Bedrooms That Grow With Kids

Indestructible furniture like these bashed-up vintage lockers are a great choice for people between the ages of 1 and 18.

http://sfgate.houzz.com/ideabooks/2061740/w/14-Bedrooms-That-Grow-With-Kids/sid=1

Dislcaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

Tips to Heat Up Your Condo Sale

Too many condominiums for sale. Prospective buyers are on vacation. Mortgage money is hard to get. Don’t let those pesky realities prevent you from trying to sell your unit this summer. The real estate market is slow, but it isn’t dead.

Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com to assist with a listing price.

Freshen up. You’re competing against new-construction models, which have been professionally decorated. At the very least, fix what’s broken, pack away the clutter, remove outdated wallpaper and flowered curtains and deep-clean everything, said Elena Dan of Re/Max 1st Class Realty in Skokie. “People are not willing to do any work today,” she said.

Stage the balcony. A condo dweller’s summer joy is sitting on the balcony, enjoying morning coffee or evening candlelight. Make it inviting with planters and colorful pillows and placemats, said Dan.

“A balcony expands the living space to the outside, and makes the unit seem bigger,” she said.

Don’t show an empty unit. If you’ve moved, leave a few pieces of furniture. You don’t need a lot, just enough to illustrate placement possibilities and what size bed fits in a bedroom, said Emily Jeffries of Re/Max Exclusive Properties in Lincoln Park.

Read more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/apartments/ct-home-0624-condo-living-20110624,0,3156895.story

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Control Air Movement – Save Energy

The control of air movement—the reduction of uncontrolled air leakage and the inclusion of controllable ventilation—is essential to minimise the need for supplementary heating and cooling. This can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs and improve comfort.

Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com for questions about savings equaling increase in value.

Air leakage has a significant impact on thermal performance. This should be minimised by draught proofing new and existing homes. This can prevent heat loss in winter, thereby saving on the cost of heating, and prevent the entry of warm air in summer, reducing the need for cooling.

A typical home with a wall vent in each room will have approximately one air change per hour (one air change per hour occurs when the volume of inside air is replaced totally by outside air in a period of an hour). Sealing the vents reduces the air change rate to 0.5 per hour, which reduces overall energy requirements by up to 15% and still allows for adequate ventilation.

Many older homes have significant air leakage, which can average up to three air changes per hour. Some typical sources of air leakage are shown in figure 8.1. Limiting air leakage in older homes can save up to 25% of heating energy costs.

Ventilation should be planned to cool the home and its occupants in summer, and reduce or eliminate the need for mechanical air conditioning.

Read more at: http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/resources/documents/ESHousingManualCh08.pdf

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only