Sometimes we remodel our Andover homes “just because”—”just because ” it suits our lifestyles, or “just because” we want a change and the change we want it fits within our budgets.  Many times, however, homeowners here in Andover and North Andover  ask me which home improvement projects will have the highest positive impact the market value of their homes.  The 2009 “Cost vs Value” report by “Remolding Magazine” provides great insight into the answer to that question and not surprisingly in this economy 6 of the 10 projects had costs less than $14,000 and those 6 projects were siding and window replacement projects, according to the report.  Take a look at these quick look at these low cost high impact home improvement projects.  If you need help with your Andover home improvement project contact me at RE/Max Partners  in Andover.  I can help you find qualified professionals to help you.

I had an oil delivery yesterday…a reminder that its the time of year when we put away our summer clothes, sandals and flip flops and start wearing jackets and sweaters.  Every night without a hard frost means one more day of flowers and perhaps another fresh tomato or two from the garden.  And yes, I confess, there  already have been a few nights when I’ve  turned the heat on in my home–just to take the chill out.   While advertisers all seem to be promoting “green” products these days, I believe energy efficiency has always been in fashion.  Only now, there are many, many more programs, tax incentives and suppliers ready willing and able to help you improve the energy efficiency of your home and I’d like to share some of these valuable resources with you! Need help finding someone to help you with your home energy project check my Andover Business Directory  or contact me at REMAX Partners  in Andover and I’ll be happy to help you find a qualified service professional.

Summer in New England is a very special time of year.  The days are long, school is over and it's time to enjoy family barbeques and our backyards here in Andover and North Andover. Many homes have decks that are wonderful for enjoying the great outdoors, whether you are entertaining a crowd or just relaxing and enjoying the sunshine with a good book. Unfortunately, decks require maintenance to keep them looking fresh, clean and splinter free. If you are thinking about embarking upon a useful spring cleaning project, cleaning your deck is a great place to start. Proper maintenance is essential to extending the life of your deck. First, look over your deck carefully for any sections that may need repair. Next, thoroughly sweep it off. After that, you must arm yourself with a power-washer. These can be rented if you do not own one. There are a variety of deck cleaners available, but the best choice is an oxalic acid-based one. These clean your wood nicely, prevent rust, kill mildew and are even plant-friendly. If you have tough mildew stains, you will need to use oxygen bleach to remove the stains. Next you must coat it to keep it looking beautiful.   If your deck is in need of repair or you're thinking about replacing or building a new deck or patio, check my on-line business directory for Andover and North Andover resources or contact me at RE/MAX Partners.  I can help you find experienced professionals to help you with all your home maintanence projects.

At times it can be expensive to simply maintain the biggest asset most people will ever own: their homes. Keeping this fact in mind, here is a list of ways to increase your home’s value without breaking the bank.

• Hiring an inspector could be the most cost-effective thing you ever do. This is true if they find a small problem that could morph into something much bigger down the line, such as a termite infestation or a water leak.
• Tremendous value is added by simply painting a room.
• Energy efficient homes that feature items such as special windows and/or programmable thermostats, save you money and are a marketable asset if you do need to sell.
• Landscaping improvements in the form of large shade trees make homes more desirable. They can also cut your cooling costs up to 40%.
• Improve your home’s air quality by replacing old carpeting, or removing it entirely if you are lucky enough to have hardwood flooring underneath.
• By adding a small luxury item such as a water filtration system, you are adding value to your home and saving yourself money since you will no longer need bottled water.
• Replace old fixtures such as an old ceiling fan for a newer, more updated-looking model. It will make your home more pleasant on hot days, and will appeal to buyers if you need to sell.

These tried and true tips are especially important in today's challenging market.  Home buyers are moving cautiously, afraid of paying too much for a home and looking for value in more and more places.  Although these steps take some time and some money...the return on your investment will make the effort worthwhile.

They really are our best friends...those pets of ours.  When your home is on the market remember there are buyers who have never owned a pet or who may have allergies to pets.  Some of these folks may therefore be sensitive to pets and pet aromas.  Because its important for a potential buyer to feel at home in any home he or she wil buy consider the following tips when preparing to put your home on the market. Any homeowner who lives with a pet knows that when you share your house with one of these beloved creatures, you give up the word “spotless” as a way to describe your home…forever. Here are some tips to keep your house as clean and fresh-smelling as possible despite your pet’s, let’s just say, “untidiness”.

• Pet hair has an aroma. Usually, it’s not a good one. Vacuum regularly, even if the pet hair in question matches your furniture and you cannot see it. I promise you, your guests can smell it. Dyson makes a vacuum especially for picking up animal hair.
• This is obvious, but a regularly bathed pet makes for a clean house. Think of how happy they are when it’s all over! Keeping pet’s nails trimmed also cuts down on scratched floors and fabrics.
• Look into Crypton. It’s a stain-resistant fabric that includes suedes and twills. As always, leather and Ultrasuede are great choices for pet owners.
• If you can, nix the wall-to-wall carpeting. It absorbs odors, traps pet hair and soaks up stains. 
• Stick to rubber toys if you have a mad chewer. Pig’s ears and rawhide bones are not only terrible for your pet’s health, but if they make it inside your home, they will stain your floor and furniture.  

To learn about more interesting things for your home with pets go to www.everydaystudio.com  and www.animalhousestyle.com. If you're thinking about selling your home let me show you your local market live with real time market data in your neighborhood.

