Posted on February 16, 2010
Our realtors are busy this Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at Fairhaven Realty in Bellingham, WA. Sales meeting is over, tour of new listings accomplished, conference room presently engaged with agents and clients, floor calls coming in…So, if you’re in the market to buy or sell a home or just have questions about the process, our busy agents are equipped and willing to help.
Ericka Pizzillo Cohen, a writer for The Bellingham Herald, has compiled a list of tips gathered from local real estate agents and inspectors and included them in her July 23, 2009 article, Dealing in Details. These tips will prove valuable for buyers who want to look beyond the surface of a home and for sellers who want the best sales price.
Today we will address the tips for INSULATION as listed by Cohen.
TIPS FOR BUYERS:
Homes built before 1980 typically do not have insulation in exterior walls unless the owner has added blown-in insulation.
Water stains along the outside of ducts in an indication of condensation and leaks.
Ask for utility bills, as well as averages for the year, to get an indication of any insulation problems in the house.
After sale, consider an energy audit by a trained professional. The audit will determine where insulation, caulking and other fixes can seal up a house and lower energy bills.
Look for banks that offer loans with additional cash to improve energy efficiency in a house. Although rarely used by banks, some regional banks are considering using the existing federal rules.
TIPS FOR SELLERS:
Never use duct tape on ductwork! The cloth material degrades over time. Instead use mastic, which doesn’t become brittle.
Make sure heating ducts and hot water pipes are insulated.
Investigate new tax credits for energy efficiency products if you want to add insulation before a sale.
Also check for rebates available for attic, wall and crawl space insulation through your natural gas company.
Advertise your insulation work on the home. Insulation that can decrease energy bills in a home is considered a selling point.
FROM THE EXPERTS:
“If you have an older home, a buyer can easily improve the insulation in a home in the attic and crawlspace,” said Whatcom County real estate agent Neal Cox. “It’s something a buyer can improve on a house without a tremendous expense.”
“A buyer can’t really see a lot of insulation in a house during a viewing. But if it’s an older house they should know that it probably has inadequate insulation,” said Robert Stockmann, owner of Pinnacle Inspections.
“Insulation is important,” said Ron Lembcke, partner in Lembcke Insulation LLC. “Once you start making payments on a home, you’ve also got to be able to afford the utility bills.”
