Understanding "Heat Tansfer" to Reduce Energy Cost in Your Home

As we enter the warmer part of the year in Georgia, it is useful to remember that as much as 50% of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. If you are trying to save money or you're trying to embrace a "greener", or more eco-friendly lifestyle, do you know enough about the nature of heat transfer to make the right decisions? Let's review the basics of how "heat" works.

Heating and cooling your home are both instances of "heat transfer." First, let's dispense with the notion that heat always rises. That is true in only one form of heat transfer. In general, heat energy flows in all directions equally. There are three different ways in which heat is transferred; conduction, convection and radiation.

Conduction is the form of heat transfer through a material, for example, the walls of your home in summer and winter. For any given amount of in-wall insulation, measured in its R-value, conduction is what accounts for the heat loss (or for cooling, heat-build-up) through the walls and roof.

Convection heat transfer occurs when heat travels in a moving fluid or gas, for example the heat energy that moves along with the passage of air. The "wind chill factor" you hear about in northern state weather reports is a measure of how much heat energy is transferred by convection when you're outside due to the effect of wind.

The third form of heat transfer is radiation. Radiation is the transfer of heat energy through empty space, or the way the sun warms the Earth. Radiant heating is not affected by being in contact with a solid material the way conduction loss does, or by moving along in a fluid or gas the way convection does. Radiant heat transfer is what warms your home when the sun is out.

You can use your knowledge of these three forms of heat transfer to make your home, commercial building or remodeling project more energy-efficient.

You can reduce the amount of heat build-up or conversely, cooling-loss due to conduction through your walls by increasing the R-value of the insulation in the walls by adding more. Installing double pane windows and sliding glass doors, if your home wasn't built with them originally, will reduce conductive loss of those items. The gases between the two panes of glass, along with films and coatings (like "low-E") can increase the insulating value of your doors and windows from R-2 to R-6 or more.

Caulking or using foam insulation material to seal crevices or openings around doors, windows and electrical outlets will reduce convection heating or cooling loss caused by air infiltration.

Fireplaces are wonderful to have on a frosty Winter evening, but they area a big source of convective heat transfer as air continuously flows up the chimney if the flue damper isn't completely air-tight. If you have, or are planning, on a fireplace put air-tight glass doors in front of it and keep the flue damper closed when the fireplace is not in use. But, beware, don't forget to open that damper before your start the fireplace. Just remember to close it again when the fireplace has cooled back down.

Many sources of heat build-up (or cooling loss) are affected by more than one form of heat transfer. Since windows and sliding glass doors suffer from both conductive and convective heat transfer, consider using high energy-efficiency Energy Star doors and windows for any building or remodeling project. As another example, while radiant heat transfer is why a home with a roof exposed to the sun gets warmer due to radiation, you can use convection to your advantage to alleviate part of the problem. Installing a heat-activated fan system in your attic will use convection to blow the heated air in your attic out through vents preventing it from transferring its heat energy, through conduction and convection, into your living space below.

If your home is in a particularly sunny location, you may want plant large deciduous trees on the south side of the home for shade from the sun in the summer. Equally, you can avoid radiant heat build-up from the sun by closing drapes and blinds on the south side of your home in the summer, yet take advantage of the sun's radiant heat transfer by keeping the drapes and blinds open during the day to allow sunlight to enter and warm your home during cooler months. Similarly, while the foliage on the deciduous tree will shade the home during summer, its lack of leaves will allow the sun's radiant heat to enter and warm your home in the winter.

If it's time to replace your heat pump or any appliance, look for Energy Star-rated appliances. Energy Star-rated appliances like clothes washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers and dehumidifiers not only use less electricity; they also transfer less heat into your home through all three forms of heat transfer, conduction, convection and radiation.

You should also pay attention to small changes that offer big savings, many of which are more efficient because of lower heat transfers. Use energy-saving compact fluorescent lamp bulbs. Turn off all lights when not in use; lights generate radiant heat. Keep shrubs and other obstructions from blocking free air flow around your external heat pump unit which relies upon convection to dissipate its heat build-up. And, change your furnace filter every 3 months. A dirty filter slows down air movement reducing the effectiveness of the convection transfer your air conditioning system relies upon.

Understanding the different kinds of heat transfer and how to use that knowledge to reduce your home's energy consumption can save you a serious amount of money as well as make your home more comfortable to live in.

How Much Should You Offer for That Home

When you prepare an offer to purchase a home, you already know the seller’s asking price. But what price are you going to offer for that home or piece of real estate property and how do you come up with that figure?

Determining your offer is really a 3-step process:

<1> First, look at recent sales of similar properties to come up with a "price range."

<2> Then, analyze additional data, such as the condition of the home, improvements, current market conditions, and even the circumstances of the seller. Here. your Realtor® having been in this market will have good information about many of the recent sales you're trying to compare against. The process to this point will help you settle on what you think would be a fair price to pay for the home.

<3> Finally, depending on the negotiating style of you and/or your Realtor®, you may want to adjust your "fair" price and come up with the actual price you'll put in your offer.

Comparable Sales
The first step in determining the price you are willing to offer for real estate properties is to look at the recent sales of similar homes. These are called "comparable sales." Comparable sales are recent sales of homes that compare closely to the one you are considering purchasing. Specifically, you want to compare prices of homes that are similar in square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, garage size, lot size, type of construction and other amenities such as an in-groubd pool, upgraded appliances, etc.

If the home you are interested in is part of a tract of homes, then you may very likely find some exact model matches to compare against.

There are two main sources of information on comparable sales for real estate, all of which are easily accessed by your Realtor but somewhat more difficult for the general public to access. Two of the most obvious information sources are Public Records and the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) database.

Comparable Sales in Public Records
Information on comparable sales is the public records at your County Court House. When someone buys a home the property is deeded from the seller to the buyer. In most circumstances, this deed is recorded at the local County Recorder's office which uses this data to determine the assessment of the property for tax purposes.

In some areas, the local newspaper may include recent home sales prices on their website although information you'll find there can be quite limited in terms of the amount of detail on the property itself.

Provided there have been no additions to the property since it last changed hands, the information in the public records is usually correct regarding sales price, square footage, and numbers of rooms.

Accessing the data is another matter, at least for the general public. Realtors® can generally look up this information either directly or through local title companies.

The biggest problem with public records data is that it can be several weeks to even months weeks old. Add another month or two during which the sales had been agreed to but not yet closed and you can see that public records information can be far from current, and therefore as helpful in helping you set a fair offer price, as you would like.

Comparable Sales in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
Much of the public is aware that the Multiple Listing Service is a private resource where Realtors® list properties available for sale and record sales and closings. Recently, the public has been able to access some of that information on sites like Realtor.com, MSN HomeAdvisor, and others. Once a property is sold and the transaction has closed, the selling price is posted to the listing in the Multiple Listing Service almost immediately. Over time, MLS has become a huge database on past sales, containing much more information on individual homes than can be gleaned from the public record. Generally, this information is only available to Realtors® who are members of the local Real Estate Board and its Multiple Listing Service. Clearly, MLS information is much more current and accurate than the information yo can get from Public Records.

The Realtor acting as your Buyer's Agent is, without a doubt, your best source of information in determining what price to offer. He or she will provide you with the right data to help determine an offer price that will get you the home you want at the best possible price.

To Sell A Home, Focus First on the Kitchen

When it's time to put your Georgia home on the market, many real estate experts recommend that you focus on the kitchen first. For many potential buyers, especially the wives, the kitchen is the most important room in the home. The condition and appearance of the kitchen has the power to make or break an offer.

So, if you want your home to sell quickly at a good price, do everything you can to enhance it before you start showing the home to buyers. Remember however as you approach this task that the money you spend is a cost of selling. Don't do a complete remodelling unless the kitchen really needs it. A good Realtor, like those found on the Real Estate of Florida website can give you advice on the amount of investment you should make in your kitchen updating.

Start by creating space. You want you kitchen to look large, light and roomy. Clear the counters of all clutter. Take everything you can out of drawers and shelves and move it into storage. Remove all those magnets from the refrigerator and if the refrig looks scratched, give it a fresh coat of porcelain paint. What you want them to see is a warm, open and inviting space, not your old pots, pans and toaster.

Consider fresh paint. Paint is the most profitable improvement you can make anywhere in a home but especially in the kitchen. A fresh coat of light, neutral colored paint on your kitchen walls will make them look spotless and new. The light color will also make the room look bigger. Exactly the look you want.

Pay particular attention to the sink. If your faucet looks old and stained, or leaks or just looks dated, replace it with a new one. It will go a long way towards improving the look of the whole kitchen, for very little money.

If your counter tops look old and tired, you should consider new ones. Today you can buy corian or even granite countertops at reasonable prices. Talk to your local Home Depot or Lowe's hardware store. Remember to stick with neutral colors, nothing too flashy.

Check the stove and oven. The oven should be spotless. If the stove is a glass-top model, scrub it until there is no residue at all on it. A sparkling range looks great. A dirty one leaves the prospect wondering if the rest of the house is any better maintained. Don't let them even "go there".

Freshen up the cabinets. Replacing cabinets is expensive and seldom makes a good investment. But you can paint them, or put new, modern looking pulls on them for very little money. A fresh rub-down with a good cleaner-polish will give them a fresh look.

Check the windows. You'd be amazed how many people forget to wash the window over the sink or the sliding glass doors next to the dining area. if the trim looks dull, a fresh coat of paint there will also add sizzle.

Finally, a trick that works amazingly well. Just before prospective buyers come, bake a fresh batch of cookies in your oven. And, yes, leave the cookies out for them to sample.

In short, buyers will quickly notice any shortcomings in your kitchen, so do everything you can to freshen it up and give it a modern, open, airy and "inviting" look.

A Home Seller Can Help You Finance Your First Home

If you and your family are ready now to take the leap of faith of buying your first home, but you're not sure you have enough cash stashed away, there are ways in which a home seller can assist you in buying his home. A competent Realtor can review all of your options but here are a few examples.

FHA MORTGAGE WITH SELLER FINANCED CLOSING COSTS
An FHA mortgage requires as little as 3.5% of the purchase price as a down payment. These mortgages have been available for years. Your Realtor, working with the home seller and an FHA-approved mortgage provider, can structure a mortgage loan so that the seller pays all or nearly all of your closing costs. The seller cannot assist you with the 3.5% down payment, but can pay just about everything else at your closing. In the current market environment, many home sellers are willing to participate in this type of arrangement to get their home sold.

BUY DOWNS – There are many variations of "Buy Downs," Some are permanent, where the interest rate is reduced over the full life of the loan. Others are temporary, allowing you to reduce the interest rate, and therefore your monthly payment, for the first 1 - 3 years. The most popular is what's known as a "3-2-1 Buy Down." Here's how it works. For the first year your rate is 3% below the market interest rate; the second year 2% below, and for the third year the interest rate you pay is 1% below the agreed-upon interest rate. This allows you to grow into your loan payments over 3 years. If you expect your family income to grow over that period by enough to cover the eventual cost, this may be an attractive option for you. "Buying down" your first 3 years of loan payments in this manner will cost the seller about 4.5% of the loan amount. Here is an example on the purchase of a home with a $225,000 mortgage with a fixed rate of 6.5%. The full monthly rate on this mortgage would be $1,422.15/month. Using a 3-2-1- buy down, the first year's payments would be $1,010.35, the second year's is $1,140.04, the third year's - $1,277.53, and then for the remaining 27 years, $1,422.15. The "buy down" of the first 3 years payments saved you, the buyer, over $10,000 in mortgage payments in addition to making your payments more affordable for those first 3 years.

SELLER FINANCING – Less frequently, but occasionally, there are sellers who own their home outright (no mortgage on the property) who will agree to assist you by holding your mortgage. In this case, you do not have to qualify through the normal bank financing route. In effect the seller, instead of a bank or other mortgage company, becomes your mortgage provider. Such a mortgage can be written with essentially any terms and conditions that you and the seller agree upon ranging from financing 100% of the purchase price to requiring a minimal or larger down payment, with or without a "balloon payment" at some point in the future, and for a term of 10, 15, 25 or 30 years.

Such private lenders frequently charge a higher interest rate and may want to use this approach to get the highest possible price for their property so you need to deal with a competent Realtor who can negotiate your way through this option for you. But, if cash on hand is the problem you are dealing, this approach may be an option.

The point of this discussion is this. If you have a decent credit rating (FICO score) and you're ready to buy your first home, don't be scared off because you don't think you have enough saved up yet. The price of homes and the interest rates available are as low right now as they have been in a long time. Meet and discuss your options with a competent Realtor like those listed in this directory of Georgia Real Estate professionals. You may be closer to your dream of home ownership than you have dared to hope.

If It's Time to Sell

When listing your Georgia home for sale, ask your Realtor® for the average sales time for homes in your particular neighborhood. It does vary from one neighborhood to the next. The question then bcomes, "What can be done to speed up the time it takes to attract a buyer ?" And the answer is "plenty." There are really 3 main factors that affect the actual home marketing time :

price
condition
terms

Price is probably the single biggest factor. If the condition of your home is equal to others currently for sale in your neighborhood, and you're offering comparable terms, you can expect that it will sell in about the average amount of time your Realtor® suggested. If you want or need it sell it more quickly, you may want to consider adjusting your price downward slightly to present "a better value" to prospective buyers. Atlanta and marietta real estate buyers do comparison shop and if they will perceive greater value in your home, even it is priced just slightly below the price suggested by a Comparative Market Analysis, they'll be tempted to make an offer.

Terms offered are another factor which can be adjusted to attract buyers. If your home is priced at "market value", you may consider offering to pay a portion of the buyer's closing costs, particu;larly in light of the terms allowed under the Stimulus Package home buyer incentive program. By doing so, you reduce the amount of down payment a buyer will need and attract more first-time buyers. You may offer to include some of the major appliances if they are in excellent condition. Here again, you'll be assisting those first-time buyers who might otherwise have to cover the costs of buying new appliances for their first home. Your Realtor® can suggest other "terms" which may attract buyers in your specific locale or even a whole new group of potential buyers.

The Condition of your home alone can sometimes prompt a faster buying decision from an anxious buyer, concerned that your home or condo will be "snapped up" because it is so desirable. Consider investing in attractive and currently popular upgrades and cosmetic improvements before putting it on the market. A good place to start is its "curb appeal" -- a fresh coat of paint, a flawless roof and some neat landscaping can do wonders.

Inside your home, the biggest condition-change payoff is often in the kitchen and baths. Consider replacing "tired looking" kitchen appliances, flooring and countertops. De-clutter your coutertops by placing appliances in closets or cabinets making the kitchen seem larger. If magnets have damaged the front of your refrigerator, apply a fresh coat of porcelein paint to dress it up.

Make your bathrooms more attractive. Above all, scrub the tub and shower stall until they sparkle. Again, de-cluttering is important. if the room looks dated, consider adding a new sink, faucets and countertop or maybe a pedestal sink in a half-bath. If the flooring isn't in perfect condiiton, add modern tile.

A home that sparkles displays your pride of ownership and that alone can instill confidence in a propsective buyer and trigger an quicker sale.

The key, to a shorter selling time on any real estate property is to offer a unique set of benefits to your prospective buyers. While Price, Condition and Terms are not the only factors, they are surely among the most important factors. Ask your Realtor® for advice if a quicker than average sale is your goal.

Florida Homes are Becoming Affordable Again

While existing home sales in other parts of the country have fallen for months and months, the Saasota - Bradenton real estate market was the fourth highest selling market in Florida and a stand-out by any comparison nationwide.

Home sales for January, 2009 rose by 4% over January, 2008. And why did this happen ? In part, it happened because the median price of homes in The sarasoyta- Bradenton market fell drramatically. The median price in this market has fallen to $144,800 from $246,300 a year ago, the lowest it has been since November, 2001.

The decrease in home prices has meant that home ownership has once again become affordable for the average family and thus more families, young and older, are beginning to look at homes in the Bradenton Florida area, according to Brian Ward, Bradenton golf course homes specialist. There are currently about 2,650 existing homes for sale and another 1,800 homes working their way through foreclosure in Bradenton so there are plenty of homes to consider.

Once people start looking at owning a first or second home in Florida, they also learn something else very appealing. Mortgage interest rates are at all-time lows. QuickenLoans.com is currently quoting a 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 4.75% (APR 4.967%) and a 15-year fixed rate mortgage at 4.25% (APR 4.622%).

For those with more limited down payment funds, an FHA Express 30-year fixed rate mortgage can be had for 5.00% (APR 5.185%). With an FHA Express loan, your down payment can be as low as 3.5% of the price of the home and first-time buyers, defined as anyone who has not owned a home in the past 3 years, are eligible for an income tax credit of 10% of the purchase prce of the home, up to a maximum of $8000.

If you are a young family or single professional who has been wishing homes in sunny Florida area would become more affordable, it's time to start looking not only in Sarasota Bradenton but all over the state of Florida.

If you are a senior looking for a warmer clime in which to retire, or maybe just a seasonal golf course or waterfront home or condo to escape the harsh northern winters, Florida may be the right place and this may be the right time to make your move to Florida. For the past couple years, seniors who have opted to move from the Northeast to the Carolinas and Tennessee are realizing that while the winders are shorter than in New England or New York, they can still be cold, very cold.

If you would like more information, you may want to contact Mary Bernas, Longboat Key real estate expert. If yourintgerest is in Siesta Key, contact Judie Berger, Siesta Key real estate expert, or Andree Huffine, a Sarasota real estate professional with years of experience.

It would be their pleasure to be of service to you by either just answering your questions or showing you the many fine home and condo on the many golf course and waterfront communities here, all of which offer the delightful Florida SunCoast lifestyle.

Getting Tired of the Snow, Move South to Florida Now

In spite of the snow and ice you've been experiencing lately in the Atlanta area, there is an area you would love further South where it never snows and very seldom gets even close to freezing cold. And, to make it even more attractive, home prices are suddenly becoming much more affordable. Two areas that come to mind are Tampa Bay and the Sarasota - Bradenton area of Florida.

Bill Geller, President of the Sarasota Association of Realtors, is reported as having said that "even during downturns in the economy, opportunities exist for savvy buyers." The Southwest Florida real estate maket extending from Pasco County and Hillsborough County in Tampa Bay to Sarasota and Manatee County just South of Tampa Bay include just about every type and size of residence and neighborhood one could want. These areas, including the island keys offers waterfront homes and condos, golf course communities of wonderful new and existing homes as well as exciting places to live downtown in the heart of all the social, arts and cultural action.

There is no denying that over the past few years, home prices in the Sun Coast of Florida had risen to a point where homes were becoming unaffordable to many people who eiher already lived here or who would like to move to our Sun Coast of Florida area. But as of January, 2009, the median home price for a single family home in the Sarasota market, for example, fell below $150,000, meaning homes in our area are once again becoming affordable for middle-class working families.

The recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (known as the "stimulus package") includes a $75 billion Housing Support and Foreclosure Prevention program and also provides a tax credit of $8,000 for eligible first-time home buyers. These two programs, combined with historically low mortgage interest rates, are getting people interested in buying homes again.

Sarasota and Tampa Bay are both perfectly situated with good jobs markets, beautiful weather, a plethora of arts and cultural attractions as well as many 80 golf courses, and now once again, affordable homes and condos.

Isn't it time you got serious about buying your dream home here in Sunny Tampa Bay or Sarasota Florida. There are several really competent realtors we can recommend. In Tampa Bay, we recommend you contact Cheryl Stimac, Tampa Realtor. In Sarasota, you'll find Bob Henley, Sarasota and Venice FL specialist, and
Judie Berger, Siesta Key expert very hepful. If you are an avid golfer and looking for a golf course community, Rich Stover, Lakewood Ranch FL realtor and Dick Plumb, Bradenton area realtor can help you find exactly what you're looking for on a golf course.

If waterfront living, fishing, boating or sailing are more your cup of tea, then you need to contact Mary Bernas, Longboat Key luxury homes specialist or Connie Belmont, Sarasota waterfront condos expert.

Want an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) as your Realtor? In that case, in Sarasota or Bradenton, we suggest you contact Brian Ward, Sarasota REMAX Realtor and holder of the ABR designation.

You may want to contact one of these fine Tampa Bay or Sarasota realtors and get started moving to our sunny Florida paadise. It just doesn't get any better than the Tampa Bay - Sarasota Suncoast.