout the house. A staircase, multiple hallways or odd alcoves could make a large house seem smaller than its square footage. Check out the closets too. Let's not forget the Floor Plan. Some homes have an efficient and pleasing arrangement of rooms while others have odd configurations that may seem maze-like or dictate inconvenient traffic patterns. A two-story house can offer more living space for those who don't mind the extra exertion every day. So, a more pricey home with an inconvenient floor plan may not be best suited for you. However, it is important to note that there is always the "potential" factor. If you're willing to do some remodeling and work you may see opportunities to turn a poor floor plan into something amazing. Construction and work may not be up your ally, so take a close look at the condition of the house as well.

A nice-looking, well-maintained home will cost more than a similar house that's not in great shape. If you don't mind hiring contractors or making repairs yourself, you might be able to buy that less-attractive house at a discount. Otherwise, you might prefer to purchase a house that's in good condition.

Where the residence is located can really have an effect on the charm and character. However, good character can offset a slightly less desirable location. Some neighborhoods are citified while others are suburban or rural. Some have matured with the passage of time while others are brand new. Some are staid while others are funky. Choose a location to live that suits your personality and lifestyle. Just remember that location is not something that money can repair. Be sure to drive around the neighborhood and surrounding areas thoroughly. Look for how close it is to dining destinations or for less desirable businesses that deter investment into the area to increase the value of the location.

Going along with location you will need to study the zoning. Local laws set limits on the number and size of housing units that can be built on residential lots. That means some areas may be open to mansion-sized homes or higher-density housing while other may have restrictions that prohibit such uses. The zoning can greatly affect the type of construction you can do on your lot. A house that's next to a shopping mall, school, park, transit stop or other non-residential use may or may not be desirable, depending on your preferences. A home on a corner lot might be larger and more private than neighboring homes, but could also be subject to more traffic noise.

Any problem that would be outrageously expensive or impossible to fix is called an "incurable defect." Examples include an airplane flight path, bizarre floor plan, inadequate parking or inordinately loud traffic noise. Don't buy a home with an incurable defect unless you're willing to live with that condition as long as you occupy that home.

Some houses are plagued by wood-eating pests, high levels of radon, molds, lead-based paint or other potential hazards. If you're concerned about any of these conditions, hire a qualified expert to inspect the house. Find out whether the house is located in a flood plain or a high fire-risk area. You'll find these out relatively quickly when you look at home owner's insurance. Additionally, be sure that you hire a reputable home inspector to look for insect damage, especially termites and mold. These can usually be found relatively quickly.

Have a great time looking for your next house. Pay attention to the details and always ask questions. If you follow some of this advise and do your homework you should find yourself in a great place.

Fort Worth Real Estate

Becoming house poor has little to do with the cost of your property. You might reside in a stylish house valued at $5 million, and you would still be viewed as house poor if your home takes up a disproportionate share of your earnings. Generally, you're considered house poor if you devote too much on your house payments and home maintenance. But what exactly is too much?

While you can find some rules of thumb by which lenders assess the reasonableness of your real estate costs, the valuation of your home and the size of your mortgage payment are only half of the picture.

You're viewed as house poor if your property costs prevent you from:

 * Saving the equivalent of 3 to six months income in an emergency cash reserve account

 * Setting money aside for your retirement

 * Acquiring a diversified investment portfolio

 * Budgeting for various other life events, such as paying for your child's education and learning

 * Choosing the furniture you need for your new home, or eating at any place other than in your new kitchen

If you're considering buying a home, do some early planning to avoid becoming house poor. Talk to a financial expert who can help you clarify your goals and formulate a method for achieving them. Evaluate your budget with an eye toward cutting down on discretionary charges and saving more toward your goals.

As you go through the mortgage preapproval process, see what amount you meet the criteria for on the basis of just your normal yearly earnings, without thinking about overtime, bonuses, part-time employment, or alimony or child support you receive. That way, although you may not meet the criteria for as large a mortgage as you would otherwise, you'll be in a healthier position to afford the house you buy, and you'll stay clear of the extra stress of constantly juggling your financial duties.

Be very cautious about using creative financing arrangements, such as interest-only mortgages or optional ARMs, to buy more property than you can otherwise pay for. If home valuation increases decline and interest rates rise, you might find yourself trapped between the rock of making the mortgage payment each month and the hard place of not being able to sell the residence for enough to cover paying back the loan that secures it. You do not want to lose your home to property foreclosure because you bit off more now than you can chew.

Finally, resist the urge to buy a residence with an eye toward making a killing in several years on its expected appreciated value. Think of your residence as a necessity--a place to live -- as opposed to a speculative investment.

Fort Worth Real Estate

Selecting a Good Home Inspector: What You need to Ask

You've found the house, your offer is agreed on, and financing is ready. But before you get started packing, be sure you engage a qualified home inspector to ensure your house doesn't have any big flaws that could cost you later.

A household inspection normally includes an evaluation of heating and central air conditioning systems, interior plumbing, electrical systems, the roof, attic, accessible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, foundations, and basements. Inspections may also include appliances and outside plumbing.

After the inspector examines the home, he or she will write up a report with findings. If there are any big conditions, you'll need to negotiate with the seller to either decrease the sale price of the property, or decide how the issue will be fixed.



When you make an offer it's sensible to have a contingency clause relying on the house inspection. In other words, if the inspector finds $10,000 worth of concerns and the seller doesn't want to provide the fix, you can remove your offer.



In fact, 2 in five resale homes will have at the very least one serious deficiency that can cost you from a few hundred dollars to as much as $15,000 to resolve, as outlined by the 2009 HouseMaster Resale Home Deficiencies Study.

Investing a few hundred dollars for a property inspection is really worth the peace of mind.

If you don't know how or where to locate a home inspector, be careful about asking your real estate agent. The American Society of Home Inspectors is a good place to start off. All certified members have carried out at the least 250 inspections and have passed 2 written proficiency examinations. They must also conform to standards of practice, continuing education courses, and code of ethics.

ASHI advises you speak with a few inspectors before picking one. Some of the questions you need to ask include:

# What does the inspection include? Ensure the inspection and the inspection survey meet all applicable requirements and abide by the ASHI Standards of Practice.

# How long have you been in the industry and how many houses have you inspected? Again, ASHI Members are required to have finished not less than 250 paid professional home inspections and passed 2 written examinations that evaluate the inspector's understanding.

# Are you specifically skilled in housing inspection? The reply ought to be yes. If somebody says they have special training in something such as construction or engineering but not in residential inspection, you may well want to move on to the next choice.

# Does the inspector's company offer to do repairs or improvements based on the inspection? The answer should consistently be no. This is in opposition to the ASHI Code of Ethics because it may cause a conflict of interest.

# How long will the inspection take? The normal for a sole inspector is 2 to 3 hours for a standard single-family house; anything much less might not be sufficient time to do a detailed inspection. Some inspection firms send a staff of inspectors and the time frame may well be shorter.

# How much will it cost? Costs differ quite a bit based on the location, dimensions of the house, range of services and some other factors. A typical range may be $300-500, but consider the benefit of the house inspection in terms of the investment being made.

# Does the inspector prepare a written report? Ask to view samples and decide whether you understand the report.

# Does the inspector recommend the client to attend the inspection? This is a helpful educational occasion for you to learn about how things work around what could possibly be your home, and the inspector may talk about things that don't quite merit a mention in the statement but which you should keep an eye on. An inspector's refusal to allow you to be present must raise a red flag.

Finally, once you have identified an inspector you like, ask him/her for personal references, then follow up and contact those customers. 2 major questions - whether they found any main defects after the close of escrow that the inspector had missed, and whether they'd use the inspector again.

Fort Worth Real Estate

It really is very likely stating the obvious to say that it is a difficult, stressful real estate market place nowadays, and, if you are presently selling your house, you can use any kind of competitive edge. Master home stagers can help you get it. Part interior designer, part closet coordinator, and part magician, they offer information on upping the value of your home by sprucing up your rooms—all without any significant renovations or shelling out of major cash. Fundamentally, a home stager's job role is to take full advantage of your space, making areas appear much larger and look more attractive (and desirable) with just a few clever design and style tweaks.