Most money-saving ideas cost money to implement. Over time, most homeowners come to accept this inevitable fact of home ownership. However, there are some things that are relatively inexpensive that you can do to save money. The best part of them is that the cost can be recovered very quickly so why not implement them?  One of these ways is to install programmable thermostats. Whether you live in a cold-weather state and need your heat on most of the year, or you live in a warm-weather state and cannot live without air-conditioning, pre-setting your indoor temperatures will save you a lot of money!  Just set it and forget it.  Now more than ever it makes sense to save money and energy at home. Installing programmable thermostats can cost anywhere from $50 to $150. This investment allows you to set your heating and cooling to fluctuate at a desired controlled temperature throughout the day and night. For instance, when you sleep you can lower your heat dramatically and have it programmed to turn up on your waking hour. Don’t forget to shop around and compare prices and deals, as many utility companies offer rebates on high-tech thermostats.  For more information about calculating energy costs see the Department of Energy.

The recent ice storms we experienced in Andover, North Andover, Central Massachusetts and New Hampshire reminded us once again how much we rely on energy  in our everday lives.  Even a short interuption in service reeks havok on our simplest activities of daily living.  So it makes sense not only from an economic standpoint but from an enviromental perspective to use our energy as wisely and efficiently as possible.  Since there are several easy ways to cut your home energy costs, what better time to start implementing them than right now? You may have already heard many of these tips repeated by experts, but they are tried and true and really do help you save.

• Washer and Dryer Use: By simply by changing the temperature from hot to warm on your clothes washer you can halve your energy usage. And if you line dry just half of your clothing on an indoor drying rack, you can save up to $52 per year.
• Replace your upright freezer for a chest freezer. Chest freezers consume up to 25% less energy because the cold air does not pour out each time you open the door. You can calculate what your current model versus a new one would save you at recyclemyoldfridge.com.
• Change all of your bulbs from incandescent to compact fluorescent bulbs or light-emitting diodes. Incandescents only use 10% of their energy for light, the remaining 90% is turned to heat.  
• Make it possible to unplug devices when not in use. Many of these devices use power even in their stand-by mode. A simple way to do this is to plug your televisions, printers, iPods and cellphones into a power surge protector. By switching one button, you can even turn them all off at once. This small change could save you up to $100 per year.
• By weather stripping drafty doors and caulking windows can save you up to 20% on heating and air conditioning costs.
• Installing double-paned Low Emissivity windows can save you up to $450 per year in energy costs. See which windows are classified as Energy Star on energystar.gov.
• Choose an Energy Star Appliance when the time comes to replace your home’s leading energy guzzlers. These include your refrigerator, clothes washer, clothes dryer and dishwasher. You will save up to $75 per year.
• Wood Burning stoves can save you anywhere from 20% - 40% on your home heating bills.

I'm committed to saving energy in my home and hope you are, too.  I can help you find qualified service professionals to help you with the many of your home maintanence projects.

Many homeowners today are concerned about the quality of air in their homes, since we spend so much time indoors. Here are some ways that you can achieve superior air quality while improving your family’s respiratory health. This is what you can do, moving from room to room.

• Basement: Since the furnace is in this space, you must have it inspected and cleaned yearly to avoid leakage of dangerous gases. Also, many basements can be damp and therefore may grow mold. You must make sure your gutters are doing their job of keeping water runoff away from your home. Installing a dehumidifier or air conditioner can keep even the most moist basement dry.
• Garage: Install a weatherproof door between this room and the rest of your home. It will keep gasoline odors where they belong. Your lungs will thank you.
• Kitchen: If you have a gas range, you must have a hood fan that exhausts outdoor air. Turning on that fan, or simply opening a window while cooking will remove gas fumes. All fuel burning appliances must be professionally inspected yearly to prevent possible carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Family/Living Room: Dust accumulation can be simply eliminated with the reduction of clutter. Keeping toys, books and other items nicely stored away in closets is the way to go.
• Bedrooms: Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. Dust mites and allergens are also greatly reduced by washing bedding in hot water. Choose area rugs that are easy to wash.
• Bathrooms: Ventilation is so important in this well-used room. Exhaust fans work to remove moisture and chemicals that you clean with. Change your cleaning products to ones that have no pesticides or toxic ingredients. See www.grist.org for a list of green bathroom cleaners.
• Attic: Have your duct work inspected if it runs through an uninsulated attic. Why? Because humid air condenses and can cause mold and rust. Consider having your attic insulated.

Throughout your home always leave doors between rooms open for better air circulation Opening windows from time to time is a no-brain er, but some forget to do it.     As we become more and more aware of the need to protect the world's environment, it's nice to know that there are simple things we can do right here in our own homes in Andover and North Andover to create a healthier and more comfortable environment for our families.  As is so often the case, sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference.  Remember, too, that if you're thinking about selling your home, these same small steps can help you sell your home for more money and in less time.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Massachusetts.  Most every person in this country knows the importance of installing and keeping their fire alarms properly maintained. What many people do not yet know is just how important it is to install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors in their homes as well. Every year in our country approximately two hundred people die from carbon monoxide poisoning. These tragedies can be easily avoided by purchasing a carbon monoxide detector at your local hardware store. In Massachusetts it's now required by law that all residential dwellings which contain fossil fuel burning equipment must be equipped with Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Massachusetts." Ways to avoid Carbon Monoxide poisoning in your home:

• Purchase a carbon monoxide detector to place within 10 feet of every sleeping area in your home.
• Change the batteries yearly, when you change your fire alarm batteries.
• Have your furnace and fireplace checked regularly by a professional.
• Use your generators properly.
• Avoid “warming up” your car if the garage is attached to your home.

Learn to recognize Carbon Monoxide poisoning symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Headache
• Coughing
• Irregular Heartbeat
• Pale skin with cherry red lips and ear tips

For more information on how to install a carbon monoxide detector see EHow’s instructions. If you'd like more information about the Massachusetts law requiring carbon monoxide alarm protection contact me at REMAX Partners in Andover.