Your Furnace: Simple Safety Tips and Ways to Improve Efficiency

Furnaces in homes throughout Connecticut are cranking during this cold stretch of weather we’ve been experiencing. It is especially important to have furnaces inspected and maintained to ensure that they run efficiently and safely all winter.

 SIMPLE WAYS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY

By some accounts, home heating, especially with older equipment, can represent half of a typical home’s winter utilities bill. Efficient operation can mean lower energy bills and a more comfortable home. For example, programmable thermostats can be used to automatically turn heat up or down at specified times, so that the temperature is lowered overnight or while no one is at home. The newest types of thermostats can be operated via smartphone or tablet using apps specific to these functions.

Thermostats should be calibrated occasionally to avoid “off-cycle” heat loss; a properly-calibrated thermostat will result in more even heating between the on/off cycles, which is both more efficient and comfortable.

SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE

Safety is also an important factor in furnace operation. Gas furnaces can be a source of dangerous carbon monoxide if there are leaks or cracks that go unnoticed or unrepaired. The furnace flame should be steady and burn blue; if not, this should be addressed immediately. A qualified contractor or inspector can detect these types of problems and recommend needed action.

Simple furnace maintenance includes checking and replacing disposable air filters and cleaning permanent-type filters, as well as keeping dust, hair, and lint away from the burner compartment and air intake. No matter what type it is, a well-maintained furnace will not only last longer, but can save energy, money, and help a home’s overall air quality and comfort.

CONSIDERING A NEW FURNACE?

If a new furnace is necessary, it is a good opportunity to evaluate the various types of furnaces now available and how well they might meet a home’s specific situation. Furnaces are defined as conventional efficiency, mid efficiency, and high efficiency. There are advantages and drawbacks to each type, and some are better suited to older homes, for example, and cost may be a factor in considering various types of systems. However, the ability of most new furnaces to reduce off-cycle heat loss, eliminate the need for an always-on pilot light, etc. make replacing a furnace worth considering if a current system is in bad repair functioning poorly.

Article courtesy of David R. Leopold, ACI

 David Leopold
146 Coleman Road
Fairfield, CT 06825
tel: 888-801-7111
fax: 203-374-4564
David.Leopold@pillartopost.com

www.pillartopost.com

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Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like: Find out more about Judy here

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Now is the Time to Appeal Your Property Assessment

It’s that time again,.... local property tax assessments. Many communities saw a decrease in property values, which will mean, in many cases, an increase in the mill rate.

Connecticut assesses property, for property tax purposes, at 70% of fair market value, as determined by the tax assessor. By way of example, if the tax assessor determines that your property has a fair market value of $250,000.00 the assessment for property taxes would be $175,000.00 ($250,000.00 x 70%). The mil rate, which is set by the local legislative body, would then be applied to the assessed value, in this example $175,000.00. Assuming the mil rate is 30 mils, the property assessed at $175,000.00 would pay an annual real property tax of $5,250.00 ($175,000.00 x .030).

If you believe that your assessment is too high, you have certain rights, but, you must follow strict time frames.  The local tax assessor must certified the municipality’s grand list to the State of Connecticut by January 31, 2015. If you wish to appeal your assessment, you may do so by filing with the local Board of Assessment Appeals, (BAA) an appeal not later than February 20, 2015. You must file the appeal on a form prescribed by the tax assessor. This form is available on most town websites at the tax assessor’s page, or by going to the tax assessor’s office.

At the appeal hearing, you will meet with a member of the Board of Assessment Appeal, this is a resident of your town, who has been appointed by the local legislative body, ie Town Council, Board of Aldermen, RTM, etc, to sit on the BAA and hear appeals. This person may (and usually does not) have any background in the area of property valuation.

In order to make a cogent case as to why you believe the valuation given to your property is incorrect, you will need to tell the BAA member more than, I think it is too high.  Look for property sales in your neighborhood, you can check websites, such as  Zillow.com or realtor.com to find comparable values. In addition, must town’s assessment records are online at the tax assessor’s page of the town’s website.  Look at your neighbor’s assessments. Do they have more or less square footage than your house, more or fewer bathrooms or bedrooms? Finished vs unfinished basements, acreage, wetlands, etc all go into determining value.  The best piece of information you can have, but will cost you, is a property appraiser done by a certified appraiser. I would not recommend this unless you believe the savings in annual taxes for the first year would more than outweigh the cost of the appraisal.

Once you have the information, being cognizant of your hearing date, go to the hearing prepared. Please be respectful of the member you meeting with, he or she hears a lot of appeals and many people do not treat their neighbors, who are serving the town, nicely. Remember, this person did not set your valuation, they are only there to determine if, with the evidence presented in a short time frame, they agree with you that the assessment should be reduced.  You will not get a decision before you leave, as the entire membership of the BAA must vote on the recommendation of the member who heard your appeal. You will be notified by mail as to the outcome.

If you still think that your assessment is still too high after your hearing, you have the right to appeal the decision of the BAA to Superior Court.

Article courtesy of Benjamin S. Proto, Attorney at Law

If you have any questions regarding this process, please feel free to email  Fairfield County Real Estate Attorney Ben Proto at ben@protolawfirm.com.  Call him at (203) 378-9595 or find Ben online at  www.protolawfirm.com

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Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like: Find out more about Judy here

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Connecticut Financing Update and Today's Mortgage Rates 2/1/2015

Rates have dropped even further to 3 year lows! Rates look very attractive at these levels, and it’s time to jump into refinancing your existing mortgage with my help or purchase a new home with Realtor Judy Szablak.  The 10 year is at 1.68.  If you were to take a look a closer look at the interest rates then you would see that there has been an upward trend going back to May of 2013.  Anyone looking to close within the next short term period then you might be better off locking into a rate now.

