It’s Not Monopoly Money: Your Refund & Your Property

Remember playing Monopoly? After another player had put up a hotel on a pricey property like Boardwalk or Park Place, remember that feeling of relief every time you got past without landing on them? Whew! That’s the way many of us feel now that Tax Week is over. If you’re one of the millions who will soon be checking the mail for your refund check, you’re are probably also pondering the best use to put it to.Especially if you’re thinking of selling your Austin property any time this year, you might do something that’s less than obvious: put some of that check to good use by making one or more simple property improvements. After all, your Austin property is your biggest investment — and the payoff when you take good care of it won’t be in play money. If yours is an average refund  (most are somewhere north of $2,500), it can be pretty painless to direct a modest chunk of it to your property. I’ve come across some simple ideas that should also reserve most of the refund for other purposes. One idea that few people act upon is to order a professional energy audit. This can cost between $400 and $600 for a full diagnostic inspection. By revealing gaps (even small ones) around doors, windows, and recessed lights, it can reveal energy-wasters that ultimately lower utility bills year-round. An even less expensive utility bill-saver is available in the form of the latest sophisticated low-flow showerheads. They are simple to install, and can save up to 50% of the water used by even some of the newer showerheads. The best ones feel nearly as if you are showering with the same amount of water. One of the last things likely to leap to mind once your refund check arrives is insurance. Basic homeowners insurance isn’t fully comprehensive, yet for a small additional amount — generally about $300 — you can buy a million dollars’ worth of added liability coverage with an ‘umbrella’ policy that also covers your cars. It will feel like getting past Park Place and Boardwalk all year long!

Austin, TX Homes for Sale Search All Homes For Sale What is Your Home Worth? Austin Real Estate Goldwasser Real Estate 512-470-2277 info@gretx.com

Some Austin Listings Should Trigger an Audit!

…an energy audit, that is. That’s a lot more than a piece of tax-time humor – it’s a growing trend that rising energy costs have made ever more practical.

A survey by Fannie Mae found that the cost of heating, cooling, and hot water is now the highest single cost of homeownership, second only to the cost of the loan on the property. When buyers are prowling through the Austin listings this season, the more savvy among them are beginning to look for a HERS number: its Home Energy Rating System audit score.

HERS was developed by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). This score represents the foremost nationally recognized system for calculating energy efficiency. Even if a formal HERS audit hasn’t been conducted (Austin listings feature those that have), knowing how they calculate their findings gives buyers and sellers a conceptual basis for comparing prospective Austin property purchases. Items inspected include:

• Building envelope features (windows, doors, insulation, ducts) and ages
• Heating, cooling and ventilation equipment types, characteristics and ages
• Appliance and lighting characteristics
• Comfort complaints
• Visible moisture issues
• Visible health and safety issues

When a full HERS Index is calculated, the lower the score, the greater the home’s energy efficiency. According to RESNET, more than 1,100,000 homes now have a HERS score — including 40% of all new homes. It’s why more and more existing homeowners find that including a HERS score in their Austin listings adds a powerful competitive selling point.

Contact me if you would like help preparing a marketing package. It could one that features your own HERS score: if your home is energy efficient, that’s one audit we’ll want to volunteer for!