Here are some low-cost and relatively quick and not very difficult ways to stage your home for the best outcomes. You don't have to spend a fortune renovating your house to ensure a fast sale at the best price. Some of the most effective fix-ups are also the cheapest. To assess the projects that make the most sense, start by touring your building with fresh eyes, as if you were a prospective buyer. Drive or walk up to your residence and see how it seems from the street. Walk up to the front doorway and take a look around. You could perhaps ask a trusted friend to guide you notice problems, mess and unique scents that you've long since stopped noticing. Keep a pen and pad handy to list the tasks that need to be made.

Stowing away knick knacks, trinkets and family photographs helps depersonalize your home, which is actually a very good thing: You want potential prospects to picture themselves living in your residence instead of being distracted by your personal effects. Hide anything at all—family pictures, ribbons, trophies, your collections—that might interfere with a buyer feeling like your home could be theirs. People today get really distracted when they’re surrounded by someone else’s personal goods. Make your bath appear like a hotel’s: no one wants to notice your used soaps, tooth brush and razor. Put all your beauty items in a shower caddy, so they can quickly be stowed underneath the sink when you have a showing.

You have to move anyhow, so why not secure a head start and make your house hold appear larger by packing away at least one-third of your things? Most individuals have too much things, whether it’s clothing or documents or pieces of furniture. The objective is to develop a impression of space in a room—and in all your bedrooms. Attack the desire to push all your things in your cabinets, since you have to be prepared for future bidders to get in every last cabinet. An organized closet can send the feelings that as an owner, you’re the kind of character who doesn’t slack on any aspect (a leaky roof, a busted water heat tank) of keeping up your house. Think of leasing a temporary storage space rather than stuffing your packed boxes in your cabinets or shed, which will make them seem less significant.

No person wants to look into a dirty home. Bathing rooms and kitchens in particular should be radiant. Don’t just do a table cleanse—give consideration to hidden corners like the nook behind a potty or the interior of your refrigerator. You never know where families are going to start looking. Use air fresheners, candles, and other ways to get rid off any odors, and ask a neighbor over to ensure that there are no remaining fragrances, since living there may make you immune to the fragrance. Approximately a 3 rd of Americans are living with domestic pets, so to be sure you’re not alienating the other two thirds of the People in america, clear away all traces (leashes, kitty litter boxes, canine mattresses) of family pets. Dig out the grime. You can do it your self or engage a team for a day, but a serious cleansing is essential for a good first feeling. It's also significant to carry on the cleaning as long as your residence is on the market, which will almost certainly mean a daily dusting and vacuum session. Lavatories and the kitchen should be kept pristine.

You really want to have as much light as possible flowing in your area. Commence by washing the glass windows. Say goodbye to the screens, which just create one more darkening level. While in an open house, make sure your shades are up. Check to see if all your lights are functioning, and ditch low-watt lights with high-watt ones to ensure the place appears well-lit. While we already discussed this topic, this is another beneficial time to locate awful aromas. Air out your household by opening the home windows at least once a day (or, in terrible weather, by working all your exhaust fans). Don't prepare smelly or greasy meals, which remain in the house. If you have pet cats, clean the litter box at a minimum of once a day. Use potpourri or bake snacks before home buyers come by to give your place a "warm" fragrance.

Walls are the glue of your home, and it’s tremendously important to make certain they seem to be fresh. Painting is comparatively low-cost if you do it yourself, and might have a huge outcome on the way a house feels. Stay clear of non-neutral hues like red, purple, or flashy yellow, because they probably will not appeal to the bulk of individuals. White can feel stark and chill, which doesn’t do anything to add to the appeal of a room in your home. Try comfortable beige tones or other fairly neutral shades. If you've painted or wallpapered in past years, you might be able to get away with just cleaning your walls.

Fort Worth Real Estate