Mortgage Rates:

Conventional 30 year fixed – 3.75% - APR 3.807%

Conventional 15 year fixed - 3.125% - APR 3.219%

FHA 30 year fixed – 3.375% - APR 4.962%

 FHA 15 year fixed – 3.0% - APR 4.587%

The above rates are based on a loan amount of $417,000 for a single family home, a borrower’s middle credit score of 780 and a 20% down payment.  If you would like a customized rate quote for your own specific loan scenario then please feel free to email me at nima@primeres.com or call me directly at 203.913.6016.

This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend. All loans must satisfy company underwriting guidelines. Information and pricing are subject to change at any time and without notice. This is not an offer to enter into a rate lock agreement under any applicable law.

As a lending professional, Nima Rezvan meets a wide range of real estate lending needs, whether it be a first time purchase, second home purchase, or refinance. He welcomes the opportunity to serve your needs with quick and accurate real estate financing advice. With his expertise and knowledge, he will make sure you understand the features associated with the loan program you choose and that it meets your unique financial situation.

With more than 10 years of mortgage lending experience, Nima specializes in  Conventional Mortgages,  Jumbo Loan Financing, Refinance, First Time Home Buyers and Federal Housing Administration/Veterans' Administration (FHA/VA)

782 Clinton Avenue

Bridgeport, CT 06604

Phone: 203.913.6016

Email: nima@primeres.com

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like: Find out more about Judy here

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Home Repairs: Do-it-Yourself or Hire a Contractor?

Whether you are  remodeling your existing home, or considering buying a new home that needs some work, consider the pluses and minuses of either doing the work yourself as opposed to hiring a contractor.

If you are patient,  don't mind physical labor,  and have knowledge of building,  it may be a consideration.  If not, it may not be the best idea.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)  created a pretty good 17 question quiz, "Home Improvement Projects: Do It Yourself Or Hire A Professional?" to help you decide what is best for you.

The quiz  is interesting, and brings up many points that  do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) tend to forget about, or overlook.  Most  often, the DIYer considers how difficult the job is,  how much money they will save, and what type of remodel/repair  needs to be done.

There are many different aspects of any remodeling job, and a lot of unforeseen snags can happen along the way. Compounding  that is another issue- if you realize that you got in too deep and need contractor assistance,  many professional builders/contractors hesitate to repair a homeowner's mistakes. Also consider that fixing a remodel/repair done by yourself can easily prove to be more costly than hiring a professional to do the project in the first place.

A recent survey indicated that  40 percent responded that their decision to go  DIY had to do with overall cost, and 25 percent indicated the level of perceived difficulty led them to make that decision. Safety was surprisingly  not a factor, as only 2 percent indicated a concern  on that front.

Take the quiz here-  and many thanks to NARI for creating it.

http://www.nari.org/consumers/homeowner-resources/diy-or-hire-a-pro/

If you answered yes to eight or more of these questions, it may be an interesting option for you to go DIY. However, before you head out to go get your supplies and equipment, take a second look at your "no's". A good contractor will save you more than you realize if you attempt to do the job yourself, and then need to hire one anyway. Best of luck with your decision, and if you happen to decide to sell rather than remodel, I am just a phone call away :)

****************************************************************

 

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like: Find out more about Judy here

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Connecticut Financing Update and Today's Mortgage Rates 1/19/2015

Interest rates hit 20 month lows! Rates look very good at these low levels and it’s time to jump into refinancing your existing mortgage or purchasing a new home with Realtor Judy Szablak’s expertise. The 10 year is at 1.82.  If you were to take a look a closer look at the interest rates then you would see that there has been an upward trend going back to May of 2013.  Anyone looking to close within the next short term period then you might be better off locking into a rate now.

Today's Mortgage Rates

Conventional 30 year fixed – 3.875% - APR 3.932%

Conventional 15 year fixed - 3.125% - APR 3.219% 

Conventional 5/1 ARM - 3.125% - APR 3.042%

Conventional 7/1 ARM - 3.25% - APR 3.415%

The above rates are based on a loan amount of $417,000 for a single family home, a borrower’s middle credit score of 780 and a 20% down payment.  If you would like a customized rate quote for your own specific loan scenario then please feel free to email me at nima@primeres.com or call me directly at 203.913.6016.

This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend. All loans must satisfy company underwriting guidelines. Information and pricing are subject to change at any time and without notice. This is not an offer to enter into a rate lock agreement under any applicable law.

As a lending professional, Nima Rezvan meets a wide range of real estate lending needs, whether it be a first time purchase, second home purchase, or refinance. He welcomes the opportunity to serve your needs with quick and accurate real estate financing advice. With his expertise and knowledge, he will make sure you understand the features associated with the loan program you choose and that it meets your unique financial situation.

With more than 10 years of mortgage lending experience, Nima specializes in  Conventional Mortgages,  Jumbo Loan Financing, Refinance, First Time Home Buyers and Federal Housing Administration/Veterans' Administration (FHA/VA)

782 Clinton Avenue

Bridgeport, CT 06604

Phone: 203.913.6016

Email: nima@primeres.com

"You can call any agent to put your home on the market-

or.... Call Judy to sell it""

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like: Find out more about Judy here

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY