If you'd like a downloadable pdf version of this list, make a request in the comments, or email me.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
9 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Summer
Here in the San Francisco Bay Area we tend to enjoy relatively temperate weather year round, but there are still things homeowners (or renters) can do to help keep your home comfortable on those hot days and keep your energy bills down.
1. Inspect caulking around windows, doors, and any openings into the home. Many times during the cold season windows and doors will slightly separate from the frame. This can be remedied with an application of external silicone caulking or sealant. Clear silicone may be used to seal under door thresholds and stained wood frames.
2. Change your ceiling fan’s direction. In the summer you want your ceiling fans to blow air down to give the room a breeze and make it feel cooler. This is the opposite of the winter and running a ceiling fan can make a room feel cooler while leaving your air conditioner setting a little higher.
3. Clean your dryer vents. A clogged dryer vent causes warm air to blow back in to the room where your dryer is located, eventually raising the temperature in the whole house. A simple cleaning can prevent this from happening and keep your home cooler.
4. Check insulation around windows and doors. Make sure that your door and windows are properly insulated to keep the warm air out. For door you want to make sure that the weather stripping is intact and providing a good seal around the door. For windows you want to check the seals around the windows to make sure there is no cracking, splitting, or peeling of the seals.
5. Repair HVAC filters regularly. Blocked air filters can reduce the efficiency of your air conditioning system's ability to push and pull air through air registers. Also during spring and summer allergens are higher and if your family suffers from such symptoms you may want to replace your filter about every 60 days.
6. Run the bathroom exhaust fan during showers. During the summer, an air conditioner’s primary purpose is to replace warm, moist air with cool, dry air. A long, steamy shower can create muggy conditions in your bathroom that spills out into adjacent rooms and hallways when you open the bathroom door.
7. Switch to compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. This is a standard tip on any energy saving list, but it is important for reasons other than direct kilowatt savings. Compact fluorescent bulbs give off less heat than regular incandescent bulbs. CFL bulbs will cause less impact on the temperature of the room.
8. Plant a shade tree next to your outside air condition unit. Providing some shade over your air conditioner’s outside unit can help it run more efficiently.
9. Consider installing an attic fan or vent. If you have ever been in an attic in the hottest part of summer you already know what a hot box they become. Consider installing a vent to pull that hot air off your ceiling. A power attic fan or ridge vents are very effective in keeping the attic cooler during the summer.
Monday, May 25, 2015
No days off here, but if you get the work done early there's time to #bbq & enjoy the day. #nofilter
via Instagram @shannonkellyhomes http://ift.tt/1Aun2Eo
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Live Like Gatsby
The real Great Gatsby house on Long Island is on the market for a cool $3,888,888 (which actually seems like something of a deal coming from the Bay Area market prices). The movie version sure painted a Hollywood vision different from the reality of the beautiful (if not quite so sprawling) estate. I'd be tempted to restore some of it's original character (with modern conveniences still in place, of course). Check it out here.
(Realtor side note: The pictures are awful and do a real disservice to the property, as does the staging, or lack thereof.)
Saturday, May 23, 2015
This Week's Open House List
Memorial Day weekend isn't slowing down tomorrow's open houses. Inventory is beginning to rise which means, most obviously, more options for buyers and more competition for sellers. Wondering what that means for your situation? Just ask -- email, or post your question in the comments.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
#ivy can be #pretty when it's trained. When it covers a front yard it becomes a magnet for rodents no one wants.
via Instagram @shannonkellyhomes http://ift.tt/1BeL4yq
#master #bathroom in a #montclair #newconstruction. #oakland #oaklandrealestate #eastbay #beautifulhome
via Instagram @shannonkellyhomes http://ift.tt/1PzbO8A
A #pool with a #view in #ridgemont. #oakland #oaklandrealestate #eastbay #beautifulhome #sfbayview #bayview
via Instagram @shannonkellyhomes http://ift.tt/1FAvSRF
Utterly #gorgeous #craftsman in #rockridge. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen with #carrera marble counters, $1.25m. #oakland #oaklandrealestate #beautifulhome #eastbay
via Instagram @shannonkellyhomes http://ift.tt/1Lq4Z3u
I wonder if someone lost their level when they attached the vertical pieces & just decided to run with it, or if the crooked lines were a design choice. #oakland #downtown #crooked
via Instagram @shannonkellyhomes http://ift.tt/1eiDtdc
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
What Did That House Sell For?
The spring market is beginning to transition into summer, but the numbers below don't yet reflect this change. What traditionally happens to the market in the summer? Ask & I'll tell you.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Japanese inspired #backyard off #lakeshore in #oakland. The home has been lovingly updated, even if the 3rd #bedroom is a stretch for a bedroom. #oaklandrealestate #realestate #eastbay #peaceful #tranquility
via Instagram @shannonkellyhomes http://ift.tt/1ebAVxx
Saturday, May 16, 2015
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